Steve and the Tank! - The Rocket's Last Stand?

The Rocket's Last Stand?

I went to a familiar place, Yankee Stadium, but sat in an unfamiliar spot, the right field loge. This is one of the few corners of the Stadium I have never sat in before. I miss my Bleacher Creature brethren and my seats which have a better view. Plus, I have a blind spot of the right field porch below me.

Coming into the game, I liked the Yankees chances. Of course, the Yankees should have won on Friday to get the split in Cleveland. However, it didn't go our way.  Before global warming the Indians used to be known as June Bugs, now they are known the October Bugs.

I liked the Yankees chances because of the pitching matchups.  Westbrook has a 12 ERA against the Yankees this season and the Yankees have Rocket with Hughes, Mussina, and a cast of many from the bullpen. If there is a Game 4, I like Wang over Byrd. That would setup Pettitte versus Sabbathia in Game 5. I'll roll the dice with anyone on that one.

Infield single by Cabrera scored the first Indians run. The Yankees went down in order so the Indians lead 1-0 at the end of the first inning.

I knew the Indians are going to bunt because of Roger's tender hamstring. Lofton was hitting .714 going into this at bat. I wish he could have done it when he was on the Yankees. Lofton pops out to Jeter.

According to the radio broadcasters, Nixon hadn't hit a home run in ages (July 7 against Toronto to be exact) then of course turns around and hits a home run to right field. The Indians lead 2-0.

Sizemore singles to right and then steals second. Cabrera flies out to Melky Cabrera. The Indians lead 2-0 after an inning and a half.

As I am showing my fellow fans A-Rod's photo with me, he hits to left.  Posada grounds out into a ground play. Giambi grounds out to shallow right field. Darn it!

As the Indians come to bat in the third, Philip Hughes is warming up in the bullpen. Gene Monahan the Trainer, Joe Torre, Ron Guidry, and the team gather at home plate after Roger throws a few pitches. Roger convinces them that he'll be okay, touch wood. Hafner gets on with a walk. Clemens' good intentions and assurances don't work out as his left hamstring is injured and he comes out of the game to thunderous applause. Is this the Rocket's last stand?

Hughes takes his time to warm up. Hafner advances to second on Hughes' wild pitch. Peralta doubles to right field and Hafner scores from second. Lofton flies out to left.

On one good leg, Matsui hustles out an infield single. Cano works a full count but grounds out to first. Since Matsui was running on the pitch, he avoids the double play. Cabrera hits the ball in front of home plate. Martinez threw to third but Matsui hustled to third. Safe! Boo yeah! Damon works a 3-1 count and singles to right. Matsui scores and Cabrera thinks twice about going to third. Yeah!

The Captain comes to the plate with one out. He is only hitting .111 and hits into his second straight double play. At the end of three, Indians 3 - Yankees 1.

Can the Yankees bullpen hold the Indians here to get back in the game?

Hughes gets Nixon to strike out. Blake flies out to Cabrera. On a full count, Sizemore strikes out. Boo yeah!

In between innings, Disco Stu and friends are up to their dancing ways.  The cameraman should have focused more on the brunette with a red top and sun glasses instead of Disco Stu IMHO.

Abreu grounded out to Westbrook. A-Rod comes to nervous cheers. He flies out to shallow left on the first pitch. You have to take pitches.  Does anyone listen to me? Many people blame A-Rod but Posada is 0 for the ALDS coming into this at bat. A fan to my right starts the "Hip Hip Jorge!" chant. Posada grounds out to second to end the fourth.  Indians 3 - Yankees 1.

Hafner hits a grounder past Cano. It was rightly scored an error.  Martinez flies out to Cabrera. Garko is struck out on three straight pitches.

A "Bug Off Tribe Go Yankees" sign is shown on the Jumbotron in between innings. Well said! I get a family photo of similar sentiments after the game.

Giambino needs to hit a pool shot down the third baseline. He doesn't and strikes out. Darn it! Matsui hits a hard single to left. What a true professional! Cano needs to hit it the opposite way. He doubles to left. Boo yeah! Someone finally listens to me. Thank God! Cabrera comes to the plate while a deafening "Let's Go Yankees!" chant surrounds the Stadium. The Melk Man delivers and listens to me with a left field single. Matsui scores to close the game to 3-2. The Indians bullpen starts warming up with double barrelled action. During a meeting at the mound, the Beastie Boys "Fight for your right (to Party)" echoes throughout the Stadium. Damon listens to me and takes the third pitch to right field. Yankees 5 - Indians 3. Woooo! What a home run but my obstructed view from my new seats dampens the effect. Nina from work and San Diego Rich e-mail me on my office and personal Blackberries. I give double barrelled (Blackberry) action a whole new menaing. Jeter flies out to center for the second out. Abreu flies out deep show. At the end of five,
Yankees 5 - Indians 3.

In between innings, Yankees fans give Johnny Damon another curtain call as he goes out to left field.

In the top of the sixth, Peralta grounds past Jeter to left. Lofton comes to the plate while the bullpen starts up. A beautiful brunette in front of me, Troi, asks where Lofton played before. I tell her that he played for several teams including the Indians in the mid 1990s. As I promised to her, Lofton's stats and teams are here. (Don't get too excited for me folks, she's taken. Aren't they all?). Nixon works a full count and thankfully flies out to Damon. Blake flies out to Abreu. Boo yeah!

As A-Rod comes to the plate, I tell my fellow fans that I have a good feeling. That's all I have to say. After a broken bat on 1-2, A-Rod hits an infield single to short. Yessss!

The Indians go to their bullpen to turn Posada to the right side. Posada hits a single to left. Mientkiewicz comes into bunt for Giambi sent via Western Union and the Indians couldn't intercept it.

A-Rod advances to third and Posada to second. Matsui is intentionally walked to try to force the double play. The Ducks are on the pond indeed as the screen flashes across the way. Cano hits a shot to right field.  It gets past Nixon in right and Cano advances to third. Yankees 8 - Indians 3. As my fellow Bleacher Creatures derisively cheer for Trot Nixon, I wait for the cheers to die down and I tell Trot that he is my favorite opposing right fielder.  Cabrera grounds out. Damon strikes out to end the sixth inning.  Yankees 8 - Indians 3.

I totally disagree with pitching Joba in the seventh inning with a large lead. Save him for the eighth or preferably tomorrow. If the "Joba Rules" are to pitch him and then give him a day off, will he be available for tomorrow?

Joba says his prayers at the mound and I do in the stands. Joba's first pitch is a 98 mile per hour fastball. Sizemore strikes out swinging on a slider. Cabrera strikes out on three straight pitches. Hafner works a full count while the crowd chants "Joba! Joba!". Hafner steps out of the box but pops out to Abreu.

Roland Tynan does a great job of singing "God Bless America!" Indeed and well done.

Jeter comes to the plate hitting a very unJeterian .091. Jeter strikes out but at least works a full count. Abreu strikes out. A-Rod comes to the plate hitting .222 and the crowd chants MVP but A-Rod strikes out to end the seventh. Yankees 8 - Indians 3.

Why is Joba pitching the eighth with a five run lead? With a one or two run lead, yeah, but this doesn't make sense. It's overkill. Save him for tomorrow and bring in Vizcaino or even Farnsworth. If they get in trouble, bring in Mariano. Even on a pitch count, 16 pitches in an inning is pushing it. Martinez singles to right field past Cano. Garko grounds out into a 6-4-3 double play. On Joba's 29th pitch, Peralta walks on a full count. Lofton singles to left. Nixon doubles in Martinez and Lofton holds at third. Yankees 8 - Indians 4. Gutierrez pinch runs for Nixon. Blake gets a 2-0 count and the crowd chants "Joba!". He throws a strike and then lines out to Abreu. At the end of seven and a
half, Yankees 8 - Indians 4.

I still don't like Joba pitching two innings and 38 pitches. If he pitches Monday, how effective will he be?

Posada leads off the eighth and walks. Mientkiewicz flies out to center. Matsui walks. Cano hears thunderous applause as he comes to the plate. Cano flies out to center. Cabrera flies out to Lofton in left center.

"Enter Sandman!". Mariano come in to pitch to the top of the Indians order. Sizemore pops up to Damon. Cabrera strikes out. Chop broccoli! Hafner strikes out. Ballgame over, the Yankeeeesss win!

Bottom Line: Awesome win! Don't worry about the George's nonsensical about Joe Torre's job. As I said and wrote long ago, this is Joe Torre's last season with the Yankees -- win, lose, or draw. He isn't signed next season and I wouldn't sign for next season if I were Joe. Spend some time with his young daughter and do broadcasting. He is always invited to Studio 86 to podcast with Steve and The Tank. It's not worth the stress of dealing with the Boss anymore.

I like the matchup in Game 4 -- Wang versus Byrd and I'll roll the dice in Game 5 with Pettitte versus Sabbathia. Remember, Jeter is 1 for the ALDS. He is due to break out as are others. Keep the Faith! Go Yankees!

Posted by the Tank reporting Live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.

Live! | MLB | Playoffs | Yankees Analysis (MLB)

Monday, October 08, 2007 1:37:56 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Comments [0] |