Tuesday, October 6, 2009

AL Central Tie-Breaker Open Thread

We have a tie-breaker for the 3rd straight year and an AL Central tie-breaker for the 2nd straight year. I don't know how many people outside of the local markets are interested in this game, but I certainly am. Here's your information on the game, not that you didn't already know it, but it really is a FARN! open thread staple.

Detroit Tigers @ Minnesota Twins 5:00 (Porcello, 14-9 vs. Baker, 15-9) (TBS - Chip Caray and Ron Darling, SR: Craig Sager)

Enjoy the game and leave comments!

240 comments:

  1. Shit I'm stuck at my school's library and still have one more class before I can go home. I didn't expect this game to start at 2 in the afternoon.

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  2. Whoa. Nice pink tie, Chip.

    And am I the only one who feels that Chip is the 2nd coming of Uncle Jesse in terms of the way he coifs his hair.

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  3. Blame the Yankees for the early time. The Yankees had the option w/ the best AL record to choose starting the division series Wednesday or Thursday, they chose Wednesday. So, 5:00 ET is the most reasonable start time.

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  4. BTW, anybody think the Tigers have a shot of winning?

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  5. @ Al: I am well aware of that. Technically, the Yankees have not chosen yet (they have an hour from the time this game ends), although they would be stupid not to choose the 8-game series and thus, the Wednesday start.

    And the early start time is so the winner will have enough time to get to New York because MNF last night moved this game to a day later.

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  6. First K for Baker. First Favre mention by Darling.

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  7. @ kt: I missed the Sager, dare I ask what his mother gave him to wear tonight?

    @ Al: I would give them a slight chance.

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  8. Nobody, including me, is giving them a chance. I wouldn't bet five bucks on the Tigers in Minnesota.

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  9. @ Al: Which is why I give them the slight chance.

    Nobody gave the Phillies a chance in hell last year and look what happened.

    There was no way we would beat Milwaukee.

    There was no way we'd beat the Dodgers and Ramirez.

    There was no way we'd beat the red hot Rays.

    Look at how that turned out.

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  10. Kubel lines out. No score after 1.

    JFein, I'm a Caps/Skins/Nats fan, I know choking dogs when I see them.

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  11. 1st and 3rd, 1 out for the Tigers.

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  12. @ Al: Well I guess you do have a point there....

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  13. Inge lines out, Laird pops out. Inning over.

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  14. JFein, you'll appreciate this, Chris Berman is calling the Phillies games this week for ESPN Radio, according to the506.com.

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  15. Ordonez singles home Granderson. 1-0 Tigers.

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  16. @ Al: BOOMER??????????????

    ESPN must be that desparate for radio announcers.....

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  17. From domestic disputes to a huge 2-run homerun, Miguel Cabrera ladies and gentlemen!

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  18. "And the home field advantage that is this homer, hankee waving crowd, is gone." - Chip Caray with some awkward alliteration.

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  19. 3-0 Tigers, Cabrera two-run homer. I guess he's not drunk today.

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  20. JFein, I read it from the506.com website, they're pretty good finding info on announcers.

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  21. Did Chip just say, "here come the piranhas"?

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  22. wild pickoff throw, tolbert scores

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  23. I am aware of the506, I just can't believe that ESPN is that desparate....

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  24. TBS warming up for the playoffs, spelling Craig Sager as GREG SAGER on the ticker.

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  25. Wow. Someone is new to the company.

    Before we know it, the Steve Harvey show will be on instead of the playoffs....

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  26. Nice to see home-field advantage in baseball means as much as hockey. I should have made that bet on the Tigers.

    BTW, This year's in-game filler programming wil be "Lopez Tonight".

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  27. And as Tony Bruno would say, "it's a final", Chris Berman will definitely call games 1-2 of COL/PHI w/ Rick Sutcliffe.

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  28. i never thought an announcer would make me long for Joe Morgan, but Ron Darling has accomplished that.

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  29. Porcello looking like he's going to seal up the AL ROY in this game.

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  30. Just found out that Kenny-Moose-Goose are calling the Niners game this weekend. Hopefully my friend comes through and I can go to the game, instead of listening to those three.

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  31. the 6th was Baker's best inning since the 1st

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  32. kt, I would listen to Shulman/Campbell on ESPN Radio but radio feed is ahead of TV. Need to learn how to synch this crap up.

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  33. As far as the niners game, if I couldn't go in-person, I'd listen to Ted Robinson. He's better than most of the network hacks.

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  34. @Al..i muted the TV and am listening to a podcast

    /multitasking

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  35. Kubel belts it out. 3-2. Star Wars theme blaring.

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  36. Twins finally have some momentum now.

    Perhaps yet another close finish to the tie-breaker game.

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  37. Looks like Porcello is weakening...

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  38. Cuddyer walks. Pitching change DET.

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  39. @ 49er16: If you can't go to the game, then enjoy having Goose tell you all about the wind and how loud the crowd is!

    Credit to Kenny and Moose, though, they are half decent and probably by a mile the best team on Fox (not that that's saying a whole lot, though) when Goose is not talking.

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  40. That's real nice of the Yankees to chose to play tomorrow.

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  41. Tigers sure got out of that jam. That could have gotten real ugly for Detroit.

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  42. Flyout. The city of Detroit can breathe again.

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  43. @ 49er16: It's what any other reasonable thinking team in that same situation would have done.

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  44. Jorge De La Rosa is out of the LDS for the Rockies

    /Giants can never catch a break

    BTW, the Phillies/Rockies game starts at 11:30AM PST tomorrow. I can't watch that game, damn schedule makers.

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  45. @JFein, I know. I just wanted to complain about how the Yankees catch all the breaks.

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  46. You think they put that game anywhere w/ Yanks, Sox, and Dodgers in the other series?

    We're lucky it's not at 1 ET, 10 AM PT.

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  47. Major disrespect to the defending champs and 2007 NL Champs, respectively.

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  48. "He ran a 50-yard fly pattern." - Chip Caray

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  49. @ Al: It is disrespectul and I don't like it, but at the same time, I really can't blame them. 2 LA teams have home field advantage, so neither of them can obviously have 2:30 time slot, and that leaves the Yankees, and TBS is not going to put baseball's largest market in a crap time slot.

    I'm not saying it's right (believe me, as a result of this, I'm missing an hour and 15 minutes of the Phillies game because of class), but it's the way it is and pretty much has to be.

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  50. It's the whole way of marketing that ticks me off, no salary cap benefits big-spending large markets, only 5-6 teams shown regularly on tv, etc...

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  51. I know you probably don't have this option, but I'm skipping my class tomorrow. I'd figured I could miss one class and it wouldn't really affect me.

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  52. Twins escape the jam. Tigers leave two on.

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  53. While you guys are watching this game, I'm glued to the TV as it looks like Crabtree will finally sign a contract with the Niners.

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  54. "The waiting is over!"-Sam Rosen

    Sorry, JFein, too good to pass up.

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  55. @ 49er16: Do you want Crabtree with the Niners, or do you fear that his divaness will and not practicing for the past 6 months disrupt the team chemistry that's been built?

    CABRERA KILLS ONE! THIS GAME IS TIED!

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  56. how long did it take Chip Caray to come up with "Metrodome Magic?"

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  57. Two-run homer as I was going to blast them for not bunting.

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  58. @Al....a straight NFL style salar cap won't work in MLB. too much disparity in local TV revenue.

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  59. @Al... The Twins are the one team in the AL that would have considered bunting in that situation.

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  60. kt, they need something with a salary cap, revenue sharing, and/or bigger luxury tax-compensatin for free agent signings. At least try. The first sport I loved was baseball and my interest is slowly decreasing.

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  61. Where's RJBO, I wonder?

    Then again that might be an answer that I don't want to know.

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  62. @Al i agree that the creative thinking MLB needs ain't coming from Bud and the current leaders. But look at the NHL. The salary cap is killing some teams because they don't have the revenues to meet the salary floor. You can't ask anyone to operate a team at a loss.

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  63. Last thought on this, if the Yanks and Sox meet in the ALCS, not watching.

    Yanks/Sox vs. Dodgers in World Series, not watching.

    Angels and Phillies would be on that big market hate-list if not for unfortunate circumstances this year. I can't root against them.

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  64. Ordonez ties it for the Tigers!

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  65. 0-0 end of 1 between the Caps and Flyers

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  66. Chip using the same Leyland quote from spring training that Dave O'Brien used last week on ESPN.

    Just a coincidence, not making a bashfest.

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  67. @JFein, I'm not worried about Crabtree becoming a diva. From all reports he's a nice hard working kid whose been getting bad advice. Plus I doubt guys like Singletary, Gore, or Willis will let Crabtree get out of hand.

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  68. if we'd been having a drinking contest counting every baseball cliche said between Darling & Caray, we'd be dead.

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  69. 1st and 2nd 1 out for DET, Pitching change.

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  70. kt, Caray and Darling are not exactly Doc Emrick and Daryl Reaugh during the Caps/Pens series last year.

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  71. @Al..no they are not and Nathan gets the 2nd out

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  72. Nathan gets Inge on a popup. 2 out.

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  73. Nathan punches out Laird with the hook!

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  74. Nathan gets Laird looking. Still tied.

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  75. Just noticed, Caps and Flyers playing on Versus...I don't care. This is too good to switch.

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  76. 3 up 3 down..to the 9th at 4-4

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  77. Santiago with the bunt single!

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  78. Bunt single for Santiago.

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  79. Everett running..remember the HR Granderson hit against Nathan last Tuesday

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  80. RED JESUS on the board in Philly!!!!

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  81. and the Flyers go back ahead 2-1

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  82. Granderson bloops one in..1st and 3rd..0 out

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  83. Darling actually has some good insights, i.e. throw to 1st. I think Caray/Stockton brings him down. 1st and 3rd for the Tigers!

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  84. Wow. Tigers are poised to take the lead in the 9th.

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  85. W00T! Richards and Timonen! Go Flyers!

    /Upset he does not get Versus

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  86. I take back what I said about Darling. Talking about the long break between innings affecting Nathan. It was a bunt hit and a bloop hit!

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  87. @Al...Darling is working with Caray in the Divisonal series this year


    Nathan K's Polanco

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  88. He gets nothing and likes it!

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  89. OVECHKIN SCORES AGAIN!!!!! 2-2

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  90. DOUBLE PLAY!!! TWINS GET OUT OF THE INNING! UNBELIEVEABLE!!

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  91. LINER!! DOUBLE PLAY!!! TWINS out of the inning !!!OH MY!!

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  92. Double play! What was the runner thinking?

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  93. @JFein...Flyers on the power play

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  94. The Tigers will definitely not win this game now. You don't have 1st and 3rd-nobody out, don't score and survive.

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  95. "Will this be the final 9th inning of regular season play at the Metrodome?" - Chip Caray

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  96. oh jeez Chip..stop building up the last game at the Dome drama...

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  97. Semin Scores!! assisted by you know who... Caps lead 3-2!!!

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  98. Span successfully sacrifices...

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  99. Great bunt by Span. Runner at 2nd

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  100. and the big guy, Rodney is coming in for Detroit..

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  101. To hell, with Chip and Ron, I'm listening to ESPN Radio even if the audio is a couple seconds ahead

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  102. Mike Richards just scored 2 goals in 18 seconds to put the Flyers back ahead 4-3

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  103. fantastic play by Inge for the 2nd out!

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  104. Great play by Inge! Season-saver!

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  105. What a play! That would have been the game!

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  106. and now the Intentional walk to Mauer to face Carlos Gomez.

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  107. Mauer is getting the intentional walk.

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  108. Extra innings. Do you believe this?

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  109. Extras in Minnesota..shades of 2007 in Colorado?

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  110. EXTRAS!!!! THIS GOES TO EXTRAS!!! INCREDIBLE!!!!

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  111. @JFein Richards is eating the Caps up...

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  112. Yankees hoping Tigers/Twins play at least nine more innings.

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  113. my best friend just texted me, to tell me the Twins blew their chance w/out Nathan in the game anymore

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  114. can anyone explain why the umps are wearing windbreakers inside?

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  115. High throw nearly costs Minny's Cabrera

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  116. the Manhorse is hit by the pitch!

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  117. Yankees have got to be loving this, you're absolutely right, Al.

    "You can't get any saliva." - Ron Darling

    Uh....nice imagery..

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  118. Tigers lead! Inge with the big hit!

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  119. INGE doubles!!! Tigers take the lead 5-4!!! Metrodome silenced!

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  120. INGE WITH A DOUBLE!! KELLY SCORES FROM 1ST!!! TIGERS LEAD IT 5-4!

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  121. Twins need a run in the 10th to extend the game...

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  122. Inning over. Cuddyer, Young, and Harris right now stand in the way of the Tigers and the ALDS.

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  123. Laird grounds out to end the inning. 5-4 Tigers. The pitch before Inge's double was at least 3inches above bottom of the strike zone and Marsh missed. I think it would've been 1 and 2. Randy Marsh has been awful behind the plate!

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  124. Rayburn missed it..Cuddyer makes it to 3rd!! WOW!!

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  125. TRIPLE FOR CUDDYER!!! UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!

    And is it just me or does Chip Caray have money on the Twins tonight? Good grief, he's rooting hard for them.

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  126. Cuddyer bloops it in! Raburn lets it go to the wall! Unbelievable!

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  127. what in the hell was Ryan Rayburn thinking????

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  128. Young doesn't do the job...1 out

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  129. 1 out on a infield chopper.

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  130. @JFein yeah Caray's announcing has been pretty sickening..wait until tomorrow night, when he's rooting for the Pinstripes.

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  131. kt, Raburn wasn't thinking. Be a hockey goalie, anything

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  132. I'm watching since playoff baseball sort of gets me interested.

    Great game.

    Caray sucks and sounds like a chipmunk when excited.

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  133. It looked like Rayburn was attempting the same dive that the White Sox player (forget who) did to end the tie-breaker last year. Only he failed. Miserably.

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  134. damn this has been exciting stuff...

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  135. GROUNDBALL BASE HIT!!!!!!!! WE ARE TIED AGAIN IN THE METRODOME!!!!!!

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  136. Tolbert singles!! Tie game!!! 1st and 3rd with 1 out!!

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  137. Base hit! Tie game! Winning run at 3rd!

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  138. "No surprises here. It's country hard ball time." - Chip Caray

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  139. Soup Campbell on radio correctly critizing Polanco for rushing to get 2 instead of catching the ball for 1 out

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  140. This game is going 16 innings.

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  141. DOUBLE PLAY!!!TO THE 11!!TH WOW!!

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  142. Unnbelivable! Double play! 11th inning!

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  143. btw, did Caray just call that a hit before Rayburn caught it?

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  144. Lol at Chip Caray calling that a basehit before it was caught.

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  145. Yes, he did. And congratulations guys on setting a new FARN! commenting record

    Previous record: Cardinals-Eagles NFC Championship game, 2nd half. 161 comments.

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  146. Great throw by Raburn and a great diving tag by Laird.

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  147. "Sometimes when I look at this place, it looks like a big balloon and some of the air has just been let out." - Ron Darling

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  148. you know it must be an exciting game if Mookie shows up for a baseball game :)

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  149. thats a great replay of the runnernot getting back to base quickly enough. i've liked the production of the game, but this announcing has killed it for me.

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  150. Shulman and Campbell are doing a tremendous job on ESPN Radio. They're showing the same excitement on big plays but are accurate and no hyperbole.

    BTW, can this FARN record be considered a Guinness record? ESPN set a "Favre" record yesterday.

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  151. Tweet from On The DL Podcast: "OntheDLpodcast CHIP CARAY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE BOOTH FOR INNING 11. Worst. Call. Ever. #mlb"

    If I find a video of that call tonight, I'll be sure to put it up.

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  152. Mahay with a nice job of punching out Granderson...

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  153. @ kt1000: OT, but I see you have met the Orange Jesus, Mike Richards. ;-)

    /Hat trick'd.

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  154. I know this is pollyanna but this game is why I decided to put up w/ the steroids, competitve imbalance, general ineptitude of the Nats. They keep drawing back into this sport.

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  155. Liner to Punto for the third out.

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  156. To the bottom of the 11th, we go!

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  157. Darling: " Marsh with a 95% success rate tonight". wtf is he talking about?

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  158. OT, but Semin just tied it back up at 4-4

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  159. I've watched about two minutes of Caps/Flyers. Can the Twins win now so I can see the last half of the 3rd period?

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  160. @Al the only negative in this hockey game is that Varlomov got pulled..its been very intense

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  161. kt, Caray and Darling are not announcing at the level the game is tonight. Dreadful.

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  162. Cabrera strikes out looking. He is pissed! Mauer grounds out on one pitch.

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  163. OT, Brendan Morrison just put the Caps back ahead 5-4!

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  164. Marsh's strike zone has been as good and as consistent as Caray and Darling's announcing. /sarcasm

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  165. Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly??????/ i'm gonna need to stockup on ear plugs.

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  166. "Sleep is overrated. You can sleep when the season's over." - Ron Darling

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  167. "That ball was spanked by Thomas." - Chip Caray

    Pammy nominee!

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  168. Thomas hits a bullet right to Gomez, 1 out.

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  169. Cabrera walks. Patient at-bat.

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  170. Keppel really struggling right now

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  171. Kelly with a double! 2nd and 3rd-1out!

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  172. and the Twins lose the double play due to Young missing the cutoff man

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  173. Twins walking Rayburn to set up a double play...Inge coming up

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