Monthly Archives: October 2011

2011 Season, Playoffs

Game 2011 Playoffs.3: Yankees at Tigers

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(see if you can spot the difference between this image and the game 1 image)

The ALCS moves to Detroit tonight for game 3.  Game time temperature should be in the mid-60s, and it should slide down into the 50s throughout the game.  But no rain in sight.  (Mike Napoli just went yard, again, Rangers up 2-1.)

Yesterday’s game was almost too much to take.  We seemed destined to be another anecdote in Yankee’s lore after the Avila slip.  If anyone believes in his stuff it’s Valverde.  Bravo Papa Grande. I know he threw 30+ or something yesterday, but I’m pretty sure that he’s avail tonight if we need him.  I don’t think Benoit will be.

Today’s news is the lineup changes – Maggs slides down to 6, Avila to 8, and Santiago to 2.  Santiago hits CC decently well (.294) and plays better D, so he gets the nod over Raburn. According to Jimmy, Avila has been pressing a bit, so hopefully the 8 hole will help him get something going.

Yankees are sticking with their same game 2 lineup:

1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Curtis Granderson, CF
3. Robinson Cano, 2B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B (this caused a bit of a stir in NY)
5. Mark Teixeira, 1B
6. Nick Swisher, RF
7. Jorge Posada, DH
8. Russell Martin, C
9. Brett Gardner, LF

Todd Jones throwing out first pitch tomorrow night…(confusion)

 

 

2011 Season, Game Post, Playoffs

Game 2011.Playoffs.2: Tigers at Yankees

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The start of Game 1 was a mess, and then it ended badly. Gene Lamont did what Gene Lamont does. Fister pitched well but for a couple of bad pitches, but those gave the Yankees enough runs to win the game.  The Alburquerque magic failed, and, after facing 182 career batters, he gave up his first ever home run in grand slam style (Beck details how rare it was for Al to throw a hanging slider).

On the bright side, it is a day game, and Brad Penny is not on the mound.

On the bright side, the Yankees took Game 1 from the Tigers the last time they met in the postseason too, and look what happened.

On the bright side, regardless of what happens today, the Tigers have Justin Verlander ready to take the mound Monday.

This afternoon Max Scherzer will try to bring the Tigers back into the win column against a reanimated Freddy Garcia, who finished the season 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA.  Back in the day, Freddy Garcia was so effective during day game starts that Alan Trammell nicknamed him “Day Game Freddy.”

Game 2 tends to be a key game for the Yankees in the postseason–in the last 8 postseason series the Yankees have been in, the Game 2 winner has gone on to take the series.  Go Max!  Your mission:  don’t throw anything hittable to that Cano guy.

Player of the Pre-Game: Victor Martinez had a nice 12-pitch AB against Nova last night.  That kind of patience and selection will go a long way against Freddy Garcia.

Today’s Return-of-Ramon Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson, CF
  2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
  3. Delmon Young, LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  5. Victor Martinez, DH
  6. Alex Avila, C
  7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
  8. Wilson Betemit, 3B
  9. Ramon Santiago, 2B