Tigers Near Pennant Behind Verlander Domination

Joe Girardi's "Make-a-Wish" lineup actually did worse than when Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher were a part of it. Then again the Yankees had the unenviable task of facing reigning AL Cy Young/MVP Justin Verlander in the third game of the ALCS.

Though Verlander wasn't at his best, he was good enough to pick up the win in Detroit's 2-1 victory over the Yankees in Game 3. The Yankees made it exciting in the 9th when Eduardo Nunez homered off Verlander and Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano reached on 2-out hits against Phil Coke. But magic man Raul Ibanez had no magic this time around and struck out when he chased a 3-2 pitch out of the zone to end the game.

Delmon Young, who has excelled in the last two post-seasons against the Yankees, hit a solo home run off Phil Hughes in the 4th to snap the scoreless tie. After Hughes followed the gopher ball with a walk to Andy Dirks, the right-hander had to leave the game with a stiff back.

The Tigers doubled their lead thanks in part thanks to an Eric Chavez error that allowed Quentin Berry to reach safely to start the bottom of the 5th. Chavez got the start at the third base in place of the benched Rodriguez. Berry stole second base and scored easily on Miguel Cabrera's double off of David Phelps.

The Yankees pitching, as it has all post-season, did very well in Game 3. But with a punch-less lineup as soon as the opponent scores one run, the night was pretty much over. Slumps continued - Robinson Cano 1-30 (thought that is an improvement), Curtis Granderson 3-29, Eric Chavez 0-14.  The only hits the Yankees had on the night were a pair of singles by Ichiro Suzuki, who is one of the few batters left with some hits in him.

Verlander wasn't his sharpest, but was still better than most pitchers on their best nights. He allowed just three hits in 8.1 innings, hit 99 mph on the radar gun, and allowed just his second earned run in 24.1 post-season innings.

The Yankees will send CC Sabathia out Wednesday in hopes of putting off the end of the season one more day. The Tigers will go with right-hander Max Scherzer and Joe Girardi will try and figure out some lineup that might make some magic.  Otherwise, the Yankees will be hitting the golf courses sooner than they had hoped.

Game 3: Critical, But Not Deadly

With both the ALCS and NLCS tied at a game apiece, I decided to do a little research, which will probably be available by Elias tomorrow (if it's not already tonight).

I looked back at all of the World Series plus all League Championship Series since 1985 (when the format went from five to seven games). Prior to this year's post-season there were 79 series that were tied at 1-1 after two games.

52 of those series occurred during the World Series. 16 teams came back from a 2-1 deficit to win the championship. They included the 1923, 1951, and 1952 Yankees.

There have been 13 ALCS that were tied after the first two games, with five teams going to the World Series after dropping game 3. They included the 1998 and 2003 Yankees.

Of the 14 NLCS series involved, four teams moved on to play in the World Series after dropping the third game of the playoff series.

So what does it all mean? While it's difficult to come back from a 2-1 deficit it is not impossible. Especially if you have games four and five at home.

68.3% winner of game 3 takes it all.

We Liked the Match Up Better

Courtesy of Chad Jennings and LoHud:

“We have all the matchups and all the scouting reports,” Girardi said of the Aceves decision. “And we felt that, you know, it was a better matchup for us.”

“I’m not going to get into specifics of why,” pitching coach Dave Eiland said. “We just liked the matchup better, and Ace had (Howie Kendrick) where he wanted to, he just couldn’t make the pitch to put him away. And still, it was a five-hopper up the middle or a 10-hopper up the middle, but he just wasn’t able to make that one pitch to put him away.”

Lame guys, lame.

Running Scared, Starring Joe Girardi

Nightmare at the Big ‘A’, Part MMIX

Written for Baseball Digest Online

Throughout this current post-season, New York Yankees fans and the metropolitan area media have waited for Joe Girardi to screw up. It’s not that anyone wanted him to, but Girardi’s managerial style during the playoffs, though successful in outcome, were not conducive to good baseball. His use of the bullpen proves he’s managing scared, not aggressively, as some would have you believe. Earlier this evening that style came back to biteGirardi as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won Game 3 of the ALCS, 5-4, in 12 innings.

Just as he had done in Game 2 and in the series with Minnesota, Girardi countered every move or non-move by the opposing manager with a pitching change. While David Robertson was retiring Kendry Morales for the second out in the bottom of the 12th, Fox TV cameras caught Girardi checking his scouting reports.

No sooner had Howie Kendrick stepped in to face Robertson, then Girardi hop out of the dugout ,despite the fact that Kendrick had faced Robertson just twice. Those match ups had produced one hit and one strikeout. It was also despite the fact that Robertson has been pitching much better over the last several months than the fellow right-hander, Al Aceves, that Girardi opted for.

Kendrick ripped a single back up the middle in his first at-bat against Aceves. Then light-hitting Jeff Mathis ripped a hanging fastball off the wall in left-center to score Kendrick with the game winning run. While there is no question that the Angels may have won the game anyway,Girardi did his best to help shift the momentum away from his ball club. The series now stands at two games to one in favor of the Yankees, with Game 4 scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) night.

Making the loss all the more painful was the fact that Yankees blew a 3-0 lead, built on solo home runs by Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Johnny Damon. The Halos cut the lead to 3-1 on Kendrick’s solo home run off Andy Pettitte in the 5th and tied the game an inning later when Vlad Guerrero belted a 2-run home run.

The Angels took their first lead of the night off of Joba Chamberlain in the 7th. Kendrick accounted for another run scored when he came home on Maicer Izturis‘ sacrifice fly. The Yankees tied things back up in the top of the 8th when Jorge Posada went deep off hard throwing right-hander Kip Jensen.

The Yankees had a chance to break things open against Angels starter Jered Weaver in the 2nd and 4th innings, but the lower part of the order failed to produce each time. Nick Swisher and Melky Cabrera went 0-9 and left 12 men on base.

The Angels had a chance to win it in the 10th when Mathis led off with a double against Phil Hughes and Mariano Rivera made an errant throw of Eric Aybar’s bunt. With runners on the corners and no one out, the Yankees brought the infield and outfield in. Mark Teixeira made a diving stop of a Chone Figgins‘ grounder for the first out and froze the runner at third in the process.

Rivera issued an intentional walk to Bobby Abreu to load the bases. With the infield still in, Torii Hunter hit a bullet to Teixeira, who threw home for the force out. Rivera then got Guerrero to ground out to Teixeira unassisted for the final out of the inning.

Game Notes

Due to all of the substitutions by the time the game was over, the Yankees had no DH, Jerry Hairston Jr. was in left field and batting 5th, and the pitcher’s spot was hitting second. Girardi also wasted another roster spot when he used Brett Gardner to pinch-run for DH Hideki Matsui, but later pinch-hit for Gardner.

Bobby Abreu had his first two hits of the series, but is just 2-13 overall. Kendry Morales (1-13, 3-23 in post-season), Mark Teixeira (1-13, 3-25) and Nick Swisher (2-10, 3-22) are among those slumping in October.

Game 3 Lineups and Preview

It's expected to be aroun 73 degrees at game this afternoon in Anaheim as the ALCS continues. Doubt will see any ski masks/ninja outfits on any of the players.

Putting the cart before the horse a bit, I can tell you that Joe Girardi confirmed that CC Sabathia will be the Game 4 starter. No shocking news there.

Today's lineups:

Yankees

SS Jeter
LF Damon
1B Teixeira
3B Rodriguez
DH Matsui
C Posada
2B Cano
RF Swisher
CF Cabrera

P Pettitte


Angels

3B Figgins
RF Abreu
CF Hunter
DH Guerrero
LF Rivera
1B Morales
2B Kendrick
C Napoli
SS Aybar

P Weaver

Yankee Stadium Open for Business

The Yankees may be out on the west coast for Game 3 of the ALCS, but you can watch it in Yankee Stadium. That's right, the Steinbrenner's have opened up the house that George built to the fans, for free, to catch today's game with the Angels on the incredibly jumbo Jumbotron scoreboard (or whatever brand it is).

The field level seats will be open and the concession stands will make a few extra thousand bucks off of ya. The good news is the temps will be much warmer than Games 1 or 2.

2009 ALDS Game 3 Lineups

The Yankees have Posada back in the lineup tonight. No other changes.

SS Jeter
LF Damon
1B Teixeira
3B Rodriguez
DH Matsui
C Posada
2B Cano
RF Swisher
CF Cabrera

P Pettitte

The Twins dropped injured 3B Matt Tolbert from the roster and added Brian Buscher.

CF Span
SS Cabrera
C Mauer
1B Cuddyer
RF Kubel
LF Young
3B Harris
DH Morales
2B Punto

P Pavano


The Yankees strugged against Pavano in two starts while Pavano was a member of the Indians. Derek Jeter was 3-7, but Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher were a combined 1-11. In his career, Mark Teixeira has gone 2-6 with a home run and 5 RBI.

Joe Mauer is 4-10 with a home run and 2 RBI against Pettitte, but that's nothing compared Brendan Harris, who has gone 8-17. And Delmon Young tops that with 9-14 (.643). In fact most of the Twins lineup has a good track record against the veteran left-hander.

Line Drive in the Paper Lifts Phils

It wasn't pretty, but the Phillies will take it. Tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth, the Phillies didn't hit one ball out of the infield - actually they only put one ball into play - in scoring the winning run to take a 2 games to 1 advantage in the World Series. Last night's game ended about 1:47 a.m. EDT after a one hour-thirty one minute rain delay caused the first pitch to be thrown at 10:14 p.m., the latest start in World Series history.

The Rays had rallied from a 4-1 deficit, tying the game with a run in the eighth inning. But Rays reliver J.P. Howell hit Eric Bruntlett to start the home half of the ninth inning. Grant Balfour replaced Howell, and with Shane Victorino batting, immediately threw a wild pitch. Catcher Dioner Navarro quickly retrieved the ball and fired to second to try to gun down Bruntlett, but his throw sailed wide to the right side of second base and into center field, allowing Bruntlett to reach third base. Victorino was intentionally walked and Joe Maddon came out to discuss strategy with his pitcher and infielders.

Those infielders were increased by one when right fielder Ben Zobrist, a natural infielder, moved behind second base to give the Rays a 5-man infield. An intentional walk to Gary Dobbs loaded the bases for catcher Carlos Ruiz. With the infield and outfield playing in, Ruiz chopped a high Balfour fastball that a charging Evan Longoria could only whip home with an underhand, off-balance throw. The ball sailed high and wide and the Phillies had themselves a victory.

Though the game came down to the bottom of the ninth Jamie Moyer was the story of this game. The 45-yr old had struggled in his first two post-season starts, allowing 8 runs in 5.1 innings pitched. But his manager Charlie Manuel stuck by him, saying in his Friday news conference that Moyer had earned his World Series start. Now he's earned a second one, which would be a deciding seventh game if necessary.

Moyer pitch into the seventh inning, leaving with a 4-2 lead and one out. A third run was charged to him after an inherited runners scored on a ground out, but this was clearly Moyer's night. He kept the Rays off balance with his mixture of slow, slower, and slowest pitches. He quickly gave up a 1-0 lead in the second inning and Phillies fans had to be concerned. But after Ruiz's solo home run off Matt Garza in the bottom of the second gave the Phillies the lead back, Moyer took control. He allowed just two more hits through the sixth inning.

Moyer's counterpart, Garza, had been dominant in the first two rounds of the post-season, but struggled last night. Maddon had to come out in the first inning to settle him down after allowing a lead off single to Jimmy Rollins, a walk to Jayson Werth, and a wild pitch that moved both runners into scoring position. He allowed just one run, but was tagged for three solo home runs on the night.

Meanwhile the Phillies extended their lead when their two big men, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit back to back home runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 4-1 lead. The Rays big men continued not to deliver. Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria, who has to endure the asinine chant of "Eva" from the Phillies faithful, both went hitless last night and are hitless for the series. Their teammates did pick them up last night though.

Carl Crawford began the seventh with a bunt single and Navarro followed with a double to left to bring the tying run to the plate. The Rays seem to be specializing on RBI ground outs in the series and that trend continued when Gabe Gross' bouncer to Howard to cut the lead to 4-2 and moved Navarro to third. Chad Durbin replaced Moyer and got Jason Bartlett to bounce into another run scoring ground out that made it a 4-3 game, but prevented a bigger inning.

In the eighth, with Ryan Madson on the mound, B.J. Upton stroked a lead off single and stole second base with one away. The Rays aggressive play on the basepaths paid off when Upton stole third and scored on Ruiz's throwing error. But Ruiz would have the last laugh.


News and Notes

Pena and Longoria are now a combined 0-22 in the series.

Ruiz's game winner made the Phillies 2-33 with runners in scoring position.

Steve Carlton threw out the first pitch, which was made ironic since Moyer beat him for his major league win in 1986.

Line Drive in the Paper Lifts Phils

It wasn't pretty, but the Phillies will take it. Tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth, the Phillies didn't hit one ball out of the infield - actually they only put one ball into play - in scoring the winning run to take a 2 games to 1 advantage in the World Series. Last night's game ended about 1:47 a.m. EDT after a one hour-thirty one minute rain delay caused the first pitch to be thrown at 10:14 p.m., the latest start in World Series history.

The Rays had rallied from a 4-1 deficit, tying the game with a run in the eighth inning. But Rays reliver J.P. Howell hit Eric Bruntlett to start the home half of the ninth inning. Grant Balfour replaced Howell, and with Shane Victorino batting, immediately threw a wild pitch. Catcher Dioner Navarro quickly retrieved the ball and fired to second to try to gun down Bruntlett, but his throw sailed wide to the right side of second base and into center field, allowing Bruntlett to reach third base. Victorino was intentionally walked and Joe Maddon came out to discuss strategy with his pitcher and infielders.

Those infielders were increased by one when right fielder Ben Zobrist, a natural infielder, moved behind second base to give the Rays a 5-man infield. An intentional walk to Gary Dobbs loaded the bases for catcher Carlos Ruiz. With the infield and outfield playing in, Ruiz chopped a high Balfour fastball that a charging Evan Longoria could only whip home with an underhand, off-balance throw. The ball sailed high and wide and the Phillies had themselves a victory.

Though the game came down to the bottom of the ninth Jamie Moyer was the story of this game. The 45-yr old had struggled in his first two post-season starts, allowing 8 runs in 5.1 innings pitched. But his manager Charlie Manuel stuck by him, saying in his Friday news conference that Moyer had earned his World Series start. Now he's earned a second one, which would be a deciding seventh game if necessary.

Moyer pitch into the seventh inning, leaving with a 4-2 lead and one out. A third run was charged to him after an inherited runners scored on a ground out, but this was clearly Moyer's night. He kept the Rays off balance with his mixture of slow, slower, and slowest pitches. He quickly gave up a 1-0 lead in the second inning and Phillies fans had to be concerned. But after Ruiz's solo home run off Matt Garza in the bottom of the second gave the Phillies the lead back, Moyer took control. He allowed just two more hits through the sixth inning.

Moyer's counterpart, Garza, had been dominant in the first two rounds of the post-season, but struggled last night. Maddon had to come out in the first inning to settle him down after allowing a lead off single to Jimmy Rollins, a walk to Jayson Werth, and a wild pitch that moved both runners into scoring position. He allowed just one run, but was tagged for three solo home runs on the night.

Meanwhile the Phillies extended their lead when their two big men, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit back to back home runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 4-1 lead. The Rays big men continued not to deliver. Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria, who has to endure the asinine chant of "Eva" from the Phillies faithful, both went hitless last night and are hitless for the series. Their teammates did pick them up last night though.

Carl Crawford began the seventh with a bunt single and Navarro followed with a double to left to bring the tying run to the plate. The Rays seem to be specializing on RBI ground outs in the series and that trend continued when Gabe Gross' bouncer to Howard to cut the lead to 4-2 and moved Navarro to third. Chad Durbin replaced Moyer and got Jason Bartlett to bounce into another run scoring ground out that made it a 4-3 game, but prevented a bigger inning.

In the eighth, with Ryan Madson on the mound, B.J. Upton stroked a lead off single and stole second base with one away. The Rays aggressive play on the basepaths paid off when Upton stole third and scored on Ruiz's throwing error. But Ruiz would have the last laugh.


News and Notes

Pena and Longoria are now a combined 0-22 in the series.

Ruiz's game winner made the Phillies 2-33 with runners in scoring position.

Steve Carlton threw out the first pitch, which was made ironic since Moyer beat him for his major league win in 1986.

Yankees Pass Torch, Stay Alive

Maybe it was much more than symbolic, for when Phil Hughes replaced Roger Clemens last night, the Yankees fortunes changed. Clemens balky hamstring forced him from the game, but after allowing an inherited runner to score, Hughes settled in and kept his team in the game. The result was an 8-4 Yankees victory and the chance to fight another day.

Clemens aggravated the injury when Kenny Lofton attempted a bunt down the 3rd base line (which evoked old anger- why why why did no Yankee try to bunt on Schilling and his ketchupy sock in '04!). With his leg tightly wrapped between innings, Clemens returned to the hill, but couldn't push over his front leg. Having made one trip to the mound already, with trainer Gene Monahan, Joe Torre pulled Clemens for maybe the last time after the Rocket struck out Victor Martinez for the 1st out of the 3rd inning. With George Steinbrenner's words casting a shadow over the Stadium, things seemed grim.

The Yankees got the lead off man on in each of the first 2 innings, but Jake Westbrook induced a pair of double play grounders and it looked like it was going to be another poor night at the plate. But Johnny Damon got them on the board with an RBI single and Westbrook's history against the Yankees caught up to him in the 5th.

Hideki Matsui laced a 1-out single to left and Robinson Cano followed with a double to left. Melky Cabrera lined a singled to left center to cut the margin to 3-2, with Cano stopping at 3rd. That brought up Damon for the biggest at-bat of the season. Hoping to drive in a run with sac fly, Damon did even better when Westbrook left a pitch up in the zone. The Yankees left fielder hit a high drive to right that landed near the old Yankees bullpen for a 3-run home run and a 5-3 lead.

The Yankee Stadium noise level went up 100% and the golden arm of Hughes continued to keep the Indians bats silent. In the 6th the Yankees put the game out of reach. A-Rod led off with an infield single (for anyone criticizing Jeter's lack of range and arm strength, be glad you don't have Jhonny Peralta). Eric Wedge sent for lefty Aaron Fultz to turn Posada around to the right side, but Posada lashed a single to left to put 2 men aboard with no one out. With the situation calling for a bunt, Torre sent up Doug Mientkiewicz to pinch-hit for Jason Giambi, and the sacrifice worked successfully.

The Indians intentionally walked Matsui to set up a force at any base, but Cano ripped a single to right. The ball skipped under Trot Nixon's glove and nearly rolled to the wall as all 3 base runners scored for an 8-3 lead.

Joba Chamberlain got his 1st taste of Stadium post-season experience, breezing through the 7th before giving up a run and struggling in the 8th. There was much second guessing after the game for leaving Joba in a 2nd inning, but you have to win game 3 before you get to game 4. It was a no-brainer. Mariano Rivera pitched a 1-2-3 9th, striking out the final 2 and the Yankees had stayed alive.

photos courtesy of AP

Yankees Pass Torch, Stay Alive

Maybe it was much more than symbolic, for when Phil Hughes replaced Roger Clemens last night, the Yankees fortunes changed. Clemens balky hamstring forced him from the game, but after allowing an inherited runner to score, Hughes settled in and kept his team in the game. The result was an 8-4 Yankees victory and the chance to fight another day.

Clemens aggravated the injury when Kenny Lofton attempted a bunt down the 3rd base line (which evoked old anger- why why why did no Yankee try to bunt on Schilling and his ketchupy sock in '04!). With his leg tightly wrapped between innings, Clemens returned to the hill, but couldn't push over his front leg. Having made one trip to the mound already, with trainer Gene Monahan, Joe Torre pulled Clemens for maybe the last time after the Rocket struck out Victor Martinez for the 1st out of the 3rd inning. With George Steinbrenner's words casting a shadow over the Stadium, things seemed grim.

The Yankees got the lead off man on in each of the first 2 innings, but Jake Westbrook induced a pair of double play grounders and it looked like it was going to be another poor night at the plate. But Johnny Damon got them on the board with an RBI single and Westbrook's history against the Yankees caught up to him in the 5th.

Hideki Matsui laced a 1-out single to left and Robinson Cano followed with a double to left. Melky Cabrera lined a singled to left center to cut the margin to 3-2, with Cano stopping at 3rd. That brought up Damon for the biggest at-bat of the season. Hoping to drive in a run with sac fly, Damon did even better when Westbrook left a pitch up in the zone. The Yankees left fielder hit a high drive to right that landed near the old Yankees bullpen for a 3-run home run and a 5-3 lead.

The Yankee Stadium noise level went up 100% and the golden arm of Hughes continued to keep the Indians bats silent. In the 6th the Yankees put the game out of reach. A-Rod led off with an infield single (for anyone criticizing Jeter's lack of range and arm strength, be glad you don't have Jhonny Peralta). Eric Wedge sent for lefty Aaron Fultz to turn Posada around to the right side, but Posada lashed a single to left to put 2 men aboard with no one out. With the situation calling for a bunt, Torre sent up Doug Mientkiewicz to pinch-hit for Jason Giambi, and the sacrifice worked successfully.

The Indians intentionally walked Matsui to set up a force at any base, but Cano ripped a single to right. The ball skipped under Trot Nixon's glove and nearly rolled to the wall as all 3 base runners scored for an 8-3 lead.

Joba Chamberlain got his 1st taste of Stadium post-season experience, breezing through the 7th before giving up a run and struggling in the 8th. There was much second guessing after the game for leaving Joba in a 2nd inning, but you have to win game 3 before you get to game 4. It was a no-brainer. Mariano Rivera pitched a 1-2-3 9th, striking out the final 2 and the Yankees had stayed alive.

photos courtesy of AP

Game 3 Lineups

Jake Westbrook vs. Roger Clemens

Doug Mientkiewicz sits, Jason Giambi inserted in the lineup


Indians

G. Sizemore cf
A. Cabrera 2b
T. Hafner dh
V. Martinez c
R. Garko 1b
J. Peralta ss
K. Lofton lf
T. Nixon rf
C. Blake 3b

Yankees
J. Damon lf
D. Jeter ss
B. Abreu rf
A. Rodriguez 3b
J. Posada c
J. Giambi 1b
H. Matsui dh
R. Cano 2b
M. Cabrera cf

Game 3 Lineups

Jake Westbrook vs. Roger Clemens

Doug Mientkiewicz sits, Jason Giambi inserted in the lineup


Indians

G. Sizemore cf
A. Cabrera 2b
T. Hafner dh
V. Martinez c
R. Garko 1b
J. Peralta ss
K. Lofton lf
T. Nixon rf
C. Blake 3b

Yankees
J. Damon lf
D. Jeter ss
B. Abreu rf
A. Rodriguez 3b
J. Posada c
J. Giambi 1b
H. Matsui dh
R. Cano 2b
M. Cabrera cf