Ty and Uncle Joe will have a return, championship edition of Yankee Fan Club Radio tomorrow, and yours truly will be on it. My understanding is that it will be taped, not live, so it should appear sometime by Sunday evening online at www.tpsradio.net. I am unsure about feedback, but you can e-mail thoughts to radio@lvyankeefanclub.com, or leave a message at (206) 984-0596.
Thanks
I plan to write about some hot stove stuff next week, but for now, it’s really too early for me. I cannot help but continue to celebrate the Yankees’ 27th World Series championship for the foreseeable future, simply because it has been nine years since the last one and, regardless of their frequency, watching one’s team of choice win it all, and with some dignity and decency, really deserves some prolonged joyous respect. The Yankees won and comported themselves well along the way, not making brash and foolish predictions such as Jimmy Rollins, or rubbing teams’ collective noses in stink. Additionally, winning it all is a precious thing. Even when the Yanks are rolling from year to year, there are simply no guarantees that they will win it all. When it occurs, even and especially for those of us who have literally tuned in to nearly every game and assiduously followed them, it is truly a special thing.
I simply reject the notion that Yankees fans are spoiled. Some are–and are for any team. I and many other followers of the Yanks, here and elsewhere, are not spoiled in the slightest. Those who are spoiled consider winning a birthright, take it for granted, miss the little enjoyable things along the way, and complain at least as much if not considerably more than that for which they are thankful. With all due humility, that doesn’t characterize me or the Yankees fans I know in any way, shape, or form. We express our joys and thanks all along the way. We criticize when we feel them justified, but are and especially this year have been overwhelmingly positive for the literally hundreds of enjoyable experiences the Yankees provided us–from our going to games to their winning games and to their providing many memorable plays and incidents.
I plan to recount as many of those as possible, likely later tonight, with a separate post of thanks for what the Yankees have accomplished. For now, however, I want to thank all of you, who truly make The Heartland what it is–a thoroughly enjoyable place to congregate and talk baseball and other things. I really never envisioned this becoming anything close to what it has when it began a couple years ago. I honestly planned for it to be a way to tabulate a personalized history of sorts of the seasons, hoping that one or more of them would end in a championship, and wishing I had done something similar during the great run of the late 1990s. That I did, especially this year, has been truly gratifying, for we were there literally every step of the way, devoting lots of time to something we enjoy, and which proved immensely positive and successful. I only wish that I had more time for detailed posts and analysis, but things have been very busy and hectic the last few months. Perhaps that will change soon.
Mike Fierman, you’ve been a tremendous supporter of The Heartland practically from day one, posting lots of thoughts and information and often of things I had not considered. Your knowledge of and passion about the game is something to emulate. Your going to Yanks games and sending along pictures and links has made me feel as though I were there. This blog quite simply would not be what it is and has been without your presence here. I owe you a lot for that, my good friend.
Nick, it really amazes me that someone from England posts here, and you are as supportive of The Heartland as one could be. You stay up extremely late (or early) to chinwag about the Yanks, often far later than most would consider humanly possibly. So often you comment here even when I am busy either watching or with something else on my plate, and I love that. You’re maybe the biggest supporter of the Digital Living Room, and even when I am extremely busy and cannot, it is always more than tempting to open one simply because you kindly ask me to. You’re truly a die hard, and you are more appreciated here at The Heartland than you know. You are indeed one of us.
Mike Sommer, your knowledge of the great game of baseball, the Yankees, and their history simply knows no bounds. You do so much to complement what I post here at The Heartland, both here and at The Sommer Frieze, and I am genuinely a better and richer fan for your many contributions. I also greatly appreciate that you take the time to post here given your busy schedule. It has been tremendous to get to know you and celebrate this with you.
Beth the authentic Yankees Chick, we got to know each other way back when in 2007, and renewed the good times this year that we enjoyed a couple seasons ago. Your presence in the Heartland Digital Living Rooms in the playoffs added considerable mirth and passion to an already fine group, and there is no doubt that you’re enjoying this every bit as much as possible. It’s really been great to get to know you through The Heartland and at Yankees Chick, and perhaps Stump Merrill can get himself out from behind that gin mill for the celebration.
Tim the Wizard, I like to think that The Heartland provides a particular and vital social function for you, for it has been a crucial outlet for you, your knowledge, and your passion that has likely spared various victims–often unwitting–their personal demise and that of their physical surroundings. I clearly kid, but I thoroughly enjoy all that you bring–knowledge and passion–to The Heartland. It has been extremely enjoyable getting to know you here,and your execution of the rally monkey should be something done in public and videotaped. You could be a YouTube legend for it.
J-Boogie, I got to know you also back in 2007, and was most excited to learn that this transplanted Western New Yorker shared a name, place, and sports kinship with you, a fellow Yankees blogger. You do a great job at Baseball and the Boogie Down and, the next time I am back in WNY, I will look you up for a cold coldie or two and you can tell me about your trips to various baseball venues.
Jay, Matt, and Cliff from Fack Youk, meeting you guys this year has been a genuine treat. Jay and Matt, you guys do an outstanding job with Fack Youk, both with detailed analysis of the Yanks and the sport, and with plenty of mutually shared cultural interests such as jam band music posts and videos, and with beer. That you two and Cliff stopped by the HDLR for chinwagging on the Yanks and good beer made the games all the more enjoyable, and also gave me some good beer tips for future sampling.
Lisa the Perennial Pinstriper, great to get to know you this year, and keep up the terrific work on your blog. You have been a steady, reliable contributor here, frequently plugging away in the comments, staying positive, and keeping me going writing. Come back soon.
Jane Heller, your Confessions of a She-Fan is one of the most popular blogs around, full of wit and good images. You’re an ace fan, like me supporting the Yanks as a far out-of-market fan, and you do a fantastic job of that through your blog, your excellent writing, books, appearances, and attendance at games. You have had a range of fan experiences that many of us envy.
Tom from Friday Night Yanks, so glad to get to know you. You do a great job blogging, and do so much to support the Yanks at games and through the blog. You must have been so proud to see a good many games in this championship season. Excellent job.
Rob from Bronx Baseball Daily, thanks a ton for stopping by and commenting now and then. You too do a great job blogging, and I will be sure to be in touch more often.
Swedski, you are a die hard whose presence here is much appreciated, and I really hope to get to see you more often.
V, you are missed while away at college, but the Yanks fulfilled your aptly titled Flair For the Dramatic this year, and especially in that great championship run, as much as possible. Enjoy.
Liz, great to begin to get to know you through The Heartland and at your fine blog, Behind the Bombers. Keep up the good work.
For anyone not personally mentioned here, please do not take it as a slight, for you have done so much to make The Heartland a decent place to be and discuss the Yanks. I truly appreciate all of you.
World Series Champions!
In convincing fashion, the Yanks beat the Phillies 7-3 to clinch their 27th World Series championship last night, setting off a terrific celebration on the field, and in my house. Matsui was an absolute monster, driving in six of the seven runs with a homer, double, and single–each of which delivered two runs and which brought the great Yankee the World Series MVP. Pettite went 5 2/3 strong innings on short rest, and the bullpen locked it down the rest of the way.
Matsui got things going in the top of the second in a tremendous at-bat, ripping foul balls and laying off junk until he creamed Pedro’s eighth pitch deep into the second deck in right field for a two-run homer. After Ruiz tripled to center and scored on Rollins’s sac fly, Matsui then delivered a two-run single the following inning to make it 4-1. After Teixeira’s RBI single made it 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Matsui delivered a two-run double to right center, 7-1 Yanks. Howard belted a homer to left to cut it to 7-3 in the top of the sixth, but the Yanks’ bullpen shut things down from there. Joba entered and allowed a single and walk in an inning, with Marte entering to end the seventh with a big K of Utley, then fanned Howard to start the eighth before turning it over to Mariano, who allowed a hit and a walk before ending the game and Series on a weak 4-3 from Victorino to clinch it.
YEEEESSSS!
Hats off to Matsui, a great Yankee, for positively mashing the Phillies into submission last night. It really didn’t surprise me to see his homer, since he was all over Pedro. He was going to hit something hard eventually. He was fully deserving of the World Series MVP, a great honor for a tremendous, humble Yankee, batting .615 with 8 RBI. Love Matsui. Congratulations to A-Rod for proving all doubters, including at times me, wrong and delivering a great clutch post-season run. Hats off to Jeter for again leading the way, batting .407 in the Series. Pettite earned his 18th post-season victory, going 2-0 in the World Series. Mariano capped a great post-season with 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Check out his post-season numbers for 2009–16 innings, 10 hits, 1 run earned, 5 walks, 14 K’s; 0.56 ERA for that run, actually lowering his career playoff ERA to 0.74. The greatest of all-time by a mile. No one else comes close.
The parade through the canyon of heroes comes tomorrow. Enjoy this all off-season and into next year, Yankees fans. This took nine years, but was well worth waiting for. You can’t take the smile off my face today for anything.
Game 6 World Series: Phillies @ Yankees, 11/04/09
Below, as per Sam Borden, is tonight’s Yankees lineup. Swish stays in right, Matsui and Posada thankfully return to the lineup, and Brett the Jet has center with Melky’s hamstring injury. Lefty takes the hill looking to clinch the Yanks’ 27th World Series championship, going on three days’ rest. He hasn’t done it in a while, but I like his chances, his experience, and his going at home before a raucous crowd nonetheless. He is tough, playoff tested, and will be supported by an improved offense. The Yankees need to make Pedro pay for his mistakes in the zone, and to lay off junk outside the zone to drive up his pitch count. Wrap it up tonight, boys. Finish off the Phillies before the home fans for #27. Enjoy the game, everyone. Let’s Go, Yankees! Clap clap clap clap clap.
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
Brett Gardner CF
Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (3-0, 3.24 ERA in postseason)
PHILLIES
Lineup TBA
Pitching: RHP Pedro Martinez (0-1, 2.08 ERA in postseason)
Multiple Failures in 8-6 Loss
A.J. had a miserable start, Coke failed to keep it close, and the offense awakened too late in a frustrating 8-6, staving off for a game the clinching victory. Despite a somewhat belatedly strong game off Lee, including starting the first with a 1-0 lead, A.J. started last night as he did Game 5 in the ALCS, giving three back in the first three batters, culminated by another Utley homer. He allowed three more in the third, exiting having thrown a mere 2+ innings, allowing 6 runs earned on 4 hits, 4 walks, and fanning just 2 on 53 pitches/28 strikes. Awful outing, considerably worse than Game 5 in Anaheim when he at least kept the Yanks in the game. Not so last night.
The Yanks cut the lead to 6-2 in the fifth by missed a chance to do further damage as Robertson and Aceves held the Phillies at 6 over four innings, allowing but a hit apiece. Fine work by the bullpen, until Coke surrendered two homers in the seventh to Utley and Ibanez to widen the lead to 8-2. It hurt badly, for the Yanks mounted a fierce rally in the last two innings–too late, but those four runs they scored would have tied the game had Coke been able to blank Philly. The Yanks scored three in the top of the eighth, and another in the top of the ninth on Jeter’s unfortunate DP, but could close it no further. Had Jeter reached base, I think all hell would have broken loose on the Phillies. Despite wearing down Lee a bit, accumulating seven hits, three walks, and five runs off him, pitching and an early dearth of offense did them in.
Before accentuating the positive–and there are some positives–I must rail against the Molina-caddying job. Not only was that a dismal flop last night, Molina allowed a stolen base that resulted in a run. I know, these things happen, and no one throws out everyone. But the simple fact is this: if Molina through his defense is not doing everything possible to try to moderately offset the considerably greater loss of Jorge’s offense, then the justification for his playing is completely gone. I haven’t been big on his caddying at all as the playoffs have wound on, primarily because Jorge’s bat is too essential especially as key parts of the lineup have struggled. Thank goodness that experiment appears to have played itself out.
Not to be overlooked, I don’t know why Pena was not in to pinch-run for Matsui after his single in the ninth made it first and third, no outs. He could have done much, including keeping the Yanks out of a DP but also, with Madsen’s slow move home, stolen second and put Jeter in position to get a different pitch. That’s on Girardi.
That said, there is much to feel good about, despite the freshness of last night’s loss. The Yanks not only recaptured home field, they superseded it by winning two of three in Philadelphia, a tough place to play. That’s pretty impressive, and speaks to what a good road team the Yankees have been this year. They won two of three, and reignited parts of the lineup in the process. Yes, Cano, Swish, and Teixeira have been down, but JD has been a monster, as has Jeter, A-Rod has been clutch, Matsui (.556) is back in Wednesday’s lineup, Posada is hitting well, and the Yanks have a strong shot at home to clinch their 27th World Series championship.
I like their chances to do that Wednesday night a lot. I like that Pettite–even on short rest–will probably start, for he is a money pitcher and did very well in the Game 6 clincher against the Angels. He has been there plenty of times before and succeeded. I like that the Yanks are home, where it will undoubtedly be raucous. If there is a silver lining to last night’s loss–and yes, a win would obviously have been far preferable–Mariano and Joba will have two days off between Games 5 and 6. That will pay dividends Wednesday night for the Yanks.
The inability to clinch last night hurts, people. But the Yanks are in a very good spot right now–returning home, up three games to two, and recapturing home field. Finish the job tomorrow night, guys.
Game 5 World Series: Yankees @ Phillies, 11/02/09
Below, as per Sam Borden, are tonight’s lineups. Not the strongest with Posada sitting, it is imperative that Swish, batting fifth, deliver should Lee avoid A-Rod. It is also vital for others who have been languishing thus far, especially Cano and Teixeira, to deliver. This is still a talented group capable of scoring runs, but it needs to continue to get diverse productivity. I have the feeling that the Yanks may adopt a slightly different approach versus Lee, perhaps looking for and jumping on first-pitch fastballs rather then getting behind on them and watching an array of off-speed stuff drift around them. That is, they might be selectively aggressive, and early. Some early runs off Lee might take the starch out of the Phillies, but that requires A.J. being sharp again. He is fully capable of the kind of gem he twirled in Game 2. He just needs to relax, focus, and pitch at least even with Lee. Should he do that, he will take the Yanks a long way to clinching their 27th World Series title. Get it done tonight, guys. Finish the job. [Edit: I forgot to mention this in the Game 4 wrap, but Frank the Sage brought some extra mojo for the Yanks from his weekend trip to Cooperstown, touching the cap or bust of every Yankee in the Hall of Fame.] Enjoy the game, everyone. Let’s Go, Yankees! Clap clap clap clap clap.
YANKEES
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Gardner CF
Molina C
Burnett P
Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (1-0, 3.55 ERA in postseason)
PHILLIES
Jimmy Rollins SS
Shane Victorino CF
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Jayson Werth RF
Raul Ibanez LF
Pedro Feliz 3B
Carlos Ruiz C
Cliff Lee P
Pitching: LHP Cliff Lee (3-0, 0.54 ERA in postseason)
Yanks Win Tense Classic, 7-4; Take Command
I have to admit that last night’s 7-4 victory might have been the most nerve-wracking affair thus far in the playoffs for me. C.C. pitched well but struggled a bit, especially early. The offense was good but blew a few chances to really open up a big lead. Utley, then Feliz, homered to tie the game. After Feliz homered to tie the game at 4, it was hard for me to fight off thoughts of Game 4 of the 2003 World Series, when the Yanks headed to extra innings with chances in every extra frame, yet lost in the 12th on Gonzales’s walk-off homer, tying the Series that the Yanks eventually lost in six. I grappled with the fear that the Yanks, having squandered some chances last night, might do the same should the game head to extras. Combined with the fact that the road game would have exposed the Yanks to the chance of a dramatic walk-off, and the fact that despite a well-pitched game from C.C. the score was tied heading to the ninth, I was more than a little concerned going into the ninth that the Yanks, despite playing better ball, would face a tied series like 2003.
However, as quickly became evident in the ninth, this season is NOT 2003.
With Lidge in for the first time this Series, Matsui popped out and Jeter fanned. But JD had what might be the at-bat of the World Series thus far. After falling behind 1-2, he fouled off sliders and fastballs, laying off a couple to work it to 3-2 before looping a single to left. With Teixeira up, JD then stole second and, with the drastic over-shift against Teixeira, bolted up out of his slide and sprinted to an open third, with no fielder there for a throw; brilliant base running, JD! The only other time I have seen that was when Jeter did it a few years ago when a team over-shifted against Giambi. [Edit: ...or did Jeter take third in similar fashion after a hit?] What amazing timing and headiness from JD. Appearing rattled, Lidge (who belatedly realized he needed to cover third and skulked back to the mound afterward) then hit Teixeira, bringing up A-Rod.
A-Rod who had been incredibly clutch this post-season. A-Rod who got the Yanks back into Game 3 with an opposite-field, reviewed home run. A-Rod who had endured intense criticism for past playoff failures.
A-Rod who is MONEY. He lined an 0-1 fastball on the inner half to deep left, scoring JD and sending me into an uncontrollable, joyous frenzy. With my son asleep and under the weather, I had to invoke what I termed in the late 1990s the “silent scream,” a quiet, hoarse-like whisper fraught with elation that, had it been infused with the volume I would normally provide, surely would awaken neighbors regardless of closed windows. I jumped up and down for so long, pumping my fists and high-fiving my elated wife, that I missed the first pitch to Jorge. He tacked on vital insurance runs, delivering a gap shot to left center on Lidge’s 30th pitch of the inning, a 2-2 fastball, before being thrown out with ease at second. Yet the damage was done, and the Yanks took an insurmountable 7-4 lead to the bottom of the ninth, where Mariano took a crisp, tidy eight pitches to set down Stairs, Rollins, and Victorino with ease for the save, victory, and commanding 3-1 Series lead.
Wow. WOOOOOW.
Despite–or perhaps because of–the tension of the game, that was easily one of my very favorite Yankees victories ever. Incredible win; just incredible.
The Yanks jumped on Blanton for two in the first when Jeter slapped an infield single to Utley and JD roped a double to right. Teixeira’s ground out down the first base line made it 1-0, and A-Rod got hit by a pitch for the third time this Series, prompting him to stare off in anger, and Mike Everitt to warn both benches–prematurely to me. Jorge’s sac fly to left made it 2-0, but Cano’s flyout (and Cano sure is scuffling) ended what could have been a big first; still good though. The Phillies responded in the bottom half when Victorino looped a double to shallow left off the end of the bat that a hustling JD could not get, and Utley (who has been outstanding) creamed a double off the wall, 2-1 Yanks. But The Big Guy held tough, fanning Howard on a 3-2 slider on the eighth pitch of the at-bat, intentionally walking Werth to face Ibanez, whom he fanned on a nasty 0-2 slider. Clutch.
Each side went 1-2-3 in the second and third, with C.C. getting Utley to pop up to end the third and provide some emotional relief to me. The Phillies tied it in the fourth when Howard singled and stole second, then scored on Feliz’s two-out single to left despite not touching home on the collision with Jorge, 2-2. After intentionally walking Ruiz, C.C. fanned Blanton to keep the game tied.
The Yanks, not for the last time last night, responded right away in the top of the fifth. Swish walked, Melky hit one up the middle that Utley flipped sky-high, all safe. C.C. bunted foul for the third strike–not well done, Big Guy–but Jeter’s seeing-eye single to left scored Swish, 3-2 Yanks. JD looped a single to right, scoring Melky 4-2. But fly outs from Teixeira and A-Rod left runners on in what could have been another big inning; still, the lead was welcomed.
The bottom of the fifth was tense, and illustrated yet again how money Sabathia is. Rollins singled to lead off and Victorino walked for the dangerous Utley. But C.C. appeared to quick-pitch Utley, who was still wheeling his bat when the tough slider approached, and he popped up to Jeter, one down. C.C. also got Howard to pop up to Jeter for the second out, then fanned the tough Werth on a nasty change for the third out and a tremendous escape; outstanding pitching, some of the best I’ve seen from him or anyone this playoff run. He also worked around a one-out single to Feliz in the sixth, maintaining the two-run lead.
C.C. started to get hit hard in the seventh when Rollins ripped a hard grounder that A-Rod adroitly fielded, one down, and Victorino lined out hard to Swish, two down. Utley finished C.C.’s night with a deep, no-doubt blast to right to cut the lead to 4-3, but C.C. was on the whole quite good–6 2/3, 7 hits, 3 runs earned, 3 walks, and 6 K’s on 107 pitches/67 strikes. Good work, especially on short rest. Marte entered and got Howard to fly out, excellent work by Marte, excellent.
The Yanks missed a good chance to extend the lead in the eighth when Jorge walked and Cano blooped a single in no man’s land between a sprinting Rollins and Ibanez. But Swish was caught looking, and Gardner (in for Melky who pulled a hamstring) popped out weakly to short to end the threat. At that point, the Yanks were 2-9 with RISP, stranding 7 and causing me and others, no doubt, some consternation.
Joba entered and was excellent, fanning Werth on 96-mph gas and Ibanez on a 2-2, 97-mph fastball. He got ahead of Feliz 1-2 with fastballs, but twice tried the slider to no avail before grooving the fastball he should have thrown earlier, and on which Feliz guessed right on 3-2, drilling a long homer to left to tie the game at 4. Joba responded well by fanning Ruiz, but the damage was done on that one pitch. I liked that teammates consolded Joba in the dugout, but I was unquestionably concerned that Game 4 of 2003 would resurface. They had to win it in the ninth.
They did, with JD’s hit and two brilliant stolen bases taking their place in World Series lore, and A-Rod’s and Jorge’s heroics propelling the Yanks to a tremendous 7-4 victory. Typing up this post, I am still smiling in a bit of awe and amazement. Classic victory.
A.J. goes on short rest against Lee with a chance to lock up the Yanks’ 27th World Series championship in their great and storied history. One game away, guys. Now is the time to lock it up. I like their chances and, while Lee was outstanding in Game 1, I don’t think he will have as easy a time tonight as last week. The Yanks have scored 15 runs in the last two games, and are getting balanced contributions. Jeter is batting .412 and has been money. A-Rod is at .143 but has had two big hits and 3 RBI. JD has been perhaps the biggest difference, coming alive and batting .294 after his big 3-5 night. Jorge is batting a sound .308 with 5 RBI. Swish was 0-2 but had 2 good walks. Teixeira and Cano really need to pick it up. Teixeira seems to do everything right, laying off junk and seeming to see everything clearly, but is not handling hittable pitches. Cano has been unimpressive and disappointing, yet the Yanks still have a commanding 3-1 lead.
Finish the job tonight, guys. Enjoy it, Yankees fans. All this, including last night’s dramatic victory, has been a privilege.
Game 4 World Series: Yankees @ Phillies, 11/01/09
Below, as per Sam Borden, are tonight’s lineups. Other than The Big Guy starting, all else remains the same. C.C. looks to give the Yanks a commanding 3-1 Series lead with a strong start tonight. Should he be able to 7 strong, it would go a long way to helping them accomplish that. So would the offense staying hot off Blanton, who allowed 30 homers this year and, while no pushover, throws straight (if hard) heat. Sabathia has been good on short rest in his career, and did a great job in Game 4 of the ALCS on short rest, locking down the Angels. He might even be able to help his own cause with the bat, hitting well during his two months in the NL last season. I like his and the Yankees’ chances tonight. Go out and dominate, guys. Take command of the Series. Enjoy the game, everyone. Let’s Go, Yankees! Clap clap clap clap clap.
YANKEES
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Melky Cabrera CF
CC Sabathia P
Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (3-1, 1.57 ERA in postseason)
PHILLIES
Jimmy Rollins SS
Shane Victorino CF
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Jayson Werth RF
Raul Ibanez LF
Pedro Feliz 3B
Carlos Ruiz C
Joe Blanton P
Pitching: RHP Joe Blanton (0-0, 4.66 ERA in postseason)
Yanks Wrest Control With 8-5 Win
Huge win. Huge, HUGE WIN. Lefty struggled in the second, allowing three runs but settling in, and the Yanks’ offense awakened with crucial, consistent run support throughout tonight to beat a game Phillies club 8-5. After losing Game 1, the Yanks are now in control of the Series, especially since they send The Big Guy to the bump tomorrow night (with three days’ rest) with a good chance to go up three games to one.
But right now, worthy of considerable focus is the fact that Andy Pettite pitched a money start tonight. He did it after some early struggles, with Rollins singling to start the game and eventually stealing second with Utley up. Yet Lefty fanned both Utley and Howard on sliders to strand Rollins. As the Yanks’ offense struggled against Hamels the first time through, Pettite labored in the second, allowing three runs. Werth led off with a homer off a 3-2 slider, down but not away enough although it wasn’t an awful pitch, 1-0 Phillies. Ibanez fanned on a slider, but Feliz doubled on a deep drive to right that, had Swish properly judged the ball and where he was vis-a-vis the wall, could have been caught. Ruiz walked, and Hamels laid down a good bunt that neither Pettite nor Jorge aggressively claimed, loading the bases with one out. Rollins walked in the second run 2-0 Phillies, and Victorino hit a long sac fly to left, 3-0 Phillies. But Lefty got Utley looking, and I for one did not consider 3-0 insurmountable by any means.
Each side went down 1-2-3 in the third, bad for the Yanks but for the Phils also. In the fourth, the Yanks finally awakened, in the immortal lyrics of freebeerandchicken, “Like a flower from the deep frost of winter/slowly, I do rise.” That they did. Before the fourth, Mike texted me, “OK. Second time thru order. Let’s see what happens.“ Well, that would be plenty, for Teixeira worked a 3-2 walk on a close pitch down and in. I texted Mike, Drill one, A-Rod. Boy, did he deliver, crushing an 0-1 fastnall up and away to right off the camera above the wall. Initially ruled a double, replay reversed it and rightly ruled it a homer. Interestingly, I not only felt A-Rod would do something tonight off Hamels. I also ran into my Halloween friend on my cul-de-sac, also named Jay, at the end of a brisk night of brisk trick-or-treating. We literally have only chin-wagged on Halloween night, for each of us is busy–I with teaching and writing, and he with life as an interstate trucker. As we talked about the joys of playoff baseball, we each acknowledged A-Rod’s recent struggles against the Phillies but were optimistic. “A-Rod has been a monster this year,” Jay rightly said as I shifted to the sidewalk to catch up to my family, who are well aware of my penchant for gab and especially about the Yanks. If Hamels leaves one up to A-Rod, I prognosticated, that’s going yard, I said with accurate bravado. Boy oh boy, did that happen, for A-Rod’s two-run shot cut the lead to one and quickly silenced the Phillies’ faithful. Holy kismet.
Lefty worked around A-Rod’s throwing error to start the bottom of the fourth to hold it tight, and the Yanks took the lead in a grand if improbable fifth. Swish ripped a 2-2 curve down the left-field line for a lead-off double, rousing the home front faithful. After Melky fanned, Lefty looped a first-pitch single off a curve to center to score Swish running hard, tying the game at three. Great piece of hitting for Pettite, staying back and slapping a mediocre curve to center. O fall people to get the ball rolling, it was Pettite, the pitcher, who did; tremendous. Jeter skipped a single past a diving stab by Victorino, first and second. Split the gap, JD, I texted to Mike, and sure enough he did, lacing an 0-1 fastball thigh-high to right center to score Pettite and the Captain, 5-3 Yanks; great clutch hitting. Teixeira then walked, ending Hamels’s night and, although Happ got A-Rod on a liner and Posada on a weak pop to second, the damage was done.
Lefty worked an easy 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth, big ease after grabbing the lead. In the top of the sixth, I texted Mike, Jack one, Road Warrior, earning considerable grief on the home front for my sublimated “code” for Swish’s success. Yet that was what he had, belting a 2-2 fastball away to deep left center, 6-3 Yanks with big insurance. Pettite worked around Werth’s second solo shot of the night, fanning Ibanez and Feliz before walking Ruiz and getting Bruntlett on an F9 to end the 6th still up two.
The Yanks cobbled together a run in the top of the seventh when JD worked a one-out walk and stole second when Teixeira struck out. A-Rod got hit by a pitch, and Posada looped a single, 7-4 Yanks. Joba worked a good 1-2-3 seventh, and Matsui came through with a big two-out pinch-hit homer to left off that wife-abuser Myers, 8-4 Yanks. What more can one say about Matsui, entering and paying immediate dividends. Great Yankee. Marte came on in the eighth, a move I liked just as I like Joba finishing the seventh up three, and fanned Howard and got Werth looking, before getting Ibanez on a liner to third. Great relief pitching as the Yanks scored eight runs in five innings. Hughes allowed a solo shot to Ruiz in the bottom of the ninth, and I agreed with Mike that Hughes should get at least a chance to finish the game. But Girardi went to Mariano, hard to argue with that as McCarver rightly argued, and he got Stairs on a weak 4-3 and Rollins on a pop5, on all of five pitches, ending the game.
Tremendous win, and Pettite earned his 17th all time victory record for post-season pitching. The Yanks got 8 hits and 4 walks, showing tremendous patience and clutch hitting, going 3-7 with RISP, stranding but 6 on a night when they had to come through. Mike was right; the Yanks worked through to the second time through the lineup, pummeling Hamels and the bullpen. Great relief work by Marte and Joba, too. Hughes struggled a bit, but no worries. [Edit: Chad Jennings had a good, telling stat--the Phillies' lefties were shut down completely. Ibanez, Utley, and Howard combined to go 0-12 with 7 K's. Only Hamels reached with a hit on the bunt single. That's great work.]
Now the Yanks control their fate, sending The Big Guy to the hill tomorrow night for a shot to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Win or lose, I would have pitched C.C., no question in my mind. Fantastic win. Great resiliency tonight, great experience from Lefty the Master, and A-Rod with his homer, and Pettite with his single, did severe damage to the Phillies. Kudos to The Captain and JD for their work, and Swish, Posada, and Matsui for piling on. As Mike and I discussed in a spirited post-game chinwag, this was unquestionably their most impressive win of the two thus far in the Series, and was their best since the 10-1 drubbing of the Angels, for Pettite had to hold the Phillies after allowing three runs, and the team offense awakened to get varied and crucial contributions. Impressively done.
This ball club never ceases to impress me. Enjoy it, Yankees fans. This is heady stuff, up 2-1 in the World Series to a strong Phillies squad. I like the Yanks’ chances.
