ALCS Game Five: Yankees at Angels
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We were lucky that the ALCS off-day didn’t come between Games 3 and 4. Otherwise there would have been almost two days of everyone questioning Joe Girardi’s in-game management. Instead, they played Game 4 a day later and won decisively, making us forget about bullpen moves. We can thank CC Sabathia for that, who made moot any pitcher change issues. That’s what happens when you go eight innings and leave with a 10-1 lead.
As a Yanks fan, it’s hard to be more excited than I am right now. The team is on the brink of its first World Series since 2003, and the way the team is making it easy to feel confident. The pitching has been superb to this point, and maybe, just maybe, the offense is coming around after a slow start to the postseason. In fact, that could be one of the stories of tonight.
Only Hideki Matsui and Nick Swisher went hitless in the Game 4 assault. If they get in on the action tonight, man, I can’t imagine what the Yankees can do. They’re both starting tonight, though you could make a case for either or both of them sitting. WIth Jose Molina in the lineup, the Yanks could use Jorge Posada as the DH, and with a righty on the mound for the Angels (and with the flyballing A.J. Burnett pitching for the Yanks), they could have gone with Brett Gardner in center and Melky in right.
But Girardi doesn’t want to mess with the script that has gotten them to this point. The Yanks will certainly be looking to Swisher for a breakout game. As for Matsui, even with his 0 for 5 on Tuesday he’s still hitting .286/.412/.357 in the ALCS, so there aren’t many worries on that end.
We went over John Lackey earlier today, so for a quick take on him in elimination games, plus his performances against the Yankees in the playoffs, check out that. The Yanks fared well enough against him in Game 1, and will look for production similar to their nine hits and three walks off Lackey.
I have to cut myself off here. I’m just so damn excited.
Lineups:
Yankees
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Nick Swisher, RF
8. Melky Cabrera, CF
9. Jose Molina C
Pitching: Number thirty-four, Allan James Burnett
Angels
1. Chone Figgins, 3B
2. Bobby Abreu, RF
3. Torii Hunter, CF
4. Vladimir Guerrero, DH
5. Kendry Morales, 1B
6. Maicer Izturis, 2B
7. Juan Rivera, LF
8. Jeff Mathis, C
9. Erick Aybar, SS
Pitching: John Lackey
332 Comments
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i cant even doubt this team… every time i have they come up huge.
So… maybe you should doubt them?
Alright sorry but something is weird at RAB. The comments are gradually getting smaller and smaller to the point where the comments disappear as if it were in a non ending comment chain.
Is this happening to anyone else?
Alright fixed! It was just my browser.
I want to see at least 6 strikeouts from AJ, and at least 2 hits with RISP. If that happens, I think you can pop the champagne!
Do Kendrick or Izturis get split righty/lefty? or does Scioscia just use his incredible gifted baseball mind to pick out the best matchups?
I think they get platooned.
Luckily they get platooned… because any other 2b in his right mind would’ve thrown to first in Game 2.
Tim Salmon’s on MLBN’s pre-game show. Looking back on his numbers, he was a much better than I remember him being.
I always loved him in Slugfest.
why is Kendrick not in the lineup? he has no significant platoon split and he murders the Yankees
Well, Posada ain’t in it either, so I guess it’s some sort of odd Hamurabi’s code in effect.
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, 2b for a C…doesn’t have that ring to it, does it?
Play today. Win today. Das’ it.
das it n das all, rebecca
We play today…
WE WIN TODAY
DAS IT
Why do I watch the FOX pregame?
I was just thinking that to myself.
What was said now?
Wait for AJ to throw strikes. AJ is wild. etc etc
Once again, Angels pitchers are no worry, the Yank’s pitchers are trouble.
Hearing them you would think Yankees were facing elimination.
Seriously..hate drips literally from the Karros and grace every word they speak..
“Why do I watch the FOX pregame?”
To stare at Karros’ hair? It’s getting higher by the minute.
IETC
I am so nervous!
Here’s the plan:
Get Eric Karros off my tv screen.
Watch DJ lead off with a hit.
The rest will take care of itself.
Go Al and Melk! And the rest of the Yanks too! woot woot. Fall classic here we come.
If Lackey puts up a 2.0 whip again, ballgame. it seems like we are just getting over the post-alds layover… which could mean that the angels are as well, but that is on burnett.
So fucking pumped.
I’m starting to get that little knot in my stomach, and my breathing is getting shallower.
Man, did I miss playoff baseball.
Q: is fox’s gun a little slow or are lackey,cc,ervin,aj holding back a little bit?
i feel like aj often has a bad 4th or 5th inning. is there a way to check his era per inning this year? i looked at fangraphs but couldn’t find it
kruk just predicted angels win the game 5-2, so we’re good
who did Steve Phillips pick ?
oh yeah, that fat hairy chick
Definitely not his wife.
The ugly brunette, if memory serves.
You guys are quick. I thought I had that shit.
Steve just yelled out “69!” …not sure if thats a score or not.
This:
http://bbs.chinadaily.com.cn/a.....kiepjm.jpg
http://www.baseball-reference......;t=p#innng
He’s been abysmal in the 2nd inning. .906 OPS against.
Best inning? 6th. .598 OPS against.
Splits are for this year only.
thanks! stupid statistics, refuting my anecdotal impressions…
second inning. what a strange inning to have be your worse
Career splits re: innings
Innings 1-3: 2.38 K/BB .226/.311/.337/.648
Innings 4-6: 2.03 K/BB .248/.330/.393/.723
Innings 7-9: 2.24 K/BB .235/.312/.390/.702
But this year…it looks like the 2nd is actually his worst inning.
the mind is an amazing thing, and cocaine is a hell of a drug
how many red sox are crying now ?
hehehehe
Who cares? I’ve never understood why some Yankee fans are as obsessed with the Sox as they are with us. There’s a reason for them to obsess over us, but no reason for us to obsess over them.
But whatever makes you happy.
it was just 1 comment, not exactly obsessing
lets go Yankeesssssss
Sucks to your ass-mar.
lets win this shit for halos heaven
I’ve bought some very nice steaks and a fantastic bottle of scotch in preemptive celebration of the win. It’s over. In lieu of having booty, I may call an escort service to complete the trifecta.
awesome
just keep fucking the chicken buddy!
I love how everyone is on Al’s dick now.
Okay, seven good games and now people realize how special this dude really is.
You’d think that 2100+ games would give people this idea, not 7.
I know it will never happen but when Yankees win tonight and Rosenthal tries to find him, I want him to tell him F..U..see u later hater..
Woot woot! RAB may not work but go Yanks!
You know how powerful narrative is. Like you didn’t see this coming; you’re better than that, Drew.
dios mio, alex has had 0 swings and misses
…in the OC
start spreading the news…..
Ah Karros with the jokes…
So did anyone see the Philadelphia riot videos? Specifically the one where the dumb ass is standing on top of a car that drives away?
http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/spo.....of_control
Fast forward to 0:10 if you want to skip to the guy falling off the car.
Anyone care to explain the “das it and das all” meme (as it appears to be, at least)?
mariano duncan use to say: we play today, we win today, das it
Gotcha. Thanks.
He said it before game 6 of the ‘98 World Series I believe.
Not sure which game he started it in, but it was during the ‘96 series.
98 didn’t have a WS game 6
Who has a bigger head, Don Zimmer or John Kruk?
bald heads somehow always look bigger than they are in actuality; kruk.
Chris Berman…by far!
That’s how Jeter rolls.
Did anyone else just have serious issues with the comments section?
Yeah, we fixed it.
You da man, Paw!
My bad, I got a little delete happy when I was shutting the show unread comments plugin off.
Base hit for Derek Jeter.
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....ent-643532
My plan has taken effect!
jeterian
LETS GO YANKEES
got to love that start
Here. We. Go.
Yankees >>>> Angels
That’s the kind of start I’m talking about.
I like it i like it ALOT
There you go guys..lets get it started..
I predict a 4-3 Yankees win. In the last game I predicted 11-0 Yankees. I had the right number of runs. I was just too stingy in LA’s runs. Hopefully I’m right again, although I wouldn’t be unhappy with a 15-0 blow out.
I’ll gladly be shouted down here — but am I the only one questioning the second half of the Yanks; lineup a bit? No Posada – still Swisher?
Swisher is good…
But we all agree on Posada.
I’m lovin’ this, those were both hard shots. Com’on Tex let’s heat this shiet up!
An Angel runner would have scored from first on that.
-MSM’d
Mike, we know you said RAB had some problems. You cannot hide.
lets pull one outa here Tex.. we are set..
let’s go baby
Don’t send the runners.
Halo Blog discussing the Mariano non-spitball: http://www.halosheaven.com/200.....l#comments
ugh, I’m scared my IQ will decrease by 50% upon clicking that link…
Hasn’t that issue been discussed to death already?
A) Your IQ will drop to squishy-face levels.
B) Yes, it has been discussed ad-nauseum, but this is a video where Rev Halo talks about his paranoia with some guy from a slightly-above-basic-cable sports show.
Lackey is like a bulldog. Look at the jowels on his neck.
Yay shitty umpiring.
And TEX is rung up on ball 4
oh Tex..u and ur curve balls..
Not a strike, but whatever.
To close to take.
That pitch was away but too close to take.
Alex.
think small, alex
Ugh. I hate umpires. That pitch was never in the strike zone.
Well that was not what I expected. Come on, Hidek.
Ouch
Come on Hideki..don’t disappoint us..at least a single..
They better call that shit (Tex) for Burnett
HitDeki – Hit one out!
The homeplate umpire is who?
Fieldin Henry Culbreth III
Maybe Tex should be benched for Cecil Fielder.
Maybe Prince Fielder?
A-Rod lost his clutch. Just great.
Burnett better get that same call on the backdoor curve to lefties.
He’s living off his curveball
8 of 17 pitches, all to Teix and Matsui.
Why isn’t Posada DHing?
So he can hit for Molina later.
Probably so he can pinch hit later…
We picked up this guy Hideki Matsoo from Japan. Wanted to give him a shot.
Fucking crowd is stupid. Do they expect every pitch to be a strike/strikeout?
The fastball is off the plate to matsui, but a curveball that didn’t touch the zone once… was a strike? nice.
I’m surprised Culbreth didn’t call that a strike. Douche.
Good eye, Hidek. Now find a gap.
Or find Morales.
between guzman and hinske
/waste
Goddammit all over again
Well that was a tease.
well that de-escalated quickly.
AWFUL
that strikeout to tex was bullshit by the way
arg Tex is killing the flow
gee I’m glad he’s a good fielder
he’s great but this slump creating a black hole in the middle of the lineup
That was textbook Yankees’ offense: get two men on than go 0 for 3 with RISP.
This comment was textbook Brazilian Yankee: say something negative about the Yankees.
IETC
Really?
I thought textbook Yankees offense was being the best offense in the league.
It’s funny how one pitch can change an inning.
Thanks flashy Fieldin Culbreth.
I don not get it, nor do I agrewe with Matsui starting.. His bat looks as slow as he is
It’s the right decision. Posada will need to pinch hit later.
People are complaining already? Amazing.
im not….WE GOT THIS
Settle down, A.J.
It’s Posada’s fault.
cmon aj, you got this
that sucked a little bit.
Please don’t put this midget on base AJ..
When did the Angels pick up Pedroia?
AJ is not even close. Just great.
Really?
I thought Brazilians were a happy-go-lucky people?
Most beautiful victims of armed robbery, assault and rape in the world. Of course they’re cheery!
Heh, maybe not happy go lucky, but an extremely confident people. It is the conundrum that is “Brazilian Yankee.”
If you didn’t start Burnett for this game, who would you start? Chamberlain or Gaudin?
why wouldnt i start burnett?
Burnett.
Nice.
well a leadoff walk isnt what you want to see…
Alright Aj throw some strikes.
Ahhh! Get JoMo in there! AJ is wild.
..Oh crap!
Leadoff walk from AJ = Yankees win ALCS at home?
I know that Abreu goes the other way often, but why does Melky shade that far to left. That was crazy.
reply fail.
No.
Riight
It’s crazy how much I loved when Bobby would smile during an AB while he was a Yank. Now I hate it pisses me off like no other.
I’m with you on that.
Not how you want to start the game.
I really don’t get why Melky plays in left-center for Abreu.
Great start, at least he has his personal catcher. It’s not like we could have used Posada’s bat.
Well, this isn’t good.
Where the hell do they have Melky playing against Bobby?
compton?
He’s on the rocks in left-center. He loves fountains, you know.
Not what I wanted to see. But it’s alright.
damnit!
Awesome start.. Offense shits the bed then AJ does teh same. fucking great, get the asshole fans in teh game. Brilliant.
Well, that started poorly.
Ugh, not to be a sore loser/winner. But I hate the way the Angels grins/smirk, all of them. They look like a bunch of pedos at the candy shop.
Well this sucks
Bad AJ usually waits a little longer to show up.
Oh well, looks like the offense will have to win one.
Fuck this shit..come on AJ
Well this might get ugly early
Well, at least Posada will be in to hit soon
Hits with runners in scoring position, didn’t know you could do that.
Good.. Boston AJ showed up tonight.
i just killed a man with a trident
fuck, this isn’t the start anyone wanted to see
[presses restart button]
Man AJ needs to find his stuff.
Ya AJ was overdue for a blowup game…
It’s still early.
Yeah, it’s only 3-0 now with no outs and a runner on second. It’ll get a lot worse.
It’s going to get worse and worse from you too.
Tired of your act.
Looks like we have bad AJ tonight.
Yikes. Burnett’s lucky that didn’t go farther.
Great. Yankees don’t do shit with men on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Yet the angels drive em both in. This won’t be good.
The only positive that can come out of Burnett pitching like crap tonight is hopefully it ends the stupid Molina catching Burnett experiment and leads to Posada catching every game in the WS.
So what time is game 6?
i lol’d. long game
Thankfully it was moved to 8 pm.
There won’t be a Game 6.
I hope not but with exception to ARod, Tex and Matsui are hitting worse than AJ is pitching and now 4 runs to Lackey, afraid it might be good night sweetheart.
We scored 10 runs yesterday.
err, melk missed cut-off on abreu’s ‘double’
alright AJ..settle down now..still no big deal..
That really should only be one run. The defensive alignment turned Abreu’s single into a double. Who shades that far over?
Jose put the 2 run single sign down. Dammit.
Gaddamn Burnett is a frustrating SOB
Jorge, get your gear on.
well this fucking sucks.
I’m trying to think of the wins Burnett’s gutted out when his stuff hasn’t been there…coming up empty
well, this sucks
So…this is what CC inspired?
Thank God Molina is catching him.
second that maybe this put a end to that shit
Silver lining?
methinks girardi was just looking for a reason to rationalize not using jomo for aj. this may be it
Jesus this is terrible
I am amazed and know not what to say.
Bright side: More ticket and concession revenue
Haha.
Perspective, ftw!
Got tickets to game 6 trade them in a minute for a win tonight
I wonder if he can get an out?
You fucking chump Burnett…
They should sub in Jorge right now. See if his approach works better.
Sorry, reply fail.
Everything has been absolutely SMOKED.
man this sucks
Wow. Blew a chance in the top of the first and now, the only person AJ is fooling is himself and Girardi. Looks like the route is on.
These are’nt exactly bloopers either.
This is an Ike Turner beat down
Molina better never catch again.
This is exactly why game 4 was a must win. AJ has no constitution
good thing is that his pitch count is low!
Could have sworn this was 2009 not 2004.
It’s the first inning.
Yes it is but we are already down 4 and 0-3 with RISP… And AJ is throwing BP… so I would love to be wrong but, confidence level just dropped to 4.
can Girardi get Gaudin started
Burnett is shot, no control. That pitch to Vlad had nothing.
Let’s stop the bleeding Burnett, don’t let the dumb ass crowd get to you.
It’s okay guys, Molina’s catching. No worries.
Wow. He’s got nothing.
I thought BP was at 5 EST
He needs to walk Morales.
wth, this is unraveling to fast.
How’s Molina’s catching doing??
Showing up ! Nice !
It’s aight. Our catcher is a HOF’er
Look at the bright side – if and when the Yanks get to the World Series, we will not be subjected to another damn Molina at-bat.
Do something girardi, enough of this fucking loser.
I’ve had quite enough of you.
+1
NO U
Don’t you know if you’re not 100% positive the Positive Posse gangs up on you and +1’s you to death????
Absolutely not.
We’re not pulling our #2 starter in the first inning of Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead and our offense, no matter how bad he looked initially. Calm down.
wow
this is incredible
can this please end?
Eww man.
Come on AJ!!!!! Damnit!!
This isn’t happening…this isn’t happening
crapp.
come on..stop this shit..can some one visit the mound at least?
Eiland already did.
Alright, getting to sleep early tonight.
Well, I guess we’ll have to win it back home.
Oh good, so now Girardi doesn’t have the quick hook.
Girardi would be a fool to pull Burnett now. He absolutely gets to keep pitching.
wow. like batting practice
take a breath, aj. yanks will score more than 4 tonight
way to shit the bed AJ
Gaudin and Posada, come on down!
Check the CF camera… they know exactly whats being thrown
Um…NOW you can bring in Aceves…
will someone make an out for the angels?
that is the 64000 dollar question
Isn’t over managing Girardi going to replace Burnett now and try to salvage this?
I didnt know we were starting game 7 Kevin Brown today.
Smoke them last night get smoked tonight.
I just hope they wrap it up on Saturday so CC can pitch game 1 in the World Series
at this point I just hope they wrap it up
they still need to play 8 more innings..lets keep some faith..
what a downer to start with…i will stil watch all nine innings..
The O will totally shut it down I’m sure
Isn’t this what Gaudin is on the roster for?
Get Swisher warmed up.
The silver lining is that there’s no way Molina catches Burnett again, right? Right?
Nice check swing…give me a break…
Well, the nice thing about this (bear with me here) is that it’s the first inning. If A.J. can hold it to 4 (probably not?) the Yankees can erase that. If there’s one offense that can make up a 4 run deficit in the first, it’s the Yankees.
I share your thinking.
Broski. We can erase a 9 run first inning. We got this.
thank god
an out!!
there is a god!
I thought that was gone
Thank you, Swisher. Thank you.
Joy. ONE out.
One out!
Not to say this game is over. It isn’t. The positive I take from this early blow up is that Molina may not catch AJ in the WS.
hey, an out!
Well, atleast no one’s hit a home run yet? Right guys? RIGHT!??!?
One, Izturis definitely went. Two, Molina, any time you want to pull your magical pitch whispering, that’s cool.
You’ve got to be kidding me. They are just smoking everything. Can we get a BABIP correction plz?
Finally! 1 out!
I can just SENSE the Lanny/Brazilian Yankee here, even before I post!
Brazilian Lanny! THIS TIME, HE’S ON VACATION.
If AJ would have left without recording an out, would his ERA for the game have been infinity?
Nope. Division by zero doesn’t equal infinity.
There’s no way Molina is allowed to bat, right?
All pitches hit were at the bottom of the zone, that’s going to happen. His stuff isn’t as sharp as it was last time around, so it’s much easier to tee off on it.
Burnett’s got nothing.
It’s a good thing we only got 8 real hitters in the lineup down by 4 in the 1st.
Lanny has entered the building!
What’d you think of the double play?
Nomaas is going to have a field day with this first inning.
Luckily AJ will get the W anyway.
lesson one: don’t walk a cold Figgins
on 5 pitches
You’re going to pull AJ with 16 pitches? Lets get real. They are swinging at first pitches. AJ walked the leadoff speed man. That has disaster written all over it. He far from “sucks” though.
Remember earlier in the year when the Yankees blew two 4-run leads in a row to the Angels? I think thats enough proof to say that 4-runs over 8 more innings is not really that much. Hopefully Burnett turns it around but please…back away from the ledge
Oh fuck yeah GIDP!!!
Wow damn we get down really fast around here you would think they haven’t come back all year.
Thank god.
we’re winning this game
das it
ok, now lets get those back
games over. why am i even wasting my time?
hallelujah
AJ wont allow another run
i guarantee it
Down 4 with an offense that doesn’t know how to hit with runners in scoring position. This game is going to be challenging.
Posada has to bat for Molina. AJ lost any pull that he had by pitching batting practice in the first.
The bats are going to have to win this one
finally!
What the inning is over? Angels are chokers only scoring 4 runs. Too bad McCarver.
Com’on boys, let’s do this shiet. Let’s quiet those mofos in the stands. Make them shut their big ass yaps.
A.J. is going to go O’Neill on some coolers in the dugout: y/y?
Remember how we used to say “WHEN” AJ retries a batter, like it was a sure thing?