Tagged: Joe Girardi
Red Hot Cano
CC Chased by Utley
Game 1 of 2009 World Series was, without a doubt, a history both for the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Chase Utley was walked in the first inning and in the third inning
after eight pitches from CC Sabathia, the second baseman of the
Phillies hit a solo home run to right field. Three innings later, Utley
hit another solo homer in the right field.
It was the first home run, then first two consecutive home runs, that
CC Sabathia gave up on a leftie in the Yankee Stadium. Utley’s third
inning homer was also the first one in the Bronx on a post-season game.
The Yankees lost Game 1 of the World Series, 1-6 against the Phillies.
It was their first post-season lost in the Yankee Stadium.
Game 4 of the Fall Classic would be CC’s chance to take command in the
mound and be the “CC” he used to be during the regular season, and
during the ALCS.
The tension in the field, as well as among the fans, was apparent as
Chase Utley stepped into the batter’s box in Citizens Bank Park. With
two balls and no strike, Utley drilled a double sending off Shane
Victorino to the home plate for the Phillies’ first run.
The next two at-bats of Chase Utley were not productive. He popped out
to second baseman Robinson Cano in the third inning and to shortstop
Derek Jeter in the fifth inning.
The seventh inning was the pay-off at-bat. On two strikes, Chase Utley
hit another long shot to the right field from the same pitcher, CC
Sabathia.
As Utley returned to the Phillies dugout, so did Sabathia to the
Yankees dugout. He would not return to the mound. Joe Girardi had Joba
Chamberlain relieve for CC.
With 6.2 innings pitched, the 6’7″ Yankee allowed 7 hits, walked 3 but struckout 6, and earned 3 runs. He has an ERA of 3.29.
The Yankees did win Game 4 on 7-5 against the Fightin’ Phillies. They still lead the series on 3-1.
34 must be a lucky number in the World Series.
Game 1 winning pitcher Cliff Lee wears #34 in his Phillies uniform. AJ Burnett is also wearing #34 in his Yankees uniform.
And who will forget Nolan Ryan and Rollie Fingers?
AJ Burnett pitched for the Yankees in World Series Game 2 with a blast. The Yankees beat the Phillies on 3-1, tying the series on Thursday night in Yankee Stadium.
The Pie-Man of the Bronx was able to keep his goal for the game. “I won’t change anything as far as my plan or my attack, just maybe not be so careless from the get go — just throwing balls over the middle to get strike one,” Burnett said.
The right-handed pitcher allowed 4 hits, 2 walks and just one run in seven innings. The run was from Raul Ibañez, who hit a double, driven by Matt Stairs’ single, a ground ball to left field that was deflected by Alex Rodriguez in the second inning.
If the Phillies had a lot of runs in Game 1 on Wednesday, Thursday night gave them a lot of strikes and strikeouts. Burnett struck out Raul Ibañez twice and Ryan Howard thrice. He struck out four other Phillies.
Burnett’s favoured catcher was outstanding, not just in helping him with his pitches. Jose Molina, also a Puerto Rican, kept a runner from staying in the fourth inning. Jayson Werth hit a single on a full count but while Ibañez was batting, he was picked off by Molina at first base on a throw to Mark Teixeira. AJ Burnett only faced three batters in the fourth inning.
The Bronx Bombers hit two solo home runs. The Yankees’ first homer in the World Series came off the previously shy bat of Mark Teixeira over the fence in the right centre field in the fourth inning. It was his first career World Series home run.
The other solo homer was provided my Hideki Matsui on a fly ball in the right field in the sixth inning. It was Godzilla’s second career World Series home run.
When Jorge Posada was announced to pinch hit for Jose Molina in the seventh inning, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel left the dugout to get the ball from Pedro Martinez, the Phillies starter, and summoned Park Chan-Ho to face Posada who went 0-for-7 against him.
Pedro Martinez pitched for 6 innings and left the mound with 4.50 ERA. He struckout eight Yankees but allowed 6 hits and 3 runs.
A.J. Burnett may opt for Jose Molina to catch for him, but he was the number one cheerleader of Jorge Posada when the veteran catcher hit a single on a line drive to centre field driving in Brett Gardner, who was pinch running for Jerry Hairston, Jr., for another run. The run was charged to Pedro Martinez.
The Philadelphia Phillies were able to keep the remaining Yanks off the plate when Johnny Damon lined into a double play. Posada was out off first. They also caused a gathering of the umpires to discuss the play and call, which was questioned by Joe Girardi.
The Phillies were trying to rally more runs, but the goal seemed impossible as they had to face Mariano Rivera in the eight inning. Posada stayed in the game to replace Jose Molina.
The eight inning was quite a battle against The Sandman who drew the third walk for the Phillies with just one out. Shane Victorino, batting next, was able to hit a single on a ground ball to right field. The Old Guard closer was able to stay out of trouble when Chase Utley grounded into double play, Robinson Cano to shortstop Derek Jeter to Mark Teixeira. Shane Victorino was out at second base.
Ryan Howard was batting first in the ninth inning, but he never had the chance to have a base hit as he was struck out on 0-3 count by Mariano Rivera. The first baseman of the Phillies was totally shut out by Burnett and Rivera in his four at-bats.
After 38 pitches, Mariano Rivera struck out the eighth batter he faced on 2-2 count for the final out of the game.
The Yankees are off to follow the Phillies in Citizens Bank Park for Game 3 on Saturday night. Andy Pettitte will start for the Yankees who will face Cole Hamels.
Also posted in Bleacher Report.
Old Guard pitchers advance the Yankees back to World Series.
After being suspended on Saturday night because of hefty rain, Game 6was finally pushed through on Sunday night in the Bronx, New York.
The
Yankees may have lost Game 3 of the series with Pettitte as their
starter, but Dandy Andy presented himself in the mound in Game 6 with
confidence and results that speak of his possible legend.
The
36-year old pitcher only allowed one walk, of which Howie Kendrick was
the recipient. It was after Vladimir Guerrero hit an RBI, which he
grounded off first in the second inning. Guerrero’s move was considered
to be a wrong move; obviously.
The Angels have committed a lot
of mistakes during the series, some of which were not even part of
their accumulated 8 error record in the ALCS. Some of those errors even
helped the Yankees reach homeplate.
One easy and unwonted out
happened during the sixth inning. Chone Figgins, after bunting
Pettitte’s 89 MPH fastball, grounded out to catcher Jorge Posada. He
was out for tagging himself as he ran to first base. His left foot
touched the ball.
In the same sixth inning, the Angels might’ve
had a run when Vladimir Guerrero’s double RBI advanced Torii Hunter to
third base. The centre fielder’s speed has been a concern to the
Bombers. With two out, Mr. Iron Gaze saved the inning when Kendrick
Morales hit the ball back to him for the third out.
With long time teammate Jorge Posada catching behind the plate, the
left-handed pitcher struck out six Angels in 6.1 innings before Manager
Joe Torre climbed to the hill. The man in the mound knew what was
coming.
Pettitte may have wanted to stay longer, a lot of the
fans wanted too, but he yielded to his former teammate’s call and left
his throne with 99 pitches and a 2.84 ERA.
The post-season
veteran pitcher allowed seven hits and only had one run. The Yankee
fans gave Pettitte a standing ovation while the Old Guard starting
pitcher tipped his cap in recognition of the fans as he retired to the
dugout.
Joba relieved for him, pitching against two Halos. He
grounded out both to end the top of the seventh inning, but that was
all for him. Joe Girardi already had plans for the eight and ninth
inning.
The Sandman left the Yankee bullpen radiating assurance
to the Yankees and at the same time threat to the Angels. “I knew I was
going to be there for at least two,” said Rivera who was called in the
top of the eight.
Mariano Rivera is one of those pitchers you don’t want to face when you’re in the batter’s box.
“Man,
I don’t even want to talk about Mariano Rivera right now,” Torii Hunter
said. “You don’t want to face him. I don’t plan on getting to him. If
we do, the game is probably in the bag.”
Chone Figgins was
fortunate to hit an RBI on one ball – one strike count against Mariano
Rivera. He was not the only blessed Angel of the night. With two outs,
Figgins scored on Vladimir Guerrero’s RBI giving the Angels their
second and last run. It was the first post-season run given up by
Mariano Rivera at home since Game 2 of the 2000 World Series against
the Mets.
In the top of the ninth inning with two out, and just
one more for the final one, Gary Matthews Jr. was pinch hitting for
catcher Mike Napoli. It was an offensive move but obviously didn’t
work. Matthews, Jr. struckout swinging for the final out of the series.
The pitch was not even a cutter.
Mariano Rivera secured the World Series ticket his Old Guard buddy Andy Pettitte clutched for the Yankees.
The
Bombers earned three runs in the fourth inning from Robinson Cano and
Nick Swisher on Johnny Damon’s RBI and from Derek Jeter who had to step
on homeplate to give way for A-Rod who was walked with bases loaded.
They
had another runs in the eight inning from Robinson Cano on Melky
Cabrera’s sacrifice bunt, which he earned as double on throwing error
by Scott Kazmir, and from Brett Gardner on Mark Teixeira’s sacrifice
fly to centre field.
The New York Yankees defeated the Los
Angeles Angels on 5-2 in Game 6 of the American League Championship
Series. The Bronx Bombers will represent the American League in the
World Series to face the defending champions Philadelphia Phillies of
the National League on Wednesday night in Yankee Stadium.
Also posted in MLBlog and Bleacher Report.
July 1 in New York, July 2 in Manila..
Yankees against the Seattle Mariners. So, I just contented myself with MLB Gameday, like what I usually do in situations like this.
The Yankees won the second game of the series, 4-2, against the
Mariners. Good. It was their seventh straight win and Mariano Rivera’s
502nd save. Congratulations, Mr. Rivera! Also, A-Rod had another 2 run homer, right into The Monument.
I wanted to write about the game, but I haven’t watched it with my own eyes though I have the game details through the Gameday and Game Wrapup. I also want to write about Ramiro Peña. I’m going to miss this guy. He’s got talent, and he is good.
There was an article written, but it was my opinion about Joe Girardi’s
decision to pull Phil Hughes out and replace him with Brian Bruney.
It’s Mr. Girardi’s call, not mine. I have it posted in Bleacher Report. If anyone wants to read what I wrote, it’s here: The Arcane Eight Inning Decision of Joe Girardi
The next starting pitcher is CC Sabathia and I thank God that ESPN Asia will cover the game. 0700H GMT+8.
Music:
Bon Jovi – Thank You for Loving Me (acoustic)
Hope, Faith, Love . . . for the Yankees, and Baseball 
