Posted by: Patrick
Though MLB hasn't posted the times yet, Marc Carig reports that games 1 and 2 of the ALCS will start at 7:37 PM ET on both Friday and Saturday. They'll be broadcast on FOX.
Via Ben Kabak.
Via Ben Kabak.
10/12: Oh Captain, My Captain
Posted by: Patrick
Alex Belth at Bronx Banter has a great piece on Derek Jeter and the joy in which he plays the game. Check it out.
Posted by: Seamus
Carl Pavano and the Twins came into the night needing a win in order to extend the life of the Hubert H. Metrodome (at least as far as baseball is concerned) for one more day, but they ultimately failed as it was the Yankees who were triumphant in this one. The Yankees defeated the Twins 4–1 to cap off a 3–0 series sweep and advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2004.
The first half of this game was very tight, as Andy Pettitte and Carl Pavano were pretty much matching each other pitch for pitch through the first six innings or so. There was not even a baserunner until Melky Cabrera reached on an infield single in the third, and the Twins didn't put a man on until Michael Cuddyer led off the bottom of the fifth with a single.
The Twins were finally able to jump out ahead in the bottom of the sixth after Joe Mauer brought home Denard Span with an RBI single. With the way Pavano was pitching (yeah I know, that was weird to type), it looked like the Twins might hold on and force a Game 4 Monday evening.
It was all for naught though for the Twinkies as Alex Rodriguez tied the game for the second straight game with a home run that tied the game in the following inning. Two batters later, Jorge Posada put one out the other way to give the Yankees a 2–1 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
What was probably the defining moment of the game came in the eighth inning with the Yankees still leading 2–1. With nobody out and Nick Punto representing the tying run at second for the Twins, Denard Span hit a grounder that was scooped up by Derek Jeter deep behind second base. Punto, probably thinking that the ball had gotten through, broke for home and was caught up when Jeter picked up the ball and threw home to Posada. Punto was unable to retreat and time and a throw from Posada to A-Rod at third was in time to record the first out in the inning. The Twins would go scoreless in the inning and the Yankees would tack on two more runs in the ninth to put the game and the series in the bag.
Mariano Rivera entered the game with two outs in the eighth and finished the game out for a four-out save.
So here we are, just four victories away from a trip to the World Series for the first time in six years. The Yankees will have a date with the Angels, who finished off the Red Sox earlier in the afternoon, in the ALCS beginning on Friday at a time still yet to be determined.
3 down, 8 to go.
The first half of this game was very tight, as Andy Pettitte and Carl Pavano were pretty much matching each other pitch for pitch through the first six innings or so. There was not even a baserunner until Melky Cabrera reached on an infield single in the third, and the Twins didn't put a man on until Michael Cuddyer led off the bottom of the fifth with a single.
The Twins were finally able to jump out ahead in the bottom of the sixth after Joe Mauer brought home Denard Span with an RBI single. With the way Pavano was pitching (yeah I know, that was weird to type), it looked like the Twins might hold on and force a Game 4 Monday evening.
It was all for naught though for the Twinkies as Alex Rodriguez tied the game for the second straight game with a home run that tied the game in the following inning. Two batters later, Jorge Posada put one out the other way to give the Yankees a 2–1 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
What was probably the defining moment of the game came in the eighth inning with the Yankees still leading 2–1. With nobody out and Nick Punto representing the tying run at second for the Twins, Denard Span hit a grounder that was scooped up by Derek Jeter deep behind second base. Punto, probably thinking that the ball had gotten through, broke for home and was caught up when Jeter picked up the ball and threw home to Posada. Punto was unable to retreat and time and a throw from Posada to A-Rod at third was in time to record the first out in the inning. The Twins would go scoreless in the inning and the Yankees would tack on two more runs in the ninth to put the game and the series in the bag.
Mariano Rivera entered the game with two outs in the eighth and finished the game out for a four-out save.
So here we are, just four victories away from a trip to the World Series for the first time in six years. The Yankees will have a date with the Angels, who finished off the Red Sox earlier in the afternoon, in the ALCS beginning on Friday at a time still yet to be determined.
3 down, 8 to go.
Posted by: Patrick
Chad Jennings reports that the Twins have placed third baseman Matt Tolbert on the DL with a pulled oblique. He hit .235 with a .360 OBA (no typos there) in 164 plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Twins catcher Joe Mauer isn't "feeling too well," according to Jack Curry of the Times. He's not specifying what is wrong, but he is hurting.
Meanwhile, Twins catcher Joe Mauer isn't "feeling too well," according to Jack Curry of the Times. He's not specifying what is wrong, but he is hurting.
Posted by: Patrick
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News reports that the YES Network was the most watched regional sports network in the first three quarters of 2009, according to Nielsen.
They averaged 101,000 households in prime time, topping Red Sox network NESN by 7,000. Over the course of a day, YES averaged 36,000, which also beat NESN by 9,000. That's not all, though. In the New York DMA (designated market area), they also beat ESPN by 26,000.
Via Ben Kabak.
They averaged 101,000 households in prime time, topping Red Sox network NESN by 7,000. Over the course of a day, YES averaged 36,000, which also beat NESN by 9,000. That's not all, though. In the New York DMA (designated market area), they also beat ESPN by 26,000.
Via Ben Kabak.
Posted by: Patrick
John Branch of The New York Times has an interesting story on a recent discovery made by a man in New Hampshire. While looking through his grandfather's film collection, he found a 90 second clip taken from the stands at Yankee Stadium. The clip featured Babe Ruth.
It was later determined, by MLB's video archivists, to be from 1928. They are still nailing down the exact date that the video was taken. The article also talks about baseball's film library; definitely worth reading.
Via Alex Belth.
It was later determined, by MLB's video archivists, to be from 1928. They are still nailing down the exact date that the video was taken. The article also talks about baseball's film library; definitely worth reading.
Via Alex Belth.
Posted by: Patrick
At the start of September, Alex Rodriguez and Marc Philippon, the doctor who performed surgery on his hip earlier this season, both indicated that there was a chance that the third baseman may not need further surgery, as originally planned.
The latest piece of info comes from the Twitter account of FanHouse.com writer Ed Price. "I need a little more tests but so far I don't think he will need [further] surgery," Philippon is quoted as saying.
Via Mike Axisa.
The latest piece of info comes from the Twitter account of FanHouse.com writer Ed Price. "I need a little more tests but so far I don't think he will need [further] surgery," Philippon is quoted as saying.
Via Mike Axisa.
Posted by: Patrick
In his first ever postseason appearance, A.J. Burnett delivered. It wasn't pretty - but he held the Twins to 1 run on 3 hits and 5 walks over 6 innings.
Nick Blackburn of the Twins matched Burnett over 5.2 innings. A-Rod providing the lone run against the righty in the fourth inning, with an RBI single that scored Derek Jeter to tie the game at 1.
The Twins went ahead by 2 runs in the eighth, when Phil Coke went from 2 outs and no runners on to walk, single and RBI single. Mariano Rivera was then called upon and he allowed an RBI single before striking out Orlando Cabrera to end the threat. Mo came back out for the ninth and had less trouble, striking out 2 and allowing a single.
So, the team was down by 2 heading to the bottom of the 9th. Mark Teixeira led off with a single and A-Rod delivered with a huge home run to tie the game at 3. Unfortunately, Hideki Matsui, Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano went down in order after that.
The teams exchanged zeros in the tenth with Alfredo Aceves throwing a nice inning. The Yankees threatened to score, after a one out Jorge Posada single. Brett Gardner was submitted as a pinch runner and stole second. On a pick-off attempt, Joe Nathan threw the ball into center field and Gardner made it to third, even if it was way too close and scary for my liking. They then walked Jeter to put runners on the corners and set up the double play with Johnny Damon due up. Damon hit a dud of a line drive, but Gardner broke on contact and was easily doubled off.
Nick Blackburn of the Twins matched Burnett over 5.2 innings. A-Rod providing the lone run against the righty in the fourth inning, with an RBI single that scored Derek Jeter to tie the game at 1.
The Twins went ahead by 2 runs in the eighth, when Phil Coke went from 2 outs and no runners on to walk, single and RBI single. Mariano Rivera was then called upon and he allowed an RBI single before striking out Orlando Cabrera to end the threat. Mo came back out for the ninth and had less trouble, striking out 2 and allowing a single.
So, the team was down by 2 heading to the bottom of the 9th. Mark Teixeira led off with a single and A-Rod delivered with a huge home run to tie the game at 3. Unfortunately, Hideki Matsui, Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano went down in order after that.
The teams exchanged zeros in the tenth with Alfredo Aceves throwing a nice inning. The Yankees threatened to score, after a one out Jorge Posada single. Brett Gardner was submitted as a pinch runner and stole second. On a pick-off attempt, Joe Nathan threw the ball into center field and Gardner made it to third, even if it was way too close and scary for my liking. They then walked Jeter to put runners on the corners and set up the double play with Johnny Damon due up. Damon hit a dud of a line drive, but Gardner broke on contact and was easily doubled off.
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees opened up their 2009 postseason run on the right foot, defeating the Twins 7–2 in the first postseason game ever at the new Yankee Stadium. The victory came exactly two years to the day after their last postseason win, which was on October 7, 2007 (recap) against the Cleveland Indians.
The game was scoreless until CC Sabathia ran into a little bit of trouble in the third. After back-to-back two out hits by Orlando Cabrera and Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer brought Cabrera in with a single to right. Sabathia then ran into a little misfortune, as Jorge Posada was unable to handle a high pitch from the big man, allowing Mauer to score as the ball bounced out of Posada's glove and got away. The Twins led 2–0 after two and a half.
The Yankees tied the game up in the bottom of the third after Derek Jeter followed up a Melky Cabrera infield single with a two-run homer to left. They would jump ahead in the fourth when Nick Swisher brought Robinson Cano home with an RBI double.
The game was somewhat blown open with a 3-run Yankee fifth inning. Alex Rodriguez brought in Derek Jeter from second with one out, grabbing his first hit with a runner on base in his last 30 postseason attempts. Hideki Matsui would make it 6–2 Yankees after he blasted a long home run over the center field wall.
Alex Rodriguez put the icing on the cake with an RBI single in the seventh, making it 7–2 Yankees which would prove to be the final score of the game. Despite all of A-Rod's postseason woes, Alex is actually 10-for-21 (.476) in his career against the Twins in the postseason, with all 21 of those AB's coming as a Yankee.
Overall, CC Sabathia's performance was respectable, as he allowed just two runs across and didn't walk anybody in 6 and 2/3 innings. He was lifted for Phil Hughes with two outs in the seventh, and he ended the inning by striking out Orlando Cabrera. Hughes, Phil Coke and Joba Chamberlain all combined for a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Mariano Rivera ended the game with a scoreless ninth.
The Yankees, as well as a very fatigued Twins team will get the night off but will be back in the Bronx for Game 2 on Friday. A.J. Burnett will get the call for the Yanks and he'll be facing the Twins' Nick Blackburn. The game will begin at 6:07 ET.
The game was scoreless until CC Sabathia ran into a little bit of trouble in the third. After back-to-back two out hits by Orlando Cabrera and Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer brought Cabrera in with a single to right. Sabathia then ran into a little misfortune, as Jorge Posada was unable to handle a high pitch from the big man, allowing Mauer to score as the ball bounced out of Posada's glove and got away. The Twins led 2–0 after two and a half.
The Yankees tied the game up in the bottom of the third after Derek Jeter followed up a Melky Cabrera infield single with a two-run homer to left. They would jump ahead in the fourth when Nick Swisher brought Robinson Cano home with an RBI double.
The game was somewhat blown open with a 3-run Yankee fifth inning. Alex Rodriguez brought in Derek Jeter from second with one out, grabbing his first hit with a runner on base in his last 30 postseason attempts. Hideki Matsui would make it 6–2 Yankees after he blasted a long home run over the center field wall.
Alex Rodriguez put the icing on the cake with an RBI single in the seventh, making it 7–2 Yankees which would prove to be the final score of the game. Despite all of A-Rod's postseason woes, Alex is actually 10-for-21 (.476) in his career against the Twins in the postseason, with all 21 of those AB's coming as a Yankee.
Overall, CC Sabathia's performance was respectable, as he allowed just two runs across and didn't walk anybody in 6 and 2/3 innings. He was lifted for Phil Hughes with two outs in the seventh, and he ended the inning by striking out Orlando Cabrera. Hughes, Phil Coke and Joba Chamberlain all combined for a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Mariano Rivera ended the game with a scoreless ninth.
The Yankees, as well as a very fatigued Twins team will get the night off but will be back in the Bronx for Game 2 on Friday. A.J. Burnett will get the call for the Yanks and he'll be facing the Twins' Nick Blackburn. The game will begin at 6:07 ET.
Posted by: Patrick
Mark Feinsand has the official Yankees ALDS roster. Here it is:
Catchers: Francisco Cervelli, Jose Molina and Jorge Posada.
Infielders: Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira.
Outfielders: Melky Cabrera, Johnny Damon, Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher.
Designated hitter: Hideki Matsui.
Utility: Jerry Hairston and Eric Hinske.
Starting pitchers: A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia.
Bullpen: Alfredo Aceves, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Coke, Chad Gaudin, Phil Hughes, Damaso Marte, Mariano Rivera and Dave Robertson.
Catchers: Francisco Cervelli, Jose Molina and Jorge Posada.
Infielders: Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira.
Outfielders: Melky Cabrera, Johnny Damon, Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher.
Designated hitter: Hideki Matsui.
Utility: Jerry Hairston and Eric Hinske.
Starting pitchers: A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia.
Bullpen: Alfredo Aceves, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Coke, Chad Gaudin, Phil Hughes, Damaso Marte, Mariano Rivera and Dave Robertson.
