I'm good to go for another 14 games. I've been stockpiling enough booze to kill a small army through the regular season. I think I'm somewhere around 25 bottles of wine, 20 bottles of vodka/rum/gin/etc and 20 bottles of whiskey (90% of which is scotch).Originally Posted by yankeesAZ
A fool and his money can throw one heck of a party!
Agree with you here. The Yankees are the better team, it's close and can go either way, but I believe any rational analysis would lead you to believe the Yankees are more likely to win. Don't get me wrong, I think it's 60/40 that we win, or in other words, we lose it 4 times out of 10.
"We understand that John Henry must be embarrassed, frustrated and disappointed by his failure in this transaction. Unlike the Yankees, he chose not to go the extra distance for his fans in Boston."
Uh, the Angels just overcame their Red Sox demons and swept them in three, capped by a 2-out rally against Papelbon. I'd say they have momentum.
These two clubs are evenly matched. Not to mention they're going to run on Jorge like crazy. It's going to be tougher than the ALDS and I don't think we should fool ourselves into thinking otherwise.
Stella said, "Daddy when you gonna put me in a song?"
(Visit the companion site to NYYFans! It's more than meets the eye: The new Political Soapbox)
What happens when we fool ourselves into thinking otherwise?
Slaughter Is The Best Medicine
-=2009=WORLD=CHAMPIONS=-
FIRE JETER
Well phrased.
This is going to be the best series this post season whether the Yankees win the Pennant or not.
This series should be the world series
I hear ya, DEADSOX.
27th Heaven!
Thank God for the Boss.
We are going to rape them.
Calmer than you are.
why, when this option was available, did you post that?
oh yeah, Yanks in 5.
Their pitching has been great and they have the pesky speed that gives the Yankees fits. It will have to be the classic formula, wait them out, match zeros, wait for them to blink first and win the games at home. I don't like the four days of waiting but not much we can do about that.
updating...
Uh, because I don't want to distract the boys ....
My version = Yankees in 5.
Must avoid walking the bottom of their lineup. Must capitalize on their mistakes.
Yanks in 6
Two best teams in baseball. Couple of major factors that could weigh in Yanks favor-
The bullpens aren't close. Yanks get lucky facing two teams whose closer, while successful against the rest of the league, is not against them. Yanks used to get totally shut down by Shields and F-rod. Of anything, the Angels strength of bullpen did more to neutralize and beat the Yanks than any other factor. That is no longer an issue. Angel pen is their weakness.
Both lineups are consistently deep. Angels do run like crazy, but if you think about it the Yanks have the ability to somewhat neutralize that in 5 of the 7 games. Molina is a fabulous catch and throw guy, and the Angels run mostly with guys who have good speed- other than Figgins, nobody is a real basestealing monster. Pettitte can halt a running game by himself, so the whole "they are going to fly around the bases" is likely not a major factor.
It should be a very interesting series, but those who are comparing this Yankee team to past clubs that struggles with the Angels aren't looking at the facts. They played just about even this season, with the one hiccup a flukey 3-game sweep in July when the Yanks should've won 2-3.
We fear NO team.
"In baseball, you don't know nothin'." - Yogi Berra
Both teams have a 4 day layoff until the series begins Friday. I wonder how that will effect them both ? BTW, has there ever been 3 sweeps in Division playoffs before ?
" My whole thing is, you're only playing for three hours a day. The least you can do is play hard. " Derek Jeter
The art of positive believing. There are those who hope they will win and there are those who know they will win.
In the past I think the Yankees felt that their advisary would just lay down in front of them and die. When that didn't happen we failed. Sometimes adversity has a way of waking one up and after last years miserable failure there seems to be a new resolve. A new belief.
How about ARod. He began the season with a bad hip and the darling of the tabloid. Today he is a champion. In the past everything came easy, too easy. Today he has a whole different look. A look of determination.
I think there is no doubt, to a man, that this sweep over the Twinkees was just step two. Ahead lies one of our historical nemesis, the dreaded Rally Monkey. Abreu is already spouting off as if he thinks he was somehow wronged. During the next 4 days we will hear all sorts of options on why the Yankees lose, but these pundits know deep down that this Yankee team will not be denied. I can see it in ARod's eyes, in Jeter's eyes, in Mo's, in Tex's, in Girardi's eyes. The look of belief in that the Yankees will not be denied.
The Yankees won this series because the out pitched, out defended, and out clutched the Twinkees. Jeter is just amazing. The tabloid press will cry about one bad call. Boo Hoo. I have a feeling the Yankees would have found a way even if they did get that call right. Friday night it all begins again.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns
Familiar faces push Yankees to the ALCS
MINNEAPOLIS – The New York Yankees are not cold-blooded decision-makers like the Boston Red Sox. Sentimentality matters. Some players aren’t commodities, expendable and disposable and recyclable when they hit a certain age, and for that, on Sunday night, the Yankees were thankful.
The four survivors from their last championship run in 2000 continue to wear pinstripes for two reasons. Because they are Real Yankees, the born-and-bred (and capitalized) sort, and there is always a place for them, even when gray creeps into their hairlines. And also because all four – Derek Jeter(notes), Andy Pettitte(notes), Jorge Posada(notes) and Mariano Rivera(notes), youngest to oldest – can still play a lick.
“If you don’t produce and don’t contribute here,” Jeter said, “they’ll go and get somebody else.”
And that they’ve done, the sum of so many transactions finally returning the Yankees to their rightful spot, the American League Championship Series, following a 4-1 victory against Minnesota that capped a three-game sweep and ended the Metrodome’s reign as a baseball domicile.
Andy Pettitte pitched 6.1 innings with one earned run and seven strikeouts for the Yankees in Game 3.
While Games 1 and 2 were won by nearly $250 million in mercenary arms – CC Sabathia(notes) and A.J. Burnett’s(notes) – Pettitte carved up the Twins in Game 3. And Posada hit the go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. And Jeter made a brilliant defensive play the next inning, catching Twins runner Nick Punto(notes) taking too wide a turn around third base, relaying the ball to Posada and watching him gun down Punto at third. And Rivera finished off the eighth inning and pitched the ninth, the 53rd time in the postseason he’s gone more than three outs.
Only one other pitcher has thrown in that many postseason games, period. Such is the legacy of the survivors. Pettitte’s victory tied him for first all-time with 15 playoff wins. Posada could jump to third in games played by the end of the World Series. Jeter adds to each of his records – games played, runs, total bases, hits, plate appearances and, yes, strikeouts – with each passing October day.
Together, they have spent parts of 57 seasons with the Yankees, only Pettitte’s three-year vacation with Houston interrupting 15 unabated years. Each debuted in 1995, and never before or since has a team seen such greatness in a single wave: two no-doubt Hall of Famers and two borderline, as much for their team accomplishments as individual.
The Yankees overpaid to keep them around, lavishing $189 million on Jeter, $52.4 million on an aging Posada, $45 million on Rivera and $16 million a year twice on Pettitte. In the years without a championship, they provided not just stability but a reminder of what Yankees teams used to look like. Finding that balance proved difficult enough that the Yankees chased off the manager of their 1996, ’98, ’99 and 2000 championships, Joe Torre, and spent the last four years getting booted before reaching the ALCS.
“It has been a long time,” Rivera said.
By Yankees standards, at least, the sort that turned increasingly antiquated with no hardware to show for more than a billion dollars spent on payroll this decade. Boston was the new power of the AL, its scouting and player-development machine churning out two championships while the Evil Empire looked more like a Weeble, bobbing to and fro and trying to find some semblance of balance.
It came this year. The Yankees won 103 games. They watched Boston self-destruct in the first round against Los Angeles. And they did some destroying themselves, picking apart Minnesota despite a lineup full of bats that spent the majority of the series acting like they’d taken one too many Lunestas.
Jorge Posada hit the go ahead home run in the seventh inning against the Twins.
“We are kind of sputtering along a little bit,” Pettitte said, “and when we give up the lead, our guys fire right back and score some runs.”
The most opportune wasn’t Posada’s home run, either. Just as he did in Game 2, Alex Rodriguez(notes), longtime postseason goat, smashed a series-altering home run. This one ended Carl Pavano’s(notes) shutout, evened the score at 1-1 and continued his evolution into legitimate contributor.
And perhaps that’s what the Yankees most needed – someone aside from the four survivors to grab the wheel and steer. For so long the Yankees depended on the remaining cogs that no new ones emerged. Certainly Rodriguez is too old to be finding his first postseason success after such ineptitude. Better late, of course, and better that it’s with the four survivors remaining and hoping for another ring almost a decade after their last.
“You can’t take Alex out of that equation,” Posada said. “He’s been the key of our success this year. It says a lot about what he did today and the last three days.”
The entire season, really. Rodriguez tried something new. He listened, he studied, he matured. What took him 34 years to figure out paid off in about 34 seconds.
“I knew I couldn’t change all the 0 for 4s and 0 for 5s, and all the guys I left on base,” Rodriguez said. “And I also knew that I was 34, not 44, and I have an opportunity to do things right both on and off the field.
“Yeah, we can learn from all them.”
Work ethic from Jeter. Consistency from Rivera. Composure from Pettitte. Playing through pain from Posada. So much more from all of them. No one survives more than a decade in New York without intangibles to match the great physical attributes.
“A lot of things get said about their payroll and all that stuff, but the bottom line is they are just great baseball players,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “And aside from all the other stuff, they are very, very talented. That’s why they make a lot of money. … They know how to get it done. They know how to finish people off.”
Which they did, taking an inferior Twins team, stepping on its throat and refusing to lift the boot. Ahead, now, is a Friday date at Yankee Stadium for Game 1 of the ALCS with the Angels, a team that in 2002 and 2005 beat the Yankees in the first round.
Already they’ve been called out by Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu(notes), a Yankee for three seasons before they let him go last winter. Though he has thrived with the Angels, Jeter is right: few others do. Ted Lilly(notes). Alfonso Soriano(notes). Maybe Jose Contreras(notes) and Dioner Navarro(notes). Can’t forget Torre, whose Los Angeles Dodgers await an opponent in the NLCS.
He, too, wants vengeance on the Yankees for wronging him, and so the natural order of baseball is falling back into its proper place. Everyone is shooting for the Yankees, the baddest team, the biggest threat and the one with those familiar faces.
After all these years, the four survivors are still alive and kicking – and hitting and pitching. Now, finally, they’ve got a worthy fifth wheel along for the ride.
If I am to live vicariously in the accomplishments of others that address would be 161st and River Ave, The Cathedral of Champions!
#28~If you don't have it, that's why you need it!!
Good thing is that both clubs will experience it. Probably means starters might be strong and maybe a little erratic early, etc.
Let me just start off by saying I am fricken scared of this team. I am fricken scared of facing them at their home. Which has been a House OF Horrors for us for Years now. I am trying to keep my hopes up but these guys scare the crap out of me plain and simple.
Still and will always be a New England Patriots fan.
Rotations:
All things considered EQUAL.
Bullpens: Slight edge to Yanks for coverage in 8th & 9th innings.
Mo >>>> Fuentes.
Starting Nine:
Fielding: Angels
Batting: Yanks
Coaching: Slight edge for Angels due to back ground of experience in previous playoffs.
Bench: Yankees due to Hinske, Hairston Jr., & Brett Gardner.
Conclusion:
The series could go either way. However, the Yankees handle them 3 out of 4 in September. Looks good for the Bronx Bombers!!!
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." Walt Disney
No F__CKING Question.
agreed
If I am to live vicariously in the accomplishments of others that address would be 161st and River Ave, The Cathedral of Champions!
#28~If you don't have it, that's why you need it!!
Angels will be running on Jorge..........
This is exactly right. CC Sabathia has proven that he can pitch and pitch well on three days rest, and there's no question that this schedule is flexible enough that if necessary, CC can pitch three games in the series.
Besides, if the Yankees somehow were to win the ALCS earlier than 7 games, it would line up Sabathia as the first pitcher in the World Series.
I just heard John Lackey's voice on Sportcenter.
I still can't believe what I heard, it was that bad.
The coming of The Carpenter.
“I love to hit. I want to hit .300, .400, .500. I just love to hit.”
What did he say? Or should I say, what did he vomit?
"Stay thirsty, my friends"
IF we can pitch Sabathia three times in this series and the game 4 start is the only start he pitches on 3 day then it's completely worth it...make it happen.
It's stupid to not do it.
It depends on CC. I really wouldnt want a situation where he is burned out for the world series.
If it was me, I give him 2 starts because I think Gaudin and Aceves can combine for 6 good innings...even 5 innings because there is a day off after game 4. 4 outs from Joba, Phil and Mariano in Game 4 could be a possibility if needed.
"Owning the Yankees," Steinbrenner once said, "is like owning the Mona Lisa."
FWIW (likely nothing), 7 out of the 8 ESPN writers picked the Yankees to beat the Angels with the only exception being Steve Phillips.
You are correct, this is worth exactly nothing
"God, I hope I wear this jersey forever." - Derek Jeter
Espn doing all they can to jinx us
The only way I pass on CC on 3 days rest is if the Yankees are up 3-0.
I don't want to burn him out either, but I don't really have confidence in either Joba or Gaudin to start a game that is as important as Game 4 would be if we aren't up 3-0.
Win one for The Boss.
Im really not that worried about putting Joba out there for game 4 unless the yanks are down in the series.
If you listen to the fans you’ll be sitting with them soon enough.- Brian Cashman
lets not mix and match for game 4 like some people are suggesting. that would be beyond stupid and that is not what u do in the playoffs. At the same time we dont want to burn CC. Thats why you dont give him 120 pitches in game 1. you limit him to 100 and bring in Joba for a few innings. Then CC can hopefully recover(he is a horse and he did this last season in Milwaukee for multiple starts) and then if there is a game 7 u send him out there.
Let me rephrase that. 8PM EST start for every game
WORLD CHAMPIONS !!!
#27
I'm not even sure I heard anything he said. I couldn't get over how horrifying his voice was.
The coming of The Carpenter.
“I love to hit. I want to hit .300, .400, .500. I just love to hit.”
Yes. That would mean the Dodgers will have at least one 1PM PST game in their first two home games, which sucks for them.
Well, let me say this.
I must admit that I'm afraid of what the Angels can do, but I also admit, I'm not afraid of them.
I don't care what happened in the 2002 ALDS nor the 2005 ALDS playoff series. I buried those two series for good.
The Yankees must and really must face their worst fears and conquer them painfully hard to win.
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
I didn't sense any anti-Yankee bias with Caray and Darling. Caray made his most emotional call of the series on A-Rod's homer off of Nathan. That call reminded me of the "hold on to the roof" call by Gary Thorne on Mattingly's 1995 ALDS homer.
I seriously doubt the Yankees fear the Angels....or any team. Respect? Absolutely, but fear? They don't need to fear anyteam.
What makes this team different than recent Yankee teams, aside from the pitching, is their ability to play small ball. Well, not quite small ball the way the Twins or even the Angels practice it (all the time), but enough so that there is a balance on this team. Other Yankee teams really thumped, but they usually did it against bad teams in the regular season (like most slugging teams) - the post-season is a different story. This year, they played a lot of close games and they won games late - in essence, their season was a practice run for the playoffs. Therefore, unlike past years, this team didn't have to alter it's style - it's style was already well-suited for post-season baseball.
If they lose, it won't be because they were scared of the Angels.
Hughes Rules: Pleading the Fifth
Okay, I went overboard.
Fair enough.
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
Taking two of three in Anaheim in September, and in the type of close game the Angels always win, was huge for the Yankees in terms of their psyche. Also, most of the nucleus of the team are first-time Yankees who don't have a history of misfortune against the Angels, so there won't be much of a carryover from the past IMO.
Plus, he's been on extra rest for most of the past month, so going on three days rest one time isn't going to kill him when he's done multiple consecutive such starts in the past.
-Only playoff team to not have allowed a HR.
-Leads all playoff teams in ERA
-Leads all playoff teams in HR
-Leads all playoff teams in SO
The Angels should be terrified.
Tiger Woods:Sent: 01:28 PM 09/08/2009:
Have you ever had a golden shower done to you
What did Bobby Abreu say about the Yankees?
I honestly do not know what to expect in this series.
Maybe Caray didn't express any noticeable bias towards the Twins, but he did get very quiet when the Yankees scored the extra runs. As someone mentioned in another thread, it sounded like he was using his "golf voice".Maybe he was depressed because he was hoping to get more work ($$) for another two games.
I don't care if this will be perceived as a jinx or not:
This has been the best year to be a Yankee fan ever. The players are outstanding, the new Stadium is beautiful, the manager is great, and we seem to win a lot of close games. I'm so, so high on this club, and I don't think we're stopping until #27.
Any other year, I'd be scared of the Angels. Right now, I'm not scared of anything. This is a powerhouse.
Yankee content on the blog:
http://SethCurrySavesDuke.blogspot.com
The A-Rod Parody Blog
Follow me on twitter: @SCurrySavesDuke
PeteAbe Bobby Abreu 5 for 9, 4 runs, 4 walks, 1 RBI in ALDS. "I want the Yankees next," he said. "Been waiting all year." LAA just loves him.about 2 hours ago from web
Yankee domination!
Baseball is life;
the rest is just details.
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