the beginning of the end
If you read my ALCS picks, you’ll see I had the Yankees winning in 6 games, but I’m probably wrong, and Michael Kay is probably right – Yankees in 5 games. But after last night’s late inning collapse by the Rangers, it’s almost difficult to expect them to win any games at all.
I mean, what else do the Rangers need to go right for them to win a ball game? CC Sabathia was terrible (again), CJ Wilson pitched a great game and they had a 4 run lead to start the eight inning. Then it all came undone, starting with an infield single by Brett Gardner, during which he slide into first base. I still have no idea why guys do this – again, to invoke Michael Kay, if sliding was faster, then Olympic sprinters would slide over the finish line, right? I guess it did make him more difficult for C.J. Wilson to tag, and it turned out to be the start to a great rally for the Yankees.
Following Wilson was a parade of relief pitchers who just couldn’t get anybody out. This isn’t all that shocking to me – although the Rangers have a zillion relievers that throw 95 MPH, none of them seem to be that great. Darren Oliver, Darren O’Day, Clay Rapada and Derek Holland all combined to stink up the joint - not that they got clobbered, but the Rangers needed these guys to come in and restore order against the Yankees best hitters, and the blew it in spectacular fashion, with walks and singles for anybody who wanted one. Holland was able to stay on after he gave up a run and he did keep Robinson Cano from scoring, but that’s all the praise one can heep on him.
And speaking of Robinson Cano, I think he gets our ‘keep hope alive’ award for the lazer beam home run off Wilson in the 7th, which was the first home run Wilson has allowed to a left handed batter since June of 2008! That’s some streak, and a fantastic way to end it. Derek Jeter doubled Gardner in, then Swisher walked, Alex Rodriguez singled in a pair, then it was Cano time again for another RBI and Marcus Thames singled in the winning run.
But without Joba Chamberlain and especially Dustin Moseley giving the Yankees a chance after Sabathia’s bad start, this never would have happened. The bone head award of the day goes to Ian Kinsler for getting picked off by Kerry Wood after he walked him on 4 pitches. He didn’t even move as Wood fired the ball to Mark Teixeira, he didn’t even try to dive back to first, he just conceded to a run down. Was Wood’s move that good? It sure was fast, but Kinsler can’t allow himself to be put in that situation. Suddenly, Wood had things going his way after a tough start. The Rangers might have thought they had a chance against Mariano Rivera since they got to him in August, but honestly, that was Mo being crappy, not the Rangers being great. Mo got it done, and there it is – an improbable Yankees win. But that’s what great teams do – beat inferior teams.
