From our Google search terms: “why isn’t mike mussina pitching game 4?”
I’ll leave that one up to you folks. Mike Mussina or Chien-Ming Wang: The choice is fairly obvious.
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The Arizona Fall League kicks off on Tuesday, so this space get a little more exciting in a few days. Be patient.
HWB Honolulu (15-1 win over North Shore)
Ajax: 2 for 5, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K – led off the 11-run 7th inning with a walk, and doubled home two later in the frame
Brad Suttle: 0 for 3, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K – made the last out of the 11-run inning on a called strike three…
Man, what can you say about Phil tonight; “coming up big” doesn’t quite do him justice. The kid saved the season, almost singlehandedly. You da man Phil, you da man.
ALDS Game 3: Do or die time
In 2003, Roger Clemens took the mound for the Yanks in a potential elimination game in the ALCS. While Clemens struggled, the Yankees won the game in grand fashion. That game would be one of the last elimination games the Yankees would win in the playoffs this deceade.
Today, the Yanks find themselves again facing elimination and again turning to Roger Clemens as a savior. Clemens has long been expected to fulfill that role for the 2007 Bombers, and this is the biggest stage for one of the game’s all-time greats.
Ideally, Clemens would have thrown more than 10 innings since September 1 and more than zero in the last 23 days. But such is the state of the Yankees pitching.
Meanwhile, it’s win or face changes for the Yankees. If the lose today, Joe Torre is gone and so are many coaches. Brian Cashman, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera may see their days in the Bronx numbered, and no one knows what the future holds for Alex Rodriguez.
Right now, it doesn’t matter. Win today; play tomorrow. It’s that easy. Just win today.
The lineups:
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C
Giambi 1B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Clemens P
Win or Joe Torre gets it
Besides playing for their season, the Yankees are playing for Joe Torre’s career. While we could debate for hours whether or not Torre should have been fired a few years ago, the Boss has issued an unequivocal statement: If the Yanks do not beat the Indians, Torre will not be back next year.
Melancon staying home
HWB Honolulu (5-1 loss to North Shore)
Austin Jackson: 1 for 4, 1 K – 2 for 19 with 8 K
Bradley Suttle: 0 for 4, 1 K – 0 for 13, but at least he’s only K’ed 3 times
George Kontos: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 4-1 GB/FB, 1 E (pickoff) – 93 baserunners & 45 runs allowed in 59.1 IP since July 9th
Anthony Claggett: 1 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 2-0 GB/FB – see, it’s not all bad
The Mark Melancon Saga is over, I stumbled across this mad old blog post at BA, which says:
The Honolulu Sharks switched Yankees relievers, getting righthander Anthony Claggett rather than righthander Mark Melancon, who is coming off elbow surgery.
I’m sure the elbow is okay, probably just playing it safe. Have to say though, I’m kinda disappointed.
No, really, beat the Red Sox
Reportedly, a Red Sox fan left the hospital after suffering injuries at the hands of a Yankee fan. The source is in The New York Post so take it with a grain or four of salt.