ALCS Game 6: Angels @ Yankees
By
In beginning-mid-September, many of us, me included, figured the AL East race was over. The Yankees had a big lead over the Red Sox, and it would have taken Mets-esque collapse for them to lose it. But over the next few weeks the Yanks dropped a few games and got hot, and some people started to doubt that the Yankees had it in the bag. This was a bit odd for me. The reason we called the division for the Yanks in the first place is that they had built up such a large lead that even if they had a slip-up, they still had a big margin of error. That’s the whole point of thinking it’s in the bag.
The Yankees certainly do not have the ALCS in the bag, but they set themselves up with a 3-1 advantage after a Game 4 victory. That’s not insurmountable, but it’s a pretty big lead at this late stage. It would take three straight Angels wins to win it, and that’s just improbable, especially against a team as good as the Yankees. The Yankees saw their advantage at work in Game 5, as they dropped a heart breaker to the Angels. Now they’re back in the Bronx, still with the advantage. Unlike the Angels, their backs are not up against the wall.
Then again, that could be an advantage for the Angels. As Sun Tzu says:
Soliders when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear. If there is no place of refuge, they will stand firm. If they are in hostile country, they will show a stubborn front. If there is no help for it, they will fight hard.
I expect this to be like the non-Game-4 games of this series: always close in score, can turn around in a matter of outs. The Angels aren’t going away, and it’s going to take everything the Yankees have to finish them off.
Without further ado, your Game 6 lineups:
Yankees
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Jorge Posada, C
6. Hideki Matsui, DH
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Nick Swisher, RF
9. Melky Cabrera, CF
Pitching: Number forty-six, Andy Pettitte.
Angels
1. Chone Figgins, 3B
2. Bobby Abreu, RF
3. Torii Hunter, CF
4. Vladimir Guerrero, DH
5. Kendry Morales, 2B
6. Howie Kendrick, 2B
7. Juan Rivera, LF
8. Jeff Mathis, C
9. Erick Aybar, SS
Pitching: Joe Saunders




So….which FAs did we sign in the offseason?
Worry about it when we get there. There are more important things going on right now.
No, you missed the joke. I was saying that this wait was so long that it made it seems like the offseason. That’s why I said “did.”
Oh, my bad yo.
Great joke – right over Mike’s head.
Joe Saunders has a fat face, and much like Scioscia, continually looks self-satisfied. Unlike Scioscia, he’s never done anything.
Just getting that out of the way.
7-3
Andy goes 7+
Yanks in the Angels pen by the 3rd
CC sleeps well, as will I
Yay! Baseball.
Off days mixed in with rainouts make the scheduling ridiculous. We go all season talking about streaks, rhythms and momentum, then we get to October and all that is out the window. Stupid MLB.
Ok boys of summer, the fall classic awaits…
But, Joe, Mr. Hunter told me that the Yankees are the ones who are pressing and the Angels don’t have to worry.
LET’S GO YANKEES!
And FWIW, MLB.com has an ANGELS league champs set, so they’ve jinxed both the Yankees and the Angels.
Also, Jeff Mathis’ turn as Johnny Bench this series has been frustrating.
What a relief to have Andy starting after Burnett. One epitomizes consistency, while the other is the personification of wildness. I’m glad Girardi went with Pettitte here over CC.
I have been so stressed all weekend and that stress was probably doubled due to the anticipation. I just want an easy win tonight. I worked out for the the first time in about a month so I’m physically depleted of energy so please win tonight for my mental health as I have a huge exam tomorrow morning. My whole weekend depends on tonight.
27. Get it done.
http://media.photobucket.com/i.....kee_sm.jpg
Just win baby!
I’d like to personally thank Mike Scoscia for choosing to start a pitcher and catcher who are both vastly inferior options to others at his disposal.
I knew Saunders would be starting, but Mathis, too? Based on a handful of at-bats?
Managers who place 15-20 ABs on a pedestal over years and mountains of evidence to the contrary are my favorite kind! (So long as said managers are in the opposing dugout.)
You the man, Mike!
Thanks again!
Sincerely,
Joe D.
On Behalf of Yankee Fans Everywhere
Thou shall not doubt the greatest manager who ever lived.
I think that’s a bannable offense over in the “12th most important baseball blog”.
I will say fifteen “Hail Tim Salmons” to atone.
let’s go!
I was told first pitch would be at 7:57?
Also, Karros and Grace? Ugh.
Meaningless stat: Andy’s Game 6 v. Diamondbacks result.
Agreed.
That was beyond pointless.
Oh well, they can keep harping on it like they did with the postseason stats of CC and Pettitte.
Let’s get it done tonight guys.
Fox’s pregame coverage is terrible.
Joe Saunders is one of the best lefthanders in the game?!
Well of course he is…..if your a moron.
I think he meant among guys left in the playoffs. In that case, Saunders is behind only CC, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Andy Pettitte.
Here’s hoping that Mathis’ little run ends tonight and he becomes shitty again.
“We Play Today, We Win Today” LETS GO YANKEES!!!!!!
LET’S GO YANKEES!
WE CAN WIN THE WORLD SERIES!
BEAT ANAHEIM!
WORLD SERIES BERTH WE CAN CLINCH IT TONIGHT!
Could they not have started this game at 8pm?
Had to coincide exactly with Giants vs. Cardinals.
Hmm so Mark Mcgwire is going to be the hitting coach for the Cards.
Step one, get Canseco signed.
Step two, buy 25 Whizzinators.
Step three, just win baby.
The PED jokes got old before they even stared.
Coach McGwire: There’s some things in your swing I’d like to address. Let’s look at the tape from last night’s game.
Miscellaneous Cardinal hitter: Mark, I’m not here to talk about the past.
… aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, SCENE!
Wow… these analysts are amazing.
Let’s go Yankees!
clap, clap, clapclapclap
I’m gonna wrap this pregame analysis up in a nutshell so you guys don’t have to be subjected to it:
“Something something something clubhouse chemistry. Something something something momentum. Something something something experience and grit.”
tickets went like crazy on stubhub today
Wait….dammit.
It will have been a long 68 hours and 49 minutes in waiting.
couldn’t Fox hire couple of guys who can talk baseball for 10 mins properly?
Then Fox wouldn’t be doing their job if they did.
I flip on my TV.
Instant retard circus on my screen, starring Eric Karros and Mark Grace.
Actually, that is an insult to the mentally handicapped. I apologize.
+1
All I know is, if Karros’s hair helmet gets any bigger…he’s going to need a facemask!
Every time I see him, Karros looks more and more like Butthead.
“SHUT UP PANTERA GO TO YOUR ROOM”
Aight Yanks, time to fuck shit up.
I’m nervous about this game. Mostly because we haven’t had baseball since Thursday.
Chapman will be at the game tonight as a guest of the Yankees. Heyman saying that the Mets are out of it because his agent said he wants 60 million. Crazy.
FWIW, outlandish hair led to the French Revolution.
#erickarros
Robespierre was a FLAMBOYANT motherfucker
Why does Fox only ask Angels before everygame how they r feeling?
Because it will be the last time anyone hears from them for the rest of the season.
Hey guys, I’ve been reading this site religiously for about a year, and have yet to post, but I figured tonight is the night…I’m ready to head to the WORLD SERIES!!
Welcome aboard. I’m Eric Stratton, Rush Chairman, damn glad to meet ya.
I like your confidence.
Hellz yeah bro TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT
Why don’t you take a seat over there.
My name is Chris Hansen and I’m with Dateline NBC.
<16
I appreciate it guys…LETS GO YANKEES
Welcome!
fox sucks, what’s new
OK, saw a great U2 concert in Vegas Friday night, found four pennies head up on the strip, Yankees can’t lose tonight.
Will be checking from the Blackberry….. So, LET’S GO YANKEES, LET’S GO YANKEES, LET’S GO YANKEES, LET’S GO YANKEES,
Damn, the stadium at night looks like a monument to the gods. Let’s do this thing.
You all should have seen BBTN’s predictions before the rainout yesterday.
First of all…there weren’t any predictions. It went something like this:
Kruck: The Yankees bullpen hasn’t been as good blahblahblah.
Whoever (don’t know the name): The Angels bullpen hasn’t been that good either blahblahblah.
Gammons: Joe Saunders and Andy Pettitte are pitching.
It was beyond awesome.
I hate joe buck
You know, if you took Karros’ power and Mark Grace’s ability to hit for average/draw walks, you’d have . . . well, a better 1B than either of them.
The best of Eric Karros + the best of Mark Grace = Lance Berkman?
I think a lot of people undersell Berkman. He’s a beast.
Well, it is only the BEST of those two players. The best of Grace and the best of Karros is a damn good baseball player. Karros with a good AVG/OBP skill or Grace with power is a borderline HoF’er.
I think if Grace had power, he’d be in. I mean, the man retired with over a .300 average, and >2400 hits. If he could have maintained those numbers while hitting for even a modicum of power (173 HR in 16 seasons), he’s in easily.
I mean, a career ISO of .140. From a 1B. (Karros is only .187, but he had a few seasons over .200)
We had the technology
35-8 at home since the All-Star break? I know they’d played well, but that’s completely absurd. NBA levels of HFA.
Brillant lead in to the game. Short, accurate and didn’t over-state anything. I love this site.
Yanks should start Steve Nebraska.
“The never-say-die Angels”
Blech
Vs. the “Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk? Yankees.
The Yanks never say die either, because they’re been ahead in the series since Game One.
I have never seen a team saying we are going to lose tonight.
The 2009 Oakland Raiders?
Does anyone else think that Mike Scoscia looks like John McCain except younger for some reason?
Now that you mention it, I see somewhat of a resemblance.
Sorta see that.
Here’s to Swisher getting hot again due to the return of the “Swish-Hawk”
YO YO YO AND AWAY WE GO!~
/Mauro Ranallo’d
I need this win.
Oh boy, kinda nervous…
Me too but that strike 1 helped a lot and I mean a LOT.
Aite, let’s do this!
Damn yo, the Stadium is LOUD.
I approve.
Buck and McCarver sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher on my TV.
Not complaining.
Baseball is here.
good job..u need all those first to get out of way..
I’m enjoying Chone Figgins as Automatic Out.
Indeed…I hope all those who think he’s some sort of viable option for us next year take notice.
Also…Andy ANdy ANDy ANDY!!!!
why is my heart beating faster than probably all of the players combined…
Like Seriously, Nick Swisher cannot be replace period. Who your gonna replace him with? Hairston, Gardner? Come on.
I’ve never seen so much attention paid to a #8 hitter. Ever.
They’ve got to talk about something. Even a non-story.
I’ve never seen so much attention paid to a #8 hitter. Ever.
(Non ARod/JoeTorre Division, of course.)
ooh, filthy curves to Chupacabreu
Pettitte has had his way with this Angels lineup in the past. Check out this cool graphic showing his career stats vs. Angel hitters.
http://visualbaseball.wordpress.com
Let’s go Andy strike this mofo out!
what is this Andy and Posada not agreeing on every pitch?
Chupacabreu = TEH Chupa
I missed that whistle.
Nice start.
andy looks like a beast
Andy’s looking pretty sharp thus far.
Andy is extremely sharp tonight to start.
Nice start Andy. Helped calm me down a bit.
I feel like a great weight has been lifted.
Great start for Pettitte.
Hopefully we can beat up Saunders early.
GREAT start Andy!!!
“If CC is pitching game 1 of the WS, the Yankees will know they won tonight.” Holy Shit. I’m now dumber for having listened to that statement.
Yeah, that was brutal.
Whoa, I’m sorry, I blacked out after I processed his comment. What happened so far?
1-2-3!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh tension breaker sorry had to do it
did you just J in your P’s
Andrew Eugene Pettite..
Absolutely Enormous…….. Pitcher
ROWR.
Momma like.
What’s the point of a black taco? Does it taste any different or is it just cornmeal colored with squid ink or something
it’s pretty good…pepper jack sauce
Would a normal taco with pepper jack sauce taste the same? I like the fashion parody ad either way; it reminds me of Zoolander.
Probably, yeah. It’s easier to market a black taco than a special-sauced taco.
Well, there’s only so many things you can do with a taco. One is change colors. Taco Bell has to make a living too, you know.
I’d say it’s made from black corn instead of yellow corn, but knowing Taco Bell and the mass-produced, artificial nature of the American fast food industry, yeah, it’s probably just black food coloring.
I cannot BELIEVE Andy Pettitte with his East Coast bias sat the Angels down 1-2-3 in the first!!
/HalosHeaven’d
It wasn’t Andy, it was the umpire.
/HH’d
Actually, 2B ump told Jeter to stand right there in line of Hunter linedrive..
DURRRRRRRRRRRR
/HH’d
IETC.
Zone does appear to be more of a pitcher’s zone, FWIW.
its a consipracy
Lets put 4 spot on..take them out of their game..
Joe Buck: “inning over”
of course it was really only half over. figures
Wowzah. I didn’t think that had a chance.
Kinda wanted that signature leadoff single from the Captain.
So close, Johnny. Do it again.
Saunders is looking a little hyped up thus far, may be overthrowing. I approve.
Nice job Tex. Cmon A-rod!
There we go. Tex is heating up.
Bad News for the Angels and the Phils.
Go Tex! Good sign.
Tex! Setting up AROD!
AROD time.
Oedipus Tex!
He told you he was freaky.
Nice job Tex!
Bernie is in the building to witness his record being broken.
Nasty first pitch to ARod.
Over/under on how long (in min) before I press ‘Mute’ after hearing gems like this:
“Yankees have come back home leading 3-2 in a series and lost 2 times out of 10″… I see what you did there, but that also means they’ve won four times as much as they’ve lost in that situation.
.06
there is no way in hell he is throwing 94
What a bust. Didn’t score a run.
Alright A-Rod!
A-rod!!! Cmon Posada!
That stayed in the park? He must be pressing!
Two out hits! And I’m not complaining for once!
he didn’t lose anything in two days..still good for a win tonight..i mean Al
RISP!!!!
Just a single A-Rod? Unclutch.
Hip Hip . . .
Jorgie juiced one..
Arods swing is the most effective looking, to mine eyes, since he’s become a Yankee.
So short, quick, explosive. None of that helicopter follow through he used to have.
The real Alex Rodriguez has stood up.
COME ON JOPO!!!
HIP HIP!
need to strike first
ugh
wtf was that Jorgie?
I’m surprised that stayed in this disgraceful excuse for a stadium.
ietcvm
Damnit, cmon guys we gotta get some hits with RISp tonight.
What a loser. Jose Molina should have started this game.
Over anxious enough?
what is the point of that swing? clearly you cant do anything with that pitch, just let it go
Os this the night we get to saunders? He has owned us this season
Jorge likes to swing at change ups out of the zone.
Damn…another missed opportunity to put the heat on but at least the heart of the order got some hits. That can only mean good things.
alright, they all got some contact on the ball, now do your thing andy
G-MEN recovery!
C’mon Eli. Lets grab an early lead!
Apparently, New York professional football teams don’t like to play the Saints.
Playing the Raiders, though? Hells yes. More, please.
Eh, we’re making good contact on Saunders and he’s having trouble throwing strikes.
Confidence level: 11
For all the talk about how great Joe Saunders looked in game one, he gave up two hard hit singles and almost got taken deep that inning.
Howie Kendrick is playing today? Shit.
We need to resposition Jeter when Vlad is up. :p
Similar to the “hit” Hughes gave up.
Damn, nice try Jeter. This Vlad is getting really lucky on these little bouncers. Cmon Andy, get a DP.
He did, just not the way we expected. Thanks, Vlad.
That was the slowest developing almost great play ever.
SWISH MOHAWK!!!!!!!!
Swisher holla!
Just sit Swisher, he’s awful.
NICK FUCKING SWISHER.
The Angels play fundamental baseball!
c’mon now bench Swisher…wtf was that shit
Vlad shouldn’t run. Period.
BEST FOURTH OUTFIELDER EVER.
Beautiful.
thanks for the gift
Great play!!!
OMG SWISHER IS BAAAD
SuckA!
And that’s why you don’t bench SWISHAHOUSE!
Nick Fucking Swisha!
where the hell was vlad going?
Home, to watch the world series.
To Dr. Marc Phillipon to get new joints.
That too!!
Hahaha. Nice play by Swish.
SCIOSIA SEES EVERYTHING
Again, nuttin is more funnier in baseball than a baserunning FAIL!!!!
FUCK YEAH!
Angels are smart baserunners.
I have an incredibly mixture of hatred and fear directed towards Howie Kendrick. Sheesh.
Please tell me it is %99.999999 hatred and %.000001 fear
He’s a flippin platoon player and he rapes Yankee pitching. It’s frustrating.
Thanks to Eiland for getting Swish’s throwing mechanics right. He’s been throwing well ever since.
That play was rigged!! The umpire is udner east coast bias! He was safe by a mile.
/Halos Heaven’d
:drools:
/Halos Heaven’d
HH will be boycotting baseball because of them calling Vlad out by 2 feet. It’s fixed!
Where is Nady when you need him?
he wanted no piece of Kendrick
How do you “squeeze sawdust out of a bat?” Wouldn’t it be squeezing sap out of the bat?
Not if your hands are made of sandpaper or tiny saw blades. Wake up, Mike.
Mix a metaphor! Any metaphor! One dollah!
If a mixed metaphor doesn’t sing, it should be sent to the poorhouse and derailed.
How the hell do you walk Howie Kendrick?
To answer myself: with difficulty.
Don’t mind that BB there.
alright andy, settle down
pick off and an end to a fundamental inning
Cmon Andy
Oh god here we go again with the Andy’s pick off = balk and only his reputation is saving him from balks…
SHUT THE FUCK UP MCCARVER! STOP FUCKING ENCOURAGING HIM BUCK.
Well, I guess his rep helps his stats in this area. But the fact that he rarely actually balks also plays a part in this.
Simple logic, but the buffoons assclown known as Buck and McCarver DO NOT get it.
Dude has a good move to 1st, the two assclowns need to leave it at that.
I snickered at “assclowns.”
thank you sir, you are the very first to snicker at it.
Lets get some runs.
Excellent – Keep it going Andy.
Nice job. Swisha up, hoping his Swish-Hawk gets a hit.
Andy’s holding them down.
Just the way I like it.
… nah, too easy.
I know I can always count on you.
That’s true.
You can count to 9 on me.
now hit this turkey
cool andy, now let’s show them who we are
Wow, ESPN canned Phillips.
http://twitter.com/espnmikes/status/5160116520
Sweet.
Maybe they can start firing all the other useless baseball “analysts” they have.
I’m looking at you Skip Bayless and John Kruk.
It’s the right move. You can’t trust his baseball analysis when his “should I stick my dick in that thing or not?” analysis is so clearly flawed.
IETC.
You’re only supposed to tag attractive interns?
Well that’s stupid.
He really screwed up. Now he can go join Reynolds in 6 months at MLB.com
I wonder if it’s for the crime itself or the girl (I think) he had an affair with?
not surprising at all he banged an employee and embarassed the network only thing that was going to happen really
Not surprised.
I’d bet Bobby Valentine is offered a deal for his seat on BTN.
Hah. Big Mac is going to be the Cards hitting coach.
Saunders has looked a lot better in the last game and this one than his career stats suggest he would look.
He’s giving up rockets. He’s more lucky than anything.
Time to destroy them
Oh, Matsui. I knew that was coming.
Doesn’t Arte Moreno look like Roy Walley from Vacation? Spitting Image.
/Mariano’d
Let’s move straight to Game 7, shall we? Joe Saunders demeanor is unhittable tonight.
unhittable demeanor mixed with the greatest coaching of all time = east coast bias
Tim McCarver: Joe Saunders is a mouth-breather.
thats racist yo
I love Good Robbie.
I’m a little tired of Matsui swinging at the first pitch all the time.
Oh, my god. Now I remember why I hate watching games with my dad.
_Every_single_thing that happens, he bitches and moans and complains. Every time an angel gets on base, it’s “here we go again!” Every Yankee out, it’s “how could you swing!? This guy hasn’t done anything! Come ON!”
Ha ha, that fastball was at his chin. VLAD’D!
alright swish,redemption song time
I mean, that was neck high and he hit a rope. Awesome.
No RISP = Base-hit for Robbie
Nice job Robbie. No DP Swishahawk.
Let’s go Dirty Thirty (three)!
C’mon Swish
Repeated incredibly solid contact >> The demeanor of Joe Saunders
+27
Alright, Swish. Keep building the case. A good hit or two, and all is forgiven/forgotten.
Saunders is on verge of shitting in this inning..lets get him guys..
Ugh Swish. That was a MEATBALL.
the one he fouled back was a better pitch to hit. The last one wasn’t bad, it tailed at the end to bring itself to the end of the bat
Yeah, the 3-1 was the one I’m talking about.
Come on Swish
Got decent contact on that one.
He’s breaking out tonight.
He missed that 3 – 1 cockshot. Hopefully he gets that timing back!
Make Saunders work for every lil single out, until he’s weezing and puffing out of his mouth.
that 3-1 pitch just screamed to be hammered
Cano hardly goes regardless McCarver. Your insight is incredibly flawed and idiotic.
He’s too lazy to steal bases! Any baseball analyst worth his salt would know that.
god damn it
Melky – Be a hero.
At least Swisher is having good AB’s. He’s still missing pitches rite down the middle.
Alrigth Melk. You can’t possibly be as cold as Swish … right?
He’s been hot…
he needs to stop trying so hardd
swisher fouled the ball he should have hit and hit the one he should have fouled..i guess “you can’t predit baseball Suzyn”
Whoa, Aybar cut off his dreads.
He looks less like Predator now. It’s a good move for him.
second time thru we hammer this guy
Figures the black guy is the best Barber on the team.
IETC.
Huh.
Aybar looked better with the dreads. Not often you can say that about someone, but it’s true.
He looks like he’s 14 years old.
Pasta diving Figgins!
RISP!!
2nd time through, let the gates open
C’mon Cap’n.
Love the two out hits
YES!
Another RISP situation. Awesome! We’re gonna come through right herrrrr!
Let’s go Cap’n
Baserunners. Me likey.
Cheap seeing eye hit but I’ll take it. Maybe luck is shifting to our side.
Melky is on fire.
LET’S GO JETER.
i love melk’s hand motion after every hit
lets go jete. gotta start cashing in on these runners on base regardless of outs.
Captain..please make us happy..
Lets go DJ.
Beisbol con Leche!!
Saunders is shook . ..
Johnny Rocket on the way?
Derek! Jeter!
saunders is sh*tting himself DJ,
Jeter tried to do a little Academy Award acting there…
It wasn’t as good as his portrayal of Soriano’s girlfriend.
Awright Jete!!!
Throw some Johnny D’s on it.
Tim Mcclland wouldn’t call that pitch strike even if he was going to get fired..
Use that short porch Damon.
Come on Damon, get that clutch hit.
lets go johnny. make him pay.
Bronx Bombing.
Oh FOX.
Grand Slam Time!
The Mouth Breather is labored and wheeezing…
jete walks HERE WE GO YANKEES HERE WE GO! (clap clap)
Saunders is shook. The only way he’d be more nervous at the moment is if Feared Williams was at the plate instead of Johnny Rightfieldporch.
It’s derek effing jeter, calm down mouth-breather. /unintentional rhyming
i’m glad tim mclelland was lookin the right way to make that call.
ietc
RISP Correction in 3…2…1…
johnny, how bout a yankee acls grand slam?
Lol did Melky just tell Aybar he looks like a tool?
cmon jonny
fuck
Damn, Johnny.
I guess the offense didn’t want to score this inning.
Please jump in a fire Buck.
boo.
Not exactly a bases loaded swing there, Johnny.
Can’t keep letting this slob off the hook.
Goddamn Johnny
At least we got 3-4-5 coming up next.
Summamabitch.
It’s all good. A 2.500 WHIP will come crashing back to Earth in no time.
they can never fucking capitalize with runners on.
lets not do this can’t hit with RISP tonight, saunders is weak and should be punished as such