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
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