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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Let It Rock: Yanks Take Game 1

Angels 1 4 3

Yankees 4 10 0


WP: Sabathia (2-0, postseason)
LP: Lackey (1-1, postseason)
S: Rivera (2, postseason)

PLAYER OF THE GAME: This one goes to Carsten Charles Sabathia. The lefty went 8 innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 7 in the frigid cold in the Bronx. After all the talk of Sabathia's postseason's struggles he has turned in back-to-back solid performances.

PLAY/TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: More like the non-play of the game, as Matsui popped a ball up between third and short and neither player caught it, letting Johnn Damon, who was running hard because there was two outs, score from second. That second run was all the Yankees would need with Sabathia on the mound.

GAME NOTES:

• The weather held up for today's game but tommorow's forecast looks bleak. I'm sure they'll do everything they can to play the game.
• The last thing we need in this round is more umpire controversy. Torii Hunter laid down a bunt in the sixth inning and was called out by first base umpire Laz Diaz. Hunter and Scioscia argued saying that Teixeira's foot came off the bag. Replays appeared to show Teixeira may have had his foot on the bag with the ball in his glove for a split second, but it really was too close to call. I say he deserves to be out because that's what you get for having your best player bunt.
• Jim sent me a text during the game which pretty much sums up the game. "Since when did the Angels become the Mets?"

Tommorow

Game 2

Burnett vs Saunders 7:57 pm ET FOX...Hopefully the weather holds up, as I am going.

See Ya!

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ALCS Game 1: Angels and Yankees

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

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (1-0, 1.37 ERA)

ANGELS
Chone Figgins 3B
Bobby Abreu RF
Torii Hunter CF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Juan Rivera LF
Kendry Morales 1B
Howie Kendrick 2B
Jeff Mathis C
Erick Aybar SS

Pitching: RHP John Lackey (1-0, 0.00)

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

Revenge is coming: The Yankees are looking to get back at the Angels for knocking them out of the playoffs in 2002 and 2005.

Weather Watch: It's gonna be a chilly night in the Bronx. Hopefully there are no delays or postponements that mess with the schedule, especially for John who is headed to Game 2, (hopefully) tomorrow.

CC for 3: Assuming the weather holds up, tonight will be the first of three starts for the Big Lefty.

Getting on the board: Winning Game 1 will be very important, to prevent falling into a hole, especially when they head to Los Angeles (or Anaheim, whatever you want to call it) for Games 3, 4, and 5.

As with the ALDS, follow updates on Twitter @jgeant, and maybe after John gets back from a Pep Rally @KaysSuccessors.

Oh, and definitely look on some commentary on Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. It's been a while since we had a little fun with them.

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Guzman Added, Hinske Dropped

Joe Girardi announced today that Freddy Guzman will be on the roster and that he will be replacing Eric Hinske's spot. Also A.J. Burnett was officially announced as the Game 2 starter and Andy Pettitte will pitch Game 3. Girardi continues to keep everyone on their feet as a Game 4 starter is still yet to be announced.

I really like this move out of Girardi. The Angels are a very fast team and the only way to beat them may be to make their greatest strength a strength of ours as well. Hinske would only have been used in a pinch-hitting situation, which is highly unlikely considering the Yankees lineup. With Guzman on the bench, that gives you him, Gardner (or Gardy as Girardi calls him), and even Jerry Hairston Jr. as possible pinch-runner options. This also leads me to believe Gardner will get a start in the ALCS too, now that they have an extra pinch runner.

As far as Burnett pitching Game 2, Molina will most likely catch him again although I do not think Girardi has made that official. Although you lose Posada's bat, Molina will be twice as important because if Burnett is walking guys, they will steal and Molina's arm is much better than Posada's.

Lastly, the one thing on everybody's mind before we begin the ALCS tommorow is the weather. Heavy rains are expected the entire weekend (it evened snowed today in Connecticut). Friday there appears to be a window in which the game can be played, but Saturday is very questionable. The Yankees would not want to have a rainout because it would allow them to use Sabathia three times in this series should it go to seven games. Also, with the games being broadcasted on FOX, if they cancel a game and it is replayed Sunday there will be a conflict with the football games. All I can say is hopefully the rain is light and they can play through it or else the entire ALCS schedule is going to have to be remodeled.

Also, those who have tickets for Games 1 and 2 must use their tickets for the game that they bought. So if Game 1 is pushed back to Saturday night, fans with tickets for Game 1 would go Saturday and fans with Game 2 tickets would go Sunday. I hace tickets for Game 2 and the easiest thing for my travel plans would be for them to play the game Saturday night. But the MLB loves screwing me over with playoff tickets so who knows.

Anyway that's all the news out of Yankeeland today. Seems like I wrote a lot so I'll try and find a picture of Freddy Guzman to make this post look better.

Now, back to writing a paper on the bioethics of human cloning!!! (Don't ask me why a journalism major is required to take 7 credits of science).

(Note from Jim: It may have snowed in Connecticut, but it hasn't snowed more than a couple of minutes yet in Syracuse, and none of it's stuck. Unfortunately, however, I haven't seen the sun in over a week.)
See Ya!

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Hey Boston, Stop Crying!

Ok, I meant to post this yesterday but was very busy. As everyone knows, Sunday was not the best day to be a New England sports fan. The Red Sox get eliminated, the Patriots lost to Josh McDaniels, and the Bruins lost as well. But Jesus effin Christ I can't believe what I hear out of the mouths of Boston fans these last few days. Going to school in Connecticut, I am right on the Mason-Dixon line of the New York-Boston rivalry and hear how these fans react everyday. Here are a couple of quotes I've heard:

"[Sunday] was one of the worst days of my life.I don't know how it gets any worse than that."

Cry me a freakin river. It's not like you were the only city to lose in three different sports on the same day. Plus only one of your teams season actually ended.

"Can you believe we haven't won anything since the Celtics won the Finals two years ago?"

This I don't understand. I figured out of all sports fans, the fans from Boston would be the most grateful for every championship they win. Over the last decade, these fans have gone from loveable losers to the point where they feel entitled to win everything. Two years without a championship holy freaking crap I don't know how anyone can go two full years without winning a championship.

Not only did I hear it from Boston fans at my school, but read Monday's article by Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe, who talks about how this generation's young fans never understood the pain Boston felt until now.

Or check out Bill Simmons' (ESPN's The Sports Guy) twitter account. Dubbing 10/11/09 as "Black Sunday."

Could there be a group of more pathetic fans in sports?

Now not all fans of Boston teams acted like this. I've witnessed some take defeat graciously, and some act like I would have and called for Papelbon's head instead of crying how they havn't won anything in two years.

But seriously "Red Sox Nation" get a bleeping grip, because you guys are the most successful city in sports this decade but you just take it all for granted.

See Ya!

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Yanks may use 3-man rotation for ALCS

As reported by Sam Borden from the LoHud Yankees Blog, Joe Girardi and the Yankees are "definitely considering" using only three starters for the ALCS against the Angles.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

If they do, the rotation would set up like this:

Game 1 (Friday, Oct 16 in NY): Sabathia
Game 2 (Saturday, Oct 17 in NY): Burnett
Game 3 (Monday, Oct 19 in LA): Pettitte
Game 4 (Tuesday, Oct 20 in LA: Sabathia (on short rest)
Game 5*: (Thursday, Oct 22 in LA): Burnett
Game 6*: (Saturday, Oct 24 in NY): Pettitte
Game 7*: (Sunday, Oct 25 in NY): Sabathia
*If necessary

Sabathia would be able to pitch 3 times in the event of a seven-game series. This would allow the Yankees to keep Joba in the bullpen, and not have to use Chad Gaudin in a pressure-packed situation. Joba hasn't started since September 30 when he gave up 3 runs on 7 hits in 3.2 innings against the Royals. Gaudin hasn't pitched at all since October 3rd when he came in in relief against the Rays for 1.1 scoreless innings.

I think if you can get Sabathia three starts, and he feels comfortable with it, you have to do it. He hasn't had to go on short rest all season and he had a light workload in September, so he's well-rested.You already have Joba in bullpen mode, so leave him there, and they can fix all the problems with him in the off-season and Spring Training. I will put up with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver talking about him pitching on short rest a million times (assuming I haven't already muted the TV permanently by Game 4) to watch Sabathia get the ball again.

While helping the rotation, it also helps the bullpen. With Joba, Hughes, and Mo in the back end, and Coke (hopefully not Choke), Aceves, and Robertson in the middle innings, the bullpen will be solid.

While I don't know, because of superstition, if we will do a series preview, but we might do a scouting report-type post on the Angels. Either way, we will still provide news as it happens throughout the week.

SEE YA!

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The Curse of Peter Abraham?

In this day in age, whenever things begin to go awry for a team people begin coming up with names of curses because of the Curse of the Bambino and Curse of the Billy Goat. So, yesterday I thought of one after the Yankees had won Game 3. What about the curse of Pete Abraham?

In case you do not know, Peter Abraham had the most popular beat-writer blog on the Yankees at the LoHud Yankees Blog. It was and still is the best Yankee blog out there. It is where we get all our lineups and news about the Yankees and incase you didn't notice we attributed our lineups to Pete Abe's blog. About two weeks ago, he gave us fans the news that he was moving to the Boston Globe to cover the hated Red Sox.

His first assignment? Covering the ALDS between them and the Angels. As we all know the Red Sox got swept and the Yankees advanced. Pete Abe began covering the Yankees in 2006. As you know they were unable to get out of the first round in 06,07, and missed the playoffs in 2008. Before that, he covered the Mets, but it is the Mets so nobody really expected them to do well anyway. Now the Red Sox are unable to get out of the first round as the Yankees advance.

Coincidence or curse?

We can only wait and see if poor Pete can get out of the first round, if not, then he may be bad news for the teams he is sent to cover.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This post is to be taken in a light matter and in no way do I actually believe this is a curse but just a funny coincidence I noticed. The fact that he switched from Yankees to Red Sox and the fact that there is always talk of curses with these two team made me think this would be a humorous post.

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Move Along: Yanks sweep Twins on way to ALCS

Yankees 4 7 0
Twins 1 7 0

WP: Pettitte
LP: Pavano
S: Rivera

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tough choice, but considering everything that's happened, I'll give it to Alex Rodriguez. He's finally shed his post-season choke artist stigma with 2 big home runs in back to back games.

PLAY OF THE GAME: HIP HIP Jorge Posada's go-ahead home run in the 7th inning, that just cleared the left-field wall.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: A-Rod's game-tying home run in the 7th inning. It was vintage A-Rod, going to right center for the bomb.

GAME NOTES:

• This win moves the Yankees into their 13th ALCS and their first since 2004 (known to me as "The Year that never happened").
  
• After the Angels completed their sweep of the Red Sox today, they will face the Yankees beginning on Friday.
  
• With four days between games, the Yankees will obviously look to stay sharp with batting practice and other workouts.
  
• With the long layoff, the rotation will also need to be set up. Pettitte would be in line to pitch Game 1 at the Stadium, possibly followed by Burnett in Game 2 and Sabathia in Game 3. I'm sure Girardi will have the rotation set by Tuesday or Wednesday.
  
• That was the final game at the Metrodome before they move into Target Field next season, and a fan decided that the bottom of the 9th would be the best time to run across the field one final time. Why anyone would think that's a good idea is beyond me, since the players have a right to defend themselves against a threat, which running on the field like that is. And 99.99999% of people who go to baseball games would get the living $^!% out of them.
• We'll be sure to pass along any news during the week. So stay tuned.
  

NEXT GAME:
Friday vs. the Angels
ALCS Game 1

SEE YA!

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ALDS Game 3: Yankees at Twins

YANKEES
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF

Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (14-8, 4.16 ERA regular season)

TWINS
Span CF
Cabrera SS
Mauer C
Cuddyer 1B
Kubel RF
Young LF
Harris 3B
Morales DH
Punto 2B

Pitching: RHP Carl Pavano (14-12, 5.10 ERA regular season)

TIME/TV: 7:07 p.m., TBS

UPDATE 7:13: Ok, sorry for the late post. I've been backed up with homework, my cellphone doesn't work, and I havn't eaten anything at all today, you get the picture. Anyway Yankees go down 1-2-3 in the first to Pavano. We all know what a win means.

UPDATE 9:13: Well, well, well. A-Rod goes oppo in the 7th inning of a Carl Pavano postseason shutout (if that isn't a sign of the apocalypse I don't know what is) then Jorge Posada goes oppo to left field. 2-1 Yankees 1 out bottom of the seventh. Looks like Girardi is going to pull Petitte for Joba right now.

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Don't stop believing: Yanks win in dramatic fashion

Twins 3 12 1
Yankees 4 7 0

WP: Robertson
LP: Mijares

PLAYERS OF THE GAME: Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. The two combined for four of the team's seven hits, and all four of the RBI's. Both homered, with A-Rod tying it in the 9th, and Teix winning it in the 11th.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Teixeira's game-winning walk-off home run in the 11th. 'Nuff said.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: After A-Rod's RBI single in the 6th, and this John and I exchanged text messages (no, not Teix Messages) saying, John: I like this A-Rod better. Me: Where was this for the past 6 years?

GAME NOTES:

• For the second game in a row, the Twins take the lead, and the Yanks come right back and tie it in the next inning. That is huge, as it doesn't let the other team get comfortable, and the Yanks are never out of it.
• The bullpen was not sharp tonight, there were 2 runs allowed, but also 9 hits and 2 walks.
  
• AJ was okay tonight, except for the 5 walks. If he eliminates the walks, his pitch count goes way down, and he throws another 2-3 innings, limiting the use for the bullpen.
• THIS TEAM WILL NOT LOSE!! This is the kind of stuff we saw in the 90's. Roberston, one of the lesser guys out of the pen, gets out of a bases loaded nobody-out jam, and the Yanks pull out a game where they were down 2 in the bottom of the ninth. Great things are coming.
  

NEXT GAME:
ALDS Game 3
Yankees at Twins
Pettitte vs Carl (The American Idle) Pavano

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