Bringing it all back home
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 17, 2010 
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The Yankees and Rangers both asserted themselves this weekend.
The Yankees never flinched in Game 1. Their best starter was knocked out after four innings, and their offense was nearly shutout through the seventh, but the Yankees scratched their way to a huge win in front of a big, loud crowd. They didn’t win it with home runs. They won it with good at-bats and good relief pitching. They’re the veterans of this series, and they weren’t going to be pushed around by the up-and-comers.
The Rangers bounced right back. They’re a a very good team built on more than Cliff Lee’s impeccable control. They can pitch, they can hit and they’re willing to run their way into good and bad situations. They’re aggressive, and through the first two games of the franchise’s first American League Championship Series, they weren’t intimidated.
“Certainly we’re not looking at it like we’ve got a leg up,” Lance Berkman said. “We’re in a fight. It’s 1-1.”
Splitting on the road is a good thing, and it’s not easy to do when two starting pitchers last a total of eight innings. The Yankees did enough to reverse home-field advantage before bringing the series back to New York. They missed some scoring opportunities, and they need to fix some things with a few pitchers, but none of that is new.
“We’re going to go home and try to win some games,” Mark Teixeira said.
Sometimes it’s just that simple.
* Blonde on Blonde and Highway 61 Revisited deserve all the hype they receive, but for my money, Dylan’s best album is Bringing It All Back Home. I love the historical significance. I love the blend of electric and acoustic. I love It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding). Just a terrific record, start to finish.
Associated Press photo of Alex Rodriguez
1 Day, 11 Hours, 4 Minutes until Game 3 of the ALCS.
Highway 61 Revisited….
Morning SJ44 -
The umpire stuff seemed particularly out of control yesterday. Almost every other post.
I will say, though, if they’re going to put the pitch tracking thing on the television screen, it’s going to cause a lot of angst. I don’t think there’s any “conspiracy,” but it’s beyond crazy how many pitches the umpires miss by a lot. For both sides in both directions. And it does have an effect on how a pitcher has to approach the strike zone and how a hitter tries to make adjustments to have a good at-bat.
It’s interesting, though, that they don’t post the pitch count. I’d rather have that than the tracker thing.
It seems everyone is okay with a split until they win the first game.
Chad-
You’re a little young for Dylan but you do have good taste.
My favorite from that album is “The gates of Eden”.
Dylan’s two best I thought were “Self Potrait” and best of all, the “Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid”, soundtrack. However, it’s really difficult to say that he’s ever written a bad song. Hard to believe that he’s been at it for 50 years. His only real rivals are John Fogerty and Willie Nelson.
Yankees are back in their house.
I say they take at least 2 of the next 3.
repost from previous:
Good morning, Doreen. Hope all is well in your split household.
The bullpen has been just short of spectaular so far this post season. I think most thought that it would be the weak link of the team. Considering that Cano is really the only consistant offensive force so far, winning 4 of the first 5 post season games. I look for the offense to pick up the pace. Hopefully, Pettitte pitches the same game he pitched against the Twins. Being less a power pitcher and more of a control artist, he should be able to do so. Long delays seem to affect him less than the others. NYY did what they needed to do in Texas….they split. Taking 2 of 3 in NY is the next goal.
Doreen,
The umpiring is bad. No question about that.
However, it’s bad for BOTH teams in games because the quality of umpiring has dipped in recent years.
It’s not a conspiracy and the Yankees aren’t being cheated.
However, when you have a mentally ill person spam the blog with that nonsense EVERYDAY, it turns this place into a sewer.
When you add his “other” activities to the mix, it just takes this place in directions it doesn’t need to go.
The Yankees are where they want to be. In control of their own destiny.
As soon as more folks figure that out, we won’t have another two days of idiocy on here.
It’s as if people have never seen playoff baseball with the way they overreact to everything.
I’ve given up on game threads and about ready to give up on this blog, period. It’s getting virtually impossible to scroll past all the umpire conspiracy bashing, the complaints about players, yadda, yadda, yadda. The only thing that keeps me coming back are the core of knowledgeable posters that enhance my enjoyment of the game and rooting for the Yankees.
As some of us know and understand, baseball is an imperfect game played by imperfect players. The outcome is unknown and that is the charm of enjoying the game. 30% success gets you in the Hall of Fame, could anything make that reality more obvious.
I think the Yankees are a better team than Texas and will find a way to win this series. I don’t know what that is or how they will do it but it’s a puzzle that will be completed in the next few days. They didn’t play particularly well in Texas and managed a split-I expect them to play better at home. But if they don’t, and Texas wins, I will still be alive the next day, as will all the Yankees players and the process can start all over again next year. I learned a long time ago to appreciate the years that end in a championship, they are precious and don’t happen all the time. Many of you could learn something from that approach
I have to add something to something I posted earlier. It was in reference to the Hughes’ post-mortems. I noted the posts about his “regression” and how he relied only on his fastball and how he’s too stubborn to use his secondary pitches. I hadn’t read Chad’s post-game notes which specifically has Hughes saying how he tried to mix in his other pitches and one after another they failed him yesterday. Just a bad day for him, and perhaps he does after all have an idea out there. Frankly, I am not skilled enough to tell on a television screen what kind of a pitch a guy is throwing – they all look like curveballs to me!
GB-
True story.
I saw Dylan perform at a place called “cafe Wha” in Greenwich Village way back when he was still a relatively unkown and struggling folk singer.
There wasn’t 50 fifty people in the audience. I can’t remember what songs he performed. Most likely some folk stuff with Guitar and harmonica. It was only later that he gained nataional recognition and evolved into an Icon.
I got to see him play in the “minors”.
Is it safe to come back on the blog? Seems like the reasonable people are here this am!
The bullpen pitching so well will certainly help going forward, especially when AJ pitches. I am sure the players are not looking at the next 2 games as automatic losses, and neither should we.
I am glad the Yankees are coming home, I have heard enough about antlers and claws.
MG -
Amen to that!
MG
totally agree w/ your post…you are preaching to the choir at this time of day
Doreen, Phil, like every other major league pitcher, absolutely has an idea of what to do on the mound, it’s just that they can’t execute every game at the same high level. That’s the problem with being brought up on video games, there is no variation in the performance.
I’m a pretty good golfer (6 handicap) but every day I’m out on the course there is something different about my game that impacts the results-one day I’m driving the ball great, another day I’m putting well, but rarely do I have everything all working together (well, occasionally, then I tend to overthink how well I am playing and that winds up impacting the results lol).
Major league baseball players, at a far higher level than anything I can do, have the same issues. Phil had a very good fastball in the 1st inning yesterday and then seemed to lose it-he said exactly that in the post-game interview. It just was one of those days where his secondary pitchers weren’t there and the Rangers, a good fastball hitting team, took advantage of it. Props to them, the series is 1-1, and back to New York.
MTU, Dylan’s Greenwich Village days were more like an independent league. He wasn’t much of a singer, guitar player or harmonica player, but, God, could he sing a great story. He was that generation’s version of Woody Guthrie. I’ve seen 5 of his concerts and have never been disappointed. Another of the great story tellers has always been Gordon Lightfoot. Another great concert performer.
I by no means think the umpires caused yesterdays loss…but I do feel like the 3-4 pitches that Hughes spotted on the inner half in the first inning that were called balls may have had an effect on him.
He has a great fastball in the first inning yesterday and had Hamilton struck out on a great 2 strike fastball on the inner half….he didn’t get the call on that and a couple of other inside fastballs and I think he just quit going in there after that…..which clearly played into the Rangers game plan of going the other way against him.
Its not an excuse, its just one of those subtle things that could have led to the final outcome. Have to give the Rangers credit as well for having good ABs and a good approach against him. Its baseball and I’d expect him to be better next time around.
Kate, Doreen, thanks. I’m just going to stay completely away from the game threads, it’s too bad there isn’t a thread reserved for just those of us who are rational
blake, that is a good point about getting away from the inside corner after not getting a couple of calls. He just didn’t have command yesterday so it probably didn’t matter much. When a guy like Andrus can square up a high fastball on you it doesn’t bode well.
MG, if they come up with an adult version of Club LoHud, I’ll stand at the door and check IDs.
MG-
I think what you are trying to say is that Players are not automatons.
They are 100 % human (except for Mo) and make mistakes just like the rest of us.
They have good days and bad days.
They rise to the ocassion and sometimes fall from grace.
And they know the joy of winning and sometimes have to suffer the agony of defeat.
It’s all part of the package. They have to deal with it, and we have to deal with.
And you’re right. No matter what happens. There will be a next year, and the year after that, and so on.
The Yankees have delivered more joy to their fans than any other team in the history of sport.
We all knew this would be a tough series, it will never be and should not be easy when we are in the post season. Let’s get behind them and not fear the worse. Let’s enjoy this time. Tough games ahead but as fans let’s root for our team and ENJOY it. They and you deserve it.
GB, the funny thing is that all it would take is to ban the mental case who complains about every pitch, several trolls who just want to agitate, and have a separate ‘venting’ thread, that would take care of it-but you’re welcome to check IDs whenever you like
I think maybe Hughes muscled up on his fastball to make up for a lack of a breaking pitch last night. I fully expect his next start, like sabathia, to be much better.
GB
unfortunately it isn’t necessarily the young posters that are the problem.
MTU, I couldn’t have said that better myself, thanks…
MG, can I carry a blackjack…just for show?
Kate, I’ll card them on their mental age.
GB
well now you are talking!
GB-
I like Lightfoot.
Other folk greats used to perform at the “Wha”. People like Joan Collins, Baez and others.
Those were special times. It was a priviledge to see the performances in such a personal way.
MG,
Hughes looked very good in the first inning yesterday. He gave up an infield hit and then essentially should have struck out the next 4 hitters in a row….all of which are very good fastball hitters. He got squeezed on at least three painted inside fastballs in that inning that I can think of and after that he was afraid to go back in there….the Rangers clearly were just spitting on anything inside and sitting dead red on fastballs out over the plate… As I said….Hughes went down hill after that first inning but you never know how things play out if Andrus doesn’t score there…sometimes the tipping point between a good and a bad outing is very subtle….not saying it was in this case but just an observation. The Yanks didn’t hit anyway so…..on to Game 3.
MTU, the last mistake that I made was teaching “Killer” how to open the refrigerator and fetch my beer. Little did I know that he was going to invite his friends over.
MG, perfect analysis of this blog anymore. The AM is the ONLY time to come around here anymore. I’m glad I was at work yesterday so that I didn’t have to deal with the temptation of coming on here and reading the nonsense during the game.—————
MTU, I’m hoping the next tribute is for Andy’s 20th.
GreenBeret7 October 17th, 2010 at 9:32 am
MG, can I carry a blackjack…just for show?
———————
anything you want, GB
MTU, “Joan Collins”? What did she do? Strip? That would have been a great show. But, for singing, I would prefer listening to Judy Collins.
GB-
It’s not your fault that Killer was morally bankrupt.
How can anyone know a dog’s heart that quickly.
At least he is good to the twins.
Too much instant gratification, undue criticism, and imaginary scenarios on the game threads.
Better to kick back on the favorite chair and avoid the computer which does absolutely nothing as a game changer.
blake, as always, great points. He’ll learn something from this and pitch better the next time. They had chances to get back in the game and didn’t so it wouldn’t have mattered much anyway.
Game 3 is tomorrow, I’m looking for the Yankees to come out swinging against Lee in the 1st inning and try to get to him before he gets settled in-I’m guessing Andy throws one of his masterpieces as well…
GB-
Sorry. Brain fart. Yes. Judy Collins.
JCPD-
You lead the way on AP # 20 and I will gladly follow.
I live here in Texas, and am shocked at the websites of ny papers claiming the yankees should feel like they are down in series. I know they have Lee but we just took home field away. In any series you start on the road you need to get one but if you can steal 2 its gravy.
We need to match their intensity and get starting pitching. We will be ok….
If the Yanks can win 2 of 3 at home then Hughes will have his chance at revenge and to close out the series in Game 6.
The Yankee pen has been very good so far in this series and to me the bullpens seem to be the biggest difference between the two teams. Now that won’t matter as much if the Yanks don’t get better starting pitching…but I’d expect that to happen.
They are going to kick Cliff Lee’s freakin’ butt.
MTU, I’m thinking about getting a saddle for “Killer” The monter is a horse. The kids try riding him. When he gets tired, he just flops down and rolls over on them. They’re a riot to watch.
Game threads are not fun anymore.
It’s nothing but Caps Lock and exclamation marks
The ***monter*** is a horse
monster
GB-
If he’s that big he probably eats like a horse too, and that leaves less money for the essentials of life.
I’m sure it must be very, very cute seeing him with the little ones.
That has got to be what they mean when they use the word “priceless”.
MTU, he still sleeps with them in the playpen for their afternoon naps and in their room at night. He’s about as good a babysitter as there is. No adults can get near the kids besides their momma and me. He doesn’t like the kids father at all.
The Yankees were never going to go 11-0 in the postseason. To me, they did not play particularly well in Texas and still got a split, which is a positive. They played like a rusty team, I thought. I expect a much better performance at home.
Andy is a warrior. I think he will pitch well. Lee, of course, is a beast. But the Yankees have scored runs off him before. I have confidence they will do it again.
As for Dylan, I’ve seen him 10 times and will be seeing him again next month (I usher at a theater where he is playing). Sometimes good, sometimes bad but always a fascinating performer. I think the best I ever saw him was when he played with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers back in 1987. Petty and his band really challenged him and brought him to another level.
Now he mostly just plays keyboard and doesn’t much interact with the audience. But he is still writing pretty good music. Modern Times and Love and Theft are both great albums, IMO. And his Christmas album, “Christmas in the Heart,” was a surprise hit with the family last year. LOL.
Looks like the kids are asleep, so it is pretty civil here.
As bad as the starting pitching was, I believe Yanks achieved what they set out to do, that is split the opening series on the road. They got HFA back if it counts at all.
Lee is a very good pitcher but still he is beatable. He lost 9 games in the regular season. Even if you discount the games he lost becuse of back trouble, he still lost about 5 or six games when healthy. Look at what happened to Halladay yesterday and Phillied believe he is better than Lee.
By the way, I also believe that we did not lose the game because of umpires. They were bad for both sides.
GB-
“He doesn’t like the kids father at all.”
I’m not sure what to make of that one.
JM-
I liked “Modern Times” too.
So happy to see the Giants win last night. I actually only saw the first 3 innings but I was glad they showed the Phillies up on their home turf. Lincecum thought he was getting squeezed too, he threw a 3-2 pitch that the ump called a ball. He told him to open his F***ing eyes. I loved it.
I noticed too that the only time to come on here and have rational conversation, or where you can post rational things and not get ripped apart is in the morning. during the games I swear every Yankee detractor shows up on the board to cause problems.
I’m actually looking forward to AJs start, I think he will do well, everyone else has been a bust besides the bullpen so how much worse can he do?
The hitting better show up soon too, I thought they had finally broke out of their september slump with all their timely hitting in minnesota, I know they had a big layover but I really want to see some more good hitting, its depressing to see them strike out with guys on or hit into DPs.
I’m not really worried or upset that we lost last night, it happens from time to time. Now they’ve got homefield, going to play in front of the less annoying claw and antlerless crowd. I just like to watch home games so much more.
Tomorrow nights game is very big. If the Yankees can find a way to beat Lee (which actually is possible) then it both puts them in the drivers seat for the series and deals a big mental blow to the Rangers. They view him as a security blanket and it would be interesting to see how they would respond if that was ripped away from them.
Yanks win tomorrow then you have a pick uhm game in Game 4 (because Hunter isn’t any better than AJ) and an angry Sabathia waiting for Game 5. Nobody else I’d rather have on the mound than Andy Pettite for this game.
I also would like ot see Yanks-Giants WS.
TV will love it and it is also good for the game with the history between the teams.
Good Morning
SJ, to be fair to the narrative of umpiring yesterday, Texas did get the benefit of strike called more than the Yanks did. However, that’s not why they lost the game in such lopsided fashion.
here is link to the strike zone from last night.
http://www.brooksbaseball.net/.....type=7.gif
It’s also hard to control your destiny with Burnett pitching game 4. I wonder if Joe would start CC in 4 and 7 if the yanks are down 1-2, which is a realistic possibility given Lee’s talent and pedigree.
The way I see it…the Yankees need to take two out of three at home and then go back to Texas and win one of two, in a place where the Rangers have only one once in thier entire franchises existance…Yes, that is once in thier entire franchise history!
The Phillies have an impressive line-up but they really have not been hitting all postseason. Now they are matched up against a team that is likely to equal them in the pitching department. Last night’s game changed the complexion of that series. The Phillies have to win tonight or things could get very dicey for them.
I agree that tomorrow night is a huge game. If the Yanks can win it, it deals a huge blow to the Rangers. By the way, have to give the Rangers props; that was a pretty tough loss on Friday but they bounced right back. Of course the fact that Hughes had probably his worst performance of the year certainly helped them.
It has to be hard on the offense when they start out so far behind. I am hopeful in a closer game, they return to form. Robbie has been an absolute beast, I am enjoying him getting all the attention he deserves.
And knowing the bullpen has been so good makes me more comfortable about AJ’s start
Giants will have a good chance of going up 2-0 with Sanchez pitching tonight whom has been lights out. Oswalt is a tough customer, but if the Giants can somehow scratch a few runs. They have a good chance of going back to Frisco and clinch at home. JIMO
Love & Theft by Bob Dylan is a masterwork.
“I need something strong to distract my mind
I’m gonna look at you ’til my eyes go blind”
Saw Dylan and Paul Simon a few years back…great show, the two of them together was incredible, nevermind Paul playing with Edie.
Blake-
Looking forward to Andy matching zeroes with Lee.
Let’s just hope Andy is Andy because you’re right, if he is, there is nobody better.
Either way, the object must be to take 2 of 3.
That would be a great start though.
No pitcher is infallible. We’ve saw an example of that last night with
Halladay. No-hitter the time before. Vulnerability last night.
Lee is no different. He might be great or he might get his azz handed to him. We’ll see.
Good morning everyone.
In order to win the ALCS, the Yankees needed to win 1 game in Texas and they did that.
People are writing Game 3 off as a loss because of Cliff Lee. Lee is human and certainly can be beat. Look at Roy Halliday last night who gave up 4 runs to the SF Giants and lost at home. And I fully trust Andy Pettitte in the post season and glad he is pitching tomorrow night.
A NYY/SF Giants World Series would be epic and that little shyster Nick in SF would be right in the thick of it!
Lee isn’t always sharp at the very beginning of the game. The key will be to get to him early, get Pettitte some kind of lead to work with.
Doreen,
My cheesecake came out good even thought it didn’t get the results I hoped for
the best chance the Yankees have against Lee is to swing early and often at his fastball. Once he gets ahead in the count it gets really tough because he has such pinpoint control.
Here are some interesting stats for Lee, based on on which count the ball is put into play:
Batting Average
1st pitch .348
1-0 .246
2-0 .375
0-1 .337
1-1 .387
0-2 .148
1-2 .132
Basically, batters hit well over .300 against Lee early in the count, and way under .200 when he is ahead. You have to attack him in the zone early in the count. He’s going to win more often than not but you no chance if he gets ahead, period.
People are writing Game 3 off as a loss because of Cliff Lee. Lee is human and certainly can be beat.
—————–
Not if your opposing pitcher is the winning pitcher in playoff history. Lee is surely to a slight favor but by no means a certain to win anything.
In dealing with the same probabilities, Burnett should be the biggest concern of all in game 4.His implosion can happen suddenly and quickly. Even if G is vigilant and putting him on a short leash, the game can get out control in a hurry, If Burnett gives up a gopher or two with men on base.
I’d love to see SF/NY Series.
But in the alternative, if NY doesn’t get there, I no way want the Phillies to get there. NO way.
We’ll see how Lee does now that the attention diva Michael Kay has called him out on his “cheating”.
The spotlight is ON, Mr. Lee.
Now PLAY FAIR
In dealing with the same probabilities, Burnett should be the biggest concern of all in game 4.
********************************
I still feel that if the Yankees are down 2-1, CC gets the ball in Game 4. AJ hasn’t pitched in over 2 weeks and didn’t pitch well when he was on regular rotation. If a week off hurt CC, imagine what it would do to AJ.
Fran -
Yay!!!
I’m glad it turned out well.
Fran, the Yankees need to decide today, not after game 3. CC has a bullpen scheduled before game 3, if he throws it on schedule he is unavailable for game 4.
Doreen,
Wow, you really hate the Phillies!
I didn’t start hating them until Phitins showed up on the blog this year. I most want to see turn-back-the-clock footage of the NY Giants vs. NYY. Black and white stuff. I think that adds to the iconic value of baseball.
I still feel that if the Yankees are down 2-1, CC gets the ball in Game 4.
—————
Agree. Let’s see how G plays it. I think if it comes down to that, CC will go 4 and 7, if there is a game 7.
The core trolls on this blog are getting really infuriating during the game threads. Between Ruby Losers stupidity, Matt’s arrogance, and some of the others. What I hate the most is the “sure prognostications”‘ as if none of them have ever seen a playoff game in any sport. Anything and everything can and will happen in the postseason. I’ll take the Yankees experience in those situations over any other team’s. Does it mean they will be successful all the time? No, but there are bigger issues in life to worry about. For some perspective, my HS alma mater had a beloved 52 year old assistant football coach drop dead on the sidelines Friday night. The Yankees losing or winning this series is not all that important in the scheme of things.
Doreen,
My office is full of obnoxious Phillies fans. Another World Series appearance by the Phils would be extremely annoying. LOL. So I’m rooting hard for the Giants.
Tom,
I agree 100 percent about Love & Theft. Ranks right up there with his best, IMHO.
Anyway, I am off to the Giants game. Have a very generous friend who gave us two club box tix and a parking pass. I am pretty excited as I have not been at the new Meadowlands Stadium and have not actually been at a Giants game in about 10 years.
Have a great day everyone.
I sure hope Andy gives the Yanks length tomorrow. The bullpen has been used far more than I had hoped (even though they have been great). And I would assume they would be on high alert for game 4 with AJ pitching.
• Even though he’s not planning on it, Sabathia said he could throw on three-days rest in Game 4 if necessary. “If they tell me that, I just go for it,” he said. “The only thing is (Girardi) would have to tell me before I throw a bullpen, because if I’ve thrown one on three days, I normally don’t throw a bullpen and just do two flat grounds and be ready to go.”
Doreen
I want NY to make it to the World Series but if they don’t then I think it would be great to see SF vs Texas. Philadelphia has been in the WS for the past 2 years, I’d like to see a different NL opponent take on the WS stage for a change.
C.C. Sabathia is an “ace.”
Lol.
I suspect Ruby Tuesday is the passive/aggressive identity theft troll. I just get the same feel when I read both Ruby’s posts and the mystery posts that put out personal information. I don’t think it’s CR9. Ruby Tuesday is not a Yankees fan and hates us. One of Ruby’s first targets (GB7) used to put out his address when confronting trolls. He’d invite trolls to his house. Of course, we later saw an anonymous poster follow up on the battle with GB7 and post personal information about him almost like it was a reaction to the clash earlier.
Two assumptions folks can’t make.
Lee is an automatic win for Texas and AJ is an automatic loss for the Yankees.
So much happens in games, it’s impossible to predict.
They are right where they want to be.
Win your home games, and you go to the WS.
tyanksfan
I am guessing that you and your Dad are both cheering for SF!
JM
have a geat time, that sounds like fun
Doreen/Fran
I tried out a new cheesecake recipe yesterday, thanks to the Phil excuse…it was yummy
AJ could go out and throw a great game on Tuesday, you never know. He’s pitch so poorly the second half a long layoff might get rid of some bad habits. It’s the opposite to CC having problems with a long time between starts because he loses his feel. In AJs case, you want him to lose all of that and rediscover his talent.
“Eduardo” and Ruby also put off the same feel with their posts and Nick suspects foul play when he gave out his email address to Eduardo while placing a bet for Pat M and Eduardo. Nick thinks Eduardo is CR9 but it’s not. It’s Ruby.
See Ruby is here again now.
Ruby lurks here.
When Ruby appears, Ruby bashes the Yankees:
****************
Ruby Tuesday October 17th, 2010 at 10:24 am
C.C. Sabathia is an “ace.”
Lol.
*****************
The hatred is there against the Yankees, thus the motive is there to divulge personal information about Yankees fans in an attempt to harm them or intimidate them the way the troll first felt intimidated when GB7 confronted the troll and invited them to his house and gave personal info.
SJ…if you listen to the MSM you would never be able to come to that conclusion. I mean who thought that anyone could come back from 0-3 in a 7 game series.
With Lee pitching twice in a 5 game series, the MSM would just have the Yankees go home for the winter.
MG,
I didn’t think about CC and the bullpen session. So Girardi has to make that call today.
If AJ does pitch Game 4 I am sure he will be on a very short leash and Moseley would be ready to come in.
MTU,
Cafe Wha? still exists. Only originality is extinct. I’m sure it’s probably nothing but cover bands now.
Andy Pettitte is no slouch.
Kate,
Glad your cheesecake came out good too. I don’t have dessert that often (or bake), but for the Yankees it was worth the sacrifice.
Doreen,
What is on the dessert menu for tomorrow?
I wouldn’t say I “hate” the Phillies. I just don’t want them to get to the WS 3 years in a row. I don’t particularly like Charlie Manuel – he just rubs be the wrong way – and the whole H2O stuff will be sickening. Not that the claw and antler stuff is any better.
I hated the way the broadcasters made such a huge deal out of the Rangers “bonding theme” of claws and antlers, almost as if the more they mentioned it, the more they were actually a part of the experience.
Ruby just makes idiotic posts which are easily ignored but nonetheless annoying. Matt, on the other hand, appears only when the Yankees are playing poorly, tries to take a superior know it all attitude, and often resorts to personal attacks. Plus, he is just plain wrong with most of his baseball analysis. He is by far the worst and the poster who is most responsible for killing the game threads.
Fran, exactly, there is no waiting for the game result.
I think it’s entirely possible that CC pitches game 4, it won’t make any difference to AJ to wait another day and Girardi might decide he doesn’t want to take the chance of AJ losing game 4 and putting the Yankees down 3-1. We’ll just have to wait and see…
Anyway, back to baseball. I think the Yanks can hit Cliff Lee. Not even beginning to worry yet.
Fran -
I don’t know. I’m having carbohydrate overload! I need to think about it.
Thank goodness I have time.
Hunter isn’t any better than AJ is and all Andy has to do is keep the game close and hope the Yankees bring the game plan they did against Pavavo…which was be selective but aggresive on pitches they can hit….he’s not going to walk them and they should know that by now.
The Yankees are in a better position than the Phillies are this morning.
Matt is knowledgeable and he’s not a troll. He can come across like a know-it-all on occasion and he’s often wrong but so is everyone else. It just stands out more with him because his forecasts are mostly negative so he draws attention. When he’s off, everyone sees it. Unfortunately for him, when he’s on, nobody notices.
Matt is not a troll.
Jeers-
That’s interesting. It will never be what it used to be though.
You can’t go back to that time and place.
It was a special place.
Doreen,
I don’t want to see the Phillies in 3 times in a row either. It gets boring.
What H20 thing are you talking about? I must’ve missed that.
Kate
I don’t know who my dad is rooting for though he did say that he doesn’t want to see the Yankees and Phillies play eachother again this year. He says he likes to see good hitting and good pitching. I was for the Braves in round one but that fell through so now I’m going Giants. Mostly because I don’t like Philly and because I wouldn’t mind looking at Buster Posey for a few more weeks. One of the moms at the preschool I work said she grew up in the same town as him and her younger brother goes hunting with him in the winter. Let’s just say I’m a little jealous.
Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt =H2O
Other than the Yankees, who I want to be there every year, I like a variety of teams playing…so I don’t want the Phillies either.
Whatever you want to call him, his posts stir up a lot on here.
I believe that Arod and Tex find their power strokes at home over the next few days.
Cigar=Ruby
No need for racism here. Ban, please.
Matt makes some good points. But he beats them to death and takes a condescending attitude toward anyone who doesn’t see things the same way. He’s not a troll, but I mostly scroll past his longer posts, depending on the first two sentences.
If the Yankees win game 3 then AJ pitches game 4…if they lose game 3 then they have a decision to make. Do you throw AJ in game 4 against the Rangers worst starter and risk going down 3-1…or do you move Sabathia up, try to even the series and then have AJ throw against Wilson in Game 5?
I have changed my mind in this I think…unless they are going to cut AJ out all together (which they have given no indication that they are considering that) then I think you still go AJ in game 4 because it gives you the best chance at winning both games 4 and 5….it would serve no purpose to move Sabathia up to pitch game 4 and then turn around and give Texas the pitching advantage in Game 5 against Wilson. The Yanks just have to find a way to either win game 3 or 4 (or preferably both) and then give the ball to their ace in Game 5.
Throw AJ in game 4 with a very short leesh…at the first sign of trouble get either Joba or Robertson in there to get out of that inning and then let Mosely start the next
How does Ron Washington pronounce Robinson’s last name…KA-no and not Cano? For some reason I found that very funny…
yeah Blake I agree. If AJ is going to pitch at all, and I don’t think the plan is to have everyone pitch on short rest, I would rather see him in game 4
Home field advantage is something small that shows up over 162 games. Home field advantage in 5 games is a small fraction of a game. So a split in Texas meaning they gained home field advantage does not mean much. That said, you take any small advantage you can get.
The Yankees are now lined up to face Lee twice in a short series, except now they have CC scheduled only once, or twice on 3 days rest, with AJ starting one game (they will not skip AJ and have everyone pitch on 3 days rest; not happening). This is unlike if they had faced the Rangers in the ALDS where they had CC once on 3 days and could skip AJ. Btw, if CC pitches game 4, AJ will face CJ Wilson in game 5.
So, the Yankees need to either win every game Lee does not start, including AJ’s, or they need to beat Lee at least once.
I personally think they will need to beat Lee.
Not trying to be negative or worry, this is just my objective view of the situation.
The Yankees can beat Lee. Andy could outpitch Lee. They need to have their hitting shoes on though, as they aren’t going to walk their way to a win.
I also suggest nobody click on “have a cigar”‘s name. If it’s a personal webpage of his, he can track an IP address and determine your exact location.
MTU,
These days a musician like Dylan would get tossed out by his ear down there.
The times are officially a-changed.
blake,
You make some good points. The Yankees should be able to score runs off Hunter, and
even if the Yankees win 10-9, it still counts.
I still keep going back and forth about the rotation after Andy.
Blake-
I think I agree with you. But Girardi better have a quick hook and have Mosely or Mitre ready if AJ blows up. I happen to think he’ll have a good game, though.
Jacksquat-
I agree. I said last night I think they need to beat Lee at least once to win this series. Too hard to ask every other pitcher to be perfect. Let the bats beat him and win it for us.
Blake,
Excellent points.
I think the Yankees have an advantage in all the non-Lee starts so they will keep it. Pettitte is the key. If he’s on in his starts, Texas can’t possibly win this series. It really rests on the shoulders of Andy.
Good morning Friends,
I spent the last bit reading this thread. With one or two exceptions, I agree with all of you. I never read the game thread anymore.
The umpiring situation is only made worse with the ability to follow the pitches so slowly. There is far too much complaining about these guys who are human beings too. Unless they go to some automatic system, umpiring will never be 100%, and even the ‘machines aren’t perfect.
The people in here complain about anything and everything…this morning there is a group of people who understand the game, the ups and downs, etc. No one ever said this would be an easy series.
Hopefully, with the series moving to NY, the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium, some order will be restored, but if our big guys, other than Cano, don’t get hits that are meaningful, it won’t matter where they play.
Winning a World Series has gotten harder, not easier with the layers of play offs to get there. With people like you (for the most part) this place stays sane; please don’t run. Forums like this morning have been a breath of fresh air.
Thanks for all your input.
TheStraw – sorry to hear about your HS coach. It makes the rest of this seem to inconsequential. Also makes the whining seem even more tiresome than it already is. Sorry for your loss.
Just like last nights’ pitching duel turned into a HR contest, so too can Cliff Lee turn into a pumpkin (let him get it out of his system now, so the next 5 years can be flawless
), and AJ can deliver a gem. Or, something else totally unpredictable happens. Just like Phil losing his arm angle, someone else can lose some muscle memory, or suddenly square one up.
If Cy Young winners like CC Sabathia, Doc Halladay, and Tim Lincecum can get lit up, anyone can. And if Cody Ross, David Murphy, and Bucky Dent (remember him? Or, Brian Doyle?) can square one up, so can anyone.
The only thing that’s for certain is that I’m not going to get to see a Yankee clinching on Tuesday. Darn.
P.S.
The Yankees can beat Lee tomorrow.
Frankie Piliere on Cano:
” Robinson Cano is frighteningly locked in at the plate right now, and it’s a small glimpse of just how special his bat can be when he’s hot. Cano is staying inside the ball exceptionally well right now, and he can react later to the fastball than most big-league players. Because of that, there’s so few ways to get him out away with the slow stuff. When he’s right, and he couldn’t be more right than he is at this moment, he has no holes. “
When he’s right, and he couldn’t be more right than he is at this moment, he has no holes. “
—————–
Except when he expand the strike zone to get himself out.
Since obviously many don’t read the game thread I will share my personal favorite from yesterday to give you a chuckle on your Sunday morning.
A certain Yankee fan on the West Coast identified Matt as the most intelligent poster on the blog.
If the Yankees lose game 3, I’m not sure which scenario I favor re: CC. It’s a tough decision.
I think the bottom line is, if the Yankees are going to win the World Series, they are going to have to have more than one starter pitching well. It won’t get easier vs the Phillies’ or Giants’ starting pitchers.
Cano is swinging a similar bat to the way Arod did last October….now if Cano 2010 and Arod 2009 could only coincide. They need Teixera and Alex to get going at the stadium.
Being named best poster on last night’s game thread is like being named valedictorian of summer school…
Lots of talk this morning about how Girardi made the wrong decision going with Hughes in Game 2 and lots of people are making it seem like we just let this series slip away.
I’m sorry.. but I’m just not sure what other people are watching. I feel so much better having Andy at home against Lee and then following that up with a weaker starter in Hunter. And after that we should get another shot at Wilson.
The Texas starters just don’t scare me. Quite frankly, if we have Andy going, neither does Lee. You all saw what happened last night in Philly. We did our job this weekend.
I like to see Frank’s narratives on some struggling hitters… For example, I like to see what his take Tex’s swing mechanism and whether or not Tex can hit a pitcher’s pitch. Tex looks defenseless against good curve ball and change up even in predictable situations.
Robbie´s birthday is this coming Friday. He´ll be 28.
LGY – There’s nothing more to be said.
jacksquat- If you want to win a championship, you have to win a game against good pitching. Just got to do it.
For some reason, I don’t think Girardi will start CC in game 4 if down 1-2. I think he will think that even down 1-3, the Rangers have to get through CC, Hughes, and Pettitte on full rest, and if they don’t perform, the series is over anyway. He can’t hide AJ, so he might as well pitch him against the 4th best starter on the Rangers.
the Yankees lifetime numbers against Lee aren’t all that bad, it might surprise you.
The two guys with bad numbers against Lee were Damon and Matsui-Damon is 2-26 lifetime with no HR or RBI while Matsui is 6-27, also with 0 HR and 0 RBI-that accounts for at least part of his success in the WS last year.
I had a convo with MG or Bret about this. I honestly think Moseley is a better candidate with his repertoire vs the Rangers than Burnett is at this point. But they are going to start Burnett so it’s a moot point.
Sorry…it took so long to hit the enter key (distracted by my kids) that I didn’t see Blake’s post earlier…I agree…AJ gets the call for game 4 no matter what happens in game 3
Saw article on TYU that examined how Andy has trouble with RH heavy line-ups and suggests that he may have trouble with Rangers.
I tend to think Andy has actually improved with increased use of change up this past year, and that he will do better than his histoy predicts.
Cash–
AJ COULD do well against Rangersif he has command of his fastball. The 1st inning by Hughes shows that a good FB still can control the Rangers if well placed…and if he has that command, he can bring in the curve to put them away (which Phil had trouble doing).
Burnett’s has pitched the whole second half the way Hughes had last night. If he doesn’t have his command, I won’t bet against that. He will be left at the mercies of Texas hitters. It’s not a good match up at all consider what I have seen from him lately.
Too much rest came calling on C.C. and Hughes. Let’s hope the same doesn’t happen to Andy. With Burnett it’s not likely to make a difference.
Fortunately the relief staff has been stellar for both games and all their arms have been stretched out.
It’s a tough decision whether C.C. should have a full bullpen session or a limited one.
The hitters have been getting good wood on the ball but they’ll soon find some open spaces in the outfield for run production.
The good news about AJ’s start is that Moseley, Mitre, Joba, and DRob should all be rested for an ALL HANDS ON DECK approach. With CC pitching on normal rest the next game, I suspect Girardi will be ready to pull him early.
Heck, if I’m Girardi, I tell AJ to empty the tank for 2 innings, and we’ll see what goes from there. If he sails through, give him a third inning…but I wouldn’t expect more.
as poorly as Burnett has pitched this year he has had consistent success against the Rangers, 5 runs in 18 innings. So he knows how to pitch these guys, he just needs to execute. He either will or he won’t, if he doesn’t, it’s up to Girardi to pull the plug early before he puts the Yankees in a hole. All things considered, that doesn’t seem like a bad situation against a guy (Hunter) who is a pretty good young pitcher but one the Yankees have seen before (5 innings, 2 runs) and who will be pitching in a big game on the road for the 1st time.
Bojo, the problem is, in an eye blink, AJ can put you in a black hole you might not climb back from it. Walk, hit batters, poor command, and home runs are just a few thing I can think of it.
Half of the runners will be in scoring position the minute they get on 1b with the battery mate of Posada and his inability to even hold runners remotely close.
In short, Burnett is a terrible match up for a fastball hitting team like Texas. I hope he proves me wrong.
Cashmoney, I understand everything you are saying but how do you explain AJ’s success against the Rangers this year? And he was pretty good against them in 2009 as well, 6 runs in 19 innings. It’s just possible the Rangers batters don’t see the ball well against him even though they are good fastball hitters. Even his last start against them, when he was really struggling, he gave up 2 runs in 4 innings before rain interrupted the start.
LGY October 17th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Since obviously many don’t read the game thread I will share my personal favorite from yesterday to give you a chuckle on your Sunday morning.
A certain Yankee fan on the West Coast identified Matt as the most intelligent poster on the blog.
———————————————————————————————–
Thanks for the Sunday morning humor
MG, I thin Burnett pitched well in Texas. I remember he had good command of his FB that night and mixed up well with his slurves.
I just think the Burnett we saw at the end of season will be more of what we will see in game 4. In conjunction, with Texas having Cruz and kinsler back in their lineup, the way they have attack fb oriented pitchers. Can’t you see that’s a bad match up?