Avoiding the ALCS

[Guest Smues]

Well my friend just MSN'ed me that the series is over, and as much as I would have liked to not find out the result until I turn on game one of the World Series, that's not realistic. So he filled me in on the results, and wow I'm in shock that Boston came back from down 0-3 to win the series. Way to go Red Sox. Quick question: What were the Yankee fans saying after game 3? And how many, if any, said good job Boston, and not FUCKING YANKEES STOPPED TRYING WE COLAPSED etc?

 

Avoiding this ALCS was even more difficult then I expected, and I didn't think I'd be able to do it in the first place. I told the people I figured most likely to tell me about the games what I was doing and not to give me any info. So that stopped some of it. I told my dad what I was doing so he wouldn't tell me anything, but the various NOOO and ALL RIGHTs coming from upstairs were kind of a tip off. So if I was home during a game I had to crank some music.

 

Then there was my e-mail box. I knew to not touch anything from mlb.com, but I slipped up on my Braves e-mails from the Atlanta Journal Constitutional. I get Braves updates and didn't think anything of it when I saw the subject line saying something about Furcal going to jail and Terry Penalton being considered for the Phillies job. So I start reading the e-mail and there's "Rivera bails out Yankees in game 1". So I pretty much knew the Yankees had won game 1. Also, Fox is channel 3 here, and that's the channel I have to put the TV on for the vcr and such. So when I turned off the vcr the night of game 1 I wasn't thinking about it and saw a split second of the yankees celebrating on the field before I could turn it off.

 

So learning from game 1 I was more prepared to avoid game 2. Another problem I knew I'd have was school. Besides knowing students would be talking about the series, I have one professor who I knew would spend plenty of time talking about it. Thankfully, he had to go to Florida for a week so that solved that problem. a couple of times without even thinking I would go to www.mlb.com but realized what I'd done and closed it before anything could load. I managed to avoid hearing anything about games 2 and 3.

I was watching some football on Fox sunday morning (again being stupid and not thinking) and they popped up an ad for that evenings games, but thankfully no results. I noticed it said game 4 when I thought it would be game 5 on Sunday so I asked someone and was told of the rainout.

 

Being stupid I caught a glimpse of game 4 when turning off the VCR, and saw that it was tied in I think the 10th, but that was all I knew. Oh another thing I had to avoid, the NLCS. I knew before the series that they'd likely be giving updates and such so I couldn't risk that. And I'm told they had a permenant score during at least one of the games, so I'm glad I choose not to watch that.

 

I saw a glipse of game 5 when I went out for dinner and didn't realize the restaurant would have a billion tvs on the game. Saw that it was 2-1 Boston or something like that but that was it from that game. Knew the series was going to six games when I heard people talking about it at school, and the fact that there was a game 7 was everywhere today, so I knew the series was 3-3. I also found out ortiz hit a 2 run shot in the 1st thanks to someone in my computer class blurting that out. I managed to leave once the lecture was over and it was just work on your assignment time and EVERYone started talking about the game.

 

So in summary:

I learned that the Yankees in some way won game 1.

I learned that game 4 went into extra innings.

I learned that Boston had a lead at some point in game 5.

I learned that Ortiz hit a two run shot in the 1st of game 7.

Oh and I was told there were some controversial calls in game 6, but they were called correctly.

 

Obviously more then I wanted to know, but not bad. What have I learned? YOU CAN'T AVOID THE ALCS UNLESS YOU LIVE IN AMISH COUNTRY. I already realized it would be everywhere, but to the extent it was surprised me. Now I can go back with the mlb.com gameday video pass and watch anything interesting I watched.

 

Oh, and I went a week with NO TIM MCCARVER! That right there made it all worth it.

 

(runs off to read the billion threads he's missed from his week logged off TSM forums)

 

Edit: I'm sure I forget plenty of stuff, but other things I had to avoid was espn radio and ESPN TV. I gave up over a week of PTI and ATH, and in exchange I missed a week of McCarver. Hmmm I think that's a fair trade. And I avoided these entire forums, and other boards sports forums.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

Why did you do this? You robbed yourself of a fantastic series.

[Guest Smues]

A couple of reasons. I wanted to see if I could do it, given the exposure of this series. Also I hate Fox when it comes to Sports. And, I really didn't have that much interest in the series. I like Boston and I'm glad they won and all, but Red Sox/ Yankees just isn't that appealing to me.

 

Edit: And I can watch anything I missed with gameday video. I'm told game 3 was hilarious (looking at the score I can see why) so i'm going to go watch that first.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

you have motivated me to try this with the SUPERBOWL.

[the max 0]

You missed quite possibly five straight of the best games in recent memory.

[Guest Smues]

you have motivated me to try this with the SUPERBOWL.

If the Superbowl is Patriots vs. Eagles (or Patriots vs. just about anyone because I know the Patriots will win) I'll be right there with you.

[Bored 0]

I didn't watch one game and won't be watching any of the World Series if the Astros win tommorrow. I haven't watched the majority of a World Series since 1997.

[mike546 0]

You missed quite possibly five straight of the best games in recent memory.

Do you mean five best because the Red Sox won four of them, or do you actually think they were "great" games? Games 4 and 5 were awesome, but all the other games weren't that interesting.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

I'm doing you one better.

 

I won't even know who is IN the superbowl. I.E i will not watch or follow the conf. title games either.

 

It's easy to avoid the game. It's 4 hours. I can survive that.

 

Go a week or two without knowing who is PLAYING will be a whole different ballpark.

[Guest GreatOne]

Dude Tim McCarver was ON this week

 

Listen for Kenny Albert (tonight) mentioning ex-Bruin Eddie Westfall winning the game for the Islanders in '75 and then McCarver remarking a couple pitches later that Eddie Westfall was a Bruin--no I didn't spoil anything, hearing it even when you know it's coming is just as hilarious.

 

McCarver almost did it again the next inning, but Trot Nixon grounded out to end the inning before he could say anything.

[the max 0]

You missed quite possibly five straight of the best games in recent memory.

Do you mean five best because the Red Sox won four of them, or do you actually think they were "great" games? Games 4 and 5 were awesome, but all the other games weren't that interesting.

I'm biased, obviously, but games 4 and 5 were tremendous. 6 and 7 were great for me as a fan.

[Guest Brian]

You should have watched. The rest is a spoiler in case you don't want to find out.

 

Well, you missed a good series. The first three games were sorta bleh, as Boston's offense looked pretty below expectations, and the only close game (Game 2) never seemed like the Red Sox were going to threaten. The next two were both extra-innings thrillers, ending with Ortiz both times (homer in Game Four and single in Game 5). He was the man for Boston, setting a postseason series record for RBI's with 11. But Boston's lead-off 1-2 combo (Bellhorn and Jesus) were pretty much worthless offensively, and Bellhorn's defense was lackluster to say the least. As for Game Six, it was very strange. The umpire's met twice, all six, and reversed two calls making the right call both times. One was a three-run homer by Bellhorn that made the difference in a 4-2 win. The other was a girlish slap by A-Rod where he intentionally swung at Bronson Arroyo's arm as he made a tag before first. That call sent Jeter back to first after he had seemingly scored. Schilling started this game, on an ankle that was bleeding and risking a ruptured tendon, going seven innings and giving up one run in one of the most gutsy CLUTCH~! performances ever. In Game 1, he got killed, and had no velocity, but he was absolutely stellar here. As for Game seven, it was somewhat anti-climatic since most of the game was out of reach. Lowe, on two-days rest, threw 69 pitches, giving up one run on one hit in six innings. Damon showed up big, with 6 RBI's and two homers, including a grand slam. 10-3 final.

[Guest GreatOne]

You should have watched. The rest is a spoiler in case you don't want to find out.

 

Well, you missed a good series. The first three games were sorta bleh, as Boston's offense looked pretty below expectations, and the only close game (Game 2) never seemed like the Red Sox were going to threaten. The next two were both extra-innings thrillers, ending with Ortiz both times (homer in Game Four and single in Game 5). He was the man for Boston, setting a postseason series record for RBI's with 11. But Boston's lead-off 1-2 combo (Bellhorn and Jesus) were pretty much worthless offensively, and Bellhorn's defense was lackluster to say the least. As for Game Six, it was very strange. The umpire's met twice, all six, and reversed two calls making the right call both times. One was a three-run homer by Bellhorn that made the difference in a 4-2 win. The other was a girlish slap by A-Rod where he intentionally swung at Bronson Arroyo's arm as he made a tag before first. That call sent Jeter back to first after he had seemingly scored. Schilling started this game, on an ankle that was bleeding and risking a ruptured tendon, going seven innings and giving up one run in one of the most gutsy CLUTCH~! performances ever. In Game 1, he got killed, and had no velocity, but he was absolutely stellar here. As for Game seven, it was somewhat anti-climatic since most of the game was out of reach. Lowe, on two-days rest, threw 69 pitches, giving up one run on one hit in six innings. Damon showed up big, with 6 RBI's and two homers, including a grand slam. 10-3 final.

And I thought I was spoiling things with that McCarver quote.

[Guest Brian]

I warned.

[Eclipse 0]

Usually, I only watch part of a series, but with the ongoing hype of the Sox/Yanks rematch, I had to see their series.

 

I religiously watched the ALDS this year. Pretty good. I watched ALL OF THE ALCS this year for the first time ever. After that 3-0 lead, I was VERY CONFIDENT the Yanks had it done. BUT, no. I still cannot believe the Sox fought all the way back to Game Seven, and I witnessed a breakdown of possibly one of the best teams in baseball! Wow, I just hope that this entire thing was a fluke, and the Sox get creamed in the Series....oyea.