Pregame notes: Pressure from both sides
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Oct 22, 2010 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
So much has been made of the Yankees reaction to playing an elimination game, but Joe Girardi said this afternoon that there’s also something to be said for a team trying to close out a series.
“I think there’s anxiety about it more than anything else,” Girardi said. “You feel how close you are and you want to get to that next round.”
Yesterday, Alex Rodriguez said one thing he remembers about 2004 — when the Yankees let the Red Sox make an ALCS comeback — was a feeling, even before Game 7, that the Yankees weren’t doing a good enough job closing out the series.
“We never wanted it to get to a Game 6 or a Game 7,” Rodriguez said.
Obviously there’s pressure on the Yankees, but the Rangers aren’t exactly playing with house money as it’s often portrayed. Game 7 — Cliff Lee or no Cliff Lee — is a dangerous situation for either team.
“I don’t know about momentum,” Rodriguez said. “But I did like the energy we played with (in Game 5). I thought we were enthused. There was a lot of energy. Good at-bats. I thought Jorge’s play going first to third was huge for us. It made them make a play that was probably a little uncomfortable and a bit unorthodox and it worked in our favor. I think for us, we just have to keep pushing the envelope.
“We’re here to fight, not receive any blows.”
• Based on whatever pregame reports he heard, Girardi doesn’t expect rain to be a factor tonight. “I don’t think it’s supposed to rain,” he said. “Texas thunderstorms are brief and hard anyway.”
• Girardi said he never seriously considered anyone but Marcus Thames at DH for tonight. “Marcus has been the guy that has DHed for us a lot,” Girardi said. “We have seen Marcus hit well off right-handers and left-handers, so Marcus was our guy.”
• The only pitcher not in the bullpen for tonight’s game is Andy Pettitte, and Girardi said it’s not completely off the table that Pettitte might go down there at some point. Of course, that would require a pretty extreme situation.
• Any hurt feelings by sending starters into the bullpen this time of year? “I don’t think so,” Girardi said. “I think everyone understands CC’s talent level, and the starters that are at this level this time of year are extremely talented. (Roy) Oswalt threw out of the bullpen (in the NLCS). I don’t think that was a slap on the Phillies bullpen. He’s a pretty darn good pitcher.”
• It’s worth noting that if CC Sabathia pitches tonight, he would be lined up to start Game 1 of the World Series on four days rest. “I like how you think,” Girardi said.
• The Yankees stuck with Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano batting second and third, even though it leaves back-to-back lefties against a bullpen full of left-handed relievers. “We talked about (splitting them),” Girardi said. “The thing is, Grandy has swung the bat great throughout the playoffs, and he’s also hit left-handers. Look at our top two guys offensively in the playoffs and it’s been Robinson and Granderson. We try to get them as many at-bats as we can.”
• Lance Berkman has more career at-bats against Colby Lewis than any of the other Yankees. That was part of the thinking behind batting him fifth and Nick Swisher sixth. Mostly, though: “Berky had some really, really good at-bats against this guy,” Girardi said. “He’s had good at-bats for us in the postseason.”
• Speaking of Lewis, the Yankees get a second chance against him tonight. “We knew he had good breaking stuff. We knew that he sunk it (and) he cut it,” Girardi said. “The biggest thing they’ve learned is that now they’ve seen his pitches and they have an idea what he’s going to do against each individual guy.”
• What did Phil Hughes learn from Game 2? “It’s important to locate against a very dangerous team,” Girardi said, laughing at the obviousness of his statement. “Even in a day when we shut them down, they had 13 hits. The important thing is what you do with runners in scoring position.”
• Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera are available for multiple innings, but, “That’s not exactly what you’d want to do,” Girardi said.
• Rangers manager Ron Washington had no problem with Nick Swisher saying yesterday that he’s excited about the possibility of facing Cliff Lee in a possible Game 7. “I think if I was sitting in his shoes and I had to face Cliff Lee, I’d probably feel the same way,” Washington said. “But, you know the game is not played with words; it’s played between the lines. And, if he can back it up, I’ll pat him on the back.”
• Girardi doesn’t expect it to rain and he said he hasn’t decided who might start tomorrow should tonight’s game be rained out. “I’ll cross that bridge when it happens,” he said.
Associated Press photos
0 Days, 1 Hour, and 16 Minutes until Game 6 of the ALCS
I heard both “Cotton Eye Joe” and “YMCA” on the radio tonight driving home.
Again, these feel like very good signs
JackCurryYES Hughes allowed 5 two-strike hits in 11 abs vs Tex (.455). AL avg w 2 strikes: .184
If a rain out stick with plan , if Phil pitches today and it rains out go to Andy tmw and CC in 7 on 3.
Erin-
Sorry for my delay coming home. I had two stops to make.
I am ready for muppet talk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Erica-not a problem. I just got back on, I was eating.
OK, what are we doing-Sesame Street or The Muppet Show?
Erin -
What you just posted is why I kind of chuckled when someone posted earlier that Hughes had to get ahead in the count. He DID get ahead in the count. He just didn’t put anyone away last time.
Flash17YES. After game 5 hughes sounded very confident about this game. Quote they got me in game 2 now its my turn.
Zero Days, Four Hours, and Forty Minutes until the end of our season .
The End .
I went to Taco Bell for an XXL Chalupa – and the cashier was a Yankee fan. (He commented on my Yankee jacket.) This was in the Washington-metro area. That’s gotta be a good sign.
West Coast Yankee Fan October 22nd, 2010 at 6:49 pm
“Berkman is not protecting A-Rod – if you are Ron Washington you are telling me he is going to look at Berkman’s 2 hits in 9 at bats and figure, “oh I better pitch to A-Rod Im scared of Berkman”, Please!”
——————————————-
Feel free to continue to make a fool of yourself.
I’m sorry I even gave you the benefit of the doubt on a great day and engaged you.
Erica,
I heard the Jay Z NY song that he sang at the championship parade last year. Another good sign
Erin October 22nd, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Erica-not a problem. I just got back on, I was eating.
OK, what are we doing-Sesame Street or The Muppet Show?
***************
Sesame Street
Btw- I just bought my Halloween costume. I was thisclose to buying the full Ernie costume, but it dodn’t feel right
Ouch, Phil……………he’s had that problem all year and it came back to bite him against the Rangers. I’d like to see him mix his pitches……..
I don’t buy that the Rangers have pressure on them; they don’t have to win tonight ,the Yankees do – it’s all on the Yankees tonight.
Ruby Tuesday-
At least you remembered to add the time of the game to the countdown this time! Good job
Sorry to expose your lack of baseball smarts. Deal with it. I am not predicting anything – no one can do that. I am saying that no one in baseball would consider pitching to A-Rod instead of Berkman in a critical situation. I hope Berkman goes 4-4. I don’t dislike him, I just wouldn’t have hit him behind A-Rod.
Nice segment on MLBNetwork, where Joe Magrane compared the deliveries and styles of Cliffie and Sandy Koufax. While Koo was more a power pitcher, with his blazing fastball, he had a devastating curve, which he threw with the same 12-6 motion and even changed speeds with. As Magrane said, it?s not fair.
Lee, also uses an over the top, 12-6 motion, and while he doesn?t throw as hard as Koo used to, he has a similarly devastating curve that he also changes speeds with. And his FB, while not as powerful, is still spotted with great precision.
And, oh yes, Koo made $125,000. Cliffie stands to make, oh, maybe 1,000 times that in his new contract.
It pays to be young and a stud pitcher in 2010?.
Betsy: “I don’t buy that the Rangers have pressure on them; they don’t have to win tonight”
Did we have pressure on us in Game 6 in the 2009 ALCS? Everyone here was saying “This is a must-win game,” and “We don’t want it to go to a Game 7.” Don’t you think the Rangers have the same mentality? I’m not saying the pressure is equally on their side, far from it, but they can’t exactly be loose.
Erica-LOL Did you get the Big Bird costume instead?
OK, since Kermit is on both shows, Kermit=Jeter
and on the way home I thought that since poor Tex will be sitting on the bench the rest of the way he can be Oscar.
Betsy-
The Yankees didn’t “Have” to win Games 4-6 of the 2004 ALCS, but it sure would have been swell if they did
a tad old but still would like to repost (don’t be mad!
)
Over the course of the season Colby Lewis threw 56% 4 seamers, 25% sliders, 11% curveballs, and 9% changeups.
Against Tampa in his first playoff start he threw 62% 4 seamers, 14% sliders, 12% curveballs, and 10% changeups.
But,
Against the Yankees in Game 1 he threw only 48% 4 seamers, 24% sliders, 26% curveballs, and 4% changeups. Notice the reduced 4 seamers and changeups and the increased curveballs.
The Yankees fouled off 17% of the curveballs he threw. On the season batters only fouled off 9.6%. The Yankees may have been thrown off by the increased use of the curveball and they may have been out in front expecting slider when they saw breaking pitch, hence all the foulballs.
Lewis kept them off balance with all the extra curveballs. He won’t have the benefit of surprise tonight.
Phil said he tried to mix his pitches last time, but no:
JackCurryYES Phil Hughes threw one changeup in last start vs Texas. He needs to throw a few more early so Rangers believe its posssibility
28 minutes ago reply
Swisher = Cookie Monster
(No, I went for the devil costume. Well, a cape, the horns, and a pitchfork to be worn with my own black dress. I couldn’t do that to Big Bird. LOL)
my kingdom for a put-away pitch for YMH (like Clemens’ splitter or Cone’s slider.)
Just wondering if we can use hughes for the first 2 strikes and then bring in D-rob to get the 3rd strike for every batter
Texas only has 3 LHB in their lineup. He is not going to throw a lot of changeups.
I’m trying to think of a good combo for Bert and Ernie.
Granderson and Gardner??
Cano and Alex??
Cervelli and Pena?? LOL
Thoughts….
Empire State of Mind
I don?t buy that the Rangers have pressure on them; they don?t have to win tonight ,the Yankees do ? it?s all on the Yankees tonight.
Betsy, it really doesn’t matter what you or anyone else but the players buy. It’s what the players feel.
I’ve read enough baseball reporting and interviews over the years that, in an elimination game, there’s plenty of pressure to go around. If the Yanks get an early, sizeable lead, then I’ll bet you’ll see some of the Texas players have trouble with their swallowing.
But, after all, what do I know.
Erin-
Posada and Mo!!!!!!!!!!
How Well Do You Know Your Teammate totally reminded me of Ernie and Bert!
David Murphy was the guy that Boston sent to Texas in the Gagne trade
Erica-that’s perfect!!
Cano=the Count
Wind is blowing out says Peter Gammons. Looking for a high scoring evening…..
Erica,
Did you see the Grover does Old Spice guy clip?
All the Yankees on the field look loose and ready
I second Posada and Mo. That segment was awesome and hilarious!
The Rangers performed below average this year against the cutter.
Wow-Heyman of all people defending Alex
SI_JonHeyman enough already on arod misusing the word “literally.” 1. he’s a ballplayer. 2. he speaks 2 languages well (how many of us can say that?)
Triple Short of a Cycle October 22nd, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Erica,
Did you see the Grover does Old Spice guy clip?
****************
Yes
Made me love Grover all over again
Erin October 22nd, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Erica-that’s perfect!!
Cano=the Count
***************
Cause of the Smile???
MPF Lance Berkman = Snuffleupagus
According to weather.com the wind is blowing in.
But I wouldn’t it put it past Peter Gammons to try and claim otherwise, to try and scare Yankee fans.
Hey all!
Erica, didnt we already establish yankee/sesame street characters already? I remember nominating Andy to be Gonzo…LOL ( ps i love andy’s gonzo nose)
MLB network is great. Fulltime analysis of tonights matchup. Gammo thinks that Hughes is going to have a good night.
NYY626-
Yes…. in 2009. We need a 2010 version. DUH!
Erica in NY October 22nd, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Cause of the Smile???
MPF Lance Berkman = Snuffleupagus
****************************
Exactly. Although Cano has a lot more teeth than the Count does.
Berkman is perfect for Snuffy.
How about Alex-Big Bird?
NYY626-
We also realized the Yankees don’t win unless we talk about Muppets.
We are doing it for the greater good!
I think i used “already” one too many times in my above post. Perhaps next time i will proofread. Its been a long week lol
A-Rod = Big Bird is good
Here’s what I have-
Jeter = Kermit
Posada = Ernie (the ears!!!!)
Mo = Bert
Cano = The Count
Swisher = Cookie Monster
MPF Lance Berkman = Mr. Snuffleupagus
A-Rod = Big Bird
Tex = Oscar the Grouch
Heh, on the Yes Network, they just showed a Yankees fan entering the ballpark and rejecting all the Rangers rooting stuff they’re handing out. Go Yankees!
Granderson = Grover?
Erica – sorry! I didnt realize that was last year lol. Is Andy still Gonzo in 2010?
@Dj LOL yeah I saw that too! Lots of Yankee fans in Texas!
Claude and Antler .
OK, so who do we still need-Granderson and Gardner for position players, right?
Granderson=Grover
Gardner=Sherlock Hemlock (figuring out when to run, etc).
Erica in NY October 22nd, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Granderson = Grover?
*************************
Great minds think alike.
NYY626 – Andy in 2011 October 22nd, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Erica – sorry! I didnt realize that was last year lol. Is Andy still Gonzo in 2010?
****************
If that’s what you want, but we are doing Sesame Street charachers.
Is there a Sesame Street character you would like to nominate Andy to be?
NYY626-save your Andy as Gonzo nomination ’til we do the Muppet Show.
pcaldera Grounds crew still grooming Rangers Ballpark field for play, but wondering if the tarp might be making an appearance sooner than later.
Got it!
We need pitchers-
Available Sesame Street characters I can think of are Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Baby Bear, Telly Monster……….
CC = Baby Bear?
Erica, CC has to be snuffy…
wow im so out of it i forgot gonzo was a muppet and not on sesame street. Ignore me. lol
Erica,
Just wanted you to know that I made up a lineup (which was not the order Girardi chose), had to go out and forgot to press submit…lol That’s what old age gets you.
Fuddruckers by my apartment went out of business this week. X-(
CC would be good as Baby Bear.
Elmo= Hughes?
Joba and Robertson could be the Two Headed Monster
SAS October 22nd, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Erica,
Just wanted you to know that I made up a lineup (which was not the order Girardi chose), had to go out and forgot to press submit…lol That’s what old age gets you.
***************
LOL… I do that all of the time
I type my friends long and interesting e-mails, then get distracted and 2 hours later I realize I never hit “send”. But I am not old
ed_price Bad omen. ALCS G6 national-anthem singer is B.J. Thomas, who had No. 1 hit in ’70 with “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head”
blackaccord October 22nd, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Erica, CC has to be snuffy…
*************
Erin, what do you think?
Do we reassign Berkman?
I like your Elmo & Two Headed monster suggestion
I can’t imagine the Yanks losing this game. At all. I can’t imagine Colby Lewis holding the Yanks down, I don’t care how he looks coming out.
And I can’t imagine Hughes not holding them down.
I’m just thinking this is the Yankees game to lose.
JMO
Erin October 22nd, 2010 at 7:29 pm
ed_price Bad omen. ALCS G6 national-anthem singer is B.J. Thomas, who had No. 1 hit in ‘70 with “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head”
*******************
I LOVE that song!!!!!!!
(Random note: He also sang thr Growing Pains theme song)
Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that don’t mean my eyes will soon be turning red
Crying’s not for me… no
Cause I’m never gonna stop the rain by complaining
We all want you to be right Trisha
Erica-your call. We could always just swap them, CC as Snuffy and Berkman as Baby Bear.
According to my weather sites, the wind may swirl.
Fellas – its been a fun year and I don’t want to see it end tonight. Let’s get it done.
Erica in NY October 22nd, 2010 at 7:30 pm
I LOVE that song!!!!!!!
(Random note: He also sang thr Growing Pains theme song
******************************
I do too. And I’ve always loved the Growing Pains theme
Show me that smile again…
BryanHoch What’s going on? It appears to be a fake horse in a pickup truck waving the Texas state flag. 30 mins to first pitch.
Okay….
CC = Snuffy
Berkman = Harry Monster!
Oooh…good choice w/Berkman as Harry Monster!
AJ=Forgetful Jones?
My grandson loves Elmo. Who would that be? Cano???
Time for Arod to TAKE OVER! Lets go yanks!
I know SAS.
Just watching the Yankees in Game 5 reminds me that they are not an easy team to beat. When they’re clicking on all cylinders, they walk away with the win. They’re pros. They’ve been there, done that. And they appear to have their rhythm back and the pitchers are back on regular rest.
SAS October 22nd, 2010 at 7:36 pm
My grandson loves Elmo. Who would that be? Cano???
************
Cano is the Count
Elmo is Hughes
Erin October 22nd, 2010 at 7:36 pm
AJ=Forgetful Jones?
**************
LOve it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did we miss anyone???
Ruby-
CNN called. They’ve got a slot for you on their new show, “American Moron.”
Erica-I think the only one we’re missing is Andy. Telly????
Erica,
Hughes is closer to his age; that will be just fine.
Does anyone know why they replaced Tex with Nunez instead of Juan Miranda? Why another reserve infielder. We already have Pena on the bench.
Who is Cookie Monster. Andy loves chocolate chip cookies.
Erin October 22nd, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Erica-I think the only one we’re missing is Andy. Telly????
*****************
Maybe…..
Its a little girly but how about Abby Cadabby?
SAS October 22nd, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Who is Cookie Monster. Andy loves chocolate chip cookies.
*************
Swisher is Cookie Monster
Huuuughes!
tarp is going on
Trisha,
I said earlier today I would be surprised to see Colby Lewis hold the Yankees down twice in 1 week. I am nervous (surprise) but share your optimism.
BryanHoch Here comes the tarp. Just started pouring.
BryanHoch Wait a sec, now it stopped raining. The tarp is just sitting in the outfield while they decide what to do.
Hmmm..Andy is a tough one. Abby Cadabby could work.
Erica-we forgot Wood. Mumford the Magician
Everyone -
Enjoy the game!
Catch you later.
Go Yankees!
Erin October 22nd, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Erica-we forgot Wood. Mumford the Magician
**************
Nice!!!
Lets Make Andy Telly!
Erica in NY October 22nd, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Nice!!!
Lets Make Andy Telly!
******************************
Good deal.
I have to say, I think we did an excellent job.
Kee-rap!
Game Post up
Check you all out later.
Enjoy the game all, once it begins.
And remember, the faith of a mustard seed can move mountains.
Enjoy the game everyone.
Go Yankees!!!!!!!!!!
Here’s a few more quotes from one of the greatest coaches to ever grace a football field.
Vince Lombardi.
They are completely relevant towards tonite IMO even though we’re talkin’ baseball.
“The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.”
“The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That’s real glory. That’s the essence of it.”
I’ll leave you with that.
Best of luck. Enjoy the game folks. May the Yankees emerge victorious.
LGY = Last Gasp Yankees.
Grandy was safe.
I have TiVo – Grandy Man was safe by about a foot.
WARM UP SABATHIA
WAKE UP GIRARDI
What IS GIRARDI DOING!!!!!!!!!!! Take him out NOW