Game 6 Recap: The End of the Road

The Good

The Bad

The Ugly

I couldn't help myself.

The 2010 Yankees' demise in the ALCS reflected all the issues the team had during the regular season, particularly down the stretch.  Lack of big hits, inconsistent starting pitching, and erratic middle relief.  I'll give my thoughts on the reasons why and where I think the Yankees should/could be heading this offseason.  Until then I'll reminisce on 2009 for solace and congratulate the Texas Rangers on their first AL pennant.

Time to take down the flag.

ALCS: Game 6 - Starting Lineup: Diehard 2, Dieharder

1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Curtis Granderson, CF
3. Robinson Cano, 2B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Lance Berkman, 1B
6. Nick Swisher, RF
7. Jorge Posada, C
8. Marcus Thames, DH
9. Brett Gardner, LF


Phil Hughes, P


CC is available for one possibly two innings.  


The last time the Yankees came back from a 3-1 deficit in the postseason was in the 1958 World Series.  They beat Warren Spahn in Game 6 and Lew Burdette in Game 7 in Milwaukee.  We shall see.

ALCS: Game 5 - Starting Lineup: Save Us Big Man!

"You look tasty."


1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Nick Swisher, RF
3. Robinson Cano, 2B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Marcus Thames, DH
6. Lance Berkman, 1B
7. Jorge Posada, C
8. Curtis Granderson, CF
9. Brett Gardner, LF


Carsten Charles Sabathia, P


Although Tex is out, I like Cano hitting 3rd.  Preview of 2011.

ALCS: Game 4 Lineup - The Quest for Redemption

1. Jeter, SS
2. Granderson, CF
3. Teixeira, 1B
4. A-Rod, 3B
5. Cano, 2B
6. Swisher, RF
7. Berkman, DH
8. Gardner, LF
9. Cervelli, C

AJ Burnett, P

I would have normally opposed this move catching Cervelli for AJ's "comfort" but given the way Posada's been hitting, can Cervy be any worse?

Gun to his head, take away their salaries, who would be pitching tonight? My bet would have been Mosley.  Not because he's been spectacular but because he's done enough to at least give you the expectation that he'll keep the team in the game.  With AJ, who knows what's going to happen?  All I know is that they need to score runs early and often and then score some more.

Game 3 Recap: Blame the Mariners!

Thanks to the Mariners holding the Yankees over a barrel and preferring to trade within their division, Lee dominated the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS from the enemy camp.  The trade for Justin Smoak and a couple of rosin bags was somehow better than slugging catcher Jesus Montero.

Here's Smoak vs. Montero's AAA numbers:



Year   Age  Tm  Lg Lev Aff   G  PA  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO   BA  OBP  SLG  OPS  TB
Smoak AAA (2 seasons)    104 462 380 58 99 24  0 13  53  0  0 74 85 .261 .383 .426 .809 162  14   4
Montero AAA   2010         123 504 453 6613134  3 21  75  0  0  46 91 289 .353 .517 .870 234  14   1  0  4

Long term, Yanks may get the last laugh as, especially after his stellar tryout last night, Lee joins the rotation via free agency and he can pitch to Montero, as the catcher of the future.

The GB&U from last night:

The Good:  Future Yankee Cliff Lee is better than Koufax.  Andy was great.  If not for a cheap shot into the short porch the game could have been 0-0.

The Bad:  Yankee offense MIA.  Obviously Lee had something to say about this but .194/.296/.584 for the series thus far is muy horible.

The Ugly:  D-Rob's line:  1 out, 5 Run, Pukefest.

The Silver Lining:  Offensive explosion any time now?  They don't face Lee until Game 7.

The Headscratcher:  Girardi going to pen underlings instead of Mo?  Better be seeing multi-innings the next few day.

ALCS: Game 3 - Starting Lineup

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames DH
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF


Andy Pettitte P

Hughes Loss

On second thought. maybe he hasn't quite arrived.

The Good:  Bullpen, 0.00 ERA in Games 1 and 2, Cano (1.889 OPS, can you say raking?)

The Bad:  Hughesy, CC, 13.50 ERA

The Ugly:  Tex, A-Rod, Swish. Georgie (4-32)

Silver Lining?  Series tied 1-1.

ALCS: Game 2- Starting Lineups, Late Edition

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada C
Lance Berkman DH
Brett Gardner LF

Breaking Hearts Deep in the Heart of Texas

Before





After



Offense/bullpen  picks up the big man after rough start.
Redbull kicked in by 8th.
Speed kills:  Gardner gets things started with infield single.
Mosley holds the line.
Where was Ian Kinsler going?

ALCS: Game 1 - Starting Lineups

CC vs. CJ (Check out my scraggly sideburns!)

Here are the lineups for Game 1 of the ALCS tonight:

NEW YORK YANKEES                TEXAS RANGERS
1. Derek Jeter, SS              1. Elvis Andrus, SS
2. Nick Swisher, RF             2. Michael Young, 3B
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B            3. Josh Hamilton, CF
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B           4. Vladimir Guerrero, DH
5. Robinson Cano, 2B            5. Nelson Cruz, LF
6. Marcus Thames, DH            6. Ian Kinsler, 2B
7. Jorge Posada, C              7. Jeff Francoeur, RF
8. Curtis Granderson, CF        8. Matt Treanor, C
9. Brett Gardner, LF            9. Jorge Cantu, 1B

That’s the same lineup the Yankees used against left-handed starters Francisco Liriano and Brian Duensing in their ALDS sweep of the Twins. Marcus Thames gets the nod over Lance Berkman at designated hitter, with Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner both in the lineup against a lefty while Austin Kearns rides the bench.

Rangers manager Ron Washington is turning back to Jorge Cantu after he sat out Game 5 of the ALDS against left-hander David Price. Matt Treanor draws the start behind the plate over Bengie Molina because he’s essentially C.J. Wilson’s personal catcher.

Time to take out the trash!

It's All Set: Yanks to Face W's Old Team

From:  http://riveraveblues.com/2010/10/lining-up-the-alcs-rotation-36820/


The preferred ALCS rotation

If the Yankees want to take advantage of their situation, this is how they’ll lineup the ALCS rotation. I’ll also take a stab at the Rangers’ rotation just for fun.

Game 1: CC Sabathia vs. C.J. Wilson
Game 2: Andy Pettitte vs. Colby Lewis
Game 3: Phil Hughes vs. Cliff Lee
Game 4: CC Sabathia vs. Tommy Hunter
Game 5: A.J. Burnett vs. C.J. Wilson
Game 6: Andy Pettitte vs. Colby Lewis
Game 7: CC Sabathia vs. Cliff Lee

But since the Yankees might not start Sabathia on three days’ rest, it will likely line up like this.

Game 1: CC Sabathia vs. C.J. Wilson
Game 2: Phil Hughes vs. Colby Lewis
Game 3: Andy Pettitte vs. Cliff Lee
Game 4: A.J. Burnett vs. Tommy Hunter
Game 5: CC Sabathia vs. C.J. Wilson
Game 6: Phil Hughes vs. Colby Lewis
Game 7: Andy Pettitte vs. Cliff Lee

I agree that the preferred option above is the way to go.  I like CC going in potentially 3 of 7 games including a potential showdown with Lee in a Game 7.  The tough thing is where to stick AJ in.  God help us if they are down 3-1.  I wonder at that point if the whole full rest thing would be scrapped altogether and we'd have Pettitte and Hughes going in games 5 and 6 respectively.  Thoughts?

AJ Gets Chance at Redemption

Careful, that's my pitching hand!

Burnett to get Game 4 nod.  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703794104575546464137037090.html?mod=googlenews_wsj