Let's Hear it for the Boy[s]

AL East CHAMPS!

Love it. I have a strong need to hear that old '80s classic today from Footloose, Dear Criss. And you know what, the young kids really did make a difference this year. Higher salaries for everyone!

Home Field advantage - this feels real good, but I know there's more work to do. And, we have a better record than Cleveland, so I feel a tiny bit calmer than I have during these last crazy weeks, months, etc. No screaming at the t.v. Just nice, happy words. And it looks like J.D. Drew is heating up with his three-run homer from last night, and a few sprinkled in recently.

I'll let the pics speak for themselves. I'm very happy. Now just don't trade Lowell.

Roxy

AP Photos: Pap - Charles Krupa; group - Elise Amendola

Lucky #13

The Yankees are in the playoffs!!!

I know how happy that makes you, Dear Roxy :)

After a not so good first half, the Yankees came back with a vengeance after the All-Star break to shock everyone, including me!

Job well done! And so October is among us. Can't wait to feel as if I'm having a heart attack.

-Criss

Photos: Chris O'Meara, AP

Winning 200

Yes, that's right, one of my fave Yankees, Andy Pettitte, won his 200th game. I am so excited to see that the Yankees are playing so well, Dear Roxy. I know that doesn't sit well with you, but it sure does with me.

As ESPN called it, Objects in mirrors are closer than they appear! And boy is that true! Just keep playing hard, boys!!!

Joba pitched great again yesterday... and his dad was there to see him again :)

We are down to the last week in the regular season and nothing seems set in stone! Who will get the division, home field advantage, and best record?!?!?!

Congrats to Jim Thome and his 500th homerun! Cool to see one of the "good" guys do well.

The Angels and Indians clinched their division already... who will we play?

By the way, do you want some cheese with that whine, Rox? All I hear is blah blah blah when you talk about our guys throwing at your players! What about when they hit Jeter and Arod, huh? I don't hear any whining then!

In other news, great job by the Canes this past Thursday! This was the first game in which I felt the Canes could do some damage! The offense and defense was outstanding! Job well done. Oh, and I didn't know how hard of a life Coach Randy Shannon has had. Kudos to him for persevering when all odds were against him.

Too bad I can't state the same about the 0-3 Dolphins! They just keep losing this close games!!!

It's a good thing the Colts are doing the opposite!

-Criss

Photo: Barton Silverman, New York Times

Blog Hog: The Beard Clinches

So the Sox clinch a playoff spot. Excellent, but I really want to win the AL. Clinching doesn't mean chilling, as the boys may have thought today, losing to the Rays. It is vital that you lose, Dear Criss. Work harder at giving up. My boy Tek appears, as of today, to be growing a beard. I mean, if that makes him feel good, or if it leads to homeruns, it's all cool. You can't see it in this pic, but apparently he can grow one overnight. Huh? I like it.

The Niners looked pretty good in the first half today, but it's tough going up against the Steelers. Frank Gore can't save the team. Ben got sacked a few times, but overall, nice job. Why does Belichick always seem unhappy? And Dolphins - 0-3, ouch.

Roxy

Photo: AFP/GettyImages/File/Elsa

I Can Feel it Coming in the Air Tonight ... Hold On

You wanna talk about cheaters, Dear Criss? Let's look at the Yankees. Whenever things get tight, or a potentially good batter comes up in a key moment, hey, just hit him.

Hit Youk on the wrist.

Hit Ellsbury by the knee.

Throw the ball at Pedroia's head a few times. (Already hit him in the arm last time around. Shucks.)

Lucky I can't remember the whole list.

Guess what? It's time for some Don Zimmer throw down a la Pedro! I'm telling you, and your pretty boys and new pitcher better watch out, 'cause next time, Hinske and Mirabelli are gonna team up for some justice! It's so amazingly annoying.

Here's a tip: Stop blocking the plate.

And a tip for the Sox: You can't play like this and win the World Series - or get to it, for that matter.

As for the Pats, I don't condone it. It's embarrassing and unnecessary. What an idiot. Thanks a lot.

Roxy

Photo: Getty Images, Jim Rogash

All around

I was super sad to hear about Kevin Everett's injury so when I heard the great news about his recovery, I couldn't help but be overjoyed, Dear Roxy. I saw the highlights from his injury too, and wish I hadn't. It definitely goes to show how tough this game is. No doubt.

My prayers go to him and his family. Hopefully he'll have a full recovery.

Speaking of, how many injuries did the Dolphins have? Two at the very least.

Oh, and by the way, your guys cheated themselves to a win! I say take away all their Super Bowl wins, have them forfeit the win against the Jets, fine them AND take away some of their draft picks too! That way, it'll stop others from even thinking about cheating!

And Brady - from a good boy image, to a bad father and cheater! hahaha. JK!

And moving to college football, poor UM and FIU as they both got creamed! Now they'll go at each other this weekend. That'll be interesting to watch. USF pulled a great win against Auburn. Kudos to the Bulls!

Back to baseball, AROD! How about 5 homeruns in five straight games?! Talk about en fuego!
He is now at 52 homeruns! Only the third Yankee to do that. Hard to believe, especially with a team with so much history. And, he is the first third baseman in major league history to have 50+ homeruns in a season!!! Congrats, Arod! And thanks for keeping the team right on the Red Sox's heels!

And JOBA... I can't get enough of this guy. Very touching during Friday night's game against the Royals when his dad got to see him play for the first time in a Yankee uniform! He and his friends drove 3 hours from Nebraska to see him pitch. How sweet.

-Criss

AP, Ed Zurga

Battle of the Stars' Kids

You know, Dear Criss, I thought maybe Brad Pitt might be a good father, but when I saw him at the Yankees game, I knew something was wrong. And I feared he might be raising his son to be a - gulp - Yankees fan. At least little Violet Affleck will grow up to be a fine young lady who loves the Red Sox.

Okay, so the Sox did pretty well against Baltimore. And don't think I missed Pedroia getting hit and the fight that nearly ensued afterward. Ridiculous, and next time, Schilling's gonna hurt someone. Now how is it we can nearly sweep the Orioles, but now we're having trouble with the stinkin' Devil Rays again? I hate Sox-Rays series so much! These should be easy wins people. Easy ways to move ahead of New York. I don't know why I have to give this speach all the time.

Switching gears to football: My Pats won, my Steelers gang won and Niners won. I'm telling you, Niners make the Wild Card this year. And I just saw on ESPN that Kevin Everett's surgeon thinks he just might walk again. Man, lots of prayers for him.


Roxy

Football is here!

Well, almost!!! One more day for the start of football season, Dear Roxy. Sundays will never be the same again.

How about College football though? UM kicked some a** on Saturday at the OB! Looking very good. Too bad FIU wasn't as lucky. lol.

But before we get too excited, let's remember baseball is still here. The Yankees were able to stay ahead of the Mariners thanks to Arod, Jorge and Wang, with his 17th win!!! He is now tied for the major league lead in wins.

Speaking of last night's game, look who showed up to see it... how adorable :)

(That's Spike Lee and his son [I think] too!)

Mark Mulder will make his first start this season. I'd forgotten how much I like him.

-Criss

Photos: 1st: NY Post; 2nd: Anthony J. Causi, NY Post

All Gold

I love Buchholz. Make the T-shirts. Make the jerseys. I want one, Dear Criss. Varitek will buy one, too. These are the games I miss out on because I don't have NESN. The games on ESPN or FOX never compare to the one's we don't get down here. A no-hitter! The kid is incredible. I don't know what we're going to do, but he has to stay. I watched the highlights at least four times. After this, I feel like we need more excitement. Bring on the wins! Every year we have a turning point, maybe this is our turning point. Can he play every night?

Roxy

Photo: AP, Winslow Townson