HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEMWhite Sox overcome Astros lead to go up 2-0 in seriesBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 24, 2005Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. That is exactly what the Houston Astros did to fall behind the Chicago White Sox 2-0 in the best of 7 World Series.
For five innings the Astros did everything right and in the last four they did just about everything wrong.
In a downpour of cold rain a less than sharp Andy Pettitte did his best to keep his team in Game 2, and gave them a chance to take the series home tied one game apiece. Pettitte weathered eight hits and two runs in six innings before turning the ball over to his relief corps.
The night started well for the Astros when in the second inning the Astros scored first on a Morgan Ensberg home run to deep left field. The White Sox answered in the bottom of the frame scoring twice on an RBI single by Joe Crede and a ground out by Juan Uribe that got A.J. Pierzynski home from third base.
Houston got those runs back in the top of the fifth when catcher Brad Ausmus doubled to left field. Two outs later Willy Tavares singled with Ausmus taking third base. Lance Berkman then doubled to left scoring Ausmus and Tavares.
Pettitte held the line in the fifth and sixth innings leaving the game with a 4-2 lead. Right-hander Dan Wheeler replaced Pettitte in the bottom of the seventh and immediately ran into trouble. With one out Juan Uribe doubled to left center field. Wheeler got the next batter, Scott Podsednik, to strike out. Tadahito Iguchi walked and Jermaine Dye was apparently hit on the hand with a 3-2 pitch. However, television replays showed the ball hit Dye’s bat. Home umpire Jeff Nelson awarded Dye first base giving White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko a bases loaded situation and a chance to do some damage.
In the meantime, Houston manager Phil Garner replaced Wheeler with Chad Qualls. Sadly for Qualls Konerko deposited his first pitch over the left field wall for a grand slam giving the White Sox a 6-4 lead.
In the ninth inning the Astros struck back against White Sox closer Bobby Jenks. Jenks, who had a terrific Game 1, was unable to repeat his heroics.
Jeff Bagwell led off the inning with a single. After Jason Lane struck out Chris Burk singled to put men on first and second. Brad Ausmus grounded out advancing Bagwell to third and Burk to second. Pinch hitter Jose Vizcaino came to the plate and singled to left field. The play scored Bagwell and Burk to tie the game at six. Mike Lamb flied out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth Garner went to his closer Brad Lidge to hold the fort down. Lidge hadn’t pitched since losing Game 5 of the NLCS when he gave up a three-run bomb to St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. It was déjà vu for Lidge when with one out Scott Podsednik hit a walk off, solo home run to win the game 7-6 for the White Sox.
The loss leaves the Houston Astros in a deep hole. Out of twelve World Series match ups where a team has gone up on its opponent two games to none eleven of those teams have gone on to win the World Series. As the Astros head for home history is clearly not on their side.
Game 3 is set for Tuesday evening at Minute Maid Park with the first pitch scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET. It will be Jon Garland against NLCS MVP Roy Oswalt. The Astros need to regroup or their first trip to the World Series may turn out to be a short one.
PLAY BALL!
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LORDS OF THE RINGS DO BATTLE ONE MORE TIMEClemens, Pettitte and Astros to face White Sox in Fall ClassicBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 20, 2005The Houston Astros should send George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees a note of thank you. They should thank them for allowing Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte to escape the concrete jungle of New York City for the wide open spaces of Houston, Texas.
Andy Pettitte was brought up in the Yankees organization and was part of all four of the Yankees recent World Series victories (1996, 1998-2000). Roger Clemens joined the party in 1999 when he was traded from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Yankees. The Rocket was part of the Yankees 1999 and 2000 championship teams.
Both pitchers were aboard when the Yankees made World Series bids in 2001 (Vs. Arizona Diamondbacks) and 2003 (Vs. Florida Marlins). New York came up short in both series.
During the 2003 campaign Roger Clemens made it known that he was retiring after the season was over. When Josh Beckett tagged Jorge Posada to record the last out of the 100th World Series everyone bid the Rocket a fond farewell. It was assumed Clemens was retiring to his home near Houston to be with his wife and kids.
In the meantime, Andy Pettitte became a free agent. He rejected offers from the Yankees and signed with the Astros.
Then, the rumors started to swirl. It was reported that Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane had approached Clemens about coming out of retirement and pitching for the Astros. His best friend, Pettitte, also beckoned Clemens to join the club. With incentives he couldn’t resist Roger Clemens signed with the Astros. With both the Rocket and Pettitte in the Astros rotation Houston became an instant playoff contender.
Pettitte was hampered by elbow problems during the 2004 season and only started 15 games. He finished with a 6-4 record with a 3.90 ERA. Clemens, on the other hand, went completely in the other direction. The Rocket at 42 years of age earned a record seventh Cy Young award by going 18-8 with a 2.98 ERA. The Astros won the wildcard and were good enough to advance to the NLCS where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.
This year the Astros started off horribly. By July 1st they were 36-41, in fourth place, and trailing the Cardinals by thirteen games. They were also behind eight other teams in the Wild Card race. But, in the second half of the year, the Astros caught fire and once again won the Wild Card by posting a 53-32 mark. Behind this amazing turnaround was a healthy Andy Pettitte (17-9, 2.39), Roy Oswalt (20-12, 2.96), and Roger Clemens (13-8, 1.87).
The Astros dispatched the Atlanta Braves three games to one to earn the right to meet the defending NLCS champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals showed they were all business by sweeping the anemic San Diego Padres in three games to advance to the league championship.
The Cardinals won Game 1 behind the stellar pitching of their Cy Young candidate Chris Carpenter. The Astros returned the favor by taking Game 2 behind the pitching of Roy Oswalt. Both teams moved to Minute Maid Park for Games 3, 4 and 5.
The Astros continued their newfound mastery of the Cardinals by winning Games 3 and 4. With a three games to one lead the Astros had a chance to close out the NLCS at home. It wasn’t to be as in the 9th inning the Cardinals came to life.
With Astros closer Brad Lidge on the mound and two outs David Eckstein stepped in the batter’s box. Lidge got two strikes on Eckstein before Eckstein delivered a single to keep the inning alive. Lidge walked the next batter, Jim Edmonds, causing the ever dangerous Albert Pujols to step in to face Lidge. Lidge hung a breaking ball over the plate and Pujols rocketed the ball over the left field wall for a 3-run home run. The Cardinals won 5-4 to bring the series back to St. Louis.
Still leading the series 3-2 the Astros had, with one pitch, lost a lot of the momentum they had gained by taking the first two games at home. They needed a big time stopper. Roy Oswalt was their man. Oswalt was stifling as he pitched seven strong innings allowing St. Louis three hits and one earned run. Relievers Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler pitched shut out ball the last two innings as the Houston Astros advanced to their first ever World Series with a 5-1 victory.
The Astros will now turn to their two veterans, Clemens and Pettitte. Both have tasted what most of their teammates have not; champagne at the end of a World Series victory. Between them they have six rings. They will be flashing those around in the next few days, showing them to their comrades so they can see what they will be playing for.
Manager Phil Garner will be putting the Game 1 ball in the glove of Roger Clemens. Their opponents, the Chicago White Sox, have some pretty good arms in their camp as well. The White Sox last won a World Series in 1917 and have had to live down the “Black Sox” scandal of 1919. They haven’t been to a World Series since they faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959. The City of Chicago will be every bit as hungry as Houston for a World Series ticker tape parade down their streets. The Fall Classic starts on Saturday in the Windy City and it should be a doozy. Good luck to both teams. They both deserve it.
PLAY BALL!
© 2005 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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THE REARVIEW MIRRORLooking back on the Yankees’ 2005 seasonBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 17, 2005After the Yankees dropped the final four games of last year’s ALCS to the Boston Red Sox it appeared the richest team in sports had hit rock bottom. Before that monumental collapse no team had ever gone from a 3-0 series lead only to lose in seven games. The 2004 Yankees will forever be known for the biggest choke in sports history.
To add insult to injury the Red Sox celebrated their improbable victory on the home field of Yankee Stadium in front of the Pinstriped Nation. That was too much for anyone connected with the Yankees to endure.
After swallowing that bitter pill the Boss, George Steinbrenner, vowed the team would get better.
The team underwent a major overhaul. The Bombers acquired starters Carl Pavano from the Florida Marlins and Jaret Wright from the Atlanta Braves. Both were coming off their best seasons in the majors. The biggest prize was finally working out a deal to get Randy Johnson out of Arizona. These three acquisitions were set to join returning starters Mike Mussina and Kevin Brown.
On paper this starting rotation looked to be as formidable as any in baseball. If they pitched anywhere near their expected potential the Yankees would be very difficult to beat. Obviously, the starters needed a good bullpen to back them up and Brian Cashman tried to improve that area by reacquiring Mike Stanton. They also picked up Felix Rodriguez and Buddy Groom. The Yankees retained Paul Quantrill, Tom Gordon, Steve Karsay and Mariano Rivera to round out the relief corps.
The Yankees also added Tony Womack from the St. Louis to play second base in place of the departed Miguel Cairo.
The Yankees entered the 2005 season with a lot of hope. They opened the season at home against the Red Sox. Randy Johnson was manager Joe Torre’s selection to be the opening day pitcher and the Big Unit didn’t disappoint. He threw six innings and only surrendered one earned run as the Yankees won 9-2. The Yankees won the following game behind Carl Pavano
The Yankees started out looking as good as advertised. However, for the remainder of the month New York looked anything, but a contender, as they ended up with an 11-19 record. The starting rotation was getting knocked around by the likes of Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Texas and the Los Angeles Angels.
It didn’t take long for the wheels to start coming off the wagon. Jaret Wright went on the DL with a sore right shoulder and spent the next four months there. He was joined by Kevin Brown in June and never returned; Carl Pavano in July and he never returned.
Suddenly, a once promising rotation looked like an episode of M.A.S.H. However, some nuggets of gold were found in this river of devastation. The Yankees discovered right-hander Chien Ming Wang (8-5, 4.09) at AAA Columbus, Shawn Chacon (7-3, 2.85), traded from the Colorado Rockies and Aaron Small (10-0, 3.20) from AAA Columbus. Without these three hurlers the Yankees season would’ve been sunk for sure. They were responsible for over twenty-five percent of the Yankees wins.
The relief corps was a shambles too. They Yankees dumped Paul Quantrill, Mike Stanton, Steve Karsay and Buddy Groom and replaced them with a myriad of pitchers from Columbus. The only one to stick was hard throwing Scott Proctor. The Yankees also picked up Alan Embree and Ramiro Mendoza from the Boston Red Sox after they had been placed on waivers. Neither pitcher worked out.
One other highlight of the season came about in the person of Robinson Cano.
Cano was also brought up from AAA Columbus when the Yankees tried to use Tony Womack in the outfield to replace a below par Bernie Williams. Although the outfield experiment was a failure the placing of Cano at second base was not. Cano fit right in with the Yankees infield and didn’t seem bothered by the bright lights of the New York or the pressure packed media. Cano joined the team on May 3rd and started that night. In his first couple of games Cano made some rookie errors, but that didn’t stop him. Cano became the regular second baseman where he batted .297 with 14 home runs and 62 RBI. He has placed himself in position to receive a lot of Rookie of the Year votes.
Even with the emergence of these unknown players manager Joe Torre had his hands full. Jason Giambi, who last year had to deal with numerous health issues, a steroid scandal and offensive numbers that were, well, offensive, started out the 2005 season as he had ended the previous year. He was a liability in the line up. To make matters worse the New York media were calling for Giambi’s head. They wanted him out of town. The Yankees had looked for reasons to void his contract. He wasn’t hitting and driving in runs.
The Yankees organization eventually realized it was stuck with their struggling high paid employee. Giambi was requested to go to Tampa Bay, the Yankees spring training facility, to work on his batting. He refused, which further infuriated his employers. Giambi sat on the bench while Tino Martinez played every day. Martinez reminded the Yankee fans of the once great dynasty by carrying the team on his back for the month of May. Tino hit ten home runs, including five in five games, and had a SLG% of .708. Giambi’s stock on the team was dropping faster than the stock market. But for once, Giambi was right.
On June 28th Jason Giambi was batting .257 with only four home runs and 22 RBI. When July hit so did Jason Giambi. Giambi hit 14 home runs and drove in 24 runs. In August he hit six more and drove in another 18 runs. In September Giambi slammed another seven homers and knocked in 22 runs. By the time the season ended Giambi had walloped 32 home runs, pushed 87 runs across and batted .271. It was a remarkable turnaround. Giambi’s sudden emergence as an offensive monster again was good enough to earn him the “Comeback Player of the Year” award as voted on by the fans.
Meanwhile, Joe Torre’s problems grew. Not only did he have a pitching staff with their own revolving door, he had to put up with statements made by George Steinbrenner and ever increasing questions by the press about his management moves. On July 1st the Yankees were in fourth place with a 39-39 record, and trailing the Boston Red Sox by six games. It was getting very tense in the Yankees clubhouse.
However, with all of the negative things swirling around him Joe Torre managed to be the one person who seemingly kept his head while all those around him were losing theirs.
From July 1st to the end of the season the Yankees caught fire and finished with a 95-67 record. That means they went 56-28 (.667 winning record). They somehow found ways to win games. Sometimes it was done with chewing gum and duct tape, but the Yankees kept winning. They went 19-10 in the final month of the season to take their eighth straight division title.
Under Joe Torre’s watch the Yankees have won and incredible four world titles, seven league championships and nine division championships. They have made the playoffs in each of Joe Torre’s ten years as Yankees manager.
In any other town a record like that would be worthy of immortality, but not in New York City. In New York success is measured by how many times you’ve brought back the World Series trophy. Anything less and the season has been a failure. The Yankees last won the World Series in 2000 when they beat their cross town cousins, the New York Mets, in five games. Although they appeared in the 2001 and 2003 World Series the Yankees didn’t bring home the prize. Those teams, according to the Yankees credo, failed.
This past season was no different. Although it was great to celebrate the latest division championship in Boston, the post-season was another exercise in futility and disappointment. The Yankees were thrown out of the playoffs in five games by their West Division nemesis the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
It was a bitter ending to what should have been a satisfying season. The Yankees faced more controversy, more roadblocks and more questions about their heart and guts than at any other time in Joe Torre’s reign as manager. Yet, they succeeded and they failed. The 2005 campaign will go down as a mixed bag of satisfaction and regret.
The satisfaction was in the Yankees winning their eighth straight division title. They discovered solid players in Robinson Cano, Chien Ming Wang, Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon. All four should have roster spots in 2006. Alex Rodriguez, although miserable numbers in the playoffs, had an MVP caliber season. Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui were also solid at the plate. Jason Giambi had a terrific post-season batting .421 and appeared to have rediscovered his stroke during the second half of the regular season. Randy Johnson won his last six decisions in the regular season. There were a lot of things to point to with contentment.
On the other side of the coin there were also things that were very unpleasant. No World Series trophy for the fifth straight year. The Yankees offense disappearing during the ALCS. Bernie Williams, probably playing his last season as a Yankee, looked bad at the plate and sometimes worse in the field. Jorge Posada’s offensive numbers fell off dramatically this year. Tony Womack was a huge bust. He couldn’t get on base unless he was put in to run for somebody. The revolving door pitching staff never completely got settled in. Consistency isn’t a word you would’ve used to describe it.
Either way you decide to look at it the 2005 season didn’t turn out the way we all hoped it would.
The Yankees have some pressing problems to solve in the off-season. First and foremost the Yankees need to fill their general manager’s role. Steinbrenner has made it clear he wants Brian Cashman back, but is Cashman willing to come back? He may have grown weary of the Boss’ tantrums and second-guessing and decided to bolt to new pastures. What about Joe Torre? He has yet to address the media in his post-season interview and many wonder if he too has had enough.
Now that Mel Stottlemyre has made it clear he has had enough the Yankees will have to go about finding a new pitching coach. They also need to address Hideki Matsui, who says his decision to re-sign with the club will depend, in part, who the manager is. The Yankees will also need to look at the catcher’s and centerfield positions as well.
Last, but not least, the pitching staff needs another major overhaul, especially in the relief corps. What about Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright? Just how healthy will they be in the spring of 2006? Do the Yankees want them back? Who’s going to replace Kevin Brown? How strong is Randy Johnson’s balky back, and is Mike Mussina finally run out of gas?
These are all questions the Yankees will have to address and soon. The new season is only 4 months away. Has this club finally run its playoff course? Are we preparing for some lean years ahead?
I don’t know the answers, but stay tuned and we’ll all find out together.
PLAY BALL!© 2005 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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ALL SMOKE AND NO BARBEQUEAnemic Yankees succumb to Angels in deciding Game 5By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 11, 2005Anaheim – The American League Divisional Series is officially over, and so is the post-season for the New York Yankees. The Anaheim Angels proved once again they are the Yankees daddy by scratching out a 5-3 victory before a sellout crowd at Angel Stadium.
After coming from behind Sunday night in the Bronx the Yankees had momentum coming into tonight’s game. Mike Mussina, the Game 1 winner, had spent the past week in Newport Beach resting and getting ready for this contest. His opponent was the man he beat this past Tuesday, Bartolo Colon.
Both teams started out tentatively in the first inning as both pitchers posted zeros. In the second inning the Yankees got the scoring started with runners on first and second and one out. Bubba Crosby singled to right to score Bernie Williams from second. Jorge Posada moved from first to third on the play. Derek Jeter then hit a sacrifice fly to score Posada. Crosby stole second, but was stranded by Alex Rodriguez who struck out swinging.
In the bottom of the 2nd inning the Angels got things started quickly as Garret Anderson homered off Mussina to cut the Yankees lead in half. Next, Bengie Molina singled to center field. Mussina got the next two batters out as Darrin Erstad struck out and Juan Rivera popped out to right field. Mussina then walked Steve Finley sending Molina to second base.
What happened next was indicative of the Yankees post-season woes. Second baseman Adam Kennedy sent a high fly ball to the right field wall. Both centerfielder Bubba Crosby and right fielder Gary Sheffield raced toward the ball. Neither Sheffield nor Crosby was able to call off the other and Crosby collided with Sheffield as he was about to catch the ball at the base of the wall. The ball landed on the field with both Molina and Finley scoring on the play. Kennedy ended up at third base and was awarded a triple. Play was temporarily halted as Sheffield was shaken up in the collision. Sheffield was checked out by the Yankees trainer and remained in the game. After play resumed Mussina faced Chone Figgins and struck him out looking to end the inning. As in Game 2 a defensive gaffe by the Yankees allowed the Angels to score and take the lead in the game.
The Yankees failed to answer the Angels in the top of the 3rd inning. The Angels, however, weren’t through with Mussina as they scored twice more before chasing him to the showers. He was relieved by Randy Johnson who got Steve Finley to ground out to end the inning. The score stood at 5-2 Angels.
The Yankees offense, the one that was supposed to be filled with clean up hitters, never materialized. They struck out, popped out, grounded out or flew out time and time again. Finally in the 7th inning Derek Jeter started off the inning with a solo home run to make the score 5-3. Once again Alex Rodriguez failed to matter as he grounded out to shortstop Orlando Cabrera for the first out of the inning. Luckily for Rodriguez the MVP voting was done before the playoffs or else David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox would win the award hands down. Jason Giambi kept the inning alive by doubling to deep right-center, but was stranded by Gary Sheffield (flied out to right field) and Hideki Matsui (popped out to catcher Bengie Molina).
In the meantime Randy Johnson was sterling in relief. He pitched 4-1/3 innings and only allowed three hits, but no runs. He struck out two and walked none. Johnson’s relief appearance was head and shoulders over his Game 3 start when he last only three innings, giving up five earned runs in the process.
In the 8th inning Yankees set up man Tom Gordon relieved Johnson and threw a scoreless inning by retiring the Angels in order. The Yankees were now left with three outs in which to extend their season.
Derek Jeter led off the 9th inning with a single to left field off Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez. Alex Rodriguez came to the plate with an opportunity to tie the game with one swing of the bat. Up to this point Rodriguez had only had two hits and no RBI. He was batting a paltry .167. K-Rod got A-Rod to hit into a double play moving the Angels within one out of American League Championship Series. Jason Giambi singled off Rodriguez to extend the Yankees season just a little bit longer. Mark Bellhorn pinch ran for Giambi and took second base on defensive indifference. Gary Sheffield singled and was replaced with Tony Womack at first base. With Bellhorn at second and Womack at first Hideki Matsui came to the plate representing the Yankees last hope. Matsui smacked a hard shot to the right side of the diamond, but first baseman Darrin Erstad made a spectacular stab on the ball, got up and flipped it to a covering Frankie Rodriguez and suddenly the Angels were headed for the ALCS. The Yankees were headed home.
For the second time in four years the Angels eliminated the Yankees in the ALDS. The Yankees’ $203 million budget proved once again that desire and play, not money determines winners. It has now been five years since New York sipped champagne at the end of a World Series run. Each year owner George Steinbrenner has spent more money and each year the Yankees have failed to claim professional baseball’s ultimate prize.
As in last year’s ALCS against the Boston Red Sox Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield virtually disappeared offensively when the Yankees needed their bats the most. Rodriguez said after the game he played his guts out and left his heart on the field so he wasn’t going to hang his head. He was going to learn from the experience. The question begs didn’t he learn enough from his disappearing act last year to avoid a similar display this year?
To be fair Rodriguez and Sheffield weren’t the only players who could vie for the lead in the “Invisible Man.” Jorge Posada batted .250 with one home run and 2 RBI. Hideki Matsui went 4 for 20 (.200) with one home run and an RBI. Bernie Williams hit .211 with no home runs and one RBI. As a team the Yankees were out-averaged, out-homered, out-RBI’ed and out-pitched in this series. The Angels got hits when it mattered and the Yankees didn’t.
The Yankees can’t say they didn’t get a break or two either. In tonight’s game alone the Yankees received a huge break when Cy Young candidate Bartolo Colon’s balky back went out on him and he was forced to leave the game in the second inning. That brought in newcomer Ervin Santana to pick up the pieces. Santana wasn’t sharp early and the Yankees had the opportunity to show patience at the plate and punish the young right-hander. They didn’t do so and Santana settled down and pitched wonderfully in relief.
These Yankees are nowhere near the Yankees’ squads of 1996, 1998-99 and 2000. Those teams had the killer instinct in the playoffs. Even if those teams were behind late in the game they could and would come back on their opponents and win the game. If the Yankees lead after the 6th inning the game was pretty much over. Now no lead is safe, because the pitching staff can’t be relied upon to protect the lead.
As in 2002 I witnessed an Angels’ team who wanted the series more. They did exactly what they had to do to win it. Whether it was a suicide squeeze play, stealing a base or sacrificing the Angels would make things happen. They’re good at it. On the other hand, the Yankees don’t play small ball. When they try they look unprepared, because they don’t practice it. That was really a big factor in this series. The Angels had a bigger bag of tricks than the Yankees.
Now comes the long flight home and on the other end awaits their employer George Steinbrenner. Steinbrenner shelled out a lot of money putting this team on the field and like his horse, Bellamy Road in the Kentucky Derby, the Yankees finished out of the money.
It is safe to say that no one’s job is safe at this point. No one is untouchable except maybe Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. After their performances in the ALDS many of the Yankees players coming up for contracts had better be cautious about how they ask the Boss for a raise. It will be a classic case of “what have you done for me lately.” George Steinbrenner likes to win. He spends money to win. For the past five years his teams haven’t gotten him a World Series trophy. Needless to say, there will be many empty lockers in the Yankees clubhouse come next spring. They will be filled by new names and new players. Who is a question only Steinbrenner will be able to answer. Time will tell us the answer.
Welcome to the off-season Yankee fans. It’s only 4-1/2 months until pitchers and catchers report for spring training. See you then.
PLAY BALL!
© 2005 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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DEUCES WILDYanks-Angels to break 2-2 deadlock today at Angel StadiumBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 10, 2005What started out looking like a repeat of the 2002 ALDS changed with the shake of a thermometer. Angels Game 4 starter Jarrod Washburn came down with an infected throat and very high fever. The Angels were suddenly in dire straits. They had already sent their Cy Young candidate pitcher, Bartolo Colon, back to Anaheim to get ready to start Game 5 if it was necessary. So they had to turn to their other horse John Lackey on short rest to start the game against the New York Yankees.
The Yankees who had gained home field advantage by splitting the first two games in Anaheim gave the advantage right back by dropping Game 3 to the Angels at Yankee Stadium losing 11-7. The culprit in that game was none other than the man they call the Big Unit. Randy Johnson, who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks, is being paid millions to be a stopper. Unfortunately, Johnson’s history in divisional series play isn’t very good. He entered the game Friday night with a 9-8 record and an ERA of 4.70. The Angels reminded the Unit of his dismal numbers by pounding him for five earned runs on 9 hits in 3 innings of work. Johnson worked into the 4th inning, but was pulled when he couldn’t record an out. The Yankees came back to take a slim 6-5 lead, but the relief corps couldn’t hold it and the Yankees were ravaged for 6 runs before Derek Jeter hit a non-factoring solo shot in the 8th inning to make the final score 11-7.
Saturday’s game was rained out, which only served to give the Angels pitching staff, most notably its relievers, a much needed day of rest. With the Yankees down 2-1 in the series things didn’t look rosy for the Boys from the Bronx. Jarrod Washburn compiled a 2-2 record against the Yankees this year with an ERA of 2.35. The Bombers were batting .255 as a team against him.
On the Yankees side of the ledger they had Shawn Chacon pitching the game for them. Chacon was obtained from the Colorado Rockies in mid-season where he had accumulated a record of 13-24 and a 5.27 ERA. When the Yankees got Chacon he was 1-7 and an ERA of 4.09. No one knew what to expect from him. However, Chacon has proven to be a godsend to a Yankees pitching staff that has been decimated by injuries. In 12 games started for New York Chacon is 7-3 with an ERA of 2.85. Opposing batters were only hitting .225 against him.
In his one appearance against the Angels this year Chacon started his first game as a Yankee, throwing six shutout innings against the Halos. Chacon received a no decision in that contest.
When news reached the Yankees that Washburn had been pulled and replaced by a short-rested John Lackey the Yankees had to be a little pleased they were going to face a guy coming in on 3 days rest. Lackey had been the Game 2 starter, but pitched only 5-2/3 innings. He gave up two runs while walking five and striking out three.
Both Lackey and Chacon started the game by throwing up zeros in the first five innings. Neither team could mount any offense. Finally in the top of the 6th inning the Angels got to Chacon for two runs on two hits to take a 2-0 lead. The Yankees cut the lead in half in the bottom of the frame when Gary Sheffield singled in Alex Rodriguez from second base. Angels manager Mike Scioscia retrieved his tired starter and brought in Scott Shields who induced Hideki Matsui to ground out to first base to end the inning.
Chacon started the 7th inning, but was replaced after giving up a one-out single to Bengie Molina. Joe Torre brought in lefty Al Leiter to face hardnosed Darrin Erstad. Leiter got Erstad to ground into a double play to end the inning.
With time running out on New York second baseman Robbie Cano got things started with an infield hit to the shortstop. Bernie Williams, who has had a miserable series with runners on, strode up to the plate to the chant of “Bernie Williams, Bernie Williams.” The Yankees fans were honoring a man who, for 15 years, wore the pinstripes with as much class and pride as any Yankee ever had. The fans wanted to see Williams do something positive, because they knew they may be seeing him for the last time playing at Yankee Stadium. Unfortunately, Bernie hit a ball to shallow center, which was caught by Steve Finley.
Now with one out Shields walked catcher Jorge Posada to give the Yankees runners at first and second. Ruben Sierra pinch hit for centerfielder Bubba Crosby and he tied the game at two with a single to right field scoring Cano from second. Posada moved to third on the play. Derek Jeter hit a ground ball to third baseman Chone Figgins and Posada ran toward home on the play. Figgins rushed his throw home causing Bengie Molina to corral the ball wide of the plate. He turned to tag Posada, but home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez ruled Posada crossed the plate before the tag. The Yankees led 3-2.
Scioscia replaced Shields with Kelvim Escobar and the Yankees managed to load the bases before Escobar struck out Jason Giambi and got Gary Sheffield to fly out to center.
Manager Joe Torre wasted no time. He brought in the Sandman.
Mariano Rivera arguably the best closer in history, certainly in post-season history, did what he does best. He shut the door on the Angels. Although the Angels have, as a team, the best numbers against Rivera in his career Mo was having none of it this night. He pitched two scoreless innings without surrendering a hit, a walk or a run. He struck out two, and got Super Angel Vladimir Guerrero to ground out to Robbie Cano to end the game.
The Yankees and Angels flew back to Orange County on late night flights to set up their Game 5 meeting at 5:00 p.m. ET today. It will be Mike Mussina versus Bartolo Colon. This is a rematch of Game 1, which was won by Mussina. The Yankees are hoping for a repeat of that outcome, but the Angels will be pulling out all the stops to win the game and the series in front of their crowd.
The winner will get to fly to Chicago after the Game to take on a well-rested White Sox team, which ousted the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox from the playoffs by sweeping them in three games. The loser will go home to ponder its future for the 2006 season.
It’s the Yankees versus Angels. It’s winner-take-all. Baseball doesn’t get any better than this.
PLAY BALL!
© 2005 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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ONE AND DONE!A few reasons why the Sox failed to repeat as championsBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 8, 2005The Mighty Casey would understand. As in Mudville there is no joy in Boston for the Red Sox have struck out. The 2004 World champions will not get the chance to raise another banner to open the 2006 season at home. They ran into buzz saw by the name of the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox eliminated the champs in front of the Red Sox Nation 5-3 to win their of the American League Divisional Series three games to none.
So what were the differences between last year and this year? First of all the passion that had driven the Red Sox and their fans for the past 86 years was put to rest in last year’s American League Championship Series. The Red Sox who were tired of coming in second place, year after year, to the Yankees, tired of hearing “1918-1918-1918,” and tired of succumbing to the so-called “Curse of the Bambino” exorcized all of that by beating the Yankees at Yankee Stadium to go to the World Series. They did it in dramatic fashion by coming back from being down three games to none to win the final four games and the series from their hated rivals.
For 86 years the Red Sox and their nation had their rivals and fans to the south to feed off of. Hate and contempt are powerful motivators. For most of the 20th century the Boston Red Sox were slapped around by the Yankees and boy did they and their fans hear about it. Always the bridesmaid, but never the bride was their lot in baseball. The Red Sox, before their magical season last year, had last won a baseball title in 1918. That year Babe Ruth pitched for them only giving up two earned runs in 17 innings of work. In 1919 the Red Sox missed the World Series and on January 5, 1920 its cash strapped owner, Harry Frazee, sold the Babe to Col. Jake Ruppert and the New York Yankees for $125,000. The money was allegedly used by Frazee to bankroll a play he was producing by the name of “No, No Nanette!” It was one of the biggest baseball blunders in history. In the four years Ruth played for the Sox he pitched to a 78-40 record and Boston had won World Series titles in 1915-16, 1918. In 1919 Ruth hit .322 with 29 home runs, which was more than every other franchise did as a team.
After the sale of Ruth to the Yankees the Boston Red Sox never again, in the 20th Century, tasted champagne after a World Series appearance. The “Curse of the Bambino” arose to haunt the Red Sox and their fans. In the meantime, the New York Yankees went from also-rans to baseball powerhouses.
In 1921 the Yankees made their first World Series appearance against their city rivals the New York Giants. The Yanks lost that series five games to three, but a new trend was born. The Yankees lost again to the Giants in the 1922 World Series, but in 1923 after a brand new Yankee Stadium was opened the Yankees raised their first World Series banner. The Yankees finally ousted the Giants as the Kings of New York by taking the series four games to two. The Yankees never lost another World Series to that team.
With the coming of Babe Ruth the Yankees had finally arrived. From 1920 until present the Yankees have won 26 World Series championships, 39 American League Championships and have made 45 post-season appearances. No other team in baseball history comes close to those numbers. No wonder the Bronx Bombers are so universally loved by their fans and hated by their opponents. Everyone gets extra enjoyment out of beating the damn Yankees.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox floundered in the sea of success. Oh sure, they made it to the World Series in 1946, 1967, 1975 and 1986, but just when it seemed they were on the brink of making it over the top something quirky always happened. Bill Buckner and Bucky Dent, two names that always raise the ire of a devoted Red Sox fan, are prime examples of the ill-fortune that always seemed to follow Boston into the post-season. The Red Sox were like a teasing Siren to their fans. They would always give them hope, but then, carve their hearts out with another gut-wrenching loss. It was even worse when those losses were to the Yankees.
No situation in the long, storied rivalry between the Yankees and Sox was more evident than Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series. This series had had it all. Confrontations, brawls and words were being littered all over the diamond. It was another classic series between these two adversaries. It was akin to a classic heavyweight fight where there was no defense just two teams just whaling away on each other. It came down to the last man standing.
In Game 7 with the Sox leading 5-2 going into the bottom of the 8th inning then manager Grady Little made a tremendous mistake by leaving his ace Pedro Martinez in the game. Martinez had pitched brilliantly, but the Yankees were starting to get to him. Martinez told Little he was fine and Little left him in the game. The Yankees went on to score three times to tie the score 5-5. The game finally came down to two-game ALCS winner Tim Wakefield and light hitting Yankees’ third baseman Aaron Boone. Wakefield threw his wiffle knuckleball, which stayed out over the plate and Boone deposited into the left field stands for a walk-off home run. The Yankees went on to the World Series and the Red Sox, as usual, went home.
However, out of the ashes of those playoffs a new Red Sox Phoenix was born. The Sox acquired Curt Schilling, who quickly became a leader in the clubhouse. Johnny Damon anointed his teammates “a bunch of idiots,” and the new Boston rallying cry was “Why not us?” The Sox and Yankees trudged through the 2004 campaign with the Yankees winning their 7th straight division title and Boston coming in as the wildcard entry. The scene was set for another confrontation between professional sports two greatest rivals. The Sox, although entering the playoffs as the wildcard, played brilliantly. They swept the always tough Anaheim Angels in the ALDS and waited for the one team they wanted most. The Yankees dispatched the Minnesota Twins in their half of the ALDS 3-1 to set up the series with Boston.
The Red Sox were favored due in large part to their better pitching. But, it was the Yankees who muscled up taking the first three games of the series. In Game 3 the Yankees knocked in 19 runs on 22 hits and were looking like the Bronx Bombers of yesteryear. What was thought to be an offensive juggernaut was in reality an aberration. In Game 4 with the Yankees ahead 4-3 going into the 9th inning closer Mariano Rivera entered the game to close the door on the Sox season. Rivera hiccupped and walked lead off batter Kevin Millar. Pinch runner Dave Roberts came in to run for Millar and promptly stole second base on Rivera. Third baseman Bill Mueller singled to score Roberts and tie the score at four. The damage was done. Although the Yankees resisted, the Sox scored twice in the bottom of the 12th inning to win 6-4.
The steal by Roberts energized the Sox who also won the next three games to win the ALCS four games to three. They celebrated joyfully on the hallowed grounds of Yankee Stadium. Boston had done the unimaginable. They were the first team to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series. A large dent (no pun intended) was put into the “Curse of the Bambino.” Only one obstacle remained.
The Red Sox rolled through the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals by sweeping them in four games. The winner of the series was never in doubt. The Boys from Beantown had finally done what Ted Williams, Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, Johnny Pesky and Carl Yastremski couldn’t do. They won a ring.
But, with winning a ring the Sox also lost some things. They lost their ever burning desire for a world series victory. What had been unattainable for 86 years was finally theirs. They would no longer have to endure the loser’s mantle. They had broken the “Curse” forever. Anything that happened from that point on couldn’t be blamed on Babe Ruth or the New York Yankees. It was like a volcano whose lava keeps pushing against the surface of the earth, finally blowing through in a spectacular fire show. Once the lava cools and the pressure is off there is no more pent up energy to leap forth. The same thing happened to the Red Sox. They went from “what about us,” to “so what’s next?”
The 2005 edition of the Boston Red Sox weren’t the lovable bunch of idiots everyone had pulled for last year. They were now the defending champions with a big target on their backs. Now they were the hunted. Everybody played them just a little bit harder than before and it showed. The Red Sox vulnerabilities, like the Yankees, were more exposed and teams exploited them. The pitching was no longer there and they had to rely all to often on their offense to get them over the top in games. Once that offense met really good pitching as in the case of the Chicago White Sox the deposed world champions folded up like a bunch of nomad tents. They had run out of comebacks. It is always easier to win a title than to defend one. That’s why it changes hands so often.
Only time will tell if this season was a bump in the road of success, or has a new, long dry spell been started? With no curse, no Babe Ruth and no 1918 the Red Sox and their fans have to search for new villains. The new season is only 4-1/2 months away and a new chapter will begin. It’ll be interesting to see how the Sox write it.
PLAY BALL!© 2005 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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ON THE BRINKAngels 11-7 pounding put Yankees on edge of eliminationBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 8, 2005What is it about the Los Angeles/California/Anaheim Angels the New York Yankees can’t solve? In another must win situation in front of the Pinstriped Nation the Yankees failed miserably. The Angels, who left the heat and sun of Southern California for the cold and rainy weather of the east coast, wasted no time in getting home field advantage back on their side of the ledger with an 11-7 drubbing of the Bronx Bummers.
There was nothing that wasn’t favorable to the Yankees. The nasty weather, the home crowd, the sights and sounds of New York, a line up of clean up hitters, and on the mound one of the meanest, filthiest pitchers ever to chalk up a rosin bag in the name of Randy Johnson.
Game 3 was a lock right?
Needless to say, Randy Johnson and the rest of the Yankees failed to read the script. Instead of throwing un-hittable pitches to the Angels the no-so-big unit threw batting practice instead. In three innings of work Johnson gave up five runs on nine hits, leaving his team in a 5-0 hole to dig out of. Johnson, who had finished the season with six straight wins, including the division winning game at Fenway Park, started the fourth inning, but couldn’t record an out. After 62 pitches of inefficiency and loading the bases Joe Torre had seen enough. He brought out his hook and pulled Johnson from the game. The Unit walked off the mound to a chorus of boos and a hefty 15.00 ERA. Everyone was stunned.
Torre brought in Aaron Small to face a near-impossible situation. Torre was asking Small to apply a tourniquet to the gapping wound opened by Johnson’s butchery. Small quickly went to work and struck out the first man he faced, Adam Kennedy. He then got a ground ball out of the next batter, Chone Figgins, who hit it to the right of second baseman Robinson Cano. Cano ranged to his right, made a sliding stop of the ball, stood up and threw it under his left arm to a waiting Derek Jeter who completed the spectacular double play. In a New York minute Aaron Small got his team out of a bases loaded, no outs jam without surrendering a single run.
It was a turning point in the game for the Yankees.
Hideki Matsui lead off the bottom of the fourth with an opposite field home run. Cano and Bernie Williams followed with singles. Next, Tino Martinez grounded out to the right side of the infield, to move Cano and Williams to second and third. Jorge Posada also grounded out, but it was enough to score Cano making it 5-2 with two outs. Derek Jeter singled to right field and scored Bernie Williams. Alex Rodriguez walked sending Jeter to second. Angels' manager Mike Scioscia relieved starter Paul Byrd with Brendan Donnelly. Jason Giambi hit a squibber through the left side of the infield and Jeter scored from second base. Gary Sheffield smacked a laser beam shot to center field, but the ball stayed up long enough for speedy centerfielder Figgins to make a sparkling, sliding catch to end the inning. The Yankees had closed the gap to 5-4.
Small went back to work in the top of the fifth inning and the Angels went down in order. The Yankees still energized from the previous inning continued where they left off. Matsui walked to open the inning, followed by a double by Cano to deep left field to score Matsui from first. The Angels attempted to get Matsui at the plate, but Orlando Cabrera’s throw sailed over the head of catcher Bengie Molina allowing Cano to take third. Bernie Williams hit a sacrifice fly into left field scoring Cano. Suddenly the Yankees had come all the way back from a 5-0 deficit to take a 6-5 lead at the end of the 5th inning. The crowd inside the stadium was loud and back into the game.
However, their glee was short-lived when in the top of the 6th inning the Angels Juan Rivera hit a one out double to deep left field and was scored by Darin Erstad’s single to right. Angels’ centerfielder Steve Finley struck out, but second baseman Adam Kennedy singled to right to give the Angels a first and third situation. Figgins came to the plate and smacked a single to center scoring Erstad. The Angels were suddenly back in front 7-6. They never looked back. Tanyon Sturtze relieved Small and got out of the inning without further trouble.
The Yankees did nothing in the bottom of the 6th and 7th innings. The Angels, meanwhile, scored two more runs in both the 7th and 8th innings to give them an 11-6 lead. The Yankees last run came on a lead off home run by Derek Jeter in the bottom of the 8th inning to make the final score 11-7. In all the Angels collected 19 hits, seven of which were multi-base hits. It was the Angels who chose not to wilt when the Yankees came roaring back to take a temporary lead. It was the Angels who made things happen, like Finley’s suicide squeeze bunt in the 7th inning scoring Jose Molina from third base to give his team a 9-6 lead.
It was the Angels who didn’t panic or crack under pressure.
The Yankees, on the other hand, never seem to try and mix things up. They are content in waiting for some kind of miracle to happen. Where the Angels play their cards close to the vest, pulling things out of the small ball playbook, the Yankees show their cards face up all the time, rarely doing anything out of their set script. This team, which used to be as exciting to watch as any team in baseball, has become tiresome, predictable and old. There never seems to be any joy or bounce in the dugout. You see smiles and laughter on the faces of the Angels and tight lips and expressionless looks on the faces of the Yankees.
Game 4 is this afternoon at 4:05 p.m. ET. Unless the Yankees start changing their set ways it will be the last game of the year for them. They will be following the Red Sox out to the driving ranges and practice greens to work on their golf games, while the Angels invade Chicago in an ALCS showdown. Alex Rodriguez said his offense is very capable of turning things on. Well, they better find the switch in a hurry, because so far all the Yankees faithful has seen from him and others are big holes in the line up. Shawn Chacon takes the mound for the Bombers and Jarrod Washburn starts for the Halos. Chacon has to have his best game today; otherwise, it’s going to be another long, cold winter in the Bronx.
PLAY BALL!
© 2005 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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THE ANGELS AWAITYankees to meet Angels in Anaheim after loss to Red SoxBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 2, 2005Anaheim - It’s official! All the slots for the playoffs have been filled. The Boston Red Sox didn’t need to depend on another Cleveland Indians loss to the Chicago White Sox to go to the playoffs. They took matters into their own hands by hanging a 10 spot on their nemesis from New York beating the Yankees 10-1 before a grateful and raucous crowd at Fenway Park on Sunday. The victory insured the Red Sox the wildcard slot and a trip to Chicago to take on the other Sox.
The other wildcard race in the National League was also decided Sunday as the Houston Astros slipped into the final playoff bracket by beating the Chicago Cubs 6-4 at Wrigley Field. With the win all destinations have been determined for Game 1 of the League Divisional Series. It will go as follows:
American League:
New York Yankees @ L.A. Angels
Boston Red Sox @ Chicago White
National League:
San Diego Padres @ Atlanta Braves
Houston Astros @ St. Louis Cardinals
For a complete listing of telecasts and game times you can go to the official Major League Baseball site at www.mlb.com for information.
With the loss to the Red Sox the Yankees have jumped out of the frying pan and straight into the proverbial fire. A victory by the Yankees would have insured them of a Round One home field advantage against these same Angels. However, the Red Sox beat on the Yankees pitching corps like a bongo drum touching up starter Jaret Wright and six relievers for 10 runs on eleven hits. The Red Sox hit out three home runs off various Yankees pitchers to put the game out of reach. The New Yorkers will now have to pack their bags and fly to Anaheim where Mike Scoscia and his team await.
The last time these two teams met in Anaheim the Angels took 3 out of 4 games and that was while they weren’t hitting or playing very well after the all-star break. The Yankees managed to escape an embarrassing four-game sweep by the Halos by eking out a win in the last game.
It is well documented how tough this scrappy group from Orange County, California plays the Yankees. In the Joe Torre era only the Angels have had a winning record against the teams he’s managed.
Let’s not forget the ALDS in 2002. New York had just won their 5th straight division title and was a heavy favorite to beat a team that had never won a playoff series. Three times before (1979, 1982, and 1986) the Angels were knocked out of the playoffs. The Yankees had won 103 wins that year. They were also coming off four straight appearances in the World Series where New York had amassed a 3-1 record. The Yankees also boasted a starting pitching staff of Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte and David Wells. Who would you have placed your money on?
The Yankees started Game 1 of the 2002 ALDS at Yankee Stadium with Roger Clemens on the mound, but the Angels roughed him up 4 runs in 5-2/3 innings. The Angels hung in with the Bombers and actually led 5-4 going into the 8th inning. The Yankees first tied the score and then Bernie Williams homered with two on to give the Yankees an 8-5 win. That was the last win the Yankees would see.
The Angels took the second game at Yankee Stadium with an 8-6 victory. The team from Anaheim flew home with a split and a jet full of confidence. The heavily favored Yankees were reeling. Now it was a best-of-three series and the Angels had home field advantage. They wasted no time in taking care of the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees were swept out of the ALDS by the Angels winning both games at home. Game 4 was particularly embarrassing as the Angels scored eight runs in the 5th inning off starter David Wells in route to a 9-5 win. The vaunted Yankees were dismissed from the playoffs by the upstart Halos.
The Angels went into the ALCS against the Minnesota Twins and rolled to the American League Championship by besting the Twins four games to one. After 42 years of coming up short the then Anaheim Angels were going to their first World Series.
The 2002 World Series was a hard fought, seven-game affair that pitted the Angels against the San Francisco Giants. The Giants were coming off an impressive playoff run of their own. They beat a very determined Atlanta Braves team in five games to win the NLDS. They moved on to the National League Championship Series where they bested another National League heavyweight the St. Louis Cardinals in five games.
The 2002 World Series was a classic. Game 6 was a game for the ages. With the Giants leading the series three games to two the series shifted back to Anaheim where all the Giants had to do was win the game and claim their first World Series title since 1954 when the team was known as the New York Giants.
It appeared in Game 6 the Angels magic run had finally come to an end. They entered the bottom of the 7th inning down 5-0 behind the pitching of Russ Ortiz. The Angels got busy and touched Ortiz up for 2 runs. He was replaced by Felix Rodriguez who gave up another run. The Game was suddenly 5-3 going into the top of the 9th inning. Angels Manager Mike Scoscia brought in his closer Troy Percival to hold down the Giants. Percy got the job done as he set the Giants down in order, giving his team a last chance to keep the series going. His offense didn’t disappoint.
The Angels got their last licks in and scored 3 times in the bottom of the 9th inning to turn a 5-0 sure loss into a 6-5 Halos victory. The Angels lived to fight another day and the champagne in the visitor’s clubhouse remained corked.
The Game 6 loss took all of the air out of the San Francisco Giants. Game 7 was a mere formality as the Giants quietly slipped away into the Orange County sunset losing 4-1 giving the Angels their first ever world championship.
The Angels have always been a constant thorn in the side of the New York Yankees. Whether they have been in last place or first place they always give the New Yorkers their best. Expect this playoff series to be no different. The Angels are back-to-back AL West Division Champs. After being ousted out of the playoffs last year by the Boston Red Sox they’d like nothing better than to exact some old fashion butt kicking on the Yankees. Those same Red Sox are responsible for setting up this upcoming series.
The Yankees have their work cut out for them. They come into Anaheim facing a very hot Angels club. The Yankees are hot too. Both teams posted 19-9 records in September, but the Angels won the head-to-head series against the Yankees this year six games to four. Additionally, the Yankees will face Cy Young candidate Bartolo Colon (21-8, 3.48 ERA) in Game 1. Colon is 4-4 lifetime against the Yankees, but won his only outing against them this year.
The Yankees will counter with Mike Mussina (13-8, 4.41 ERA). Mussina recently came off a three week stint on the DL with a sore right elbow. The Moose is 1-2 this year against the Angels, but is 14-8 lifetime.
On paper the Angels have the advantage in the pitching department with a team ERA of 3.67 good for third in the American League. The Yankees team ERA is nearly a run higher at 4.48. The Yankees have a slight advantage in team batting averages with a team average of .276 versus a .270 average for the Angels. The Yankees have the power numbers in team SLG% (.451 to .409), OBP (.335 to .325), home runs (229 to 146) and RBI (853 to 720).
It is said that good pitching will always beat good hitting. The Yankees hope that view doesn’t hold true in this short series. The Yankees starters will have to step up big time in order to keep their team in the hunt. If the Angels get to the Bombers leaky bullpen early it could be a very short series. The first pitch is scheduled for about 8:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Enjoy the game and the playoffs.
PLAY BALL!© 2005 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE AL PLAYOFFSYankees clinch AL East, but many scenarios remainBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 1, 2005It took 161 games to do it, but the American League championship has finally been decided. Thanks to an 8-4 Yankees victory today at Fenway Park the New Yorkers clinched their eighth straight division title. The Bombers owe a great big thanks to the Sox for that. That’s the Chicago White Sox I mean. The White Sox, who had already claimed the Central Division title when they rolled into Cleveland, took out the Indians with a 4-3 win.
With Cleveland’s loss and the Yankees win the Boston Red Sox will have to win tomorrow to possibly avoid a one-game playoff with the Indians should the Tribe take the last game of their series with White Sox. Otherwise, should Boston win and Cleveland lose the Red Sox will win the wildcard berth even though they will have an identical record with the Yankees. Confused? Let’s see if the situation can be explained.
As in football, the first tie-breaker in any scenario is head-to-head competition. Since New York won today the worst they can do, if they lose Sunday, is have a 10-9 record against the Red Sox this year. That means the Yankees win the season match up. By virtue of winning more games than the Red Sox the Yankees get the division championship. If Boston wins Sunday they will win the wildcard berth outright and the Cleveland Indians get to go home and work on their golf games.
However, should the Indians win and the Red Sox lose on Sunday that scenario would cause a one-game playoff to be scheduled for Monday at Fenway Park to determine the wildcard winner, as both teams would have identical records. The wildcard will also determine who’s packing their bags for which opponent’s park.
The Chicago White Sox no matter what will have home field advantage
throughout the playoffs and the World Series, because they ended up with the best record in the American League. They will also host the first game of the World Series if they get that far by virtue of the American League’s All-star Game victory over the National League back in July.
The other division winners, New York and the Los Angeles Angels, will have to wait to see who comes out as the wildcard winner. Since a division winner can’t meet a wildcard winner from the same division (i.e. New York, Boston or Chicago, Cleveland) in the first round the wildcard winner becomes crucial.
If the Cleveland Indians end up as the wildcard entry then the New York Yankees would travel to Chicago to take on White Sox in the American League Divisional Series, and Cleveland would travel to Anaheim to play the L.A. Angels. Conversely, should the Boston Red Sox win the wildcard they would travel to Chicago and the Yankees would be forced to play the Angels. Either way the Yankees are going to be a road team this year. The only way they host the league championship series is if they get through the first round and play the wildcard winner.
Call me crazy, but if I were the Yankees brain trust I would be rooting my head off for the Cleveland Indians to find a way to beat the White Sox while the Yankees try and win the rubber game of their series with the Red Sox. The last time the Yankees had to play the Angels in the ALDS was in 2002, and they were soundly thrashed by that club three games to one. Of course, that year the Angels also pounded everybody else into submission to win the franchise’s first World Series trophy. The Yankees would match up much better with the White Sox than the Angels.
Let’s not get ahead ourselves. The Yankees can’t worry about who they’ll potentially meet down the road in the playoffs. Their first order of business is to rest a few of the regulars who are banged up. Let some of the kids brought up in September get into the game so they have something to remember during the off-season. It will also give them a chance to showcase what they have and possibly get some attention for next season’s spring training. If it’s Joe Torre’s intention to have Mike Mussina as a post-season starter then I’d rest him and his sore elbow tomorrow and throw out Jaret Wright. However, I’m not the manager and Torre said he’d talk things over with Mel Stottlemyre before making a decision.
One more thing. I think with his performance today and his team winning the division title Alex Rodriguez has secured his second MVP trophy. If I had a vote that’s how I’d cast my ballot. David Ortiz has had a monster season and if by some chance he ends up with the hardware I have no problem with it. He’s definitely deserving of the award. However, A-Rod went 4 for 5, with a home run and an RBI. He also played sparkling defense at third base. Ortiz went 1 for 4 with no home runs or RBI.
For the Yankees and Red Sox the game has more importance than what appears on the surface. The Yankees can control who they face in the first round, and the Red Sox can insure they are in the playoffs without playing an extra game. Sunday’s games should be quite a show. Any predictions?
© 2005 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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