ultimopain

Line-ups: Hanley ss Uggla 2b Cabs 3b Hammer lf Helms 1b Ross rf Olivo c Amezaga cf Sanchez p Reyes ss Lo Duca c Beltran cf Delgado 1b Wright 3b Floyd lf Green rf Valentin 2b Williams p Ramp will be happy!

What an absolutely crucial performance, not only for the win in the context of the race for the Wildcard, but to rest the bullpen as well. He's such a special player, hopefully he shows off more performances like that over the next few weeks.

Conine is batting fifth and playing RF. This will be hard to watch.

From all the reports I've read, Garcia will be something special.

Key Wild Card battle on tap for Marlins Philadelphia (70-69) at Florida (70-69), 7:05 p.m. ET By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com If the Marlins are to catapult themselves into the Wild Card lead, they will have to get past one of their division rivals. Like the Marlins, the Phillies are in the hunt for a postseason spot. Both are chasing the Padres in the Wild Card standings. And both NL East squads will see plenty of each other in the upcoming weeks. Ten of the Marlins' final 23 games are against the Phillies, including a four-game set beginning Thursday night at Dolphin stadium. An inspired Florida squad hopes to carry the momentum of Anibal Sanchez's no-hitter against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday night into the series opener. Making history, Sanchez struck out six and walked four in the 2-0 victory. Now the Marlins must guard against a letdown after an emotional night. Marlins manager Joe Girardi says the schedule makers knew what they were doing when they stockpiled meetings in the final month. "They certainly are making things interesting," Girardi said. "The worst thing for both teams is probably a split. The bottom line is you've got to win series. If you win series, you'll be OK." Thus far, the Marlins have had their struggles with Philadelphia. The Phillies lead the season series, 6-3. In years past, these two clubs have had great September battles. The 2003 Marlins swept a three-game set late in the month to put themselves on the verge of clinching the Wild Card. That year, Florida handled Philadelphia, taking the season series, 12-7. The Marlins have won 14 of 17, and are now even with the Phillies for second place in the NL East. Girardi predicts it will take 85 wins to capture the Wild Card. The Marlins need to go 15-8 to reach that mark. In matching up with the Phillies, the Marlins are focused on containing slugger Ryan Howard, who has 53 homers and 134 RBIs on the season. "The amazing thing is he didn't seem to do much in April," Girardi said of the Phillies star first baseman. "He's been impressive. He's an impressive guy." With so much on the line in this series, the Marlins will pitch carefully to Howard. "The situation will dictate what we do," Girardi said. The Marlins send rookie Josh Johnson to the mound in search of his 13th win. The rookie right-hander is 12-6 with a 2.99 ERA. The Phillies are going with veteran Jon Lieber (6-9, 4.93). An interesting twist to the Marlins-Phillies series is the fact Jeff Conine is now with Philadelphia. Obtained in a trade with Baltimore, Conine was part of both Florida World Series title teams. Conine is mildly surprised by the Marlins' success with so much youth. "If you asked anybody, they'd be a little surprised that they did this well," Conine said. "It just shows you the job they did in the offseason in acquiring the talent in the trades that helped everybody. They got quality people in return." Pitching matchup FLA: RHP Josh Johnson (12-6, 2.99) Johnson wasn't as sharp as previous outings in his second consecutive start against the Brewers on Saturday night, but still pitched well. He gave up four runs in six innings as Milwaukee bunched its hits together to take an early lead in a game the Marlins won, 9-6, in 10 innings. PHI: RHP Jon Lieber (6-9, 4.93) Lieber has been very effective since the trading deadline, posting a 2.42 ERA in six starts. Though he didn't win his previous outing, the right-hander lasted eight innings, and allowed just two hits. Command has been the biggest factor for Lieber during his standard late-season push. Player to watch Howard is having an MVP-type season with his .306 average, 53 homers and 134 RBIs. On the Internet ? MLB.TV ? Gameday Audio ? Gameday ? Official game notes On television ? FSN On radio ? 560 WQAM, 1140 WQBA(Espa?ol) Up next ? Friday: Phillies (LHP Jamie Moyer, 1-1, 5.12) at Marlins (LHP Scott Olsen, 12-7, 4.04), 7:35 p.m. ET ? Saturday: Phillies (RHP Brett Myers, 10-6, 4.09) at Marlins (RHP Brian Moehler, 7-8, 6.18), 6:05 p.m. ET ? Sunday: Phillies (LHP Cole Hammels, 7-7, 4.33) at Marlins (LHP Dontrelle Willis, 9-11, 3.93), 1:05 p.m. ET Let's keep on rolling and crush these Phillies! GO FISH!

Fricking awesome. Those videos rock.

I wouldn't call it superstitious or influencing karma... but it was my birthday today! What a freaking birthday present! Oh, and I also started the game thread. :mischief You know what you have to do tomorrow... Go back in time and force my mother to give birth to me on September 7th so tomorrow can be my birthday as well? :mischief Indeed, I'll take care of it.

I wouldn't call it superstitious or influencing karma... but it was my birthday today! What a freaking birthday present! Oh, and I also started the game thread. :mischief

Miami at Pittsburgh Atlanta at Carolina Baltimore at Tampa Bay Buffalo at New England Cincinnati at Kansas City Denver at St. Louis New Orleans at Cleveland N.Y. Jets at Tennessee Philadelphia at Houston Seattle at Detroit Chicago at Green Bay Dallas at Jacksonville San Francisco at Arizona Indianapolis at N.Y. Giants Minnesota at Washington San Diego at Oakland 9-7

Sanchez takes hill vs. D-Backs in finale Arizona (65-73) at Florida (69-69), 7:05 p.m. ET By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com After losing Tuesday night, the Marlins enter the series finale Wednesday hoping to once again make up some ground. The Diamondbacks snapped Florida's four-game winning streak on Tuesday behind a brilliant pitching performance by former Marlins farmhand Claudio Vargas. The Marlins still can claim a series victory on Wednesday. On the season, the Marlins hold a 3-2 edge with Arizona. In the finale, Florida's Anibal Sanchez goes for his seventh win. The rookie right-hander is 2-0 in his last five outings. At home, he is 3-1 with a 2.89 ERA. The 22-year-old Sanchez has logged his share of innings since being called up from Double-A Carolina in late June. In his last six starts, he has worked fairly deep in games, logging at least six innings in all of them. Since the All-Star break, he is 5-2 (2.42), compiling 63 1/3 innings. Arizona is going with Edgar Gonzalez. As a result of Tuesday's loss, the Marlins have now won 13 of their last 16. Pitching Matchup FLA: RHP Anibal Sanchez (6-2, 3.22 ERA) The rookie, obtained in the offseason trade that sent Josh Beckett to Boston, had his best start in his last outing. He pitched seven innings, giving up one run with a career-high seven strikeouts in a 3-2 victory over the Brewers. He also had better control in his last start, walking only two batters. He's looked strong in his last five outings, going 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA during that span. ARI: RHP Edgar Gonzalez (1-2, 6.27 ERA) Gonzalez will be recalled from Triple-A Tucson to make Wednesday's start, his first since July 16. Arizona needed a spot starter because of Friday's rainout and Saturday's day-night doubleheader. With the Sidewinders, Gonzalez was 3-8 with a 3.83 ERA in 23 starts, and had 106 strikeouts in 136 1/3 innings. Player to watch Former Marlin Damion Easley, now a key situational player for the Diamondbacks, homered off Dontrelle Willis on Tuesday. It was Easley's second home run of the season against the Marlins. He also went deep at Arizona. On the Internet ? MLB.TV ? Gameday Audio ? Gameday ? Official game notes On television ? SUN On radio ? 560 WQAM, 1140 WQBA (Espa?ol) Up next ? Thursday: Phillies (RHP Jon Lieber, 6-9, 4.93) at Marlins (RHP Josh Johnson, 12-6, 2.99), 7:05 p.m. ET ? Friday: Phillies (LHP Jamie Moyer, 7-13, 4.47) at Marlins (LHP Scott Olsen, 12-7, 4.04), 7:35 p.m. ET ? Saturday: Phillies (LHP Cole Hammels, 7-7, 4.33) at Marlins (RHP Brian Moehler, 7-8, 6.18), 6:05 p.m. ET Win for me on my birthday today! GO FISH!

EYEING RUDY The Marlins were one of a half-dozen teams pursuing veteran reliever Rudy Seanez, released this week by the Red Sox. Seanez, who finished the 2004 season with the Marlins, was weighing his options Wednesday night, but his agent, David Schwartz, said it was "unlikely he ends up in Florida." That's mainly due to geography, as the pitcher's hometown Padres were among several West Coast clubs interested. Players must be in an organization by midnight tonight in order to be eligible for the postseason roster. "Rudy is flattered by the Marlins' interest," Schwartz said. "He's got some history with the club and enjoyed his time there. Everyone treated him well when he was there. He's definitely considering Florida." Seanez would cost his signing team the pro-rated minimum for the final month, or about $55,000. LINK Could be a good veteran presence in the pen... although he's had a fairly poor season with Boston. Though from that article, we're only an outside shot at getting him.

Spike did you get Olivo's autograph? :lol What about Mitre's for the quinella?

Hanley = Cardinals Killer

This is unbelievable. After tonight, we could be only one game out of the Wildcard. Wow.

CLAP CLAP CLAP-CLAP-CLAP! :clapping :Clap :arms

And Cleveland just scored 4 runs in the top of the 9th to tie it at 13-13. :plain Kansas City has one of the worst bullpens I've ever seen.

Is it just me, or does Messenger's delivery look different? He looks more sidearm than usual.

Jake is starting to heat up again.

Cabs likes to cuddle doesn't he... :plain

Amezaga makes a diving grab on a ball that should have been caught without it. End of inning. Are you freaking serious? Anyone would've had to dive for that, even Andrew Jones. Not even giving credit to Mezzy there is just ridiculous.

...that "worst starting lineup in baseball history" just beat the Rangers.

Hanley!!!!

Zimmerman is a beast.

Gibbons and Lilly get into argument August 21, 2006 TORONTO (AP) -- Blue Jays manager John Gibbons and pitcher Ted Lilly got into an argument -- and possibly a fight -- after Gibbons removed the pitcher from Monday night's game against the Oakland Athletics. Gibbons argued with Lilly on the mound and later in the tunnel leading to the clubhouse after the pitcher left the game. A team trainer and a few players raced down the stairs of the tunnel after Gibbons followed Lilly. A television camera later showed Gibbons with a bloody nose. Toronto took an 8-0 lead before Lilly allowed seven runs in the third. Gibbons challenged infielder Shea Hillenbrand to a fight in July after Hillenbrand wrote on the clubhouse bulletin board that the "ship was sinking." The Blue Jays designated Hillenbrand for assignment during the game and later traded him to San Francisco. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-b...p&type=lgns More will be revealed I guess, but if Gibbons has a bloody nose, Lilly must have popped him one...

HIS NAME IS... (you know the rest) :mischief JJ a very close second. But the last month or so of the year could change my mind on it.