Burnett's Rep on the Line

Let's try and stretch our memories back to this time last year. Everybody had a different plan for the Yankees to improve the team. However, the general consensus was that the Yankees would sign two of the trio of star free agent starters available, Sabathia, Burnett, and Lowe.

I don't think their was a single Yankees fan who didn't want Sabathia on the team. So, up until the point at which the Yankees inked Burnett, the debate in Yankeeland raged around whether Lowe or Burnett would be a better fit.

To rehash the arguments, Lowe was coming off three years in LA where he had been the model of consistency, he was seen as a reliable innings eater that wouldn't get more than a two or three year deal. The risks were that the NL West is a different world offensively from the AL East, he's getting to be pretty old, and he got hammered in his last years with Boston in the AL East. Burnett was the flashy strikeout pitcher coming off a career year. His high 90's fastball and excellent record against the Red Sox were both impressive to fans. On the other hand, his injury record is incredibly spotty, he was looking for a five year deal, and he really isn't the regular season ace that he is reputed to be.

After a furious bidding war between the Braves and the Yankees, the Yanks ended up with Burnett on a five year, 80 million dollar deal with the fifth year sealing the deal. Atlanta settled for Lowe a few weeks later, giving him a four year, 60 million dollar deal. At the time, opinion on the Burnett deal was mixed and fans, myself included, criticized both its length and amount.

Burnett had a solid regular season. He went through stretches of both complete futility and complete dominance. We saw the guy with the high 90's heater and the nasty hook and we also saw the guy with no control to speak of. Most notably, he stayed healthy and it was an overall productive year for Burnett. He fit in with the rest of the team seemlessly with his pie throwing antics and contributed to the lightening of the mood in the Yankee clubhouse that has been so key to their success so far this year.

A.J. didn't get brought in to win regular season games though. He's here to be the second ace behind C.C. who can win games in October. So, far Burnett's been loving October aside from one bad start. His numbers are good across the board; his ERA is 3.55, his FIP 3.25, and 3.10.

All of that will be forgotten at 7:57 PM tonight.

Its unfair how it works, its bizarre in nature, but everything A.J. has ever done on the baseball field comes down to one last start in Philly. He got a five year contract this winter and will probably make countless starts for New York that will get picked apart and over-analyzed by people like me. In this one start though he can cement his reputation as a true Yankee or just another overpriced choker.

Its going to take an incredible performance by Burnett to beat Cliff Lee. The pitcher on the other side is as good as they get and has been better than ever this year in the postseason. The Yankees also will still probably win this series, even if they lose tonight. However, with one win, A.J. Burnett can prove to everyone what he's made of and end any sort of A-Rod style criticism about his contract. With one win, the Yankees will take their 27th World Championship and their first of the century. With one win a new era will dawn in Yankeeland. This is it.

This List Needs To Be Longer

The list that I'm talking about is the list of teams in WS history to sweep Games 3, 4, and 5 on the road after splitting at home. It has happened only 5 times previously.

• The 1941 Yankees vs. Brooklyn Dodgers.
• The '42 Cardinals against the Yanks.
• The '49 and '61 Yankees, vs. the Dodgers and Reds.
• And the '83 Orioles, against the Phillies.

I honestly think the Yanks will win tonight. Score 2 runs early off Lee, do not let him get in a groove, and don't let up. Get AJ going like in Game 2. Get him to roll early and keep it going for 7, 8 strong innings. (*Mariano for 2 innings for the win?*)

I can smell #27, and I believe it's coming tonight.

More Bad Karma For Philly

Players talking trash, fans throwing coins at players and making racist remarks, and now this:

In an unexplained blunder that many baseball fans would call doomful, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran a huge Macy’s ad on the back of the main section today congratulating the Phillies for being back-to-back world series champions.

This comes the morning after Game 4’s crushing defeat by the Yankees, putting the Phillies behind 3-1 in the series.

The ad, which takes up most of the back page, states, “Congratulations Phillies! Back-to-Back Champs.” With a photo of a T-shirt bearing the words, “Philadelphia Phillies 2009 World Series Champions,” Macy’s directs Philadelphians to show their Phillies pride and “celebrate their World Series Win” by buying a shirt.

...

Whoever was in charge of proofing page A20 was obviously asleep at the keyboard. Or, great conspiracy theorists might say that there was a Yankee fan on the Inquirer staff:

Next to the offending ad is an article that should have the headline “Limbaugh, Axelrod Trade Jabs.” Instead, the second blooper on the same page reads: “Limbaugh, Alexrod Trade Jobs.”

Somebody had the Yankees on his mind.

Talk about counting your chickens before they hatch.

This wasn't the first questionable move by one of the Philly papers. After the Yankees won game 2 the headline on the Philadelphia Daily News was "Yankees Avert Sweep".

Melky May Have Torn His Hamstring

According to Sam Borden, Melky Cabrera may have suffered a full left hamstring tear last night and could be done for the remainder of the World Series. Brian Cashman told him that the Yankees doctors will evaluate Melky in the next few hours

If he is in fact done for the series, "the Yankees are allowed to petition for a roster change." Cashman also said that the player that would replace Melky would be one of the guys who is currently with the team so I'm guessing they'll add either Freddy Guzman or Francisco Cervelli.

More updates to come.

Those Classy Philly Phans

Citizens Bank Park had to add extra security in the outfield for last night's game 4 thanks to a bunch of idiots throwing coins at Melky Cabrera and Nick Swisher. Here's more from Mark Feinsand:

Bonnie Clark, the Phillies' vice president of communications, said in an e-mail message Sunday that the Phillies were advised by umpires and Yankees security during Game 3 that fans were throwing coins at the outfielders.

...

"We're not messing with them, just having some fun," Swisher said. "There's no malicious intent to any of that; you just get caught up in the moment. You hear them talking so many bad things about them, so when you get a chance, you want to get them back. That's the only way you can."

...

"That will really hurt; it's one thing to throw a paper airplane, but things like coins or bottles can be dangerous," Girardi said. "It's not funny. We have addressed it."

I also heard that Phillies fans were chanting "Eat a taco Melky" during the game. Classy.

Damon Talks About His Big At-Bat

Ken Rosenthal caught up with Johnny Damon and Alex Rodriguez after last night's game to discuss the win and both of their big at-bats.


Just for fun, here's the game highlights, also from FOX Sports:

Yanks Win 7-4 to Move to Within One Win of #27

(AP Photo)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NYY	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	3		7	9	1
PHI	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	0		4	8	1

WP - Joba Chamberlain (1-0)
LP - Brad Lidge (0-1)
SV - Mariano Rivera (2)
Another thriller, another win, and another step closer to that illusive 27th ring.

With a big three-run ninth the Yankees were able to defeat the Phillies 7-4 to increase their lead in the series to 3 games to 1. I'll get to the ninth in a little bit, but first let's start with the starters.

It was a matchup of CC Sabathia vs. Joe Blanton, which on paper clearly looked to favor the Yankees, but as we've learn through many Octobers, nothing is ever as clear as it seems.

Both pitchers struggled through their first frame, with Blanton giving up two runs and CC allowing one.

Derek Jeter led off the first for the Yankees with a single and Johnny Damon started what would be a big night for the Yankees left fielder with a double to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Mark Teixeira drove in the Yankees first run with a ground out to first. Ryan Howard made a very nice diving play and saved what could have been a disastorous inning for Blanton. After Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, his third HBP in two games, Jorge Posada drove in the Yanks second run with a sac fly.

The A-Rod hit by pitch was significant because it led to both teams being warned, pretty much taking the inside part of the plate away from CC Sabathia before he even threw a pitch.

Did it effect CC? I honestly couldn't tell, but it's never fair to warn a pitcher before he throws a pitch. I know this may sound crazy, but how about from now on when one pitcher does something that warrants a warning, while the other pitcher has done no wrong, only that team gets that warning. Maybe Bud Selig along with the MLB umpires cannot grasp that kind of logic, but to me it makes perfect sense.

Anyway...

CC got Jimmy Rollins to fly to right for the first out in the first, but then Shane Victorino and Chase Utley hit back-to-back doubles and the Phillies had cut the lead to one.

The score would remain 2-1 until the bottom of the 4th. Ryan Howard led off the inning with a single and then stole second. I guess you could say CC and Posada fell completely ignored him, but I can't really blame them for falling asleep on Howard. Did you think he was going to steal? After two outs, Pedro Feliz came through with a big two-out RBI single to tie the game. Howard, however, still has yet to touch home plate.

But as they have all season, the Yankees took a punch and then came back with one of their own. Nick Swisher started things off with the dreaded leadoff walk and Melky Cabrera followed with an infield single -- a play Utley probably should have turned into a force at second -- to put runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out. CC failed to get a bunt down and eventually struck out with runners still on 1st and 2nd. Jeter was next and came through with an RBI single just out of the reach of a diving Rollins to give the lead back to the Yanks. Damon then extended the Yankees lead to 4-2 with a bloop RBI single. All four runs were charged to Blanton, who would end up lasting six innings.

Then came the biggest moment of the game that nobody will be talking about; the bottom of the fifth. The Yankees had just regained the lead, but CC had to face the top of the Phillies order. Things started off bad as CC allowed a single to Rollins and walked Victorino to put the tying runs on base. To me the next three batters changed the game. CC was able to get Chase Utley, who owns him, and Howard to both pop out to the infield. He then struck out Jayson Werth to end the threat. This was a perfect time in the game for a pitcher to collapse, but CC did not. If he had we're talking about a tied series right now.

Utley would get some revenge, though, because in the bottom of the 7th, with the score still 4-2 Yankees, he launched his third home run of the series, a two out solo shot to cut the Yankees lead to just one. All three homers this series have come of Sabathia. That was the last batter CC faced. It was far from a dominating performance, but it turned out to be enough for the Yanks tonight.

Damaso Marte came in and continued his fantastic postseason by getting Howard to fly out to left to end the inning. He was nothing all year, but this October he's been this team's version of Graeme Lloyd in 1996.

After a scoreless eighth by Phillies' reliever Ryan Madson, Joba Chamberlain came into pitch the bottom half for the Yanks. He threw the ball very well, throwing strikes and hitting 97 mph on the radar gun, but with two-out he served up a game-tying solo homer to Pedro Feliz. It was a 3-2 count and Joba went to one too many fastballs. He also missed his spot by about a foot. Joba then struck out Carlos Ruiz to end the inning, but the damage had been done.

At this point I wasn't feeling pretty bad about this game, but like I mentioned before this team took a punch and came right back with one of their own.

Brad Lidge came into the game, and started off with two quick outs but then came an at-bat by Johnny Damon that may just lead to the Yankees 27th World Series championship. He took a fastball inside, ball one. Then fouled off three straight sliders and found himself behind in the count 1-2. Lidge then missed with two fastballs to run the count full at 3-2. Damon then fouled off two more tough fastballs and finally lined the ninth pitch of the at-bat into left-center for a single. To make the at-bat even more significant he took off on the first pitch to Teixeira and stole second. Then, when he realized that nobody was covering third due to the Teixeira shift, he took off and stole third.

Not only did this put the lead run 90 feet away, but it pretty much neutralized Lidge's best pitch, the slider in the dirt. He did throw four more sliders in the inning, but none of them had that put away movement that he had shown to the batters prior to Damon.

Lidge them made a crucial mistake and hit the struggling Mark Teixeira to bring A-Rod to the plate. After taking a first-pitch fastball for strike one, A-Rod was ready for the second and drilled it into the corner in left to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead with an RBI double. It was another huge hit for the Yankees third baseman, who continues to shut up the critics. After this October I don't think anyone will ever question whether Alex Rodriguez can perform on the big stage. After A-Rod heroics Jorge Posada stepped up and drove the nail in the coffin with a huge two-run single into left-center.

Mariano Rivera needed just eight pitches to breeze through the Phillies 9-1-2 hitters and give the Yankees a 3-1 stranglehold on the series. And yes, Jimmy Rollins once against popped out in the infield. I guess he's not as easy to hit as you thought, huh?

There was some bad news tonight, as Melky Cabrera strained his left hamstring. We all first noticed the injury on a groundout in the sixth inning, but as the MLB Network guys pointed out he may have actually injured himself scoring on Damon's single in the fifth. Either way I'd be surprised if he played at all the rest of the series. Hopefully Brett Gardner can do the job in his place.

The Yankees are now just one win away from glory. Following his brilliant start in game 1, A.J. Burnett will take the ball on short rest as the Yankees look to put the Phillies away. The Phils will counter with Cliff Lee, who was nearly unhittable in game 1. First pitch is set for 7:57 p.m. and always the game can be seen on FOX.

AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Jeter, SS 4 1 2 1 1 1 0 .412 Damon, LF 5 2 3 1 0 1 1 .294 Teixeira, 1B 4 1 0 1 0 1 4 .071 Rodriguez, A, 3B 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .143 Posada, C 3 0 1 3 1 2 0 .308 Cano, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .133 Swisher, RF 2 1 0 0 2 2 2 .222 Cabrera, Me, CF 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 .154 Gardner, CF 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 Sabathia, P 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .000 Marte, D, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Chamberlain, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-Matsui, H, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 Rivera, Ma, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 34 7 9 7 4 11 15 a-Popped out for Chamberlain in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Damon (2, Blanton), Rodriguez, A (1, Lidge). TB: Jeter 2; Damon 4; Rodriguez, A 2; Posada; Cano; Cabrera, Me. RBI: Teixeira (2), Posada 3 (5), Jeter (1), Damon (3), Rodriguez, A (3). 2-out RBI: Rodriguez, A; Posada 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cano; Rodriguez, A; Gardner. SF: Posada. Team RISP: 4-for-11. Team LOB: 7. BASERUNNING SB: Damon 2 (3, 2nd base off Lidge/Ruiz, 3rd base off Lidge/Ruiz). FIELDING E: Posada (1, missed catch). IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Sabathia 6.2 7 3 3 3 6 1 3.29 Marte, D (H, 1) 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Chamberlain (BS, 1)(W, 1-0) 1.0 1 1 1 0 3 1 4.50 Rivera, Ma (S, 2) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: Sabathia 107-67, Marte, D 4-3, Chamberlain 19-12, Rivera, Ma 8-6.

PHILLIES STATS

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Johnny Damon (3-for-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R, 2 SB)

HONORABLE MENTION: Jorge Posada (1-for-3, 3 RBI)

GAME 5

Yankees @ Phillies

Game Time: 7:57 p.m. | TV/Radio: FOX, WCBS

RHP A.J. Burnett (1-0, 3.55) vs. LHP Cliff Lee (3-0, 0.54)

11/1 Winter Ball Report

Here's the weekly recap of all the Winter League action from Big Guy.

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE

Ian Kennedy--RHP: Kennedy made his 4th AFL start Friday going 4 innings. He allowed 2 runs on 4 hits. Both runs scored in the 4th inning on a single, triple, and sac fly. He threw 69 pitches--43 strikes. He did not figure in the decision. Overall AFL totals: 4 starts, 4.11 ERA 15.1 IP, 7 ER, 8 hits, 17 K's--1 walk, BAA .230.

Zach Kroenke---LHRP: Kroenke had 2 rough relief appearances this week. Wednesday he gave up 2 runs on 3 hits in 1 inning. Saturday, 3 runs with a 2-run homer in 2 innings, with 4 K--0 walks, and a HBP. AFL totals: 6 Gms, 8.0 IP, 6 runs, 7 hits, 8 K-2 BB, BAA .226. In 09 Kroenke had an impressive season at AAA SWB going 7-1 with a 1.99 ERA out of the bullpen.

Mike Dunn--RHRP: Dunn made 2 appearances in relief this week. He gave up 1 run Wednesday in 1 IP, on a hit and 2 walks. Friday pitched well in 1.2 IP, but took the loss (0-2) when an error scored the winning run. He gave up 1 hit, 1 walk and had 3 strikeouts. AFL totals: 6 Gms 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 hits, 10 K-- 6 walks. Dunn, split time between AA Trenton and SWB going 4-3 with a 3.31 ERA. He had 99 strikeouts in 73 innings.

Grant Duff---LHRP, Duff pitched in 2 games this week. Monday he was perfect in 1 inning with a strikeout. Friday, not so good. He gave up 3 runs on 3 hits with 2 walks, without recording an out for a blown save. AFL totals: 6 Gms, 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 hits, 2 K--5 walks. Duff was 4-2 at AA Trenton in 09 with a 3.22 ERA.

Austin Romine--C: Romine played in only 1 game going 0-2. Romine was pulled from the AFL with a minor injury. The Yankees had the right to replace him, but chose not to. Romine's AFL totals: 4 games, .400 (6-15), no extra base hits, 2 rbi, 2 runs, 4 K--1 walk. Romine hit .276 with 13 homers, 72 rbi in 118 games for A Tampa in 09.

Brandon Laird--INF: Laird started off like a ball of fire the 1st week at the AFL being name Player of the Week, but has cooled off. He struggled this week going hitless in his last 4 games (0-13) and 1-15 on the week. AFL totals: .327 (16-49), 14 rbi, 3 HR, 3 doubles, 10 runs. In 2009 Laird hit.266, with 13 HR, 75 rbi at Tampa.

Colin Curtis--OF: Curtis played in 3 games this week going 5-14. AFL totals: .385 (15-39) 14 rbi, 2 HR, 9 runs, 3 doubles. Curtis split time in 2009 between Trenton and SWB. At SWB he hit .235 with 6 homers and 29 rbi in 70 games.

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE:

Jesus Montero--C-- Maganelles----Montero hasn't played since last Sunday going 0-1 (K). Overall in 8 games he hit just .130 (3-23) with no extra base hits. In 2009 he split time between A and AA hitting .356 at A Tampa, .317 at AA Trenton. In 92 games he had 70 rbi, 17 HR, 25 doubles before going on the DL with a finger injury.

Pat Venditte--Switch pitcher--Zulia--Venditte appeared in only 1 game this week, 1 IP, 2 ER, 2 hits (HR). VWL totals, 5 Gms, 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 hits (2 HR), 3 K--2 BB. Venditte split time between Charleston and Tampa in 09 going 4-2 with a 1.87 ERA. 67.1 IP, 14 ER, 61 hits, 87 K--11 walks.

Romulo Sanchez--RHP--Lara----Sanchez made 1 relief appearance going 2.1 IP, 1 ER, 1 hit, 2 walks--1 K. Sanchez finished the 09 season at AAA SWB in the rotation and had 2 very good games for them in the playoffs. 09 totals: 64.2 IP, 29 ER, 66 hits

Reegie Corona--INF--Maganelles--Corona's been used mostly as a pinch hitter-pinch runner, hitting .350 (7-20) with 2 doubles, 2 runs so far. This week he was in only 1 game and started going 1-4. In 09 he split time between Trenton (.287) and SWB (.200) , 69 runs, 40 rbi.

Josh Schmidt--RHP-- Zulia-- He was outstanding in his first 2 starts throwing 11 scoreless innings. His last 2 starts have not been good. This week in his only start he lasted only 2.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 hits. He came back in a relief appearance Saturday picking up a hold. He went 1.1 IP, 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts and 1 walk. VWL totals: 17.1 IP, 8 ER, 16 hits, 15 K--6 walks. Schmidt had a very good year in 09 at Trernton 8-4, 1.61 ERA. with 96 K--38 walks in 83.2 innings.

Edwar Gonzalez--OF--Lara-- Gonzalez went 5-15 this week with a 3 rbi game last Sunday including a 2-run homer. He had a 2 rbi game on Wednesday. VWL totals: 310, 6 rbi, 5 runs, 1 HR, 2 triples, 2 SB. In 2009 at Trenton, he hit .232 with 46 runs, 37 rbi, 26 doubles, 4 homers.

Marcos Veccionachhi--INF--Maganelles--Marcos went 2-6 in 2 games, (1 start) with a double this week. Overall in limited action he's hitting .400 (6-15), 2 doubles, 2 rbi, 2 runs. In 09 he hit .213 at AA Trenton with 43 rbi, 44 runs.

MEXICAN WINTER LEAGUE:

Humberto Sanchez---RHP--Obregon: Sanchez made 2 relief appearances, 2.0 IP, 2 runs, 2 hits, 2 BB. MWL totals 3 Gms, 3.0 IP, 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 K--3 BB. In 2009 at 3 minor league levels, he went 4-1, 3.53 ERA in 35.2 IP, 14 ER, 22 hits, 36 K--16 BB.

Walter Ibarra--INF--Hermosillo--Ibarra saw more action this week playing in 3 games. He went 2-7 with a rbi, stolen base and throwing error. MWL totals: .438 in limited action (7-16), 2 rbi, 1 run, double, stolen base. At A-Tampa in 2009 Ibarra hit .265, 38 runs, 16 rbi.

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE:

Ivan Nova---RHP---Escogido----Nova made his 2nd start of the VWL going 5 shutout innings, 3 hits with 1 strikeout. VWL totals: 3 Gms (2 starts) 11 IP, 0 runs, 7 hits, 6 strikeouts--1 walk. In 09 at AAA SWB the 22 year old finished strong with 2 very good games in the playoffs.

Wilkins Arias--Aguilas--RHP---Arias appeared in 2 games this week. He went 1.2 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 K-2 BB. DWL totals: 6 Gms, 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 hits, BAA .167 In 2009 at AA Trenton Arias went 5-4 with a 3.65 ERA. 61.2 IP, 53 hits, 25 runs, 66 K--22 walks.

Jonathan Ortiz--RHP--Licey: Ortiz pitched in 1 game this week, .1 IP, 0 R, 0 Hits, DWL totals; 4 Gms, 1.2 IP, 0 runs, 2 hits, 1 K--1 walk. He made 48 relief appearances in 09 at class A between Charleston and Tampa. .291 ERA. 55.2 IP, 22 runs, 56 hits, 76 strikeouts--10 BB

Jose Valdez--RHP--Licey: Valdez made 3 relief appearances this week. The 1st one was rough allowing 1 run on 4 hits in 1 inning. The last 2 he threw a scoreless inning in each. DWL totals: 6 Gms, 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 hits, 8 K--0 walks, BAA .143. His 2009 numbers; 43 Gms, 57.2 IP, 22 ER, 55 hits, 60 K--33 walks.

Abraham Almonte--OF--Escogido--Used sparingly so far, he did make 1 start this week going 0-3 with 2 strikeouts and a stolen base. In 09 he hit .280 at A-Charleston with 56 rbi, 123 runs, 36 stolen bases, 5 HR.

Also on Domincan rosters, but not seeing action as of yet:

Toros del Este: Eduardo Nunez, Josue Calzado

Tigres del Licey: Juan Miranda, Jairo Heredia, Hector Noesi

Gigantes del Cibao: Gabriel Tatis

Estrellas de Oriente: Noel Castillo, Wady Rufino