ALDS Game 5: Rays vs. Rangers..... Who we gonna play?

Here are the lineups:

RAYS (2-2)
Jason Bartlett SS
Ben Zobrist RF
Carl Crawford LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
B.J. Upton CF
Dan Johnson DH
Kelly Shoppach C
Sean Rodriguez 2B

Pitching: LHP David Price

RANGERS (2-2)

Elvis Andrus SS
Michael Young 3B
Josh Hamilton CF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Nelson Cruz LF
Ian Kinsler 2B
Jeff Francoeur RF
Bengie Molina C
Mitch Moreland 1B

Pitching: LHP Cliff Lee

Who are you rooting for?

Eiland Talks About Hughes

From Chad Jennings:

Dave Eiland coached Phil Hughes in Double-A. He coached him in Triple-A. Now Eiland is coaching Hughes in the big leagues, and last night he saw perhaps the finest – and certainly the biggest – start of Hughes’ career.

“It’s very gratifying,” Eiland said. “I’m very proud of him, and that was the first thing I told him. It’s a team game and he stepped up. He’s well on his way to being what we all thought he was going to be.”

...

“We saw how strong he was, and in his last couple of starts in the regular season,” Eiland said. “I’ve been saying it for years, he’s mature beyond his years, and I think a lot of it goes back to his upbringing, his parents and the way they brought him up. He’s a just a consummate professional. He’s only 24 but I have a lot of respect for him and look up to him by the way he handles himself and goes about his business.”

“…He challenged hitters. Here it is, hit it. That’s what he has to do. That’s who he is. That’s what I saw.”

I don't think anyone, even Eiland, was expecting seven shutout innings from the 24-year-old. What a way to make you postseason debut as a starting pitcher.

ESPN Breaks Down The Sweep

Celebration Photos

Umpires Suck But You Can't Let Them Beat You

From Chad Jennings:

Two games into this Division Series, there have already been two controversial calls. There was the catch/non-catch on Wednesday, and the 1-2 pitch to Lance Berkman on Thursday. This is all coming one year after the Joe Mauer non-double in last year’s Division Series between these two teams.

“I think you could look at calls and say, you know, during the course of 150 pitches thrown on each side, that pitchers are going to get some strikes and maybe they don’t get a strike,” Joe Girardi said. “I mean, that’s going to happen. I mean, these umpires aren’t robots and they don’t have X-ray vision. There are pitches that sometimes we think are strikes and we don’t get them, and that’s part of the game, and you have to be able to overcome those things.”

I'm not defending umpires. Let's be clear about that. There's no denying how terrible the umpires have been this October, but this is nothing new. Umpires in this league have been awful for years now, regular season, postseason, spring training, whenever. The bottom line is that they suck, for everyone, but like a good friend reminded me today, the difference in this series is that one team has let those umpiring blunders hurt them, while the other hasn't. That's one of the main reasons the Yankees are up 2-0 and the Twins are sitting in their hotel rooms wondering how they're going to beat them.

The umpires aren't going to get better over night, so expect more mistakes as the playoffs continue. I just hope the Yankees are either on the right side of those wrong decisions or they handle whatever garbage comes their way. Luckily, they have so far.

Yanks Head Home With 2-0 Lead

Thanks mostly to these three (Kerry Wood and Mo were pretty good, too), the Yanks beat the Twins 5-2 tonight, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in this best-of-five series. I'm sure you're all feeling pretty good about this team as they head back to the Bronx up 2-0, I know I am.

Game 2 Lineup

No surprises here...

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada C
Lance Berkman DH
Brett Gardner LF

Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte

Olney Breaks Down Game 1

What was your play of the game? Tex's bomb? Granderson's big hit? Robertson's huge strikeout of Thome?

Either way, huge game 1 win for the Yanks last night. Not only did they get big hits (something that seemed to elude them over the final two months) but their bullpen did the job. Nicely done, only 10 more wins to go.

ALDS Game 1: Yankees @ Twins (Game Chat Starts @ 8PM)

*** LIVE CHAT AT BOTTOM OF POST ***

Game 1

Yankees @ Twins

Target Field - Minneapolis, MN
Game Time: 8:37 p.m.
TV: TBS | Radio: WCBS 880

Here are the lineups:

YANKEES (0-0)
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames DH
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (0-0, 0.00)

TWINS (0-0)
Denard Span CF
Orlando Hudson 2B
Joe Mauer C
Delmon Young LF
Jim Thome DH
Michael Cuddyer 1B
Jason Kubel RF
Danny Valencia 3B
J.J. Hardy SS

Pitching: LHP Francisco Liriano (0-0, 0.00)

LIVE GAME CHAT

2010 ALDS: Yankees-Twins Pitching Matchups

GAME 1 - Tonight @ Target Field

First Pitch: 8:37 PM | TV: TBS | Radio: WCBS

LHP CC Sabathia (21-7, 3.18) vs. LHP Francisco Liriano (14-10, 3.62)

GAME 2 - Thursday @ Target Field

First Pitch: 6:07 PM | TV: TBS | Radio : WCBS

LHP Andy Pettitte (11-3, 3.28) vs. RHP Carl Pavano (17-11, 3.75)

GAME 3 - Saturday @ Yankee Stadium

First Pitch: 8:37 PM | TV: TBS | Radio : WCBS 

RHP Phil Hughes (18-8, 4.19) vs. LHP Brian Duensing (10-3, 2.62)

GAME 4 - Sunday @ Yankee Stadium

First Pitch: 8:07 PM | TV: TBS | Radio : WCBS 

LHP CC Sabathia (21-7, 3.18) vs. RHP Nick Blackburn (10-12, 5.42)

GAME 5 - Tuesday @ Target Field

First Pitch: 8:37 PM | TV: TBS | Radio : WCBS 

LHP Andy Pettitte (11-3, 3.28) vs. LHP Francisco Liriano (14-10, 3.62)

ALDS Roster Announced

Position Players:
Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Nick Swisher, Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson, Jorge Posada, Ramiro Pena, Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns, Marcus Thames, Francisco Cervelli, Greg Golson

Starting Staff:
CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes

Bullpen:
A.J. Burnett, Sergio Mitre, Dustin Moseley, Joba Chamberlain, Kerry Wood, David Robertson, Boone Logan, Mariano Rivera

ESPN: No Burnett in ALDS (Updated)

(UPDATE 12:52 PM) It's official: Game 1 - CC, Game 2 - Hughes, Game 3 - Pettitte

From Andrew Marchand and Wallace Matthews:

Girardi plans to use CC Sabathia for Game 1 against the Minnesota Twins and on short rest in Game 4. Andy Pettitte will be scheduled for Game 2 and would on regular rest because of the off days prior to Game 5.

Phil Hughes will start Game 3 when the series moves from Minnesota to The Bronx.

...

Girardi's news conference is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Minnesota.

My only concern is Hughes and the 20 HR he's allowed in the Bronx this year, but you have to set things up so that Pettitte is your game 5 starter and this does just that.

The Playoff Roster: Take Two

Not much has changed since my first prediction:

Position Players (14)
Jorge Posada C
Francisco Cervelli C
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Derek Jeter SS
Brett Gardner OF
Curtis Granderson OF
Nick Swisher OF
Marcus Thames OF/DH
Lance Berkman DH
Austin Kearns OF
Eduardo Nunez INF
Greg Golson OF --- gets the nod over Pena, although once again this could go either way and I don't think it would hurt or matter at all.

Starting Pitchers (3)
CC Sabathia
Andy Pettitte
Phil Hughes


Bullpen (8)
Mariano Rivera
Joba Chamberlain
Kerry Wood
David Robertson
Boone Logan
Royce Ring
Sergio Mitre

A.J. Burnett --- Probably doesn't deserve to be here, but it comes down to him, Nova, Gaudin or Vazquez. You might as well go with the guy who will need to pitch in the ALCS (if the Yanks make it).

Ivan Nova pitched himself off the roster with that shaky relief appearance in Boston. It may not be fair to judge him based on one appearance, but it was his chance to prove himself and he didn't come through.


Your thoughts?

My ALDS Roster

Position Players (14)
Jorge Posada C
Francisco Cervelli C
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Derek Jeter SS
Brett Gardner OF
Curtis Granderson OF
Nick Swisher OF
Marcus Thames OF/DH
Lance Berkman DH
Austin Kearns OF
Eduardo Nunez INF
Ramiro Pena INF or Greg Golson OF -- Not sure about this one, and not really sure it matters anyway. They both have speed and can both play defense, it just depends on what the Yankees feel they need more: another outfielder or infielder.

Starting Pitchers (3)
CC Sabathia
Andy Pettitte
Phil Hughes

Bullpen (8)
Mariano Rivera
Joba Chamberlain
Kerry Wood
David Robertson
Boone Logan
Royce Ring
Ivan Nova
Sergio Mitre

- I think the combination of Vazquez's start last night and Mitre's relief appearance earned him that final spot.

- AJ Burnett belongs nowhere near the rotation until they actually need a 4th starter.

- Bringing Royce Ring gives the Yankees two lefties, which can always be valuable in a short series.

What are your thoughts and predictions?

Yanks Clinch..... Finally

With tonight's 6-1 win over the Blue Jays the Yankees have finally clinched a playoff birth. Now we can spend the next week wondering if the Yankees are better off winning the division and what they should do with A.J. Burnett.

Did last night's loss cost them the division?

There's really no need to go over the game in detail. If you saw it you know what happened, and if you happened to miss the game you should consider yourself lucky. Basically, CC Sabathia pitched pretty well through five, the Yankees gave him a 3-1 lead, and then it all fell apart. CC gave up six runs in the 6th, the Yankees bats gave up, and the Rays won the game, the season series, and in my opinion, put themselves in the AL East driver's seat.

Not only do they now own the tiebreaker, but they're even in the loss column, and have a very easy final ten games (Mariners, Royals, O's). On the other hand, the Yankees face the Red Sox six more times, with three games against the Blue Jays in the middle.

You figure the Rays will win at least six of their final ten, which means the Yankees have to go 6-3 over their final nine to win the division. Can they? I don't know about you, but I'm not feeling too good about their chances.

What do you think, did last night kill the Yanks chances at the division?

A Look at the Playoff Pitching Staff

We got a sneak peak of who the Yankees are expecting to bring with them to the ALDS via Jack Curry last night:

Yanks expect 11 pitchers for DS. CC, AJ, Andy, Phil, Mo, Wood, Joba, Logan, Rbrtsn r locks. Nova, Vazquez, Gaudin, Mitre fight 4 2 spots

I'm going with Nova and Vazquez for those final two spots. They've been the two most effective of the final four, and if given the chance, I think Nova could be a valuable reliever in the playoffs. When Gaudin and Mitre enter a game I instantly feel like the Yankees have lost and I don't need that in October.

Who are your final two?.