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Around SBN: The Most Dangerous Division in Sports

October, here we come! Yankees win nail-biter (and playoff spot), 6-5

Chad Gaudin was surprisingly good (again), and it was Alfredo Aceves who disappointed. Gaudin's shining moment came in the bottom of the third with two on and two out: he put Abreu away with a splitter.

  • How big was that catcher's interference call (apparently a trend with Anaheim, for it happened with Tex just a week ago) that led to Matsui reaching on a groundout? Posada followed with the second two-run homer of the inning. 
  • The Yankee scoring was rather ironic. The first five runs were all via the longball, yet the sixth and deciding run scored via 'small-ball.'
  • A-Rod had a great game (outside of a K with two runners on in the first): he drove in half the Yanks runs and made a great, diving stab in the sixth (with the bases-full and two outs) that kept the Bombers ahead by one.
  • The defense as a whole went for a beer in the eighth inning: Robbie Cano botched a grounder, allowing Howie Kendrick to reach first. Then Posada skipped a throw past Jeter (more DJ's fault) on Kendrick's steal, allowing him to reach third with no outs. Two batters later, Posada allowed a passed ball, letting the go-ahead run to second. Fortunately, Hughes escaped further damage with consecutive strikeouts.

Star-divide

  • Speaking of relievers, there's no way in hell Marte should make the playoff roster. He came in to face one batter, fell behind 2-0, and served up a double.
  • 1-10 with RISP. Anaheim went 4-14. We've said it countless times, but it has to improve.
  • The offense almost seemed to give up after getting a 5-0 lead. As if that would be enough to win by, and then when Anaheim tied it, they got to work again to take the lead.
  • Ballsy move to have Damon bunt with two strikes, but it worked - A-Rod hit a sac-fly to center, scoring Gardner. Torii Hunter made it a surprisingly close play at home with a strong throw. (I see from the poll on the right that almost twice the votes favor Melky in CF, but my opinion is to go with Gardner for two reasons: speed and defense. Melky has more power and a better arm, but that ain't as important as speed and D, especially in the playoffs.)
  • That aggressive Angel baserunning certainly hurt them in the bottom of the ninth, when Reggie Willits (GGBG's brother from another mother) was gunned down on a strike-'em-out, throw-'em-out DP. After playing horrendous D in the eighth to let Anaheim tie the game, we've got to give credit where it's due: Posada threw an absolute bullet to nail Willits. That might be the best throw he's made this season.

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The postseason magic number was one, so the Yanks were ensured of playoff baseball before Mo nailed down the last out because Texas lost earlier in the evening. Let's enjoy it!

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What a game

so nerve racking I’d rather sit through Sunday’s Giants game again then that but a W is a W and I’ll take it.

by Danielle I on Sep 23, 2009 2:21 AM EDT reply actions  

Neither Marte nor Bruney should see the playoffs

10 P’s is plenty. The 5 SP’s + Ace, Mo, Hughes, Coke & Robertson.
Alex didn’t K with the bases loaded in the 1st, it was 2 on.

by Peter Lacock on Sep 23, 2009 2:26 AM EDT reply actions  

That's a very thin bullpen

Especially if we have a 13 inning game or something.

by GMan83201 on Sep 23, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions  

The 5th SP is in the pen

maybe the 4th SP too depending on some things, plus there’s many off days. You really only need 6 or 7 P’s if they all pitch good. With the 10 listed above, Coke and Gaudin could get very little work and Joba might get none. 10 guys can certainly get you thru the 1st round and then adjust the roster if needed.

by Peter Lacock on Sep 23, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

id also rather sit through the giants game again … but only because i loved reveling in jerry jones’ face while the cowboys lost

by blindmole on Sep 23, 2009 2:27 AM EDT reply actions  

Great Win

Great win tonight or rather last night. Good to see A-Rod perform well in front of Kate! Don’t get your groove on too much A-Rod…we have a game today.
Congratulations to the Yankees for getting back to the place they belong (the playoffs) and also, congrats to Jeter getting his 200 hit. Not bad for a guy everyone was saying is getting old, can’t play the field and can’t move to his left well! He keeps shutting them up!!!

by Mondoas on Sep 23, 2009 4:30 AM EDT reply actions  

Good game...

couldn’t help but wait for #10 to step out and march us down the field….well, at least we have #13 for us on the Yanks.

Looking back it was a good game. Nerve raking, but the Yanks finally got the can of Raid out and killed those damn LAAAOCCA Roaches.

AJ, its not Saturday…its a day game (or is that a bad thing…)..maybe Molina Cervelli starts, game to me is still utterly meaningless as the Pissants keep losing to the Royals (back to 6 games up doomsdayers), but lets have a good game today. A blowout would be orgasmic.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Sep 23, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions  

Great win

Win the grinders, that’s what they have to do. Believe they can win the grinders. Be able to recover after they take a punch. The Angels, the RedSox are tough teams. They aren’t going to go quietly. Unless there is a dramatic change in the standings the Yanks will see one of them in ALCS.
  By the way, loved the fact that Scoscia benched Rivera for not running hard out of the box on Monday night becuase Rivera thought he hit a HR, and it hit the wall. Got the message across without making a scene, just said, “that’s not how we play”.

by fredny on Sep 23, 2009 9:48 AM EDT reply actions  

Scosia is a damn good manager

except when he calls for a suicide squeeze in the 9th inning of game 4 in the ALDS

by Brian5517209 on Sep 23, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions  

There is nothing wrong with Melkys speed and Defense.In fact I have not seen him get burned playing to shallow this yr and It happens to Gardner more then you realize.Melky also does not make near the mental mistakes Gardner makes especially on the base paths.I agree we need Gardner and he is an asset but Melkey is a very good CF with a way better arm.They will run rampant on Gardner and Damon.Not to mention Melkey has a better stick and a flare for the dramatic.I for one will call Joe Idiot for playing him over Melkey come playoff time barring a slump or something strange happening.

by cashman bashman on Sep 23, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions  

Wow

When Posada hosed that guy, that was huge! Glad it didn’t come down to the wire to get to the playoffs.

by blevs4 on Sep 23, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions  

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