National Baseball League

[jg2977]

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE – SEPTEMBER 23, 2002
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 12, BLACKHAWKS 9
Game 2 – Western Conference Semifinals
By Jim Kaat

Well folks, if you like offense, this one had it in spades. On a cool night in Chicago — 53 degrees, light wind blowing in — the bats were red-hot anyway. We saw 21 runs, 22 hits, and a whole lot of crooked numbers on the board before Vegas walked away with a 12-9 victory over the Blackhawks, taking a 2-0 series lead.

Let me tell you, this was one of those games where you’re reminded just how important pitching and defense still are — and how quickly a ballgame can spiral if you don’t have either one working.

Big Inning Blows the Doors Off Early
The Blackhawks jumped out in front early with a pair in the bottom of the first — Nick Foligno got them started with a two-run homer, and he wasn’t done. But the top of the second? Oh, boy.

Vegas dropped a seven-spot on Chicago starter I. Salgado, who just didn’t have it tonight. A leadoff double, a walk, another walk, and then... Franck Huurman. A grand slam. And if you’re looking for a game-defining moment, that’s it right there. One swing, four runs, and the Golden Knights never looked back.

And that wasn’t even the end of it — two batters later, Ivan Barbashev launched a three-run shot of his own. Just like that, Vegas was up 7-2. You can’t spot a lineup like this that kind of lead and expect to win.

Foligno, Barbashev Trade Blows
Now I’ve played in a lot of ballgames where one guy takes over, and for Chicago, that guy was Nick Foligno. Two homers. A triple. Four RBIs. Three runs scored. He did everything you could ask for — and frankly, deserved better.

But Barbashev matched him punch for punch: 3-for-5, a homer, a triple, a double, four RBIs. That’s what we used to call hitting for extra-base dinner — skip the salad, go straight for the meat and potatoes.

Vegas: Opportunistic and Balanced
Look at the Vegas box score — 10 hits, 12 runs. That tells you all you need to know. They didn’t waste their chances. Five walks, efficient situational hitting, and three double plays on defense. That’s what wins you games in October... or, well, late September.

And how about B. Tiller? Two solo shots, a clean game at second base, and a guy who just keeps putting good swings on the ball. You need glue guys like that.

The Bullpens, the Good and the Not-So-Good
Let’s be honest — S. Montez for Vegas didn’t exactly dazzle. Three innings, seven hits, five runs, and a couple of souvenirs for the cheap seats. But give credit to F. Brault, who came in and gave the Knights five strong innings in relief. That’s not glamorous work, but it’s how playoff games get saved.

On the other side? Chicago’s bullpen couldn’t stop the bleeding. Salgado got chased in the second, and the next four relievers all gave up at least a run. V. Sanchez gave up a two-run homer to Golfin in the sixth, and by then, it felt like Chicago was chasing ghosts.

The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, it’s pretty simple: Vegas cashed in, and Chicago didn’t.

You can hit as many solo homers as you want — and the Blackhawks hit four of 'em — but if you can’t stop the other guys from scoring in bunches, you’re not gonna win.

They’ll head back to Vegas now for Game 3 on Wednesday. And let me tell ya — with the crowd in T-Mobile Arena behind them and a 2-0 cushion, the Golden Knights are gonna be a tough out.

But hey, baseball’s a funny game. You get one good start, maybe a timely double play, and suddenly the series swings the other way. That’s why we play the games.

Player of the Game: Nick Foligno (CHI)
Player of the Series So Far: Ivan Barbashev (VGK)
Time of Game: 3:53
Attendance: 41,038
Next Up: Game 3 – Wednesday, T-Mobile Arena, Vegas

Stay sharp, folks.

[jg2977]

“OH, BABY!”—RANGERS BATS EXPLODE IN GAME 3 WIN
By Sam Rosen | September 24, 2002 – Amalie Arena, Tampa

TAMPA BAY – It’s another big win for the New York Rangers! A scintillating offensive display, a 13-8 road victory, and now a commanding 3-0 series lead in the Conference Semifinals. And folks, the Broadway Blues are just one win away from punching their ticket to the next round.

And let me tell you—this one had it all. Early fireworks. Big flies. Grit. Guts. And in the end, the Rangers just outlasted Tampa Bay in a game that felt like a rollercoaster on ice.

Let’s go through it.

A First Inning for the Ages
You talk about setting the tone? How about a six-run top of the first?

The Rangers came out swinging—M. Grubin doubled to lead it off, then W. Cuylle blasted a two-run shot, and just a few batters later, *Eli Grubin—the kid—*crushed a three-run homer to deep left! Oh, BABY! What a way to start a ballgame!

Just like that, the Rangers led 6-0, chasing Tampa starter J. Perez after only one inning. And you could feel the Lightning crowd go silent.

Relentless at the Plate
New York followed up that monster first with five more runs in the second, including three home runs in the frame—I. Bliebernicht, B. Rice, and A. Grubin all went deep in a display of raw power and tremendous timing.

When the dust settled? It was 11-1 Rangers—and folks, it felt like a knockout punch. But not so fast.

Tampa’s Big Fightback
The Lightning didn’t quit. And how about Soup Nazi? The shortstop was 3-for-4, with a home run, two doubles, and 4 RBIs. He put the team on his back, and for a while, it looked like the comeback might be on. Baha Duqaq added two solo homers, and catcher B. Quero joined the power party with a blast of his own.

They cut the lead to 12-6 by the fifth. Then 12-7 after eight. And by the ninth, with Duqaq doubling and Nazi slashing another two-out double, it was 13-8. But that's as close as it got.

The Rangers bent—but they did not break.

Pitching with Poise
Let’s be honest: this was not a pitcher’s duel. H. Macias got roughed up for New York—4.2 innings, 4 earned, 4 home runs allowed. But credit to O. Nunez and the bullpen. They came in, quieted the storm, and gave the offense room to breathe.

And that, my friends, is how you win playoff games.

Across the Diamond
K. Kramer had three hits for New York, W. Cuylle was on base four times, and the Grubins—Eli, Avery, and Mark Grubin—combined for 6 runs, 6 hits, and 5 RBIs.

Oh, and how about that triple from M. Grubin in the ninth? Talk about hustle. That’s Ranger hockey baseball—er, you know what I mean!

What’s Next
So now, it’s Game 4, tomorrow, again in Tampa. The Rangers are hot. The bats are booming. And the Lightning? Well, their backs are against the wall.

You don’t have to be John Davidson to know what comes next: “It’s go time.”

A sweep is in sight. But you better believe Tampa Bay won’t go down without a fight.

For now though, the Rangers take a 13-8 win, a 3-0 series lead, and a whole lot of momentum.

Final Score: Rangers 13, Lightning 8
Player of the Game: Soup Nazi (Tampa Bay)
Game Time: 4:05
Attendance: 32,978
Series: Rangers lead 3-0

And as always, folks… “Thanks for joining us. Stay with us. This one’s far from over!”

[jg2977]

A Most Satisfying Display of Offensive Efficiency
By Dr. Sheldon Cooper, B.S., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., Sc.D.

Let me begin by expressing my deep and unshakeable admiration for the Long Island Islanders' performance in Game 3 of the Conference Semifinals. Not because I have any emotional attachment to the team (sports are, by definition, irrational), but because I appreciate patterns, outliers, and statistical anomalies—and this game had all three.

The Islanders’ 20–8 victory over the Florida Panthers was not merely a triumph; it was a mathematical marvel. Allow me to elaborate.

Warming Bernabel: A Walking, Talking, Bat-Swinging Physics Problem
Let us take a moment to acknowledge the thermodynamic miracle that is Warming Bernabel. The shortstop went 5-for-6, including two home runs, one of which was a grand slam in the ninth inning.

He recorded 11 total bases, 6 RBIs, and scored 4 runs. This individual performance has a Win Probability Added (WPA) that likely rivals the emotional satisfaction I experienced when Leonard finally re-aligned the laser in our apartment’s Wi-Fi router.

If this were The Flash, Bernabel would be vibrating through walls. In this case, he vibrated baseballs through the Florida night.

J. Bauer: The Quantum Particle of Run Production
Jack Bauer, the Islanders’ center fielder, exhibited wave-particle duality by both scoring and driving in runs simultaneously, with two home runs, a double, and a jaw-dropping 7 RBIs. Seven. That’s a prime number. As is three, which is how many hits he had by the fourth inning.

His performance supports my longstanding hypothesis: that when Jack Bauer plays like this, the laws of probability are temporarily suspended in his immediate vicinity.

Offense By the Numbers (and Oh, What Numbers)
Let us appreciate the following numeric feats:

23 hits.
20 runs.
9 extra-base hits.
Only 5 runners left on base.
From a mathematical standpoint, this is called run conversion efficiency. From a baseball standpoint, it’s called obliteration.

Florida: A Curious Case of Catastrophic Inefficiency
Now, I must address the Florida Panthers. Despite scoring 8 runs, they were utterly outclassed. Their pitching staff surrendered 20 runs, 3 of them via Warming Bernabel's orbital launch off D. Felipe in the ninth.

To continue with my physics metaphors, the Florida bullpen resembled a black hole, not in its gravitational pull, but in its capacity to suck all hope and matter out of the stadium by the fifth inning.

Pitching: Or, More Accurately, Its Absence
C. van Laar, the winning pitcher for Long Island, was not so much dominant as he was adequate relative to the chaos behind him. He allowed 6 runs in 5 innings, which in this context, qualified him as a stabilizing force.

Meanwhile, Florida’s O. Gomez lasted two innings while allowing 6 runs and 4 home runs, a sequence so statistically improbable, I briefly thought I had accidentally opened a simulation model from my laptop.

Final Notes
Let’s not forget the setting: Amerant Bank Arena, with a roof closed and a climate-controlled 79 degrees. Despite this, the heat generated by the Islanders' offense would have raised the temperature inside by several kelvins—though, unfortunately, no one thought to measure that.

Attendance: 37,768 humanoids.
Time of Game: 3 hours, 49 minutes, or 13.8 minutes per run scored.
Errors: Zero. Which pleases me immensely.

Conclusion
This game was not merely a victory. It was a textbook demonstration of entropy, velocity, and what happens when nine bats align like the planets during a solar eclipse.

Should the Panthers wish to remain in this series, they will need a drastic recalibration of their tactical approach. Or a miracle. Or both.

Until then, I shall sit back, adjust my noise-canceling headphones, and run Bernabel’s swing trajectory through my finite element analysis software for further study.

Bazinga.

[jg2977]

Hi-ho! Kermit the Frog here, reporting live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas!
And oh boy, what a ribbiting—I mean, riveting—baseball game we had on our hands today as the Chicago Blackhawks took down the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 6 to 5 in Game 3 of the Conference Semifinals! Yayyy!

Now, let me tell ya, folks… this game had everything: drama, dingers, and a whole lotta excitement! Almost as exciting as watching Fozzie try to bunt a watermelon. (Don’t ask.)

🌟 Connor Bedard: Superstar with a Capital S!
Wowzers! Connor Bedard was an absolute firecracker out there today! He went 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple, three runs batted in, and even swiped a base! If he were a Muppet, he’d definitely be Scooter—fast, smart, and always in the right place at the right time.

And let’s not forget his 2-out, 3-run homer in the 4th inning! It soared through the air like Gonzo in a cannonball act—BOOM! Right over the fence and right into the hearts of Chicago fans everywhere. 🧡⚾

💥 Nick Foligno: Captain Clutch
Just when the crowd thought it was safe to put the foam fingers down, Nick Foligno said, “Not so fast!” In the top of the ninth inning, he blasted a solo home run that broke a 5–5 tie and sent the Chicago dugout into a frenzy! Yay!

That was his only hit of the day, but boy oh boy, it was the one that counted. Sometimes it’s not about quantity—it’s about timing. Like knowing exactly when to interrupt Miss Piggy. (Actually, never do that.)

🎭 Tales of Two Teams
Let’s talk about Vegas for a second—because they didn’t go down without a fight! Barbashev stole a base, Squillino had three hits and three RBIs, and B. Tiller clobbered a solo homer in the seventh. It looked like the Knights were about to pull a dazzling comeback, but alas… the curtain fell just one run short.

And hey, I’ve gotta give a shoutout to Vegas’s pitcher B. Watts, who came in with hope but left with heartbreak after giving up that go-ahead homer. Oof. It’s okay, B—there’s always another act in this series.

🎶 The Stats That Sing
Chicago had 11 hits, 8 walks, and stranded 12 runners.
That’s a lot of frogs left on the lily pad, folks!
Vegas had 10 hits, and Barbashev now has 5 homers this postseason! That's more bombs than Dr. Bunsen Honeydew’s lab last week.
And speaking of explosions: Chicago’s F. Bautista pitched a solid 6 innings despite letting in 4 runs. Then M. Rivera came in like Animal on the drums and shut it down for the win!

🐸 Final Thoughts
So after tonight’s thrilling adventure, the series stands at 2–1, with Vegas still leading. But the Blackhawks are flapping their wings, folks, and Connor Bedard is flying high!

Game 4 is tomorrow, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what happens next! Will Vegas strike back? Will Bedard do more Bedard things? Will Miss Piggy throw a fastball out of frustration?

Stay tuned, and as always…

Yayyyyyy baseball!!! 🐸⚾💚

[jg2977]

THE 9TH INNING OF GEORGE
From the press box of despair, paranoia, and unlikely triumph

So get this... Dallas wins a playoff game. Dallas. The Stars. I don’t even know if they know how. I mean, they were down in the series, they were practically toast, crumbling like day-old rye. And then—boom! Out of nowhere, they score five runs in the ninth inning and walk off with an 8–5 win in Calgary.

I mean, who are these people!?

Let me tell you something, folks—this was not a comfortable win. No, no, no! This was the kind of game that raises your blood pressure, gives you stomach cramps, and makes you question every decision you’ve ever made, including that questionable egg salad sandwich you had before first pitch. But you know what? It was worth it.

George Costanza Hits a Grand Slam. Let Me Say That Again. A GRAND SLAM.
Now I’m not saying I’m the hero, but I’m the hero. One hit, four RBIs. You know what that’s called? Efficiency. You give me one shot, I’ll give you four runs. I’m like the Costco of clutch hitting. Maximum value.

It’s the top of the ninth, bases loaded, two outs, full count, and I’m thinking to myself: This is it. This is my moment. This is why I didn’t go into latex. And BAM! I send that baby into orbit! The ball is flying, the bench is erupting, and I'm rounding the bases like I’ve just stolen a parking space in Manhattan during alternate side rules. Glorious.

Nazem Kadri—This Guy!
Listen, you want to talk about consistent? Nazem Kadri is hitting like he’s being paid in home runs and doubles. Today, he goes 2-for-3, hits a homer, takes two walks like he’s strolling through Central Park, and makes life miserable for the Flames. This guy is so locked in, he could hit a fastball blindfolded with a breadstick.

Pitching? Let’s Not Get Crazy... But It Worked.
C. Kim started for Dallas. He gave up five runs in four and a third innings, walked five batters, and somehow still survived. That’s like me managing to live in my parents’ house until I was 34. Not pretty, but effective!

Then this guy F. Cespedes comes in, shuts the door in the eighth like he’s guarding the last piece of cheesecake, and L. Sanchez gets the save. It’s not what you’d call elegant, but hey—it got the job done. Like Kramer fixing a sink with a spatula.

Meanwhile, in Calgary... Pain.
Oh, Flames fans. You had it. You had it. Up 5–3 going into the ninth, your guys are probably dusting off their brooms, thinking sweep. But no. Then comes Costanza with the grand salami and poof—your bullpen collapses like a cheap folding chair at a family barbecue.

Your manager, Juan Medina? He looked like he just got stuck in a revolving door that won’t stop. Quote of the night: “We didn’t play well enough to win.” Really? You think?!?

A Game for the Ages… Or at Least for the Therapists.
This one had everything. High drama, emotional trauma, and just enough offense to make you forget you haven’t done your taxes. If Dallas can somehow bottle this ninth-inning magic, they might just crawl back into this thing.

But let me be clear: I don’t trust it. I’ve seen too much. They win one game, you start to believe... next thing you know, you’re buying a jersey, they lose three straight, and you’re eating spaghetti alone in the dark. AGAIN.

Next Game? Same Place. Same Chaos.
Scotiabank Saddledome. Game 4. Will Dallas tie it up? Will Calgary bounce back? Will Costanza get another at-bat? (Probably not.) Tune in tomorrow—because you never know when a neurotic third baseman with one hit and a dream will strike again.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to lie down.

[jg2977]

New York Rangers: 19th Conference Finals berth
1981 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning — September 25, 2002
Recap by Milton Waddams (yes... yes I was told I could write it)

Um, okay... so the New York Rangers... they, uh, they beat the Tampa Bay Lightning. They scored fifteen runs. That’s a lot of runs, and I was going to watch the game, I told them I was going to watch it, but they turned the channel. Again. They said it was "just a formality" because the Rangers were up three games to none, but I was like, "I like formality..."

Anyway, the Rangers won 15 to 11, and now they’re going to the Conference Finals, and nobody even asked me if I wanted them to win, which... it would’ve been nice, you know?

They said the game was at Amalie Arena, which is where I used to keep my radio before they took my desk. The game started at 1:05 PM, and it lasted three hours and fifty-eight minutes, which is longer than they let me sit in the break room.

Will Cuylle... He Did a Thing
So... this guy, Will Cuylle, he’s apparently very good. He hit a bunch of home runs, four of them in the series. They gave him MVP, and, uh... I didn’t get anything. I asked if I could get a trophy, maybe a small one, just for watching, and they told me I should go back to Storage B.

Cuylle said, and I quote, “On to the Conference Finals and feeling good.” Well, that’s good for him. I also feel good when I’m not being relocated to the basement. Maybe I could come to the Finals? I have a flashlight.

Ben Rice Was Also There
Ben Rice hit two home runs. They called him the Player of the Game. I had a red stapler once. I was the Player of the Office. And, um, they took that too.

Ben Rice had eight total bases, and everyone was very excited, but I bet he didn’t have his cake taken before he got any, which happened to me at the last office birthday party.

Home Runs Were... Everywhere
It was like... a home run contest, I think. The Rangers hit seven home runs. Tampa Bay hit six. That’s thirteen. That’s... that’s one more than twelve. It’s a baker’s dozen of destruction, if you like metaphors. I like metaphors. And cake. Especially bundt.

Anyway, M. Grubin, B. Sattler, W. Cuylle, B. Rice (twice), A. Grubin (twice) — all hit dingers. It was like everyone got to use the good stapler but me.

Tampa had a guy named Dimas hit two homers, and then R. Sifonte, Duqaq, Perez, and Nazi all added one each. Nazi is a weird name. I'm not allowed to say that in the office anymore.

Pitching... Was Not a Priority
So... both teams gave up 14 hits, and the starting pitchers had ERAs that looked like someone sat on the calculator. New York’s G. Contreras gave up 7 runs in 3.1 innings, and Tampa’s M. Gonzalez gave up 6 in 3.0. That’s bad. That’s, like... very bad. It’s like when they said my timecard was “lost.” You can’t lose something you never looked for.

There were a lot of pitching changes. Nobody seemed to know what they were doing. There were zero strikeouts by the Rangers’ bullpen, but they still won. I once reorganized an entire supply closet and didn’t get a raise.

Conference Finals? Huh? Oh... Okay.
So the Rangers are moving on, and they don’t know who they’re playing next. It could be the Long Island Islanders or the Florida Panthers. I could play. I mean, no one asked me, but I brought my own helmet... it’s red.

They said the schedule will be released soon, but last time I asked about a schedule, they told me to “circle back after Q3.” I don’t know what that means. I just want to see the game.

Anyway... the Rangers are very good. Tampa Bay is going home. I’m going back to the basement now. If the Rangers win the Finals, I hope they give me back my stapler. I think that’s fair. I told them it was mine. It was red. And if they don't... I’ll set the rink on fire.

[jg2977]

.

[jg2977]

LONG ISLAND ISLANDERS @ FLORIDA PANTHERS — SEPTEMBER 25, 2002
Recap by Peter Gibbons, guy who used to care about things... kinda.

So yeah, I’m gonna go ahead and talk about this game between Long Island and Florida. Not that it matters. I mean, it was basically four hours of chaos, a bunch of guys hitting the crap out of the ball, and a bunch of pitchers pretending like they’ve never done this before.

Final score: Long Island 15, Florida 13.
That’s not a typo. That’s just what happens when nobody really wants to be at work.

Let’s just say if this game were played in an office, HR would be sending out a "Let's talk about performance" email to every pitcher involved. Except maybe Brenton. That guy actually tried.

Adrie Sijtsma, Definitely Not Doing the Bare Minimum
So there’s this dude, Adrie Sijtsma. Second baseman. Probably one of those guys who actually likes his job. He went 2-for-3, hit a home run, walked twice, and somehow ended up with 4 RBI and 3 runs scored.

I mean, I guess if you’re gonna bother showing up to a baseball game, you might as well go all in. Some people are just built that way.

Eighth-Inning Madness (a.k.a. TPS Report-Level Fire Drill)
Let’s talk about the eighth inning. Florida scored six runs. Six. Like they suddenly remembered they were getting paid to play. Home runs from Espinoza and Salad — yes, there’s a guy named Salad — tried to make it interesting. And yeah, the Panthers made it close, but... let’s be honest, they still lost. So, classic Florida.

Also, Espinoza hit two home runs. Probably still got overlooked in the postgame meeting.

Pitching... Was There
Look, I’m not saying the pitching was bad. Actually, no — that’s exactly what I’m saying. This was like watching a staff meeting where no one read the agenda. Guys walking batters, giving up bombs left and right. ERA’s floating in the double digits like they’re balloon animals at a kid’s birthday party.

Florida’s D. Felipe? Faced 5 batters, gave up 3 runs. ERA: 54.00.
Long Island’s E. Rivera? Gave up 4 runs without recording a single out. That’s not pitching, that’s just clocking in to watch things burn.
So What Now?
Long Island’s up 3-1 in the series. One more win and they’re on to the Conference Finals. They’ll play Game 5 back at UBS Arena on Friday. Probably gonna win unless they collectively decide they’re done trying.

Personally, I’d rather be fishing. Or sleeping. Or maybe gutting the break room printer with a baseball bat. But hey — if you’re into dramatic baseball with no defense and enough scoring to make a football coach blush, this was your game.

Anyway... if you could go ahead and give Sijtsma the MVP parking spot early, that’d be great.

Oh, and Florida? Yeah, I’m gonna need you to come in on Friday... and win. Mmmkay?

[jg2977]

DALLAS STARS AT CALGARY FLAMES — SEPTEMBER 26, 2002
Recap presented by Bill Lumbergh, Regional Manager of Baseball Operations, probably.

Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and talk about Game 4 of the Conference Semifinals here, mmmkay?
So, uh, Dallas… they did win this one, 9 to 5, which, you know, technically ties the series at 2 games apiece. That’s great. That’s just great.

Now, if you could go ahead and give a big "thanks" to George Costanza, that’d be terrific. He went 4-for-5 with a homer, didn’t get fired, and even managed to not screw anything up in the field. He’s basically the guy you call when you need someone to come in on a Saturday and finish those TPS reports, ya know?

And then there’s Amenzu Jabiri — yeah, that guy. Grand slam in the ninth. Again. That's two games in a row for the Stars. I mean, I’m not saying he has to carry the entire offense on his back... but if he could just keep doing that for the rest of the series, that’d be super.

Let’s Talk Pitching... Unfortunately
So, uh, yeah. Quezada, for Dallas? Yikes. He threw 82 pitches to record eleven outs, gave up 5 runs, walked five guys, and hit one. So we’re gonna need him to come in early next time and maybe, I dunno, throw some actual strikes. That’d be great.

But, hey — bullpen kinda did their jobs. Van Steenis looked like he read the memo. Cespedes? He’s that one guy in the office who quietly saves the whole team and doesn’t even demand a pizza party in return.

Calgary, Mmmyeah, We're Gonna Need More from You
So Calgary… they had this one. They really did. But then T. Stanford happened. He came in, gave up a grand slam, then gave up another solo homer for good measure. So, uh, yeah. That’s a tough look. Maybe check your calendar and make sure it’s not Casual Implosion Friday.

And then there’s Mila Grubin. Look, walking four times in a playoff game? That’s actually impressive. But also… it’s kinda like bragging about how you filled out your time sheet on time. We expect that.

So Here’s the Deal...
Game 5’s gonna be in Dallas on Saturday. Lot riding on it. So, if everyone could go ahead and not implode in the ninth this time, that’d be fantastic. Also, if the bullpen could stop giving up historic meltdowns, we’d all really appreciate it.

And Flames? Mmmkay, if you could go ahead and not lose the next one, that’d be greeeat.

Alright, thanks a bunch. Let me know if you need me. I’ll be in the press box pretending to write emails.