World Series Game 4: Brad Lidge, meet The Comeback Kids™.
That was a phenomenal, phenomenal game. LOL to Brad Lidge, BTW. LOL. Just LOL. I cannot stop LOLing, someone help me. Okay, okay, okay. First of all, I can't believe we won this game. I can't. We did everything possible to NOT win the game, pull victory from the jaws of defeat is just something out of this planet. Our Magic Number is now ONE. 1. Uno. All that stands between us and #27 is one more game. I don't know whether to throw up or cry. Maybe I'll do both.
CC Sabathia once again had to answer the call and pitch on 3 days rest, and while he wasn't as dominant this time as he was during the ALCS, he hardly pitched a bad game. I think our offense didn't really help him out much and made him pitch thinking he had to be perfect. He went 6.2 IP, gave up 3 ER on 7 H and struck out 6. A very gutsy performance considering what the conditions were. Marte came in to finish out the 7th and did well. Joba came in for the 8th and gave up a game-tying HR to Pedro Feliz, which necessitated our late-inning heroics. Then Mariano Rivera had to come in AGAIN to get the save and did so with 8 pitches. The man is a God, there's no two ways around it. It's great to see the contrast between Brad Lidge and Mariano Rivera. I'm so thankful we have him.
Our offense was dead until the 9th inning. It's frustrating when you know you can hit like that but don't until it's almost too late. We have a very talented offense, we have a very powerful offense and it is amazing how they string us all along for innings at a time and then BAM!, they kick you in the onions. Let's start with Johnny Damon. He's the MVP of this game for sure. Heads-up base running in the 9th changed the game. He stole two bases because the shift was on and there was no one to cover 3B. Mark was HBP and then Alex had an RBI double off Brad Lidge. None of that happens without Johnny Damon getting on base and running like hell. Then you have Jorge dumping a little more dirt on Lidge's head with a 2-RBI single to score Alex and Mark. There's our big 3-run 9th. We need more of this all night tomorrow because WE ARE ONE WIN AWAY FROM THE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP. Let that soak in.
Stars of the Game™
CC Sabathia once again had to answer the call and pitch on 3 days rest, and while he wasn't as dominant this time as he was during the ALCS, he hardly pitched a bad game. I think our offense didn't really help him out much and made him pitch thinking he had to be perfect. He went 6.2 IP, gave up 3 ER on 7 H and struck out 6. A very gutsy performance considering what the conditions were. Marte came in to finish out the 7th and did well. Joba came in for the 8th and gave up a game-tying HR to Pedro Feliz, which necessitated our late-inning heroics. Then Mariano Rivera had to come in AGAIN to get the save and did so with 8 pitches. The man is a God, there's no two ways around it. It's great to see the contrast between Brad Lidge and Mariano Rivera. I'm so thankful we have him.
Our offense was dead until the 9th inning. It's frustrating when you know you can hit like that but don't until it's almost too late. We have a very talented offense, we have a very powerful offense and it is amazing how they string us all along for innings at a time and then BAM!, they kick you in the onions. Let's start with Johnny Damon. He's the MVP of this game for sure. Heads-up base running in the 9th changed the game. He stole two bases because the shift was on and there was no one to cover 3B. Mark was HBP and then Alex had an RBI double off Brad Lidge. None of that happens without Johnny Damon getting on base and running like hell. Then you have Jorge dumping a little more dirt on Lidge's head with a 2-RBI single to score Alex and Mark. There's our big 3-run 9th. We need more of this all night tomorrow because WE ARE ONE WIN AWAY FROM THE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP. Let that soak in.
Stars of the Game™
i was freaking out when damon stole third!!! that was awesome! and alex is just blowing me away. i have to admit, that i'm not a big a-rod fan (please don't hate me) because he always seemed like he was trying too hard and wasn't delivering in the clutch. i never boo-ed him or anything hateful, but just wasn't a huge fan. but this year - he really does seem relaxed, having fun, and getting BIG hits! even with his mini-slumps in the WS where he couldn't get a hit for the first 2 games, then when he does get a hit, it was the 2 really HUGE, crucial hits! WOW!!!
and what more can be said of mo... i know what you mean about being thankful because i feel the same. it's not just how he comes through and delivers, but i'm also thankful at the feeling of relaxed confidence that yankee fans are afforded with in the 9th inning that we're going to win if we have the lead.
mo only three 5 pitches yesterday and 8 pitches today - it's like he knew he has to come through for 3 games 3 days in a row for us to win, so he's pitching accordingly - impressive!
LET'S TAKE WS #27 TOMORROW!!!
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Damon's steal of second and third really changed the entire atmosphere of the game. At first, I though he was hung up in a run down because someone was covering third. What a heads-up play. A-Rod came through again with a clutch 2-out hit that brought home the game MVP Johnny Damon.
Speaking of A-Rod, is there something more to the plunking that are players are taking? It almost appears that whenever there is a man on base with one out, our best hitters are getting plunked to create a double play situation. Maybe this is all coincidence....
My only concern now -besides Burnett besting Lee, is Melky Cabrera. He pulled up lame while running out a ground ball and was replaced by Brett Gardner. With Melky out, we lose our best arm in the outfield. Yes, Gardner has speed and can hit a little, but with the Philly players hitting fly balls, there is no one with an arm that can cut off players from scoring. I pray that this will not be a factor in the next game.
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Oops, I mean "our" players not "are" players (first sentence, second paragraph)
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As a last note, anyone notice that Rivera's velocity has been down somewhat? During the regular season it was up around 92-93, save for the time when he had a groin pull it was about 87-88. I noticed in these recent playoff games that it hovers around 88-91. Is he taking something off knowing that he may have to come in and pitch multiple innings? Is he hurt, hence the heating pad? Just a thought.
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//what more can be said of mo... i know what you mean about being thankful because i feel the same. it's not just how he comes through and delivers, but i'm also thankful at the feeling of relaxed confidence that yankee fans are afforded with in the 9th inning that we're going to win if we have the lead. mo only three 5 pitches yesterday and 8 pitches today - it's like he knew he has to come through for 3 games 3 days in a row for us to win, so he's pitching accordingly - impressive! LET'S TAKE WS #27 TOMORROW!!!//
He may have to pitch again tonight. I'm just grateful his arm isn't hanging off his shoulder by a thread. He's a gamer and he'll pitch on his deathbed if the team needs him, but what worries me at this stage is we've got Mo and then we've got......................well just him. Marte has been good but I wouldn't trust him with closing out a game unless it was garbage time. Joba has been good, but streaky. Hughes has been awful. Robertson has been good, but he hasn't pitched much. Mo is just about the only reliable arm coming out the pen we have.
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Mo is a God, Beth. You are spot on with that.
The offense is talented and yes, it was not too obvious until late in the game but as I have observed with this team, when one area has a bad outing, another area steps it up. I am so proud for this Yankee team. They have worked hard to get this far and they are doing it in style. Plus doing it to the Phils is an added bonus. Especially in their own "house'.
It just does not get any better than this - except of course if they win tonite :)
GO YANKEES!!!!!
Lee Ellen
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//Speaking of A-Rod, is there something more to the plunking that are players are taking? It almost appears that whenever there is a man on base with one out, our best hitters are getting plunked to create a double play situation. Maybe this is all coincidence.... //
No, the Phillies' pitchers are just jacka$ses. Alex and Mark have been hit a combined 5 times in the last 2 games. That's obscene. Alex has been hit I think 3 times already. They're trying to be bada$ses and it's not working.
//My only concern now -besides Burnett besting Lee, is Melky Cabrera. He pulled up lame while running out a ground ball and was replaced by Brett Gardner. With Melky out, we lose our best arm in the outfield. Yes, Gardner has speed and can hit a little, but with the Philly players hitting fly balls, there is no one with an arm that can cut off players from scoring. I pray that this will not be a factor in the next game.//
It's worrisome, absolutely. I'm hoping however, that we squeak by with a win. I don't care how we have to win. 1-0, 13-12. Do. Not. Care. I want #27 tonight.
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//As a last note, anyone notice that Rivera's velocity has been down somewhat? During the regular season it was up around 92-93, save for the time when he had a groin pull it was about 87-88. I noticed in these recent playoff games that it hovers around 88-91. Is he taking something off knowing that he may have to come in and pitch multiple innings? Is he hurt, hence the heating pad? Just a thought.//
I don't think he's hurt. If he was, we'd know. I don't think Mo would intentionally go out there night after night nursing an injury knowing it would cost us everything. I just think he's being used too much right now, but out of necessity. He's still making his pitches and getting effective outs, he's just not throwing as hard as he was before.
I'm not 100% worried. If he has to come in tonight and he's throwing 80 mph, then I'll be 100% worried.
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//I am so proud for this Yankee team. They have worked hard to get this far and they are doing it in style.//
We haven't been in a position to win the World Series in 8 years. Let's hope this year ends differently than that one did.
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//What toughness and resiliency from the Yankees. They are a tough group, in ability and mentally. I can't say enough about them. //
We're not going down without a fight. If you're going to beat us, you're going to have to rip the win out of our hands. Sucks to think what we'd all be saying now if we'd won Game 1. *sigh*
//Methinks Lee will not have it quite as easy tonight as he did in Game 1. He clearly won't be a pushover. //
Lee is Lee. Their season rests on his shoulders, so he's going to come out both barrels blazing because he has no choice. I'm hoping that AJ on short rest doesn't explode. If he gives us what Sabathia did, I'll be happy. AJ says he can do it and I've read conflicting stories saying he demanded to pitch tonight and that he offered to pitch. So I hope he's as ready as his words say he is.
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Last night was one of my all-time favorite Yankees wins. It was tense and nerve-wracking, especially when Feliz tied it with the homer. But the ninth was absolutely classic--JD's multi-base steal, A-Rod delivering in the clutch yet again, and Jorge's big hit. Absolutely outstanding. I was jumping all over the place in the living room. WOW.
I think Mariano was not using the pad for an injury as much as to get loose early. We might learn of an injury after the season, but otherwise he is fine. He is throwing 89-91, but that's about where he will be now, especially at this point in the season. He will be fine, and he is still dominating.
Kudos to C.C. for gutting out a good start, for he looked a little tired near the end of the stint.
What toughness and resiliency from the Yankees. They are a tough group, in ability and mentally. I can't say enough about them.
Methinks Lee will not have it quite as easy tonight as he did in Game 1. He clearly won't be a pushover. But the Yanks have scored 15 runs in the last two games, and have seen a lot of fastball-change up pitching from the Phillies. In a way, I think they are more prepared to face Lee now after seeing not just him, but Pedro, Hamels, and Blanton--all similar pitchers. I think they should be patient and not jump on any old pitch, but should look first-pitch fastball from Lee, for he used that to get ahead and throw junk all over the place last time. If they see first-pitch fastball, they could make his night miserable, and doing so early will likely take the starch out of that team.
One more, guys. One more.
Jason from The Heartland
http://heart;andpinstripes.wordpress.com
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Ah-may-zing. I will admit, I wanted to shoot Johnny Damon square in the head before I realized they had shifted for Tex and no one was covering third. The heart attack was imminent, but luckily it subsided when the camera finally showed no one within miles of third base except Johnny. LOL. One more win, Beth... ONE MORE WIN! AAAAHHHHH!!!!
- Lisa
http://perennialpinstriper.mlblogs.com/
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// I will admit, I wanted to shoot Johnny Damon square in the head before I realized they had shifted for Tex and no one was covering third. //
I knew no one was over there and it was bloody brilliant. If something like that happened against us, we'd all be beating our heads against the wall. That's what separates the good teams from the great teams. He popped up fast, saw that no one was covering 3B and ran like hell. He would have scored from 2nd on Alex's double anyway, but by running to 3rd, he took away Lidge's slider. It was absolutely brilliant.
//One more win, Beth... ONE MORE WIN! AAAAHHHHH!!!! //
BREATHE, Lisa. BREATHE.
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