That headline sums it up, and for the Knicks too. I wish I had time to cover the Knicks, but the truth is I have a life. No, in all seriousness, I have to drive back in an hour to go to Game 2 and have errands and stuff to run, so I am going to go over the key notes of what the hell went wrong for the Yanks last night. I am absolutly pumped for tonight, though my seats are atrocious, I dont care, I will be in the ballpark when everyone chants "whose your daddy" (maybe??) to Pedro. This doesnt look good from the start for the Phillies tonight, yes I can see A.J getting hit hard (he did in May against the Phillies at home) but if the Yankees cant hit Pedro, than they should not deserve to win the World Series. I can see like a 8-5 Yankee win, something along those lines. Bottom line is the Yankees have to win, if they lose, with Hamels going in Game 3, I just dont see them coming back. But, if you tie it up at 1's were right back in it. I have the upmost faith in Game 2, 3, and 4, the problem is Game 5 where you probably are going to see Chad Gaudin vs Cliff Lee. All the Yankees need to do is bring it back to the Bronx, either up 3-2 or down 3-2 because Lee will only make an apperance in Game 7 as a reliever, and C.C will start that game. Just get it back to the Bronx. Now to last nights awfulness.
-Cliff Lee is dominant. I had him on my fantasy tea, the year he won the CY Young in 2008, so I followed him everyday, the guy was lights out, but until I saw him face the Yanks that year in 08, I didnt realize how good he is. Whats amazing is that he is even better now. He has an unhittable fast action curve that he threw all night, a great change up, and a great tailing fastball. What was so impressive was that he did not walk anybody. You can give up these singles here and there, but the key is keeping down the walks. He had it all working last night, and Game 5 is an automatic lose at this point, I dont see how any team could touch him. C.C on the other hand was every bit as good except the home runs to Utley and the walks. Not be fooled, C.C after the first was fantastic except for the two mistakes to Utley. If you could have told me that C.C would have given up 2 runs in 7, I would have signed up for that in a heartbeat.
-Chase Utley might be the new Yankee killer. We all know this guy is great, but he single handidly won last nights game. All by himself. Forget the later innings, and that mess of a pen we have, Utley's two bombs, the last going about 420 feet, were the game changer. Do you know that only two players have hit three Homers in a game, Reggie Jackson, and Babe Ruth...TWICE!! Thats how good the Babe was, he still holds records in 2009.
-The Yankees pen is a mess, and that is a HUUUUUUUGE concern for every game but when C.C starts. The good news is that the Phillies Pen is even worse, but Phil Hughes has to get it going. HAS TO. You cant continue to put Hughes in these spots, he is nervous, he cant find the plate, and I would be more inclined to use Joba there. Yes, it has come to that with Hughes. I am going to give Robertson the benefit of the doubt, he has been great, and to let up that hit, well, it happens. I will tell you what guy I will get on, that is Brian Bruney. All year Bruney whines, and cries about his role. He complains he wasnt on the ALDS and ALCS roster. So Bruney gets a chance down 4-0 to hold the lead in the 9th. What does he do? He gives up 2 runs on 3 hits. Never, NEVER do I want to see Brian Bruney, not only in this series but in a Yankees uniform again. I am sick and tired of this guys act, all he does is complain and mess up when he is out there. I texted my friend Ryan saying, "If this were medival times, someone would have beheaded Brian Bruney."
-Very displeased with Girardi again, he completly mis managed this game. C.C threw 113 pitches, you have to let him attempt to go 8. Who knows, if this game is 2-0 going into the Bottom of the 9th, could have been a different ending. The one thing about Girardi in the NL is that he does have experience managing the Marlins a few years back. The bad news? He is going to use about 9 pitchers in every game.
-The Yankees better start hitting, and I feel they will, but there backs are against the wall now. This is it, go down 2-0 it might be over before it started. Not every year is '96 where we can win all three games in Philly. Win tonight, and as I said before, we are right where we needed to be. 1-1 going into Philly is fine, especially with big game Andy in Game 3, and Joe Blanton vs. C.C in Game 4. (Though there are conflicting reports saying Lee will go in Game 4, if that is the case then thats obviously bad because Lee could then go in Game 7, which means my theory of going down 3-2 is scratched). I know the numbers: Teams that have won Game 1 have won the last 6 World Series, and since '99, only the '02 Angels lost Game 1 to go on to win the World Series. I know all of this. But the Yankees have battled adversity all year, they have come back when nobody expect them to, and I think this year is no different. You win tonight, you win tomorrow, and have another C.C- Lee matchup in Game 4 (as being reported, not confirmed yet). Yes, I am very, very nervous, but I am confident as well. Just get a W tonight, and I feel we will be on our way.
- Lew
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