I think that I’m more excited about tonight’s Yankees game than I have been about any other game this season. In fact, this may be the most excited I’ve been over a Yankees game in the last four years. Funny what being on the doorstep of a World Series berth will do to you, huh?
What about you? Is this the most excited that you’ve been, anticipating a Yankees game, in years?
Continuing with recently-published storylines about the state of the Yanks farm system, Baseball America released their first batch of 2009 Draft Report Cards. BA non-subscribers take heart: the information you seek resides below!
Position Players:
Best Pure Hitter: J.R. Murphy, C (Pendleton HS, Bradenton, Fla.)
Best Power Hitter: Slade Heathcott, OF (Texas HS, Texarkana, Texas)
Fastest Runner: Slade Heathcott
Best Defensive Player: Slade Heathcott
Pitchers:
Best Fastball: Adam Warren, RHP (University of North Carolina)
Best Secondary Pitch: Bryan Mitchell, RHP (Rockingham County HS, Reidsville, N.C)
Odds & Ends:
Best Pro Debut: Adam Warren
Best Athlete: Slade Heathcott
Closest To The Majors: Caleb Cotham, RHP (Vanderbilt University)
Best Late Round Pick: Bryan Mitchell
One That Got Away: Tyler Lyons, LHP (Oklahoma State University). My feelings on this topic are well known.
All in all, it looks like the Yanks did a pretty decent job of grabbing some premium positional player talent while also continuing to stockpile arms with some projectability and upside. As I mentioned in my first MiLB roundup, I have a friend that has scouted Adam Warren a number of times and has me pretty excited about his future. In case anyone is interested, video of Adam Warren can be found here and here, courtesy of PnR Scouting.
-Posted by MJ
They’re gearing up in Philly for the Yanks. Via Phils-ville –
Some random thoughts and observations from last night’s Pennant clincher:
15 minutes before air-time, Larry Andersen holding court outside the Pattison Ave. Will Call window like he didn’t have a care in the world. Caught the vibe from L.A. right then and there that this one was in the bag.
Best anti-Manny chant of the night: “Hit the showers!”
Second best: “You took steroids!”
“Yankees Suck,” “Beat the Yankees” chants after Phils went up 6-2.
Anti-steroids commercial playing on Phanavision as Manny was jogging out to left field for the bottom of the 6th. Priceless.
If that’s the Phils fans treatment for Manny, it’s probably just a warm up for what A-Rod can expect to hear in the World Series this year – assuming the Yankees make it, he says, not wanting to put the whammy on anything….
Should be interesting…
The NYC weather forecast for Saturday, October 24th, calls for temperatures around 62° F – but with rain, most of the day, including when Game 6 of the 2009 ALCS (if necessary) is scheduled.
So, rather than being in a spot where they have to mess with whatever bad weather can bring for Game 6 – albeit rain-delays impacting starting pitchers or a cancelation causing the game to be moved to Sunday and allowing the Angels to have more pitchers available, etc. – the Yankees should wrap up the ALCS with a win tonight…and make the weather forecast for Saturday a moot item.
I wonder if General Joe and crew are thinking about this…and will play the game tonight more like a must-win situation than a “we have two games after this one, if needed” situation? If you were the Yankees, knowing the forecast for Saturday, how would you play it tonight?
How some Angels batters have done against A.J. Burnett, in their career, to date:
PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG +-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+ Bobby Abreu 77 64 20 6 0 1 11 12 18 .313 .416 .453 Vladimir Guerrero 46 42 9 4 0 2 3 4 11 .214 .283 .452 Torii Hunter 24 23 2 0 0 2 2 1 7 .087 .125 .348 Maicer Izturis 18 16 4 1 0 0 3 2 4 .250 .333 .313 Gary Matthews 15 13 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 .154 .267 .308 Chone Figgins 13 12 5 1 1 0 1 0 2 .417 .417 .667 Howie Kendrick 12 11 4 1 0 0 3 1 5 .364 .417 .455 Mike Napoli 12 11 4 0 0 2 2 1 3 .364 .417 .909 Juan Rivera 10 8 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .250 .400 .250 Erick Aybar 6 5 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 .200 .167 .400 Jeff Mathis 6 5 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .400 .500 .400 Kendry Morales 6 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 .167 .167 .167 Reggie Willits 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 +-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+ Total 246 217 56 16 1 7 29 25 62 .258 .335 .438
Hey, A.J., beware Abreu, Figgins, Kendrick and Napoli tomorrow night…and, if you can get by them, you’ll probably get to have some champagne with your cream pies after the game.
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Via Tom Verducci -
CC Sabathia and Alex Rodriguez have been here before: one win away from the World Series. Actually, between the two of them they have been here seven times before. And in seven games in which a victory would have put them in the World Series, their teams are 0-7.
Along the way, both players gained unflattering reputations for how they handled the pressure of October — Sabathia with his 7.71 ERA in five postseason starts and Rodriguez with his .138 batting average in 58 postseason at-bats since the Yankees, up three games to none against Boston, lost a ninth-inning lead in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS.
Since their high-profile failures, each of them signed free-agent contracts with the Yankees, contracts that made Sabathia the highest-paid pitcher in baseball and Rodriguez the highest-paid player. Between the two of them they pull down $50.5 million a year, more than three teams (the Pirates, Padres and Marlins) pay their entire roster.
On Thursday night in ALCS Game 5, Sabathia and Rodriguez get another crack at the Fall Classic. This time is totally different. Both of them have blown away their notorious October reputations. They have not just been good this postseason; they have been historically great. Sabathia is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA, and going all the way back to Aug. 2, he is 12-1 with a 2.24 ERA in 15 starts, 14 of them Yankees wins in which he has left the bullpen with no more than seven outs to clean up.
So go ahead and call Sabathia and Rodriguez money players, but this time it has nothing to do with their contracts. On Thursday night, after the collapses of Rodriguez’s 2004 Yankees and Sabathia’s 2007 Indians, the highest-paid pitcher and the highest-paid player are again one win away from playing in their first World Series. It is the eighth time they have been here, one win away. And yet it is unlike any other time.
• Rodriguez has made contact on 41 of his 46 swings this postseason, an 89 percent contact rate. In the regular season he made contact 78 percent of the time.
• Dating to his last two at-bats of the regular season, Rodriguez has put the ball in play 26 times. He has homered on seven of those 26 times. That means that one out of every three or four balls he hits fair is going out of the park. He is batting .500 on balls he puts in play in that span.
• Rodriguez has not gone more than seven at-bats this postseason without hitting a home run.
• Rodriguez is outhomering the competition by himself. He has five home runs in 27 at-bats this postseason. Opposing hitters against the Yankees this postseason have combined for three home runs in 262 at-bats.
I wonder if Hank Steinbrenner has called up Brian Cashman in the last few days and said “See, you wanted to let this guy walk. Good thing I stepped in and signed him to come back!” Nah, stuff like that doesn’t happen, does it?
In any event, I can’t imagine anyone being better with the bat than A-Rod’s been in these last seven post-season games…it’s almost super-natural…
…and, because of that, there is a very, very, small part of me that’s waiting for the other shoe to drop. Yeah, I know, that makes me a terrible person…shame on me, etc. But, am I the only one wondering about this?
The 1986 post-season was not a fun time for me. During that crazy 1986 NLCS, the Mets took over the town. And, the World Series that year was terrible – since I wanted both teams to lose. In fact, I barely watched the ’86 World Series – since I couldn’t stand to see either the Red Sox or Mets do well. And, don’t even ask me about the parade in New York after the Mets did win…
And, this leads to today’s wild thought. Would a Phillies-Yankees World Series this year be a Mets fan’s worst nightmare? And, as Yankees fans, would that fact, if true, make such a World Series match-up somewhat sweeter – knowing that it would twist in the back of Mets fans, etc.?
Me? To be honest, as a Yankees fan, the Phillies scare me in the World Series. They’ve been there before and will not be like a deer in the headlights, etc. Plus, they can hit. And, Cliff Lee might be able to go toe-to-toe with Sabathia…
Then again, if the other option is to play Joe Torre, and have to listen to the media play that up, maybe the Phils are the better option?
In any event, back to the point, anyone else thinking about, and/or potentially enjoying, the impact of a Phillies/Yankees World Series on Mets Nation?
Wow, feels like Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS all over again! Hey, just kidding – kinda/sorta.
You know, Melky, A-Rod and Damon all had their bats going in this game…but, obviously, the story of this one, in Yankeeland, was CC Sabathia.
To be honest, I thought, while watching the game, that Sabathia had some hard hit balls go for outs in the first two innings. And, then, in the 5th inning, the Angels really made him work. But, after that double-play grounder in the bottom of the 6th inning – which was key moment of this game, in my mind – CC was rolling. All told, it was an amazing effort from the big lefty on 3-days rest. And, with all due respect to A-Rod, Sabathia has been the Yankees MVP in this ALCS – to date.
Three wins down, one to go – and three chances to get it. It’s looking real good for New York, no?
Now, for some miscellaneous observations…
I should have mentioned this many moons ago, picking any time the Yankees played the Angels in SoCal lately…in any event…man, it’s soooo annoying to watch the center field camera shot in these games and see Scott Boras’ head, dead-center, in the picture, every time. Sit down Scott, huh?
Before anyone wants to fry Tim McClelland for calling Nick Swisher out, for leaving the third base too soon, in the top of the 4th inning, on Johnny Damon’s fly out, remember that Swisher was out on the pick-off play at second base, earlier in the inning, and Dale Scott blew the call. So, basically, McClelland was cleaning up Scott’s mistake when he called Swisher out. But, then McClelland screwed the pooch, as far as I can tell, on that play in the top of the 5th inning involving Posada and Cano at third base. In fact, overall, this may have been the worst umpired game in recent baseball post-season history. (By the way, if I recall correctly, Swisher, during the regular season, had that “leave too early” call tagged on him, incorrectly, as well. Must be something funky he’s doing to make the umps call that all the time…when it’s the wrong call.)
Speaking of Jorge Posada…he only gets to third on Cano’s double in the fifth, then he’s involved in that base-running situation with McClelland, and, later, in the bottom of the 6th inning he forgets how many outs there are and leaves home plate unprotected. Com’on Jorgie, get your head in the game, huh?
Anyone else notice Derek Jeter coughing up a lung during this whole game? The FOX guys never referred to it…
Lastly, does Fergie really want to meet me half-way right at the borderline or is she just being a tease?
Headline says it all…
…anyone that wants a place to rant, feel free to do it here.
-Posted by MJ
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Game Inn Runs G2LDS 11 4 G3LDS 9 4 G1LCS 8 4 G2LCS 13 4 G3LCS 11 4
The Yankees have scored just 4 runs in each of their last 5 post-season games this October. But, some of those games were extra-inning contests. (See chart above.)
When you boil it down to runs scored per 9 innings of play, over their last five games of this post-season, the Yankees are averaging 3.46 runs/9 Inn played. And, some of those runs were gifts from the Angels bad defense in Game 1 and 2 of the ALCS.
So, what’s happened to the big, bad, bats of the Yankees regular season offense? Are they all on vacation or something? Or, is it a whole different ballgame when you’re facing post-season teams and their pitching compared to when you’re facing teams like Mets, Orioles, Blue Jays and A’s in the regular season?
I was bothered by the Yankees loss in Game 3 of the 2009 ALCS. After all, how could a Yankees fan not be bothered by a loss like that? But, I was not as bothered as I expected to be bothered by such a loss – and I find that, the measure of my being bothered, bothersome.
Why was I not as bothered as I expected to be bothered? Perhaps the Yankees circa 2004-2008 have conditioned me to expect nothing and be prepared for anything and that’s why I wasn’t bothered as much as I was? But, in any event, it is still bothersome that I was not as bothered as normally bothered, at least to me.
So, that’s today’s wild thought – which is more a question, in reality. Were you bothered by the Yankees loss in Game 3? Were you bothered as much as you typically would be bothered by such a loss? And, if not, do you find it bothersome that you were not as bothered as you would normally be bothered?
I had the triathlon view of this game – tracking the first 3 1/2 innings via Gameday, watching the last 5 1/2 innings on FOX, and listening to the 2 innings in between those stops on the radio, during my commute home this evening. I wonder how many other Yankees fans were plugged into this one the same way?
I know that many in Yankeeland want to stick pins in their General Joe Voodoo dolls after this game – for lifting David Robertson and inserting Alfredo Aceves. But, I’m guessing that the Yankees had some reports that suggested Howie Kendrick did poorly against some pitch that Aceves throws and Robertson does not…
Funny, had this game ended differently, the goat would have been Bobby Abreu for his monster base-running mistake in the 8th inning…leading to that crazy 8-6-2 putout. Maybe Abreu should send Girardi some flowers and chocolates for this one?
In any event, given that this was a one-run loss…and, if I saw the graphic on FOX correctly, the first ALCS game, ever, now, that the Yankees have lost where they once held a lead of 3+ runs…I can’t help but to lament these three plays:
1. Top of the 2nd inning, Yanks have runners on first and second with no outs, and then runners on first and third with one out, and they do not score. Bad jobs there by Cano, Swisher and, to an extent, Cabrera.
2. Top of the 4th inning, Yanks have runners on first and second with no outs, and then runners on first and third with one out, and they do not score. Bad jobs there again by Cano, Swisher and, to an extent, Cabrera.
3. Top of the 8th inning, Matsui walks with no outs and Gardner is inserted to pinch run. Two pitches later, Gardner is nailed, attempting to steal, on a pitch-out. Two pitches after that Posada hits a huge, clutch, homerun to tie the game. But, losing Gardner as a baserunner in that spot was a big mistake.
If the Yankees score just one run in any one of these three situations, they either win this game or it’s still just tied when Aceves gives up that double to Jeff Mathis in the 11th inning.
On the plus-side today, besides Posada’s great homer, Johnny Damon deserves a big gold star for saving the game in the 10th inning backing up third base and stopping Rivera’s wild throw.
So, here’s the deal. The Yankees used seven relief pitchers in this game. And, they used seven relief pitchers in the game on Saturday. Now, in their next game, CC Sabathia is pitching for them on three-days rest. If the big lefty can only go five innings tomorrow, this could be a tied-series before you know it…
Now, for some miscellaneous observations…
By my unofficial count, Joba Chamberlain has faced 12 batters this post-season and has allowed 5 hits.
Is it just me, or, does anyone else think that Erick Aybar, Clint Howard and Cha-ka from the Land of the Lost all go to the same dentist?
Lastly, is there any chance that maybe Johnny Damon catches that drive off Mathis’ bat in the 11th inning for the third out of the inning?
Do you know where your MLB.com Gameday is?
Hey, for those stuck at work or just tracking Game 3 of the 2009 ALCS online for whatever reason, feel free to use the comments section below to discuss this game while it’s in progress. Heck, if you’re tracking, listening, or watching the game, no matter how, albeit online, on T.V or the radio, or via your own personal ability to control and bend both time and space, feel free to talk about it here while it’s happening…
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Closing the loop on my previous post, BA.com released their Top 20 Prospects for the International (Triple A) League.
International League:
Austin Jackson, OF (7)
This should come as no surprise. “AJax” was the Yanks’ only high-ceiling prospect at Scranton/AAA and had a somewhat nice debut as a full-season member of the Yankees highest minor league affiliate.
From BA’s write-up (which is for subscribers only):
Jackson was the most exciting player to spend the full season in the IL, flashing all five tools while leading the circuit in triples and ranking second in hits. He drew comparisons to Torii Hunter, albeit with less power.
Jackson has bat speed and strength, but he hit just four homers and slugged only .405. While he batted .300, his 123-40 K-BB ratio was the worst of his five-year pro career. As he continues to refine his pitch recognition and plate discipline, he should continue to hit for average with at least solid power. He has slightly above-average speed and is an intelligent baserunner who will steal some bases.
Though he’s not a blazer, Jackson played all three outfield positions for Scranton and could handle center field in the major leagues. He covers a lot of ground and makes accurate throws with an above-average arm.
At 22, Jackson is age-appropriate for the league and could probably use another full year of seasoning at this level.
Of notable non-Yankees on this list are three guys that made an impact in the big leagues this year — Matt Wieters; C-BAL (1), Tommy Hanson; RHP-ATL (2) and Andrew McCutchen; OF-PIT (3) — as well as my favorite young pitcher in the big leagues (Chris Tillman; RHP-BAL (4)) and Jackson’s former teammate, Jose Tabata; OF-PIT (13).
As far as teams we hate, the Mets had Fernando Martinez; OF (12) and the Red Sox had no one on the list. Sucks to be them (wink).
-Posted by MJ
Today’s wild thought is powered by the book I’m currently reading…
What will happen if A-Rod, even with all the great things he’s done, already, this post-season, has a “Fred Snodgrass 1912 World Series” moment…in the World Series this year for the Yankees?
Personally, right now, I think it could become a Bill Buckner type thing for Alex…if it happens.
Some will want him run out of town whereas others will feel sorry for him…getting blame for losing a series when it’s not proper, in their belief, to blame one person for overall defeat in a series of games played by a team.
What do you think will happen, if this does occur? Or, do you have to wait and see what happens before you could make a call on it?
Via Josh Alper with a h/t to BBTF -
Vinny Milano, aka Bald Vinny, runs a website selling t-shirts designed to celebrate particular Yankee players and/or denigrate the opposition. One of his shirts honors Swisher’s habit of saluting the bleachers during the roll call that the bleacher denizens sing out to welcome each Yankee starter during the top of the first inning. Milano got one of the shirts to Swisher earlier this season, so he was dismayed to learn recently that Swisher had trademarked the phrase and that Modell’s was now selling the shirts.
On his Twitter account, Milano vented some anger toward Swisher for swiping his idea and profting from it.
“I just couldn’t believe he’d stab me in the back like that, because Swisher has been so cool to us,” Milano told the New York Post. “He’s such a fan favorite. I just couldn’t believe he’d betray me like that.”
As it turns out, though, Swisher isn’t worthy of a one-finger salute. While Swisher did trademark the phrase, the t-shirts on sale at Modell’s are produced by the Major League Baseball Players Association and, according to Swisher on Twitter, are being made without his consent. Per their agreement with the MLBPA, Swisher and all players get a share of total licensing monies from merchandise without particular attention paid to whose name is pushing the merch.
Makes we wonder why this never happened with those “Aaron Got Guiel!” shirts that I once had made…
…yes, I’m kidding…there are no such shirts…
I just heard at the end of MLB Tonight (on the MLB Network around 8 pm ET) that Joe Girardi announced within the hour that C.C. Sabathia will start Game Four of the 2009 ALCS in Los Angeles. Here are the games, in his career, where Sabathia has pitched on three-days rest, as he will in Game Four:
Cnt Date Tm Opp GmReslt App,Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR Pit GmSc ERA +----+-------------+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+----+ 1 2008-09-28 MIL CHC W 3-1 CG 9 ,W 9 4 1 0 1 7 0 122 83 0.00 2 2008-09-24 MIL PIT W 4-2 GS-7 ,W 7 4 1 1 2 11 0 108 74 1.29 3 2008-09-20 MIL @CIN L 3-4 GS-6 ,L 5.2 7 4 1 1 3 0 105 47 1.59 4 2001-10-07 CLE @TOR W 3-2 GS-5 ,W 5 1 1 1 2 5 0 71 64 1.80
As you can see, Sabathia has done well, during the regular season, pitching on three-days rest, when called upon to do it. Of course, facing the Angels will not be the same as facing the Cubs, Pirates or Reds as the season is coming to a close…
Should be interesting to see if this works for the Yankees or not. Then again, CC on three days is probably better than Chad Gaudin, right? What do you think of Girardi’s call here?
Today, for no reason, I found myself thinking about people like Inside The Stadium Phil, Count The Rings Sean, 10th Inning Journal Phil, Canyon of Heroes Mike, Depressed Fan Brian, Yankees Chick, Scott Proctor Andrew, Baseball Savior Nick, and No Sense Worrying Jen…and sundry others who used to write about the Yankees on the internet.
You know, sometimes things happen and we hear about it – like Pete Abe getting a new gig, or, Kat O’Brien making a career change, or, the sad news about Todd Drew. But, sometimes, others who have spent a fair about of time writing about the Yankees just stop, for the most part, without it being big news.
Now, I happen to know some of the stories behind those who have elected to stop writing about the Yanks. Most times it’s family or work that’s taking up more of their time and not allowing them to “play” around with this stuff. And, I can appreciate that…very much so, in fact.
But, it does not change the fact that I miss their contribution to the Yankees Blogosphere…or whatever you want to call this medium of people adding Yankees content to the internet. So, of those who have moved on, who do you miss the most? Or, are there enough Yankees bloggers, etc., out there now that it’s no big deal if a few drop off the rolls? Heck, would you even miss me if I decided to hang it up? (That last one is a rhetorical question. I know that a few would miss me. Many others would throw a party. And, some wouldn’t even notice at all.)
Back to the main point…who do you miss among those who are no longer doing what they did on the internet with respect to covering the Yankees?
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Via mlb.com -
Yankee Stadium won’t be the site of Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Monday. But that doesn’t mean it will be empty.
The Yankees announced on Sunday that they will open the Stadium Field Level and Great Hall to the public to watch the Yankees face the Angels in Anaheim as New York tries to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the ALCS.
“We wanted to provide a place for our fans to come together to cheer for our team, even if the game itself is taking place across the country,” Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a news release. “This is a way of saying ‘Thank you’ for their continued support.”
Turnstiles between Gates 4 and 6 will open at 3:30 p.m. ET for the 4:13 p.m. game — broadcast on FOX — and fans can watch it in the Great Hall or in the open sections of the Field Level. Food and concession stands, as well as NYY Steak and Hard Rock Café, will be open and available to fans.
The decision to open the stadium was made after consultation with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
“I thank the New York Yankees for opening their amazing new stadium to the community, and I hope that people from all over the city will come out to cheer for the Yankees and share in what’s sure to be a great night right here in the Bronx,” Diaz Jr. said in the release.
…hmmm…
Whatever happened to “Any rebroadcast, retransmission, or account of this game, without the express written consent of Major League Baseball, is prohibited…”?
I suppose that MLB and FOX is giving the Yankees the rights to broadcast the game at the Stadium…which is cool. Although, given the start time for this game, and the fact that it’s a Monday, and it’s short notice on the Stadium being open, expect the joint to be filled with Lee Elia’s favorite 15% of the population. Could make for an interesting Stadium experience…
Via Danny Knobler -
But as the Angels packed their bags after Saturday night’s 4-3, 13-inning loss, there was a defiant streak that we never saw from the Twins, a confidence that befits a 97-win team just days removed from eliminating the Red Sox.
“You’d better believe we’ll be back here [for Game 6],” manager Mike Scioscia said as he walked out of his Yankee Stadium office. “I’m leaving my briefcase here.”
For the record, Scioscia took the briefcase, but he had made his point.
So did Torii Hunter, who saw no need for the type of “show some nuts” speech he gave last month in Boston. The Angels are disappointed to be down two games to none, deflated even after a game they led before A-Rod’s clutch home run in the 11th, but not devastated or depressed.
And not defeated — not yet.
“Hey, lot of baseball left, that’s all I can say,” Hunter said. “Lot of baseball left, and we’re going to play a little better. I got this feeling, man, that we’re going to have better games, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.
“We go home, it’s going to be a different scene — definitely.”
“We didn’t hit with runners in scoring position, that was our problem,” [Bobby] Abreu said. “Monday, it’s going to be different.”
Well, let’s see…
The 1981 Dodgers were in this spot in the World Series and forced a Game Six. Ditto the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1987 World Series. And, of course, there was the 2001 Yankees in the World Series. And, there was the 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series…and the 1978 Yankees in the World Series…
…so, it can happen…I suppose.
But, if I were an Angels fan, I would wait to see a Halos win in Game Five before I booked any plane flights to New York for Game Six…
There’s only been two post-season games ever, in the history of the game, where a team has used 8+ pitchers in a contest that was 13-innings or less and where their team won:
Game 2 of the 2009 ALDS between the Yankees and Twins, and,
Game 2 of the 2009 ALCS between the Yankees and Angels.
There have been seven post-season games in baseball history where a team used 8+ pitchers in a game of 13 innings or less where their team lost.
Watching the Yankees take the first two games of the 2009 ALCS from the Los Angeles Angels got me thinking about another time when a Yankees team faced a team from “Los Angeles” in the post-season…where the home-team took the first two games of the seven-game series…and that would be the 1978 World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers.
In the 1978 World Series, the Dodgers took Games 1 and 2, at home, over the Yankees…like the Yankees have taken Games 1 and 2 of the 2009 ALCS, at home, against the Angels. I seem to recall Thurman Munson being a tad upset with the Dodgers in the way they conducted themselves in those wins. If memory serves correct, Munson thought that Davey Lopes had showboated, too much, on some homeruns in those games, running the bases with one-finger up in the air. At least I think that’s what went down…but, I confess, all these years later, I might have mangled the facts a bit…
In any event, when the Yankees took that Series back “home” in 1978 for Game 3, it all turned around. Down two games to none, in Game 3, Ron Guidry and Graig Nettles saved the Yankees bacon. And, in Game 4, Reggie Jackson stuck out his hip in a key spot to aid another Yankees win. Next, in Game 5, the Yankees pounded the ball and Jim Beattie, of all people, pitched like he was Christy Mathewson. In the end, after returning home for three games, the Yankees now had a three-two lead in games, heading into Game 6 of the Series.
And, Game 6, out in L.A., was more Yankees magic. Catfish Hunter threw the ball like a man who made a deal with the devil. Brian Doyle and Bucky Dent sprayed hits all over the field. And, the Yankees won…the game…and the World Series. By the way, that Game 6 of the 1978 World Series was played on October 17, 1978…which was 31 years ago, yesterday. Maybe that’s why it was on my mind?
Let’s hope the 2009 Los Angeles Angels don’t pull a 1978 New York Yankees in this seven-game post-season series. Game 3 of the 2009 ALCS is tomorrow, at 4 pm ET. Then again, I don’t see Jered Weaver and Chone Figgins pulling a “Ron Guidry and Graig Nettles”…at least…I hope not…
Has one player ever hit three homeruns over a span of four consecutive post-season games as clutch as the three opposite field homeruns that Alex Rodriguez has hit between Game 2 of the 2009 ALDS and Game 2 of the 2009 ALCS? Three hits? Maybe. But, three homers? I doubt it…
It’s A-Rod’s World this October and the rest of Yankeeland should just be happy living in it…so far…including this Yankees fan.
It would have been a disaster to lose this game. You don’t want to be in a spot where it’s 1-1 in the series and now it’s a best three out of five with the Angels having home-field advantage. Plus, it’s just a heart-breaker for the team that loses this game.
Maicer Izturis…welcome to the club.
Now, for some miscellaneous observations…
I have to wonder, if Chone Figgins picks up that ball in the 13th inning, if Jerry Hairston Jr. is able to score?
You know George Steinbrenner is MIA when Joba Chamberlain shows up to pitch in a post-season game sporting a soul patch.
Upset about that “DP” which Derek Jeter hit into during the 5th inning that really wasn’t a “DP”? Well, that custom-breaking albeit technically-correct call by second base umpire Jerry Layne in the 10th inning on the DP attempt off Jorge Posada’s grounder sort of offsets that blown call on Jeter, no?
Think Frankie Cervelli and Chad Gaudin are going to catch any flack on the plane ride to Cali about being the only two Yankees left behind in this game?
A. J. Burnett did a good job in this one – sans the 5th inning where he lost it. But, Joe Saunders pitched a better game. Something to consider if these two meet-up again later in this series.
I really thought the combo of David Robertson and Jorge Posada, pitching to Vladimir Guerrero in the 13th inning with runners on second and third with two out, had “wild pitch, run scores” written all over it…as it was playing out. Glad that feeling was proven to be nothing in the end…
Just like in Game One of this series, the Yankees win this one with help from Angels mistakes. But, I’m not going to make the mistake of telling Yankees fans that their team got lucky in the post-season twice, two days in a row…
So, I’ll just close with: Two wins down, two to go.
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If they do end up playing this game tonight…here’s the cap the Yankees players will be wearing in it:
Hey, it could have been worse…it could have been Kate Hudson this month…
