10/10: Firing on All Cylinders
Posted by: Patrick
Mike Mussina? He's a go. Randy Johnson? He's a go. Chien Ming-Wang? He's a go. Mariano Rivera? He's a go (for two innings, if needed). Flash Gordon (even though he's been shaky) didn't pitch last night. Aaron Small is probably ready, too. Nothing to save as there might be no tomorrow. So, hopefully, we'll have the pitching.
Will we have the hitting and the defense? We'll know soon. Go Yankees.
Will we have the hitting and the defense? We'll know soon. Go Yankees.
Posted by: Seamus
Shawn Chacon was great in his postseason debut and a few big hits by the usual clutch players helped the Yankees last night as the Bombers forced a do or die, winner take all game tonight at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Neither starter allowed a hit until the 4th inning, and John Lackey didn't allow one until the 5th. Chacon went 6 and 1/3, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and was perfect through the first 9 batters. The Yankees had only four hits, but they were all very timely as each one aside from Posada's in the 5th either drove in a run or came around to score.
The Angels struck first in the 6th with back-to-back doubles by Chone Figgins and Orlando Cabrera. Gary Sheffield answered back in the bottom of the inning with a base hit to left field that scored Alex Rodriguez. That prompted the Angels to pull Lackey, who although was great, was pitching on three days rest, and of course, you couldn't go wrong with that Angels bullpen, right? Well, wrong. In the 7th inning, Ruben Sierra came through again in the clutch as he pinch hit for Bubba Crosby and lined a single to right field, scoring Robinson Cano. On the next play, a ground ball by Derek Jeter scored Jorge Posada on a bad throw home by Chone Figgins (nice slide/dive/tumble/fall on his face by Posada after he crossed the plate). Last night it was the Yankee bullpen that was solid, as Al Leiter came entered the game in the 7th and forced an inning-ending double play by Darin Erstad, and Mariano Rivera pitched two perfect innings to close it out.
Down 2-0 with only four innings to go against one of the best bullpens in baseball, it was hard not to get a little nervous. But the big bats came through, and of course, Ruben Sierra came up big once again in a desperate situation. The guy just seems to have a knack for it. Every year he hits about .240 during the regular season, yet no matter how bad he's slumping he always seems to come up with that big hit in October. At least it's been that way since he rejoined the team in 2003.
There will be some tomorrow who are going to complain that whoever wins this series is at a disadvantage in the ALCS because they had to travel all the way from New York to California, and then all the way to Chicago again for Tuesday night. And to that I say, who cares right now? The Yankees face another elimination game tonight and will send Mike Mussina to the mound to face Cy Young candidate Bartolo Colon in Game 5. If the Moose pitches well, I think the Yankees should be able to take this.
The Angels struck first in the 6th with back-to-back doubles by Chone Figgins and Orlando Cabrera. Gary Sheffield answered back in the bottom of the inning with a base hit to left field that scored Alex Rodriguez. That prompted the Angels to pull Lackey, who although was great, was pitching on three days rest, and of course, you couldn't go wrong with that Angels bullpen, right? Well, wrong. In the 7th inning, Ruben Sierra came through again in the clutch as he pinch hit for Bubba Crosby and lined a single to right field, scoring Robinson Cano. On the next play, a ground ball by Derek Jeter scored Jorge Posada on a bad throw home by Chone Figgins (nice slide/dive/tumble/fall on his face by Posada after he crossed the plate). Last night it was the Yankee bullpen that was solid, as Al Leiter came entered the game in the 7th and forced an inning-ending double play by Darin Erstad, and Mariano Rivera pitched two perfect innings to close it out.
Down 2-0 with only four innings to go against one of the best bullpens in baseball, it was hard not to get a little nervous. But the big bats came through, and of course, Ruben Sierra came up big once again in a desperate situation. The guy just seems to have a knack for it. Every year he hits about .240 during the regular season, yet no matter how bad he's slumping he always seems to come up with that big hit in October. At least it's been that way since he rejoined the team in 2003.
There will be some tomorrow who are going to complain that whoever wins this series is at a disadvantage in the ALCS because they had to travel all the way from New York to California, and then all the way to Chicago again for Tuesday night. And to that I say, who cares right now? The Yankees face another elimination game tonight and will send Mike Mussina to the mound to face Cy Young candidate Bartolo Colon in Game 5. If the Moose pitches well, I think the Yankees should be able to take this.
Posted by: Seamus
After the first two games of this series featured some pretty good pitching, I figured that last night's game might be the best pitching contest of the series, with Randy Johnson going up against Paul Byrd. It turns out I'm no psychic as the Yankees got rocked for 11 runs and lost the game by a score of 11-7. There were 30 hits in the game between the two teams (19 by the Angels) and 3 errors (2 by the Yankees). Neither starter was able to get through the 4th inning as Johnson allowed 5 runs on 9 hits and Byrd allowed 4 runs on 7 hits. Fourteen players had two or more hits, including Garret Anderson, who had four. Aaron Small got the Yankees out of a first-and-third, nobody out jam in the 4th inning, but recorded the loss as he gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in 2 and 2/3.
The Yankees got off to a rough start as the Unit served up a three-run homer to Garret Anderson in the 1st inning. The Angels made it 5-0 in the 3rd courtesy of Ben Molina's two-run shot. The Yankees began their comeback in the 4th when Hideki Matsui led the inning off with a home run as the Bombers tallied 4 runs in the inning. They took the lead in the 5th on a sacrifice fly by Bernie Williams which scored Cano after he doubled to left center. However, the Yankees would not hold on to that lead for long as the Angels came back with two runs in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings. Derek Jeter cut the lead to 11-7 with a solo shot in the 8th, but that would be all she wrote as that score remained final.
Well, the Yankees are now facing elimination because the guy we brought in during the offseason for games like these couldn't hit his spots. Of course I can't go on talking about this game without mentioning some more sloppy defense on the Yankees' part. I mean how hard is it to keep your foot on the bag until you catch the ball?
The biggest enigma of this series so far has to be Robinson Cano. He's been a hitting machine and the Yankees wouldn't have won Game 1 if it weren't for him, but this is the second straight game in which he's made an error on a routine play, and in the first game he was lucky not to be charged with an error on that ball that got past him in the 9th inning. I understand that none of the errors ended up hurting us in the end, as we would've lost both games regardless. However, I am really impressed on how he's hit for the Yankees so far in the postseason as a rookie and I believe overall he's done more to help the team in the series than he has to hurt them.
The Yankees will send Shawn Chacon to the mound this afternoon in their first (hopefully not last) elimination game of 2005. His opponent will be Jarrod Washburn. Chacon has been a rock for us since coming over from Colorado, and he has shown that he isn't phased by the pressure of pitching in the Bronx. Hopefully today if he can be stopped, it's only because of the weather.
EDIT: Today's game has just been rained out. Game 4 will now be played tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.
The Yankees got off to a rough start as the Unit served up a three-run homer to Garret Anderson in the 1st inning. The Angels made it 5-0 in the 3rd courtesy of Ben Molina's two-run shot. The Yankees began their comeback in the 4th when Hideki Matsui led the inning off with a home run as the Bombers tallied 4 runs in the inning. They took the lead in the 5th on a sacrifice fly by Bernie Williams which scored Cano after he doubled to left center. However, the Yankees would not hold on to that lead for long as the Angels came back with two runs in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings. Derek Jeter cut the lead to 11-7 with a solo shot in the 8th, but that would be all she wrote as that score remained final.
Well, the Yankees are now facing elimination because the guy we brought in during the offseason for games like these couldn't hit his spots. Of course I can't go on talking about this game without mentioning some more sloppy defense on the Yankees' part. I mean how hard is it to keep your foot on the bag until you catch the ball?
The biggest enigma of this series so far has to be Robinson Cano. He's been a hitting machine and the Yankees wouldn't have won Game 1 if it weren't for him, but this is the second straight game in which he's made an error on a routine play, and in the first game he was lucky not to be charged with an error on that ball that got past him in the 9th inning. I understand that none of the errors ended up hurting us in the end, as we would've lost both games regardless. However, I am really impressed on how he's hit for the Yankees so far in the postseason as a rookie and I believe overall he's done more to help the team in the series than he has to hurt them.
The Yankees will send Shawn Chacon to the mound this afternoon in their first (hopefully not last) elimination game of 2005. His opponent will be Jarrod Washburn. Chacon has been a rock for us since coming over from Colorado, and he has shown that he isn't phased by the pressure of pitching in the Bronx. Hopefully today if he can be stopped, it's only because of the weather.
EDIT: Today's game has just been rained out. Game 4 will now be played tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.
Posted by: Patrick
The ESPN.com guys have spoken. They have selected A-Rod for MVP and Mariano for Cy Young.
A-Rod was picked for MVP by Jerry Crasnick, Buster Olney, Rob Neyer, Jim Caple, Tim Kurkjian, Steve Phillips, Gary Gillette, Eric Neel, Alan Schwarz and Bob Klapisch. Final standings: A-Rod - 10, Ortiz - 7.
Mo was picked for Cy Young by Jerry Crasnick, Buster Olney, Jim Caple, Gary Gillette, Bob Klapisch, Eric Karabell and Gary Miller. Final standings: Mo - 7, Colon - 5, Santana - 4.
Joe Torre was picked for Manager of the Year by Steve Phillips, Eric Neel and Gary Miller. Final standings: Guillen - 9, Wedge - 5, Torre - 3.
No Yankees were mentioned for Rookie of the Year.
A-Rod was picked for MVP by Jerry Crasnick, Buster Olney, Rob Neyer, Jim Caple, Tim Kurkjian, Steve Phillips, Gary Gillette, Eric Neel, Alan Schwarz and Bob Klapisch. Final standings: A-Rod - 10, Ortiz - 7.
Mo was picked for Cy Young by Jerry Crasnick, Buster Olney, Jim Caple, Gary Gillette, Bob Klapisch, Eric Karabell and Gary Miller. Final standings: Mo - 7, Colon - 5, Santana - 4.
Joe Torre was picked for Manager of the Year by Steve Phillips, Eric Neel and Gary Miller. Final standings: Guillen - 9, Wedge - 5, Torre - 3.
No Yankees were mentioned for Rookie of the Year.
10/06: Show Your Support for Mo
Posted by: Patrick
Do you feel that Mariano Rivera should win the 2005 American League MVP or Cy Young? Do you have a website? Would you like to show your support? Our sister site, MarianoRivera.com, has just launched a program for fans with websites to show their support. You place a graphic on your site, link it to MarianoRivera.com and your site is placed on the list of supporters. There are two graphics available, one for those who believe he should win the MVP and Cy Young and one for those who believe he should just win the Cy Young. Read more and get involved at MarianoRivera.com.
10/06: Mo for Cy Young
Posted by: Patrick
The other day, I wrote about Mariano and A-Rod's chances at the AL MVP. Today, we'll focus on Mo and the AL Cy Young.
In the AL Cy Young, you have 3 real good candidates. It really depends on what you like. If you don't have a thing against relievers, you have Mariano. If you like wins, there is Bartolo Colon who went 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA (leading the AL in wins by 3). If you like ERA, WHIP, BAA (and you want a starter), you have Johan Santana, who was 16-7 with a 2.87 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and .210 BAA. Let's run through the basic stats.
In the AL Cy Young, you have 3 real good candidates. It really depends on what you like. If you don't have a thing against relievers, you have Mariano. If you like wins, there is Bartolo Colon who went 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA (leading the AL in wins by 3). If you like ERA, WHIP, BAA (and you want a starter), you have Johan Santana, who was 16-7 with a 2.87 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and .210 BAA. Let's run through the basic stats.
Posted by: Patrick
Giambi wins AL Comeback award:
Unbelievable is right. I don't think anyone could have expected such a thing. Look at those splits. I remember chatting with Seamus and discussing virtually daily how big Giambi's contract was going to get as the years went on and what in the world we were going to do with it. But, he's turned it around and returned to being a big part of the lineup. Congrats Jason.
"It's unbelievable. I'm speechless," Giambi said. "I'm definitely honored. It's been a lot of hard work and a long road."
"He got out of the gate slow, but he had a burning desire to show he could return to be the player that everybody had learned to love," said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. "He had to go through so much this year, so I don't think anybody would have predicted this." ...
But his .271 average, 32 homers and 87 RBIs helped lift the Yankees into the postseason, as Giambi became a force to be reckoned with once again.
"I know there were other things, but just coming back from being sick, knowing where I was last year when I couldn't get out of bed," Giambi said, "to come in, play well and help this team get to the playoffs, it's unbelievable." ...
On May 9, Giambi was hitting .195 with three home runs and six RBIs. A move to the Minor Leagues was being discussed among team brass, and the future didn't appear to be very bright for the former AL Most Valuable Player.
"He got out of the gate slow, but he had a burning desire to show he could return to be the player that everybody had learned to love," said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. "He had to go through so much this year, so I don't think anybody would have predicted this." ...
But his .271 average, 32 homers and 87 RBIs helped lift the Yankees into the postseason, as Giambi became a force to be reckoned with once again.
"I know there were other things, but just coming back from being sick, knowing where I was last year when I couldn't get out of bed," Giambi said, "to come in, play well and help this team get to the playoffs, it's unbelievable." ...
On May 9, Giambi was hitting .195 with three home runs and six RBIs. A move to the Minor Leagues was being discussed among team brass, and the future didn't appear to be very bright for the former AL Most Valuable Player.
Unbelievable is right. I don't think anyone could have expected such a thing. Look at those splits. I remember chatting with Seamus and discussing virtually daily how big Giambi's contract was going to get as the years went on and what in the world we were going to do with it. But, he's turned it around and returned to being a big part of the lineup. Congrats Jason.
10/06: Marlins Talking to Girardi
Posted by: Patrick
There have been some rumblings in the past and now the wheels are in motion. Joe Girardi will interview with the Marlins. He'll be doing it on the Yankees off days.
Mazilli, Randolph... Girardi?
"They're young, they have a young pitching staff, they're very talented in the Minor Leagues and they have some really good players over there," Girardi said of the Marlins. "We'll see what happens." ...
"You learn how to prepare, and a lot of it is just dealing with players," he said, regarding his experience on the bench. "You can do all the preparation, but sometimes, you have to figure out how to get the most out of players. I've been very fortunate to play four years under Joe and then to sit next to him for a year."
"You learn how to prepare, and a lot of it is just dealing with players," he said, regarding his experience on the bench. "You can do all the preparation, but sometimes, you have to figure out how to get the most out of players. I've been very fortunate to play four years under Joe and then to sit next to him for a year."
Mazilli, Randolph... Girardi?
Posted by: Seamus
The Angels are heading back to the Bronx on Friday with the series tied at a game apiece. The Angels took Game 2 by a score of 5-3 courtesy of a solid performance by the Angels' bullpen and poor defense by the Yankees' infield. Chien-Ming Wang made his first career post-season start and was superb, but left the game with the Yankees trailing 4-2 as the Yankees allowed three unearned runs behind him on three errors by Yankee infielders, albeit one by Wang himself. The first Yankee error was by Robinson Cano in the 2nd inning, but it turned out to be harmless as the inning ended with the Yanks still leading 1-0. The next came in the 6th inning via Alex Rodriguez on a ground ball by Orlando Cabrera. Cabrera later came home to score on a single by Bengie Molina. In the 7th, a throw by Chien-Ming Wang pulled Tino Martinez off first base, allowing Steve Finley to reach on a sacrifice bunt. Both runners came around to score with two outs as Cabrera drove them home with a big single. Ben Molina put another run on the board with a homer in the 8th, but it wasn't needed as the Yankees would only get one more, courtesy of a home run by Jorge Posada.
As mentioned, aside from his error in the 7th, Wang was pretty good. The line score for him was 1 ER on 6 hits in 6 and 2/3. John Lackey pitched okay, as he allowed just two, but did not get through the 6th inning. The Yankees' bats were pretty quiet, as only Posada had a multi-hit game. Jeter, A-Rod, and Gary Sheffield were all held hitless. The Angels' offense all came from three players, as Juan Rivera and Ben Molina both had 2 hits including a dinger for each, and Orlando Cabrera drove in 2 runs with that single in the 7th.
Well, I don't know what purpose I could serve by trying to analyze why the Angels won this game and why the Yankees lost. It's quite simple. When your team gives up as many unearned runs as your team scores runs, you have nobody to blame but yourself. With all due respect to the Angels, as they did of course have to actually bring those runs home, this game was not as much a matter of the Angels winning as it was the Yankees losing. The Yanks found a way to beat themselves this time.
So now this best-of-5 series becomes best-of-3 as the teams will head back to Yankee Stadium Friday night with the series tied at 1. On the upside, the Yankees have taken over home-field advantage in this series by splitting the first two games in Anaheim. The Yankees will send Randy Johnson to the mound to face Paul Byrd Friday night at 8 p.m. If the Unit can give us what he's given us over his last 6 or 7 starts, I think we should be fine.
As mentioned, aside from his error in the 7th, Wang was pretty good. The line score for him was 1 ER on 6 hits in 6 and 2/3. John Lackey pitched okay, as he allowed just two, but did not get through the 6th inning. The Yankees' bats were pretty quiet, as only Posada had a multi-hit game. Jeter, A-Rod, and Gary Sheffield were all held hitless. The Angels' offense all came from three players, as Juan Rivera and Ben Molina both had 2 hits including a dinger for each, and Orlando Cabrera drove in 2 runs with that single in the 7th.
Well, I don't know what purpose I could serve by trying to analyze why the Angels won this game and why the Yankees lost. It's quite simple. When your team gives up as many unearned runs as your team scores runs, you have nobody to blame but yourself. With all due respect to the Angels, as they did of course have to actually bring those runs home, this game was not as much a matter of the Angels winning as it was the Yankees losing. The Yanks found a way to beat themselves this time.
So now this best-of-5 series becomes best-of-3 as the teams will head back to Yankee Stadium Friday night with the series tied at 1. On the upside, the Yankees have taken over home-field advantage in this series by splitting the first two games in Anaheim. The Yankees will send Randy Johnson to the mound to face Paul Byrd Friday night at 8 p.m. If the Unit can give us what he's given us over his last 6 or 7 starts, I think we should be fine.
10/05: Ken Rosenthal is a Reader!
Posted by: Patrick
Well, no, not really. But he posted an article today, covering what was on my mind last night.
Mussina adding to Yankee legacy:
Mussina adding to Yankee legacy:
The victory didn't rank with Mussina's best postseason moments as a Yankee — his seven scoreless innings with the team trailing the A's two games to none in the 2001 division series, his three scoreless innings of relief against the Red Sox in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, his victory over Josh Beckett in Game 3 of the '03 World Series. But with his triumph, Mussina added another chapter to his growing Yankees legacy.
