Game 2 ALCS; Angels at Yankees

YANKEES
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Hideki Matsui DH
Nick Swisher RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Melky Cabrera CF
Jose Molina C

Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (0-0, 1.50 ERA)

ANGELS
Chone Figgins 3B
Bobby Abreu RF
Torii Hunter CF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Kendry Morales 1B
Juan Rivera LF
Maicer Izturis 2B
Mike Napoli C
Erick Aybar SS

Pitching: LHP Joe Saunders (0-0, 0.00)

TIME/TV: 7:57 p.m., FOX

I wonder whether the weather will be nice: Since John is on his way to the game, I'm keeping a watch on the weather reports to keep him updated. He's had some pretty bad luck in the past with going to rained-out games. Off the top of my head, I remember him having to go back for Opening Day last year and missing a playoff game against Detroit because of a scheduling conflict after the game got pushed back a day. I, however, have never had a game rained out or had to go back another day, so maybe he should have brought me. But, alas, he's pulling the family card and going with his younger brother.

Bad spark plug: Chone Figgins, the Angels catalyst and lead-off hitter is hittless in four postseason games this year. If the Yankees pitchers can keep him off base, it will prevent him from stealing and getting the Halos's running game going.

Molina Time: As with Game 2 of the ALDS, Jose Molina gets the nod to catch AJ Burnett. The results were too good last time to warrant a chang, so Jorge sits again. But as was the case last time, Posada will be in there the second Burnett is done pitching. Plus, Molina will help keep the Angels in check on the bases.

Do you believe in magic?: The Yanks are trying to draw on some of the positive energy surround the 90's dynasty as Tino Martinez will throw out the first pitch tonight after David Cone did the honors last night.

Meeting of the Minds: There will apparently be a meeting between Girardi, Scioscia, and MLB officials at 7 to decide on the fate of the world. Or maybe just tonight's game.

Stay tuned for news on the state of the game. And if the game gets rained out, maybe I'll post John's text message. That is, if it's not just a string of curse words.

UPDATE 7:46: There will be baseball! Keep up with the game @jgeant on Twitter.

Enjoy the game and your Saturday night.

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Yankees 2 Tigers 1

Tigers 1 6 0
Yankees 2 7 0

WP: Sabathia (9-6)
LP: Verlander (10-5)
S: Rivera (25)

PLAYER OF THE GAME: CC Sabathia. It was going to be the pitcher who came out on the winning end of this one, and Sabathia got the job done. It wasn't pretty to watch, 66 of his 112 pitches were strikes, but he threw 7 scoreless innings, which was better than what Verlander did.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Alex Rodriguez's seventh inning HR. It may have been a "Yankee Stadium Homer," but he came through in the clutch and it was first strike of any offense for both teams.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: The top of the 6th inning. Sabathia had runners on second and third with one out and his pitch count getting near 100. It looked like he wouldn't be able to grind out of another jam, but he did by getting the next two batters to pop out. After that, you got the feeling that maybe the Yankees can pull a victory out of this one.

GAME NOTES:

• This was a good old fashioned pitchers duel. You can't say enough about Sabathia's effort today, doing everything he can to shutdown the Tigers.
• David Cone threw out the ceremonial first pitch in honor of his 10th anniversary of his perfect game. I was at that game when I was 9, and it is one my most memorable Yankee Stadium moments.
• Michael Kay was at the game sitting in the Legends Suite. Mark Teixeira lost control of his bat in the sixth inning and almost hit his head (just kidding) but Tex really did lose his bat.

Tommorow:

Old Timers Day: Coverage begins at 11:30 a.m. Should be a good one, alot of players from those dynasty 90's teams will be on hand.

Actual Game: 2:05 pm ET Chamberlain vs Jackson.

See Ya!

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We now call to the stand... David Cone?

Well, another baseball player will be appearing before the Senate, but this time, it is not about steroids.


As you may or may not know (and if you don't know, you shouldn't have slept through US History), Supreme Court Justices must be confirmed by the Senate and are interviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee prior to confirmation. President Barack Obama's nominee, Sonia Sotmayor, will have her hearing next week.

Apparently, Sotmayor will have former Major League pitcher David Cone on the stand to testify. Cone was heavily involved in the Players Union during the 1994 Strike (aka The Lost Year). This from the New York Times:

David Cone, the former pitcher, presumably will echo President Obama’s claim that Judge Sotomayor saved baseball when she ended the 1995 strike.

I really hope he doesn't speak in those short choppy sentences like he does on air, that will be kind of embarrassing. And you know Michael Kay will mention it on air a thousand times when it happens so you'll hear about it again.



This is unrelated, but I am watching SportsCenter. The Yankees highlight comes on. Some guy at the Metrodome had a #4 Brett Favre Minnesota Vikings jersey, so the anchor goes on some rant about the Viking trainer going down to Mississippi to check on Favre's arm. In the middle of the highlight! I know they love to beat the Favre thing to death, and then beat it to death some more, but do they really need to do it in the middle of a baseball highlight?

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