Delivering #27 Diary - Game 3 World Series - Yankees vs. Phillies - 2 wins till #27!

7:11 p.m. - Happy Halloween. It's 46 minutes till first pitch of Game 3 of the 2009 World Series and also 46 minutes until we stop answering the door for neighbor kids looking for a free handout of candy.

7:12 p.m. - Question: If the US Government was giving out free candy tonight, would Republicans stauchly oppose it and crazed Americans hold packed town hall meetings to scream about it?

7:27 p.m. - Joe Girardi announced today that C.C. Sabathia is pitching for the Yankees in Game 4. If Andy Pettitte wins tonight against Cole Hamels, I think that gives the Yankees a considerable edge in the series.

7:32 p.m. - Just turned on the Fox pre-game and found out there is a rain delay for Game 3. Guess, the trick or treaters have a few extra minutes to fleece me out of candy. Come and get it.

7:34 p.m. - Honestly, how is Ozzie Guillen a commentator on the pre-game. He doesn't even speak good english. I can't even understand him. He sounds worse than Shannon Sharpe....And Sharpe is unintelligible.

7:36 p.m. - On Twitter: BobKlap (From The Bergen Record) Curious how Pettitte, who is as gentle as a dove, will handle a hostile crowd tonight....Really, Bob? Andy has the most postseason wins in Major League HISTORY. Plus, this is his 8th World Series. He will pitch well tonight.

7:42 p.m. - I keep saying this before every game, but this is a big game tonight that will turn the momentum of the series. Andy Pettitte is the person I want pitching this game.

7:46 p.m. - From LoHud Blog: "Tonight is Andy Pettitte’s 11th World Series start for the Yankees, which is the second-most in team history. Pettitte passes Waite Hoyt and Red Ruffing."

7:51 p.m. - I echo what Eric Karros just said on the pre-game: "Alex Rodriguez is going to have a good game tonight. Isn't it interesting how he had an other worldly ALDS and ALCS and now that he's gone 0 for 8 in the World Series, that people are starting to question him again. What the hell. I think he's going to do well and go deep tonight.

8:10 p.m. - We're in a rain delay and I switched over to Ocean's 11 on TNT, one of the few movies I have watched a thousand times and will still watch again and again whenever it is on TV.

8:32 p.m. - The rain delay has forced me to desperate measures. We're taking advantage of the free Halloween Black Taco from Taco Bell.

9:03 p.m. - I'd imagine that those 3 Taco Supremes that I just ate aren't going to feel good later.

9:05 p.m. - The cast of Glee is singing the National Anthem and the guy who plays Artie Abrams in the show is standing. It's a Halloween Miracle!

9:20 p.m. - It's game time, finally!

9:22 p.m. - God, I hate Phillies fans already. They suck. They are surprisely loud in the first inning.

9:23 p.m. - The home plate umpire is the horrible 1B ump from Game 2. This is going to be rough.

9:26 p.m. - Rollins singles to left and A-Rod makes another bad defensive play. 1st one resulted in only run for Phillies in Game 2. Let's hope trend doesn't continue.

9:30 p.m. - I wonder if Chase Utley's hair is as greasy tonight as it was in Game 1. Do you think the rain watered it down somewhat tonight?

9:32 p.m. - I think I hate Philly fans more than I hate more than Red Sox fans. ...And I've only had to endure them for one inning. I've had to endure Red Sox fans for years upon years.

9:36 p.m. - Great pitch by Andy to strike out to Chase Utley. Big, big time.

9:42 p.m. - Ryan Howard strikes out to end the inning with Rollins on second base. It's his 7th K of series and he's now 2 for 10 in the series. Earlier in the at-bat, Fox was comparing A-Rod to Howard (in snarky fashion) as a way to show how bad both team's sluggers have been this series. Are Philly fans getting on Howard the same way NY fans are getting on A-Rod? Probably not.

9:43 p.m. - Yes, I realize I just said NY fans are "getting on A-Rod." Don't be dirty!

9:46 p.m. - A-Rod leads off the second and it hit in the shoulder by Hamels.

9:47 p.m. - How is it that Tim McCarver can see Hamels balk from up in the TV booth, but the umps can't see it and they are on the field?

9:49 p.m. - Mr. .114 steps to the plate after a 1 game layoff. Can you make up for your previous playoff suckyness, please?

9:50 p.m. - Mr. .114 flies out to Jason Werth. Is it me or does it look like Werth is going to drop the ball everytime he catches it?

9:55 p.m. - Well, I shouldn't have made fun of Werth. He hits a homerun to lead off the 2nd. 1-0 Phillies.

10:02 p.m. - I don't think I could ever root for a National League team. I hate when the pitcher bats. It's just unnatural.

10:03 p.m. - How does Pettitte not make a play on that bunt by Hamels?

10:04 p.m. - And the whole pitcher wearing a jacket when he's on first base is just plain dumb.

10:05 p.m. - Walk to Rollins with the bases loaded. Andy is not looking good tonight. 2-0 Phillies

10:07 p.m. - Sac fly on an 0-2 pitch and it's another run for Philly. 3-0

10:10 p.m. - And Pettitte mercifully gets out of the 2nd with a strikeout of Utley. Yankees have 6 innings to come from behind, as they are so good at doing this year.

10:14 p.m. - Pettitte comes to bat. Can he make up for the 3 runs he just gave up. Probably not. That's why pitchers shouldn't hit.

10:17 p.m. - The Yankees are making Cole Hamels look good tonight. And he's not good.

10:19 p.m. - I feel sick. I don't think it's from the Taco Bell I ate an hour ago.

10:21 p.m. - Howard strikes out for 8th time in series. No, I'm not making fun of you Ryan. Don't hurt the Yankees later.

10:24 p.m. - 1-2-3 inning for Pettitte and hopefully he's calmed down. Damon, Tex and A-Rod to start the 4th. Let's break it open here.

10:27 p.m. - No, I would not like to get paid in gum, Trident Layers guy. Trident should fire their marketing staff. They should have totally played it off of Shrek's classic "onions have layers...donkeys have layers."

10:29 p.m. - How do the Yankees not even have a hit yet?

10:31 p.m. - If Alex was looking for a time to break out, here might be a good place with Tex on first after a walk.

10:32 p.m. - Alex rockets a ball to right and the ball hits the camera hanging over the wall in right field. That was a homerun. The umps need to replay that!

10:33 p.m. - And they are replaying it. It better be in the Yankees favor.

10:34 p.m. - And it's RULED A HOMERUN! 3-2 Yankees.

10:34 p.m. - I am Nostradamus, by the way.

10:35 p.m. - It took the umps literally 1 minute to look at the replay and rule it a Home Run. Wouldn't it be nice to replay plays in all cases to make sure the call is right?

10:40 p.m. - Out of A-Rod's 6 HRs this postseason, 5 of 6 have been hit to right or right-center field.

10:42 p.m. - Andy needs to get out of this inning without giving up a run. The Yankees offense is going to come alive the next inning.

10:44 p.m. - And Hamels bunts again and Posada actually makes the play this time. THIS IS WHY THE PITCHER SHOULDN'T BAT!

10:45 p.m. - MLB really needs to discuss this offseason about expanding the "limited use of replay". The technology is in place to warrant it. Of course, Bud Selig is spineless, puppet commissioner so I would not bet on it.

10:46 p.m. - Pettitte stymies Philly threat in 4th and I'm feeling some fireworks from Mr. .110 to start the Top of the 5th.

10:49 p.m. - Is it Philly or Phillie? Who cares. They and their fans both suck.

10:51 p.m. - Mr. .110 with leadoff double to start the 5th! Yes, I am Nostradamus!

10:53 p.m. - Andy Pettitte with single to center and Swisher scores! 3-3. That's why pitcher's should bat!!

10:54 p.m. - Jeter singles to put runners on 1 and 2nd with 1 out and the Yankees have something going. Come on Johnny!

10:56 p.m. - Johnny Rockets a double to center and drives in two to put the Yankees ahead for the first time tonight. 5-3 Yankees!

10:59 p.m. - A-Rod comes to the plate again with runners on 1st and 2nd and a big chance to make a big impact again in this game.

11:06 p.m. - The Yankees Suck chants by the Phillie-Philly faithful don't have the same affect now that Yankees are leading as they did when they were losing 3-0.

11:08 p.m. - Again, the bottom of the 5th is another big inning for Pettitte to shut down the Phillies.

11:09 pm. - I've been playing Borderlands and Halo ODST lately for XBox 360 and recommend both if you are fan of shooters. While both are shooters, Borderlands has a heavy RPG (role playing game; not rocket propelled grenade) angle to it and ODST is more of a straight shooter.

11:10 p.m. - Those pumpkins with Yankee and Phillies logo on them (behind Buck and McCarver) are very nice. Are they carved or drawn?

11:15 p.m. - Pettitte downs Phillies 1-2-3 and looks like he is back to his usual self after a rough start to the game.

11:16 p.m. - Yankees need to start tacking on runs in the Top of the 6th to give Pettitte and eventually the bullpen some breathing room.

11:19 p.m. - Robinson Cano really needs to take more than one damn pitch to start the 6th. He's 1 for 10 this Series. Not good.

11:21 p.m. - My buddy, Mr. .114 just nailed a homerun to left. I guess that 1-game benching was a wake up call, huh? 6-3 Yankees! It's a Swish-a-licious! That's 2 extra base hits this game for Nick Swisher.

11:26 p.m. - According to my DVR, the "Talkshow with Spike Feresten is supposed to be on now. Yes, that's the only time you'll ever see my DVR tuned to that show.

11:27 p.m. - Jason Werth leads off bottom of 6th with his 2nd homerun of the night. 6-4 Yankees. That makes Swisher tack on solo homerun even more important.

11:35 p.m. - McCarver just said: remember to turn your clocks back so you won't be late for the start of 1 p.m NFL games tomorrow. Uh, if we don't turn our clocks back won't we be an hour early Tim?

11:36 p.m. - I've said it before and I'll say it again. Yankees need to tack on in 7th. Pettitte definitely isn't starting the 7th.

11:38 p.m. - McCarver is totally getting blasted on Twitter right now for his lack of understanding for Daylight Savings Time.

11:43 p.m. - Damon walks and steals second. A-Rod up with a chance to tack on run for Yankees.

11:46 p.m. - A-Rod gets hit for 2nd time tonight. Intentional? Maybe. Nonetheless, Jorge steps up with chance to add run for Yankees.

11:49 p.m. - Jorge comes up clutch again as he dunks a flare single into left to drive home Damon. 7-4 Yankees!

11:50 p.m. - Wow, Robbie takes a pitch. Good for you.

11:54 p.m. - I love the U.S. Military for what they give to our country, but the guy who sang God Bless America was worst than the one who sang it at Yankee Stadium. Sorry. Ronan Tynan was the best God Bless America singer, his horrible comments recently aside.

11:56 p.m. - Joba comes in to start the 7th for Yankees.

11:57 p.m. - Great start tonight by Pettitte. He got into trouble early in the 2nd inning, but pitched very well after that getting 12 of the next 14 batters out. Here's tonight's line for Pettitte: 6 IP, 4 runs, 5 hits, 3 BB, 7K

11:59 p.m. - Joba gets Phillies out 1-2-3.

12:05 p.m. - I'm glad to hear that Brett Myers bowled a 298. Who cares about that?

12:06 p.m. - Phil Hughes warming up in bullpen and of course Joe Buck mentions that he hasn't pitched well lately. Thanks for bringing that up there Joe. You'd mention Don Larsen was pitching a perfect game while he was doing it if you were an announcer back then.

12:07 p.m. - Matsui pinch hits for Joba and smacks a homerun to left field. 8-4 Yankees. Oh, how I wish you could play in the field tonight and didn't have the knees of an 80-year-old.

12:08 p.m. - How crap it's November. And Mr. November steps up to the plate! Any coincidence?

12:11 p.m. - Jeter strikes out, but I still can't believe it's November and we're playing baseball.

12:12 p.m. - Marte comes in to start the 8th. A little bit of a surprise, but lets see what happens after Howard bats.

12:16 p.m. - Howard strikes out for 3rd time tonight and 9th time in series. If the Phillie-Philly fans don't get on him tomorrow for his series, I don't know what to say.

12:17 p.m. - Interesting that Marte stays out there to pitch to Werth. I'm surprised when Girardi doesn't overmanage, I guess.

12:19 p.m. - Very nice 1-2-3 inning by Marte. That's two straight 1-2-3 inning for Yankee bullpen, which is saying something after their recent struggles.

12:21 p.m. - The Phillie-Philly faithful who were loud as hell early in the game sure are quiet right now. Do they all have Philly Cheesesteak stuck in their craw?

12:27 p.m. - Uh, why did A-Rod just try to pick up that ball in the dirt like he was a ball boy? Is he trying to get a World Series souvenir for his girlfriend Kate Hudson?

12:30 p.m. - A daylight saving time question for you and Tim McCarver: Does Grace, my 9 month old, know it's daylight savings time and she gets an extra hour of sleep or will she wake up on Sunday at 5 a.m. instead of 6 a.m.? And will she miss the 1 p.m. game if she tunes in late-early, whatever?

12:37 p.m. - Good thing Phil Hughes has some breathing room as Ruiz hits a homerun, 8-5 Yankees.

12:39 p.m. - Girardi isn't messing around and brings in Mariano. I don't have a problem with this move despite what Joe Buck is saying on TV now. McCarver agrees with me.

12:43 p.m. - And Mo closes it out on 5 pitches. Yankees win 8-5.

Wrap-up: This was definitely a big game for the Yankees as their offense finally broke out and they got a good game from Andy Pettitte and a great effort by the Yankee bullpen. Tomorrow C.C. is up with a good chance to put a strangehold on this series.

2 wins till #27!

Let's go Yankees!