Intimidation is a major component in a sporting endeavor. The ability to get into your opponents head will make the difference between winning and losing when the physical aspect is so close, like it is in this World Series. The Highlanders have always liked to use this physiological warfare when dealing with an opponent. Whether it is the constant in stadium bombardment of how many championships they have won or trotting out old time players or prominent political hacks or just flaunting their monetary wealth, the Highlander are masters of head games. Sometimes is works, but sometimes it doesn’t and it looks likes this World Series is one of those times it doesn’t.

You think Cliff Lee is intimidated buy the Bronx Bastards or their palatial surroundings? Not in the least. When asked twice last night after his Game 1 gem first by Fox garden gnome, Ken Rosenthal, if he was nervous and then by Baseball Network’s Trenni Kusnierek, Lee just shrugged and said “What do I have to be nervous about” Lee went on to say that he prepared and did all his side work so he was ready to go and when you do your proper prep work what’s there to worry about? This was the same attitude that Josh Beckett had when his Marlins and Red Sox beat the Highlanders as well. Mystique and Aura, HA! My ass.

CC Sabathia did a good job last night but this biggest fault was falling behind in counts and the inability to throw strike one on a first pitch. Against Chase Utley he fell behind on his first pitch to the Philly second baseman 1-0 but came back to gain a 1-2 advantage as Utley just missed on two fastballs fouling them off. Utley then made Sabathia work by after getting the count even, Utley fouls off two more pitches and then CC misses for ball three and a full count to Utley. So now Utley has seen eight pitches in this at bat and the whole CC portfolio, now with two outs the last thing Sabathia wants is to walk Utley and bring up Ryan Howard with a man on. So CC tries to bust on inside on Utley but the pitches gets a little too much plate and Utley sends just barely over the right field wall for a 1-0 Philly lead. Sabathia pitched a terrific game but some times when you hook up against a guy who is tossing a classic, who have to be better than terrific.

If I’m Joe Girardi, I’d be very concerned about Phil Hughes. Hughes has been awful this October and the grumbling is he’s scared shit. Not a good rep to have and barking at home plate ump Gerry Davis doesn’t help his bad reputation either.

Speaking of Joey G, I’m done trying to figure out his bullpen moves. After the Phil Hughes melt down of walking Victorrino and Rollins, JG brought in Damaso Marte to go lefty-lefty with Utley and Howard. Now with Werth up JG goes with David Robinson who had nothing as he gave up a four pitch walk to Werth. Now you have the lefty Ibanez with in a bases loaded situation and the Highlanders down 2-0. The situation was calling for Phil Coke. But JG leaves in Robertson who gives up a two run single to Ibanez and 2-0 lead is now a 4-0 lead for Philly. That Ibanez AB was the turning point in the game as far as I’m concerned, the game was over at that point.

I’m fascinated by tonight’s match up of Petey and Pie Man. Petey is a Hall of Fame pitcher who like Cliff Lee will not be intimidated by the surroundings of this game. On the other hand, Pie Man has not shown the ability to step up his game in a big spot. You could say when it’s time to put up AJ Burnett is more cream puff than lemon meringue.

Geez, what a morning. As the well rounded person that I am, I do socialize with Highlander fans and some are even close friends, so this morning my phone has been ringing a lot and my usual quiet ferry ride to Manhattan was disturbed by irate Highlander fans who hate their managers’ guts.

I was under the assumption that the manager of the Highlanders was named “Joe” Girardi but my Highlander buddies keep calling him “Fuckin’” Girardi, oh well. I’m just a sounding board for these folks, the same ones who find pleasure in breaking my balls as the Mets let season after season go down the drain. But in time of Highlander misery they reach out to me because they know they can’t help each other as Highlander fans are incapable of compassion and understanding but know Mets fans are the salt of the earth of baseball fans.

Do I turn my back on these fine folks? Of course not, it goes against my Mets fan nature and besides some of these fine Highlander fan folk are very handy with hammers and know how to run electrical wires, two things I’m clueless about, so as payment for my time, I will get two light fixtures installed in my home.   

I tell them how right they are that the Highlanders are facing three opponents, the Angels, the umpires and Joe “Fuckin’” Girardi. Then after they vent, I soothe them with gushing praise for Jeter and Mariano and talk about Alex Rodriguez’ becoming “clutch”,the more I say A-Rod’s clutch, the weeping subsides. I then go on about the Big Stallion, CC Sabathia going today (I don’t mention the 3 days rest because I don’t want the boo-hooing starting up again) and then I go to the tough love mode as I shout to them “COM’ON YOU’RE THE HIGHLANDERS GOD DAMNIT, YOU WILL RISE ABOVE THIS AND WIN THE SERIES” and off they go,  happy and confident and appreciative of their Mets fan buddy’s support. What they don’t know is, I’m downloading pictures of Howie Kendrick to hang up on my cubicle wall.

Speaking of Highlander fans, Lisa Swan, the Highlander half of Subway Squawkers included yours truly in a piece she wrote for The Faster Times asking Mets bloggers about our thoughts on a Highlander-Phuck Phace World Series.  I thank Lisa for including me in this piece.

Mike Silva writes about Scott Boras talking Texieria money for Matt Holliday. Here’s a surprise, Holliday would love to play for either NY team but leans more Highlander than Mets. What a shock (eyeroll) here’s a little advice for Mr. Holliday, you see how those fine folks in St Lou reacted to you misplaying that fly ball ? That doesn’t happen here. If you were a Met, it would be more you wearing sirloin underwear and we’re a bunch of starving Rottweilers. Do yourself a favor Matt, stay in the Midwest.

Rick Peterson is being fitted for a new Jacket with the Brew Crew. Good luck Rick and good luck Brewski fans with your Rick Peterson Decoder Rings.

Someone at Stub Hub is going to rot in hell for eternity, and rightfully so.

Jayson Stark had to have typed this story on last night Phuck Phace-Hollywood Bums game with his nose, as his hands were busy doing something else. Pull your pants up Jayson.

Tonight we will be back on the air as Joe is in Las Vegas and hopefully we will be discussing the Frankie Rodriguez as the Mets new closer and what’s next on Omar’s shopping list. So join us tonight at 10PM EST and join in by calling us at (646) 595-4462 at Pro Baseball Central at Blog Talk Radio.

Think of how many rag armed pitchers have stepped on the Shea mound over Heilman and none of them with anything close to the talent of Heilman and I’m surprised he kept quiet this long.

As Megdal points out the free agent market for starting pitching will be insane especially if CC Sabathia stays true to his word and plays on the West Coast, the Highlanders and Red Sox will throw money around like they were hedge fund managers. I’m sure Sabathia will be getting phone or text messages from Derek Lowe, AJ Burnett and Ollie Perez to please take that Angels offer so they can’t become filthy rich.

So what would be so bad with keeping Heilman and Niese in the 4-5 spots and taking a flyer on Freddie Garcia or signing Jon Garland and spending that money saved on a payout or sweetener in trading Gimp Castillo and signing Orlando Hudson?