First chance to clinch slips away
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Oct 23, 2009 
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Sorry for the abrupt ending to the game post but a tight game + tighter deadlines = lots of writing on the fly. We just got back up from the clubhouse, where A.J. Burnett said, “I feel like I let the team down.”
Even with that, the Yankees had a chance to book a spot in the World Series but Phil Hughes couldn’t hold a two-run lead. When Joe Girardi was asked if he was concerned about Hughes, he said, “He’s still making pitches. … He missed his spot (to Guerrero). This is the time of year that everything gets a little bit tougher but we like his stuff and we believe he’ll get it done.”
The Yankees know that comparisons to 2004 will immediately arise, and Johnny Damon – who was on the other side of that collapse as a member of the Red Sox – said, “Anything can happen in baseball. We know that. Nothing is set in stone until that fourth game is won. … What we have to have on our minds is to win one more game.”
More from the clubhouse in a bit.
UPDATE, 12:37 a.m.: Here’s some audio. First, Joe Girardi:
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Then Derek Jeter.
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And finally Johnny Damon.
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Burnett wasn’t anywhere near 100 pitches and had been pitching well after the 1st inning. The bullpen didn’t have it tonight, and it’s not like the Angels lay down at home for the Yankees. Blaming this loss on Girardi doesn’t make sense.
The bullpen is supposed to be a strength for the Yankees, and it wasn’t tonight. That’s why they lost.
Nick Swisher has been really frustrating to watch. It seems like everyone else came through tonight except for him.
Well, I’ll be watching. Let’s hope they clinch it on Saturday in front of the home crowd. I don’t want to have to switch back and forth between the Yankees and the Giants on Sunday night.
keep the faith…
My take on the game…. I stayed away from the blog in game trying to enjoy it so I apologize if this has all been stated before.
Once they took the lead Girardi should have been thinking…”We are 9 outs away from the World Series, how can I get these 9 outs?”
I have no problem with Burnett starting the 7th, although I would have been fine with either Robertson or Joba in that spot also.
Once the first guy got on I would have had 2 guys warming and obviously you take Burnett out after the walk. Marte did a great job, can’t fault him at all.
Now here is where I would have gotten radical. You only do this on rare occasions. There are 2 outs in the 7th, so they have 7 outs to go, they are up 6-5 with Hunter and the meat of the lineup coming up. I go to Mo. And its not even something I think twice about.
He hadn’t pitched in 3 days and Girardi said before that Mo could get 5 or 6 outs if he needed today.
Well here was the game. Even if Mo can only get 4 outs and finishes the 7th and pitches the 8th, you have Joba, Hughes, Coke, and Robertson to get 3 outs in the 9th against the bottom of the order.
That was where the game was in the balance. Up one run, your best reliever in the game facing Hunter, Vlad, and the rest of the heart of the Angels lineup. That was the game.
When you’re that close you can smell a World Series berth you have to think outside the box. I almost threw something at the TV when he brought in Mo in the 8th with 2 guys on and the Yankees already down a run. It was too late at that point! Even if he shuts them down (and of course he did) you have 3 outs to tie the game, you’re behind, and you saved your best weapon until the game was already decided.
You have to seize the opportunity. Up 6-4. 9 outs to go. A fully rested loaded pen. And a frustrating failure occurs.
Now game 6 becomes very important. When you step back and look at it, this loss is not that damging except for the way it occured. But you have Pettitte going on Saturday at home and your potential WS rotation is still intact.
If they lose game 6 that really hurts, because not only do you have the possibility of blowing the series, you have to throw CC in game 7 and then even if they win you can’t bring him back until game 3 of the WS.
Can’t wait until Saturday.
Here are the big faults
1. PR for Al, really? is this Gm.7? Who’s a better baserunner Al or Guzman?
2. Guzman doesn’t even steal. What’s the point there!!!
3. Where was Robertson in the 7th? What DOES HE HAVE TO DO!
4. Stayed w/ AJ too long.
This Angels team has new life, this will go 7 games and this is looking like choke city right now.
Girardi does not know how to handle the bullpen. He is completely in shell shock what to do. Why..why ..why did AJ come back out in the 7th. What is Robertson doing sitting on the bench in the pen. Get him up for the 7th.
Other than the two games pitched by CC where changes were unnecessary he has completely screwed his pitching changes.
Chet
I think he has to consider using roberston for the 7th inning, just like he had for the entire season.
I think it might be time to start giving Robertson a more significant role…
Ed in SF
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:10 am
PeteAbe would have never left the blog hanging like this for so long. Just sayin’”
These 3 guys doing the blog now are not jumping up and down in excitement at the Yankees failure as Pete Abe is right now.
Albeit the fact that Pete Abe can only jump about 1 centimeter!!!
emotional roller coaster. not even considering another 2004. Pettite and the Yanks will close it out on Saturday, can’t think any other way…. but seriously Girardi sucks…….AJ kept them in it and Girardi needs to pull him after the first batter gets on in the 7th….anyone could manage this team, they have great players, after the Yanks win the WS there should be serious consideration for a new manager because clearly Girardi isn’t making correct decisions, the skill of his team is what is making him look like a good manager (when he looks like one) and his lack of skill is what is costing this team…..with 10 HS coaching experience I could manage this team as well as he has…. and why is anyone shaking Posada off….. REALLY cause any of those pitchers has more experience than Posada?????
joe needs to go with the hot hand, robertson > hughes.
swisher has wet the bed hes done nothing the entire series.
Seriously what is Girardi’s obsession with pinch running?? Pinch running for Arod was absolutely ridiculous. The other day with Matsui was fine he is slower then my grandma. But Arod is he absolutely kidding me??
Miggs,
I couldn’t agree with you more.
Sometimes the game needs to be “saved” in the 7th and this game, a clincher game, should have been treated as a game 7. You don’t want to say “oh, if we don’t win this one, we’re still up 3-2.” Then you wind up saying, “if we don’t win this one, we’re still tied with game seven at home.” And then all of a sudden it’s “oh, no how did we let it slip away.”
You didn’t shut then door when you had the chance to, in game 5, that’s how.
Shades of ’04 – it’s scary.
you cant blame girardi for this one. he has done a great job all year, and Burnett wasnt even close to 100 pitches. this game is totally on Burnett. he was up 0-2 on aybar i beleive and walked him on 4 straight pitches before he got pulled. thats just brutal. I dont like the feeling of this series right now, but everytime i have had a bad feeling this year, the yankees seem to counter it. we will be fine. we got Andy and CC coming up at home. so relax
As long as we don’t have to keep the faith like Bon Jovi because he stinks!!
ALL the pressure is still on the Yankees. Girardi, their bullpen, and Swisher don’t appear to be able to handle that pressure.
“Albeit the fact that Pete Abe can only jump about 1 centimeter!!!”
Never quoted myself before, but did you not hear there is an earthquake in Boston right now. That is Pete Abe jumping his centimeter.
Throw the ball in the dirt and the Yankees are in the World Series… thank you PHIL!!!!!!!!!!!!
everyone knew that hack would whiff on a curve what the hell were you thinking!!!!!!!
Denise
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:19 am
lets go yankees (formerly lets go twins),
this blog is reserved for people who know what they are talking about! You clearly do NOT! That is not the pitch Jorge called for, Hughes missed!!! you should stop blogging, really, you’re embarrassing yourself a bit
——————————–
I do not even know why I am responding to this, but what the hell are you talking about?
I just said on this very blog literally 5 minutes ago that this is no way Jorge’s fault and Hughes shook him off 3 times and that pitch was 100% Hughes’ fault
The Guzman pinch run didnt even factor into the game so why are some of you making it such a big deal?
People second guessing Burnett pitching in the 7th would be second guessing if Girardi took Burnett out and the bullpen blew it. Hindsight is 20/20 and the bullpen came up weak anyway.
miggs, I totally agree with you. The Yankees scoring 6 runs could’ve been the death knell for the Angels if they don’t score in the bottom of the inning. Yankees totally deflated the crowd and you don’t give them any ounce of momentum back. You bring in your closer at any hint of trouble to show you mean business. That would’ve been demoralizing for the Angels seeing Mo come in in the 7th.
That being said, there is no faith in anybody in the bullpen except Mo and DRob.
Come on guys. Don’t make fun of me. Does any one have a hot dog for me to eat?
Hey Pete Abe, how’s that 15th Springsteen show you’ve seen (and tweeted about) this year?
Well, nothing like having a staple from the Dynasty teams clinch the first American League Championship in the new house.
Posada = Goat
This LOSS is on Jorge
Facing Vlad, he called for a 1-2 fastball straight down the middle of plate.
Jorge’s game calling skills have been thoroughly discredited.
It’s time for the posada groupies to put their school-girl-like crush aside and face the truth — Jorge stinks.
“Burnett wasn’t anywhere near 100 pitches and had been pitching well after the 1st inning. The bullpen didn’t have it tonight, and it’s not like the Angels lay down at home for the Yankees. Blaming this loss on Girardi doesn’t make sense.
The bullpen is supposed to be a strength for the Yankees, and it wasn’t tonight. That’s why they lost.”
————-
well said.
even if it’s too logical for some.
The only thing I find scary is any Yankee fan seriously comparing this to 2004. I’m sure it plays into the drama for you but the 2004 and 2009 teams are so radically different that it’s laughable. Unless of course you’re thinking that history has to repeat itself just because.
Root for good weather Saturday evening. A game 6 on Sunday throws off the rotation. Tough loss tonight but they’ll bounce back. Especially with the bats coming to life these last 2.
43 hours and 29 minutes until Game 6!!!!!!!!!
miggs, bodh and dave-
Outside of a game 7, you just aren’t going to see Mo coming into the seventh. I know that’s the approved move under the most modern baseball theory, but managers who would do it are few and far between.
“Posada = Goat
This LOSS is on Jorge
Facing Vlad, he called for a 1-2 fastball straight down the middle of plate.
Jorge’s game calling skills have been thoroughly discredited.
It’s time for the posada groupies to put their school-girl-like crush aside and face the truth — Jorge stinks.”
So true! This series would be over if we didn’t have Jorge on our team! I knew we would struggle in the post season with him as our catcher!
Well everyone, this was a bitter way to lose only because we fought so hard to get back into this game.
Keep the faith. We didn’t get this far to lose site of number 27th. In spite of the blunders, we also are resourceful in spite of Swisher’s disappering act. Andy..its time to collect number 16th… Let’s go Yankees!!
Good night Yankee people!!!
Trisha-
It just has that ’04 feel.
Everyone has the Yankees playing the Phils in the series. They still haven’t gotten past the Angels. And if any team can come back and beat them, it’s the Angels – they’re the best against the Yankess over the last 14 years. Not saying it’s gonna happen (Jeff Mathis has got to stop hitting sometime, right?) – I just think it’s possible.
And that scares me.
no.27
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:28 am
People second guessing Burnett pitching in the 7th would be second guessing if Girardi took Burnett out and the bullpen blew it. Hindsight is 20/20 and the bullpen came up weak anyway.
———————–
100% correct. People are just looking for a goat and Girardi is the easiest target. It is also funny b/c everyone is saying AJ should have been pulled and then say for Hughes or Joba. Yeah they pitched great tonight…
The bullpen outside of Mo and Robertson has sucked all postseason.
trisha: you are exactly right
I really like Nick. I hurt for him tonight.
Posada = Goat
This LOSS is on Jorge
Facing Vlad, he called for a 1-2 fastball straight down the middle of plate.
Jorge’s game calling skills have been thoroughly discredited.
It’s time for the posada groupies to put their school-girl-like crush aside and face the truth — Jorge stinks
—-
I guess you did not see Jorge practically stand up prior to the pitch to indicate he wanted it high. Phil just missed location.
….It just has that ‘04 feel. .>
No it doesn’t at all.
This is not shades of 04. Anyone saying that is probably too young to remember it.
Major difference is the pitching. No Lieber. No Brown. No Vasquez. No Gordon.
Girardi has done just fine. He had his reasons for not going to Mo in the bottom of the 7th, and it was an unconventional move. Hughes had been doing it all year in the 8th. It was the correct, conventional move, and Hughes just did not execute. He executed all year, and is responsible for them being where they are.
The Angels BP over the past two games has really come down to earth. They suck with a capital S. That is also a major difference between 04 and 09.
Relax. This team showed a lot tonight. They could have laid down with a 3-1 lead, down 4-0 in the 7th. That was a trademark of the Torre teams from 02-07. This team did not.
Up 3-2, with a good starter on the mound, in new Yankee stadium, I like their chances.
Are you nuts, Posada didn’t call for a fastball down the middle. He wanted an elevated fastball as you can see him stand up some and Hughes missed his spot.
Right now, both the young studs Hughes and Joba look very shaky for the Yankees. They need to calm down real fast.
Girardi made a series of dumb moves, even if we let him off the hook for leaving AJ out there. It was like he and Scioscia were auditioning for the remake of Dumb and Dumber.
“The bullpen outside of Mo and Robertson has sucked all postseason.”
So where was Robertson?
Wave Your Hat-
You’re right – and that’s a believe that needs to be changed. It’s a “by the book” philosphy that needs to be reconsidered. Some ballsy manager will start to do it and then it will become en vogue. Tonight was a great time for it to start. HenryFromDC said it would be “demoralizing” to see Mo in the 7th. Maybe not to that extent but certainly the Angels would have been caught off guard.
At any rate – that’s when the game needed to be saved and that is when he should have gone to Mo.
“Hey Pete Abe, how’s that 15th Springsteen show you’ve seen (and tweeted about) this year?”
Dave, I love it. Especially since I get to rub the mustard all over my shirt when I wipe my hands. I love a nice hot dog, even at rock concerts. Oops, does Bruce really have concerts? or are they a political show? HeHeHe.
This game wasn’t on Girardi.
No excuse for AJ’s 1st inning. Did he forget to throw warm up pitches?
Joba and Hughes spit the bit BIG TIME.
Swisher is KILLING us. I really like the guy, but can we afford a glaring hole in the line up in the post season?
My prediction is the Angels win Saturday (Andy hasn’t pitched well at home) and Yankees win Sunday. That lines up CC for game 3 of WS. The Yankees do NOT beat the Phillies without CC until game 3. The series will be over before he gets a second start.
I like the Yankees chances on Saturday with Andy on the mound, he has tons of experience in big games, but he has to have a lead early in order to keep those Anaheim hitters off balance. I am not worried about him, he will be ready.
But, like I said, the Yankees have given them hope, and that is something you cannot do in postseason games, no matter what the sport. If there is a seventh game, the Yankees will lose.
So many stupid comments and so little time to respond to them all…..
Ken / Trisha…its funny…I don’t get that feeling whereas in ’04…I had that trepidation. I am not saying it won’t happen, but I am also saying I have a high degree of confidence in the team based on their performance this year. Now of course, we have to create our own magic and hit with risp but, unless we have a managerial breakdown again, I see us going much further then ALCS.
Wave Your Hat: dude, thanks, but don’t sweat it, I’m a regular fan, just like you. Don’t hurt for me, hurt for all of us for a few moments and then have confidence that we’re the better team and will win this series back in the Stadium.
Yeah we have the best possibility to win 1 of the next 2 with the pitchers we have going. It does not feel like 04 to me, but now the pressure is back on the Yankees to get it done. You really do not want to have a game 7 being up 2-0 and then 3-1 in a series.
“The bullpen outside of Mo and Robertson has sucked all postseason”
Too bad Girardi has only figured out the Mo part.
if game 6 got rained out, what’s the schedule?
NYC weather is one word, MISERABLE.
Girardi has to take a hit for not pulling Burnett after that long 7th inning and the emotional sea change. I don’t care what his pitch count was, the guy’s got a glass jaw and can’t come back out in that spot.
Hughes (and Joba) took him off the hook a little by pitching like a dog’s dinner when they finally got in, but I still would’ve liked Hughes to start the 7th as opposed to brought in with the tying runner in scoring position.
Otherwise, his moves were fine. I like Marte over Coke in a big spot and he went to Mo at exactly the right time.
To me the Halos get nothing out of this but some extra frequent flier miles. Al Oliver and George Jetson have been officially turned into pumpkins and Fuentes, for anyone who didn’t notice, threw a Damon laser that found leather, Tex. a meatball that he just missed, walked 2, hit a guy, and threw Swish a 3-2 cookie that anyone else on the team would’ve smoked. If we get him on the mound at the Stadium he’ll make Joe Nathan look confident.
We finish this in 6, guaranteed.
By the way, anyone from earlier in the season still think middle relief is unimportant and using young talent there a waste of an asset?
Ok, I am not going to lie the end of the game stung because I really felt we had a good shot of clinching tonight.
I know this is so repetitive to say but it surprises me how many people want to place the blame on one person or another. This is in fact a team sport so when one fails they all fail. Aside from the rough start from AJ he managed to calm down and regardless of Molina/Posada catching did not get into trouble until the 7th.
On a much more brighter and positive note, we get to clinch here @ Yankees stadium without those HORRENDOUSLY annoying thundersticks and monkeys! I am sure that Erica and others understand where I come from.
Girardi needs to be blamed. He doesn’t make good moves in terms of the pen, and the guy lacks a feel for the game. He Won’t even use Robertson who has been the best guy in the pen besides Rivera. He always has to go according to the book.
Girardi, Scioscia…
Second guessing the guessers…
Genus genii…
Evan October 23rd, 2009 at 12:30 am
Posada = Goat
This LOSS is on Jorge
Facing Vlad, he called for a 1-2 fastball straight down the middle of plate.
Jorge’s game calling skills have been thoroughly discredited.
It’s time for the posada groupies to put their school-girl-like crush aside and face the truth — Jorge stinks.
————————————————————-
I hope this is a joke.
But if it isn’t…. A few questions
Did you see Hughes shaking his head no before the pitch?
If yes, do you know what that means?
Cut to several seconds later ….
Did you happen to see Jorge stand up and hold his glove at shoulder level?
Again, do you know what that signifies?
Please think about these questions before answering.
Davr-
You ought to use your best reliever to get the toughest outs in the highest leverage situations, so theoretically you are right, Mo should have come in to face Hunter in the 7th.
But, Hughes has been almost as good as Mo all year (and so has Robertson in the second half who I would have brought in), so I don’t think it was a huge mistake to think Hughes was the guy.
Plus, I think managers worry that if the bring their closer in the seventh, and he gets in trouble in the eighth or ninth and can’t finish, and the next-best relievers can’t finish, the manager will look stupid.
But your point is a good one. Man, this game hurt.
@ PittsburghYankeeFan — I’m prepared to say that Hughes may not be Tom Gordon, but he’s doing a darn good impression of him. Remember, he gave up the tie to Minn, and is an Nick Punto base running gaffe away from potentially giving up that lead. He’s been pretty darn bad this post season, no way to sugar coat that.
Bronx Bombers Girl, please tell us your true feelings. I’m not going to lie either. The loss hurt. Wait, why would I lie about that?
this isn’t 2004. This team has better pitching and a resilience that team didn’t have. Now if only Swisher would start hitting and the bullpen straighten itself out.
Dave –
Of course it’s possible that the Angels can win the series. Not sure why that “scares you”, though – it was known before the series that the Angels were good enough to win it.
But let’s not jump off a bridge here – I think everyone pretty much expected the Yankees to take one game in Anaheim, which is why I felt the need to sweep Games 1 & 2. The Angels, in case we forget, are a good team. And they had the Game 5 pitching matchup in their favor.
Game 6? Saunders threw well in Game 2, but I like the matchup for the Yanks. And I really like the matchup if it gets to 7. The only problem of course is that anything can happen in a Game 7 – and you lose CC for the first two games of the WS even if you do win Game 7. But let’s cross that bridge when we get there.
But losing faith in the team for pretty much being exactly where most people expected them to be at this point in the series is a bit weird.
I think the problem with Swisher is that he’s just not a good hitter (.245 lifetime average) and while he’s great at working walks, the pitchers you face in the postseason just aren’t the type to walk people.
Fire girardi and cashman… Bring mattingly in to manage!
20 boxes of Korbel California Select were wheeled into the Yankee clubhouse in the 7th and wheeled out in the 8th.
Bronx Jeers, don’t waste your time, that guy and a few others were trolling the Posada subject all night.
Somebody plan a heist of Girardi’s binder! it needs to escape the dugout, not make it into the dugout right before Game 6 starts!!
Girardi has got to tell his young pitchers (Joba, Hughes) to stop shaking off Posada. Anyone who is blaming Posada for this loss needs to get a reality check, and pronto. Get off the haterade
lease, yanks will be in the world series, anyone bringing up 2004 doesnt deserve to be a yankee fan.
please …
OK guys, I am done… let’s not hit any panic button. I believe the players or not very happy that they lost after coming back from so far down. We can get to their bullpen and we have Mo but let’s take a few days to reflect and then POUND THEM all the way back to Cali!
Good night everyone and KEEP THE FAITH!
“I hope this is a joke.
But if it isn’t…. A few questions
Did you see Hughes shaking his head no before the pitch?
If yes, do you know what that means?
Cut to several seconds later ….
Did you happen to see Jorge stand up and hold his glove at shoulder level?
Again, do you know what that signifies?
Please think about these questions before answering.”
I’ll answer it for you. It was still a fastball. If a pitcher makes one mistake with a fastball, he’s going to get hit. If he threw it in the dirt, he would of struck him out, guaranteed.
The Angels won an elimination game at home with their ace on the mound. Isn’t that what they are supposed to do? And, they were lucky even to do that much. Hughes came up small and Swisher came up tiny.
The Yankees are in great shape.
Nick in SF-
You’re a bum! Can’t get a hit when the pitch is served up on a plate. Go back to Santa Rosa!
Wait a minute…I’m confused…
“This Angels team has new life, this will go 7 games and this is looking like choke city right now.”
Oh calm down. Even the 98 Yankees took 6 games to beat Cleveland in the ALCS and that was the best team in the history of the game.
PittsburghYankeeFan
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:34 am
This is not shades of 04. Anyone saying that is probably too young to remember it.
Major difference is the pitching. No Lieber. No Brown. No Vasquez. No Gordon.
====
& therefore No logic.
Good job.
So much for 2004.
Next?
“lease, yanks will be in the world series, anyone bringing up 2004 doesnt deserve to be a yankee fan.”
Who made you the boss of Yankee fans?
thank you Bronx Jeers, I tried to tell Evan too and he just doesn’t get it. Thinks I’m stupid and so are a few others in here
This postseason has showed Joe’s weakness.He’s nothing without the book.
Molina exploited AJ’s apprehension with Posada,and got into 2 postseason games.
He should never see another postseason game.
Idiots thinking Posada messed up. Stop finger pointing at the wrong person. Its never a dull moment. If the team loses, its somehow Posada’s fault, but if they win nobody says anything. Go figure.
Jim, the Yanks will be in the series. I agree. But, with CC lined up to start game 3. In that scenario, the Yanks lose the series.
Andy didn’t pitch well at home during the first half of the season. He was better in the second half. He will rebound from the start in Anaheim.
lil’ m,
I answered you in the previous thread.
You just can’t get robots to improvise.
The closer-in-the-ninth indoctrination is too entrenched to overcome.
The people who argued vehemently that Mo had to be saved for the ninth are still waiting for the bottom of the inning.
“Seriously what is Girardi’s obsession with pinch running?? Pinch running for Arod was absolutely ridiculous.”
In the end it didn’t matter. You have to tie the game before you can get it into extra innings. Guzman is more likely to score on a double from first than A-rod is.
Anaheim: ACT V…
Halos, heat waves, second guess…
Santa Anna wins…
“You didn’t shut then door when you had the chance to, in game 5, that’s how.
Shades of ‘04 – it’s scary.”
You all sound like Boston Red Sox fans. Calm down.
well I’m going to bed, good nite all, I’m going to wake up hopefully not feeling as sick as I do now!
“I’ll answer it for you. It was still a fastball. If a pitcher makes one mistake with a fastball, he’s going to get hit. If he threw it in the dirt, he would of struck him out, guaranteed.”
And if he threw it around his eyes, he also would have struck him out. It’s not Posada’s fault Hughes missed the spot by two and a half feet.
NY24,
Excellent point. I love Girardi (this week’s meltdowns notwithstanding) but why hasn’t the year-long proclivity for Hughes and Joba shaking off Posada been squashed? It hurt us tonight in a big way.
RSM
I disagree. I think this series will be over in Game 6.
Bronx Jeers,
Using logic on someone that blames Jorge Posada for this loss is a huge waste of time. I’m amazed that these idiots are able to log onto the internet and find this website. I don’t expect them to understand that Hughes shook Posada off, and then missed his spot by about a foot.
Urch99
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 am
Idiots thinking Posada messed up. Stop finger pointing at the wrong person. Its never a dull moment. If the team loses, its somehow Posada’s fault, but if they win nobody says anything. Go figure.
======
Forgive them. For they know not what they do.
At least, I’m not wasting my energy on people without even a modicum of baseball knowledge. I’m no snob, but those people are seriously hurting. To be pitied rather than censored.
“ALL the pressure is still on the Yankees. Girardi, their bullpen, and Swisher don’t appear to be able to handle that pressure.”
The pressure is on the Yankees
They are going home, CC and Andy pitching, the Angels best starter pitched tonight.
And the pressure is on the Yankees
(1) For all who say Andy Pettitte is bad at home, have you looked at his last 6 home starts? He looks pretty darn good.
(2) What is it with ESPN twitters all gloating about a Yankee loss? Check out their MLB page to see them. If this isn’t proof of bias, I’m not sure what is.
no. 27,
We seem to be in harmony on this. I guess it’s elementary.
Don’t feed the pigeons.
Eldorado State…
The Land of Milk and Honey…
Spoiled Rotten for us…
RSM -
I’ll still like my chances in the WS if CC has 3 & 7. Let’s just get there first and see what happens.
does anyone think that if Hughes had started the 7th and imploded to give up the lead that people would be haranguing Girardi for taking Burnett out after 80 pitches?
“There are 2 outs in the 7th, so they have 7 outs to go, they are up 6-5 with Hunter and the meat of the lineup coming up. I go to Mo. And its not even something I think twice about.”
That is the move to make. But most managers don’t have the guts to do it. And it is probably not in Girardi’s “book.”
Next to CC, I’ll take Andy. He’s the right guy for Saturday, home or away.
“does anyone think that if Hughes had started the 7th and imploded to give up the lead that people would be haranguing Girardi for taking Burnett out after 80 pitches?”
We will never know, will we?
“What is it with ESPN twitters all gloating about a Yankee loss? Check out their MLB page to see them. If this isn’t proof of bias, I’m not sure what is.”
Gloating? Mostly, that’s GoHalosTweet, the Angels part of Rob Neyer’s SweetSpot blog network. KLaw’s definitely not gloating, and I didn’t take Neyer to be, though I could see how one would.
Robertson could have started the 7th.
When was the last time the Yankees closed out a series at home? It’s meant to be.
Hughes is not Tom Gordon with a worse haircut. He had a few games in between the clunkers this postseason where he has been good. Gordon was never good, if I recall correctly.
RS
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:42 am
I think the problem with Swisher is that he’s just not a good hitter (.245 lifetime average) and while he’s great at working walks, the pitchers you face in the postseason just aren’t the type to walk people.
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Swish has pretty bad numbers in the postseason, so you could be on to something.
Swisher said his last at bat was “good” but he was swinging at balls and popped up a fastball down the middle. He looks off right now and if he doesn’t do well in Game 6 the boobirds will come out.
I don’t care if he’s a big name or that Gardner/Hairston isn’t as big of a power threat. Swisher’s struggling right now and riding the pine may be best for him and the team. Gardner or Hairston certainly can’t do any worse than Swisher did tonight…
I just don’t understand why Girardi managed the 7th inning like the Yanks had a 5 run lead. After Hughes gave up the hit to Vlad why not bring in Robertson? Oh sorry Robertson isn’t allowed to pitch unless he is the last guy in the bullpen. Hughes kept missing his spots with his fastball and hasn’t been good in the post season to begin with get him out of the game. In this game he wasn’t aggressive enough. What happened to the 1 million bullpen moves??
DYNASTY IS DESTINY!
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:50 am
Eldorado State…
The Land of Milk and Honey…
Spoiled Rotten for us…
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I am just sorry I will miss these on Saturday
Evan October 23rd, 2009 at 12:30 am
Posada = Goat
This LOSS is on Jorge
Facing Vlad, he called for a 1-2 fastball straight down the middle of plate.
Jorge’s game calling skills have been thoroughly discredited.
It’s time for the posada groupies to put their school-girl-like crush aside and face the truth — Jorge stinks.
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I’ve often wondered how people like you have a brain that generates enough power for you to drag your pimple-faced behind out of bed in the mornings.
2 good things about the game 5 Tex and Matsui bats woke up!!
I just hope they can win this in six. Because If they need to use CC for a game seven even if they win they wont beat the Phil’s
I wonder if the playoff schedule with all the days off has been detrimental to the bullpen. Games on Fri, Sat, Mon, Tues, Thurs, and now Saturday. You take out the Tues game with CC going 8 and the BP saw no action for 3 days, unlike the regular season. Obviously, the off days are necessary for travel and help if there are rainouts. Neither bullpen has been dominant. Any thoughts?
This team is, if nothing else, very, very resilient. We’ll see what they are really made of now.
pat October 23rd, 2009 at 12:42 am
20 boxes of Korbel California Select were wheeled into the Yankee clubhouse in the 7th and wheeled out in the 8th.
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Bad move.
And as I expressed earlier, a California wine was a bad choice as it clashes with the California opponent.
I wish I could market myself as a champagne celebration sommelier.
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Thanks for the heads-up Nick.
It looked fishy. I’m just particularly irritated about that pitch and not thinking straight.
Gotta love Andy in game 6 though.
Hughes shook off Posada about 3 different times. I dont think Posada wanted a fastball.
This was a tought loss after getting the lead but yankees are still in the driving seat right now.
Direct quotes from the ESPN MLB site twitter:
“@robneyer: had them all the way! (someone had to say it)”
“@keithlaw: i’m getting deja vu”
That sounds like gloating to me.
Denise
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:48 am
well I’m going to bed, good nite all, I’m going to wake up hopefully not feeling as sick as I do now!
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Don’t sweat this loss, Denise.
We’ve got this on Saturday.
Angels fought back tonight, but they are not going to win 3 straight from the Yankees.
The Posada talk is ridiculous. Hughes clearly shook off Posada and then missed his spot. That’s ALL on Hughes.
randyhater has a good point though. Girardi needs to lay down some law with Hughes and Joba. Throw what the catcher calls for, period, no exceptions. Break the rule and lose your spot. Posasda is a seasoned veteran with tons of post season experience and multiple WS rings. These “kids” should not be shaking him off.
just picked up 2 for game 6…wasn’t expecting this.
I’ve often wondered how people like you have a brain that generates enough power for you to drag your pimple-faced behind out of bed in the mornings.
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Can I just say…I love you?
100 pitches of fun
Right! He managed the game like the Yankees had a 5 run lead. He should have had Hughes to start the inning and at the first sign of trouble bring in Robertson and then Rivera. In a close out game you need to have Rivera go 2 innings no matter what. Torre even did that.
Joe is just so text book and he lacks feel for the game. He is so stupid.
They are already thinking about choking
GreenBeret7 October 23rd, 2009 at 12:53 am
Evan October 23rd, 2009 at 12:30 am
Posada = Goat
This LOSS is on Jorge
Facing Vlad, he called for a 1-2 fastball straight down the middle of plate.
Jorge’s game calling skills have been thoroughly discredited.
It’s time for the posada groupies to put their school-girl-like crush aside and face the truth — Jorge stinks.
————————————————————
I’ve often wondered how people like you have a brain that generates enough power for you to drag your pimple-faced behind out of bed in the mornings.
for once i agree with you gb7
torii hunter….”man oh man hey man oh man!!
The idea of opening up with AJ in game 1 of the World Series,because they had to use Andy and CC is scary.
“October 23rd, 2009 at 12:35 am
“The bullpen outside of Mo and Robertson has sucked all postseason.”
So where was Robertson?”
In “The Tree House Of Doom” ride.
no.27
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:48 am
Bronx Jeers,
Using logic on someone that blames Jorge Posada for this loss is a huge waste of time. I’m amazed that these idiots are able to log onto the internet and find this website. I don’t expect them to understand that Hughes shook Posada off, and then missed his spot by about a foot.
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That’s just Trisha repeating herself over and over. She likes the reflected glow of her own random opinions.
AJ will be fine.
What’s more, we’ll see Posada behind the plate from now on, so there’ll be less hand-wringing about the bottom third of the order, at least by me.
bodhisattva – Destiny Wears Pinstripes
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:58 am
I’ve often wondered how people like you have a brain that generates enough power for you to drag your pimple-faced behind out of bed in the mornings.
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Can I just say…I love you?
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LMAO. I’ll just settle for a deep like.
I don’t recall Trisha blaming Posada for tonight’s loss.
That’s not fair.
watch for molina to go next year to avoid all this nonsense.
Torii Hunter is a clown… can’t wait ’til he’s back at the Stadium making errors while Aybar and Figgins are gazing passionately into one another’s eyes instead of catching a pop-up.
The pressure is DEFINITELY still on the Angels. They have to go to NY and win two games, one being pitched by Sabathia. That’s not gonna happen.
Again, my fear is using CC this weekend. I do NOT see the WS going 7 games if CC doesn’t pitch until game 3. The Phillies are good, very good.
Also, the weather for Saturday looks BAD.
Plain and simple they need to win game 6 if they want to have a chance to win the world series. Winning game 7 but having to pitch CC is obviously a positive but it comes with a HUGE negative. They absolutely need CC in game 1 and then be able to bring him back on short rest. There is 1 less off day in the WS so it would become much more difficult. Especially you don’t want AJ in game 1.
Been to the Chambliss, Reggie and Boone games.
Lookin forward to this one.
GreenBeret7
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:04 am
bodhisattva – Destiny Wears Pinstripes
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:58 am
I’ve often wondered how people like you have a brain that generates enough power for you to drag your pimple-faced behind out of bed in the mornings.
=====
Can I just say…I love you?
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LMAO. I’ll just settle for a deep like.
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You think you’re laughing. The line is now immortal. & we Italians tend toward the demonstrative
.
could have really used melancon this series. everyone else in the pen is turning into flash gordin under pressure. melancon has bulldog makeup and would have outperformed all these chokers ….
mick
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:04 am
watch for molina to go next year to avoid all this nonsense.
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Oh, come on. Next year it will be “Cervelli has to catch the staff.”
Pettitte at home has given up more than 3 ER only once since the ASB.
Saunders has a BAA versus righties of .286 with an OPS of .837.
I can see why accuscore has this game 55-45 Yanks in 10,000 simulations.
“Also, the weather for Saturday looks BAD.”
Hope not. That could mean Lackey on Monday on short rest if it somehow goes to 7.
First change was game 3, not game 5. Giradi overmanaged game 3 loss the game was the sign of beginning of the end. Yankees will loss game 6. only hope is game 7 if yankees can repeat 2003 ALCS game 7.
ok Girardi great joke new lineup
Derek Jeter
Johnny Damon
Mark Tex
A Rod
Matsui
Jorge Posada
Robinson Cano
Melky Cabrera
Jerry Hairston
eric,
The kid pitches to contact and can chew up bats.
The problem is, Girardi had to get him in there during an earlier window. Once he failed to do that, the kid’s opportunity to help us in 2009 closed.
More Robertson!
Joe Girardi= Grady Little
The Angels have played 6 games in the Bronx this year and have 1 win, which happened on May 2nd.
Accuscore now has it 59-41 Yankees in 10,000 simulations. They haven’t been wrong yet.
I wonder if Bruney would be more useful on the roster than Joba? Joba is a joke
bodhi
bet ya po catches aj next game.
SC
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:09 am
First change was game 3, not game 5. Giradi overmanaged game 3 loss the game was the sign of beginning of the end. Yankees will loss game 6. only hope is game 7 if yankees can repeat 2003 ALCS game 7.
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Girardi has managed poorly. But they’re not losing Game 6 to these guys. Angels cannot win a game at the Stadium.
I don’t care how much you want to feed your paranoia, the Yanks can’t lose to this team.
Does anyone else think Hughes is just too in love with his fastball? At least tonight he started throwing (a lot) more breaking stuff. And, wow… it worked! So what’s with going back to a fastball on Vlad? That guy will swing at anything near the strike zone, and if it’s straight, he’ll probably hit it. Even a high fastball was a dumb idea in that situation. Bury a fastball or come right back with another curve. And for God’s sake, stop freaking shaking off Posada so much!
Also, I didn’t care too much before, but I think the AJ-Molina experiment has run its course. AJ had a meltdown in the first, with Molina catching. When Posada came in he a did a perfectly fine job catching AJ. At this point, the extra offensive threat is more important. Of course, it’s a bit too late to decide now… at least to help in this series.
I think this thing will be over in game 6. I am just mad at Girardi. He has no clue.
Oh, for sure, mick.
The Molina bridge was burned tonight.
I’ll bet Girardi is relieved. As bad an idea as it was to begin with, he felt he couldn’t get out of it.
AJ made it easy for him tonight.
it would be a bad idea to listen to francesa tomorrow
A rain out completely screws us if it goes to game 7. That means Gaudin in games 2 AND 6 in the WS with CC in gm 4
bodhi,,,because of this i had to get tix for sat…stubhub sec 419 behind plate 130 each,,,been to clinchers before…chambliss, reggie and boone games
“could have really used melancon this series. everyone else in the pen is turning into flash gordin under pressure. melancon has bulldog makeup and would have outperformed all these chokers ….”
—–
Well I’m not too sure about that but then again he might have been the perfect choice to face Vlad if you know what I mean.
We needed Jeff Nelson circa 98/99/00 to face vlad there. that slider woulda chewed him up.
bodhisattva – Destiny Wears Pinstripes
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 am
Oh, for sure, mick.
The Molina bridge was burned tonight.
I’ll bet Girardi is relieved. As bad an idea as it was to begin with, he felt he couldn’t get out of it.
AJ made it easy for him tonight.
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I was thinking the same thing the one positive is now that Burnett/Molina struggled Jorge will catch him in the world series.
“I wonder if Bruney would be more useful on the roster than Joba? Joba is a joke”
100 pitches of fun… :
I typed almost exactly the same comment, but didn’t hit enter in fear of being attacked!
I agree. Joba is essentially useless right now. Bad reliever and can’t be trusted to start. Bruney would seem to make more sense for the WS roster. Unfortunately, he hasn’t seen live action in weeks and that’s a problem.
i just couldn’t take fox anymore…worst coverage ever
plus i need to bring my energy to the park
too quiet at home
Jeremy,
Agree completely.
I’m irate over the moves, but completely serene facing Game 6.
Of course, anything’s possible in sports, but this feels virtually guaranteed.
bodhisattva – Destiny Wears Pinstripes
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:07 am
GreenBeret7
I’ve often wondered how people like you have a brain that generates enough power for you to drag your pimple-faced behind out of bed in the mornings.
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Can I just say…I love you?
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LMAO. I’ll just settle for a deep like.
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You think you’re laughing. The line is now immortal. & we Italians tend toward the demonstrative .
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I could never be Italian. I don’t like anybody. Love their ladies and bread, though.
This series will be over in game 6. So all you people talking about game 7 need to stop. Basically Girardi has given 2 games to the Angels. Which is the only reason why they are still playing right now. The team needs to step up so Girardi won’t make anymore moves in close games.
why did joe even start the 7th with aj…leave well enough alone, he was great after his debacle in the 1st, but quit while you’re ahead.
joba or better yet, robertson…hughes to start the 8th….don’t get him….
once we got the lead you knew aj would spit the bit.
and he did.
the guy looks like randy johnson and has the temperment of ed whitson.
man they really need a day off between these games.
we all do.
mick
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:16 am
bodhi,,,because of this i had to get tix for sat…stubhub sec 419 behind plate 130 each,,,been to clinchers before…chambliss, reggie and boone games…
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Great view of the strike zone from there, dude.
When I sat up there, I was in 421, which is essentially the same view, but from the 3B side.
Sat in the last row of Tier Reserve, Section 10 for Boone. The great thing was, from those seats, you knew it was fair right away off the bat.
I love the view behind the plate.
One of the few views where you can see the entire field.
Plus the ball comes off the bat true.
Girardi is such a fool. I am still angry. I swear to god if Girardi blows another game by not using Robertson, and Rivera he should be fired.
I could never be Italian. I don’t like anybody. Love their ladies and bread, though.
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Haha. You remind me of a colleague of mine from my journalism days.
I got put on the beat with him, and I was the new kid on the block, he was the crusty old sportswriter.
He never actually introduced himself, he just sort of muttered to me when he wanted me to get an opposition room quote for his early, or what have you.
I finally put out my hand and said, “Dave…I’m…” He reluctantly took my hand and said, “I’m not a very friendly person.”
I laughed so hard, and then he laughed. We were great buddies after that.
His curmudgeonly presence had more humanity in it than all the glad-handing types in the flock.
Great, great old newspaper guy. One of a kind and they don’t make them like Dave anymore.
would have def. batted swisher 8th behind a hot melky.
he and aj are true members of the choke train.
mick
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 am
I love the view behind the plate.
One of the few views where you can see the entire field.
Plus the ball comes off the bat true.
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Oh yean, the best seats, you run out of foul line toward the LF corner, but it’s so insignificant. Virtually can see everything.
GreenBeret7 = jorge fluffer.
dude, get off ya knees.
I think AJ and his 96 mph heater are worth saving.
He’s one of these guys who becomes all the more dangerous once he “learns” how to win.
I know that sounds like columnist purple pablum, but I suspect it’s true.
AJ’s a combination of fragility and obscene talent.
Think I’ll go on a news fast until Game 6.
I really don’t want to hear the talking heads poke the fans like mice with a stick about 2004, because it’s just so predictable and the lowest common denominator fan, so susceptible.
Good night, all.
See you for the World Series.
bodhisattva – Destiny Wears Pinstripes
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:31 am
I could never be Italian. I don’t like anybody. Love their ladies and bread, though.
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Haha. You remind me of a colleague of mine from my journalism days.
I got put on the beat with him, and I was the new kid on the block, he was the crusty old sportswriter.
He never actually introduced himself, he just sort of muttered to me when he wanted me to get an opposition room quote for his early, or what have you.
I finally put out my hand and said, “Dave…I’m…” He reluctantly took my hand and said, “I’m not a very friendly person.”
I laughed so hard, and then he laughed. We were great buddies after that.
His curmudgeonly presence had more humanity in it than all the glad-handing types in the flock.
Great, great old newspaper guy. One of a kind and they don’t make them like Dave anymore.
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Sounds like a guy that never took himself seriously and could always laugh at himself….as long as nobody else saw it. Kind of like those “Unforgettable Characters” in Reader’s Digest.
Evan
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:40 am
GreenBeret7 = jorge fluffer.
dude, get off ya knees.
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Nice try.
But you’ll never live down that pimple-faced butt thing.
That’s who you are, now and forever.
GB7,
Yes, that’s him. God forbid I ever let on how much he meant to me. And the old time coaches loved him.
They have radar for kiss-ups. Dave never changed his demeanor to speak to them. He’d bark that they’d kept him waiting or something.
Well, keep ‘em honest in here.
Night, all.
I think that Robertson should have been used as soon as AJ got in trouble in the 7th inning.
Why doesn’t Girardi use Robertson? He is one pitcher that can strike out people. I know he does walk people once in a while, but he can get out of sticky situations.
Shame on Girardi. Also Swisher should bat 9th instead of Melky. At least Melky can hit.
Just me thoughts and observations.
i would like Girardi to sit Swisher down because he cant hit in the clutch, strikes out too much, cant run the bases and wont deliver. He wont do it but start Gardner at least once and it will even help your defense.