That's All She Wrote

I know Yankee fans (well, I am) are circulating around the blogosphere to make themselves feel better. The fact is the Texas Rangers just outplayed the Yankees. Their offense kept piling on runs and their pitching stifled the Yankees bats. Sure there are moments we can blame Girardi or a player or two, but the bottom line is the Rangers were just the better team.

The Yankees did win the World Series last year so, for me personally, it doesn't sting as it has in years past. But the team just didn't seem to have that special feeling it did last year. The second half of the season was a mess, and injuries (Pettitte) and underperformance (Burnett) were hard to overcome this season.

And I have the postgame on the YES Network and they just interviewed Andy Pettitte. Man, that was tough to watch. It sounds like he may not come back and we've seen the last of Pettitte. He's been debating retiring for a few years now, so it would be no surprise if he retires. There's going to be a lot of questions in the offseason and moves to be made.

I do want to say one more thing. When Mark Teixeira went down with that hamstring injury in Game 4, that changed the whole dynamic of the series. It seemed like it was the final nail in the coffin for a series that didn't have anything go right except for 15 pitches in Game 1.

We will do our best to keep the blog going through the offseason and into the 2011 season. It's a place where we've been able to vent our frustrations and share our excitement, whether anyone actually reads it or not.

There's only one thing to say...See Ya!

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What Happened?

Seriously I don't know what to say. A.J. Burnett was willing his way to a quality start. The Stadium was loud. The Yankees were winning. Then Mark Teixeira's hamstring blew out. The stadium went dead. Joe Girardi starts deciding to intentionally walk the fearful (I'm being sarcastic) David Murphy with 2 outs and Joba warming and leaves Burnett in to face Bengie Molina who is raking in the playoffs, and next thing you know it's 5-3 and Molina's rounding the bases.

It didn't end there. Girardi brought in Robertson for the 7th inning and he gets the first two outs nice and quick. Then for God knows why, he brings in Boone Logan when David Robertson is perfectly capable of getting left-handers out to face Josh Hamilton. What does Logan do? Gives up a home run. 6-3.

It didn't end there. The Yankees loaded the bases in the 8th down 7-3 with Swisher and Berkman coming up and niether one can get a hit or push a run across. Sergio Mitre entered the ninth and well, a slow and painful death became even slower and more painful as I left and didn't bother to watch the rest of the ninth.

By no means is this series over. But it felt like the life of the team, fans, and everyone was taken out the moment Tex went down. CC is on the mound tonight. He's came up big for us before. If he do his job and send it back to Texas, just maybe, there's some hope.

As Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over till it's over."

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Why I'd pitch CC in Game 4

Going into the top of the ninth inning, it was 2-0 Rangers, and Cliff Lee was dominating. I was prepared to just be "Lee pitched a helluva game, nothing you can do about that." But then that monstrosity of a 9th inning happened and really pissed me off. You can't let a team score tack-on runs, especially 6 of them, in the playoffs. We all know that the Yankees can score in bunches to win games in the late innings (see: Game 1) but not when they're down 8. If it's a 2-0 loss, you just tip your hat and come back the next day, but 8-0 leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Then there's the AJ Burnett situation. Joe Girardi immediately told the media Burnett is starting tomorrow. I disagree with this decision 100%. The Rangers are throwing Tommy Hunter, who gave up 3 runs in 6 innings against the Rays in the ALDS, but isn't in the same ballpark, zipcode, state, country, or even continent of Cliff Lee. The Yankees should (if they wake up) hit him well. But do you really want to have to try to win a 10-9 game with Burnett pitching? I say they throw CC to shut down the Rangers and tie this thing up 2-2.

John disagrees with me (which, believe it or not, actually happens from time to time.) His concern (and I have to admit, it is a valid one) is that if CC loses, do you really want AJ pitching Game 5 down 3-1? The answer to that is obviously no. But, to me, it's like when a pitcher's pitching in a tough spot; when they have the option between their best pitch and their fourth-best pitch, they pick their best pitch every time (or at least they're supposed to). If you are going to get beat, you have to lose with your best. If the Yanks go down 3-1 with CC on the mound, at least you know they weren't screwing around went all in and they play "all hands on deck" the rest of the way. If AJ loses, sure you have CC to pitch Game 5, but you still have to win 3 games in a row, 2 of them on the road.

The reason CC isn't starting this game outright is Girardi and the Yankees don't want to use Hughes and Pettitte (who also pitched a helluva game tonight) on 3 day's rest. Hughes because he's already thrown a lot more innings than he ever has and Pettitte because he was injured most of the second half. Here's my solution to that: CC pitches Game 4 and wins. AJ starts Game 5 with Hughes ready to come out of the bullpen for 2, maybe 3 innings (it would be his throw day), you go Pettitte Game 6, and CC Game 7, if necessary. I would still throw Pettitte on 3 days rest for a few reasons: 1) I think his performances so far in the postseason prove he's healthy, 2) the Yankees have no long-term investment in him. I know it's not a nice thing to think about, but Pettitte's contract is up after the season, and he's been hinting at retirement for about 5 years now. If something happens to Pettitte, he just goes off quietly into the sunset waiting for his number to be retired and possibly be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Chances are that's what is going to happen anyway.

Now, this is baseball, so AJ could channel his inner Sandy Koufax tomorrow and pitch a gem and make me come back tomorrow night and eat my words. I hope to the Great Yankee Fan in the Sky that happens, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

SEE YA!

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What A Game

By now everybody knows what happened in last nights ALCS opener. The Rangers got to CC early, and CJ Wilson was pitching like an All Star and before you knew it, the Rangers were up 5-1 in the 8th inning just six outs away from their first home postseason win. Other than a Robinson Cano solo shot in the seventh the Yankees showed no signs of getting to Wilson.

Then a routine groundball to first base changed everything.

Brett Gardner beat C.J. Wilson to the bag as he dove for first and was safe. Derek Jeter doubled down the line and made it a 5-2 ballgame. Wilson's night was over and it was up to the Texas bullpen to prevent any more damage from being done. Four pitchers, two walks, a double, and two singles later, the Yankees were up 6-5 and everyone in Texas looked like this.

The Yankees showed why Texas is going to have a hard time with them. They don't give up. After a miserable September many people were doubting the Yankees. Well keeping doubting because this Yankee team showed enough to me yesterday to make me feel like they are going to repeat as World Series champs. I know there's a lot of baseball left to be played but tell me how Texas can recover from that? The Rangers got almost everything they could have asked for. Early lead, work CC, great starting pitching, but the bullpen didn't do the job whereas the Yankees lineup and bullpen did theirs.

Colby Lewis takes the mound against Phil Hughes today at 4:07 ET. We'll see how Texas responds.

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ALCS Game 1

Yankees

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames DH
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF

CC Sabathia

Rangers

Elvis Andrus SS
Michael Young 3B
Josh Hamilton CF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Nelson Cruz LF
Ian Kinsler 2B
Jeff Francoeur RF
Matt Treanor C
Jorge Cantu 1B

CJ Wilson

Time/TV: 8:00 PM, TBS (let's home the Yankees sweep so we only have to listen to these guys for 4 more games)

End it early: The Yankees need to not let this series go 7 games for a few reasons. One, I'm gonna go crazy/have a heart attack if this goes 7 games. And Cliff Lee is pitching game 7, so let's not even think about that.

Texas Homecoming: Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez are back at the Ballpark in Arlington playing where they could never bring the Rangers; the playoffs. Expect the boo birds to be even louder than usual when these two come up to the plate.

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Hughes on mound looking to break out brooms

YANKEES
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames DH
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF

Phil Hughes

TWINS
Denard Span CF
Orlando Hudson 2B
Joe Mauer C
Jason Kubel RF
Delmon Young LF
Jim Thome DH
Michael Cuddyer 1B
Danny Valencia 3B
J.J. Hardy SS

Brian Duensing

Ceremonial first pitch: Yogi Berra

Time/TV: 8:37 PM/ TBS(I know, I know, these guys have me pining for Tim McCarver, they're so bad)

A picture's worth 1,000 words: Sweep

Hughes in October: This will be Hughes's first start, but in 11 games out of the bullpen, he has a 1-1 record, 5.25 ERA, and 13 K in 12 IP.

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2 up

There were some doubts about Andy Pettitte coming into tonight. Mostly concerning him coming off the recent injury and just how deep he could go into the game. He answered all those questions without a doubt with 7 innings of 2 run ball. Lance Berkman came up big with a homer and a RBI double, and Mo was Mo.

Now the Yankees have a day off tomorrow before Hughes takes the mound for Game 3 in the Bronx. We'll get to have John being torn between wanting the Yankees to win and clinch the series, or lose so he can use his Game 4 tickets. It's situations like that where your moral fiber is really tested.

SEE YA!

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Game 1 ALDS: Yankees at Twins

Yankees lineup has been announced. They decided to go with Brett Gardner over Austin Kearns against the lefty Francisco Liriano.

Yankees
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames DH
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF

Twins
Denard Span CF
Orlando Hudson 2B
Joe Mauer CD
elmon Young RF
Jim Thome DH
Michael Cuddyer 1B
Jason Kubel RF
Danny Valencia 3B
J.J. Hardy SS

Game 1: CC Sabathia's went 2-1 in opening playoff series last year going at least six innings and giving up no more than three runs in each start. Expect a quality start from him tonight.
Twin Killers: Ron Gardenhire's career record against the Yankees is 18-54. The Twins have beaten the Yankees once in the last two years, playoffs included. They are 0-3 against the Yankees in the ALDS. But Angels fans talked about their dominance over the Yankees in last year's ALCS, so be careful now.
Bring Your Gloves: The Twins are playing outdoor baseball in October for the first time. It's actually not supposed to be that cold the next two days with highs reaching 70 degrees, but at night, lows are expected to be in the 40's, so it will be pretty chilly, but nothing crazy.

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It's Playoff Time

After a horrible September that showed pretty much every single weakness the Yanks have (poor starting pitching, inability to get runners in from 3rd with less than 2 out, catn't stop base stealers etc. etc. etc.). But, as they say, it's a clean slate.

Here's the pitching matchups for Series via LoHud Yankees Blog

GAME 1
Tonight, Target Field
LHP CC Sabathia (21-7, 3.18)
vs.
LHP Francisco Liriano (14-10, 3.62)
8:37 p.m., TBS

GAME 2
Thursday, Target Field
LHP Andy Pettitte (11-3, 3.28)
vs.
RHP Carl Pavano (17-11, 3.75)
6:07 p.m., TBS

GAME 3

Saturday, Yankee Stadium
RHP Phil Hughes (18-8, 4.19)
vs.
LHP Brian Duensing (10-3, 2.62)
8:37 p.m., TBS

GAME 4

Sunday, Yankee Stadium
LHP CC Sabathia (21-7, 3.18)
vs.
RHP Nick Blackburn (10-12, 5.42)
8:07 p.m., TBS

GAME 5

Tuesday, Target Field
LHP Andy Pettitte (11-3, 3.28)
vs.
LHP Francisco Liriano (14-10, 3.62)
8:07 or 8:37 p.m., TBS

We'll get up a lineup post before the game.

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