<![CDATA[Deadspin: Alcs]]> http://cache.deadspin.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/deadspin.com.png <![CDATA[Deadspin: Alcs]]> http://deadspin.com/tag/alcs http://deadspin.com/tag/alcs <![CDATA[Your Tigers-Rangers ALCS Game Six Open Thread]]> It's Max Scherzer vs. Derek Holland tonight as the latter's Texas Rangers attempt to close out the former's Detroit Tigers and advance to the World Series for the second consecutive year. Excitement. Experience it via comments here. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5850067&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Here's Video Of Josh Hamilton's Bat Apparently Hitting A Detroit Fan In The Head]]> ALCS. Top of the sixth. Man on second. One out. His Texas Rangers down 2-1. That's when Josh Hamilton lost his grip on a swing which, in turn, sent his bat into a front-row Tigers fan's head. Looks like it hurt. But it doesn't look like it hurt enough to stop guy there from yanking the souvenir from a lady's hands. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5848888&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Your Rangers-Tigers ALCS Game Three Open Thread]]> The ALCS arrives in Detroit tonight with the Texas Rangers up 2-0 on the hometown Tigers. Colby Lewis (postseason: 1-0, 1.50 ERA) is pitching for the Rangers; Doug Fister (1-1, 6.52) for the Tigers. But, Lewis had problems with the Tigers this year, and Fister notched a big win over the Rangers, so all those number things could mean everything, nothing or something in between. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5848836&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[This Evening: Jim Leyland Did Not Have A Hard-On, But...]]> Your p.m. roundup for Oct. 10, the day we got bored and chopped at a few trees because it sure beats drinkin'. Photo via Mocksession. Got any stories or photos for us? Tip your editors. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5848443&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[If You Dare Approach Frank Beamer On The Football Field, The Virginia State Police Will Disappear You]]> Your morning roundup for Oct. 9, the day we learned they won't keep you in the clink very long after threatening to cook your friend's mom. Got any stories or photos for us? Tip your editors. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5847997&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[What Bloggers Are Saying About ALCS Game 2]]> Here are 10 links to what guys and gals with keyboards are saying about ALCS Game 2 today. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5665268&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Lincecum-Halladay Billed As "Matchup For The Ages," A "Pitching Classic"]]> Elsewhere, A.J. Burnett hits two batters in a Yankees' simulation game. Here's your evening update on the NLCS/ALCS pitching rotations. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5663457&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Tim McClelland Believes In His Heart That Nick Swisher Didn't Tag Up]]> Anyone else getting tired of umpires holding postgame press conferences to breakdown their poor decision making processes? It's bad enough we have to listen Joe Girardi explain his terrible bullpen moves, but this is getting out of hand. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5386724&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Yes, That Was Pat Sajak And A-Rod Groping Jeter's Buttocks]]> Alex Rodriguez's magic tush massage could not overcome the haunting Sajak voodoo gaze as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim staved off the Yankee gorilla trouncing for one more day. Something called Jeff Mathis is today's hero. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5385371&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[No One Really Knows If The Angels-Yankees Game Will Be Played Tonight Or Not]]> With a little more than two hours remaining before the scheduled first pitch, we're not sure if Game 2 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Angels will be played or not. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5384063&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Dickie V: Impartial To The Very End]]> I have absolutely no doubt that, had he been on hand at the Little Big Horn in 1876, Dick Vitale would have been jumping wildly and screaming superlatives in support of Crazy Horse. "Custer has to pick up the defense, baby!" Not shown: The Red Sox jersey stashed under his seat, just in case. Video following the jump. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5065766&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[ALCS Game Seven Live Blog: Red Sox-Rays]]> Not much more needs to be said, other than "not much more needs to be said." The winner gets to momentum-crush the Phillies in the World Series. Airing (maybe) on TBS, it's Jon "The" Lester for Boston and Matt "Game 7 Scheduled Pitcher" Garza hurlin' fastballs at their respective catchers. It's jump or go home. * * * More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5065702&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Game Seven, for the Pennant]]> They say that there's nothing better than a Game Seven in sports. I'm not exactly sure who "they" are, but whoever they may be, they're some wise bastards. Even the most jaded sports fan can't help but get excited about the ultimate elimination game. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5065620&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[TBS Baseball Coverage: EPIC FAIL]]> As millions of baseball enthusiasts tuned in last night hoping to see Game Six of the American League Championship Series, a surprise awaited them: They weren't greeted by Josh Beckett's steely gaze, instead they were met by Steve Harvey's toothy smile. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5065580&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Suddenly, It's the Rays Staring Down Elimination]]> Things started off well for the Rays in Game Six; a little too well in fact. BJ Upton tied an AL record with his seventh long ball as he took Josh Beckett deep in the first inning, and it appeared for a moment as though Beckett's oblique injury might be Beantown's undoing. Not so. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5065570&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Tampa Rays' Unsteady Walk Into History]]> Prior to Game Five, the easy joke was that with Boston about to be extinguished by those plucky Rays, television executives were preparing to take their own lives instead of facing the prospect of the ratings disaster otherwise known as a Philly vs. Tampa World Series (in fact, I just yawned while typing that.) More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5065429&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Fat Thursday: Meet The Man Who May Have Turned The Tide In Game 5]]> There are many theories as to how the Red Sox summoned the mojo to come back from a 7-0, 7th-inning deficit on Thursday to take an 8-7 win over the Rays and stay alive in the American League Championship Series. Many say that the shocking comeback was ignited by this man — Rick Melanson of Gardner. With the Red Sox trailing 7-0 and things at their bleakest, Melanson suddenly rose and peeled off his shirt, shocking the crowd along the left field line into action. Inspired by his flabby undulations, Boston began their comeback, beginning what may turn out to be the dramatic turning point in the ALCS. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5065016&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Okay, That Was Kind of Insane: 8-7, Red Sox.]]> Well, the Tampa Bay Rays will have to wait until Saturday to clinch their first American League title because the goddamn Red Sox just pulled off the most remarkable comeback I've ever seen. For those of you who stopped watching after the Rays went up 7-0 while Kazmir was cruising, well, you missed an unbelievable show. The highlights won't do it justice. The Red Sox are just scary. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5064868&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Boston Media Unimpressed With Joe Maddon's Managerial Philosophy]]> That's the headline in today's Boston Herald from a column written by Sean McAdam, where the columnist questions why Rays' manager Joe Maddon opted to start lefty Scott Kazmir over James Shields. McAdam says Maddon's guilty of costly over-thinking with this move and this is something the struggling Red Sox could capitalize on in tonight's game. And I do agree — it's just this type of managerial tinkering that could ultimately come back and haunt the Rays and propel the Red Sox toward one of those insane comebacks. Even so, is that the type of headline a hometown newspaper uses when their team is down 3-1? More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5064794&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Rayhawk Kid's Punishment Continues; Must Appear On Doomed ESPN Show]]> Remember Zachary Sharples, the Florida 12-year-old who was suspended by his middle school for showing up with a Rayhawk haircut? As you may have guessed he's now a minor celebrity, having been invited onto the field at Tropicana to meet Rays players on Saturday, and appearing on ESPN's First Take this morning. Quite a whirlwind journey, and he didn't even have to fall out of the stands. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5064011&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[This Is Where You Talk About Tim Wakefield Soft-Tossing The Red Sox Back In It]]> Even though the Red Sox are in all too familiar territory, most sports-related "experts" think their potential to stage another comeback this year is highly unlikely. This pervasive negativity is due in most part to Tim Wakefield having the unfortunate role of stopper this time around. Wakefield, as you all know, is the knuckleball specialist who's only real success in recent post season appearances for the Red Sox has come from not pitching in games. He's 0-2 with a 9.22 ERA in three playoff starts since 2004. But remember! Wakefield is 19-3 lifetime against the Rays ...until last Sept. 17th when he gave up three homers and six runs in 2 1-3 innings in a 10-3 loss. But the pervasive doom-and-gloom also comes from the lack of offensive production because their bats are dead. It also comes from Josh Beckett's crappy outing, the Rays destroying Jon Lester, and the lack of Manny in the lineup. And, if you listen to Ken Rosenthal, it's because they're still just too damn white. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5063437&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Evan Longoria's Not Making a Lot of Amigos at ESPNDeportes]]> Nice catch by Shysterball, about a minor controversy from Evan Longoria's Eva Longoria-filled interview with Big League Stew's Dave Brown earlier this month. It stemmed from this question, where Brown pithily asked who on the team should not sport a Rayhawk: More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5062648&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[ALCS Game One Live Blog: Red Sox Vs. Rays]]> It's Friday night. What better time than to drink away your stock market losses and vaguely remember which AL East team dominated the first game of a curiously exciting ALCS. The pitchers are Daisuke "Dice-K" Matsuzaka for Bawston and James "Scot" Shields for St. Tampasburg. The talkers are TBS's Chip Caray, Ron Darling and Buck Martinez. The jump, if you choose to accept it, will self-destruct in 10 seconds. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5062011&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Sox Fans To Rays Fans: I'll See Your Landing Strip and Raise You A Brazilian]]> Yesterday, female Rays fans garnered national attention for their fan solidarity through a Rayhawk bikini wax, but Red Sox fans, undaunted by the plucky gesture, are planning a pubic counterstrike. Bugs and Cranks picked up a Boston Craig's List ad which reveals the plan of attack: More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5061872&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Curt Schilling's Doctor Thinks Boston Could Use Another Arm Right Now]]> You didn't think a little thing not throwing a single pitch this season was going to keep Curt Schilling's name out the ALCS headlines, did you? The Boston Red Sox have been preparing for Game 1 against the Rays without the assistance of their ace starting pitcher, but his orthopedic surgeon thought that today might be a good time to remind the organization that Curt and his robotic ankle could be starting and winning that game and maybe two or three more in the series, if only those dumb dummies had listened to him 10 months ago. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5061728&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[You're Not A True Fan Until You're Willing To Get A Bikini Wax For Your Team]]> This Tampa Bay mohawk craze was good clean fun at first, but you knew it wasn't going to just end with guys shaving their heads. The women were feeling left out, so now they're getting mohawks of their own ... um, down there. Yes, it's the Rayhawk bikini wax, and the gals are lining up for 'em. Hey, gotta support the team.
Michelle Foster of Skin Deep Spatique in St. Petersburg says she was inspired by her son's Mohawk, "I stopped and thought about it a minute, and thought, well now everyone can have one!" But, it's not exactly pain-friendly. Team pride comes with a little sacrifice. Women wince. They cry. They even scream. It's a bit of a shock to the system as hot wax is spread onto the skin with a spatula, while an aesthetician stands by with a white piece of cloth, ready to rip off the wax. When all is said and done, women are left with a female Rayhawk.
Michelle says she's getting tons of requests for the $30 procedure, and is often asked to dye the Rayhawk, which she declines. Her area of expertise is skincare, she says, not hair-coloring. If you'd like to schedule an appointment, here you go. The Rayhawk craze all began when a few of the players started showing up with them, with the look quickly spreading to the fans. But leave it to the fine folks of the Florida public school system to spoil all the fun. Ellenton seventh-grader Zachary Sharples showed up to Lincoln Middle School with a Rayhawk, and was promptly suspended, being told that he violated the dress code. Now he has to shave his head completely or serve an in-school suspension every day. If the Rays fail to make the World Series, we blame you, Lincoln Middle School. You know who else weren't allowed to wear Mohawks? The Nazis. That's who. UPDATE: Bugs and Cranks may have found the origin of the "Mohawk to the South" idea. Want A Rayhawk Bikini Wax? [Tampabays10] Female Rays Fans Getting Mohawks Too ... Down There [Deuce Of Davenport] Young Rays Fan Pays Price For Mohawk Haircut [St. Petersburg Times] More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5060953&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[ALCS Preview: Rays Vs. Red Sox]]> It is perhaps a clear indication that I drink a bit more than I should that, when I saw that the Rays and the Red Sox had both clinched on the same night, I thought, "Whew, good. Now one team won't be more hungover than the other one in Game 1." Hey, sometimes these things matter. I have to speak on a lunch panel the day after Election Night, which will surely go deep into the morning. I'll be fortunate not to vomit on someone's shoes. And no one wants to see Rocco Baldelli vomiting. He'll surely lose part of his small intestine. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5060250&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[John Lackey Will Reverse Earth's Orbit And Keep Replaying This Game Until Angels Win]]> So for those scoring at home, Boston's 3-2, walkoff victory on Monday was the third time that the Red Sox have eliminated the Angels from the division series (2004 and 2007 were the others), a fact that did not sit well with LA starter John Lackey. In fact, Lackey insisted after the game that Boston was more lucky than good. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5059915&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Red Sox Squeeze Into ALCS]]> Not even Rally Monkey's shocking murder earlier in the game could keep the Angels from setting themselves up to win Game 4 of the ALDS, with Reggie Willits occupying third base with one out in the top of the ninth. But then, a botched squeeze bunt, resulting Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek's ass tag on Willits, pretty much ended things for the Anaheimians. Jed Lowrie singled home Jason Bay in the bottom of the ninth to win if for the Red Sox, 3-2, and now its on to the ALCS against some expansion team from Florida. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5059886&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[ This story made us both sad and inspired,...]]> This story made us both sad and inspired, at the same time. [NewsNet5] More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=313712&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Kenny Lofton Will Make Certain You Lose]]> In the ninth inning of last night's ALCS Game 7, Fox showed a graphic detailing how Kenny Lofton seems to have some sort of postseason curse. But they only showed a small portion: The truth is far more gruesome. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=313549&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Your American League Champion Boston Red Sox]]> No longer are the Red Sox the team overcoming decades of futility to emerge victorious. Instead, they are a increasingly dominant franchise going to the World Series for the second time in four years. It might not be the rapturous breakthough of 2004 ... and, of course, we're sure Red Sox fans would have it no other way. Now they can just be ordinary, happy fans. We congratulate the Red Sox on their American League Championship. Seeing that lineup in Coors Field is going to be a treat. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=313336&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Team Wearing Red Should Win Tonight]]> Since this morning's revelation, Indians' pitcher Paul Byrd has defended his HGH purchases, asserting it was for a tumor on his pituitary gland. Oh sure, Byrdo, that's what all the veteran control pitchers say. Blame it on a tumor. Did Jon Lester blame it on a tumor? Hell no! More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=313299&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[In The Words Of Boston's Generation, "UP... YOURS!"]]> "J.D. Drew hit a grand slam." That line speaks such volumes of how off Fausto Carmona was last night, that it usually saves sports columnists 600 words and gets people home earlier to spend quality time with the family. J.D. Drew had been making beat writers work overtime all season, now he's finally giving back to the community. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=313259&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Only Way A Sock Will Factor Into Game 6]]> As you might hear about 100,000,000 million times on the television tonight, Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS was Schilling's "bloody sock" game. And wouldn't you know, he's starting this year's Game 6 as well tonight, against the Lord of the Flies, Fausto Carmona. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=313225&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[At Least Two More Days Of Life In The ALCS]]> We find it telling that, the day after Josh Beckett once again saved the proverbial Red Sox hide, everyone was still talking about Manny Ramirez. It's amusing to watch reaction to Manny; people treat him like he's a normal human being rather than, you know, an alien. The trick is not to be mad that he didn't slide into home; the trick is to be impressed he didn't just go from third base straight into the dugout. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=312780&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[This Ain't Over]]> Don't be confused everyone, it's me, Unsilent Majority. I'm filling in tonight because Will was delayed in his travels or he just doesn't love you anymore...the text message wasn't entirely clear on that matter. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=312707&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[It Could Be A Late Night In Cleveland]]> The Indians might be trying to distract the Red Sox with ghosts of "relationships" past, but tonight, the National Anthem is the last thing on the minds of Indians fans. They're one game from their first World Series in a decade and going for their first title since 1948. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=312420&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[See, Now This Is Just Being Mean]]> Imagine you're facing one of the most important moments of your career, a moment in which you must be on top of your game and perform at your peak capacity. Everyone is counting on you; the whole world is watching. Concentration is paramount. And then, when the moment of truth comes, and you're ready to go ... someone trots out one of your exes. Yipes: Good luck keeping your cool now. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=312329&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[That Manny ... What's He Gonna Say Next?!]]> By now, everybody knows about Manny Ramirez's supposedly "controversial" comments about not "caring" whether or not the Red Sox win the ALCS. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=312301&view=rss&microfeed=true