Archive for November, 2009
World Series Circa 2009: Yankees Vs. Phillies »
Looking at the 2009 World Series matchup as the teams head into Game Six. It was a concept that I first developed when the Baltimore Orioles were in the playoffs. Being a huge Bird fan, I discovered a way to ease the pain if they lost—I would bet against them. I can’t remember the year this 2009 World Series strategy first came to me, reason [...]
Yankees’ Pitching Staff the Team’s Major »
Monday night in Philly, Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett started Game Five of the World Series on three days' rest, which he hadn't done since last season while in a Blue Jays uniform. There was skepticism by many commentators and Yankee fans on how he'd perform on short rest, and to Yankee fans' dismay, those doubts were validated. In the [...]
Alex Rodriguez Could Interrupt World Series Yet Again »
The most recent interruption that had the media criticizing a single man was rapper Kanye West's during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. The most recent interruption that had the media criticizing a single man in baseball was when Alex Rodriguez had a Kanye-like moment in the 2007 World Series. That year, he [...]
AJ Burnett and Joe Girardi: Equation for Disaster in »
I think it’s safe to say that Joe Girardi is no Joe Torre. Sure the Yankees made it to the World Series this year under Girardi, but not without him making some blundering decisions. This whole season the guy has had a tendency to overmanage or undermanage games and Monday night was no different. As if A.J. Burnett’s usual inconsistency was [...]
World Series Game Six: The Pedro Martinez Show »
As the 2009 World Series moves back to the Bronx, the Philadelphia Phillies once again put the ball in the hands of Pedro Martinez. The Phillies, after witnessing Martinez's performance in Game Two of this series, believe he is the right choice to get the win and force a game seven. Martinez has performed well this postseason, posting an ERA of [...]
Hold the Champagne, New York: Yankees Fall to »
It just wasn't going to happen in Philadelphia. The baseball season will go at least one more game. Chase Utley was once again the spark for the Phillies as he set the tone in the bottom of the first inning with a three-run homer off A.J. Burnett. Before that ball reached the right field stands, you just knew tonight would not be the night for [...]
Can’t Blame Girardi for Yankees’ Starter »
The pitchforks and burning torches are out for Joe Girardi today; this in the wake of A.J. Burnett's epic failure in Philadelphia. They're saying that Girardi's decision to use Burnett on short rest has set in motion a chain of events that will now bury the Yankees. This is all about as predictable as the failure of a Michael Strahan buddy [...]
Joe Girardi, What Were You Thinking? Manager’s »
The New York Yankees have been going with a three-man rotation for the entire postseason even with a fourth starter, Chad Gaudin, looming in the bullpen. Gaudin was a midseason acquisition for the Yankees to fill a spot in the bullpen, to be a possible spot starter for the struggling Joba Chamberlain, and to fill the spot left by Phil Hughes, who [...]
Of Course A.J. Burnett Started Game Five »
Will the Phillies win Games Six and Seven this week at Yankee Stadium? Probably not. The 1985 Kansas City Royals were the last team to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series. However, if the Phillies do pull off some kind of miracle in the Bronx, Joe Girardi’s decision to start A.J. Burnett in game five on three days rest will be [...]
Utley Provides Power as Phillies Hold Off Yankees to »
New York Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett, their $82 million man, shut down the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Two of the World Series. His fastball was lively, and his off-speed pitches had their bite, sharpness, and were perfectly located. He tossed seven stellar innings, allowing just one run on four hits, walking one while striking out [...]