Was it Mr. November, punching home the go-ahead run in fifth? The acquired workhorse pitcher, muscling his way through nearly six innings on short rest? Perhaps the All-Star first baseman, cleaning up a 20-foot radius at the right-field bag? Or maybe the team's biggest "fraud," driving the hit he's been trying to find for the past five years? Wait — the old-man, shallow-throwing Boston defector? Or the bullpen ghosts, actually finding outs rather than bringing a curse? Perhaps the Sandman, closing it out with eight pitches?
It was the New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers, the boys in pinstripes, the Evil Empire. The team that resides in New York, N.Y., collectively won Game 4 of the World Series tonight, and it was beautiful.
The action began in the first inning, as it always should, with Yankees captain Derek Jeter up to bat. He struck the second pitch of the night and ran for a single, and Johnny Damon followed behind with a pounding double.
Mark Teixeira, who has one hit to his name in the World Series so far, took a step in the right direction by lacing an RBI grounder down the right-field line. Teixeira was tagged out by first after a great Ryan Howard dive, but the Yankees were up 1-0 after six pitches.
(Irony: Teixeira and Howard are both first baseman and their team's leading sluggers, and both haven't been hitting in the Series but have played incredible defense.)
Alex Rodriguez came to the plate with his own redemption at stake. Since torching the American League Division and Championship Series, Rodriguez has been horrific against the Phils, striking out six times and getting just one hit (although it was a beauty, a two-run round-tripper). Clearly in the zone, A-Rod got in his stance and stared toward Philadelphia pitcher Joe Blanton, ready to send the runner on third home.
Blanton's first pitch skewed out of his hand and flew straight into the back of A-Rod's rib cage, a pitch so off the mark you had to think he was more shaken at the prospect of the ensuing at-bat than trying to plunk the hard-hitting cleanup man. A-Rod turned away, visibly angry — not so much at the pain, though. This man wanted to drive 'em in.
It was the third time Rodriguez had been hit in the last two games, with the two times he was beaned yesterday the first time since the 1960s that a player had been hit twice in a World Series game.
Jorge Posada came through with a sacrifice fly, putting New York up 2-0, and then it was time for CC Sabathia to get to work.
Sabathia looked rough early, allowing back-to-back doubles for a run, but he buckled down to strike out two and escape the innings. It appeared that the game might dissolve into a pitcher's duel, but in the bottom of the fourth, Sabathia allowed another run.
The Yankees' batters were ready.
Nick Swisher drew a four-pitch walk from the leadoff spot, a big feat for a guy who's been hitting nothing lately, sans yesterday's outburst. (Swisher ended up drawing two walks, a mix of hilarity and greatness.) Then, in a scene all Yankees fans could smile at, the camera cut to the on-deck circle to show Sabathia lopping his bat around, stretching/practice swinging, looking like a fat kid trying to imitate his father.
Melky Cabrera was up next, though, and he provided the Melky special with a man on first. Cabrera doesn't always hit it strong, but he finds ways to get on base, such as his legging out a bunt a couple games ago or his hit tonight, a grounder he outran.
Sabathia arrived at the plate wanting to pull a Pettitte and put his team ahead after letting the Phils catch up, but he came up short. No worries: Mr. November will take care of it.
Jeter hooked an RBI single to put the Yankees up again, 3-2, in the top of the fifth.
Damon followed, absolutely plopping the ball in the gap, and alert running by Cabrera helped him come all the way home once he knew the ball would drop, scoring a 4-2 run in a game that proved to hang on each run's importance.
With the Yankees bats finally, officially, unflukishly alive, all Sabathia had to do was hold the Phillies. The big man worked into the seventh and was an out away from sewing up the frame when Chase Utley came to the plate. Utley had already hit a first-inning RBI double off Sabathia to get Philly within one, and he was the one responsible for Philadelphia's Game 1 win, thanks to his two quads off of Sabathia while Cliff Lee held New York at bay (until the bullpen imploded, and New York destroyed itself).
Chase Utley did it again, chasing Sabathia with a solo homer that brought the Phillies, once again, within a run. 4-3 Yankees.
Sabathia left with six-and-two-thirds innings pitched, 107 pitches tossed, and six strikeouts. It wasn't a flawless game, but it was enough — just what the Yankees needed. New York didn't need dominance; it just needed him to work out of enough jams to let a decent bat effort win the game. You know, have him be part of the team rather than carrying everyone.
The bottom of the eighth brought a pitching change for the Yankees necessitated by a pinch batter, and manager Joe Girardi summoned Joba Chamberlain. Once the fireballing pride of the Bronx, Chamberlain has been caught in management's yo-yo routine between being an average starting pitcher and a dominating setup man to the point that he can barely do either now. But he seemed to have found his form again when he took the mound, striking out two and loading two strikes on Pedro Feliz.
Chamberlain was close to redemption, then boom, Feliz ripped one over the wall. In a game the Yankees had been controlling, with just one inning left, it was all evened up, 4-4.
Out of Philadelphia's bullpen, with the game on the line, came the Phillie with the biggest need of his own redemption: Brad Lidge. A year after being Philadelphia's savior, winning the town its first championship since 1983 by saving game after game with Mariano Rivera-like perfection, Lidge had imploded in the regular season, posting unsightly numbers and losing games.
But come October, he was the old Lidge, not allowing anything past him and closing out the tight Phillies games as the men in red recorded more of their vaunted comebacks.
It was the Yankees' first test against Lidge, and at first it looked like they were failing. Hideki Matsui went down on a popup, and Jeter struck out ugly on seven pitches. Damon came to the plate as the Yankees' final chance before an extra innings (or comeback) mess and worked up a nine-pitch, full-count single to put a man on first with two out and the American League's most prolific hitter in 2009 coming to the plate.
Problem is, the American League's most prolific hitter in 2009 has been one of the Yankees' worst postseason hitter. Teixeira has one hit so far in the Series, and his only other good stat (that first-inning RBI) was inches from being another chopped foul.
The pressure was on, and Teixeira — Sesame Street-face seriousness and all — was ready for it.
But the baseball gods wanted someone else to have a try at it. With a 1-0 count, Damon took off running for a steal of second, and the throw — while wayward — barely went to the right side of the bag as Damon slid in for an easy swipe. But Damon, realizing that the throw had drawn the second baseman away, and seeing that no Phillies were on the left side of the diamond due to the shift they'd put on to quell Teixeira, decided he'd take third.
At first, it looked like a blunder. Had Damon not seen that the fielder had the ball? Was he trying to be a hero? Why did he need third? Where was he going?
Moments later, when sneaky Damon had taken third, all was clear, and the Yankees were in prime position to close out the game.
The pressure was still on Teixeira, but Lidge took it off when his next pitch plunked Tex, putting men on first and third for the man the baseball gods have been summoning since last Wednesday.
Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez, come forth.
(Word play to not be taken seriously: Doesn't Emmanuel mean "God with us"?)
We've been saying it in June, in July, in the final days of September, that this A-Rod is the real deal. He's a team player; he's focused; he's ready to just play; he's firing on all cylinders. October showed up, and A-Rod bashed seven RBI in his final regular-season game to snatch 100 RBI and rev the motor for the playoffs. The postseason arrived, and he arrived with it, carrying the Yankees past the Twins and the Angels, breaking records and erasing years of terrible play.
But the World Series brought an 0-for-8 start, including six strikeouts. And even the two-run blast yesterday to pull the Yankees into the game wasn't a solace as A-Rod came to the plate against Lidge, who despite his foibles, had looked very good in striking out Jeter three batters before.
Strike looking. A-Rod is calm, serene, stepping back, then moving into the box again.
Nervousness grips the pinstriped faithful, for as much as they've hated him before, they don't want to hate him anymore. They want this one. They want it bad.
Take back what is rightfully our's. K-O the Phillies. Three games to one. Championship No. 27. Do it. Do it. Do it.
Swing — hard hit — oh, it's a hit — a good one — it's moving — Yankees ahead — A-Rod's for real — A-Rod's for real — A-Rod's for real!
Cannot believe it. The 1-for-13 batter just got it done.
A Jorge Posada single followed, scoring Teixeira and Rodriguez to put the game away (well, until Rivera's eight-pitch shut-down that blew away the three Phillies who'd had the air sucked out of them).
And there we go. A 7-4 win. A postseason edge.
27 outs away from No. 27.
Whew, I'm sure glad those 39 pitches Mo threw two games ago didn't let the Phillies figure him out like they said they would. Give me a break, Phillies. You're problem isn't Mo. It's not Sabathia. It's not even A-Rod, or Jeter, or Damon, or a rejuvenated bullpen.
You've met a collection of men called the New York Yankees, and they want this one.
Other Yankees Posts
Game Recap
Notables: Jeter was 2-for-4 with a walk, run, and RBI in a game where his stat line didn't reveal how insanely clutch this tight-pants-clad man is. ... Damon was 3-for-5, and officially absolved of the accusations that he brought the curse with him from Boston. ... A-Rod's double was his only hit of the night, and Teixeira was hitless again. ... Posada had just one hit but 3 RBI; he knows how to pick his spots. ... Cabrera may have pulled his hamstring after running out that grounder. He had to leave the game. ... Chamberlain got the win, with hopes it won't go to his head since his hat is already stretched to the seams (both literally and figuratively). He's also credited with a blown save, which is abbreviated "BS" in statistic-keeping. ... Rivera's save was his fifth of this postseason. ... The runs Lidge allowed were the first this postseason. Until now he was the last pitcher to not allow a run in the 2009 playoffs. ... Jimmy Rollins said the Phillies would win in five games.
Showing posts with label melky cabrera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label melky cabrera. Show all posts
11.02.2009
10.29.2009
The right medicine
A.J. Burnett was just what the Yankees needed tonight, and I'll credit the uneven No. 2 pitcher for New York for this Game 2 win.
After sporadic pitching performances throughout the postseason (not just winning some games and losing some, or letting a lot of runs in during one and not the other, but throwing more pitches in the dirt in some than some pitchers throw all year), Burnett was excellent tonight.
He pitched hard and kept his head in the game even after the Phillies went ahead. With nine strikeouts and seven innings pitched, he didn't just get the guys in red out, he also saved the New York bullpen (which had no right coming into this game) and sent a message to a hard-hitting Philly lineup. And by allowing just four hits, he reasserted that although he may not be an ace, he can still hold down that second-pitcher spot.
After allowing that one run, Burnett didn't let any runners get past second.
On Saturday Andy Pettitte, the Yanks' postseason veteran, gets to take his stab in enemy territory, but tonight, the Yankees are happy for the win.
This series has already turned into a National League showdown, and that's not a good thing, especially since the first two games were in New York. After sporting perfection at the new Yankee Stadium, the Yankees were no-shows in the first game, excluding the bullpen, which showed up to throw meatballs and let the Phillies run away with the 6-1 Game 1 win.
That all changed tonight. There was no New York bombing (the good kind), but there was gutsy Yankees playing, which is exactly what the Pinstriped Faithful needed to see their boys get back in the series.
After falling behind 1-0, Mark Teixeira showed up with a fourth-inning homer that evened the game. He had been batting .182 in the postseason so far.
Two innings later, Hideki Matsui (who has had middling postseason numbers) sent one into the right field porch with two outs to put New York up 2-1.
The seventh inning was a well-crafted Yankees onslaught, with Jerry Hairston Jr. (of all people) making good on his promotion into Nick Swisher's spot (finally) singling. Melky Cabrera provided another timely hit, putting guys on first and second without an out.
In a scene that is a great part of the 2009 Yankees' postseason, Jorge Posada came up to pinch-hit for Jose Molina, who was catching Burnett, as is usual of late. Posada has been able to come in fresh and inject some life into the late inning for the Yankees, and tonight was no different, with the New York catcher lacing an RBI single to put men on first and second with one out and the leadoff hitter coming to the plate. Yankees 3, Phillies 1.
But remember how I said this was a National League showdown? Yeah. On top of the ludicrous starting pitching and Joe Girardi's hyper hook with the bullpen, the manager who holds the American League pennant started managing his tuchis off again. And that's not a good thing because, remember, his team is in the American League. American League. With hitters, and designated hitters. Not the National League, where you managed the Florida Marlins. American League. American.
Nope, we've got Derek Jeter bunting. Not just bunting, but bunting three times in a row, for a strikeout. Derek Jeter. Mr. November. The guy who has more clutch, postseason hits than most people have years they've lived. The guy who hits a dozen home runs in a year then cranks half a dozen over the wall when it comes to the fortnight that is the playoffs.
Men on first and second, and Jeter is bunting. Oi, Girardi.
Stack another blown call by the playoff umps on the next play (a one-hopper into Phillies' first baseman Ryan Howard's glove was ruled a lineout), and the inning was over. But not even Girardi could derail the rest of the Yankees' day.
In a change from his six-relievers-for-two-innings approach, Girardi called on Mariano Rivera to take care of the last two frames. Mo didn't have to pitch in last night's debacle, and after letting guys reach first and second, a dark horse factor for the Yankees showed up. Robinson Cano turned a great double play to Derek Jeter, who fired, legs splayed over a sliding Phil, to Mark Teixeiera at first just in time to save the inning. The Yankees x-factor defense had made the difference.
Rivera was out for the ninth, of course, and Cano caught a lazy liner for a phenomenal second out before Rivera took down way-too-heavy Philly DH Matt Stairs on strikes for the win.
It wasn't a pretty night, with plenty of Yankee problems, but the goal is a win, and New York got that. Alex Rodriguez had another rough night, whiffing three times for the second day in a row to increase his World Series drought to 0-for-8 through two games. Let's hope it doesn't take him as long to get on track in the Fall Classic as it has in the postseason of recent years.
Phillies slugger Howard struck out four times.
Jeter had an uncharacteristic three strikeouts and a double, and aside from the aforementioned hits, there was only singles by Cano and Matsui, leaving the Yankees with eight hits on the night.
Rivera's fourth save of this postseason was his 10th World Series save and 38th playoff save of his career. Burnett got his first win of the playoffs after three no-decisions.
Game Recap
Other Yankees Posts
After sporadic pitching performances throughout the postseason (not just winning some games and losing some, or letting a lot of runs in during one and not the other, but throwing more pitches in the dirt in some than some pitchers throw all year), Burnett was excellent tonight.
He pitched hard and kept his head in the game even after the Phillies went ahead. With nine strikeouts and seven innings pitched, he didn't just get the guys in red out, he also saved the New York bullpen (which had no right coming into this game) and sent a message to a hard-hitting Philly lineup. And by allowing just four hits, he reasserted that although he may not be an ace, he can still hold down that second-pitcher spot.
After allowing that one run, Burnett didn't let any runners get past second.
On Saturday Andy Pettitte, the Yanks' postseason veteran, gets to take his stab in enemy territory, but tonight, the Yankees are happy for the win.
This series has already turned into a National League showdown, and that's not a good thing, especially since the first two games were in New York. After sporting perfection at the new Yankee Stadium, the Yankees were no-shows in the first game, excluding the bullpen, which showed up to throw meatballs and let the Phillies run away with the 6-1 Game 1 win.
That all changed tonight. There was no New York bombing (the good kind), but there was gutsy Yankees playing, which is exactly what the Pinstriped Faithful needed to see their boys get back in the series.
After falling behind 1-0, Mark Teixeira showed up with a fourth-inning homer that evened the game. He had been batting .182 in the postseason so far.
Two innings later, Hideki Matsui (who has had middling postseason numbers) sent one into the right field porch with two outs to put New York up 2-1.
The seventh inning was a well-crafted Yankees onslaught, with Jerry Hairston Jr. (of all people) making good on his promotion into Nick Swisher's spot (finally) singling. Melky Cabrera provided another timely hit, putting guys on first and second without an out.
In a scene that is a great part of the 2009 Yankees' postseason, Jorge Posada came up to pinch-hit for Jose Molina, who was catching Burnett, as is usual of late. Posada has been able to come in fresh and inject some life into the late inning for the Yankees, and tonight was no different, with the New York catcher lacing an RBI single to put men on first and second with one out and the leadoff hitter coming to the plate. Yankees 3, Phillies 1.
But remember how I said this was a National League showdown? Yeah. On top of the ludicrous starting pitching and Joe Girardi's hyper hook with the bullpen, the manager who holds the American League pennant started managing his tuchis off again. And that's not a good thing because, remember, his team is in the American League. American League. With hitters, and designated hitters. Not the National League, where you managed the Florida Marlins. American League. American.
Nope, we've got Derek Jeter bunting. Not just bunting, but bunting three times in a row, for a strikeout. Derek Jeter. Mr. November. The guy who has more clutch, postseason hits than most people have years they've lived. The guy who hits a dozen home runs in a year then cranks half a dozen over the wall when it comes to the fortnight that is the playoffs.
Men on first and second, and Jeter is bunting. Oi, Girardi.
Stack another blown call by the playoff umps on the next play (a one-hopper into Phillies' first baseman Ryan Howard's glove was ruled a lineout), and the inning was over. But not even Girardi could derail the rest of the Yankees' day.
In a change from his six-relievers-for-two-innings approach, Girardi called on Mariano Rivera to take care of the last two frames. Mo didn't have to pitch in last night's debacle, and after letting guys reach first and second, a dark horse factor for the Yankees showed up. Robinson Cano turned a great double play to Derek Jeter, who fired, legs splayed over a sliding Phil, to Mark Teixeiera at first just in time to save the inning. The Yankees x-factor defense had made the difference.
Rivera was out for the ninth, of course, and Cano caught a lazy liner for a phenomenal second out before Rivera took down way-too-heavy Philly DH Matt Stairs on strikes for the win.
It wasn't a pretty night, with plenty of Yankee problems, but the goal is a win, and New York got that. Alex Rodriguez had another rough night, whiffing three times for the second day in a row to increase his World Series drought to 0-for-8 through two games. Let's hope it doesn't take him as long to get on track in the Fall Classic as it has in the postseason of recent years.
Phillies slugger Howard struck out four times.
Jeter had an uncharacteristic three strikeouts and a double, and aside from the aforementioned hits, there was only singles by Cano and Matsui, leaving the Yankees with eight hits on the night.
Rivera's fourth save of this postseason was his 10th World Series save and 38th playoff save of his career. Burnett got his first win of the playoffs after three no-decisions.
Game Recap
Other Yankees Posts
10.27.2009
World Series preview
I'm not sure I have the attention span for a full-fledged World Series preview, so I'm going to post bits and pieces as I think of them.
My #1 concern going into the series: the Yankees' bats and bullpen.
Let's start with the bullpen. I trust CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera completely, but I haven't been impressed with the bullpen this postseason. Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes should no longer be treated the way they were in the regular season, when they could be lights out. Instead, the few guys who have shown they can hold the seventh and eighth down should be called upon in the next four to seven games.
Some of this has to do with Joe Girardi's decision-making, but more of it has to do with some of these guys just not having it right now. I don't know if it's them being figured out after a long season or the jitters of the playoffs, but the bullpen's going to have to be stronger in the World Series.
Don't get me started on A.J. Burnett.
My other worry is the Yankees' batting woes. While slumpers Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher did come around (no pun intended) this last game, the Yankees' lineup from top to bottom has been horrid in the last two playoff series. Without Alex Rodriguez, timely hits by Derek Jeter, and the random hit every once in a while by everyone else, the Yankees could have easily been shut out.
Some guys have had bad luck, lining out or missing the gaps, but others have been horrid. Robinson Cano, Hideki Matsui, and Swisher have been the worst. Teixeira and Johnny Damon have been half and half. Jorge Posada has been hitting, but his getting on base is rarely rewarded. Melky Cabrera has held his own.
With only three or four consistent hitters, the Yankees are waiting to be feasted upon.
The good news is that this last game provided some great momentum. Most of the guys got a hit, and hopefully a little rest and refocusing can get the bats going again. As long as they're hitting the ball well, they won't have to rely on flukish errors and flubs by the other team to make the difference in tight games.
Other Yankees Posts
My #1 concern going into the series: the Yankees' bats and bullpen.
Let's start with the bullpen. I trust CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera completely, but I haven't been impressed with the bullpen this postseason. Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes should no longer be treated the way they were in the regular season, when they could be lights out. Instead, the few guys who have shown they can hold the seventh and eighth down should be called upon in the next four to seven games.
Some of this has to do with Joe Girardi's decision-making, but more of it has to do with some of these guys just not having it right now. I don't know if it's them being figured out after a long season or the jitters of the playoffs, but the bullpen's going to have to be stronger in the World Series.
Don't get me started on A.J. Burnett.
My other worry is the Yankees' batting woes. While slumpers Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher did come around (no pun intended) this last game, the Yankees' lineup from top to bottom has been horrid in the last two playoff series. Without Alex Rodriguez, timely hits by Derek Jeter, and the random hit every once in a while by everyone else, the Yankees could have easily been shut out.
Some guys have had bad luck, lining out or missing the gaps, but others have been horrid. Robinson Cano, Hideki Matsui, and Swisher have been the worst. Teixeira and Johnny Damon have been half and half. Jorge Posada has been hitting, but his getting on base is rarely rewarded. Melky Cabrera has held his own.
With only three or four consistent hitters, the Yankees are waiting to be feasted upon.
The good news is that this last game provided some great momentum. Most of the guys got a hit, and hopefully a little rest and refocusing can get the bats going again. As long as they're hitting the ball well, they won't have to rely on flukish errors and flubs by the other team to make the difference in tight games.
Other Yankees Posts
10.26.2009
Unroll the bunting
When the Yankees missed the playoffs last season, I put a "World Series 2009!" banner on the top of my Web page for the team. Well, it's 2009, and they've done their part.
The Yankees are in the World Series for the 40th time.
Tonight's 5-2 win was another classic Andy Pettitte-Mariano Rivera combination, with Pettitte winning a postseason-record 16th game and Rivera grabbing his 37th playoff save.
Pettitte was sharp all night, going 6.1 innings and allowing just one run while striking out six. Mo let a run through in the eighth but pitched two full innings, striking out the final batter to send the Yankees into November.
Despite holding the record for wins in the postseason, Pettitte had yet to beat the Angels until tonight (he was 0-4). He defers the compliments and says he's just surrounded by good guys, but tonight he showed that's just not true; he's a playoff master as much as Rivera.
The Yankees didn't break through until the fourth inning tonight after three straight innings (and several games, for that matter) of leaving men on base. In the first, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez both hit singles but were left stranded. In the second, it was Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera, plus a Derek Jeter walk, but Johnny Damon couldn't come through. In the third, Rodriguez walked, but no runs.
In the fourth, a Cano walk and Nick Swisher single, with the men advanced to second and third on a Cabrera sacrifice, set the stage for Los Angeles to unravel. It began when Jeter fouled a ball off near the right field seats that Angels first baseman Kendry Morales pulled up on and didn't make an attempt to dive to catch (a "Jeter," if you will). Jeter ended up with a free pass to first a few pitches later, and Damon came to the plate to avenge himself.
After going 0-for-4 with the bases loaded in the postseason, Damon slapped a two-run-scoring single, putting the Yankees ahead.
Angels starter Joe Saunders had been looking shaky already, one-hopping some pitches to the plate, and he walked Teixeira next to load the bags.
The crowd was pensive, nervous, standing without much motion as memories of recent Yankee collapses surely streamed through their heads.
The new October hero, Rodriguez, came to the plate, and after a hard cut on a foul ball, Saunders was the one looking nervous, walking A-Rod to score a run and put the Yankees up 3-1. Rodriguez ended the night with three walks.
The small-ball hitting was the theme of the night, as Yankee Stadium went without a homer for the second time this postseason after just one day without a home run during the regular season.
When the seventh inning rolled around, though, the worrying could reconvene as New York turned to its bullpen, which has had its issues lately. But Joba Chamberlain pulled through for his two outs, and Rivera was summoned to put the Angels away (but not before a little teasing and making it a nail-biter by letting the Angels come within a run at 3-2).
The Yankees came out ready in the bottom of the eighth, not content to be ahead by just one. After getting a man on first, Swisher showed he is actually good for something this season, putting down an excellent bunt then legging it out to force an error at first and put men on first and second with no outs.
Another beautiful Cabrera bunt looked to advance the runners, but the same Yankees that were in the Angels' heads for most of the series were there again tonight. Scott Kazmir, who was already questionably in the game after being the losing pitcher in the game 4 Yankees blowout, made a huge error. His lob to first flew way over the leaping first baseman's head, letting a Yankee run score and preserving another out.
Kazmir tried to make up for his gaffe with the next batter, firing to first to get Jeter on a groundout, but the damage was done.
By now, the Yankees knew. A-Rod was smelling it, sitting perky in the dugout. He had carried the team so far and no longer cared about his October monkeys; he wanted the World Series.
Jeter stood, holding back a grin. He was relishing the new Yankee Stadium, full of screaming fans and perfect color, with the Angels on the ropes. There's no way the game was tense for him; he knew they had it.
A Teixeira sacrifice fly had the Yankees taking the field for the top of the ninth up 5-2.
This was how they wanted it: at home, in front of this crowd, with this kind of domination, with this momentum going into a matchup with the defending champions.
A few pitches later, they had it. It was all over but the champagne.
CC Sabathia, who is almost certainly starting Wednesday's World Series opener, was named the American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player, despite Rodriguez batting .438 with five home runs and 11 RBI, and all his game-tying or game-winning heroics.
But the A-Rod that has cared about quality, not image, all season, was at Yankee Stadium again tonight. When he jumped in celebration after Mo struck out the final batter, his gum flopped out of his supermodel mouth, ruining the splendid image that should be A-Rod.
He jumped into a hug with Jeter and Teixeira, just one of the guys.
One of the guys going to the World Series.
Other Yankees Posts
The Yankees are in the World Series for the 40th time.
Tonight's 5-2 win was another classic Andy Pettitte-Mariano Rivera combination, with Pettitte winning a postseason-record 16th game and Rivera grabbing his 37th playoff save.
Pettitte was sharp all night, going 6.1 innings and allowing just one run while striking out six. Mo let a run through in the eighth but pitched two full innings, striking out the final batter to send the Yankees into November.
Despite holding the record for wins in the postseason, Pettitte had yet to beat the Angels until tonight (he was 0-4). He defers the compliments and says he's just surrounded by good guys, but tonight he showed that's just not true; he's a playoff master as much as Rivera.
The Yankees didn't break through until the fourth inning tonight after three straight innings (and several games, for that matter) of leaving men on base. In the first, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez both hit singles but were left stranded. In the second, it was Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera, plus a Derek Jeter walk, but Johnny Damon couldn't come through. In the third, Rodriguez walked, but no runs.
In the fourth, a Cano walk and Nick Swisher single, with the men advanced to second and third on a Cabrera sacrifice, set the stage for Los Angeles to unravel. It began when Jeter fouled a ball off near the right field seats that Angels first baseman Kendry Morales pulled up on and didn't make an attempt to dive to catch (a "Jeter," if you will). Jeter ended up with a free pass to first a few pitches later, and Damon came to the plate to avenge himself.
After going 0-for-4 with the bases loaded in the postseason, Damon slapped a two-run-scoring single, putting the Yankees ahead.
Angels starter Joe Saunders had been looking shaky already, one-hopping some pitches to the plate, and he walked Teixeira next to load the bags.
The crowd was pensive, nervous, standing without much motion as memories of recent Yankee collapses surely streamed through their heads.
The new October hero, Rodriguez, came to the plate, and after a hard cut on a foul ball, Saunders was the one looking nervous, walking A-Rod to score a run and put the Yankees up 3-1. Rodriguez ended the night with three walks.
The small-ball hitting was the theme of the night, as Yankee Stadium went without a homer for the second time this postseason after just one day without a home run during the regular season.
When the seventh inning rolled around, though, the worrying could reconvene as New York turned to its bullpen, which has had its issues lately. But Joba Chamberlain pulled through for his two outs, and Rivera was summoned to put the Angels away (but not before a little teasing and making it a nail-biter by letting the Angels come within a run at 3-2).
The Yankees came out ready in the bottom of the eighth, not content to be ahead by just one. After getting a man on first, Swisher showed he is actually good for something this season, putting down an excellent bunt then legging it out to force an error at first and put men on first and second with no outs.
Another beautiful Cabrera bunt looked to advance the runners, but the same Yankees that were in the Angels' heads for most of the series were there again tonight. Scott Kazmir, who was already questionably in the game after being the losing pitcher in the game 4 Yankees blowout, made a huge error. His lob to first flew way over the leaping first baseman's head, letting a Yankee run score and preserving another out.
Kazmir tried to make up for his gaffe with the next batter, firing to first to get Jeter on a groundout, but the damage was done.
By now, the Yankees knew. A-Rod was smelling it, sitting perky in the dugout. He had carried the team so far and no longer cared about his October monkeys; he wanted the World Series.
Jeter stood, holding back a grin. He was relishing the new Yankee Stadium, full of screaming fans and perfect color, with the Angels on the ropes. There's no way the game was tense for him; he knew they had it.
A Teixeira sacrifice fly had the Yankees taking the field for the top of the ninth up 5-2.
This was how they wanted it: at home, in front of this crowd, with this kind of domination, with this momentum going into a matchup with the defending champions.
A few pitches later, they had it. It was all over but the champagne.
CC Sabathia, who is almost certainly starting Wednesday's World Series opener, was named the American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player, despite Rodriguez batting .438 with five home runs and 11 RBI, and all his game-tying or game-winning heroics.
But the A-Rod that has cared about quality, not image, all season, was at Yankee Stadium again tonight. When he jumped in celebration after Mo struck out the final batter, his gum flopped out of his supermodel mouth, ruining the splendid image that should be A-Rod.
He jumped into a hug with Jeter and Teixeira, just one of the guys.
One of the guys going to the World Series.
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10.20.2009
In their heads
No one has ever said Alex Rodriguez isn't talented, that he isn't a great batter, that he isn't MVP-caliber talent.
But he has been accused of being an underachiever, a choke, a less-than-real Yankee.
That's why it was only fitting when A-Rod's fifth-inning home run to bury the Angels in a 5-0 hole also capped an incredible seven games of baseball, putting him in good company with a Yankee great.
Rodriguez's two-run shot made tonight's game the eighth game in a row (seven this postseason) with an RBI, a figure that ties Lou Gehrig for first place in playoff history.
Angel Stadium went silent after A-Rod's latest bomb, as this year's postseason leader for the Yankees led his pinstriped fellows into familiar territory: getting inside the Angels' heads.
The game started innocently enough, with Derek Jeter slapping an opposite-field single in the gap. But Jeter got caught off the bag trying to steal, and the Yankees looked ready to repeat their gaffe-filled ways from earlier in the series (which, until yesterday's extra-innings Angels win, had yet to result in a New York loss).
But tonight's game turned out to be more like the New England Patriots' victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. After opening up with some terrible play (Yankees: the Jeter mishap, Swisher getting called out for not tagging up soon enough; Patriots: stalling in the red zone, missing a field goal), both teams went off and blew away their opponents. The Patriots won 59-0 behind six touchdowns from Tom Brady. The Yankees stacked it on until the night ended with a 10-1 score.
If there's a trademark to this Angels-Yankees series, it's that even when the Yankees hand it to the Angels, the Angels can't seem to take it, and then the Yankees decimate them. In the first two games, it was late-inning heroics. The Angels shed their demons in the 11th inning of last night's win only to invite them back today, letting the Yankees into their heads despite serious mental lapses by the Bombers (see Jeter, Derek; Swisher, Nick; and Posada, Jorge, which led to Cano, Robinson).
(Side note: There were some terrible calls by the umps this game, but at least they didn't affect the outcome.)
With the Angels not taking advantage of the Yankees' ineptness, they had no chance of stemming the tide that was the unstopable A-Rod and CC Sabathia.
Before A-Rod's big homer, the Yankees had scratched together three runs, but there was no astounding hitting. The real hero of the game so far had been Sabathia, who was being the ultimate team player as he pitched on three day's rest and kept his pitch count low to be able to stay in the game. In one inning, he had about a third of the number of pitches the Angels' starter, Scott Kazmir, had totaled, and the big horse lasted eight innings overall and was able to strike out five while allowing just five hits (the one run coming from a homer).
At this point, people start saying that the Yankees are winning because all their players get paid so much, but getting paid a lot is nothing until you produce. Ask A-Rod.
From 2004-2007, he had four home runs and nine RBI. This year alone, he has five home runs and 11 RBI. (And this is the first season his regular-season numbers weren't as hot...do you hear anyone whining about that?) Plus, there's those terrible numbers he's had in years past with runners in scoring position.
Sabathia has followed suit, minus the years of frustration A-Rod had. He may not always pitch pretty, but eight innings means valuable rest for the bullpen and no need for a run-around in trying to find a fourth man to pitch.
Once Sabathia started dominating the Angels bats, and Rodriguez began to light things up again, the rest of the Yankees followed. Johnny Damon bolstered his case to stay with the Yankees for another season with a two-run blast that put the game away. Melky Cabrera slapped in a couple runs in the ninth inning, after A-Rod teased Bobby's Abreu arm by tagging up on a flyout then scoring on the errant throw. (Want to know why New York didn't keep Abreu? Yeah, look at that arm. Swisher may strike out and look silly most days, but he can throw a ball.)
It was a definitive win by the Yankees, the ultimate yes-we-did victory that will give this team enough momentum to hopefully end the series Thursday or else close it out in front of a raucous New York City crowd.
Sabathia's win was his third of the postseason, which leads all playoff pitchers, and his ERA is now 1.19 after allowing just one run today.
Rodriguez and Cabrera both went 3-for-4, although Rodriguez's two RBI were bested by Cabrera's four. Jeter had two hits, Damon's home run was worth two RBI, and Cano added the final RBI for the Yankees, which got a hit from each member of the lineup sans Hideki Matsui (0-for-5) and Swisher (0-for-2).
Rodriguez and Posada (!!!) both had stolen bases.
Angel Stadium hosts Thursday's matchup, set for 7:57 p.m.
A.J. Burnett is expected to start for the Yankees, and John Lackey wil try to take the Yanks after losing Game 1.
Other Yankees Posts
But he has been accused of being an underachiever, a choke, a less-than-real Yankee.
That's why it was only fitting when A-Rod's fifth-inning home run to bury the Angels in a 5-0 hole also capped an incredible seven games of baseball, putting him in good company with a Yankee great.
Rodriguez's two-run shot made tonight's game the eighth game in a row (seven this postseason) with an RBI, a figure that ties Lou Gehrig for first place in playoff history.
Angel Stadium went silent after A-Rod's latest bomb, as this year's postseason leader for the Yankees led his pinstriped fellows into familiar territory: getting inside the Angels' heads.
The game started innocently enough, with Derek Jeter slapping an opposite-field single in the gap. But Jeter got caught off the bag trying to steal, and the Yankees looked ready to repeat their gaffe-filled ways from earlier in the series (which, until yesterday's extra-innings Angels win, had yet to result in a New York loss).
But tonight's game turned out to be more like the New England Patriots' victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. After opening up with some terrible play (Yankees: the Jeter mishap, Swisher getting called out for not tagging up soon enough; Patriots: stalling in the red zone, missing a field goal), both teams went off and blew away their opponents. The Patriots won 59-0 behind six touchdowns from Tom Brady. The Yankees stacked it on until the night ended with a 10-1 score.
If there's a trademark to this Angels-Yankees series, it's that even when the Yankees hand it to the Angels, the Angels can't seem to take it, and then the Yankees decimate them. In the first two games, it was late-inning heroics. The Angels shed their demons in the 11th inning of last night's win only to invite them back today, letting the Yankees into their heads despite serious mental lapses by the Bombers (see Jeter, Derek; Swisher, Nick; and Posada, Jorge, which led to Cano, Robinson).
(Side note: There were some terrible calls by the umps this game, but at least they didn't affect the outcome.)
With the Angels not taking advantage of the Yankees' ineptness, they had no chance of stemming the tide that was the unstopable A-Rod and CC Sabathia.
Before A-Rod's big homer, the Yankees had scratched together three runs, but there was no astounding hitting. The real hero of the game so far had been Sabathia, who was being the ultimate team player as he pitched on three day's rest and kept his pitch count low to be able to stay in the game. In one inning, he had about a third of the number of pitches the Angels' starter, Scott Kazmir, had totaled, and the big horse lasted eight innings overall and was able to strike out five while allowing just five hits (the one run coming from a homer).
At this point, people start saying that the Yankees are winning because all their players get paid so much, but getting paid a lot is nothing until you produce. Ask A-Rod.
From 2004-2007, he had four home runs and nine RBI. This year alone, he has five home runs and 11 RBI. (And this is the first season his regular-season numbers weren't as hot...do you hear anyone whining about that?) Plus, there's those terrible numbers he's had in years past with runners in scoring position.
Sabathia has followed suit, minus the years of frustration A-Rod had. He may not always pitch pretty, but eight innings means valuable rest for the bullpen and no need for a run-around in trying to find a fourth man to pitch.
Once Sabathia started dominating the Angels bats, and Rodriguez began to light things up again, the rest of the Yankees followed. Johnny Damon bolstered his case to stay with the Yankees for another season with a two-run blast that put the game away. Melky Cabrera slapped in a couple runs in the ninth inning, after A-Rod teased Bobby's Abreu arm by tagging up on a flyout then scoring on the errant throw. (Want to know why New York didn't keep Abreu? Yeah, look at that arm. Swisher may strike out and look silly most days, but he can throw a ball.)
It was a definitive win by the Yankees, the ultimate yes-we-did victory that will give this team enough momentum to hopefully end the series Thursday or else close it out in front of a raucous New York City crowd.
Sabathia's win was his third of the postseason, which leads all playoff pitchers, and his ERA is now 1.19 after allowing just one run today.
Rodriguez and Cabrera both went 3-for-4, although Rodriguez's two RBI were bested by Cabrera's four. Jeter had two hits, Damon's home run was worth two RBI, and Cano added the final RBI for the Yankees, which got a hit from each member of the lineup sans Hideki Matsui (0-for-5) and Swisher (0-for-2).
Rodriguez and Posada (!!!) both had stolen bases.
Angel Stadium hosts Thursday's matchup, set for 7:57 p.m.
A.J. Burnett is expected to start for the Yankees, and John Lackey wil try to take the Yanks after losing Game 1.
Other Yankees Posts
10.18.2009
"Classic," defined.
This kid has only been here since July, but Jerry Hairston Jr. knows what it means to be a 2009 Yankee: "We knew we were going to win this game."
Hairston was the baserunner for the Yanks in the bottom of the 13th, the random cog left from New York's postseason-shrunk roster who scored on a Melky Cabrera slapshot up the middle that the Angels bobbled. The Yankees won the second game of the American League Championship Series 4-3 but more importantly kept their hex over an Angels team that doesn't appear to be able to beat them, even with the game handed over on a silver platter.
Los Angeles left 28 men on base tonight, committed two errors and saw its everyone-hits-over-.300 lineup bat .170.
But the Angels faults were of secondary concern, for their failure was a reaction to the Yankees, who squandered most of the game until gutting out the win four innings past the end of regulation, in nasty conditions of heavy rain and whipping winds. New York had already committed three errors of its own, putting Angels on base with no outs due to walks, wild pitches, errors and muffed catches. Even the vaunted Yankees lineup left 20 men on base, with the 2009 Murderer's Row bleeting just .271 with hardly any runs to show for it.
The Angels left the door open, and the Yankees charged through. Pie in hands, ear-warmers in their pockets, Anaheim on their minds, New York took the contest by the neck once the game went to extra innings and produced what can be called nothing other than a fall classic.
It was a win so good you could barely touch it, with soaked fans in rally caps watching the new version of the New York Yankees sketch a picture-perfect win the same way Yankees teams have done in the postseason 26 times before.
Every New York starter had a hit in the marathon, sans Mark Teixeira (who was busy earning his paycheck by devouring every ball that came near first base). Robinson Cano, who appeared eager to become the team goat with two terrible errors, put the Yankees up early with an RBI triple.
Derek Jeter's solo home run gave New York a 2-0 edge before A.J. Burnett's wild throws let the Angels back into the game.
But New York's bullpen was phenomenal, and after Alex Rodriguez continued his postseason rampage with an equalizer in the bottom of the 10th, the Yankees calmly held on before squirting the winner across in the 13th, breaking the Angels' will.
Maicer Izturis lost the game for the Angels the same way the Pirates lose every season: trying to be the Yankees, when you really, really can't be. Izturis tried to throw across his body and get the runner on second, pulling a "Jeter" (the classic spin and throw move from the New York shortstop). Instead, he threw the ball, and the game, away.
Damon and Cabrera were the only Yankees with two hits. Jeter, Rodriguez and Cano had the three RBI (the final run scoring on an error).
Although his usual erratic self on the mound, Burnett threw some good stuff, too, picking up four strikeouts against only two walks in 6.1 innings of work.
Mariano Rivera worked a little longer than usual, logging 2.1 innings in the 13-inning contest.
The series now shifts to sunny California, with three games scheduled. Judging by the mood of the Yankees clubhouse, and all that shaving cream Burnett is stuffing in his duffel, though, the Angels' season could easily end in two.
Mrs. October? A tribute to the 2009 version of A-Rod
Photos from tonight's game
Other Yankees Posts
Hairston was the baserunner for the Yanks in the bottom of the 13th, the random cog left from New York's postseason-shrunk roster who scored on a Melky Cabrera slapshot up the middle that the Angels bobbled. The Yankees won the second game of the American League Championship Series 4-3 but more importantly kept their hex over an Angels team that doesn't appear to be able to beat them, even with the game handed over on a silver platter.
Los Angeles left 28 men on base tonight, committed two errors and saw its everyone-hits-over-.300 lineup bat .170.
But the Angels faults were of secondary concern, for their failure was a reaction to the Yankees, who squandered most of the game until gutting out the win four innings past the end of regulation, in nasty conditions of heavy rain and whipping winds. New York had already committed three errors of its own, putting Angels on base with no outs due to walks, wild pitches, errors and muffed catches. Even the vaunted Yankees lineup left 20 men on base, with the 2009 Murderer's Row bleeting just .271 with hardly any runs to show for it.
The Angels left the door open, and the Yankees charged through. Pie in hands, ear-warmers in their pockets, Anaheim on their minds, New York took the contest by the neck once the game went to extra innings and produced what can be called nothing other than a fall classic.
It was a win so good you could barely touch it, with soaked fans in rally caps watching the new version of the New York Yankees sketch a picture-perfect win the same way Yankees teams have done in the postseason 26 times before.
Every New York starter had a hit in the marathon, sans Mark Teixeira (who was busy earning his paycheck by devouring every ball that came near first base). Robinson Cano, who appeared eager to become the team goat with two terrible errors, put the Yankees up early with an RBI triple.
Derek Jeter's solo home run gave New York a 2-0 edge before A.J. Burnett's wild throws let the Angels back into the game.
But New York's bullpen was phenomenal, and after Alex Rodriguez continued his postseason rampage with an equalizer in the bottom of the 10th, the Yankees calmly held on before squirting the winner across in the 13th, breaking the Angels' will.
Maicer Izturis lost the game for the Angels the same way the Pirates lose every season: trying to be the Yankees, when you really, really can't be. Izturis tried to throw across his body and get the runner on second, pulling a "Jeter" (the classic spin and throw move from the New York shortstop). Instead, he threw the ball, and the game, away.
Damon and Cabrera were the only Yankees with two hits. Jeter, Rodriguez and Cano had the three RBI (the final run scoring on an error).
Although his usual erratic self on the mound, Burnett threw some good stuff, too, picking up four strikeouts against only two walks in 6.1 innings of work.
Mariano Rivera worked a little longer than usual, logging 2.1 innings in the 13-inning contest.
The series now shifts to sunny California, with three games scheduled. Judging by the mood of the Yankees clubhouse, and all that shaving cream Burnett is stuffing in his duffel, though, the Angels' season could easily end in two.
Mrs. October? A tribute to the 2009 version of A-Rod
Photos from tonight's game
Other Yankees Posts
9.28.2009
Oh well for taking it easy, Yankees
A day after clinching the American League East, winning their 100th game, and having their manager say they'll sit back for the next 10 days until the playoffs start, the Yankees came out and beat up on the Kansas City Royals, winning 8-2 on a rain-delayed night. Oh well for taking it easy.
Facing a team that had beat the Red Sox two games out of four last week (really, Boston?), New York got some nice input from Robinson Cano, who smashed a seventh-inning grand slam from the number-three spot to put the game away for the Yankees.
Cano is hitting .322 this season, his second-best batting average in the bigs, and has surpassed 200 hits this year for the first time in his career.
New York's blowout win came on a night when most of the starters were resting, and fifth pitcher/bullpen man Chad Gaudin was throwing. (Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and Jorge Posada were the only starters in the game.)
Meanwhile, the Red Sox (considered by most to already be in the American League Championship Series, which they will only do if they beat the powerhouse Angels, after actually making it to the playoffs...which still requires two wins in the next six games) lost a nasty 8-5 tilt to the Blue Jays tonight.
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Facing a team that had beat the Red Sox two games out of four last week (really, Boston?), New York got some nice input from Robinson Cano, who smashed a seventh-inning grand slam from the number-three spot to put the game away for the Yankees.
Cano is hitting .322 this season, his second-best batting average in the bigs, and has surpassed 200 hits this year for the first time in his career.
New York's blowout win came on a night when most of the starters were resting, and fifth pitcher/bullpen man Chad Gaudin was throwing. (Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and Jorge Posada were the only starters in the game.)
Meanwhile, the Red Sox (considered by most to already be in the American League Championship Series, which they will only do if they beat the powerhouse Angels, after actually making it to the playoffs...which still requires two wins in the next six games) lost a nasty 8-5 tilt to the Blue Jays tonight.
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9.16.2009
Gardner!
I'm a Melky Cabrera fan, but I can warm up to Brett Gardner, especially when his speedy legs win the game.
After tying the game in the eighth, the Yankees win on a walkoff single (their 13th walkoff win of the year) as Francisco Cervelli sends Gardner home in the bottom of the ninth.
Gardner had started the ninth with a single, stolen second, then advanced to third on a Derek Jeter groundout.
The Yankees' 5-4 win over the Blue Jays avenges a poor loss last night and puts them at 94-53 for the season and one step closer to clinching a playoff berth.
Meanwhile, Jorge Posada has been suspended for a game after last night's scuffle.
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After tying the game in the eighth, the Yankees win on a walkoff single (their 13th walkoff win of the year) as Francisco Cervelli sends Gardner home in the bottom of the ninth.
Gardner had started the ninth with a single, stolen second, then advanced to third on a Derek Jeter groundout.
The Yankees' 5-4 win over the Blue Jays avenges a poor loss last night and puts them at 94-53 for the season and one step closer to clinching a playoff berth.
Meanwhile, Jorge Posada has been suspended for a game after last night's scuffle.
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9.02.2009
Sweep's up
Not content to merely sweep their series with the Baltimore Orioles by way of a 3-2 pitcher's duel win tonight, the Yankees explode for seven runs in the top of the ninth, dropping the O's 10-2.
Every New York player had some fun tonight, with constant singles in the last frame sending every Yankee to the plate at least once. And CC Sabathia won his 16th game of the year, which leads the bigs.
Alex Rodriguez had the best night. He singled twice with men on second and third, leaving him 3-for-5 with 4 RBI on the night.
Johnny Damon went 4-for-5 (RBI), Melky Cabrera (RBI) and Robinson Cano 2-for-5, Nick Swisher 2-for-3, Jose Molina 1-for-4 and Derek Jeter (RBI) and Hideki Matsui (RBI) 1-for-5. Eric Hinske (1-for-2, RBI) tied the game for New York in the top of the third with a solo home run, with Baltimore leading 1-0 since the first.
The Yankees had just eight of their 17 hits going into the last inning in a game that was tied 1-1 for three innings before the Yankees took the lead in the top of the seventh on a Rodriguez two-RBI single. Sabathia pitched seven full innings, logging nine strikeouts in the process.
New York carries its league-best 85-48 record into Toronto next.
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Every New York player had some fun tonight, with constant singles in the last frame sending every Yankee to the plate at least once. And CC Sabathia won his 16th game of the year, which leads the bigs.
Alex Rodriguez had the best night. He singled twice with men on second and third, leaving him 3-for-5 with 4 RBI on the night.
Johnny Damon went 4-for-5 (RBI), Melky Cabrera (RBI) and Robinson Cano 2-for-5, Nick Swisher 2-for-3, Jose Molina 1-for-4 and Derek Jeter (RBI) and Hideki Matsui (RBI) 1-for-5. Eric Hinske (1-for-2, RBI) tied the game for New York in the top of the third with a solo home run, with Baltimore leading 1-0 since the first.
The Yankees had just eight of their 17 hits going into the last inning in a game that was tied 1-1 for three innings before the Yankees took the lead in the top of the seventh on a Rodriguez two-RBI single. Sabathia pitched seven full innings, logging nine strikeouts in the process.
New York carries its league-best 85-48 record into Toronto next.
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8.25.2009
Blech, Yankees!
I don't know what the worst part about New York's 10-9 loss to the Texas Rangers was; there are so many choices.
Joba Chamberlain had his first start in eight days and promptly gave up seven runs over four innings despite having a four-run cushion.
Every Yankee starter except Mark Teixeira (who's contributed plenty this year) and Nick Swisher had a hit, but the Yankees still lost.
New York stranded 17 runners.
And probably the worst, the Yankees entered the bottom of the ninth inning down five runs only to rally and pull the game to within 10-9 with runners on first and second with no outs. Then they blew it. Swisher bunted a ball into the air, and Jerry Hairston Jr. got caught off of second after a Melky Cabrera lineout to end the game.
Blech. Blechetty blech blech blech.
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Joba Chamberlain had his first start in eight days and promptly gave up seven runs over four innings despite having a four-run cushion.
Every Yankee starter except Mark Teixeira (who's contributed plenty this year) and Nick Swisher had a hit, but the Yankees still lost.
New York stranded 17 runners.
And probably the worst, the Yankees entered the bottom of the ninth inning down five runs only to rally and pull the game to within 10-9 with runners on first and second with no outs. Then they blew it. Swisher bunted a ball into the air, and Jerry Hairston Jr. got caught off of second after a Melky Cabrera lineout to end the game.
Blech. Blechetty blech blech blech.
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8.21.2009
Bombs.
I'm not sure how to explain this game. Its tone kept changing, and things weren't always how the score appeared.
On one side, the Yankees scored a whopping 20 runs. Then their bullpen couldn't shut the door, and the Red Sox scored 11. (20-11, Yankees.)
On one side, Andy Pettitte pitched a gem, only to be thrown off his groove by a 38-minute inning where he watched his team score six runs. He ended up being tagged for five earned runs but still won the game. (20-11, Yankees.)
On one side, poor Michael Bowden allowed seven runs to score and was left in the game for two full innings while the Sox bullpen rested its arms. New York still won by nine, though. (20-11, Yankees.)
On one side, the Yankees scored 20 runs. But they left 19 men on base. (20-11, Yankees.)
On one side, the Yankees had eight doubles from seven players, and everyone got a hit, minus Johnny Damon (injured several pitches into the game) and pinch hitter Jerry Hairston Jr. (walked). But on the other, the Red Sox were able to score 11 runs on 12 hits.
So, it wasn't as lopsided as it looked; this game was confusing throughout.
The Red Sox came in with a seven-game win streak at Fenway, and they looked like a team ready to go after sweeping the Blue Jays. The first inning, when the Yankees loaded the bases, appeared to be nothing more than a fluke (Alex Rodriguez's single was barely a hit). Boston then countered with a Jacoby Ellsbury run, and it looked like a classic Boston out-last-'em type of game.
But really, it turned out it was Boston that was flukish. The Yankees exploded in the top of the second, and Pettitte didn't allow a hit until the last play of the third inning.
[Derogatory comment about the NESN announcers HERE: As the fourth inning started, with zero outs, and Sox starter Brad Penny having finally gone one inning without allowing a run, they said, "Penny has settled down." He was chased early in the fifth.]
Another fluke of the night (or maybe not) was Hideki Matsui showing up to record seven RBI on two homers. I guess that's why he's the New York designated hitter.
[Another derogatory comment about the NESN announcers HERE: Commenting on the Sox finally getting some hits, they said, "They'll scratch and claw their way back into the game with two runs in the fifth." The score at this point was 12-3 Yankees. Granted, Boston did edge closer (if keeping the game within nine runs constitutes "closer"), but really, NESN?]
A-Rod almost hit for the cycle tonight, if not for his plunking the ball off the top of the Green Monster instead of going over it, and for trying to stretch a single and getting tagged out at second. He was breaking up a slump, as were Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano (details with the game recap here).
And finally, Brian Bruney just hasn't been good since he came back from injury. He escaped without an earned run tonight but isn't lights-out anymore.
This 20-run thing is unusual for the Yankees, despite what detractors may say. It's the first time this season they went over 15 runs (which they did once), and their previous high to that was 11 a few times. See their full game results here.
In New York's last four-game sweep of Boston, the first game was a slugfest before the beautiful pitching showed up. With A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia and Josh Beckett filling out the next two days, that trend may repeat.
The Yankees (77-45) still have the best record in baseball.
Quick lines from tonight:
Hideki Matsui: 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2-for-6
Mark Teixeira: 3-for-5, 3 RBI
Alex Rodriguez: 4-for-4, RBI, triple
Melky Cabrera: 4-for-6, 2 RBI
Derek Jeter: 3-for-6, 2 RBI
Jorge Posada: 2-for-5, 2 RBI
Eric Hinske: 2-for-4, RBI
Nick Swisher: 2-for-6, RBI
Robinson Cano: 1-for-6, RBI
Andy Pettitte: 10th win of the season
Other Yankees Posts
On one side, the Yankees scored a whopping 20 runs. Then their bullpen couldn't shut the door, and the Red Sox scored 11. (20-11, Yankees.)
On one side, Andy Pettitte pitched a gem, only to be thrown off his groove by a 38-minute inning where he watched his team score six runs. He ended up being tagged for five earned runs but still won the game. (20-11, Yankees.)
On one side, poor Michael Bowden allowed seven runs to score and was left in the game for two full innings while the Sox bullpen rested its arms. New York still won by nine, though. (20-11, Yankees.)
On one side, the Yankees scored 20 runs. But they left 19 men on base. (20-11, Yankees.)
On one side, the Yankees had eight doubles from seven players, and everyone got a hit, minus Johnny Damon (injured several pitches into the game) and pinch hitter Jerry Hairston Jr. (walked). But on the other, the Red Sox were able to score 11 runs on 12 hits.
So, it wasn't as lopsided as it looked; this game was confusing throughout.
The Red Sox came in with a seven-game win streak at Fenway, and they looked like a team ready to go after sweeping the Blue Jays. The first inning, when the Yankees loaded the bases, appeared to be nothing more than a fluke (Alex Rodriguez's single was barely a hit). Boston then countered with a Jacoby Ellsbury run, and it looked like a classic Boston out-last-'em type of game.
But really, it turned out it was Boston that was flukish. The Yankees exploded in the top of the second, and Pettitte didn't allow a hit until the last play of the third inning.
[Derogatory comment about the NESN announcers HERE: As the fourth inning started, with zero outs, and Sox starter Brad Penny having finally gone one inning without allowing a run, they said, "Penny has settled down." He was chased early in the fifth.]
Another fluke of the night (or maybe not) was Hideki Matsui showing up to record seven RBI on two homers. I guess that's why he's the New York designated hitter.
[Another derogatory comment about the NESN announcers HERE: Commenting on the Sox finally getting some hits, they said, "They'll scratch and claw their way back into the game with two runs in the fifth." The score at this point was 12-3 Yankees. Granted, Boston did edge closer (if keeping the game within nine runs constitutes "closer"), but really, NESN?]
A-Rod almost hit for the cycle tonight, if not for his plunking the ball off the top of the Green Monster instead of going over it, and for trying to stretch a single and getting tagged out at second. He was breaking up a slump, as were Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano (details with the game recap here).
And finally, Brian Bruney just hasn't been good since he came back from injury. He escaped without an earned run tonight but isn't lights-out anymore.
This 20-run thing is unusual for the Yankees, despite what detractors may say. It's the first time this season they went over 15 runs (which they did once), and their previous high to that was 11 a few times. See their full game results here.
In New York's last four-game sweep of Boston, the first game was a slugfest before the beautiful pitching showed up. With A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia and Josh Beckett filling out the next two days, that trend may repeat.
The Yankees (77-45) still have the best record in baseball.
Quick lines from tonight:
Hideki Matsui: 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2-for-6
Mark Teixeira: 3-for-5, 3 RBI
Alex Rodriguez: 4-for-4, RBI, triple
Melky Cabrera: 4-for-6, 2 RBI
Derek Jeter: 3-for-6, 2 RBI
Jorge Posada: 2-for-5, 2 RBI
Eric Hinske: 2-for-4, RBI
Nick Swisher: 2-for-6, RBI
Robinson Cano: 1-for-6, RBI
Andy Pettitte: 10th win of the season
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8.19.2009
Let's hear it for the Jete
Derek Jeter is now batting .330 after his third straight game with three hits. (He's batting 20-for-36 (.556) over the last nine games.) Tonight his RBI sparked a five-run sixth inning, leading the Yankees to a 7-2 win over the Oakland Athletics.
CC Sabathia picked eight strong innings for New York, breaking the team's two-game losing streak and winning his 14th game this season, which ties him for the Major League lead (with Boston's Josh Beckett, of all people, and the Cardinals' Adam Wainwright).
Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera all went 2-for-4 in the win. Jorge Posada collected 2 RBI on a double.
The only bad news was that the Yankees scored a mere seven runs after loading the bases in the first, fourth and sixth innings. A total of 20 men were left on base throughout the night.
After one more game against Oakland tomorrow night, the Yankees get a day off before going into Boston for a three-game series over the weekend.
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CC Sabathia picked eight strong innings for New York, breaking the team's two-game losing streak and winning his 14th game this season, which ties him for the Major League lead (with Boston's Josh Beckett, of all people, and the Cardinals' Adam Wainwright).
Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera all went 2-for-4 in the win. Jorge Posada collected 2 RBI on a double.
The only bad news was that the Yankees scored a mere seven runs after loading the bases in the first, fourth and sixth innings. A total of 20 men were left on base throughout the night.
After one more game against Oakland tomorrow night, the Yankees get a day off before going into Boston for a three-game series over the weekend.
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8.07.2009
1-0 so far
Let's leave those other Red Sox-Yankees series behind us and consider the one occurring today through Sunday, which New York now leads 1-0.
Tonight's 13-6 win by the Yankees had many beautiful moments.
Take your pick:
1. David Ortiz, the meat-headed juicer, going 0-for-5
2. Joba Chamberlain recording his third win in a row (he's now 8-2)
3. Three-run dingers from both Jorge Posada and Melky Cabrera
4. 3 RBI from Hideki Matsui in his recent return
5. Mark Teixeira tying the American League lead for home runs with his 28th deep shot (he was 3-for-4 on the night)
6. Johnny Damon going 3-for-5 with a homer
7. Robinson Cano batting 2-for-4, raising his average to .309
8. The largest crowd in the new Yankee Stadium (49,005)
9. Torching John Smoltz in the third inning (but really, who didn't
see that coming?)
10. Well, we could go on for a while...
And in the obligatory standings update, that puts New York up three-and-a-half games on Boston, with Tampa Bay six behind. Another three wins by New York could even the Yankees up with the Red Sox in the American League East loss column (a potential tie-breaker at the end of the season, if needed).
Oh, and this win gives the Yankees the best record in Major League Baseball, tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Good night.
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Tonight's 13-6 win by the Yankees had many beautiful moments.
Take your pick:
1. David Ortiz, the meat-headed juicer, going 0-for-5
2. Joba Chamberlain recording his third win in a row (he's now 8-2)
3. Three-run dingers from both Jorge Posada and Melky Cabrera
4. 3 RBI from Hideki Matsui in his recent return
5. Mark Teixeira tying the American League lead for home runs with his 28th deep shot (he was 3-for-4 on the night)
6. Johnny Damon going 3-for-5 with a homer
7. Robinson Cano batting 2-for-4, raising his average to .309
8. The largest crowd in the new Yankee Stadium (49,005)
9. Torching John Smoltz in the third inning (but really, who didn't
see that coming?)
10. Well, we could go on for a while...
And in the obligatory standings update, that puts New York up three-and-a-half games on Boston, with Tampa Bay six behind. Another three wins by New York could even the Yankees up with the Red Sox in the American League East loss column (a potential tie-breaker at the end of the season, if needed).
Oh, and this win gives the Yankees the best record in Major League Baseball, tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Good night.
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7.28.2009
Yes, I lll-ove you!
As the fearsome American League East-threatening Tampa Bay Rays charged into their 10-game homestand, one could only hope for the safety of New York, fat off its 9-1 home furlough.
But it was the Yankees who devoured their southern division foes tonight, gulping an 11-4 win that keeps the Bombers a step ahead of the Sox.
A.J. Burnett went seven again, making him one of the hottest pitchers of late in the hitter-friendly half of the league. But the real hero tonight was Nick Swisher, who hit long bombs from both sides of the plate.
He led a Yankee offense that had 15 hits, including three from Derek Jeter and two apiece from Robinson Cano (2 RBI), Melky Cabrera, Mark Teixeira and Swisher (3 RBI). Alex Rodriguez doubled home two runs, and Johnny Damon hit a three-run homer.
The Yankees (61-38) have ticked off the first game in their string of the next 26 games, 19 of which will be away from home. They lead Boston (58-40) by two and a half games, and Tampa Bay (54-46) by seven and a half. Toronto (48-51) has slipped to 13 back.
New York trails the L.A. Dodgers (62-37) for the best record in the majors.
Tuesday and Wednesday's bouts will also be against the Rays, then New York heads to Chicago to face the White Sox into the weekend.
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But it was the Yankees who devoured their southern division foes tonight, gulping an 11-4 win that keeps the Bombers a step ahead of the Sox.
A.J. Burnett went seven again, making him one of the hottest pitchers of late in the hitter-friendly half of the league. But the real hero tonight was Nick Swisher, who hit long bombs from both sides of the plate.
He led a Yankee offense that had 15 hits, including three from Derek Jeter and two apiece from Robinson Cano (2 RBI), Melky Cabrera, Mark Teixeira and Swisher (3 RBI). Alex Rodriguez doubled home two runs, and Johnny Damon hit a three-run homer.
The Yankees (61-38) have ticked off the first game in their string of the next 26 games, 19 of which will be away from home. They lead Boston (58-40) by two and a half games, and Tampa Bay (54-46) by seven and a half. Toronto (48-51) has slipped to 13 back.
New York trails the L.A. Dodgers (62-37) for the best record in the majors.
Tuesday and Wednesday's bouts will also be against the Rays, then New York heads to Chicago to face the White Sox into the weekend.
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7.18.2009
Pitching, in good form
CC Sabathia tossed a shutout through seven innings today to lead the Yankees past the Detroit Tigers 2-1. Sabathia has the best ERA of all New York starters (3.66) and is the first one to nine wins (9-6).
Melky Cabrera legged out a key single that allowed New York to win the game by a run, which is ironic since his spot on the team has been on and off with speedster Brett Gardner.
Meanwhile, Derek Jeter is third in the American League with a .325 batting average, and Mark Teixeira is third in homers (22) and fourth RBIs (66).
Boston dropped a game today, bringing the Yankees within two of the division leaders.
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Melky Cabrera legged out a key single that allowed New York to win the game by a run, which is ironic since his spot on the team has been on and off with speedster Brett Gardner.
Meanwhile, Derek Jeter is third in the American League with a .325 batting average, and Mark Teixeira is third in homers (22) and fourth RBIs (66).
Boston dropped a game today, bringing the Yankees within two of the division leaders.
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7.09.2009
Enough about those "highly paid" Yankees
Whine about the Yankees' incredible spending power if you will, but remember that it's veterans who have risen through the system (Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada) and low-paid or young players (Brett Gardner, Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Cody Ransom) who are doing most of the work.
Right now, it's the top of the sixth, and the Yankees are beating the Twins 6-4. Ransom and Gardner have two RBIs apiece and Jeter has another.
The only place you can really get away with whining about all that money buys? Half of the starting rotation (CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett) and the No. 3 hole (Mark Teixeira), I guess. But still, the rotation is building on Yankee veteran Andy Pettitte, and New York-raised Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes.
A lot of money has been spent, but that's not necessarily where the wins are coming from.
Check out the Yankees' payroll here. With the exception of the aforementioned veterans, who deserve a pretty buck after spending their entire career in New York, the Yankees' big contributors for the days are all making regular MLB money. Cut out the ridiculously paid guys (Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, Burnett, etc.), and the Yankees would still have a contending team.
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Right now, it's the top of the sixth, and the Yankees are beating the Twins 6-4. Ransom and Gardner have two RBIs apiece and Jeter has another.
The only place you can really get away with whining about all that money buys? Half of the starting rotation (CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett) and the No. 3 hole (Mark Teixeira), I guess. But still, the rotation is building on Yankee veteran Andy Pettitte, and New York-raised Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes.
A lot of money has been spent, but that's not necessarily where the wins are coming from.
Check out the Yankees' payroll here. With the exception of the aforementioned veterans, who deserve a pretty buck after spending their entire career in New York, the Yankees' big contributors for the days are all making regular MLB money. Cut out the ridiculously paid guys (Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, Burnett, etc.), and the Yankees would still have a contending team.
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7.01.2009
Huh. That was easy.
Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera combined for yet another win-save combo (their 60th) as the Yankees moved past Seattle 4-2 on the back of home runs by Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera and Alex Rodriguez.
Next up, New York welcomes Toronto in a hot matchup in the searing-hot American League East. The Yankees (44-32) are two and a half games back from the Red Sox (48-30), two and a half in front of the Rays (44-36) and four and a half in front of the Blue Jays (42-38). Boston and New York have the top two records, respectively, in the American League.
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Next up, New York welcomes Toronto in a hot matchup in the searing-hot American League East. The Yankees (44-32) are two and a half games back from the Red Sox (48-30), two and a half in front of the Rays (44-36) and four and a half in front of the Blue Jays (42-38). Boston and New York have the top two records, respectively, in the American League.
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6.04.2009
Yankees 8, Rangers 6
The Yankees topped the Rangers 8-6 today to take back the top spot in the American League (although they're tied with the Red Sox this time).
Melky Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to complete the Yankee comeback. New York was down 5-1 on another rough start by Chien-Ming Wang but came back thanks to a timely hit from Mark Teixeira.
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Melky Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to complete the Yankee comeback. New York was down 5-1 on another rough start by Chien-Ming Wang but came back thanks to a timely hit from Mark Teixeira.
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5.31.2009
Tex? Good. Gardner? Errr....
Mark Teixeira did his job again today, driving in four runs with a double and a homer, but some shoddy play by the Yanks with runners on base (I'm thinking Brett Gardner at the plate) doomed the Bombers to a 5-4 walk-off loss to the Tribe.
Gardner was up in the top of the ninth with a speedy teammate on second, but all he could do was hit a bouncer that set up a double play from the next batter.
Chien-Ming Wang gave another solid relief performance, tossing three perfect innings, and the top three Yankee batters all went 2-for-4 (although there was quite a dispute over one play at first that could have easily been another Derek Jeter hit). But New York never got rolling, and it was more entertaining watching the seagulls fly in and stroll around the field than sit through all nine innings of this game.
New York can grab another W tomorrow before heading back to the Bronx and facing the American League-leading Texas Rangers. I hope Melky's back by then; they need his hot bat.
(Notes: Tex's home run ties him for the home run lead in the American League; the Yankees tied the Major League record for games without an error with 17 straight, which equals the Red Sox's 2006 mark.)
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Gardner was up in the top of the ninth with a speedy teammate on second, but all he could do was hit a bouncer that set up a double play from the next batter.
Chien-Ming Wang gave another solid relief performance, tossing three perfect innings, and the top three Yankee batters all went 2-for-4 (although there was quite a dispute over one play at first that could have easily been another Derek Jeter hit). But New York never got rolling, and it was more entertaining watching the seagulls fly in and stroll around the field than sit through all nine innings of this game.
New York can grab another W tomorrow before heading back to the Bronx and facing the American League-leading Texas Rangers. I hope Melky's back by then; they need his hot bat.
(Notes: Tex's home run ties him for the home run lead in the American League; the Yankees tied the Major League record for games without an error with 17 straight, which equals the Red Sox's 2006 mark.)
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5.28.2009
The Yankees aren't just great at home
The Yankees took a strong step toward being a top MLB team by going into Texas and taking a series from an American League contender this week. Any cries about the Yankees simply benefiting because of their home run-friendly park, or beating up on creampuffs such as the Orioles, fell silent as the Yankee bats roared to life yet again Wednesday night in their 9-2 stomping of the American League West-leading Rangers.
And as the story has gone, when the bats show up, the pitchers start throwing well, too. Pundits will say the Yankees' pitching has turned them around, but you only need to see who stepped into the lineup to start this tear to know that the bats have led the way. Since A-Rod has come back, New York has gone 14-5, with a nine-game winning streak. Mark Teixeira has arrived (14 home runs in May), and Derek Jeter's batting average has creeped up to .297 after he danced on the Mendoza line at the beginning of the season. Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera have been having career months.
My theory is this: when the hitting starts to happen, the pitchers settle down. They know someone has their back, and they don't have to take as many chances or pitch as perfectly to keep the game in hand.
Tonight was no exception. A.J. Burnett hadn't won a game since April 14, yet he came out and threw six innings, striking out seven and letting nary a run score. His previous starts have been walk-infested debacles, but tonight he entered the game with a two-run lead already under his belt and pitched well. Teixeira thumped a homer in the first to get the lead, and the rest of the Yankees just piled it on. Hideki Matsui emerged from his slump with two over-the-fence blasts.
New York's fielding has also improved; this was the team's 14th game in a row without an error.
Behind the scenes, the Yankees have also been doing some unnoticed things better. Jeter has nabbed 10 stolen bases, and part of that is because he's been walked 19 times even as his hitting lagged. Teixeira has collected 27 walks, and Nick Swisher has been given the free pass to first 31 times this season (and he rides the pine these days).
The Yankees are now 27-20, tied for the American League East lead with the Boston Red Sox. The only American League team with a better record? The Texas Rangers, at 27-19. Huh.
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And as the story has gone, when the bats show up, the pitchers start throwing well, too. Pundits will say the Yankees' pitching has turned them around, but you only need to see who stepped into the lineup to start this tear to know that the bats have led the way. Since A-Rod has come back, New York has gone 14-5, with a nine-game winning streak. Mark Teixeira has arrived (14 home runs in May), and Derek Jeter's batting average has creeped up to .297 after he danced on the Mendoza line at the beginning of the season. Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera have been having career months.
My theory is this: when the hitting starts to happen, the pitchers settle down. They know someone has their back, and they don't have to take as many chances or pitch as perfectly to keep the game in hand.
Tonight was no exception. A.J. Burnett hadn't won a game since April 14, yet he came out and threw six innings, striking out seven and letting nary a run score. His previous starts have been walk-infested debacles, but tonight he entered the game with a two-run lead already under his belt and pitched well. Teixeira thumped a homer in the first to get the lead, and the rest of the Yankees just piled it on. Hideki Matsui emerged from his slump with two over-the-fence blasts.
New York's fielding has also improved; this was the team's 14th game in a row without an error.
Behind the scenes, the Yankees have also been doing some unnoticed things better. Jeter has nabbed 10 stolen bases, and part of that is because he's been walked 19 times even as his hitting lagged. Teixeira has collected 27 walks, and Nick Swisher has been given the free pass to first 31 times this season (and he rides the pine these days).
The Yankees are now 27-20, tied for the American League East lead with the Boston Red Sox. The only American League team with a better record? The Texas Rangers, at 27-19. Huh.
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