ALL SMOKE AND NO BARBEQUE
Anemic Yankees succumb to Angels in deciding Game 5




By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 11, 2005

Anaheim – 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!



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