Written by William Gerena Rochet
Sunday, 10 October 2010
If there had been a master plan for the Yankees 2010 post season it would have been to play as a Wild Card team the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS, instead of the tougher Texas Rangers with nemesis Mr. Lee (and possibly and overall tougher rotation). In this way the New York Yankees as in times of war and peace, and the country has engaged in the former quite a bit since WWII, known as the Bronx Bombers, would face a team they have bounced around that last few years.
And in this way the Yankees would find out if Andy Pettitte would be his dandy self after his tune up starts after returning from the DL and yes indeed, by allowing only 2 runs on 5 hits in 7 innings; the Yankees won 5-2 on October 7th, and incidentally that date marks the US in the Afghanistan War’s 10th year.
Prior to the start of the series the Yankees had beaten the Twins 6 consecutive times in post seasonplay – coming from behind each time and later in this series making that 8 times ( the longest streak of come from behind postseason wins by one same team against the same opponent in major-league history). With the 3rd game win, it was the first of the series the Yankees were not behind.
Oh, where have you gone Joe Mauer, the Twin Cities are looking up to you.
With Pettitte’s performance the Yankees had figured out at least that they had a one-two punch with ace C.C. Sabathia as the series opening pitcher. It turned out he was not sharp after a long rest, but the team rallied to win 6-4. At the most, the Yankees would rather like to have a trio as they did last year with Sabathia, Pettitte and Burnett and they found him. Phil Hughes.
If necessity is the mother of invention, then the Yankees did need to re-invent themselves after a dismal September – unless this was part of the ‘master plan’ mentioned above – something Joe Girardi after the game refuted. “There was a lot of misunderstanding…. We were trying to win our division. I mean, we wanted home field advantage. We love playing here.” He also pointed out how difficult it was playing hurt players, “I asked him every day, Swish (Nick Swisher) can you play today? Swish got tired of me asking,” he added.
Gone AWOL was A.J. Burnett from last year’s trio (a schedule driven luxury gave skipper Joe Giraldi’s the option of going with a 3-man 2009 post season rotation). It would have to be up to Phil Hughes to step up to the, ah, mound to replace Burnett. And with a different schedule beginning with the next round and the Fall Classic most likely requiring a fourth starter, for the Latino sports minded, Javier Vázquez won’t figure in the ALCS (and WS) roster. In consolation to the powers that be, between Javi (10-10) and A.J. (10-15), they were a combined 20 game winner (20- 25 – ouch!)
Tampa Rays get past Texas 6-3 avoiding a sweep.
With one of our war Presidents watching, the Texas Ranger did not sweep the 0-2 Tampa Rays – getting a quality start from RHP Matt Garza (15-10) who pitched 6 innings allowing 2 runs (one earned). With Texas starter Colby Lewis (12-13) going 5 innings (no runs on only 2 hits) neither starter figured in the decision.
Two Latino-Cubans figured in Phillies – Reds Game 2 of NLDS
Two Latinos – to be exact, two Cuban exiles figured in the Philadelphia Phillies-Cincinnati Reds game 2 of the NLDS game outcome. The winning pitcher for the Phillies was ex-Yankees Jose Contreras and the losing pitcher for Cincinnati was Aroldis Chapman. Both entered the game in relief.
Latinos on the field
Who makes someone a Latino? Is it someone from Latin America; someone born of parents who migrated to the US? Someone with a percentage of Latino Blood? Or, as Puerto Rican singer Jose Feliciano sings, in ‘That Puerto Rican Feeling,’ meaning – someone who “feels,” or embraces his heritage of Latinoness.. Anyway, readers can write a response to this if they like. At any rate, the Yankees starting lineup had 3 Latinos: Alex Rodriquez, Robinson Cano, and Jorge Posada. And of course, one Mo time.
The Twins lineup had a young player named Danny Valencia and given he is from Miami, he may be of Cuban heritage. In the 7th, Venezuelan Jose Mijares entered the game and pitched 2/3 innings.
Phil Hughes: a huge success
Phil Hughes, a piece of the puzzle in place: he pitched brilliantly going 7 innings, no runs on 4 hits, with 6 strike-outs and only one base on balls. The trio is in place, lead singer C.C. Sabathia, second voice, Andy Pettitte and third voice, Phil Hughes; auditions for a quartet for a series coming to a stadium near you start soon. Joe Girardi indicated the roster would be announced Wednesday, October 13th.
Knock on Wood
Since coming to the Yankees on July 31st Kerry Wood had allowed just 2 earned runs in 26.0 inning pitched, but today in 1/3 of an inning in the top of the 8th he left the bases loaded given up 3 hits, allowing 1 run and 1 walk. The Yankees got out of the inning with Boone Logan and Dave Robertson getting one out each without allowing another run to score.
Mo pitched a one, two, three 9th inning. Game over. Yankees sweep the Minnesota Twins winning 6-1. The hunt for October/November is under way.
Second publishing 8:45 A.M. 10/10/2010
Photo By Bill Menzel
New York Yankees (3-0) 6, Minnesota Twins (0-3) 1
October 9, 2010
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