Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Old Guard pitchers advance the Yankees back to World Series.
After being suspended on Saturday night because of hefty rain, Game 6 was finally pushed through on Sunday night in the Bronx, New York.
The Yankees may have lost Game 3 of the series with Pettitte as their starter, but Dandy Andy presented himself in the mound in Game 6 with confidence and results that speak of his possible legend.
The 36-year old pitcher only allowed one walk, of which Howie Kendrick was the recipient. It was after Vladimir Guerrero hit an RBI, which he grounded off first in the second inning. Guerrero's move was considered to be a wrong move; obviously.
The Angels have committed a lot of mistakes during the series, some of which were not even part of their accumulated 8 error record in the ALCS. Some of those errors even helped the Yankees reach homeplate.
One easy and unwonted out happened during the sixth inning. Chone Figgins, after bunting Pettitte's 89 MPH fastball, grounded out to catcher Jorge Posada. He was out for tagging himself as he ran to first base. His left foot touched the ball.
In the same sixth inning, the Angels might've had a run when Vladimir Guerrero's double RBI advanced Torii Hunter to third base. The centre fielder's speed has been a concern to the Bombers. With two out, Mr. Iron Gaze saved the inning when Kendrick Morales hit the ball back to him for the third out.
With long time teammate Jorge Posada catching behind the plate, the left-handed pitcher struck out six Angels in 6.1 innings before Manager Joe Torre climbed to the hill. The man in the mound knew what was coming.
Pettitte may have wanted to stay longer, a lot of the fans wanted too, but he yielded to his former teammate's call and left his throne with 99 pitches and a 2.84 ERA.
The post-season veteran pitcher allowed seven hits and only had one run. The Yankee fans gave Pettitte a standing ovation while the Old Guard starting pitcher tipped his cap in recognition of the fans as he retired to the dugout.
Joba relieved for him, pitching against two Halos. He grounded out both to end the top of the seventh inning, but that was all for him. Joe Girardi already had plans for the eight and ninth inning.
The Sandman left the Yankee bullpen radiating assurance to the Yankees and at the same time threat to the Angels. "I knew I was going to be there for at least two," said Rivera who was called in the top of the eight.
Mariano Rivera is one of those pitchers you don't want to face when you're in the batter's box.
"Man, I don't even want to talk about Mariano Rivera right now," Torii Hunter said. "You don't want to face him. I don't plan on getting to him. If we do, the game is probably in the bag."
Chone Figgins was fortunate to hit an RBI on one ball - one strike count against Mariano Rivera. He was not the only blessed Angel of the night. With two outs, Figgins scored on Vladimir Guerrero's RBI giving the Angels their second and last run. It was the first post-season run given up by Mariano Rivera at home since Game 2 of the 2000 World Series against the Mets.
In the top of the ninth inning with two out, and just one more for the final one, Gary Matthews Jr. was pinch hitting for catcher Mike Napoli. It was an offensive move but obviously didn't work. Matthews, Jr. struckout swinging for the final out of the series. The pitch was not even a cutter.
The Yankees may have lost Game 3 of the series with Pettitte as their starter, but Dandy Andy presented himself in the mound in Game 6 with confidence and results that speak of his possible legend.
The 36-year old pitcher only allowed one walk, of which Howie Kendrick was the recipient. It was after Vladimir Guerrero hit an RBI, which he grounded off first in the second inning. Guerrero's move was considered to be a wrong move; obviously.
The Angels have committed a lot of mistakes during the series, some of which were not even part of their accumulated 8 error record in the ALCS. Some of those errors even helped the Yankees reach homeplate.
One easy and unwonted out happened during the sixth inning. Chone Figgins, after bunting Pettitte's 89 MPH fastball, grounded out to catcher Jorge Posada. He was out for tagging himself as he ran to first base. His left foot touched the ball.
In the same sixth inning, the Angels might've had a run when Vladimir Guerrero's double RBI advanced Torii Hunter to third base. The centre fielder's speed has been a concern to the Bombers. With two out, Mr. Iron Gaze saved the inning when Kendrick Morales hit the ball back to him for the third out.
With long time teammate Jorge Posada catching behind the plate, the left-handed pitcher struck out six Angels in 6.1 innings before Manager Joe Torre climbed to the hill. The man in the mound knew what was coming.Pettitte may have wanted to stay longer, a lot of the fans wanted too, but he yielded to his former teammate's call and left his throne with 99 pitches and a 2.84 ERA.
The post-season veteran pitcher allowed seven hits and only had one run. The Yankee fans gave Pettitte a standing ovation while the Old Guard starting pitcher tipped his cap in recognition of the fans as he retired to the dugout.
Joba relieved for him, pitching against two Halos. He grounded out both to end the top of the seventh inning, but that was all for him. Joe Girardi already had plans for the eight and ninth inning.
The Sandman left the Yankee bullpen radiating assurance to the Yankees and at the same time threat to the Angels. "I knew I was going to be there for at least two," said Rivera who was called in the top of the eight.
Mariano Rivera is one of those pitchers you don't want to face when you're in the batter's box.
"Man, I don't even want to talk about Mariano Rivera right now," Torii Hunter said. "You don't want to face him. I don't plan on getting to him. If we do, the game is probably in the bag."
Chone Figgins was fortunate to hit an RBI on one ball - one strike count against Mariano Rivera. He was not the only blessed Angel of the night. With two outs, Figgins scored on Vladimir Guerrero's RBI giving the Angels their second and last run. It was the first post-season run given up by Mariano Rivera at home since Game 2 of the 2000 World Series against the Mets.
In the top of the ninth inning with two out, and just one more for the final one, Gary Matthews Jr. was pinch hitting for catcher Mike Napoli. It was an offensive move but obviously didn't work. Matthews, Jr. struckout swinging for the final out of the series. The pitch was not even a cutter.
Mariano Rivera secured the World Series ticket his Old Guard buddy Andy Pettitte clutched for the Yankees.
The Bombers earned three runs in the fourth inning from Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher on Johnny Damon's RBI and from Derek Jeter who had to step on homeplate to give way for A-Rod who was walked with bases loaded.
They had another runs in the eight inning from Robinson Cano on Melky Cabrera's sacrifice bunt, which he earned as double on throwing error by Scott Kazmir, and from Brett Gardner on Mark Teixeira's sacrifice fly to centre field.
The New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Angels on 5-2 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. The Bronx Bombers will represent the American League in the World Series to face the defending champions Philadelphia Phillies of the National League on Wednesday night in Yankee Stadium.
Also posted in MLBlog and Bleacher Report.
The Bombers earned three runs in the fourth inning from Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher on Johnny Damon's RBI and from Derek Jeter who had to step on homeplate to give way for A-Rod who was walked with bases loaded.
They had another runs in the eight inning from Robinson Cano on Melky Cabrera's sacrifice bunt, which he earned as double on throwing error by Scott Kazmir, and from Brett Gardner on Mark Teixeira's sacrifice fly to centre field.
The New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Angels on 5-2 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. The Bronx Bombers will represent the American League in the World Series to face the defending champions Philadelphia Phillies of the National League on Wednesday night in Yankee Stadium.
Also posted in MLBlog and Bleacher Report.
20:27 Posted in Sports | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this | Tags: 2009, yankees, andy pettitte, mariano rivera, jorge posada, phillies, world series
Monday, 26 October 2009
Phillies and Yankees on World Series
The wait is finally over.
After 5 days of waiting, the Philadelphia Phillies now know which team will they face. The New York Yankees just defeated the LA Angels in the American League Series of Game 6, 5-3 on board. It was a game that lasted for 3 hours and 40 minutes with 50,173 people in full anticipation.
The Phillies and Yankees have faced each other during the regular season, and the Phillies have won the series, 2-1, against the Yankees. Game 2 of that series was a walk-off win as Melky Cabrera hit a single, scoring Robinson Cano. Alex Rodriguez provided the tying run, a two-run homer to the right field.
Game 1 of the World Series will be started in the Yankee Stadium and starting pitchers will be CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee. Both pitchers are considered aces in their ball clubs. But who will prevail?
Cliff Lee has a 14-13 record, 245 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts, and a 3.22 ERA. CC Sabathia, on the other hand, has an amazing 19-8 record. He has allowed 197 hits and 67 walks while striking out 197. If Mo is capable of calming the Yankees organization, and fans alike, during the late innings, CC has a calming effect on me when he's starting for the Bombers.
Both NL and AL teams know how big the World Series will be. The Philadelphia Phillies will do everything to defend their title while the New York Yankees will be looking forward for a 27th World Series title.
There are a lot of World Series rookies from the Yankees, but the Old Guard remains intact. The last Old Guard appearance in the World Series, excluding Andy Pettitte who was in the Astros, was on 2004. This would be a nice reunion, especially that Pettitte is back to the Yankees. With new members in their club, the World Series will be more exciting.
The Phillies and Yankees are strong teams in their respective leagues, but only one team will claim the 2009 World Series title. I am a fan of both teams, but I am rooting for my top favourite team, the New York Yankees.
The National and American League Series are over. But, "It ain't over till it's over." It must be a wonderful night for Yogi Berra who watched the game. I'd love to hear what he's got to say about Game 6.
The Phillies and Yankees have faced each other during the regular season, and the Phillies have won the series, 2-1, against the Yankees. Game 2 of that series was a walk-off win as Melky Cabrera hit a single, scoring Robinson Cano. Alex Rodriguez provided the tying run, a two-run homer to the right field.
Game 1 of the World Series will be started in the Yankee Stadium and starting pitchers will be CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee. Both pitchers are considered aces in their ball clubs. But who will prevail?
Cliff Lee has a 14-13 record, 245 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts, and a 3.22 ERA. CC Sabathia, on the other hand, has an amazing 19-8 record. He has allowed 197 hits and 67 walks while striking out 197. If Mo is capable of calming the Yankees organization, and fans alike, during the late innings, CC has a calming effect on me when he's starting for the Bombers.
Both NL and AL teams know how big the World Series will be. The Philadelphia Phillies will do everything to defend their title while the New York Yankees will be looking forward for a 27th World Series title.
There are a lot of World Series rookies from the Yankees, but the Old Guard remains intact. The last Old Guard appearance in the World Series, excluding Andy Pettitte who was in the Astros, was on 2004. This would be a nice reunion, especially that Pettitte is back to the Yankees. With new members in their club, the World Series will be more exciting.
The Phillies and Yankees are strong teams in their respective leagues, but only one team will claim the 2009 World Series title. I am a fan of both teams, but I am rooting for my top favourite team, the New York Yankees.The National and American League Series are over. But, "It ain't over till it's over." It must be a wonderful night for Yogi Berra who watched the game. I'd love to hear what he's got to say about Game 6.
19:26 Posted in Sports | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: 2009, mlb, yankees, phillies, mariano rivera, andy pettitte, cc sabathia, yogi berra, old guard, cliff lee