Johnny Damon

The Boston Red Sox claimed former Red Sox and current Detroit Tiger Johnny Damon off waivers. However the decision to go back to Boston is Damon’s as he has a no-trade clause to Boston. Damon loves Detroit and playing for the Tigers. Damon was in uniform for the Tigers and in the lineup on Monday as the DH and he went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. The Tigers pummeled the visiting KC Royals 12-3, capped by a seven run 6th inning. Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman was solid, going six innings while allowing two runs on eight hits.

Rich Harden returned to the Texas Rangers rotation on Monday evening in Arlington against the American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins. Harden spent time on the DL with a shoulder injury (plus time on the DL earlier in the summer) and had not gone more than five innings in three of his last five starts prior to his DL stint. Against the Twins, Harden was the best he had been all season. Harden pitched 6.2 no-hit innings and despite the boos bearing down on manager Ron Washington as he entered the field to remove Harden from the game, Harden understood. “I just wanted to go out there and go as deep into the game as I could. I thought about it, but I knew my pitch count was up unless I started getting five-, six-pitch innings.”

Lefty Matt Harrison came in to face Jim Thome with two outs and a man on base but got Thome to line out to end the inning. Darren O’Day pitched a perfect 8th inning while striking out two and rookie closer Neftali Feliz came in to close out the 9th inning, the 3-0 shutout, and complete the combined no-hitter. After walking Orlando Hudson with one out, Joe Mauer singled to center field to end the no-hitter. Feliz held on to get the final two outs to complete the shutout.

Brett Myers returns

Brett Myers returned to Philadelphia for the first time since signing with the Houston Astros this offseason. Myers has been Mr. Consistent all season for the Astros, lasting at least six innings in all of his starts. Myers spent his entire career with the Phillies until this season. He pitched seven solid innings and wound up with the win as the Astros scored two runs in the top of the 8th inning on a controversial call as the Astros held on for a 3-2 victory.

Myers allowed two runs (in the third inning on a Carlos Ruiz solo homerun and a Chase Utley RBI single) on nine hits while striking out nine.
The Tampa Bay Rays received a solid pitching performance from starter James Shields in LA, as the Rays beat the Angels 4-3 and former teammate Scott Kazmir. Shields went six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out ten. The Rays bullpen went three perfect innings. In the 1st inning, the Rays jumped on Kazmir for three runs coming on a BJ Upton solo homerun to lead off the game and a two-run single by Ben Zobrist. With the win, the Rays pulled even with the NY Yankees for the AL East lead.

Jose Bautista

The Yankees received a solid pitching performance from rookie Ivan Nova, though there were some fireworks. Jose Bautista, the AL’s homerun leader, connected on a two-run homerun in the 3rd inning off Nova for a Blue Jays 2-1 lead. In the 6th inning, Nova threw a fastball up and towards Bautista’s head and both players created a heated moment (though cooler heads prevailed). With the game tied at 2-2 in the 8th inning, Bautista got his revenge by launching a David Robertson pitch over the left field wall for his 40th homerun and eventual game winner. The other star of the night for the Blue Jays was starting pitcher Brandon Morrow. He again shut down the Yankee offense at the Rogers Centre as he allowed two runs on four hits through six innings while striking out 12. Nova allowed two runs on six hits and the Yankees have not determined if he will remain with the big league club.

In Pittsburgh, the St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols hit his 399th career homerun (a three-run shot) in the 1st inning off Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf. He ended up going 3-for-5 and fell a triple short of the cycle. Fans stayed on until the final out as Pujols’ at-bat came up in the 9th inning, only to see Tony LaRussa pinch-hit for the slugger with a 9-2 lead. The fans in attendance showered the pinch-hitter, Bryan Anderson, with boos and he added an RBI single to up the Cardinals lead to 10-2.

Tags:

Boston Red Sox, Brett Myers, Jeremy Bonderman, Johnny Damon, Jose Bautista, Matt Harrison

Johnny Damon with the Yankees

Rumors have been swirling about outfielder Johnny Damon’s destination since he became a free agent. Many believed Damon would return to the NY Yankees, especially after being a major reason why they won the World Series in 2009. However, the Yankees are suddenly money-conscious and offered him a two-year $14 million contract compared to what he made last year ($13 million for the whole year). There is just no loyalty anymore in sports from both the players and the owners.

So where will Damon end up? Damon has been just as solid in his four years with the Yankees as he was when he was helping the Boston Red Sox win the 2004 World Series. Damon hit .284 with 24 homeruns and a .365 on-base percentage in 2009. Many criticize Damon’s offense as playing at Yankee Stadium with the short porch in right field. They also criticize his defense and throwing arm, along with his age. Despite everything, Damon still produces as evidenced by his clutch hitting and his stats in the World Series: .364 with 2 doubles, 4 RBIs, and 3 stolen bases. As one of the top free agents going into the offseason (and now the top free agent remaining), many believed he would get another lucrative contract. However now that spring training is just a week away, the amount of suitors has dwindled, as has the money being offered.

One potential suitor is the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers have had many positive encounters with Damon’s agent, Scott Boras, and would feel comfortable in working on a deal. Damon would fit perfectly in the second spot in the order now that Placido Polanco is gone. He would also take pressure off of rookies Austin Jackson and Scott Sizemore at the top of the order and take the pressure off RBI man Miguel Cabrera to hit homeruns in every at-bat. The downside would be the money issue. The Tigers have been slashing payroll (trading young stars Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson) so adding an older outfielder after trading a fan favorite (Granderson) for more money may not make sense.

Atlanta may be another home for Damon. The Braves just offered Damon a one-year contract offer for around $4 million. After trading for outfielder Melky Cabrera, the Braves have Cabrera, Nate McLouth, Matt Diaz, and Jordan Schafer (along with top prospect Jason Heyward) in the outfield mix. Adding Damon does not make sense unless they can trade an outfielder (or two) that they have (like maybe Schafer or Cabrera but then it would not make sense to have traded for Cabrera). Damon has spent his entire career in the American League so a change to the National League may not help him. He will not be able to DH anymore and he may not get the playing time he is looking for in Atlanta.

Johnny Damon with the A's

Returning to Oakland may be another option. The A’s have an opening in left field that new prospect Michael Taylor (acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies by way of the Toronto Blue Jays) is hoping to take. Signing Damon would provide a veteran presence in a relatively young lineup that would allow the Tigers to give Taylor a little more seasoning. Then when Taylor is ready, Damon can be traded to a possible contender in July. Would Damon want to return to Oakland? Is Damon willing to enter spring training without a job? He has one week left to make that decision but any team that adds him will be gaining a valuable asset.

Tags:

Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Johnny Damon, NY Yankees, Oakland A's

The Yankees Win

“The Yankees win” was heard round the world when the NY Yankees won their 27^th title in 2009. The big three acquisitions prior to the season, CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Mark Teixeira, were keys to the Yankees playoff success. When spring training opened to third baseman Alex Rodriguez’ steroid scandal and the Yankees struggled in the beginning of the season, many called for manager Joe Girardi’s head and changes to be made because the team just wasn’t good. However the Yankees got hot and the same people who were bashing them were saying that they were the best team.

The top three in the starting rotation were strong with Sabathia, Burnett, and veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte. Joba Chamberlain was also solid but management is concerned about his workload. Due to former 19-game winner Chien-Ming Wang’s struggles and injuries, the fifth spot on the staff was ever-changing.

The bullpen was also a constant shuttle with Triple-A Scranton. However by the end of the season, young arms such as Phil Hughes, Phil Coke, Dave Robertson, and Alfredo Aceves (along with Chamberlain) solidified the bullpen in front of closer Mariano Rivera.

While A-Rod was out with a hip injury at the beginning of the season, the offense struggled. Once he returned, every piece fell into place. The captain Derek Jeter thrived in the leadoff spot putting up MVP numbers while playing Gold Glove caliber defense at shortstop. Rightfielder Nick Swisher, outfielder Melky Cabrera, DH Hideki Matsui, and second baseman Robinson Cano were clutch, constantly winning games late. With injuries to both catchers (starter Jorge Posada and backup Jose Molina) at the same time, rookie Francisco Cervelli stepped in and thrived (.298 in 42 games).

Burnett's pie-in-the-face

Swisher and Burnett brought a new attitude to the usually stuffy Yankees, with the pie-in-the-face becoming a signature Burnett move. This offseason has been a busy one, though GM Brian Cashman has made blockbuster trades rather than spending big money on the free agent market. The blockbuster trades have depleted the minor league system a bit, with top prospect Austin Jackson, pitcher Ian Kennedy, and lefty reliever Michael Dunn being dealt away. The bullpen has also taken a hit with lefty Phil Coke and righty Brian Bruney being traded away too. It’s a disappointing season if the Yankees do not win a World Series so Girardi has a lot to do in 2010 with free agents Matsui and Damon gone and a bullpen under renovation. Here’s their wish list:

1. Re-sign Andy Pettitte: Pettitte has always been an integral part of the Yankees. That is why re-signing him was a priority. Having Pettitte, a seasoned veteran, takes the pressure off of some of the other pitchers. GM Brian Cashman signed Pettitte to a one-year deal.
2. 

   Curtis Granderson

   An outfielder: With Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, and Xavier Nady as free agents, the returning outfielders consisted of Melky Cabrera, Brett Gardner, and Nick Swisher (none of them with a lot of power). So Cashman pulled the trigger on acquiring All-Star centerfielder Curtis Granderson from the Detroit Tigers. Granderson struggled badly last season against left-handed pitchers (and overall) despite hitting for power (.249 overall with 30 homeruns but just .183 against lefties with just 2 homeruns). His defense also suffered in 2009. Hopefully the pressure will be off (he was the face of a struggling city and offense in Detroit) and he can relax and have fun. Unfortunately they had to give up their top prospect, centerfielder Austin Jackson to get Granderson. They did receive LA Dodgers outfielder Jamie Hoffman in the Rule V draft, who is considered the Dodgers (and now Yankees) best defensive outfielder. He could help off the bench.

3. A starting pitcher: The Yankees have three spots set with Sabathia, Burnett, and Pettitte. However the last two spots were up in the air. Cashman filled one of those spots by trading for former Yankee and current Atlanta Brave Javier Vazquez. Vazquez was dominant in 2009 with the Braves and garnered CY Young votes (15-10 with a 2.87 ERA in 32 starts with 44 BB/ 238 Ks). The last spot will be filled by either Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes, with the other going to the back end of the bullpen. Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre will be given a chance at beating out Hughes or Chamberlain for the final spot, as Gaudin pitched well when he joined the Yanks (2-0 with a 3.43 ERA). If anyone struggles in spring training or during the 2010 season, don’t look for the Yankees to sit back and wait for something to happen (they will probably make a deal or call someone up from the minors). Two in-house candidates are Romulo Sanchez and Ivan Nova, who both pitched well in the minors in 2009.
4. A leftfielder: Johnny Damon played solid in his years with the Yankees, as he was a huge reason why they won the World Series. As a free agent, both sides are far apart on money and years. With Granderson in center, left field figured to be manned by Cabrera and Gardner. However to get Javier Vazquez in a trade with the Braves, it cost them Cabrera. So now the Yankees are short on outfielders at both the big league level and in the minors. Many believe Damon may re-sign, but the Yankees still need another outfielder.
5. A DH: Many talked about this opening as being a good thing to get the bench players time on the field by having the stars DH. Matsui was the main reason the Yankees won the World Series (he won MVP), but he signed with the LA Angels. There seemed to be hope for former Cuban prospect Juan Miranda as he has been stuck in Triple-A Scranton. Unfortunately for him, the Yankees signed oft-injured Nick Johnson, who always hits and gets on base when healthy. The former Yankee will slide into the 2 hole to bat in front of Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez. The DH spot may be best for Johnson to limit his time on the field and hopefully limit the injuries.

Tags:

AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte, Brett Gardner, Chad Gaudin, Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Francisco Cervelli, Hideki Matsui, Jamie Hoffman, Javier Vazquez, Joba Chamberlain, Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, Nick Johnson, Nick Swisher, NY Yankees, Phil Hughes

The 2009 NY Yankees Parade

As the Yankees celebrate their 27th World Series title by parading around Manhattan, let’s look back to how the Yankees won the World Series by defeating the defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies.

*Starting pitching: Many questioned manager Joe Girardi’s decision to remain with the 3-man rotation, even with the pitchers having to pitch on short rest after their first start in the series. When AJ Burnett could not get out of the third inning in Game 5, Yankees fans and the media groaned about the 3-man rotation. However, this was the only poor start the Yankees had during the entire series. Outside of Cliff Lee for the Phillies, the Yankees rotation out pitched the Phillies. CC Sabathia and Burnett proved worth the cost as they pitched brilliantly in the playoffs and the World Series, both of their first times in the World Series.

* Mariano Rivera: Rivera could be the best postseason pitcher ever. His career postseason numbers are ridiculous (8-1, with a 0.74 ERA and 39 saves in 88 games) and every team wishes they had someone as reliable as him. In Games 3 and 4 combined, Rivera threw just 13 pitches to get five outs against the Phillies. If that’s not a dominant closer, I don’t know what is.

* The bullpen: Everyone questioned both teams’ bullpens heading into the World Series, but the Yankees bullpen was just a bit better. Despite losing Game 5, the Yankees bullpen pitched 6 innings and gave up just 2 runs, with Dave Robertson and Alfredo Aceves pitching 2 shutout innings a piece. Despite giving up the game-tying homerun in Game 4, Joba Chamberlain pitched well, giving up just that one run. Throughout the World Series, lefty Damaso Marte shutdown the Phillies left-handed bats, without giving up a hit. He also struck out Chase Utley and Ryan Howard on just 6 pitches. If that’s not dominant, I don’t know what is.

Hideki Matsui waves to the crowd during the parade

*Hideki Matsui: Matsui carried the Yankees in Game 6 (3-for-4 with 6 RBIs which tied a World Series record for most RBIs in a single game) and thus was awarded the World Series MVP. But it just wasn’t Game 6. Matsui was Pedro Martinez’ nemesis in both Games 2 and 6. He went 8-for-13 overall in the series with 3 homeruns and 8 RBIs. It didn’t matter who was pitching, a left-hander or a right-hander, Matsui was raking.

*Johnny Damon: Damon struggled in the ALDS and many were concerned about his production. Damon proved all of the doubters wrong by being clutch throughout the World Series. Damon’s numbers were 8-for-22 with 2 doubles, 3 walks, 4 RBIs, and 3 stolen bases, none bigger than the two he stole off of Brad Lidge in Game 4. His Game 4 at-bat against Lidge was classic as he battled to reach base and rattle Lidge, leading to the Yankees winning and taking a commanding 3-1 series lead.

The Yankees finally proved that spending money can equate to a World Series championship. Many feel that they should make it back to the World Series again next season, along with the Phillies to battle it out once again.

Tags:

AJ Burnett, CC Sabathia, Damaso Marte, Dave Robertson, Hideki Matsui, Joba Chamberlain, Johnny Damon, Mariano Rivera, NY Yankees, World Series

Yankees 7, Phillies 4: Game 4 was a game with a full rage of emotions. For the Phillies, the fans were fired up at the start, but were quickly quieted by the Yankees early offense. Late in the game, the Yankees were shocked by the homeruns hit by the Phillies to tie the game. Phillies fans and players who were back into the game were thrown for a loop when the game quickly slipped from their fingertips.

Things didn’t start out well for the Phillies Joe Blanton. He gave up a leadoff infield hit to Derek Jeter and a double to Johnny Damon. Mark Teixeira then ripped a ground ball down the first base line, but Ryan Howard gloved it to get Teixeira out at first. However, Jeter scored on the play. Blanton then hit Alex Rodriguez, in which umpires issued warnings to both teams. Jorge Posada followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. The Phillies got to CC Sabathia in the bottom of the first. A bloop hustle double by Shane Victorino followed by a wall-banger double for Chase Utley, cut the Yankees lead to 2-1. Yet Sabathia limited the damage by striking out both Howard and Raul Ibanez. Sabathia never seemed comfortable all night, constantly shaking off pitches and stepping off the mound. Howard singled to lead off the fourth inning and then stole second. With two outs, Howard was still standing on second base with Pedro Feliz up to bat (who was hitting under .100 against left-handed pitching since the end of August. Feliz singled to left and Damon came up throwing to the plate (which was actually a strong throw) to try and get Howard. Howard crashed into Posada, jarring the ball loose, and was ruled safe to tie the game at 2-2, though replays showed he never touched the plate. This score didn’t last long, as Blanton gave the run back in the top of the fifth, when Jeter softly singled through shortstop, scoring Nick Swisher (who walked to leadoff the inning) from second base. The Yankees scored another run on a base hit by Damon when Melky Cabrera ran through his third base coach’s stop sign.

Utley homered off of Sabathia in the bottom of the seventh, his third homerun of the World Series and third off of Sabathia. This ended Sabathia’s evening and brought on the Yankees bullpen. With a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth, the Yankees went to Joba Chamberlain to setup for closer Mariano Rivera. After blowing away both Jayson Werth and Ibanez on 96 mph fastballs, Joba tried to throw a 95 mph fastball by the now hot-hitting Feliz, who quickly deposited the pitch into the left field seats to tie the game at 4-4. Feliz ended the inning with 3 hits, after only having six hits in 42 postseason at-bats this year. The jubilation and expectations of another comeback victory at Citizens Bank Park quickly came to an end in the top of the ninth as the Phillies pitching yet again couldn’t keep the Yankees scoreless after the offense tied the game. This time it was Brad Lidge, who hadn’t pitched yet in the World Series and hadn’t pitched in a game since Game 5 of the NLCS. After getting two quick outs, Damon got another hit, stole second, and then third because no one went to cover the third base bag as Ruiz threw to second and Feliz was shifted to second base with Teixeira at the plate. This play proved to be costly (and will forever be remembered) as Lidge hit Teixeira and A-Rod followed with a RBI double to retake the lead. Posada followed with a 2-run single to give the Yankees a commanding 7-4 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Chamberlain was seen in the dugout hugging Posada and A-Rod, thanking them for saving him and giving the Yankees the lead back.

The electric crowd at Citizens Bank Park turned to moans and groans as the inning was disastrous. Lidge got fastball happy after getting the two quick outs in the ninth, going away from his signature pitch (the slider) which had worked against Hideki Matsui and Jeter. When all was said and done, it took 30 pitches for Lidge to hobble through the 9th. Now the Phillies were down with Rivera coming in to close out the game instead of the game being tied and facing Phil Coke. Rivera quickly dispatched the Phillies hitters, throwing just 8 pitched to finish them off.

The Yankees need one more win to celebrate their 27th World Series title. The Phillies, who were so good the last 2 years in the postseason at home (11-1), have now lost 2 straight at home. To stave off elimination and send the series back to NY, the Phillies will send ace Cliff Lee to the mound to hopefully dominate the Yankees lineup as he did in Game 1. The Phillies will also need to hit Yankees starter AJ Burnett or a great performance by Lee may be negated.

Tags:

Alex Rodriguez, Brad Lidge, CC Sabathia, Chase Utley, Joba Chamberlain, Joe Blanton, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Mark Teixeira, Pedro Feliz, Phillies, World Series Game 4, Yankees

Yankees 5, Angels 2: After getting an extra day off due to the rainy Saturday night, the Yankees seemed to be the fresher team from the start. The Angels however struck first. Jeff Mathis, the hot-hitting catcher who was receiving another much-deserved start, doubled to lead off the top of the third. With 2 outs and Mathis still on base, Bobby Abreu drove him in with a base hit up the middle. The RBI was just his second RBI of the series. With runners on base in almost every inning, the Yankees finally broke through against Angels starter Joe Saunders with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth. Johnny Damon came through with a 2-run single to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead and Alex Rodriguez walked to drive in the third run and that was all for Saunders. Darren Oliver came on in relief to get Jorge Posada to hit into a double-play, ending the inning and keeping the game at 3-1. Oliver held the Yankees scoreless through his 2.2 innings. Yankees manager Joe Girardi chose to go with closer Mariano Rivera for a six out save, bringing him in to start the 8^th inning. Rivera may be one of the best pitchers in postseason history and had not given up a postseason run at home since 2001…until Game 6 of the 2009 ALCS. Vladimir Guerrero drove in Chone Figgins in the inning to make it a 3-2 game. The Angels had their chances in the inning, but great defense and positioning by the Yankees kept their lead. However the Angels defense failed them in the bottom of the 8^th inning. After Ervin Santana walked Robinson Cano, lefty Scott Kazmir came in and got Nick Swisher to sacrifice bunt but Howie Kendrick dropped the throw at first base. So now with 2 men on base, Melky Cabrera laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Kazmir sailed the throw over Kendrick’s head, allowing a run to score. Kazmir got Derek Jeter to groundout, but then walked Damon to load the bases, leading to a Mark Teixeira sacrifice fly. Kazmir was out and Jered Weaver was in. Weaver walked A-Rod but struck out Posada to finally end the inning. The bottom of the 8^th inning completely deflated the Angels. With the Yankee fans on their feet, Rivera went quickly through the Angels order in the 9^th inning, highlighted by a strikeout of Gary Matthews, Jr. to end the game…and the celebration began. “It feels good,” Sabathia said. “We came in with the goal in Spring Training of winning the championship, and we’re one step closer. It’s a close team, and we have a lot of fun together. It just feels good to be able to celebrate with those guys in there.” But the celebration cannot last too long as Game 1 of the World Series begins on Wednesday, as A-Rod will be making his first World Series appearance.

Major League Baseball awarded the ALCS MVP award to the Yankees CC Sabathia. Sabathia made two starts against the Angels in the ALCS, Game 1 and 4. He won both starts with a 1.13 ERA. Sabathia pitched in 16 innings with 12 strikeouts. “He’s been huge,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “To shut their team down twice and really give our bullpen almost a whole day off when he pitched, he’s been able to do that in almost each one of his games — he’s been incredible.” Every Yankee felt that Sabathia deserved the award as he completely shutdown the Angels and to win in the postseason, a team needs great starting pitching. Sabathia is most likely to start Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.

Tags:

ALCS Game 6, CC Sabathia, Darren Oliver, Jeff Mathis, Joe Girardi, Joe Saunders, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, LA Angels, Mariano Rivera, NY Yankees

Yankees 10, Angels 1: Yankees starter CC Sabathia was yet again dominant for the Yankees in the playoffs, allowing just one run on a Kendry Morales homerun. The only time he was in trouble was in the 5th and 6th innings, but the Angels could not capitalize. Sabathia threw just 101 pitches in his eight innings of work, allowing 5 hits and had five strikeouts. Sabathia had struggled throughout his career in the postseason, both last year with Milwaukee and in 2007 with the Indians. This year with the Yankees, the team is getting its money’s worth. In three postseason starts so far, Sabathia is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA with just 3 walks and 20 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched. Manager Joe Girardi finally got a chance to use reliever/starter Chad Gaudin in a postseason game, letting him pitch the ninth. Gaudin sent down the Los Angeles Dodgers in order, 1-2-3. Girardi looks like a genius for pitching Sabathia on 3 days rest, one night after being second-guessed for his quick bullpen moves.

In the 4th inning, the Yankees got to Angels starter Scott Kazmir, scoring three runs, 2 on a single by clutch hitter Melky Cabrera. It could have been a lot worse for the Angels, but Nick Swisher was doubled off of third base on a fly ball out after the umpires ruled he left early. However replays showed he did not and the umpires admitted to missing the call. After Kazmir gave up a leadoff single to Mark Teixeira, Kazmir was gone and in came Jason Bulger, who had been reliable for the Angels. However, Bulger gave up a homerun to Alex Rodriguez and a walk to Jorge Posada, ending his night. From there the bullpen was solid for the Angels until Johnny Damon crushed a 2-out, 2-run homerun in the 8th inning off of Matt Palmer to give the Yankees a 7-1 lead. The Yankees broke the game wide open in the 9th, highlighted by a 2-run double from Cabrera.

The Angels are now down 3 games to one, with Game 5 to be held in LA on Thursday night. The Angels will send Game 1 starter John Lackey to the mound and are hoping for a better turnout. Lackey lasted just 5.2 innings, allowing 4 runs on nine hits with 3 walks. The Yankees will be sending AJ Burnett, who pitched wildly outstanding in Game 2. Burnett went 6.1 innings, giving up three hits and 2 runs, while striking out 4. However, he also walked two, hit two batters, and threw a wild pitch. Twelve of the previous sixteen teams with a 3-1 series lead have gone on to the World Series. The Boston Red Sox in 2007 came back from a 3-1 series deficit to defeat Sabathia’s Indians, but the Red Sox were returning home for Games 6 & 7. In 2004, the Red Sox came back from a 3-0 deficit to the Yankees to make it to the World Series. Yes the numbers are against the Angels but it is possible to win three games in a row.

Tags:

AJ Burnett, ALCS, Alex Rodriguez, Angels, CC Sabathia, Chad Gaudin, Jason Bulger, Joe Girardi, John Lackey, Johnny Damon, Kendry Morales, Matt Palmer, Melky Cabrera, Scott Kazmir, Yankees

The Minnesota Twins fought hard just to make the playoffs, finishing off the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night in 12 innings to win the AL Central crown. It took 163 games for the Twins, only for them to fly out to New York that same night to face the New York Yankees the following day. The Yankees are one of the best hitting and pitching teams in the American League. Oh and they’re all well-rested.

The Yankees have 7 players with at least 20 + homeruns (Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Nick Swisher, Hideki Matsui, Robinson Cano, Johnny Damon, and Jorge Posada). The Twins had to use virtually everyone in their bullpen to pull off their win over the Tigers in game 163 and used their top three in the staring rotation in their last three games. Finesse pitchers, which are what the Twins’ rotation is, do not thrive well at new Yankee Stadium. The Twins will send rookie lefthander Brian Duensing to the mound in the ALDS opener against CY Young hopeful C.C. Sabathia.

Game 1: C.C. Sabathia vs. Brian Duensing

Game 2: A.J. Burnett vs. Nick Blackburn

Game 3: Andy Pettitte @ Carl Pavano

A key matchup late in the game will be Twins left-handed power hitter Jason Kubel versus Yankees left-handed reliever Phil Coke. Kubel is 0-for-4 against Coke this year. Coke is Girardi’s most trusted lefty reliever. In 36.1 innings against left-handed hitters, Coke has 32 strikeouts, with just 24 hits allowed.

Twins Strengths:

*The bullpen: The bullpen proved great in Game 163, pitching 6 innings and allowing just two runs on six hits. Closer Joe Nathan has been just as solid as Mariano Rivera, though he doesn’t get much press coverage. The additions of lefty Ron Mahay and righty Jon Rauch has been welcome to a bullpen that had struggled early in the year.

*The middle of the order: With the loss of Justin Morneau for the season, many (including myself) thought that the Twins season was over. However, the middle of the order has stepped up around MVP candidate Joe Mauer. Jason Kubel and Delmon Young were co-players of the week for this past week, carrying the Twins into the postseason. Michael Cuddyer has had his best season yet, especially in terms of the power (32 HR, 94 RBI), while also playing adequate defense at first base.

*The Metrodome: If the Twins can split the first two games in NY, their home crowd will be loud and will be trying to carry the Twins into the League Championship Series. As Harold Reynolds of MLB Tonight always states, the Metrodome is the greatest home-field advantage in sports.

Twins Weaknesses:

*The rotation: This is especially true after having to fight to make the playoffs and using their top three just to get in. Nick Blackburn has been great as of late, as has ace Scott Baker. Carl Pavano has revived his career since joining the Indians/Twins this season after leaving NY. Rookie Brian Duensing has often been overlooked but won’t be in Game one. The rotation has been inconsistent, with one great game followed by a bad game. They need to step it up to beat the mighty Yankees lineup. With the offense mainly being a scratch and claw type, there will be pressure for the young starters to go deep and put up zeros.

*The season series: When the playoffs start, everyone says to throw out the numbers and everything that happened in the regular season. It is hard to overlook the fact that the Yankees beat the Twins 7-0 in the season series, with the Twins only scoring more than 5 runs in a game once. The Yankees, on the other hand, only scored less than 5 runs twice.

*The energy factor: The White Sox played the play-in game last year, only to be swept by the Rays in the divisional series. Did the Twins use up all of their energy just to get into the playoffs? Or are they more like the 2007 Rockies, who carried the play-in game momentum into the World Series?

Twins Key Players:

*Carlos Gomez: Gomez is a late inning replacement for Jason Kubel, bringing speed and great defense to the outfield. He also brings an added dimension late in the game-pressure on the base paths on opposing pitchers and catchers.

*Ron Mahay from the left side and Jon Rauch from the right side: These two relievers were the big acquisitions late in the season for the Twins. Both can pitch everyday and can get any team’s biggest lefty/righty threats out. Mahay, in 15 games versus left-handed hitters, had a 1.42 ERA, holding them to a .208 average. Rauch is 5-1, with a 2.61 ERA against right-handed hitters. They will most likely bridge the gap to closer Joe Nathan.

Yankees Strengths:

*The offense (1-9): The Yankees have one of the most prolific offenses in baseball, and it starts with leadoff hitter Derek Jeter, an MVP candidate, and goes all the way down to number 9 hitter Melky Cabrera, who has been their most clutch hitter. The Yankees are first in runs scored in the American League, and they also hit a ton of homeruns as their ballpark is a bandbox.

*Clutch hitting: Nick Swisher, Hideki Matsui, Robinson Cano, and Melky Cabrera don’t get all the limelight that the rest of the Yankees offense receives, but these four have been the most clutch hitters on the team. They also have fun doing it.

*Mariano Rivera: How many teams in the playoffs have a closer as consistent as Rivera? None, and all of the teams wish they did. Rivera hasn’t been as lights out as in the past, but come playoff time, he is dangerous.

*Days off: By choosing the Wednesday start for Game one, the Yankees allowed for a possibility of three days off in the first round. This allows for manager Joe Girardi to only have to use three starting pitchers (Sabathia, Burnett, and Pettitte) and be able to use the same pitchers out of the bullpen in three straight games (like Phil Hughes and Rivera), without worrying about overuse.

Yankees Weaknesses:

*Starting pitching: With choosing the extra day off format, the Yankees chose not to use Joba Chamberlain in the rotation. So, what was the point of the “Joba Rules” at the end of the season to limit his innings if he’s barely going to pitch in the first week of the playoffs? Sabathia has not had success in the playoffs. Last year’s failure could be because of his overuse down the stretch for the Brewers before reaching the playoffs. However, he did not have good numbers while with the Indians. In 5 postseason starts, Sabathia has an ERA of 7.92. That needs to change if the Yankees intend on getting past the Twins. Burnett has been inconsistent throughout the season and Girardi is hoping that having backup Jose Molina catching him will help. Burnett also has no playoff experience (he missed the Marlins run to the World Series title in 2003 due to injury). Pettitte has had health issues late in this season, though he is known as a big game pitcher.

*The bridge to Mo: Phil Hughes has become that bridge in the 8th inning, after taking over for Brian Bruney. However, Hughes is new to the bullpen and the late innings. How will he adapt to the pressures of pitching in the playoffs and getting the lead to Rivera?

*Pressure: The Yankees feel the pressure of playing in NY everyday. The playoffs are different, especially when they weren’t there last year and haven’t won a World Series since 2000 and haven’t been in the World Series since 2003.

Yankees Key Players:

*Phil Hughes: Hughes has been great since moving to the bullpen and gaining manager Joe Girardi’s confidence to use him in the 8th inning to be the bridge to closer Mariano Rivera. As a reliever, Hughes is 5-1 with a 1.40 ERA and 65 Ks. He has only pitched 2.1 innings of relief against the Twins in 2009, allowing just one hit, while striking out two.

*Brett Gardner: The Yankees have their own speed and defense guy off of the bench. Gardner could be a defensive replacement for Swisher late in the game or pinch-run for Matsui.

Tags:

Alex Rodriguez, American League, Carlos Gomez, Delmon Young, Detroit Tigers, Hideki Matsui, Jason Kubel, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Justin Morneau, Mark Teixeira, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano

Alex Rodriquez hit his 563rd homerun, tying the slugger with Reggie Jackson for 11th place on the all-time list

Two good, high-priced teams will be in New York this weekend as the New York Mets host the New York Yankees at Citi Field starting on Friday night. Both teams won Thursday night to tighten their respective races. Laden with injuries and the usual controversies that accompany both teams, the weekend series has big pennant race potential for the Big Apple’s finest.

In Atlanta, the Yankees finally got plenty of hitting and run production from the cleanup slot in an 11-7 win over the Braves. Alex Rodriquez hit his 563rd homerun, tying the slugger with Reggie Jackson for 11th place on the all-time list.

The Atlanta win was A-Rod’s first multi-hit game since May 25th. His 3 for 5, one homerun and 4 RBI night brought some relief to a troubled clubhouse and manager. In a rare road appearance, General Manager Brian Cashman paid a road visit to the Bronx Bombers who have lost 9 of their last 11 and relinquished the league lead to the dreaded Bosox.

With their talented slugger mired in a .223 slump, the Yanks have struggled for hits much less runs. A-Rod’s slump has been so pronounced that Braves Manager Bobby Cox did the unthinkable walking Mark Teixeira to load the bases for the struggling third baseman. A-Rod used an inside out swing to plate two runs with a clutch single.

Speculation has been that his strike zone is extended and that he has not fully recovered from hip surgery. Yankee fans have short memories and when you are the cleanup hitter for the highest profile team in the sport, you had better produce.

The Yankees’ most consistent starter, Andy Pettitte only lasted 3.2 innings yielding 7 hits and 6 runs before giving way to Alfredo Aceves who went 2.1 innings recording his 5th win against one loss. Mariano Rivera posted his 17th save retiring the last batter.

Resurgent left fielder Johnny Damon also drive in 4 runs with another solid 4 – 5 night at the plate. Damon raised his average to .293 and has been the most consistent Yankee batsman to date.

Mets 3, Cards 2

Two of the game’s best pitchers, both Cy Young winners, went at it on Thursday with the Mets Johan Santana (9-5) out-dueling Chris Carpenter (5-2) and giving the Mets consecutive wins for the first time in 16 days.

With Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado out with injuries, the Mets’ lineup has some serious holes. Disabled pitchers John Maine and Oliver Perez has pushed the bullpen the brink.

Double A callup, Nick Evans delivered a clutch two run shot in the three run third. With help from Pedro Feliciano, who pitched the eighth and closer Francisco Rodriquez, who notched his 20th save, the Mets pulled within a half game of the Phillies in the NL East. What weekend!

Tags:

A-Rod, Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Atlanta Braves, Citi Field, Frnacisco Rodriquez, Johan Santana, Johnny Damon, Mariano Rivera, Nick Evans, NY Mets, NY Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals