Angels Turn Tide on Yankees.

October 19, 2009
The Monday Morning Quarterback

In a game that the New York Yankees and starter Andy Pettitte were coasting through,  Vladimir Guerrero's 6th inning solo Home Run brought the Angels back to life and eventually lead them to their first win of the ALCS, narrowing New York's ALCS lead to 2-1.  Pettitte was great, as usual, but New York's bullpen couldn't hold the tie and Los Angeles went into the 8th with a 4-3 lead.  Jorge Posada knocked a home run over the head of center fielder Torii Hunter and for the second straight game we were headed for extra innings.  This is a situation where, as a Yankee fan, you have to feel good.  This team has been coming from behind late in games all season, with 50 walk off wins which lead the majors.  But the Angels are a good team, too and it was obvious that they were more comfortable playing 3,000 miles away from the cold, rainy Bronx.  The Angels looked like they were destined for victory putting runners on the corners with no outs in the 10th. However, a ground ball to first and a great play by Mark Teixeira gave the Yankees the first out of the inning.  After an intentional walk to Bobby Abreu, which loaded the bases, New York closer Mariano Rivera retired the next two hitters to preserve the tie.  After going quickly in the top of the 11th, Joe Girardi brought reliever Alfredo Aceves in to pitch.  Aceves has been great all year, so I have no complaints there. However, this is not the situation that Aceves has thrived in all season.  He was a guy who could give you four innings if the starter let you down.  Bringing him in at the back end just didn't feel right.  Unfortunately, the Yankees had little choice as a defensive substitution cost them the designated hitter spot in their lineup and the pitcher was now slated to hit second.  Howie Kendrick doubled with two out and Jeff Mathis came up to drive him in with the winning run and seal the Yankees' first loss of the 09 postseason.  This has been a great series thus far With two extra inning games and the American League's two top teams grinding it out, it has certainly has lived up to the hype.  Like I said before, you are kidding yourself if you think the Yankees are going to sweep.  The Angels are a great team and they're going to win some games.  The bottom line is the Yankees are still better, and if they play their game, they'll come out on top.

Now for the bad.  Joe Girardi used up all but one of his available pitchers for the second straight game.  This is the American League!  There is no need to go through pitchers like that when they don't have to bat.  Joe Torre had a reputation for pulling his pitchers too early, but Joe Girardi takes the cake.  This hasn't been a cause for concern, yet, but I don't want to see all the pitchers too worn down to pitch in the World Series, especially in a National League park.  All that said, I expect the Yankees to bounce right back.  Like I said, they are the better team top to bottom.  A-Rod and Jeter continued their hot hitting as each hit a home run in game 3.  Tonight was a game the Yankees should have won, and if it was a home game, I can say with almost certainty, that they would have.  The fact that the Angels got the last at bat was the biggest factor in the Angels win.  I am sure that at Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers would have come right back to at least tie the game in the bottom of the 11th.  We lost to a great team today, and that's going to happen.  Now we look ahead to game 4 tomorrow.


C.C. Sabathia pitches on three days rest, and I don't expect that to be a factor at all.  C.C. is a gamer and he lives to pitch the big games.  He is no stranger to short rest as he pitched the last month of the 08 season without a breather and he was lights out.  Angels starter Scott Kazmir has not pitched since the A.L. Division series.  Yankees' Chad Gaudin is the only player on New York's roster who hasn't made an appearance.  Girardi was hesitant to use him with the uncertainty of the schedule and the possibility of needing Gaudin to start.  The Yankees rotation is now in place and Gaudin will not be needed to start, so if Sabathia runs into any trouble on short rest, they have an arm in the pen ready to go.  This will be a pivotal game in the series as the Angels are attempting to tie this thing and put the pressure back on the Yankees.  New York is looking to take a commanding series lead, and all but seal up their 40th trip to the fall classic.  Prediction:  Yanks win 3-2 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead heading into game 5.  More to come tomorrow...