The LoHud Yankees Blog

Former Yankee and current YES Network analyst John Flaherty has agreed to break down the pitching match-up for every Yankees postseason game exclusively on the LoHud Yankees blog. Be sure to check out John on the YES pre- and post-game shows today. Because of the short time before the game today (and the time change), here’s his mini-take on the Game 3 starters:

YANKEES: LHP Andy Pettitte
“Andy will throw cut fastballs to both sides of the plate. He will also sink the fastball away to righties, throw curves to both and change-ups to the righties. This mix is what has made him effective, as his velocity has decreased through the years. If you are a hitter against him you have to cover a lot: Both sides of the plate, up and down and cut movement as well as sinking movement.”

ANGELS: RHP Jered Weaver
“Weaver could be the ace of this staff in that he has the best stuff overall. Good fastball which is pretty straight. Nice, big, sweeping ‘slurve’-type breaking ball and a really good change. What makes him tough is that he really hides the ball so well. He throws across his body so much that he is real deceptive, especially for the righties. His numbers at home are fantastic and the only downside is that he gives up a lot of fly balls – which might be dangerous against the Yankee line up. I like him in that he is confident, almost cocky, out on the mound.”

EDGE: “If I had to give the edge it would be to Andy because of his postseason experience and the fact that there will be some much pressure put on Weaver to save the Angels’ season.”

Closers are melting down all over the playoffs but Mariano Rivera remains the gold standard, Chad Jennings writes. It’ll be interesting to see how Rivera’s 2 1/3 innings of work in Game 2 affect him – if at all – the rest of the series.

Alex Rodriguez has been talking about how he’s “in a good place” for a while but now it’s true in a literal sense: A-Rod has great career numbers at Angel Stadium, and he’ll be looking to continue his breakout October. More on that in my column.

CC Sabathia will get the call in Game 4 on short rest, Joe Girardi said, and the notebook also has news on a potential milestone for Andy Pettitte, a place for fans to watch Game 3 (hint: it’s in the Bronx) and more.

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The early start and the three-hour time difference mean everything is a little compressed before the game today. At the very least, we’ll have the game post and lineup up as soon as its available.

The last time Andy Pettitte pitched against the Angels, he was just returning to the Yankees rotation after having his turn skipped because of shoulder fatigue. He took the loss and called the outing “disgusting.”

That start wasn’t all that long ago — September 21 — but Pettitte was a different pitcher last week against the Twins, and he’d much rather build on that Division Series start than think back to that previous start in Anaheim.

“Early in the game I wasn’t feeling very comfortable mechanically,” Pettitte said. “In Tampa, my last start, I felt the exact same way. I felt terrible mechanically. So really, against the Twins, going into that playoff start, I was a little worried about my mechanics because I felt like I was in such a good rhythm before I skipped that start that I hadn’t ironed my mechanics out really as good as I’d like to have going into the playoffs.

“But, mechanically, I felt great in the Minnesota start. So everything looked good. All my pitches were there for me. So I’m hoping I can just carry that right into my next start.”

Plus, let’s face it. This is Andy Pettitte in the playoffs. Maybe he’ll pitch well, maybe he won’t, but the Yankees must like their chances with him on the mound.

“For me it’s just hoping that I can get things going early,” Pettitte said. “My mechanics are together, and I’ll be able to ride it out throughout the course of the game.”

I don’t remember much about the flight out here since I was pretty much delirious, but then again I’d imagine many of you who stayed up for all 5 hours, 10 minutes of last night’s game probably had similar episodes today, too. Let me put it this way: I spent a good 10 minutes staring at the door to my rental car, looking for the power lock button only to finally realize that the car didn’t have power locks (or power windows, for that matter. Is that bad?)

Anyway, I’m here, Chad’s here, the Yankees are here and there’s going to be at least two baseball games at Angels Stadium this week. The Yankees, not surprisingly, canceled their workout today but they did put several folks on a conference call with the media to answer some questions.

Here’s Girardi.

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Joe Girardi just announced that C.C. Sabathia will start Game 4 in Los Angeles.

Girardi said Sabathia did some work today so that the Yankees could gauge how he feels, and Sabathia feels good.

“He’s had success going on short rest if you look at last year’s numbers, so we’re comfortable doing it,” Girardi said.

Hello from Los Angeles.

My friends Cory and Ann got engaged about a year ago, and their plans for an October wedding fit perfectly into the plans of a Triple-A beat writer living in Scranton. For a Yankees beat writer working out of New York, it was a bit problematic. I was wearing a tux when last night’s Game 2 went into extra innings and the reception ended just in time for me to see the winning run. So far, my Sunday has been spent traveling to California and getting fully caught up on another Yankees walk off.

In a few minutes, Sam and I will be on a conference call with Joe Girardi and Andy Pettitte. We’ll let you know all of the news that comes out of that conversation.

Until then, I’m thinking about the state of the Yankees when I left New York on Friday vs. the state of them when I got to California today. Being ahead 2-0 with the possibility of using C.C. Sabathia in Game 4 was obviously the Yankees best-case scenario, but it seemed really unlikely three days ago. At the very least it seemed one of those first two games would be significantly delayed, causing problems for the rotation. Or maybe a game would be cancelled altogether, leaving everyone to change schedules and adjust on the fly. Or maybe the Angels would have won a game or two, leaving the Yankees in a hole.

None of those things happened.

A seven-game series isn’t won or lost in the first two games, but the Yankees are in great shape. And in much better shape than they might have hoped for when the weekend started.

Press release from the Yankees…

The New York Yankees announced today that they will open the Stadium Field Level and Great Hall to the public to watch the broadcast of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) Game 3 from Anaheim on Monday, October 19. The decision to open the Stadium was made after consultation with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.

Turnstiles between Gates 4 and 6 will open at 3:30 p.m. for the 4:13 p.m. Game. Fans can watch the Game in the Great Hall or in the opened sections of the Field Level.

“We wanted to provide a place for our fans to come together to cheer for our team even if the game itself is taking place across the country,” said Hal Steinbrenner, Yankees Managing General Partner. “This is a way of saying thank you for their continued support.”

“I thank the New York Yankees for opening their amazing new Stadium to the community, and I hope that people from all over the city will come out to cheer for the Yankees and share in what’s sure to be a great night right here in The Bronx,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Food and concession stands will be open and available to fans. NYY Steak and Hard Rock Cafe will also be open.

The game ended just a few hours ago, and when it did the Yankees beat the Angels 4-3 in 13 innings to earn their 17th walkoff win of the season and second of these playoffs. Alex Rodriguez hit the tying homer in the 11th and Jerry Hairston scored the winning run in the 13th on an error.

The Yankees showed a familiar resolve, writes Sam Borden, winning in dramatic fashion to pull ahead 2-0 in the ALCS.

No matter the situation, Mike Scioscia will pitch his four starters and not turn to John Lackey on short rest, Rick Carpiniello writes.

My notebook includes Joe Girardi explaining why it was a tough decision to sit Jorge Posada and start Jose Molina. It also mentions the October struggles of Chone Figgins, why A-Rod — charley horse or not — has become more aggressive on the bases, and more.

Sam and Chad will have more from sunny California later today.

If you don’t include Maicer Izturis, the man who tried to get one out when two would have sufficed, there were three people or groups to focus on after the Yankees’ 4-3 win ended early Sunday morning, a mere five hours and 10 minutes after it started. 1. Alex Rodriguez, 2. Jerry Hairston, and 3. The bullpen and the man who managed it. Here’s a thoughts from or about all three, but in reverse order:

The bullpen —
• The entire staff pitched outside of CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and Chad Gaudin, who warmed up before the game finally ended at 1:08. “I think I told Derek I was starting to run out of bullets,” Joe Girardi said.”
• Phil Coke, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Mariano Rivera, Alfredo Aceves, Damaso Marte and David Robertson combined to produced this line: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 6 K. They allowed a few too many baserunners but stranded 12 of them on base.
• Girardi never hesitated. He managed the pen aggressively, and it worked. “I knew I had Gaudin for 75 pitches. You’re thinking that’s four or five innings. In your mind you can’t necessarily say I think this game is going to go 19 innings.”
• Rivera pitched 2.1 innings of one-hit ball before leaving after 10. It was his first two-plus inning outing since Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. Could he have pitched more? “No, it’s not that time yet.”

Jerry Hairston —
• The Boss would’ve glowed to hear Jerry Hairston praise the new ballpark. He credited the facilities for allowing him to stay warm and loose, and giving him a chance to come as a pinch hitter five hours after the game started.
• Of course, Hairston, in his first postseason at-bat, singled to center and later scored the winning run.
• Afterward, an elated but emotional Hairston said the moment was for his grandfather, Sammy Hairston, a former Negro Leaguer who played just one year in the majors. The younger Hairston became the first third-generation African-American to play in the majors. His brother Scott and uncle Johnny also play, or played, in the bigs. But of the five Hairstons, on his father had ever had an at-bat in the playoffs, and none had a hit until Hairston singled. Here’s Hairston audio:

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• I asked Burnett how he chose Hairston for the pie: “To just sit that long and to come in and get that hit,” Burnett said. “You know, I had to debate it. I asked everyone on the way down and they all said J. Hair, so that’s who I went with.”

Alex Rodriguez —
• To be honest, for all his remarkable numbers, A-Rod has never inspired legend quite like a Williams or Ruth, a Bonds or a Mantle. Yet through five postseason games, he now has three home runs that have either tied or put the Yankees ahead. One off Joe Nathan and another off Brian Fuentes, two pretty darn good closers, too.
• His story of exorcising October demons has almost become old hat. Four times he has been asked the same questions and four times he has continued to repeat what he said in St. Pete. “I know you guys are probably looking for something profound. I’m just in a good place. I’m seeing the ball and I’m hitting it. That’s about it.” Rodriguez now has an RBI in each of the first five postseason games, setting a new Yankee record. Here’s audio from Rodriguez:

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• Burnett said he, Phil Hughes, Phil Coke and Joba Chamberlain were in the clubhouse watching the 11th inning unfold. People would never believe the scene they made after Rodriguez hit the tying homer. “We were like little kids,” Burnett said, “jumping around and hugging.”
• In the dugout, Mark Teixeira couldn’t fathom that Rodriguez had done it. Again. “I just kept yelling, ‘He did it again! He did it again!” Teixeira said. “I just couldn’t believe it.”

A few other notes —
• This was the Yankees’ 17th walkoff win this year and second in the playoffs.
• They committed three errors after four flawless games to start the postseason. The Angels two errors gave them five for the series.
• Here’s Mike Scioscia on Izturis’ error: “I think he was trying to make a little too much of that play. You’re not going to turn two. If we get an out on any base we’re in good shape.” With a short postgame session, Scioscia was not asked for his opinion on second-base ump Jerry Layne not giving the Angels a “neighborhood” call in the 10th.
• Chone Figgins snapped an 0-for-19 playoff skid with the go-ahead single in the 11th.
• Bobby Abreu, Vlad Guerrero and Kendry Morales are 3 for 28 in the series.
• The Yankees canceled their workout at Angel Stadium. The Angels will workout in the afternoon.
• Thanks to Rick Carpiniello for helping gather some postgame thoughts.

In a game that took 5 hours, 10 minutes, the Yankees finally – finally – won, 4-3, when Jerry Hairston raced around from second base on Maicer Izturis’s errant throw. Melky Cabrera hit the grounder that started the play, but Hairston got the pie from A.J. Burnett in the post-game celebration.

The Yankees will now head west with a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Back with more later.

UPDATE, 1:23 a.m.: Mike Scioscia on Brian Fuentes’s pitch to A-Rod: “Brian was trying to get a fastball up there and didn’t get it up enough.”

UPDATE, 1:27 a.m.: Joe Girardi on A-Rod: “He’s swinging great. It’s pretty unbelieveable what he’s done for us so far. I talked about it before the playoffs started – I thought he was in a great place. He’s been huge for us.”

When asked about what it was like to manage this game – Girardi used 21 of his 25 players (all that was left was Cervelli, Gaudin and two starters) – he said, “I think I told Derek that I was starting to run out of bullets. It was a great game to manage. I’m wiped out right now. I’m sure I’ll sleep good on that plane.

UPDATE, 1:35 a.m.: Here’s some A-Rod quotes: “You’re definitely not thinking home run. You’re certainly not thinking home run when you’re down 0-2. He made two tough pitches on me … I finally got a pitch I could handle.”

(On how he’s turned himself around this season): “I know you guys are looking for something profound – I’m just in a good place. I’m seeing the ball and I’m hitting it.”

(What did he think going around the bases?): “The first thing I was thinking was double or home run? Once I saw the home run call, I was very happy.”

(On the game as a whole?): “That was a fun game. I didn’t do much the rest of the night but I enjoyed every minute of it. We have some relievers with some serious guts. You can’t say enough about our bullpen. They did a phenomenal job.”

UPDATE, 1:55 a.m.: That’s it for me. The Yankees – not surprisingly – canceled their workout in Anaheim tomorrow and will have a conference call with Girardi and Andy Pettitte instead. Josh will have a wrap-up post here, and you’ll hear from Chad and me from California tomorrow (actually later today). Goodnight!