The 40th Pennant

by jscape2000 on Oct 26, 2009 8:16 AM EDT in Game Recap Comment 32 comments

More photos » by Julie Jacobson - AP

First, a tip of the cap to the Angels for a great series. As much as we like to complain about our hitters not coming through, it was because we faced one of the best pitching staffs in the league. These were some of the tightest games I can remember- the margin of error in every game but Game 4 was razor thin.

Andy Pettitte was his solid self, holding down the Angels until the Yankees could muster some offense. The Yanks barely got anything going, Posada grounding into a DP with the bases loaded and a chance to turn a nail bitter into a blowout.

It will be a first World Series for a slew of players: Only Jeter, Mo, Posada, Pettitte, Johnny Damon and Jose Molina have been here before.

And now for the Phillies.

It's only the 3rd time the Yankees have faced a defending champ in the World Series (against the Braves in '95, the Reds in '76, the (Milwaukee) Braves in '58, the Dodgers in '56, the Cardinals in '43, and the New York Giants in '23 and '22. The Yankees are 4-2 in those series, only losing to the Big Red Machine and McGraw's Giants in '22.

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Man, that win still hasn't sunk in for me.

"I'm not superstitious, just a little stitious"- Michael Scott

by GTWYankee on Oct 26, 2009 8:26 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

hey bad news guys the WS has been cancelled..

Apparently everyone thinks the Phillies should just be handed the title…

by Yankz09 on Oct 26, 2009 9:11 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Heh

I would like that just fine, except – after we’ve won, it’s always “the Yankees were obviously the favourites”. Well then, what was the whole deal with the Phillies/Angels/Twins love-in?

by pkyankeefan on Oct 26, 2009 9:24 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Molina has a ring too...

Blind devotion.

by ProfessorBigelow on Oct 26, 2009 9:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Right you are.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 26, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is Amazing

It’s also amazing that there are 4 members of the ‘96 championship team still starting 13 years later. Actually, come to think of it, I don’t think Posada played in the ’96 series. Still, that core has been around a long long time.

by metric on Oct 26, 2009 9:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Without looking it up

I almost want to say we had Mike Stanley and Jim Leyritz back then? Then Stanley moved on and we got Girardi from the Cubs, and he caught Gooden and Cones no-no’s at some time. Leyritz then moved on and Posada came up. I’m not sure on the years though and i think, this is how it went?!

by Hootman on Oct 26, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No Stanley...

no Posada either. Leytitz and Girardi were the main 2. Girardi got fazed out over 97 and 98 especially for Jorge..

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 26, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep, i just looked it up

Stanley was gone after the ’95 season. Girardi and Leyritz in ’96, though Posada played in 8 games as a rookie. Then Leyritz left, leaving Girardi and Posada for ’97 and Posada getting the inevitable full-time duty in ’98 with 111 games! Man, time flies. Seems like yesterday, Girardi was still catching! lol

by Hootman on Oct 26, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WTF?

Sorry, hit the wrong key.

Meant to add that it seems like just yesterday that Yogi was catching.

by GrandEd on Oct 26, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

C'mon now, i never saw Yogi play! :( I'm old, but 38! :P

by Hootman on Oct 26, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's been a long time getting back

Makes you appreciate it more. All the games, except game 4, were tension filled, but that’s what you want in the playoffs. Hopefully, the younger guys, especially the bullpen pitchers, got their feet wet ( enough) to deal with the pressure a little bit better.
A tip of the cap to the Angels, who played some very un-Angel like baseball and were still a hit or 2 away from getting themselves to game 7.
For me the key to the series is beating Cliff Lee, if they can get to him, I think we win in 5, game 1 is very important.
On a personal note, I hope they beat Pedro like a pinata when they face him.

by fredny on Oct 26, 2009 10:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Phillies are dangerous

because they have an AL lineup. but, for now i’m enjoying this and i’ll think about them on Wednesday.

anyone else psyched up for a possible Pedro at the Stadium sighting in Game 2?

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Oct 26, 2009 10:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I can already hear

“Who’s Your Daddy??”

"I don't want one of those guys who'll drive in two but let in three every game." Casey Stengel

by tnredneckyankeesfan on Oct 26, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't put any stock in how we've done against defending champs in the past

A pretty meaningless stat, no?

The Phillies lineup is REALLY good. It is NY/Bos in its heyday good. Their infield has 3 (?) MVPs and their outfield three guys who are each superior to their NY counterpart.

Their weakness is going to be pitching. They’re only going to throw Lee twice, but he will win at least one of those games. Pedro, Hamels, Blanton, and Happ we can get to, and their bullpen has been notoriously bad this year.

We have to hold them to 3-4 runs a game, AND our bats have to get going and knock Pedro (who isn’t even Mets Pedro) and Blanton out early.

Yankees in 7.

by PortlandYankee on Oct 26, 2009 10:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I forgot

Our big advantages in this series are CC and Mo. We’re going to have to pitch him three times, and give him 4-5 runs of support each time, and then hope that AJ or Andy can discipline that Phillies lineup at least once.

by PortlandYankee on Oct 26, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

of course its meaningless.

One meaningful one tho…the Phillies bullpen isn’t all that good, Lidge is a BS waiting to happen.

As long as the Yanks take the lead to MO, game’s over (you know…like Game 6 against the Angels)

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 26, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

"I don't want one of those guys who'll drive in two but let in three every game." Casey Stengel

by tnredneckyankeesfan on Oct 26, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Andy "Dandy" Pettitte

Andy proved last night the biggest mistake in the last 6 years was not re-signing him after 2003. Again he shuts down the opposition after a tough playoff loss. 2004 would have turned out different with Andy on the team.

by upstateNYYFan1984 on Oct 26, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i still think the biggest mistake was

trading Vazquez for the Small Unit and not using that money to get Beltran
oh, and Carl Pavano

by Brian5517209 on Oct 26, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

With apologies to Big n Rich

Ridin up and down Broadway on our stud hoss CC
Buyin the bar a double round of Crown
’cause the Yankees are the only John Wayne left in this town

"I don't want one of those guys who'll drive in two but let in three every game." Casey Stengel

by tnredneckyankeesfan on Oct 26, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great win last night

Yanks are back in the World Series where they belong. I also think that after the “defensively sound” Angels made two errors in the bottom of the 8th, there is no doubt left that the Ghosts have made the trip across 162 street

"I don't want one of those guys who'll drive in two but let in three every game." Casey Stengel

by tnredneckyankeesfan on Oct 26, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Mariano Fist Pump --

When we got the final out, I couldn’t help but be on the same page as Jorgie and Mo in terms of going into a cool and calm celebration.

I felt Anaheim sucked whatever life it had out of itself with the errors in the 8th, and after that, it was like watching the Sandman get the last three outs in the middle of the summer.

Big props to Andy and Mo for nailing down the coffin on the Disneyboys. Props also to the Disneyboys for, somehow, almost managing to force a Game 7.

Bring on the Phils. We’re ready.

by Solomon96 on Oct 26, 2009 1:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Post game

anyone see Hal Steinbrenner getting champagne dumped on him and not be amused at all?:) ( don’t know if it was Swish or Burnett with the goggles on) Great game, I thought Tex had hit that one out though….thank you Angels for bringing in Scott Kazmir.

by BlackandGoldSSgt on Oct 26, 2009 3:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hank may

as well get used to those showers. I think this team is could be very good for several years

"I don't want one of those guys who'll drive in two but let in three every game." Casey Stengel

by tnredneckyankeesfan on Oct 26, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea i seen hal steinbrenner seem unentertained lol

I agree though…boss man don’t get the shower til we win it all

by NYYWinsRings26 on Oct 26, 2009 6:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

does anyone have any stories on the Bullpen ? How they feel

regarding their bad stats, or how it felt that Girardi couldn’t entrust ANY of them with the lead in the 8th inning.?

by aliasalias on Oct 26, 2009 4:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

with the struggles that joba and hughes have gone thru

I still think we are pretty strong cause of mo, coke, a seemingly improved marte and who I think will be the x factor….robertson..not to mention chad gaudin as a possible long reliever.

I just can’t fear the phillies. Call it ignorant yankee pride or whatever I don’t really give a shit. We have stallions on the mound who i’ll take over philly’s rotation everyday…GO F’n YANKS…..

by NYYWinsRings26 on Oct 26, 2009 6:49 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

this series

knock out dragout

by Kevin L on Oct 26, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Our bullpen

will never get any love from the writers, they were knocking it early in the year when we had the likes of Veras and Edwar Ramirez pitching instead of Hughes, Robertson and Joba…so why would they want to start giving them any props now?

by BlackandGoldSSgt on Oct 26, 2009 8:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

“It’s only the 3rd time the Yankees have faced a defending champ in the World Series (against the Braves in ‘95, the Reds in ’76, the (Milwaukee) Braves in ’58, the Dodgers in ’56, the Cardinals in ’43, and the New York Giants in ’23 and ’22. The Yankees are 4-2 in those series, only losing to the Big Red Machine and McGraw’s Giants in ’22.”

OK, except it’s the 7th (not the 3rd) time, the record is 5-2 (not 4-2), and they faced the Braves in ’96 (not ’95). Other than that, totally accurate statement!

by flipperman on Oct 27, 2009 11:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs