Game 13 - Instant Replay and a Gift-Wrapped Double

After robbing the Yankees of $40M for the past 4 years, Carl Pavano baffled his old team for 6 innings, leaving the game with a 3-1 lead.  Pavano went 9-8, with an E.R.A. over 5 in 26 career games for the Yankees, costing them an average of $4.5M per win.  He spent most of his time on the DL with injuries that included having a line drive ripped off his skull, a bruised buttocks, broken ribs in a car accident, and finally, Tommy John surgery.  George King, of the New York Post, would dub him "American Idle". 

AJ Burnett didn't have his best stuff today, giving up 3 earned runs and 7 walks, but gutted out 6 1/3 innings.  Unsung hero, Jonathan Albaladejo, came in with the bases loaded in the top of the 7th and retired both batters he faced to keep the Yanks within 2.  Then came the drama.

The Yanks were spared ignominious defeat, when the Indians pulled new Yankee slayer, Pavano, in the bottom of the 7th.  Cano led off with an opposite field double.  Matsui, who's been taking up residence on the interstate, knocked Cano in with a single.  After the Slum Lord of the Interstate, Cody Ransom, forced out Matsui at second with a pathetic bunt attempt, Posada stepped to the plate, pinch hitting for another interstate dweller, Jose Molina.  Posada launched a shot to right.  Indians outfielder, Trevor Crowe jumped at the wall amongst a sea of arms and came down empty handed, but with the ball bouncing down on him.  Fortunately, for the Yankees, the first base umpire ruled it a HR, giving the hometown heroes a 4-3 lead.  Cleveland manager, Eric Wedge, argued the call and the fun started.  

The umpires huddled together for several minutes and after coming to no decision, went to review the instant replay.  MLB now allows umpires to review disputed HR calls.  Granted, this HR was definitely disputable, although I feel the umpires got it right.  However, the system needs some serious kinks ironed out.  It took way too long for the umpires to final determine the call.  If I were managing, I'd be perturbed my reliever was standing on the mound getting cold while it took nearly 5-10 minutes to make a final decision.  

In the bottom of the 8th, the Yanks loaded the bases with 2 outs, when the King of the Interstate, Cody Ransom, stepped to the plate.  I was watching the game on TBS when they showed a disturbing statistic that 8 National League pitching staffs were hitting better than Ransom.  On a full count, Ransom swung at a fastball down the pipe.  It was a nice swing on the ball, but his bat exploded.  The ball appeared to be headed for an easy fly out down the LF line.  Cleveland's LF, Shin-Soo Choo pulled up short like he never really saw the ball, and it fell for a bases clearing double.  Mariano would come in to sew up the 7-3 victory, ending the game by striking out the nauseating Grady Sizemore.   

Game observations:  It appears Swisher's genie has finally gotten back into the bottle, as he struck out 3 times, including once with the bases loaded, against American Idle.  He did hit a double later in the game.  Jeter killed a potential rally, grounding into his second double play of the year with runners on first and second in the 6th.  The Yanks went 3-7 with runners in scoring position after going 1-25 the first 3 games of the series.

Yanks Record:  7-6