Yankees World Series Bound; Game 6 Recap

We remember the disappointment of last season, the $423 million spent on C.C Sabathia, Mark Teixteria, and A.J Burnett.  We made our predictions, and how awsome would be if we won it all.  We remember Spring Training, the A-Rod scandal, and then A-Rod's surgery.  We remember April, how we struggled, Cody Ransom at third, Chein-Ming Wang throwing batting practice to opposing teams, and we remember May when A-Rod came back and got this team going.  We remember lsoing 8 in a row to the Red Sox, going into a funk in june against the Nationals and Marlins.  We remember Francisco Cervelli's home run to beat the Braves in late June, the night Cashman flew to Atlanta and Girardi had a close door meeting.  We remember the team taking off, posting an almost .700 winning percentage after the break, beating the Red Sox 9 out of the last 10 games, and blowing past the competition to the playoffs.  We remember last night, as the Yankees won their 40th American League Pennant, and hopeuflly we will remember next week, after ther Yankees try to secure four more wins.

All I heard before the series was about the Angels curse, their fundamental baseball and that the Yankees could not step up to the challenge.  Well guess what guys, the Yankees just beat their arch nemesis Angels and our en route to the World Series.  I have said all year long, and years past, and people have quoted me on this, "if the Yankees ever get past the Angels, they will win the World Series."  I still believe this 100%.  Joe Torre never could get past the Angels, now Joe Girardi has.  Jeter, Posada, Mo, Pettitte, all never could break the Angels curse, until now.  They all knew how big this was, not just the ALCS, but to get past the Angels, and they have done it.  Though the Phillies are an EXCELLENT offensive team,  I feel that once the Yanks got by Boston in the regular season, the Angels in the playoffs, that a World Series win is just a formality.  Its not as close to as big as Boston breaking the Yankees curse in 2004, but it is a HUGE deal that the Yankees just beat the Angels, and I think they very well know that.  (By the way, it also says a lot of what I think of Fatcessa that I am not immeditaly listening to him.  If this was Mike and the Mad Dog I would have watched the whole show.  Now?  Not so much.  WE NEED RUSSO!!!).

Alright, lets get to this game, and why we are sitting here celebrating a Yankees Pennant.

-Congrats to C.C on the ALCS MVP.  Well deserved, though A-Rod might have deserved a share as well.  C.C has been disgustinly good, since Aug 2. vs. the White Sox, C.C is 12-1 with a 2.09 ERA. 

- This Angels team was not a typical Angels team.  This was not only evident in this series, but earlier in the year.  The fact that the Texas Rangers competed with them for as long as they did, showed that.  The fact the Angels relied on their offense this year instead of their defense and pitching, especially bullpen, is a reason why one should have been concerned.  The fact the Angels felt the need to acquire Scott Kazmir, a starter, in Auguest was a caution sign.  Yes, they beat the Sox in three games, but we all knew the Sox werent good this year.  If the Sox played the Yankees, we might have swept them.  So, though this Angels team might have been the third best team in baseball, it was not by any means a team the Yankees usually dont match up well against.  Their speed was never show cased, their bats were silent for the most part, their bullpen was brutal, and the Angels starters aside from Lackey and Saunder in Game 2 were awful. 

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- I hate to say "I told you so" to those people who said the Yankees would never reach a World Series with A-Rod.  Abreu was quoted as saying he has never seem him locked in like this, that the guy is a machine.  That is pretty much what he is right now, he hit two SCORCHING balls last night, and I would be very, very surprised if he cooled off in the World Series.  Also, did you notice in the postgame how big A-Rod's hands are?  Like his hands are HUGE, like Jason Campbell, Shaq HUGE.  Just a thought.

- What a huge hit by Johnny Damon last night.  He was struggling all series, though he did hit two home runs in Game 3 and 4, and left the bases loaded in the 2nd, and for him to come up with that hit in the 4th was huge.  If Johnny can come up big in this World Series I might start think about forgiving him for 2004.  In addition, Pettitte was simply Andy Pettitte.  He has gone 6 1/3 in every postseason start so far, and so you might as well expect another 6 1 3 start from him in Game 3 (depending on the situation if he is up with the bases loaded etc.).  Now, I am not a believer he is a Hall of Famer, or that his number should be retired, but take a look at the numbers:

Pettitte is 229-135 in the regular season, 12 with the Yankees, 3 with the Astros with an ERA of 3.91.  Hes managed over 2,100 strikeouts in just over 2,900 innings, which isnt great, but the 2100 strikeouts is fairly impressive for a guy who did not usually strike guys out.  With his win last night, Pettitte is 16-9 in the postseason, which is the most wins all time by a pitcher.  (This is misleading because guys like Bob Gibson did not have the division series, and if you go back further, guys like Walter Johnson only had a World Series).  His ERA is 3.83 in the playoffs in 38 career starts, he is now going to pitch in his seventh World Series, and has so far won four rings.  He has finished top 5 in the Cy Young voting five times, went to two All-star games, and won 2001 ALCS MVP.  He is most compared to Frank Viola, who some argue should be in, and Tom Glavine who of course WILL get in.  Its a compelling case, especially if he wins another Postseason game and wins another ring. 

- I am starting to think that the throwing error made by Scott Kazmir is going to start a downfall of his career.  He is not the same pitcher he was in 2006 and 2007, and of course was even traded to the Angels this year.  That error was just inexplicable, and you can start to see things falling apart for Kazmir.  He pitched poorly in Game 4 and in relief in Game 6 and I would not be surprised that by 2011 he is wearing yet another uniform.

- You think Giambi makes that play Tex makes in the 8th?  Tex is just so valuable, yea he hit .222 this series, but he also saved at least five runs with his glove. He rarely makes an error, and changes the game so drastically on defense that it doesnt always matter about his bat.  Lets also not forget how big a hit that was in Game 5. 

- Mariano is just so good you get spoiled.  When he is gone (hes 40 and is like wine, he gets better with age) he will by far be the most missed NYC sports figure in history.  No ifs, ands or buts.  I have more faith in Mariano than I do with my own president. 

So, now that its official, lets circle November 1st, or next sunday as maybe the start of the Philly-New York rivalery that goes beyond football.  Yea, the Mets and Phillies is a quasi-rival.  Think about it, the Mets DOMINATED the Phillies in the 80's, then the Phillies returned the favor and DOMINATED the Mets in the early 90's.  They were both horrendous in the mid-late 90's and then in 1999-2001 the Mets started to dominate the Phillies again.  Then they both became atrocious again, and then in the mid 2005-2006 the Mets beat up on the Phillies again, which reveresed fortunes in 2007 and 2008 when the Mets collapsed and the Phillies won the division.  Wheeeeeew.  So you see, not until 2007 did these teams really start hating each other, and thats because the Mets were inept and collapsed. 

Obviously we all know the Eagles DESPISE the Giants and the Giants DESPISE the Eagles.  This has been a hated rivalary since Chuck Bednarik's hit on Frank Gifford in 1960.  I still hate Chuck Bednarik whenever he is interviewed, he epitomizes Philly; a bunch of lowlife scum bags.  There has never been a Yankees-Phillies thing, they have not matched up in a series since 1950.  But also because Philly never cared for baseball until the team gets good, you know what I am talking about Mets fans.  Mets fans used to go into that stadium and it was 70% Mets fans.  Now, the Phillies are good, they woke up from their Rip Van Winkle slumber, and they think they run the MLB.  Let me tell you something Philly, your a football and hockey town, nobody questions your loyalty with those two teams, the Eagles and Flyers.  But dont start acting now like a Phillies town just because they are good.  I remember you not selling out the 2001 NBA Finals when the 76ers hosted the Lakers.  I also remember the stadium half empty 3 years ago.  It wasnt because people could not afford the seats, I will say that much. 

So, let the games begin.  New York.  Philly.  Two teams from two cities that really, REALLY dont like each other.  This is a Mets fan worst nightmare; A Yankees and Phillies fans dream.  Four more to go to number 27.  Lets get it done.

- Lew

Back to the Bronx; Game 5 Recap

Blame A.J, or maybe even Nick Swisher, but the bottom line is that last nights game was blown by Phil Hughes inability to get out of the 7th inning.  And in the end, the Yanks lose a wild game to the Angels 7-6 to force a Game 6 back in the Bronx.  Listen, everyone should feel a little uneasy about this series but thats it.  Andy Pettitte on the mound in Game 6, C.C in Game 7 everything SHOULD work out.  I am not going to be like every Yankee fan on WFAN right now who are basically proclaiming we are going to lose.  I have the upmost confidence in both Pettitte and C.C to get it done in Game 6 and Game 7 need be.  The only problem is that if it does get to Game 7 our momentum is out the window.  Another stat for you stat heads on there:  The record of West Coast teams playing at East Coast teams, at the East Cost teams venue in the playoffs, are 10-36.  That is a .217 winning percentage.  So the stats are on our side, as well as this series is very eerie to the 2000 ALCS where we were up 3-1, lost Game 5, everyone panicked, got down early in Game 6, and David Justice hit that famous Home Run to send us to the World Series.  Now to the game.

-I periodically go to NFL.com and listen to the radio broadcast of Super Bowl 42.  It gets me pumped on and the whole thing.  After the infamous Eli mad scramble and Tyree catch, and after Bob Papa was done yelling, Carl Banks interjects, with an amazed tone and says, "this team just wont quit."  Thats how I feel about this Yankee team.  They just wont quit.  And so when it was 4-0 in the 7th, I didnt feel great, but I didnt feel like the game was over either.  Usually the Angels tack on runs, and when it was only 4-0 going into the 7th, I was mildly surprised, and confident.  Something that gets lost in this game is Tex's double to make it 4-3.  What an UNBELIEVABLY BIG hit, and HOPEFULLY will get Tex on track after a really rough series.  Personally, I think it will, especially since he will be hitting from the right side against Saunders in Game 6, and that hit off of Oliver was from the right side. 

- A guy I usually get on, but he had probably the biggest hit of the game for the Yanks was Robbie Cano.  In that spot he usually does not do anything, but I got to hand it to them, he really came through last night, and Matsui as well for that matter.

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- I thought one of the most perplexing moves Mike Scoscia has ever made was walking A-Rod in the 9th inning with two outs.  Why put the tying run on when Fuentes is wild and sucks to begin with?  Yea, it worked out, but he was a ball away to Nick Swisher for it not working.  Speaking of Swisher, I cant get on him for THIS game, but its his overall performence that makes me believe Girardi should sit him for Gardner.  I think its the right move, hes been struggling real bad and having a spark plug like Gardner could come in handy for the first few innings, and if need me, pinch hit him with Swisher. 

- My thoughts on A.J is that he is a downright head case.  He looked as bad as a pitcher could look in an inning, and then in the 2nd got a double play on a hard hit ball and after that he was fine.  I am absolutly not going to kill Girardi for leaving Burnett in, he was rolling along had ONE BAD INNING, and it just so happens he fell apart.  Nobody said A.J was good when he faced adversity.  It is just very unfortuante that it had to happen when the Yanks were 9 outs away from the Pennant.

- I thought John Lackey earned himself a ton of money this off season with his performence last night.  As you might know, Lackey is a free agent, the top pitcher on the market, and proved his Game 1 performence was a fluke.  He flat out dominated through 6 2/3 and if not for that terrible ball call on Posada, he would have left the game up 4-0 going into the bottom of the inning.  However, I think it doesnt really matter because the Angels bullpen is so bad that no lead is safe with this team.

- Phil Hughes, I feel for you man, but there is no excuse for throwing that fastball to flat when the previous pitch you made him look silly on that curve.  I cant blame Jorge because he was standing, he wanted a high fastball, and Hughes completly missed his spot.  Still, I think a curveball would have been approiate at that time.  I wrote after the ALDS that Hughes was a bit nervous but would bounce back strong, that clearly has not been the case after an awful series.  His postseason has been a nightmare, the same for Joba as well, who again looked ATROCIOUS in relief.  Going into the postseason I thought the bullpen would be a dominating force, now its just Mariano you shuts everyone down.  Lets get to Mo for a second, how good is he?  Seriously, the guy is as close to a robot as you can find, every big out, every time, you see why as Yankee fans we get so spoiled when he does actually mess up.  Simply because 95% of the time he doesnt. 

Look, I know we all point to 2004 and get nervous etc.  But this is not 2004, where Jon Lieber and Kevin Brown were slated for Game 6 and 7.  This isnt 2004 where are lineup was collapsing, we scored 6 runs yesterday, granted they were in one inning.  This isnt 2004 where it was 3-0 and they kept winning.  Its one game, the Angels won 96 games, it was potentially their last game at home, you had to think they had a good shot of winning.  It is just very dissapointing because the Yankees were 7 outs away until they tied the game.  Yankee Stadium will be ROCKING tomorrow night, Pettitte has ALWAYS come up big when you need him the most, and this team is determined and ready to win the Pennant tomorrow night.  Lets just hope it all doesnt have to come down to C.C and the dreaded Game 7, because then, I will be nervous.

- Lew

ALCS Game 4 Recap

This game is going to be remembered more for Tim Mcclelland's umpiring rather than a triumphet Yankee win, that puts them one win away from the World Series.  Mcclelland has been around for over 30 years, but that game last night is why umpires have been so bad in a nut shell.  The play with Swisher he WAS NO EVEN LOOKING AT THE BASE!!!  HORRENDOUS call, but still not the worst of the night.  The worst was the play in 5th.  More on that in a bit.  But getting to the game, what a bounce back from everyone calling for Joe Girardi's head (me included) to come into L.A where they have been 1-5 in the postseason since 2002 and SMACK the Angels around winning 10-1.  They got to Kazmir early, often, and he did not even live to the see the 5th inning.  As I said before, the Yankees can clinch the Pennant tomorrow and look poised to do so.  Even if it goes to a Game 6, I have an outrageous amount of confidence in a Pettitte- Saunders matchup in the Bronx.  Lets get to the recap of Game 4 first.

- The game breezed along through three innings with really zero action.  Kazmir's pitch count was pretty high, as he loves to load the count because he cant control his pitches, and has a hard time in putting hitters away.  C.C on the other hand, was rolling through the Angels lineup.  You got the sense that the Yankees were going to eventually get to Kazmir, but the Angels were not going to come anywhere close to C.C.  Then the 4th inning came and after an A-Rod single, a Posada double, and a Matsui K, which might have been the worst swing I have seen someone take in 22 years, Cano stepped up to the plate and hit a chopper to Howie Kendrick who threw an awful ball to the plate.  A-Rod slid under the tag and the Yankees took a 1-0 lead.  After a Swisher walk, Melkey stepped in a finally came up big. He roped a single to left, which plated two and the Yankees took a 3-0 lead.  Then things got weird.  After a Jeter walk, Damon hit a fly ball to Torii Hunter, and easily scored Swisher.  As Lee Corso would say, not so fast my friend, and Mcclelland said Swisher left the base early.  Well, that was simply not true, replays shows Mcclelland was not even looking at the base.  An ATROCIOUS call and it prompted me to smash a bottle in my House.  Now if this was a close game, I would write a whole column of how I despise Tim Mcclelland, but it ultimatly did not matter.  However, this is still a HUGE deal becaus what if it did.  That call was so bad I was speechless, but nothing compared to the 5th.

- Lets move on to A-Rod, who hit YET ANOTHER HOME RUN in the 5th.  Did Babe Ruth come back from the dead and made his way into A-Rod's body?  I seriously think that could be a topic of discussion, because I dont know how else you can explain this. A-Rod has completly resurrected his legacy.  He has not only tied a record for most postseason RBI's in a series, he actually makes you confident in him every time up.  He has 5 HR this postseason and will 100% eclipse the record held by our friend Bernie with 6 in 1996. 

- Now to that call by Mcclelland.  Right away I said that is the worst call I have ever seen.  My friends needed another look, and then realized I was right.  THAT LITERALLY WAS THE WORST CALL IN MLB HISTORY.  I didnt even cared it worked out well for us, its 5-0 at that point C.C on the mound MOWING the Angels down, there literally was no way we would lose.  I seriously cannot believe he called Cano safe.  Was disgraced former NBA ref Tim Donaghy involved?  (Got to always put the digraced former NBA ref, makes it sound funnier, especially considering everytime his name is mentioned its ALWAYS disgraced former NBA ref...)  Mccellend should immediatly be suspended for the rest of the series.  That call ALONE was that bad, the fact he made TWO OF THEM is beyond me.  That was Ed Hocchuli bad, that was John Stamos trying to have a career after Full House bad.  I am seraching for words, but I cant come up with them right now.  It was THAT BAD A CALL.  I am almost relieved for Mccelland we did not score because that would have been awful for him.

- C.C might be the LCS MVP.  It probably will go to A-Rod who deserves it, but C.C has been a savior for the Yanks, not only in this postseason, but for the franchise.  If not for C.C we would not be here, and he changed the culture of the Yankees, they finally have an Ace they can go to in a time of need.  In years past Moose would pitch a game like this and get lit up and we would be tied a 2's now.  Instead, C.C GOES 8 INNINGS of one run ball and were one win away from the Pennant.  Amazing.  As for Kazmir, he really is not that good.  He has gotten worse over the years, he throws too many pitches, he cant throw hitters away, and he get too cute at times.  That Mets trade will always be absolutly, insanly atrocious, BUT it doesnt look as bad as it did lets say in 2007. Even last year Kazmir was not that good despite a World Series trip.  I wouldnt be surprised if he started bouncing around the league by lets say 2011 or 2012.

- I am glad to see Johnny Damon is starting to hit, he was in such a funk and to see him hit two home runs in two games is very promising. 

- Yesterday's win did not allow Girardi to mess up, and I think that is what is going to have to happen in the rest of this series and (knock on wood) the World Series.  However, if we happen to go against the Phillies and Charlie Manual (and lets be fair, that is about a 90% chance of that happening as of now) Girardi's not going to be outmanaged as badly as he was in Game 3 by Scoscia.  Manual is an average at best manager who has a tendency to REALLY mess up the bullpen, so Girardi can overcome that if he sticks to his GUT not his ridiculous theories that Howie Kendrick cant hit a cutter. 

- As Yankee fans, were all pretty excited for tomorrow, it might be the first time since 2003 we got to the World Series, and A.J can take us there with a strong outing tomorrow.  I would like to just end the series tomorrow rather than flying back for Game 6 though I am very confident we will win Game 6.  End it now, celebrate for a bit, and get ready for Game 1 in the Bronx. 

- Lew

ALCS Game 3 Recap

Why Joe is right.  Another epic game in this best of 7 series, except this one was in favor of the Angels. It is always frustrating when you lose, but when you lose because of your manager, it gets me angry.  This loss was not soley on the shoulders of Joe, but he had a lot A LOT to do with it.  This is bad, because now we have a series, and in a few hours, we might be tied up at 2's.  Here is the game in a nut shell:

- When Jeter leads the game off with a Home Run, I automatically have confidence that were going to win.  When Jeter leads the game off with a home run, we usually win, and I thought nothing different when he hit one out off of Weaver.  Jeter again has been his clutch self this series, but did have an opporunity to break a scoreless tie late and he failed to do so.

- Just start calling A-rod "A-Rod the Clutch."  Another Home Run, and in fact, he almost hit another one which would have been a two run home run and obviously would have won us the game.  I dont know how that ball did not get out, the wind was blowing in literally only for A-Rod's second ball out to left field.  Dont give me any of this baseball god crap, like Michael Kay would, but it simply was bad luck and it cost the Yankees two runs because that ball was absolutly crushed.  Even A-Rod thought it was a home run.  In the 7th, A-Rod hit a SCOLDING ball down the line, and if Figgins was not playing in, could have easily been a double down the line.  A-Rod is hot right now, and I have a feeling another Home Run is coming are way in a few hours.

- Pettitte had another Pettitte postseason outing.  You cant blame him, yea, the home run to Vlad was bad, it was a cutter that got too much of the plate and Vlad smacked it out.  It happens he still gave up only 3 runs in 6.1 on 7 hits.  If you think about it, he made two big mistakes in the game.  Thats it.  If you tell me Pettitte is going to make two mistakes all game, I would take my chances on a Yankees win...Unless those two mistake were both grand slams but that a different story.

- Jared Weaver in my opinion was not at all impressive, and it really bothered me that we only got three runs off of him.  His change up was flat, both A-Rod's and Damon's Home Runs were off of flat hanging changeups, and he did not seem to have it all game.  I would love to see Jared Weaver again, and I am pretty confident the Yankees would crush him.  And if we do see him, it would be in a Game 7.

-For a guy who had only two clutch hits in over 100 postseason games, Jorge Posada is quickly erasing his "unclutch" status.  What a HUGE HUGE Home Run he hit to tie the game in the 8th inning.  If not for Gardner getting thrown out (Look, its a pitch out, it happens) the Yankees win.  Its so frusterating how we COMPLETLY outplayed this team and yet I am sitting here writing about a lose.  I am getting more upset as we go. 

- Ok, so in about an hour C.C Sabathia will go in Game 4 of the ALCS.  People ask me am I worried.  To be honest, no I am not.  I have pictured this team winning it all in late Aug. and I dont think that will change.  I have been so accustomed to thinking that, that it wont hit me until the actually get elminated.  I think C.C can easily get tagged today, but my gut tells me he pitches a strong game, A-Rod hits a Home Run, and that Kazmier wont last six innings.  I think its again a close game, closer than Game 1 because C.C wont be at full strength, but the Yankees prevail and head into thursday night up 3-1.

- Lew

ALCS Game 2 Recap

Guys sorry about the wait I was driving all weekend and this week have a full plate on the schedule so I will do my best to get everything out.  What can you say, the Yankees are two wins away from the World Series, and have their postseason wiz on the mound this afternoon in Andy Pettitte. 

Yes, I was at this game as well as Game 1, and the crowd had a different feel as well.  Game 1 crowd was a million times better than Game 2 but I think there were a few reasons for that.  One, there are a lot of cowards out there who get scared off by rain even if its a saturday night and its Game 2 of the ALCS.  Another reason was that in Game 1 I was sitting in the Bleachers, a much rowdier atmosphere than the rest of the stadium.  Game 2 was also probably the coldiest baseball game I have ever been to, even colder than Game 1.  Despite what Fatcessa says, I didnt think Game 1 was that cold, Game 2 on the other hand was FREEZING, in fact it actually snowed for an inning or two.  Here are my notes from Game 2.

- A.J pitched an A.J type game, 6 1/3 3 hits 2 runs 5 k's.  He hit a bunch of guys in key situations, especially that 5th inning, and it came back to bit him until the 13th.  I did not like the A.J/ Molina battery on saturday, but its better than A.J/Posada so I cant complain.  A.J is a headcase and you have to know what you get with him, so if Molina goes out to the mound every pitch than fine, it just sucks being out in the freezing cold and having Molina come out after every pitch.  Joe Saunders pitched very well, and if your a Yankee fan you almost expected not to score off of him in this game.  A crafty lefty who throws hard but not overpowering stuff in this type of weather, would shut us down, and thats exactly what he did.  Aside from Cano's triple and Jeter's Yankee Stadium Home Run, Saunders was dominating, allowing only singles as he cruised to the 7th.  He would be a tough matchup in Game 6 if it gets there.

- Robbie Cano.  Yes the weather was bad, and yes the infield sucked, but if there is one thing you cannot do, it is making an error in the postseason, ESPECIALLY vs the Angels.  Well, he made two, and that is why I almost had a heart attack.  I never liked Cano, I thought he is what he is, a guy much like Abreu who puts up numbers but when it really counts will lay an egg (Abreu is 0-9 in the series by the way for people who wanted him back).  Cano proved my theory int he field and left a million guys on base, though his RBI triple in the 2nd was absolutly HUGE.  Now, a guy who is shot is Vlad Guerrero.  I guess the loss of Roids really did him in, because he left 8 guys on base 1-7 ON THE DAY and left the bases loaded twice.  WOW.  THe knock on him is that he is not clutch, and he came up big vs the Red Sox in the ALDS but he is coming up flat again.

- What more can you say about A-Rod at this point I am at a loss for words.  He is becoming David Ortiz and Derek Jeter rolled into one in a big spot.  The Yankees were not winning if he doesnt hit a Home Run or a double.  Guzman and Gardner were due up after and if A-Rod get out its over.  Not only does he get on base he hits a Home Run.  AGAIN.  This is the third HUGE home run A-Rod has hit this postseason and I dont see it coming to an end anytime soon.  Through the rain as well, just so big.  A-Rod is really doing the eff-you to all of his critics this postseason.

- Girardi really did everything in his power to lose this game for the Yankees.  The move of Gardner pinch running for Swisher in the 7th was ABYSMAL, you do not pinch run for your 6th hitter in the 7th inning.  He did not even attempt to steal and Cano hit into a DP.  Girardi made matters worse when he pinch ran for Matsui with Freddy Guzman and made the 6th and 7th hitters Guzman and Gardner.  Not to mention the AWFUL micro managing he did using not 1 not 2 not 3 but 8 PITCHERS!!  For a second I thought Whitey Ford was going to come in.  Listen, it worked out, and has this whole year for the most part and so far for the playoffs, but it will come back and bit us in the ass, either now or the World Series.  Mark my words, Girardi is asking for trouble when he takes a pitcher out after one batter, and it has got to stop.

- The more I thought about it, this might have been the worst played exciting game I have seen.  Neither team could hit, the crowd was dead half the game, and the weather was disgusting.  There were errors all the way around, bad base running plays, pitching changes left and right, yet the game saw A-Rod tie the game in the 11th with a Home Run and Macier Izturis' error when it for the Yankees in the bottom of the 13th.  Good for Jerry Hairston.  I am very impressed with a guy who has not had an at bat in about 2 1/2 weeks and he comes up with a base hit up the middle.  Fantastic job.  I also did not realize that this game might still be going if Figgins did not bobble the ball and allowed Hairston to score easily. 

- Last thing because I have to go to class, Tex better step up his game or he is going to hear boos rather quickly.  Yea, I know we have won 5 playoff games in a row, but going to L.A is not going to be easy and scares the hell out of me.  Tex better get it going because he and Cano are the the goat of this series so far.

-Lew

ALCS Game 1 Recap

Anyway, Game 1 in the books the Yanks are looking good.  It was a well played game, that really the Yankees dominated from start to finish.  Though it was 2-1 in the 5th, it was never a doubt in my mind that Angels would rally and win the game.  It just had that feeling, especially when Aybar and Figgins let that Matsui ball drop, you knew it was not a good sign for the Angels. 

My expereince at Game 1 was great, we arrived at my place at 4:00, I took a nice hot shower, still not believing Russo and Fatcessa had a reunion hours before (more on this in a seperate post) and at 5:00 we hopped on the subway and embarked for the New Yankee Stadium.  At around 5:45 we get to the New Stadium and go to "The Dugout" but not without passing Jim Leyritz who was sitting outside by himself signing autographs.  At "The Dugout" I ran into my old ESPN friends from when I interned at ESPN Radio and had a nice chat with my former boss.  The place errupted when David Cone was brought on stage accompanied by....Peter King.  

When the craziness of Cone died down, we went to the game, section 203 bleachers.  The crowd was really into it, especially the bleachers, and I stood for 90% of the game.  Very intense atmosphere, in fact these bleachers are much better than the old ones because they are on an angle, and your higher up.  

- Right from the get go, the Yankees just seemed to have it.  Jeter single, Damon single moving Jeter to third, and then it was 3-0 on Tex before he got out and then Arod came through with a sac fly.  Then the fun started to happen.  Matsui pops a ball in between Figgins, the third baseman, and Aybar the shortstop, and it just dropped.  The place is in shock and were up 2-0.  Lackey on the mound looked like Patrick Bateman before cutting off some girls head when that ball dropped, and then he finally got out of it.

- No action until the 4th when Vlad, who by the way put on more weight than Matthew Perry after a rehab stint, hit a booming fly ball that everyone thought was gone and it hit the base of the wall in left center.  After Juan "I tore my MCL while running into a golf cart" Rivera grounded out, Kendry Morales singled and runied C.C's potential shutout.  C.C buckled down and got out of it.

- The big play of the game, with two on and one out in the bottom of the 5th, Matsui "doubles" to left which scores Damon easily, and Arod ran through Rob Thomson's stop sign and tried to score.  He was thrown out by a mile.  I was listening to WFAN all night and today and for some reason that became a huge deal.  Guys, its not a big deal, he got thrown out, it was a dumb play, move on the game was never in doubt.  I guess because nothing really happend in this game, people have to nitpick, but its stupid to pick on Arod, who granted made a dumb play, but its not the end of the world.

- The last run of the game came courtesy of who else, The Shortstop Formaly Known as Old Man Jeets, who singled up the middled and put the game away.  Now to the notes.

- John Lackey quietly has not done much for the Yankees in the playoffs.  He has never gone passed 5 2/3 in all three starts he has had in the postseason vs the Yankees and though only 3 runs of his were earned, he still walked 3 and gave up 9 hits.  Typical A.J start, not one you expect from John Lackey.  Not sure if he puts up another bad outing if the Angels bring him back, hes from Texas, wears that state on his sleeve, and maybe going to the Rangers or Astros would suit him better than staying in L.A.

- Time to start Gardner?  I dont kow about that yet, after Melky put on a solid game yesterday going 1-2 with 2 walks, but you got to winder about trying to emulate the way the Angels play, and the only way to do that would be to put Gardner in center.

(Probably cant tell but thats David Cone)

- The big thing C.C did yesterday was keep Figgins off the base path.  Figgins is our worst enemy, he gives up nightmares and fits, but he went 0-4 yesterday and the more he is off the base path, the better.

- Lew

Yankees Sweep; Game 3 Recap

Well, that was quick.  Before you could blink the Yankees had swept the Twins and are on their way to the ALCS for the first time since 2004 when of course....well we all know what happend.  Clutch hitting, great pitching, and good defense propelled the Yankees to the ALCS to face their arch nemeisis the L.A Angels.  More on that upcoming series in a bit, first lets get to game three.

- Andy Pettitte just keeps coming up big in the postseason.  Remember laboring Andy?  That just disappears in the postseason.  6 1/3 one run on only 81 pitches, awsome outing.  Pettitte comes up big time after time, and its remarkable how consistent he has been of late in the postseason.  Everytime you need a big outing from Andy your going to get it.  I had all the faith in the world in him last night, and like I said, he came through. 

- Can I say anymore good things about Arod?  Just keeps on coming up big when you need him.  I have never seen a guy so villified just turn it around so quickly.  Just like that.  Forget the home run in Game 2, which of now he will be best remembered for.  The thing that I think turned him around was in Game 1 when his RBI single put the Yankees up 4-2.  Once he hit that he was a new man, because his next time up with a runner on he hit a booming single to right to score Jeter to make it 7-2.  If Arod continues his hot streak and we win a World Series, point to that at bat in the 5th inning of Game 1 that revived his career.

- I have gotten on Jorge many times, in this blog and to other people as well, but his home run and 2 RBI single was ENOURMOUS last night.  I can remember Jorge coming up big twice in his career: Obviously Game 7 ALCS which was a gift of god blooper, and the second was when he hit a home run off of Barry Zito in Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS aka the Jeter Flip game.  The final score was 1-0 and everyone remembers the flip, and we should, but Jorge still drove home the only run in that game in the 6th inning.  Add last night to the list, with a go ahead 7th inning home run in Game 3 of the ALDS.

- In my opinion Joe Girardi took a couple steps backwards in this series.  He took so many steps forward in the regular season, but took a couple backwards in this series.  The job he has done with the bullpen was awful, no question.  The one thing I worry about the most with the Angels is that Mike Scioscia is by far the best manager in baseball in my opinion.  Girardi isnt anywhere close, and that will be a HUGE factor in who wins this series.  If Girardi steps up and stops being a moron, for instance taking out Pettitte who is rolling along with 81 pitches, or putting in Dameso Marte, or leaving Phil Hughes in way too long, than we have a good shot of winning.  Speaking of Hughes, he was so big in the 2007 ALDS vs Cleveland in relief, he won Game 3 with a great 3 innings of Clemens, but in this series it looked like he was a bit nervous.  Thats fine, as long as they are out of his system.  We cannot win this series without an effective Hughes, so hopefully that is all behind him.  He was not mixing his pitches as well as he did in the regular season, and he his curve was hanging left and right.

- I want to give it up for the 2009 AL MVP Joe Mauer who carried this team on his back and still performed in the playoffs.  What a player this guy, I wrote a couple of days ago that barring injuries he might have a chance to be the greatest catcher of all time, I stand by that statement, the guy is only 26 and has already won three batting titles and about to win an MVP.  Also, Denard Span had a great series, a product of New Britian as well as Mauer, and he proved all year he could be a great leadoff hitter and steal 40 bases year in and year out.

Next up for the Yankees are the hated Angels.  We all know the story about the Angels, we cant beat them in the regular season, and we sure as hell cant beat them come playoff time.  Well you know what, we have never played them in a 7 game series, so we will see.  A little background about the Yankee killing Angels, they were the only team during the dynasty era (96-01) that had a winning record against the Yanks.  In 2002 they ended the Yankees streak of four straight World Series Appereances with a 3-1 ALDS win.  Remember the Tim Salmon game, the Yankees were up 6-0 and blew Game 3.  In 2005, the Yankees once again won game 1, only to lose the next two and come from behind in a miracle Game 4 and then only to see Bubba Crosby drop a fly ball in Game 5 and the Yankees never recovered.  We will see what happens, I will say this, I am as confident as I have ever been as a Yankee fan, and I think this team just has "it" I really do.  Time will tell, but if the Yanks can win this series, there is no doubt in my mind we will be having a parade sometime early November.

-Lew

A Wild Game 2 Recap

Arod.  Arod.  Arod.  For everyone who has ever s*** on Arod (Ryan Jody) for anyone who says this team cant win with Arod on it (Ryan Jody) and for anybody who insisted that Arod could never produce in October, last night shut you all up.  I guess its an every five year-ALDS thing vs the Twins because Arod did basically the exact same thing in game 2 of the ALDS in 2004 off of the exact same pitcher (Joe Nathan), in the exact same inning (the 9th), in almost the exact same situation (down 2-1 opposed to 3-1 last night).  Incredible.  Finally Arod has won over some of his critics and has proven he could do it in the postseason.  Will this go down as one of the greatest Yankees postseason games of all time?  No, probably not.  But it was pretty damn big, and maybe the game that changed Arod's legacy forever.  As for Teixeira, he got the big hit I thought he needed, and hit a laser down the line very remeniscent of the McGwire Home Run that passed Maris on September 8th, 1998 (By the way, thats how big a moment that was at the time for McGwire, I remember where I was, what I was doing, and the date when he hit that....too bad it was all fake).  A great game, and here is the recap:

- Let me say this, Joe Girardi did everything in his power to lose the game yesterday.  He overmanaged Torre esque style, and the move to bring in Damaseo Marte in the 11th was one of the more putrid managerial moves I can remember anyone making.  Thats like bringing in Jose Mesa in a postseason game: You dont do it.  Joba for only two guys?  Acves for only one inning?  Marte before Robertson when Marte couldnt get me out?  A terrible night for Girardi and only that call by Phil Cuzzi (more on that later) saved him from being the goat.  Actually, he still is my goat of the game.

-Derek Jeter is a hero even when he doesnt get a hit.  That play in the 4th to save a run was so big, so big.  Swisher threw the ball in Jeter had the wherewithall to tag Carlos Gomez before Delmon Young scored.

- AJ Burnett was lost in all of this.  Yea he walked 5 guys, but for his first postseason game, he pitched very well.  This is what I will ask from AJ the rest of the postseason, if you can give me a solid 6 or 7 innings, and give up 1 to 2 runs MAYBE 3, with this bullpen, the game is over.  I was very impressed with AJ's  composure last night.  The same goes for Nick Blackburn who also pitched outstanding until he sort of fell apart in the 6th.  He has a bright future, and the Twins should not let this guy go, he has proven he can pitch on the big stage.

- How good is Joe Mauer.  He is involved in everything the Twins do, and even though that ball was clealy fair in the 11th, he still hit a single.  The guy is amazing, a future hall of famer, and a guy we will all be talking about as maybe one of the best overall catchers to ever play this game 10-15 years from now.


- Down 3-1, nobody out, Tex coming up to the plate in the 9th, didnt we all have a feeling something was gonna happen especially off of Joe Nathan who the Yankees have KILLED for the last five or so years, including this regular season?  Tex gets the single, which if he was fast might have been a double.  You cant say enough about that Home Run and what it means to not only Arod but this team.

- Nothing pissed me off more, besides the Marte move, than Brett Gardner getting caught off third.  All the momentum is on our side, Nathan just threw the ball away, he walked Jeter, the crowd is going nuts, and Damon hit a ROCKET and I just dont know what he was thinking.  Gardner is clearly not a smart player, I can count at least five times he has made a bone head base running error this year, and this clearly has to change and pretty soon.  I am sure Girardi talked to him last night, but getting picked off third there was completly inexcusable.

- 11th inning was a wild one for sure.  Phil Cuzzi made the worst call I have personally ever seen, and that brought back memories of Don Denkinger, the umpire who blew a call in the 9th inning of Game 6 of the World Series 1985 Cards-Royals.  The Cards were up 1-0 in the 9th and leading 3-2 in the World Series, that call above was missed, the Royals scored two runs in the 9th won game 6 and then went on to win game 7.  Now, I dont know if Cuzzi's call was as bad, but he should be fired from this series.  I believe in second chances, he should absolutly not lose his job over this, but he should not be allowed to work the playoffs. Period.  That was a pathetic call, but as Mauer pointed out, "We had plenty of opportunities to win this game earlier....If I hit that double, the hole in the infield for Kubel would have been closed and that single would not have gotten thru, I dont know if it was actually a bad thing he called it foul."  Either way, the biggest play of the season might have been getting out of that bases loaded nobody out jam.  Dave Robertson earns a lot of respect and confidence in my book for his amazing job last night, and Girardi will probably now look his way more so than he usually would.  As for Marte, if he is even remotly near the ALCS roster, I am going to flip put harder than when they actually put him in.

- Tex finally had his Yankee moment, a one he nor any fan will forget.  You can see on the replay he had no clue it was gone because he put his head down, and then the crowd went nuts, and he looked up and started going nuts.  A great moment for him and for the team obviously.  Now he has confidence, which is why I thought he needed a hit like that, and the Yankees are now rolling.

-Lew

Yanks Take Game 1 Recap

Let me the first to say that C.C stepped up big last night.  When your line results in a 1.35 era and 1.20 whip and 8 k's you pitched a hell of a game.  He was in trouble early (mostly because of that dirtbag Posada, more on him in a bit) but he got out of pretty much every jam he was in.  Now that C.C has that game under his belt, watch him flat out dominate the postseason.  All he needed was this first game to get his confidence back, now he will soar.  This is what the Yankees have been missing since 2003, a bonafide ace, and to be frank, C.C is the most dominate pitcher we have had since Roger Clemens in 2001.  What a boost.

Before I get to Posada, how about Matsui home run.  Was that not the most wind aided home run you have ever seen?  When he hit that I thought it was a pop up to Span, and then the winnd took it like the ball had wings.  That was like 2003 ALCS Game 6 when Matsui had the worst throw I have ever seen a baseball player make when he tried to throw Nomar out at 3rd and the wind to his throw and I kid you not, went 20 rows deep into the stands down the third base line.

Last thing, the bullpen.  This bullpen is going to be hard to beat.  For anyone who still wants Joba starting, how much different was his prescene out of the bullpen than starting.  He was actually intimidating out there, which he was not as a starter. He 100 percent has to be the future closer of this team, and move Hughes back to the rotation, who once again looked sharp last night.  Not really sure why Girardi used Mo, but with the day off I guess it doesnt really matter.


- Lew