WS Game 6 - WORLD CHAMPIONS!

Andy Pettitte staired down Old Man River and defied the odds stacked against pitchers going on 3 days rest in the postseason. With Joe Girardi getting grilled about his decision to use a 3 man rotation in the Series, his plan came to fruition, as the Yanks rode the back of an ol' reliable horse. Pettitte tossed 5.2 innings of 3-run ball, with only Ryan Howard's 2-run shot in the 6th marring what was otherwise a brilliant pitching performance, but by then, the Yanks held a 7-3 lead and seemed to be perfectly in command of their 27th World Series Championship.

Hideki Matsui, perhaps in his last game as a Yankee, went out in style, earning the Series' MVP honors. Godzilla was a one-man wrecking crew, destroying Pedro Martinez and JA Happ for 6 RBIs on a 2-run bomb, a bases loaded single and a 2-run double. Matsui finished the Series 8-13, hitting .615 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs, despite not starting 3 games in Philly.

Mariano Rivera, the Rock of Gilbraltar of the Yankee bullpen for the past 14 seasons, came on to finish this one, as the Phillies and Jimmy Rollins never "figured him out". Mo was the only reliever in the postseason who did not blow a game for his team. Ryan Franklin, Joe Nathan, Jonathan Papelbum, Jonathan Broxton, Huston Street, Brian Fuentes, and Brad Lidge all blew critical games for their respective teams. Yankee fans have been spoiled for a long time with Mariano, and one day, we'll all have our wake up call when the greatest reliever of all time won't be trotting out to "Enter the Sandman".

The "Curse of The ARod" has been lifted. Unlike the "Curse of the Bambino", which lasted 86 years, ARod's curse only lasted 5 years. Since ARod joined the team in 2004, when the Yanks had their epic collapse against Boston (largely due to Joe Torre's incompetence), the Bombers haven't even sniffed the World Series. But this postseason, ARod put the Yankee offense on his back and 3 times helped tie or put the team ahead in the 9th inning. I guess I can stop being an ARod apologist, as he's finally earned his due.

So the "Core Four", Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Pettitte and Rivera, finally earned their elusive 5th ring, after racking up 4 rings in 5 years between 1996-2000. I'm sure they never anticipated it would take this long, and perhaps later, had doubts if they would ever ascend to such heights again, but here they were, enjoying the fruits of their labors and entrenching their status as baseball immortals.

When these great ballplayers have finished out their careers, will we ever see the like of their talent and will to win again? Somehow, I highly doubt it.

Yankees Postseason: Mission Accomplished - 27th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

WS Game 5 - Has Girardi Blown This World Series?

Joe Girardi roled the dice and decided to start AJ Burnett on 3 days rest - terrible move, Joe. Up 3-1 in the Series, Girardi tried to go for the kill, but instead he might have killed the Yanks chances at a 27th championship. Burnett got lit up for 5 runs in 2+ innings, and was down 3-1 after before recording an out. In a word, he was horrendous. Chad Gaudin easily could have given the Yankees that same performance, and nobody would have thought any less of Girardi.

Apparently, Girardi didn't write a list of pros and cons before deciding on Burnett on short rest. I'll do it for him.

Pros: AJ asked for the ball; go for the kill and end the Series quickly; AJ's past record on short rest

Cons: AJ is horrendous on the road; by starting AJ on the road, the Yanks lineup had Swisher batting 5th and Jose Molina in the lineup without Posada and Matsui; that lineup was facing Cliff Lee, who dominated the Yanks in Game 1; how about the fact that they were facing Cliff Lee, thus making their chances to win slim in the first place? And last but not least, if AJ lost, which he did, it now impacts Game 6 and 7 because Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia are going on short rest, as well.

Hey Joe - that Cons list is pretty long. Now the Yanks must entrust their season on the shoulders of Andy Pettitte, who historically does not have great numbers on short rest, and most important of all, is a 37-year old man who hasn't done it in 3 years.

Thoughts on Game 5:

- Everyone of Utley's HRs have come on a pitch right down the pipe - how do the Yankee pitchers keep missing so badly?

- AJ, great job hitting Shane Victorino - couldn't you have hit Utley?

- Has anyone seen Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano? Absolutely horrendous performance in the World Series. At least Tex looks like he cares out there. Cano looks like he's playing in the Dominican Winter Leagues without a care in the world.

- Phil Coke, just go home. We won't need you the rest of the series.

- If Tex got on in the 9th inning, there was no way they were pitching to ARod. Introducing your 5th place hitter - Nick Swisher. Game over anyway.

- With 2 batters, the Phillies tied 2 records: Utley tied for the most HRs in a WS with 5 and Ryan Howard tied the record for most strikeouts in a Series with 12. When does the Yankee staff and coaches wake up and realize maybe they should pitch around Utley and go after Howard?

Yankees Postseason Record: 10-4

World Series: Yankees up, 3-2

WS Game 4 - ARod's Heroics Give Yanks 3-1 Series Lead

The Yanks led 4-2 for most of the game as their lineup began to take a siesta, but things began to look grim as the momentum changed towards the Phillies. Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz both hit solo shots to tie the game at 4 and Brad Lidge retired the first 2 Yanks out in the 9th with Phil Coke warming up in the bullpen. But Johnny Damon started the improbable rally when he battled back from an 1-2 hole to single to left field on a full count. With Mark Teixeira at the plate, Damon stole second and took off for 3rd when no one (Brad Lidge) covered 3B. Feliz was covering second because of the shift.

Thankfully for the Yanks, Lidge plunked the hyperventilating Teixeira with the next pitch, thus setting the stage for an ARod-Lidge rematch. Earlier in the season, ARod took Lidge deep in back-to-back games. With Damon on third, it appeared Lidge wanted to stay away from his sharp slider, and after getting ahead of ARod on a fastball, ARod didn't miss the second one. He ripped it into the LF corner to knock in Damon with the go ahead run, allowing Mariano Rivera to begin warming up in the pen and hushing the rather obnoxious Philly crowd. Jorge Posada knocked in 2 insurance runs with a single to left center to give the Yanks a 7-4, although he continued his baffling runnig mistakes when he was thrown by 30 feet at second to end the rally.

Things began quickly for the Yanks. Derek Jeter singled and Damon doubled to lead off the game. Tex knocked in a run when Ryan Howard robbed him of a potential double and Posada knocked in the 2nd run with a sac fly. Meanwhile, ARod was plunked for a 3rd time in the Series, leading to a warning for both teams before CC Sabathia even threw a pitch.

Phillies starter, Joe Blanton, 0-3 lifetime with a career ERA over 8.00, settled down to retire 11 straight Yankees. The Yanks touched him up for 2 more runs in the 5th on RBI singles from The Captain and Damon after Feliz tied it up at 2 for the Phillies in the 4th.

Sabathia, pitching on 3 days rest, battled all night. He escaped a 2 runners on, no out jam in the 5th, retiring the heart of the Phillies order, and appeared to be cruising till he gave up a 2-out, 1-2 count HR to his nemesis, Chase Utley. It was Utley's 3rd HR and 4th extra base hit off Sabathia in the series. Out went Sabathia and in came new Yankee hero, Damaso Marte, who retired Howard on a fly ball to LF. Marte is pitching a la Graeme Lloyd in the 1996 World Series when Lloyd dominated Braves lefty hitters Ryan Klesko and Fred McGriff.

The Yanks brought in Joba Chamberlain in the 8th, and for 2.5 batters, Joe Girardi appeared to be a genius. Joba struck out Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez before going up 1-2 in the count to Pedro Feliz. After falling behind 3-2, Joba laid a fat fastball over the plate that the weak-hitting Feliz crushed into the LF seats, sending Citizens Bank Park into bedlam. The sharks smelled blood in the water as it appeared the Phils were going to perform another of their postseason comebacks.

But ARod had other plans, and with the 3 run lead, Mo came out and retired the shell-shocked Phillies on 8 pitches, including Jimmy Rollins for a 2nd straight night, despite his proclamation that the Phillies "had him figured out".

The Yanks will send AJ Burnett to the mound tomorrow on 3 days rest against Cliff Lee, who absolutely dominated the Bombers in Game 1. Nothing would be sweeter than watching the Yanks clinch this series in front of the arrogant, ignorant, and clueless fans of Philadelphia.

Yankees Postseason Record: 10-3

World Series: Yanks up, 3-1

WS Game 3 - Pettitte is Double Threat in Yanks Win

It appeared that Andy Pettitte was about to be blown out by the Phillies in the 2nd inning. He was touched up for 3 runs, including a solo shot to Jayson Werth, and left 2 men on base when he struck out the greasy-haired Chase Utley to end the long inning. Pettitte, however, settled down after that, only allowing another solo shot to Werth in the 6th inning after the Yanks bats finally woke up.

The Yanks rally began when ARod lofted a shot down the RF line that hit a camera. Initially called a double, the umps reviewed the replay and correctly called it a HR that brought the Yanks to within 1 run in the 4th. The Yanks would tack on 3 more runs in the 5th to chase Phillies starter, Cole Hamels. Pettitte tied the score at 3, knocking in Nick Swisher with a single. That is not a misprint - there was an actual Swisher sighting tonight, as he led off the inning with a double. He also homered in the 6th for his 1st dinger this postseason. Joe Girardi should bench this guy more often.

Johnny Damon also had a 2-run double in the 5th. The Yanks scored their other runs on a Jorge Posada single and a pinch-hit HR from Hideki Matsui. Pettitte only lasted 6 innings, but he gave a gutsy performance, allowing the Yanks to get back into the game. The Yankees only had 8 hits, but fortunately, Philadelphia only managed 6 of their own.

Joba Chamberlain and Damaso Marte gave the Bombers bullpen hope when they retired 6 straight batters. Marte struck out 2 batters. With a 4-run lead, Girardi opted to start the 9th with Phil Hughes, which is a good call, since the Yanks need him to get things right. Hughes retired his first batter before serving up a solo shot to Yankee killer, Carlos Ruiz. In came Mariano Rivera, who just needed 5 pitches to end the game, including retiring loud-mouth Jimmy Rollins on a weak pop-up.

Thoughts and observations on the Series:

- Melky, Tex and ARod are hitting .100 in the series, while Cano is even worse at .091. ARod was also hit twice and walked tonight, so at least his OBP is over .300.

- Let's hope Ryan Howard continues to sleep walk through this series.

- How do the Yanks continue to walk Rollins who owned a .296 OBP during the regular season? He's walked 4 times already in the Series.

- Pettitte's RBI single was the first RBI by a Yankee pitcher in the World Series since 1964, when Jim Bouton recorded one in Game 6.

- Let's hope the Phillies keep smacking their gums while the Yanks keep playing hard-nosed ball. I know my buddies from Philly have kept their text messages to a minimum themselves these past 2 games. My phone was blowing up in Game 1.

Yankees Postseason Record: 9=3

World Series: Yanks up, 2-1

WS Game 2 - AJ Comes Up Huge in Win

AJ Burnett may have earned his "true" Yankee title tonight, winning his first postseason game in Game 2 of the World Series with the Bombers down one game to none. AJ tossed 7 brilliant innings, striking out 9 Phillies in the Yanks 3-1 victory. Burnett allowed a run in the 2nd inning on an RBI single to Matt Stairs, but should have surrendered no runs. ARod should have knocked it down, if not field it cleanly, to bail AJ out of the inning after Raul Ibanez sliced a 2-out double into the LF stands. AJ though, was dealing, as he started 22 out of 26 batters with first pitch strikes. He only walked 2, one intentionally. This was the AJ the Yanks envisioned when they signed him to a 5 year, $82.5M contract.

As well as AJ pitched, Pedro Martinez was nearly just as brilliant. He pitched 6+ innings, allowing 6 hits and all 3 Yankee runs while striking out 8. Pedro allowed his 3rd run in the 7th, and probably shouldn't have came out for the start of the 7th after tossing 99 pitches through 6. Like CC Sabathia last night, Pedro only made 2 real mistakes - solo HRs to Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui. Chan Ho Park allowed the 3rd run to score on a Jorge Posada pinch-hit, RBI single in the 7th.

The Yanks had a chance to do some real damage in the 7th, but the usually reliable and clutch Derek Jeter pulled one helluva bonehead play. With 2 strikes, including one which he took right down the middle, he attempted to bunt, fouling it off and striking out for the 3rd time. Johnny Damon then ripped a liner at Ryan Howard that was ruled caught, though replays showed it hit the dirt, and Posada was doubled up to end the threat.

Joe Girardi didn't waste any time in bringing in Mariano Rivera for the 2-inning save. Mo got into a little trouble in the 8th, putting runners on 1st and 2nd with the dangerous and greasy-haired Chase Utley coming to the plate. Mo got him to bounce into a double play, although replays appeared to show Utley beat the relay throw to first. A makeup call? If it was, thank you, Brian Gorman, first base umpire.

Mo wasn't done with the theatrics though. After striking out Howard to saddle him with the Golden Sombrero, he retired Jayson Werth on a soft liner to Robinson Cano before allowing Raul Ibanez to lace a double to left center. That brought up the ancient Matt Stairs. The Canadian Clubber, however, struck out as the Yanks tied up the series.

Thoughts:

- ARod is now 0-8 with 6 Ks. Let's hope this is just an aberration.

- Tex and Godzilla: Thanks for showing up again.

- Replacement Jerry Hairston went 1-3 and now has half the hits of Nick Swisher in 30 less at bats. Did Hairston earn another start against lefty Cole Hamels in Game 3?

- There's been much debate about Jose Molina catching in the place of Jorge Posada, but you cannot argue with AJ Burnett's results with him behind the dish. Molina also nailed Werth at first base on a pick off in the 5th inning, saving Burnett some valuable pitches. He also walked against Pedro and his spot in the order allowed Posada to come in and knock in a huge insurance run. Girardi looks like part genius for at least a day.

- 8 strikeouts against Pedro? Really?

- Johnny Damon went 0-4. He looks terrible this postseason despite his 2 dingers against the Angels.

- How is it the Yanks have walked Jimmy Rollins twice and he always seems to be in a full count when this guy's OBP was .296 this season? Can they please bear down on this guy and keep him off the base paths in front of Utley and Howard.

- Shane Victorino, you look like an idiot with the little league batting helmet.

- It's just a 5-game series now, with 3 games in Philly.

Yankees Postseason Record: 8-3

World Series: Tied 1-1

WS Game 1 - Yanks Never Show Up

Someone forgot to tell the Yanks the World Series started, as they were laughed out of the Stadium in a 6-1 drubbing to the Phillies. Chase Utley, supposedly hobbled by foot and hip injuries, took CC Sabathia deep twice and Cliff Lee mowed through the Bombers lineup like they were just another weak-ass National League team.

Some thoughts on the game:

- What the hell happened to the Yankees bullpen? Once considered a huge strength this season, they have all but disappeared since the ALCS. Phil Hughes looks petrified, as does Phil Coke. Only Damaso Marte and Mo Rivera have looked good in the postseason. David Robertson, strangely enough, finally made an appearance, but he allowed a 2-run single to Raul Ibanez that broke the game open in the 8th. And Brian Bruney? Let's hope we've seen the last of him this series.

- What the hell happened to the Yanks bats? Derek Jeter was his usual self, going 3-4. The rest of the Yankees though, were a combined 3-28. Lee had 10 strikeouts as his shutout was ruined in the 9th by loud-mouth Jimmy Rollins throwing error. ARod and Tex were horrendous, going 0-8 with 5 Ks between them. Nick Swisher continues to look absolutely useless with a bat in his hand. He had 2 pop ups and a strikeout. The bottom third of the lineup went a combined 0-9. Terrible. Where was Bernie Williams when you need him, to step out repeatedly to break the pitcher's rhythm? Not one Yankee walked tonight.

- Sabathia wasn't great, but he still had a solid effort on the mound. He held the vaunted Phillies offense to 2 runs in 7 innings, striking out 6 while allowing only 4 hits and 3 walks. He had 2 mistakes - 2 pitches to Chase Utley. He was up 1-2 and 0-2 before Utley battled back to hit his 2 solo shots. This is the same Utley that struck out 110 times this year, right?

The Yanks need to come out tomorrow and take Pedro Martinez behind the woodshed. However, despite the big advantage that the Yanks seem to have on paper against Martinez, I'm predicting a game where Martinez dances in and out of trouble, stranding 9 runners and allowing only 1 run in 6 innings. I think the Yanks failure with RISP will finally catch up to them in this series. The Yanks are going to need and capitalize on their scoring chances. The Phillies can put a lot of runs on the board quickly (as evidenced by the Yanks bullpen collapse), and it looks like the Yanks relief corp is in complete disarray.

Another reason the Yanks appear to be in trouble - the Phillies look quite comfortable and totally unfazed by being in Yankee Stadium, unlike the Angels or Twins who needed a change of shorts. It's either going to be a dogfight or a quick series, and the Yanks better wake up before it's too late.

Yanks Postseason Record: 7-3

World Series: Down 1-0

ALCS Game 6 - Yanks Finally Swat Aside Angels

The Yankees finally vanquished the annoying Anaheim Angels, winning Game 6 of the ALCS and will face the Phillies in the World Series, starting Wednesday. They won 5-2 despite Jorge Posada's best attempts to sabotage the game at all costs. The game's dumbest player went 0-5, leaving 10 men on base, hitting into 2 double plays and failing miserably twice with the bases loaded. He wasn't the only culprit of the game though, but he was by far the worst. The Yanks put 20 men on the base paths, but only mustered 5 runs. 2 of those runs came in courtesy of the Angels horrendous defense.

Fortunately for the Yanks, the grizzled veteran, Andy Pettitte was on the mound, as he picked up his record 16th postseason win. They also had the great Mariano Rivera to finish up this game and toss aside a team that had no business being on the same field as the Yankees. Joe Girardi wasn't going to fool around in the 8th inning - he went straight to Mo to record the game's final 6 outs. Mo did surrender his first postseason run in a home game, but struck out Gary Matthews, Jr. to end the game, and series, in style, as the Yankees celebrated their accomplishment.

Thoughts on the game and the series:

- Mike Scioscia is a fraud. For all the flak Joe Girardi received, Scioscia made just as many puzzling moves. He should have removed Saunders after 3 innings. Clearly, Saunders was walking the tightrope, stranding the New York National Guard on the base paths. It was a matter of time before the Yanks broke through. It came in the 4th. His use of Kazmir was bizarre, too. Let's not forget his removal of John Lackey in Game 5 or removing lefty Darren Oliver to bring in righty Kevin Jepsen to face Robinson Cano. And why, oh why, would you continue to bat Chone Figgins in the leadoff spot.

- Other fraudulent Angel players: Choney, of course. He must have cost himself millions with his utterly horrendous performance in the playoffs. Bobby Abreu, Torii Hunter, Kendry Morales and Juan Rivera all belong on that list, too. Where the hell were they? Let's not forget Brian Fuentes. If he were the Yankees closer, I would have died of a stroke in mid-May.

- Angels pitches had 9 walks in Game 6. Smells like this team needed to change their underwear.

- Boston Red Sox should be embarrassed they lost to this Angels team. This was by far the worst Angel team that has made the playoffs. After Lackey, they had no pitching whatsoever.

- Another double for Jeff Mathis. He had 5 in the series. He only had 8 all year. Unbelievable.

- Tex had 2 hits and a sac fly. Hopefully, he's heating up in time for the World Series.

- There was a Nick Swisher sighting at the Stadium. And I'm not talking about his great defensive play doubling up Vlad Guerrero at 1B on a line drive. Swisher singled and scored the 2nd run. He still sucks. He is 4-32 in the playoffs. What does he have on Girardi?

- What happened to the Angels hard-nosed style of play? Their defense stunk, their base running was atrocious, and for a team that relies on speed, I can't recall any major stolen base that led to big run in the whole series.

- Kudos to Erick Aybar - you finally look like a man when you shaved your head instead of looking like Manny Ramirez' little girl.

- Girardi, are you nuts for bringing in Joba? Pettitte must have thought you were crazy when you went to take him out of the game. Thank God the move paid off.

- CC had a great series, but ARod's was better. ARod deserved the MVP, if not co-MVP.

There's just a maximum of 7 stressful games left. My heart can't wait.

Yankees Postseason Record: 7-2

ALCS Series: Yankees Win, 4-2

ALCS Game 5 - Gutless Yanks Fail To Go For the Kill

After looking like crap for 6 innings, the Yanks finally woke up. Too bad they couldn't go for the jugular. Instead of recapping the game, this blog is going to be a pure rant.

- What in the world does Nick Swisher have on Joe Girardi? 8-53 lifetime in the playoffs. He is now 0-8 and has left 19 men on base when he's batting with RISP. Granted, if Gardner started the game, Swisher probably would have been batting in the 9th, but why have him in the lineup making 3-4 outs a game? He's been as useful as a cigarette machine in a cancer ward.

- Has anyone seen Phil Hughes this postseason? He's been dreadful. He gave up a hit to the fossil Vlad Guerrero on a 1-2 count and then pitched to Kendry Morales with a 3-1 count. Terrible, terrible baseball. He's allowed 9 hits and 2 walks in 4.2 innings. Hideous - and Brian Bruney-like.

- Jeff Mathis? Jeff Mathis? How in the hell did this career backup with the career .200 batting average record 6 straight hits, including 4 doubles, is incomprehensible.

- Why bring out AJ Burnett for the bottom of the 7th after sitting for so long? Sure, his pitch count was down. What is Girardi's aversion to using David Robertson? He's only won 2 games this postseason and bailed the Yanks out of a bases loaded, no out jam against the Twins.

- Please, Joe - I don't want to see Joba unless you are up by 10 or down by 10.

- Tex, thanks for finally showing up. That was still a horrible first pitch swinging at bat in the 9th inning.

- I reserve all my venom for Swisher though. 0-5 tonight and an absolute dreadful 3-29 in the playoffs, 2-17 in the ALCS and 0 for his last 11. What in the world is he doing in this lineup? I honestly would have felt better with Jerry Hairston, Jr. for his final at bat. He's a contact hitter and doesn't swing for the fences like the imposter of a player that's playing RF for the Yanks right now. Swisher is not even walking. I still can't believe he popped up that pitch right down the pipe.

- Honestly, this Angels team isn't that good. I don't know how they swept Boston, because their other playoff teams were a lot better then this present bunch. The Yanks essentially have won every game this series. Brian Fuentes needs a change in shorts every time he pitches against the Bombers.

The Yanks have now allowed a dead team to believe that they can win this. The Yanks will only get tighter and I'm smelling a Game 7. Pettitte hates pitching in the new stadium and does not fare well against the Angels. The Yanks are the only team that can't figure out Joe Saunders and his gaudy 4.60 ERA. And with that, I don't think CC Sabathia cannot possibly fool the Angels a third time. I'm calling another epic collapse - unless Girardi had the cajones to bury Swisher on the bench.

Yankees Postseason Record: 6-2

ALCS Series: Yanks up, 3-2

ALCS Game 4 - CC, ARod Lead Yanks to 3-1 Series Lead

Perhaps CC Sabathia should go by CCC, as in Cool, Calm and Collected. Working on 3 days rest and trying to erase the bad taste in Yankee fans mouth after yesterday's debacle, CC rose up to the challenge and gave the Yankees an incredible 8 innings of 1 run ball. His only mistake was a HR to Kendry Morales in the 5th inning. He allowed 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7 and only needed an economical 101 pitches in the Yanks 10-1 thrashing of the Angels to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the ALCS. Through 3 innings, he only threw 29 pitches.

After allowing the HR in the 5th, CC allowed a couple of more hits that got the Anaheim fans excited, but retired Chone Figgins and Bobby Abreu to end the threat. The Angels final threat occurred in the next inning, when Torii Hunter walked and Vlad Guerrero singled to start the inning, but a double play ball and a line out by Yankee nemesis, Howie Kendrick, killed their last chance of the night. CC retired the side in the 7th and 8th and Chad Gaudin, making his first postseason appearance, retired the heart of the order in the 9th.

The Yankees offense looked like they were going to allow the Angels to dance out of trouble again and keep them lurking about. Derek Jeter led off the game with a single but was erased on a pickoff. Hideki Matsui, Robinson Cano and the useless Nick Swisher wasted runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs in the 2nd inning. Mark, just as useless, Teixeira struck out with Johnny Damon on second to end the 3rd.

In the 4th, it appeared the Yanks would never get a hit with a RISP again. They were 0 for their last 24 when Matsui struck out with runners on 2nd and 3rd with none out. Cano hit a grounder to second when ARod took matters into his own hands and bolted for home, sliding under the tag to put the Yanks up 1-0. After a Swisher walk (thanks Nick) loaded the bases, Melky Cabrera singled in 2 runs, breaking the 0-26 slide with RISP. Things then got weird in the inning. Replays showed Nick Swisher was picked off at 2B but was called safe. Jeter walked to reload the bases. Damon then appeared to hit a sac fly to CF, but the Angels claimed Swisher tagged up too early and umpire Tim McClelland bought it hook, line and sinker. Replays clearly showed Swisher tagged up on time and McClelland wasn't even looking at the runner. Was this a makeup call? I thought baseball was above basketball which is known for its bogus makeup calls on fouls.

No matter. ARod gave the Yanks a 5-run lead when he took Angel reliever, Jason Bulger, deep for a 2-run shot. Of course, the Yanks don't like to put their foot on their opponents necks when they have an opportunity. Jorge Posada stole 2B on a Matsui strikeout. Someone must have been sleeping. But Jorge continues to earn the "dumbest player in baseball" moniker when he had Torii Hunter deke him in CF on Cano's double off the wall. Instead of going half way to third, he went back to tag up and wasn't able to score. What is Posada doing tagging up when there is 1 out? What does it matter if he's on 3rd with 2 out if Hunter was actually going to catch that ball? Of course, things didn't end their for Jorge. With the infield in, he got caught in a rundown between 3rd and home. I still don't know why he stopped or took off in the first place. So Jorge retreats to 3B as Cano is about to step on 3rd. Looking like the Keystone Koppers, both runners were tagged out. Tim McClelland once more blew the call, calling Posada out, but Cano safe. Both runners were clearly tagged out when they were off the bases. Was this a makeup call to the Yanks? Hmm, conspiracy theorists will go haywire with this one. Meanwhile, Posada continues to not use the brain God gave him as he pulled another boner in the 6th when he began to run off the field on a double play with Hunter on 3rd. Problem was, the DP only made it 2 out. ARod had to sprint home to cover the plate. This guy is a rock. No wonder AJ Burnett can't stand pitching to this guy.

Fortunately for the Yanks, they finally found the throats of the Angels in the 8th inning. A 2-run HR by Damon gave the Yanks a 7-1 lead. Melky's 2-run double in the 9th highlighted a 3 run inning that made the final score, 10-1. This gave Joe Girardi plenty of room to get Chad Gaudin some work.

Despite the Yanks big victory, they were still a paltry 3-17 with RISP. They are now 6-45 in the series. They're lucky the Angels are hitting .201 as a team (and that Sabathia pitches for them). Nick Swisher has got to sit in Game 5 against John Lackey. He's 3-33 in the playoffs with 1 RBI. Tex still looks horrendous, even with his 1-5 effort. He looked lost in his first 2 ABs, when he struck out both times. Matsui, who has been hitting well prior to tonight, was an abysmal 0-5 and left 5 men on base. Hopefully, this was just a 1 game setback.

The Yanks are off tomorrow with AJ Burnett looking to clinch the Yanks 40th AL Crown.

Yankees Postseason Record: 6-1

ALCS Series: Yanks Lead 3-1

ALCS Game 3 - Swisher, Girardi are Garbage in Loss

Nick Swisher, Melky Cabrera and Mark Teixeira are missing a helluva Championship Series. Tex is batting a robust .077 and has virtually disappeared at the plate, taking up the playoff curse of ARod. Nick Swisher and Melky Cabrera left a small battalion of men on base, with Swisher being the main culprit - twice failing miserably with a runner on third and less than 2 out. Melky is 5-25 in the playoffs and struck out 9 times. Throw a curve ball in the dirt to either Swisher or Melky and their toast.

For the most part, the Yankees have been able to overcome their ineptness with RISP all season long. Today, it caught up with them as they allowed a team, that was utterly deflated after Saturday's tough loss, a second life. Coming into the game, they were 3-20 with RISP in the series and were 0-8 in Game 2. They followed up that with today's encore - an abysmal 0-8 to make it 3-28 in the series. The Yanks scored all 4 runs on solo HRs from Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, ARod and Jorge Posada.

It was the first career postseason loss for the Yanks when they had a 3-run lead. They led 3-0 when a solo shot by Yankee killer extraordinaire, Howie Kendrick, and a 2-run shot by the crippled Vlad Guerrero allowed the Angels to exhale. Kendrick struck again in the 7th when he ripped Joba Chamberlain's first pitch off the RF wall. Swisher didn't do Joba any favors, climbing the wall without actually making any attempt at catching the ball. What is this guy doing? I'd say there is no way in hell Joe Girardi can allow this guy and/or Melky to start again, but both lucky bastards get a reprieve because lefty Scott Kazmir starts tomorrow and Brett Gardner is a lefty.

As for Girardi, he got lucky in Game 2, and did a decent job, but he started to believe he had the Midas touch and got burned today. Once again, he was ripping through his bullpen as if there were a tree growing relievers in the pen. He used lefty Damaso Marte to get the final out in the 7th against Chone Figgins, yet brought in lefty Phil Coke to face left-handed Bobby Abreu to start the 8th. Abreu torched Coke for a double but was erased at 2B when he overran the bag. Why burn Coke there for 1 batter? So for 3 outs, Girardi already used 3 relievers.

In comes Phil Hughes. He was the "long man" out of the pen today, tossing 1.2 innings before he got smacked by a Jeff Mathis double to lead off the 10th. The same Jeff Mathis who is a backup catcher that hitIn came Mariano Rivera, to try the improbable. After botching an attempt to throw Mathis out at 3B, Mariano was able to induce a couple of ground ball outs to Tex to keep the Angels off the board. Mo pulled the Houdini when he retired Vlad the Impaler on a weak grounder to Cano.

Meanwhile, the Yanks couldn't muster anything offensively after Posada tied the score in the 8th. Only ARod reached base in the last 3 innings on an intentional walk. Things got weird in the 11th, as Girardi seemingly panicked after David Robertson retired sluggers Juan Rivera and Kendry Morales. For reasons that Girardi felt "were a better matchup," he pulled Robertson and inserted Alfredo Aceves. The same Aceves that was on a hook for a loss in Game 2 before ARod bailed him out.

In 7 pitches, Aceves and the Yanks lost 5-4 when Killer Kendrick singled and the amazing Mathis hit his 3rd double of the series to win the game. Did I mention Mathis is the Angels backup catcher that hit .211 this season? For his career, he's an even .200 hitter. Why would Girardi pull Robertson there? It makes no sense and reeks of overmanagement. If they get through the 11th inning, Girardi would still need someone to pitch the bottom of the 12th. He could have held Aceves in reserve in case Robertson got in trouble. Once again, Girardi emptied his bullpen with the exception of Chad Gaudin. This time, it bit him in the ass. Tomorrow, CC Sabathia goes on 3 days rest - won't Girardi need his bullpen once again? I fear the more the Angels see these same relievers again and again they'll begin to feel comfortable and start teeing off.

Yankees Postseason Record: 5-1

ALCS Series: Yanks Lead 2-1

ALCS Game 2 - ARod Does it Again

The Yanks trailed 3-2 in the bottom of the 11th, and ARod was behind in the count 0-2 against Brian Fuentes, the AL Saves Leader. Light-hitting Freddy Guzman and Brett Gardner were also due up in the inning, so there wasn't a chance ARod was going to get a pitch he could drive to give the Yanks a shot at tying the game. Oops. ARod smacked an outside fastball over the RF wall to tie the score at 3 and send the wet crowd at Yankee Stadium into jubilation. Bobby Abreu made a rare visit to the wall as the HR just cleared his girly red mitt and hit a fan in the first row of the bleachers.

ARod's HR sent the game further into extra innings, and the Yanks relied on one of their bench players to provide the heroics. Jerry Hairston, Jr, in his first post season at bat of his career, led off the bottom of the 13th with a single. Gardner bunted Hairston to 2B and the Angels opted to intentionally walk Cano (I would have pitched to Cano - we all know he can't hit with RISP). Melky Cabrera, the owner of 3 walkoff hits this season, stepped to the plate. He hit a ball in the hole between first and second. 2B Maicer Izturis fielded it and inexplicably tried to force Cano out at second instead of getting the sure out at first. Big mistake. The ball went flying by SS Erick Aybar and towards 3B Chone Figgins, who began playing hot potato with the ball. Hairston broke for home and ended the epic 5 hour game and gave the Yanks a 2-0 advantage in the ALCS.

Hairston earned the pie in the face from AJ Burnett, the original starter of the game. Burnett tossed 6.1 solid innings, but was done in by his wildness in the 5th inning. Leading 2-0, Burnett allowed the Angels to tie the game, with the 2nd run coming on a wild pitch and 2 out. The Yankee bullpen threw 6.2 innings of 1 run ball, with Alfredo Aceves on the hook for the loss when ARod bailed him out. The bullpen wasn't dominant, allowing 10 base runners, but they didn't break. Mariano Rivera tossed the majority of the load, going 2.1 innings. It only took 25 pitches for him to retire 7 batters. David Robertson picked up his 2nd win of the postseason with 1.1 shutout innings.

Joe Girardi used 7 relievers, brilliantly mixing and matching. Girardi will unquestionably be called out by fans for his quick hook on some of his relievers, but you cannot fault the final outcome - the Yankees won. He still had Chad Gaudin left in the pen and this game would have had to go 19 innings before there was any concern. Fortunately, the Yankees offense, or should we say the Angels defense, didn't allow that situation to happen.

Next game is Monday in Anaheim and Girardi has already announced CC Sabathia will be his Game 4 starter. The Yanks need to go for the jugular and not let up.

Yankees Postseason Record: 5-0

ALCS Series: 2-0

ALCS Game 1 -CC Cruises as Yanks Go Up 1-0

On a cold, blustery night, CC Sabathia shook off the stigma that he cannot win the big games, as he won his second consecutive Game 1 in the 2009 playoffs. CC stood for Cruise Control, as he pitched 8 brilliant innings of 4 hit ball, allowing 1 run while striking out 7 in the Yanks 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. Sabathia retired the side 4 times and beat the Angels at the perfect time after going 0-2 against them in the regular season.

The Yankees offense was aided by the Angels defense. Angels starting pitcher, John Lackey probably deserved a better fate. He surrendered all 4 runs, but only 2 were earned. Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon led off the game with back-to-back singles. Damon was allowed to move up to 2B on a hideous throw by ex-Yankee Juan Rivera in LF. ARod hit a SF that scored Jeter after Mark Teixeira failed miserably on a 3-0 count, hitting a shallow fly that didn't move any of the runners. Hideki Matsui then hit a pop up to the SS area that should have ended the inning, but Chone Figgins and Erick Aybar just looked at each other and let the ball drop for an RBI single as Johnny Damon came around to score and make it 2-0 Yanks.

The score remained 2-0 till the 4th when Vlad Guerrero ripped a double off the LF wall. With 2 out, Kendry Morales singled in Guerrero to bring the Angels to within 1 run. The Yanks got their 2-run lead back in the 5th, when Matsui doubled in Damon. ARod was thrown out at the plate on the play after running through a stop sign from 3B coach Rob Thomson (announcer Joe Buck let us know at least 7 times). ARod tried his best to mow down catcher Jeff Mathis, but Mathis did everything he could to hang on the ball. He did everything except tag out ARod, but the runner would be called out a 100 times out of a 100 on collision plays like that.

The Yanks tacked on their 4th run when Lackey hurt himself in the 6th. After walking Melky Cabrera with 2 out, he threw the ball away on a pickoff that allowed Melky to reach 2B. The Captain singled up the middle on the next pitch to score Melky as Torii Hunter charged in and booted the ball for the Angels 3rd error of the game that allowed Jeter to reach second. The Yanks had a chance to really blow the game open in the 7th, but with the bases loaded and 2 out, Nick Swisher struck out on a pitch that would have been ball 4.

No matter, Joe Girardi made the right call by allowing CC to come back out for the 8th, and he rewarded his manager's sound judgement by retiring the side. The great Mariano Rivera came on in the 9th, and after uncharacteristically walking Hunter (I thought he was squeezed on a pitch), he smoked the heart of the Angels lineup to wrap up the first game of the ALCS.

AJ Burnett goes for the Yanks in Game 2. Hopefully, he learned a few things from CC - keeping the Angels off the base paths is the base defense against their vaunted running game.

Yankees Post Season Record: 4-0

ALCS: Up 1-0

Angels Rally Against Papelbum - Knock Out Bosox

The Yanks did their part, sweeping the Twins in the ALDS, but the Sox fell way short on their end of the deal, getting blown out by the Angels in 3 games. The Angels have been knocked out of the playoffs numerous times by the Red Sox, even when it appeared the Angels had a more superior team than the Sox had on the field. This year though, the Angels buried all those ghosts, perhaps even the ghost of the late Donnie Moore, who blew the 1986 ALCS to Boston and later committed suicide.

I thought the Sox would turn the series around when they returned to Boston, the site where many teams seem to crap themselves and where the Red Sox benefit from many, many an umpire's call. It seemed the series was headed for a 4th game, when the Sox jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. Jonathan Papelbum came on in the 8th with 2 on and 2 out in the 8th. He and his stupid closer face allowed a 2-run single to bring the Angels within 1-run. The Sox added an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th and with Papelbum retiring the 1st 2 batters, Game 4 appeared inevitable. But ol' Papelbum must have wanted to get home to his swamp in Mississippi, because he allowed an 0-2 hit to Erick Aybar, walked Chone Figgins on a full count pitch that nearly went over the umpire's head, then allowed Bobby Abreu to knock in a run with a double on a 1-2 count. Torii Hunter was intentionally walked, but Papelbum still clung to a 1-run lead. It lasted exactly one pitch. Vlad Guerrero singled home 2 runs to put the Angels up 7-6.

This is certainly a different Sox team - they quietly went down 1-2-3 in the 9th as the Fenway faithful looked shellshocked. I personally thought the Angels would fold against the Sox yet again. Even with a 2-0 lead in the series, I thought the Sox would win both games in Fenway and put a lot of pressure on the Angels in Game 5. As a Yankee fan, I would have much preferred the Sox as an opponent, too. One, just for the chance at knocking out the Sox, and Two, the Yanks match up so much better against the Sox then they do against the Angels. At the very least, I was hoping the Sox-Angels series would be a grueling affair, but the Angels breezed through this series.

It looks like it will be John Lackey-CC Sabathia in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium on Friday night.

And it looks like a long winter for Boston. I only wonder what trades Theo Epstein will have up his sleeve - Roy Halladay? Felix Hernandez? Or will he sign free agents Matt Holliday and/or Marco Scutaro? Have we seen the last of Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield, too? It will be an interesting offseason in Beantown.

ALDS Game 3 - The Old Guard and ARod Lead Yanks to Sweep

Andy Pettitte pitched brilliantly, Jorge Posada hit the go-ahead HR, Derek Jeter once again found himself in a key defensive position, and Mariano Rivera finished up the game for another post season save as the Yanks swept the Twins out of the ALDS with a 4-1 victory. ARod also continued his magical playoff run with a game-tying HR that finally got the Yankees on the board.

Pettitte, with 15 post season wins, tied John Smoltz for the most all time, tossing 6.1 fantastic innings while only allowing 1 run. He didn't allow a hit till the 5th inning and struck out 7. The Twins finally broke through on Pettitte in the 6th with a 2-out rally, although it appeared he was squeezed on a couple of pitches by the umpire. Joe Mauer singled in his only run of the series to put the Twins out front for the third game in a row. But, as the Bombers did all series, they quickly struck back.

For 6.1 innings, ex-Yankee, Carl Pavano, baffled the Yankees, throwing his fastball routinely in the 92-93 mph range. Suspicious, since he usually tops out at 90-91, but where Pettitte was getting squeezed a bit by the strike zone, Pavano seemed to benefit from a very generous one. He struck out a season high and a Twins playoff record, 9 Yankees. ARod once again rose to the occasion, launching a full count pitch over the RF baggy to tie the score at 1. ARod went 5-11 in the series with 2 dingers and 6 RBIs. 2 batters later, Posada put the Yankees up 2-1 with an opposite field shot of his own. The Metrodome faithful and their riduculously outdated homer hankies fell to a hushed whisper as they stood dumbstruck, just moments after starting the inning by unoriginally chanting "Yankees Suck".

For some ungodly reason, manager Joe Girardi removed Pettitte in the 7th after he struck out Jason Kubel. The move immediately looked horrendous when Joba Chamberlain surrendered a double to Delmon Young on a weak-ass slider on a 1-2 count. Joba would escape without further trouble and turned the ball over to Phil Hughes to start the 8th.

Hughes once again embarrassed himself mightily when he allowed the weak-hitting Nick Punto to lace a double to left center. I'm still dumbfounded as to how Punto hit .444 with 3 walks in this series. Hughes then allowed Denard Span to single up the middle, but Jeter fielded the ball before it left the infield. For the second game in the row, the Twins pulled a horrendous base running gaffe. Punto practically ran through the 3B coach's stop sign, before stopping midway to home. Jeter threw to Posada, and Posada threw a bullet to ARod at third to nail a scrambling Punto. Twins manager, Ron Gardenhire, nearly ran into the clubhouse to throw up. Punto went from improbable hero to goat in a matter of seconds, as a hush and utter disbelief quickly overcame the Twins faithful. It was time to put away the useless homer hankies. Hughes retired Orlando Cabrera on a fly ball, and Girardi, not fooling around, brought in the great Mariano to face Mauer. Mo shattered Mauer's bat with a nasty cutter, getting him to ground out to first and began putting in the final nails to the Twins coffin.

The Yanks rallied for 2 more insurance runs in the 9th, with Posada and Cano singling in a run each. The Twins pitchers, who hadn't walked anyone all game, walked the bases loaded before the run scoring singles. Mariano nailed down the save after allowing a leadoff single and the Yanks are on their way to face their nemesis, the Angels, in the ALCS this Friday.

In the meantime, if anyone has seen Johnny Damon, who had the Golden Sombrero today, or Nick Swisher, please let them and their .083 batting average know the playoffs have officially started and their presence would be appreciated. The same can be said to Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and to a lesser extent, Mark Teixeira. They're all hitting .167. Those numbers won't cut it against the Angels and their offense.

Yankees Post Season Record: 3-0

ALDS Game 2 - Yanks Big Ticket Stars Paying Dividends

AJ Burnett held the Minnesota Twins to 1 run in 6 innings in his 1st postseason start of his career and Mark Teixeira finally showed up with a single in the 9th and a game winning HR in the extra innings to propel the Bombers to a 2-0 lead in the series.

The Yanks appeared to be headed to Minnesota tied up in the series, as they were stymied most of the game by Nick Blackburn, who led the league in hits allowed. Blackburn held the Yanks hitless for 4.2 innings before Robinson Cano broke up the no-no with a single to center. The Yanks were trailing 1-0 in the 6th when The Captain hit a ground rule double and ARod, yes, ARod, hit a 2-out RBI single to knock in Derek Jeter for the 3rd time this series.

The Twins went up 3-1 in the 8th when Phil Hughes had a meltdown after recording 2 quick outs. Hughes inexplicably walked Carlos Gomez, the proud owner of a paltry .287 OBP. Brendan Harris, who earlier in the game tripled in a run, singled to put runners on 1st and 3rd. I can live with that. But then, the inexcusable happened. Hughes allowed the weak-hitting Nick Punto who hit .228 this season to single in the go-ahead run with 2 strikes on a lollipop curve ball. For some reason, the Yanks can't figure out Punto who is 3-6 with 3 walks this series. What is going on? Meanwhile, Joe Girardi, as well as Yankee fans everywhere, had seen enough of Hughes and Mariano Rivera was brought in. He doused a little gasoline on the fire when he surrendered a run-scoring single to Denard Span to put the Twins up 3-1.

After mounting nothing in the 8th, only Joe Nathan stood in the way of the Yanks going up 2-0 are headed for a split. Tex finally broke his 0-7 in the series with a leadoff single. ARod, the target of much vitriol for his past playoff performances, calmly worked the count to 3-1 before depositing Nathan's waist-high fastball into the right field bullpen to tie the score at 3 and send Yankee Stadium into pandemonium and the game into extra frames.

Both teams had their chances to win the game in the 10th inning. After Alfredo Aceves retired the first 2 batters, he walked the "dangerous" Punto and allowed a hit to Span before bailing out of further trouble by setting down Orlando Cabrera. The Yanks even had a better chance of finishing the game in the 10th, when they had runners on the corners with 1 out. Johnny Damon lined a shot up the middle off the reliever's glove, but with the infield in, Cabrera caught the tip and doubled up pinch runner, Brett Gardner, off of 3B.

The 11th inning would bring controversy and anti-Yankee smearing across the nation due to a horrendous call by the left field umpire. Joe Mauer hit what appeared to be a ground rule double down the left field line, but umpire Phil Cuzzi, about 15-20 feet from the play, called it foul. Mauer singled on the next pitch. Jason Kubel also followed with a single and Joe Girardi brought in David Robertson to replace the ineffectual and useless Damaso Marte. Michael Cuddyer then lined a single up the middle, but for some unexplained reason, the Twins held up Mauer at 3B, and the Twins were cooking, with the bases loaded and none out. Mauer would never score. Robertson got a line out to Tex at first, a forceout from Tex to homeplate and then he retired Harris to escape the inning without a scratch.

This led to Tex' heroics, as he led off the bottom of the 11th with screaming line drive that hit the top of the LF wall and bounced over for the walkoff HR. It was pie-time for Tex as Burnett continued the Yankee walkoff tradition from the regular season and all was right in Yankeeland again.

Of course, there are detractors everywhere, including the Twins organzation, who are saying the blown call on Mauer's hit cost them the game. Apparently, none of those people watched the whole game. The Twins lost that game for countless other reasons, with Cuzzi's blown call being at the very bottom of that list. I present the following real reasons the Twins blew this game:

1. The Twins left a small village on base. 17 base runners were left stranded, as the Twins had at least 1 base runner in every single inning.

2. Carlos Gomez got nailed at 2B on a single, when he rounded the base, negating Delmon Young from scoring. Gomez was tagged out by, who else but, Derek Jeter, before Young could cross the plate.

3. Joe Nathan. This guy needs to change his shorts every time he faces the Yanks. He couldn't hold on to a 2-run lead and gave up a HR with a man on base for the first time all season. He was one of the biggest complainers about Mauer's hit being called foul, but let's focus on your own faults there, Joe. For his career, he is 0-4 with 3 blown saves and an ERA over 4.50 against the Bombers. Arguably, he is considered the 2nd best closer in the league after Mariano.

4. Mauer held up at third base on a single. For reasons I may never know, the Twins 3B coach held up Mauer on Cuddyer's hit to center, not challenging the pop gun arm of Brett Gardner. Mauer would have scored easily.

5. Bases loaded and no outs. Mauer still reached base. He even suggested maybe Kubel doesn't get a hit in that situation, because the Yanks had to cover Mauer at 1B, leaving a huge hole between 1st and 2nd, where Kubel hit the ball. They had bases loaded and no outs! They couldn't score. Hence, the Twins, not Phil Cuzzi, blew this game. They had ample opportunities to win this game. Perhaps every Twin should look at themselves in the mirror before whining about a non-call.

Yankees Postseason Record: 2-0

ALDS Game 1 - CC and The Captain Lead Yanks Past Twins

CC Sabathia looked a little shaky, Jorge Posada forgot how to catch, and the Yankees trailed 2-0 to the upstart Minnesota Twins after 2.5 innings with Yankee fans everywhere holding their collective breath. Thank God for The Captain. With one swing of the bat, Derek Jeter tied the score in the bottom of the 3rd with his career 18th post-season HR, and everything seemed right again in Yankeeland.

Crooked Cap settled down after that, leaving the game in the 7th with a 7-2 lead and runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out. Phil Hughes bailed him out of further trouble by striking out the dangerous Orlando Cabrera. Sabathia pitched 6.2 innings, allowing 2 runs, only 1 earned, while striking out 8 Twins. The Twinkies scored their 2nd run in the second inning when Posada missed a pitch and lackadaisically walked towards it, allowing an indecisive Joe Mauer to score from 3B.

The ol' veteran though, Jeter, demonstrated yet again why he's the beloved son of The Bronx. Jeter singled on the first pitch he saw in the first, homered in the 3rd and walked in his other 2 ABs. ARod finally exorcised some ghosts when he erased his hideous 0-29 with runners on base and 0-18 with RISP when he singled in Jeter in the 5th and again in the 7th. Hideki Matsui greeted Twin reliever, Francisco Liriano with a deep, wind blown HR to deep center in the 5th. Nick Swisher also contributed with an RBI double in the 4th that gave the Yanks a 3-2 lead.

With a comfortable 5-run lead in the 8th, manager Joe Girardi liberally went to his bullpen. Perhaps to spare Hughes from throwing too many pitches, he removed Hughes with 1 out. Phil Coke came in and threw 1 pitch to record the 2nd out, and Joba Chamberlain came in to throw 2 pitches to finish up the inning. Mariano Rivera came in the 9th for some work, and wrapped up the game after embarrassing himself by walking Nick Punto, proud owner of a .228 batting average. Someone please explain to me how Punto went 2-3 with a walk, please?

Game 2 will be on Friday, with some controversy attached. It wouldn't be the Yankees if there wasn't any controversy attached. The light-hitting Jose Molina will catch AJ Burnett instead of Yankee icon, Jorge Posada. Burnett's numbers are far more superior with Molina behind the dish. Granted, Posada is a far better hitter than Molina, but he didn't look good catching Sabathia, twice getting mixed up and then throwing the Crooked One under the bus in the post game interviews. Whether or not he was calling for a fastball, the 2 pitches he absolutely missed were catchable, almost down the middle breaking balls that need to be caught. And Posada continued his boneheaded play that I've seen all season when he half walked, half trotted towards the second pitch he missed, allowing Mauer to score.

The Yanks will face off against Nick Blackburn, and looking to go up 2-0. Angels and Red Sox will play Game 1 tonight in their series. Angels don't stand a chance - they fold like a cheap tent when they see the Sox.

Yankees Postseason Record: 1-0

Game 162 - ARod Reaches Milestones on 2 Swings

The Yankees starters were in the lineup, but it appeared they were sleep walking towards the playoffs yet again, before lightning struck in the 6th inning. Trailing 2-0, the Yanks plated a huge 10-spot in the inning. With 2 swings of the bat, ARod knocked in 7 of those runs with a 3-run shot and a grand slam.

Coming into the game, ARod was sitting on 28 HRs and 93 RBIs with no shot at extending his 30 homer, 100 RBI streak. But this is why baseball fans love the game - you're always going to see something that you have never seen before. With ARod's 6th inning heroics, he reached 30 HRs and 100 RBIs for the 13th straight season and set an AL record with 7 RBIs in one inning. His second HR also tied him with Mark McGwire with 583 career blasts.

AJ Burnett pitched 5 innings in a playoff tuneup. It was his 100th career win, as he finished the year 13-9. He is slated to go in Game 2 of the playoffs. The Yankee bullpen pitched 4 hitless innings and struck out 5 to wrap up their 103 victory of the season.

Johnny Damon finally broke out of his snide, going 2-4 with 2 doubles and just barely missing his 25th HR of the season. Mark Teixeira finished tied with Carlos Pena for the AL HR title with 39. He was intentionally walked before ARod's slam in the 6th. Tex did win the RBI title with 122, as he proved his signing as a free agent was money well spent.

The Yanks will have to wait to see who they play in the ALDS, with the Tigers and Twins playing a 1-game playoff after having the same record after 162 games.

Yankees Final Regular Season Record: 103-59

Game 161 - Another Apathetic Loss as Yanks Await Playoffs

The Yanks put on another lackluster performance, falling 5-3 to the Rays, with a mixture of veterans and role players in the lineup. Andy Pettitte fell to 14-8 on the season, but had a helluva turnaround from last year's 14-14 season where he pitched hurt for most of the second half.

No one stood out offensively, with 9 different Yankees collecting 9 hits. Brett Gardner did still 2 bases and the struggling Johnny Damon did drive in a run. Can anyone remember the last time this guy hit one out of the park?

Last regular season game is tomorrow. Manager Joe Girardi plans to start his regulars to tune up for the playoffs.

Yankees Record: 102-59

Game 160 - CC Denied 20th Win

Let's hope this isn't a precursor for things to come. With a chance at winning 20 games for the first time in his career, Crooked Cap Sabathia got lit up by the Tampa Bay Rays in a 13-4 ass whooping. The Crooked One lasted just 2.2 innings, getting roughed up for 9 runs, 5 earned while surrendering 8 hits and an unheard of 5 walks, not to mention 1 HBP. He gave up 4 runs in the 1st, 1 in the 2nd and another 4-spot in the 3rd before departing.

Tampa's BJ Upton, the only other player that makes Robinson Cano look like he cares about the game, hit for the cycle and had 5 hits and 6 RBIs. Even Phil Hughes got roughed up, giving up 3 hits and a run in a third of an inning.

Sabathia finished the season 19-8 and had won 9 straight games before this setback. Hopefully, this was just an aberration and not a pitcher "pressing" for his 20th. The Yanks don't need their ace gripping the ball too tight when the playoffs start.

As for the Yanks offense, rookie Juan Miranda was the only bright spot, hitting his first career HR.

Yankees Record: 102-58

Game 159 - Yanks Streak Snapped at 7

The Yankee regulars came out to play but never really showed up, as the Royals downed the Bombers 4-3 in the first season finale in new Yankee Stadium. Joba Chamberlain reverted to his abysmal form, only lasting 3.2 innings before departing to a chorus of boos. He allowed 7 hits and 4 walks to a non-patient KC lineup, but was bailed out of the loss when Nick Swisher tied the score at 3 with a 2-run shot in the 5th.

Damaso Marte was saddled with the loss after Sergio Mitre allowed Marte's runner to score on a John Buck triple. The Yanks looked poised for another comeback in the 9th, with runners on 1st and 3rd, but Ramiro Pena ended the game with a groundout. If this game meant anything, Pena would never have been allowed to hit.

The Yanks ended their home record at 57-24 in their inaugural season at their new home.

Yankees Record: 102-57

Game 158 - Ol' Friend, Kyle Farnsworth, Gift Wraps Win for Yanks

Rookie Juan Miranda led the Yanks to their 15th walkoff win of the season when his single off of ol' Yankee, Kyle Farnsworth's knee, allowed the go ahead run to score in the 4-3 victory. AJ Burnett threw his 3rd consecutive solid start, limiting the Royals to 2 runs, 1 earned in 6.1 innings. Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher hit solo shots, with Tex' dinger tying him with Carlos Pena for the AL lead with 39.

The Royals led 3-2 going into the 9th when they went with Farnsworth. They were still resting their closer, Joakim Soria, who had thrown 46 pitches in his previous appearance. Fan favorite, Francisco Cervelli started the 1-out rally with a single and Eric Hinske followed up with another. Robinson Cano, playing a lot of hero of late, tied the game with a SF. Johnny Damon was intentionally walked before Miranda's heroics earned him the post game pie in the face from AJ Burnett.

It was the Yanks 7th straight victory as this team is geared up for the playoffs to start already (as are most Yankee fans).

Yankees Record: 102-56

Game 157 - Yanks Scrubs Better Then Royals Regulars

With a large majority of the Yankee regulars resting after clinching the AL East, Robinson Cano paced the Bomber scrubs to an 8-2 pasting of the hapless KC Royals. Rookie Ramiro Pena, playing for Derek Jeter, went 2-4 with 2 RBIs and a stolen base and connected for his first big league home run in the 5th inning. The Yankee bench gave Pena the traditional silent treatment to the rookie before mobbing him for his feat.

Cano, batting 3rd in the revamped lineup, hit a grand slam in the 8th that gave the Pinstripers their big cushion. It was his 25th HR of the season, joining Tex, ARod, Godzilla and Swisher with at least 25 dingers. Every Yankee starter, with the exception of 1B, Juan Miranda, had at least 1 hit. Fan favorite, Francisco Cervelli, chipped in with 2 hits, along with Cano, Pena and Jorge Posada, who DH'd.

Chad Gaudin picked up the victory, going 6.2 innings. Damaso Marte came on to retire Alex Gordon and Alfredo Aceves pitched 2 hitless innings to wrap up the victory.

Yankees Record: 101-56

Game 156 - Yanks Sweep Bosox and Capture AL East Crown

Melky Cabrera and Mark Teixeira both homered, Hideki Matsui singled in the go ahead runs in the 6th and the Yanks swept Boston out of New York to win the AL East Crown and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Andy Pettitte held Boston to 2 runs in 6 innings to pick up his 14th win of the season and Brian Bruney, Phil Coke and the great Mariano held down the fort as the Bombers incredibly tied the Sox 9-9 in the season series despite dropping the first 8 games. Those games seem eons ago as the Yanks turned around their season with the return of ARod.

Tex' shot came in the 8th against Peter Gammons love child, Daniel Bard. It was the 2nd time this season Tex has gone deep against the overhyped Red Sox rookie. Paul Byrd took the loss, despite keeping the Sox in the game. He left with a 2-run lead, but Takashi Saito allowed both of his inherited runners to score.

With the win, expect to see Joe Girardi to start playing his bench players as he rests his starters during the final week of the regular season.

Yankees Record: 100-56

Game 155 - Sabathia Outduels the Dart Thrower

Crooked Cap tossed 7 brilliant innings of 1-hit ball as he overcame the Yanks pitiful performance with RISP, as the Yanks defeated the Bosox 3-0. Sabathia retired the first 11 batters he faced and only allowed a Mike Lowell single that led off the 5th inning. He left the game with the Yanks holding a slim 1-0 lead before they rallied for a 2-spot against Billy Wagner. The win reduced the Bombers magic number to 1 and they can clinch the AL East with a sweep against the Sox.

Daisuke Matsuzaka reverted to last season's Houdini form, stranding 9, count them 9 baserunners in the first 5 innings. The Yanks embarrassed themselves with a pathetic 0-11 with RISP, including the bases loaded with no outs in the 5th inning. ARod, going for 100 RBIs despite missing over a month this season, tapped a grounder in front of the plate and Victor Martinez was able to scramble back to homeplate to force Derek Jeter. Hideki Matsui and Nick Swisher continued the Bombers incompetence with foul pop ups. Robinson Cano finally reached the Dart Thrower for a solo shot in the 6th. The Dart Thrower finished the game allowing 11 baserunners in his 7 innings of work.

Phil Hughes and Mariano Rivera completed the 2 hit shutout. Mo, as usual against the Red Sox, made things interesting. With 2 outs, he allowed a single to Martinez and hit Big Nugget Youkilis before retiring the potential tying run and Yankee killer, Mike Lowell for his 43rd save.

Yankees Record: 99-56

Game 154 - Yanks Pound Bosox and Lester

ARod went 3-3 with a homer, 4 RBIs and 3 SBs and Joba Chamberlain finally showed up, holding the Sox to 3 runs in 6 innings, as the Yanks won convincingly in a 9-5 victory. The Yanks roughed up Sox ace, Jon Lester for 8 hits and 5 runs in 2.1 innings before he was knocked out by a Melky Cabrera line drive off his knee.

Chamberlain, meanwhile, limited the Sox to 5 hits and 1 walk and struck out 5. His mistakes were a solo shot to Victor Martinez and a 2-run shot to Big Sloppy Ortiz, as the Yanks continued to donate to their favorite charity this season - Resurrect an Aging Slugger Program. Manager Joe Girardi used 5 relievers to wrap up the final 3 innings. Jonathan Albaladejo allowed the Sox final 2 runs, although Johnny Damon's defense didn't do him any favors.

The Yanks swiped 7 SBs against Jason Varitek, at times impersonating a NASCAR race track. This Red Sox team does not represent anything like the team that pounded the Yanks the first 8 games of the season.

Yankees Record: 98-56

Game 153 - Yanks Win Series in Anaheim

AJ Burnett outdueled Scott Kazmir, as the Yanks held on for a 3-2 victory against the Angels and took 2 of 3 in the series. The Yanks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 4th on a 2-run single from Robinson Cano and scored on a Melky Cabrera double. Burnett pitched brilliantly, albeit for only 5.2 innings, as he struck out 11 Angels.

5 Yankee relievers held the Angels scoreless for the final 3.1 innings, including a scoreless inning from Ian Kennedy. It was his first MLB appearance in over a year and perhaps a miraculous appearance, considering he underwent surgery earlier this season to remove an aneurysm in his throwing arm. Mariano Rivera wrapped up the series win with his 42nd save of the season.

Yankees Record: 97-56

Game 152 - Yanks Finally Win in Anaheim to Clinch Playoff Berth

ARod and Hideki Matsui homered for the 2nd straight night and the Yanks finally beat the Angels in Anaheim this season in 5 tries. The Yanks won 6-5 despite blowing a 5-0 lead. Jorge Posada also homered in the game against Angels starter, Ervin Santana.

Phil Hughes picked up the win after blowing a 5-4 lead in the 8th, but he could hardly be faulted. Robinson Cano allowed Howie Kendrick to reach on an error and Jorge Posada followed up with a throwing error of his own, allowing Kendrick to reach 3B with none out. After Maicer Izturis singled in Kendrick and Abreu walked, it looked like the Yanks would find another way to lose to Anaheim. But Hughes reared back and struck out Vlad Guerrero and Torii Hunter to end the threat.

Brett Gardner set the stage for the winning run again for the 2nd time in a week against the Angels, once again beating them at their own game. He led off the 9th with a single and stole second base. After Derek Jeter walked, Johnny Damon sacrificed both runners and Mark Teixeira was intentionally walked. ARod came through with a SF to give the Yanks a 6-5 lead. Mariano Rivera came in and did his thing, giving the Yanks a confidence boost against a potential playoff foe. With the win, the Yanks were able to clinch at least a playoff berth. Barring a total collapse, the Yanks should win the AL East and wrap up the best record in baseball for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Yankees Record: 96-56

Game 151 - Yanks Lose Again in Anaheim

The Yanks remained winless in Anaheim, dropping their 4th straight, as Joe Saunders stumped the Yankee lineup in the Angels 5-2 win. He only allowed 7 hits in 8.1 innings - 2 hits apiece for ARod, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada and a solo shot to pinch hitter, Hideki Matsui. ARod provided the other run with a solo shot of his own.

Andy Pettitte pitched well in a tough luck loss, going 6 innings and allowing 3 runs. He rebounded well after missing his previous start with a stiff shoulder. Yankee relievers, Brian Bruney and Jonathan Albaladejo both surrendered a run in their dismal performances.

The Yanks had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the 9th, but Robinson Cano flied out to end the game.

Yankees Record: 95 - 56

Game 150 - Joba Terrible, Again

Joba Chamberlain once again stunk up the joint and the Yankee bats took a Sunday sabbatical, as the Mariners won 7-1. Joba got roughed for all 7 runs in his 3 innings of "work". The Yanks re-opened their favorite charity, Help an Aging Slugger, with Ken Griffey, Jr. going deep and driving in 4 runs.

Meanwhile, the Yankee offense was nothing but offensive to the senses. They managed 5 hits - 3 by Mark Teixeira. This against Ian Snell, who's ERA soars over 5.00. With the loss, the Yanks were not able to clinch a playoff berth and will have to go to Anaheim for 3 games to try and clinch at least a wild card berth. In the mean time, the Red Sox continue to win as they are heating up at the right time before the playoffs. The Yanks are stuck in win one, lose one rut for the past week.

It wasn't all bad for the Yanks. Sergio Mitre relieved Joba and held the M's to 1 hit in 5 innings. Also, the creepy and feminine Ichiro Suzuki went hitless.

Yankees Record: 95-55

Game 149 - Sabathia, Tex Lead Yanks in Blowout

CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira put the Yanks previous night's rare blip behind them, as they cruised to a 10-1 pasting of the Seattle Mariners. Crooked Cap tossed 7 innings of 1 run ball while striking out 8 and Tex went 4-5 with 2 HRs and a triple while knocking in 5 runs. With a chance for a cycle in the 9th, all Tex needed was a double. Instead, he deposited the ball over the left center field fence.

Tex has also turned into "Triples McGee" as he hit his 3rd in 5 games after having no triples all of last season and none up till 5 games ago. He leads the American League with 118 RBIs. Robinson Cano also had 4 hits in the Yankees 18-hit attack. ARod and Nick Swisher were the only Yankees who didn't join the hit party.

Sabathia earned his league leading 18th win, as the Bombers 2 biggest off-season acquisitions continued to pay huge dividends. He now stands at 18-7 on the year with an ERA standing at 3.31. CC has won 8 straight games and the Yanks have won in his last 10 starts. Despite leading the league in wins, Kansas City's Zach Greinke appears to be the odds-on favorite to win the Cy Young award. Due to his past issues with an anxiety disorder, he's become the media darling. Granted, his numbers are pretty impressive and his ERA is microscopic, but he does pitch in the highly mediocre AL Central Division, whereas, CC pitches in the toughest division in baseball. I'd be interested to see how well Greinke's numbers would translate in the AL East. He hasn't even faced the Yanks this year. He did finally pitch against Boston and pitched a great game, perhaps sealing the award.

Yankees Record: 95-54

Game 148 - Rivera Blows Game

AJ Burnett finally showed up and pitched 7 solid innings, holding Seattle to 1 run as he turned a 2-1 lead over to the bullpen. He even picked off the napping Ichiro Suzuki twice off of first base. Phil Hughes pitched a scoreless 8th inning, and as it's drafted up, turned the ball over to the great Mariano Rivera to finish up the game. It didn't happen.

Mo looked unhittable for 2 batters, striking them out both, but then lost the game on 2 pitches. He allowed a double to the feeble, decrepit Mike Sweeney, who hasn't played a 100 games in a season since 2005. And then, to my horror, he allowed the girl softball leadoff hitter, Suzuki, to turn on an inside cutter and drill it into the RF seats for the game-winning HR, giving Seattle an improbable 3-2 victory. Why can't this girly slap-hitter do this more often? I might almost respect him if he did. Nah, probably not.

Suzuki's still the only major leaguer I've ever seen lay on the ground for 5 minutes after being hit in the back with a pitch from my hero, Hideo Nomo. I saw Tino Martinez take a 98-mph heater from Armando Benitez in 1998 that touched off an ugly brawl against Baltimore, and he didn't crumple to the ground like nancy-boy Suzuki did.

It was Mo's first blown save since his Boston debacle in April. He recorded a career high 36 straight saves.

Yankees Record: 94-54

Blown Games: 8

Game 147 - Cervelli Wins It With a Walkoff

Cooler heads prevailed, as the Yanks and Blue Jays played a clean 9-inning game without any incident (although Robinson Cano was HBP). 3rd string catcher, Francisco Cervelli, helped the Yanks split the 2-game series with a walkoff single to score Brett Gardner in the bottom of the 9th. The genius brawler, Jorge Posada, began his 3-game suspension, as he also nurses a stiff neck.

Things looked grim for the Yanks, as they trailed 4-2 in the bottom of the 8th. As they've done all season though, they fought back, with Hideki Matsui hitting a tying 2-run shot off of lefty Scott Downs. Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless 9th and would improve to 3-2 on the season. Gardner led off the bottom of the 9th with a single and stole second. He moved to third on a Derek Jeter groundout before Cervelli's game-winning heroics. Gardner's legs also helped the Yanks beat the Angels earlier in the week. The Yanks finished their 9-game homestand 6-3.

Yankees Record: 94-53

Game 146 - Idiot Posada Starts Brawl as Yanks Are Crushed

The playoffs are within the Yankees sights, but Jorge Posada, perhaps the dumbest player on the team, decided to start a bench clearing brawl against the Toronto Blue Jays with the Yanks getting blown out. Earlier in the game, Yankee pitchers hit 2 Jays, including their star 2B, Aaron Hill, scare in the back. Toronto reliever, Jesse Carlson, taking exception for his teammates, threw a warning pitch that went well behind Posada in the 8th inning. Dummy Posada, instead of realizing the situation and perhaps accepting the warning, began yelling out at Carlson, saying "you don't want to go there". Jorge needs a reality check.

With the Yanks getting pummeled 9-2 at that point, and nothing to gain against a team trying to get through the season, Posada gave Carlson a slight elbow as he came in to score on a Brett Gardner double. Posada was promptly tossed, but he came after Carlson who had some choice words for him. That set off the brawl. Yankee fans would have loved it if Derek Jeter broke a finger or CC Sabathia injured his shoulder in a needless fracas 2+ weeks from the playoffs. How great would that have been? I'm all for brawls, but let's do this in July or August and against the Red Sox, Rays or Angels. Not when you're on the brink of making the playoffs against a team that has nothing to lose.

As for the game, the Bombers allowed Yankee killer, Roy Halladay, off the hook repeatedly, despite touching him up for 11 hits in 6 innings. Sergio Mitre was God-awful, serving up 4 dingers and 7 runs in 5 innings as the Blue Jays pounded the Yanks to a the tune of 10-4. I wonder how Joe Girardi turned that into a positive spin in his post game comments. Toronto was led by Travis Snyder, who mixed in 2 HRs around 3 strikeouts.

Yankees Record: 93-53

Game 145 - Gardner Beats Angels at Their Own Game

After Phil Hughes allowed the Angels to tie the game in the top of the 8th, it was Brett Gardner who helped the Yanks to avoid finding a way to lose, yet again, to their nemesis. In the bottom of the frame, Gardner pinch ran for Mark Teixeira at 2B, stole third and came home on catcher Mike Napoli's throwing error. ARod, who also stole second on the play, went to third and scored on a Robinson Cano single to make the score 5-3. Mariano Rivera came on the 9th to record his 40th save, the 7th time in his career he's reached that mark.

Tex paced the Bomber offense with 3 hits and 2 RBIs. Nick Swisher had a rare Yankee Stadium HR and Joba Chamberlain pitched well in his abbreviated stint. Joba went 4 innings, allowing 4 hits and 1 run on a Vlad Guerrero dinger. He didn't walk a batter while striking out 2.

This was a makeup game for an early season rainout. The Yanks have won a number of games this season on their way to the playoffs, but have struggled mightily against the Angels since the Joe Torre era began in 1996. Joe Girardi also had a losing record against the Angels last season. The Yanks were swept in Anaheim in a 3-game set right before the All Star break.

Yankees Record: 93-52

Game 144 - Yanks Pull One Out Against Mighty Baltimore

CC Sabathia won his league-leading 17th game, despite looking average against a bunch of no-name Baltimore players, in the Yankees 13-3 smackdown. The Yanks won despite leaving men on 3B with less than 2 outs all game long, with Mark Teixeira being the main offender, striking out once and hitting back to the pitcher twice in 3 chances.

Johnny Damon also embarrassed himself when he forgot how many outs there were. After making a catch, he nearly threw the ball into the stands with a runner on 2B. Realizing his mistake, he threw the ball in, but too late - the runner scored on the gaffe. Something tells me this team is just coasting into the playoffs and that is a dangerous sign. Joe Girardi cannot be pleased.

The game was actually close for awhile until the Bombers scored a huge 8-spot against the ghastly Oriole bullpen. Hideki Matsui paced the team with 5 RBIs, including a 3-run shot. Melky Cabrera also knocked in 4 runs.

Yankees Record: 92-52

Game 143 - Has Anyone Seen AJ Burnett?

For 1 inning, AJ Burnett looked like absolute crap again, getting lit up for 6 runs against Balitmore, as the Yanks lost 7-2 in another lackluster performance. Absolute Joke was smacked around in the 2nd inning, getting embarrassed by giving hits to recent Oriole call ups before Brian Roberts tagged him for a grand slam.

Burnett would recover and throw zeroes the rest of the way through the 7th - which he should be doing against a team playing out the season’s string with a lot of young ballplayers. Burnett’s inconsistency these past 2 months has to be a minor cause for concern in Yankeeland. Except for his 1 hit performance against Boston in the 15-inning marathon game against Boston and 12 Ks against Texas, he has looked God awful, posting only 1 win since July 28th. In the meantime, Boston’s starting pitching looks like it’s rounding into form just in time for the playoffs. I’m not liking the smell of this. Should the Yanks consider making Andy Pettitte the Game 2 starter in the playoffs?

Yankees Record: 91-52

Game 142 - Jeter Sets Record in Humiliating Loss

Derek Jeter went 2-4, passing the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig, for the Yankees all time hit record, but other than that, there wasn’t much for Yankee fans to celebrate during a wet night. The game was delayed twice - before the game and before the 7th inning, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of a young Baltimore team as it smacked the Yanks, 10-4.

Andy Pettitte pitched 5 innings and left with a 4-3 lead. Damaso Marte and Edwar Ramirez got lit up for 7 runs in their brief, but terrible relief performances. But the loss and weather didn’t stop the Yankees and their fans from celebrating Jeter’s feat. The Captain broke the record in the 3rd inning when he slapped a single past the 1B into the rightfield corner. The Yankees came out of the dugout and hugged their teammate to share in his special moment. Yankee fans cheered long and loud for him as once again, he tipped his helmet to the adoring horde.

With the loss, I doubt this game will ever make Yankee Classics on the YES Network. I don’t believe the Yankees have ever lost a game in their Classics. I guess it will have to settle as a “Yankee Classic Moment”.

Yankees Record: 91-51

Game 141 - Jeter Ties the Iron Horse; Oh, and the Yankees Win, Too

The Captain was stuck in an 0-12 slump. Nothing major, but in NY, everything gets magnified as everyone waited with baited breath for Derek Jeter to pick up his quest for Lou Gehrig's all time Yankee hit record. Jeter didn't wait long, bunting for a hit in the first inning. He grounded out in his 2nd at bat, but hit a deep ground-rule double, fittingly, into Monument Park in his next turn at the plate, leaving him 1 behind the Iron Horse. He didn't waste any time to tie him. In his 4th plate appearance, Jeter slapped a single into RF, tying the legend and sending the crowd into a frenzy. The Captain, tying another Yankee Captain, doffed his helmet twice to acknowledge the adoring fans. His teammates came out of the dugout to cheer him and Tampa Bay even applauded from the top steps of their dugout.

Despite all the excitement, the Yanks found themselves losing 2-0 after 7 innings to rookie Jeff Niemann, who pitched brilliantly and deserved a better fate. Tampa Bay's manager, Joe Maddon, appeared to be terrified to take out Niemann, bringing him out again for the 8th. ARod led off with a single, and that was it for Niemann. In a strange move, the overrated and supposed "genius" Maddon brought in righty Lance Cormier to face the lefty hitting Matsui despite having his lefty, Brian Shouse in the bullpen. Matsui is 2-14 lifetime against Shouse. Matsui made them pay with a single, sending ARod to 3B. Nick Swisher then hit a grounder to first and 1B Chris Richard threw the ball into LF trying to force the runner at 2B. ARod scored their 1st run and the Yanks still had runners at the corners with no outs.

The "genius" Maddon finally brought in Shouse to face Robinson Cano. Of course, Cano choked brutally, striking out with the tying run on third. Jorge Posada was coming to the plate to pinch hit for Brett Gardner, who already failed twice to bring in a run from third base. For some strange reason, again, Maddon took out the lefty Shouse and brought in righty, Grant Balfour, to switch Posada around at the plate. 2 things - 1. Posada was 3-3 lifetime against Balfour and 2. Why would you have anyone turn around to bat left-handed at Yankee Stadium? Posada is now 4-4, as he deposited a full count pitch into the RF seats for a 3-run blast, giving the Yanks a 4-2 lead and eventually, the win.

In all the excitement, Joba Chamberlain had another unimpressive 3 inning, 2 run performance. He gave up a homer to Jason Bartlett (under high suspicion) to start the game and gave up another run in the 1st. The Captain appeared to give Joba a lecture on the mound, and wouldn't you know it, Joba responded with 2 Ks and ended up retiring his last 8 batters. The Yankee bullpen was outstanding, tossing 6 hitless innings. Alfredo Aceves tossed 3 innings, Jonathan Albaladejo pitched 2. Brian Bruney, not Mariano Rivera or Phil Hughes, came out in the 9th. He walked Evan Longoria to lead off the inning, but retired the next 2 batters. Joe Girardi brought in Phil Coke for the final out, and he struck out Gabe Kapler to pick up his 2nd save of the season.

But this night belongs to Derek Jeter. And YES' Yankee Classics can continue to be undefeated in their games when they replay this night over and over again when Derek Jeter tied Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse. Yankee fans and Jeter will have to wait till Friday to break the record and stand alone as the All Time Yankee Hit King.

Yankees Record: 91-50

Photos Courtesy of AP and Yahoo! Sports

Game 140 - Swisher Wins it With Walkoff HR

Nick Swisher earned the pie. After connecting for his 2nd HR of the game, from both sides of the plate, Swisher earned the walkoff pie treatment that AJ Burnett has made the new tradition this season. It was the 13th walkoff for the Bombers this year. The HR just barely cleared the RF wall and gave the Yanks a 3-2 win over the reeling Tampa Bay Rays.

Yankee starter, Chad Gaudin, pitched a helluva ballgame, going 6+ innings and only giving up Evan Longoria's dinger to lead off the 7th frame. Manager Joe Girardi played with fire, letting Gaudin go out in the 7th with no one warming up in the pen. After Longoria's solo shot, Gaudin allowed a single and walk without retiring anyone. Girardi would mix and match Damaso Marte, Brian Bruney and Phil Coke to record 1 out each and get out of the jam.

Phil Hughes came on in the 8th and allowed the much improved, albeit, highly suspicious Jason Bartlett, to tie the game with a solo blast, stunning the stadium crowd. Hughes has been so good this year, it was his first blown save. Mariano Rivera pitched a quiet 9th, setting up Swisher's heroics. With the win, the Yanks magic number is down to 15.

Derek Jeter's quest to catch Lou Gehrig stalled again, taking another 0-4 collar. He is now a season-high 0-12 since returning from the road trip.

Yankees Record: 90-50

Game 139 - Yanks Complete the Doubleheader Sweep

The Yanks demonstrated yet again, why capitalism shall always overcome socialism. In the second game of the twin bill, the Bombers took the Tampa Bay Rays behind the woodshed and laid a beating on them, drubbing them to a tune of 11-1. The penny-pinching, cost saving, frugal and just outright cheap Rays dropped their 7th straight and probably flushed any chances at a wildcard berth, falling 7.5 games back of the Sawx. The Rays recently traded one of their better pitchers in Scott Kazmir and their bullpen has reeked all season of cutting corners with the payroll. Why the Rays management would skimp on such a talented team all season defies belief and I would imagine making it very hard to root for such a team.

Early, it appeared AJ Burnett's recent struggles were not behind him, as he was hit hard in the 1st inning, giving up 2 doubles as the Rays jumped out to a 1-0 lead. He quickly righted the ship and limited the Rays to only that first run, pitching 6 strong innings while striking out 8 and holding Tampa Bay to 4 hits.

Meanwhile, the Yankee offense exploded against Kazmir's replacement in the rotation, Andy Sonnanstine, in the 3rd inning. They put a huge 8-spot on the board, virtually putting the game in cruise control and allowed Joe Girardi to empty his bench and play a lot of the recent September call-ups. Every Yankee starter, with the exception of Derek Jeter, had at least a hit. Jeter, who needs 3 hits to tie Lou Gehrig for the all time Yankee hit leader, went 0-4 with a walk and 0-8 in the doubleheader. During the big 3rd inning, he made 2 of the 3 outs. Big Tex knocked 2 HRs, including one deep into Monument Park. Melky Cabrera and Jose Molina each had 3 hits apiece in the blowout. Molina reached base all 5 times, walking 2 times as well. Mysteriously, since the return of Brett Gardner began to lurk, Melky has begun hitting again. Apparently, Melky seems to need the extra motivation to keep the fire burning and produce. Let's hope the Yanks keep Gardner on the playoff roster.

Call-ups Edwar Ramirez, Jonathan "Smallest Glove in the World" Albaladejo and Michael Dunn each pitched an inning to wrap up the game. Dunn appeared to heading for another meltdown like his major league debut earlier in the week, when he walked 2 batters around an out. He settled down to K the final 2 batters, showing flashes of why this hard-throwing lefty is highly thought of in the Yankee organization. The win was Burnett's first since July, as he improved to 11-8 on the season.

Although The Captain went hitless today, he did pass Yogi Berra for 3rd on the All Time games played list in Yankee history. He just continues to reach milestones at this point in his career. There are some big names he's been passing, too. With the win, the Yanks division lead is a season-high 9 games and their magic number is down to 16.

Yankees Record: 89-50

Game 138 - Yanks Outlast Rays in Pitchers Duel in Game 1

CC Sabathia and Matt "Spitting" Garza both pitched 1-run ball for 7 innings, but neither pitcher would factor in the decision as the Yankees broke a 1-1 tie in the 8th with 3 runs to win, 4-1 in the first game of a Labor Day doubleheader. CC limited the Rays to 3 hits and 4 walks while striking out 10. Garza was just as good, allowing an unearned run on 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 7 Bombers.

The Captain, Derek Jeter, went 0-4 as he remains 3 hits behind the immortal Lou Gehrig. ARod went 3-3 and nearly had half of the Yanks 7 hits in the game. He drove in a run with a double in the 1st inning. Robinson Cano broke the tie in the 8th with a bases loaded sac fly after the Rays intentionally walked ARod. Jorge Posada followed up with an RBI single and Eric Hinske also hit a sac fly for the final run. The Yanks finished the game 1-7 with RISP. The Captain and Cano both were 0-2.

The dominant Phil Hughes came out for the 8th inning, but made a huge mistake when he walked the speedy Carl Crawford. The Yankee bench, though, guessed correctly when they ordered a pitchout on the first pitch, and Posada nipped Crawford at 2B while Cano slapped a quick tag. Hughes would finish the inning without further trouble. Mariano Rivera made his return after a brief rest for his sore groin, and picked up his 39th save.

Mo wasn't the only one returning today. Brett Gardner, out for over a month with a broken thumb, returned and made the catch of the game when he robbed a run scoring double off the bat of Fernando Perez in the 5th. With the victory and the Red Sox loss to the Chisox, the Yanks went up 8.5 games again in 3 games. Their magic number now stands at 17. AJ Burnett is slated to start game 2 of the doubleheader.

Yankees Record: 88-50

Game 137 - Yanks Take Off for Labor Day Early

The Yankees defense and pitching apparently didn't get the word that there was a game on Sunday before their Labor Day doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays, because both didn't show up in their atrocious 14-8 loss to the Blue Jays.

The Yanks committed 4 errors, with everyone in the infield accounting for one each. Jerry Hairston, Ramiro Pena and Robinson Cano each had a throwing error and Mark Teixeira booted a ball. Nick Swisher added to the comedy of errors by losing a ball in the sun in RF. Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon collided going after a ball and the pitchers would just as horrendous, walking in 2 runs and knocking in another when Josh Towers nearly killed Bronx-born Randy Ruiz when he hit him in the head.

Sergio Mitre was God-awful, giving up 11 runs, 9 earned in 4.1 innings. He quickly flushed the memory of his last brilliant start against the White Sox with this absolute dud of a performance. He couldn't get out of the 5th inning, again, as the Jays overcome a 5-4 deficit to tack on a huge 8-spot on the Yanks to go up 12-5. Mark Melancon was equally horrendous, walking in 2 runs in relief. The 3rd out of the inning alluded him, too, and Josh Towers came in relief. Pitching in his first major league game since 2007, he's the one that skulled poor Ruiz. Towers was clearly shaken up, but Ruiz was fortunate and only suffered some swelling on his face after being pulled from the game.

Offensively, the Yanks were led by Derek Jeter, playing DH, with 3 hits that put him 4 behind Lou Gehrig. Swisher hit a 2-run homer that briefly gave the Yanks a 5-4 lead. Cabrera had a 3-run shot in the 7th that merely served as window dressing on a clunker game.

Yankees Record: 87-50