Showing posts with label New York Yankees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York Yankees. Show all posts
Monday, November 2, 2009
POD: Philadelphia+1.5 (MLB) L
Monday, November 02, 2009
POD: NY Yankees @ Philadelphia+1.5 (3K units) L
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Preview: The New York Yankees wanted a dominant pitcher to lead them deep into the postseason, so they made CC Sabathia(notes) the richest pitcher in baseball history. Now, Sabathia can now move them within a victory of their first World Series title in nine years.
The workhorse will take the ball on three days’ rest Sunday night when the Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies play Game 4 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park.
The Yankees turned an early 3-0 deficit into an 8-5 victory in Saturday night’s Game 3, claiming a 2-1 lead in the series. Alex Rodriguez(notes), Nick Swisher(notes) and Hideki Matsui(notes) all homered for New York, with Rodriguez’s two-run shot in the fourth inning the result of the first video replay reversal in World Series history.
After watching their 13-year streak of playoff appearances come to an end last fall, the Yankees felt upgrading their rotation was a priority if they were going to challenge for their first World Series title since winning No. 26 in 2000. Landing Sabathia via free agency - for $161 million over seven years - has proven to be the right move.
The left-hander’s first season in the Bronx was a rousing success, as he went 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA to garner consideration for his second AL Cy Young Award and help the Yankees back to the playoffs.
Sabathia - the 2007 Cy Young winner with Cleveland - hasn’t slowed in the postseason, posting a 3-1 record and 1.52 ERA and winning AL championship series MVP honors. Now, he’ll take the mound on three days’ rest, a situation in which he is quite capable. Including postseason, Sabathia is 5-3 with a 3.16 ERA in eight starts when throwing on short rest.
“I hate to throw bullpens,” said Sabathia, who took the loss in Game 1 opposite Phillies ace Cliff Lee(notes) while allowing two runs on homers by Chase Utley(notes) in seven innings. “I don’t have to throw a bullpen when I pitch on three days’ rest.
“It feels good for them to have confidence in you, especially in these situations. It gives you confidence when your team has confidence and the guys want you out there and everybody is asking: ‘Are you pitching today?’ and ‘Are you pitching tomorrow?’”
Yankees manager Joe Girardi has elected to shorten the rotation to Sabathia, A.J. Burnett(notes) and Andy Pettitte(notes) - Saturday’s winning pitcher. Burnett is expected to start Monday.
“There is no baseball after the World Series for four or five months, so there will be plenty of time to rest,” Girardi said.
Girardi also used Sabathia on short rest in Game 4 of the ALCS, and the three-time All-Star allowed one run in eight innings of a 10-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has opted not to ask Lee to pitch on three days’ rest for the first time in his career. Instead, Lee is scheduled to start Monday’s Game 5 in what could be an elimination contest.
Joe Blanton(notes) gets the nod in Game 4 for a second consecutive year. The right-hander combined with four relievers on a five-hitter in a 10-2 win over Tampa Bay last October that gave the Phillies a 3-1 World Series lead. He also hit the first World Series home run by a pitcher since Oakland’s Ken Holtzman in 1974.
“It’s a big game, but it’s another game,” Blanton said. “And I think just the experience you draw from last year, just the fact that you’ve been there before, you’ve been in that environment, you’ve been in that atmosphere, you’ve kind of been in that big game situation - and you can just kind of draw back and kind of keep your emotions in check.”
Blanton hasn’t had any success against the Yankees, going 0-3 with an 8.18 ERA in four starts. All of those games came with Oakland, where he spent four-plus seasons before joining Philadelphia last year in a midseason trade.
Blanton has also struggled against Alex Rodriguez, who is 4 for 7 with two homers in their matchups.
The third baseman’s homer Saturday was the first of his career in the World Series, and snapped a personal 0-for-8 slump. It was also his sixth homer of this postseason, tying a Yankees record set by Bernie Williams(notes) in 1996.
“It was a big hit. I think it woke our offense up a little bit,” said Rodriguez, who struck out three times in each of the previous two games.
The Phillies are hoping their marquee slugger, Ryan Howard(notes), can break out of his slump in similar fashion.
The NLCS MVP is 2 for 13 with an RBI and nine strikeouts in the Series, fanning three times Saturday.
“Go home and go to sleep. I’m a simple guy,” Howard - 4 for 12 with six strikeouts against Sabathia including postseason - said after the Game 3 loss. “We’re not going to panic by any means just because we’re down in the Series.”
It may not be time to panic yet, but history doesn’t provide Philadelphia cause for optimism. This is the fourth time the Phillies have trailed 2-1 in a World Series. On all three previous occasions, they went on to lose Game 4 - and the series.
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Preview: The New York Yankees wanted a dominant pitcher to lead them deep into the postseason, so they made CC Sabathia(notes) the richest pitcher in baseball history. Now, Sabathia can now move them within a victory of their first World Series title in nine years.
The workhorse will take the ball on three days’ rest Sunday night when the Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies play Game 4 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park.
The Yankees turned an early 3-0 deficit into an 8-5 victory in Saturday night’s Game 3, claiming a 2-1 lead in the series. Alex Rodriguez(notes), Nick Swisher(notes) and Hideki Matsui(notes) all homered for New York, with Rodriguez’s two-run shot in the fourth inning the result of the first video replay reversal in World Series history.
After watching their 13-year streak of playoff appearances come to an end last fall, the Yankees felt upgrading their rotation was a priority if they were going to challenge for their first World Series title since winning No. 26 in 2000. Landing Sabathia via free agency - for $161 million over seven years - has proven to be the right move.
The left-hander’s first season in the Bronx was a rousing success, as he went 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA to garner consideration for his second AL Cy Young Award and help the Yankees back to the playoffs.
Sabathia - the 2007 Cy Young winner with Cleveland - hasn’t slowed in the postseason, posting a 3-1 record and 1.52 ERA and winning AL championship series MVP honors. Now, he’ll take the mound on three days’ rest, a situation in which he is quite capable. Including postseason, Sabathia is 5-3 with a 3.16 ERA in eight starts when throwing on short rest.
“I hate to throw bullpens,” said Sabathia, who took the loss in Game 1 opposite Phillies ace Cliff Lee(notes) while allowing two runs on homers by Chase Utley(notes) in seven innings. “I don’t have to throw a bullpen when I pitch on three days’ rest.
“It feels good for them to have confidence in you, especially in these situations. It gives you confidence when your team has confidence and the guys want you out there and everybody is asking: ‘Are you pitching today?’ and ‘Are you pitching tomorrow?’”
Yankees manager Joe Girardi has elected to shorten the rotation to Sabathia, A.J. Burnett(notes) and Andy Pettitte(notes) - Saturday’s winning pitcher. Burnett is expected to start Monday.
“There is no baseball after the World Series for four or five months, so there will be plenty of time to rest,” Girardi said.
Girardi also used Sabathia on short rest in Game 4 of the ALCS, and the three-time All-Star allowed one run in eight innings of a 10-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has opted not to ask Lee to pitch on three days’ rest for the first time in his career. Instead, Lee is scheduled to start Monday’s Game 5 in what could be an elimination contest.
Joe Blanton(notes) gets the nod in Game 4 for a second consecutive year. The right-hander combined with four relievers on a five-hitter in a 10-2 win over Tampa Bay last October that gave the Phillies a 3-1 World Series lead. He also hit the first World Series home run by a pitcher since Oakland’s Ken Holtzman in 1974.
“It’s a big game, but it’s another game,” Blanton said. “And I think just the experience you draw from last year, just the fact that you’ve been there before, you’ve been in that environment, you’ve been in that atmosphere, you’ve kind of been in that big game situation - and you can just kind of draw back and kind of keep your emotions in check.”
Blanton hasn’t had any success against the Yankees, going 0-3 with an 8.18 ERA in four starts. All of those games came with Oakland, where he spent four-plus seasons before joining Philadelphia last year in a midseason trade.
Blanton has also struggled against Alex Rodriguez, who is 4 for 7 with two homers in their matchups.
The third baseman’s homer Saturday was the first of his career in the World Series, and snapped a personal 0-for-8 slump. It was also his sixth homer of this postseason, tying a Yankees record set by Bernie Williams(notes) in 1996.
“It was a big hit. I think it woke our offense up a little bit,” said Rodriguez, who struck out three times in each of the previous two games.
The Phillies are hoping their marquee slugger, Ryan Howard(notes), can break out of his slump in similar fashion.
The NLCS MVP is 2 for 13 with an RBI and nine strikeouts in the Series, fanning three times Saturday.
“Go home and go to sleep. I’m a simple guy,” Howard - 4 for 12 with six strikeouts against Sabathia including postseason - said after the Game 3 loss. “We’re not going to panic by any means just because we’re down in the Series.”
It may not be time to panic yet, but history doesn’t provide Philadelphia cause for optimism. This is the fourth time the Phillies have trailed 2-1 in a World Series. On all three previous occasions, they went on to lose Game 4 - and the series.
POD: Philadelphia+1.5 (MLB)
Monday, November 02, 2009
POD: NY Yankees @ Philadelphia+1.5 (3K units)
Watch the games live for FREE @ Bet365
Preview: The New York Yankees wanted a dominant pitcher to lead them deep into the postseason, so they made CC Sabathia(notes) the richest pitcher in baseball history. Now, Sabathia can now move them within a victory of their first World Series title in nine years.
The workhorse will take the ball on three days’ rest Sunday night when the Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies play Game 4 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park.
The Yankees turned an early 3-0 deficit into an 8-5 victory in Saturday night’s Game 3, claiming a 2-1 lead in the series. Alex Rodriguez(notes), Nick Swisher(notes) and Hideki Matsui(notes) all homered for New York, with Rodriguez’s two-run shot in the fourth inning the result of the first video replay reversal in World Series history.
Watch the games live for FREE @ Bet365
Preview: The New York Yankees wanted a dominant pitcher to lead them deep into the postseason, so they made CC Sabathia(notes) the richest pitcher in baseball history. Now, Sabathia can now move them within a victory of their first World Series title in nine years.
The workhorse will take the ball on three days’ rest Sunday night when the Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies play Game 4 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park.
The Yankees turned an early 3-0 deficit into an 8-5 victory in Saturday night’s Game 3, claiming a 2-1 lead in the series. Alex Rodriguez(notes), Nick Swisher(notes) and Hideki Matsui(notes) all homered for New York, with Rodriguez’s two-run shot in the fourth inning the result of the first video replay reversal in World Series history.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
POD: Los Angeles @ New York Under 9.0 (MLB)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
GAME POSTPONED DUE TO BAD WEATHER
POD: Los Angeles @ New York Under 9.0 (3K units)
Watch the games live for FREE @ Bet365
Heavy showers in Saturday’s New York forecast are threatening to wash out Game 6 of the AL championship series, yet that’s a minor drizzle compared to the high-pressure system the Angels created for both themselves and the Yankees by extending the ALCS to the weekend.
Rejuvenated by a ramshackle win in Game 5 that cut the Yankees’ series lead to 3-2, the Angels still face long odds to make the seldom-seen comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against their star-studded opponents. Yet Figgins still senses a team-wide confidence that the Angels can rain on the Yankees’ 27th championship parade.
“It doesn’t get any better than this, especially going into that ballpark,” said Figgins, the Angels’ leadoff hitter. “It’s going to be another crazy game, I can tell you that. You go back and just enjoy it. The pressure is on both teams.”
The Yankees arrived back in New York early Friday morning and held an “optional” workout—“In the playoffs, it’s not optional,” catcher Jorge Posada(notes) said with a grin—under an overcast sky in the Bronx that afternoon. A chilly wind rippled the flags that line the top of the stadium and jostled the ceremonial red-white-and-blue bunting along each deck.
It was a much different scene than the picturesque weather they had in Southern California, and they still were thrilled to be back.
“Our guys feel very good when we walk in this ballpark,” manager Joe Girardi said.
The Angels were grateful to show up to work Friday in suits instead of sweats, holding a brief workout before flying to New York.
Figgins and his teammates all packed the cold-weather gear that did little good in their last trip to Yankee Stadium, when they lost the series’ first two games with poor hitting and sloppy defense. The Angels’ defense and pitching mostly got back to normal in Anaheim, but their hitting didn’t improve until Game 5, when they scored seven runs after mustering just 10 in the entire series beforehand.
“They are the favorites, but after this one, we’ve got obviously a lot of confidence, a lot of momentum,” said Joe Saunders(notes), the Angels’ Game 6 starter. “It’s going to be the usual Yankee hostile environment. It’s going to be a lot of fun. They’re going to be all over us.”
The Yankees had a major league-best 57-24 record at their new home this season, including a 36-10 mark since June 30. They lost consecutive home games only once in that stretch.
New York has won each of its four playoff games in the Bronx, outscoring the Twins and Angels 19-9 in its $1.5 billion ballpark.
“We feel comfortable here and we just want to keep going out there and playing good baseball,” outfielder Nick Swisher(notes) said.
It will be hard for anyone to be comfortable if the forecast is accurate. If Saunders has to wait a day to pitch, it could create another possibility in the series—one that might make the Yankees push even harder for a closeout victory.
If Game 6 is postponed, manager Mike Scioscia says the Angels would consider bringing back ace John Lackey(notes) on three days’ rest to pitch a potential Game 7 as a counter to Yankees stalwart CC Sabathia(notes), who already has shut down the Angels twice in the series.
“Yes, we’ve talked about a lot of different scenarios,” Scioscia said before the Angels’ flight. “We’re going to let this thing unfold a little bit and see how the weekend goes. If there is an opportunity to look at bringing a guy like John back, it’s something we certainly would consider. We’ve talked about a bunch of things.”
Jered Weaver(notes), who pitched an outstanding eighth inning of relief in Game 5, is the scheduled starter for Game 7—but Lackey is the Angels’ best, most experienced pitcher. Lackey, a soon-to-be free agent with every motivation to star in the playoffs, confounded the Yankees for six innings of Game 5 before Scioscia removed him with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, precipitating New York’s six-run comeback.
But the Angels made a three-run comeback of their own in that sublime seventh. Closer Brian Fuentes(notes) slept soundly after finding trouble and escaping it in the ninth inning of Los Angeles’ 7-6 comeback victory, retiring Swisher on a bases-loaded popup with a full count and two outs.
Fuentes is no stranger to high stakes, and the major leagues’ saves leader knows his teammates also thrive in such straits. Ever since the tragic start to their season with the death of pitcher Nick Adenhart(notes), the Angels have tapped untold wells of strength on the way to an AL West title, 97 victories, a first-round series win over Boston—and now an ALCS that gets more tense by the inning.
“Pressure is something you put in your car tires,” Fuentes said. “I don’t feel like it’s any different now. We’ve still got to keep playing, still got to keep doing our work for another game. We don’t get anything extra for that one. … If it’s raining, we’ve all got to play in it. If we get postponed, we’ll be ready when we get the chance.”
Los Angeles is quietly confident about its chances against Andy Pettitte(notes), who is expected to make the Game 6 start even if it’s pushed back a day and can set two records with another solid postseason outing. The left-hander has four series-clinching wins among his 15 career playoff victories—both tied for the most in baseball history.
“However many starts I’ve had in the postseason or how many innings, it’s not going to help me tomorrow when I go out there,” Pettitte said. “It’s a matter of getting out there and my cutter cutting, my location being good, and this is a game of just inches.” (Y! Sports)
POD: Los Angeles @ New York Under 9.0 (3K units)
Watch the games live for FREE @ Bet365
Heavy showers in Saturday’s New York forecast are threatening to wash out Game 6 of the AL championship series, yet that’s a minor drizzle compared to the high-pressure system the Angels created for both themselves and the Yankees by extending the ALCS to the weekend.
Rejuvenated by a ramshackle win in Game 5 that cut the Yankees’ series lead to 3-2, the Angels still face long odds to make the seldom-seen comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against their star-studded opponents. Yet Figgins still senses a team-wide confidence that the Angels can rain on the Yankees’ 27th championship parade.
“It doesn’t get any better than this, especially going into that ballpark,” said Figgins, the Angels’ leadoff hitter. “It’s going to be another crazy game, I can tell you that. You go back and just enjoy it. The pressure is on both teams.”
The Yankees arrived back in New York early Friday morning and held an “optional” workout—“In the playoffs, it’s not optional,” catcher Jorge Posada(notes) said with a grin—under an overcast sky in the Bronx that afternoon. A chilly wind rippled the flags that line the top of the stadium and jostled the ceremonial red-white-and-blue bunting along each deck.
It was a much different scene than the picturesque weather they had in Southern California, and they still were thrilled to be back.
“Our guys feel very good when we walk in this ballpark,” manager Joe Girardi said.
The Angels were grateful to show up to work Friday in suits instead of sweats, holding a brief workout before flying to New York.
Figgins and his teammates all packed the cold-weather gear that did little good in their last trip to Yankee Stadium, when they lost the series’ first two games with poor hitting and sloppy defense. The Angels’ defense and pitching mostly got back to normal in Anaheim, but their hitting didn’t improve until Game 5, when they scored seven runs after mustering just 10 in the entire series beforehand.
“They are the favorites, but after this one, we’ve got obviously a lot of confidence, a lot of momentum,” said Joe Saunders(notes), the Angels’ Game 6 starter. “It’s going to be the usual Yankee hostile environment. It’s going to be a lot of fun. They’re going to be all over us.”
The Yankees had a major league-best 57-24 record at their new home this season, including a 36-10 mark since June 30. They lost consecutive home games only once in that stretch.
New York has won each of its four playoff games in the Bronx, outscoring the Twins and Angels 19-9 in its $1.5 billion ballpark.
“We feel comfortable here and we just want to keep going out there and playing good baseball,” outfielder Nick Swisher(notes) said.
It will be hard for anyone to be comfortable if the forecast is accurate. If Saunders has to wait a day to pitch, it could create another possibility in the series—one that might make the Yankees push even harder for a closeout victory.
If Game 6 is postponed, manager Mike Scioscia says the Angels would consider bringing back ace John Lackey(notes) on three days’ rest to pitch a potential Game 7 as a counter to Yankees stalwart CC Sabathia(notes), who already has shut down the Angels twice in the series.
“Yes, we’ve talked about a lot of different scenarios,” Scioscia said before the Angels’ flight. “We’re going to let this thing unfold a little bit and see how the weekend goes. If there is an opportunity to look at bringing a guy like John back, it’s something we certainly would consider. We’ve talked about a bunch of things.”
Jered Weaver(notes), who pitched an outstanding eighth inning of relief in Game 5, is the scheduled starter for Game 7—but Lackey is the Angels’ best, most experienced pitcher. Lackey, a soon-to-be free agent with every motivation to star in the playoffs, confounded the Yankees for six innings of Game 5 before Scioscia removed him with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, precipitating New York’s six-run comeback.
But the Angels made a three-run comeback of their own in that sublime seventh. Closer Brian Fuentes(notes) slept soundly after finding trouble and escaping it in the ninth inning of Los Angeles’ 7-6 comeback victory, retiring Swisher on a bases-loaded popup with a full count and two outs.
Fuentes is no stranger to high stakes, and the major leagues’ saves leader knows his teammates also thrive in such straits. Ever since the tragic start to their season with the death of pitcher Nick Adenhart(notes), the Angels have tapped untold wells of strength on the way to an AL West title, 97 victories, a first-round series win over Boston—and now an ALCS that gets more tense by the inning.
“Pressure is something you put in your car tires,” Fuentes said. “I don’t feel like it’s any different now. We’ve still got to keep playing, still got to keep doing our work for another game. We don’t get anything extra for that one. … If it’s raining, we’ve all got to play in it. If we get postponed, we’ll be ready when we get the chance.”
Los Angeles is quietly confident about its chances against Andy Pettitte(notes), who is expected to make the Game 6 start even if it’s pushed back a day and can set two records with another solid postseason outing. The left-hander has four series-clinching wins among his 15 career playoff victories—both tied for the most in baseball history.
“However many starts I’ve had in the postseason or how many innings, it’s not going to help me tomorrow when I go out there,” Pettitte said. “It’s a matter of getting out there and my cutter cutting, my location being good, and this is a game of just inches.” (Y! Sports)
POD: Los Angeles @ New York Under 9.0 (MLB)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
GAME POSTPONED DUE TO BAD WEATHER
POD: Los Angeles @ New York Under 9.0 (3K units)
Watch the games live for FREE @ Bet365
Heavy showers in Saturday’s New York forecast are threatening to wash out Game 6 of the AL championship series, yet that’s a minor drizzle compared to the high-pressure system the Angels created for both themselves and the Yankees by extending the ALCS to the weekend.
Rejuvenated by a ramshackle win in Game 5 that cut the Yankees’ series lead to 3-2, the Angels still face long odds to make the seldom-seen comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against their star-studded opponents. Yet Figgins still senses a team-wide confidence that the Angels can rain on the Yankees’ 27th championship parade.
“It doesn’t get any better than this, especially going into that ballpark,” said Figgins, the Angels’ leadoff hitter. “It’s going to be another crazy game, I can tell you that. You go back and just enjoy it. The pressure is on both teams.”
The Yankees arrived back in New York early Friday morning and held an “optional” workout—“In the playoffs, it’s not optional,” catcher Jorge Posada(notes) said with a grin—under an overcast sky in the Bronx that afternoon. A chilly wind rippled the flags that line the top of the stadium and jostled the ceremonial red-white-and-blue bunting along each deck.
It was a much different scene than the picturesque weather they had in Southern California, and they still were thrilled to be back.
“Our guys feel very good when we walk in this ballpark,” manager Joe Girardi said.
The Angels were grateful to show up to work Friday in suits instead of sweats, holding a brief workout before flying to New York.
Figgins and his teammates all packed the cold-weather gear that did little good in their last trip to Yankee Stadium, when they lost the series’ first two games with poor hitting and sloppy defense. The Angels’ defense and pitching mostly got back to normal in Anaheim, but their hitting didn’t improve until Game 5, when they scored seven runs after mustering just 10 in the entire series beforehand.
“They are the favorites, but after this one, we’ve got obviously a lot of confidence, a lot of momentum,” said Joe Saunders(notes), the Angels’ Game 6 starter. “It’s going to be the usual Yankee hostile environment. It’s going to be a lot of fun. They’re going to be all over us.”
The Yankees had a major league-best 57-24 record at their new home this season, including a 36-10 mark since June 30. They lost consecutive home games only once in that stretch.
New York has won each of its four playoff games in the Bronx, outscoring the Twins and Angels 19-9 in its $1.5 billion ballpark.
“We feel comfortable here and we just want to keep going out there and playing good baseball,” outfielder Nick Swisher(notes) said.
It will be hard for anyone to be comfortable if the forecast is accurate. If Saunders has to wait a day to pitch, it could create another possibility in the series—one that might make the Yankees push even harder for a closeout victory.
If Game 6 is postponed, manager Mike Scioscia says the Angels would consider bringing back ace John Lackey(notes) on three days’ rest to pitch a potential Game 7 as a counter to Yankees stalwart CC Sabathia(notes), who already has shut down the Angels twice in the series.
“Yes, we’ve talked about a lot of different scenarios,” Scioscia said before the Angels’ flight. “We’re going to let this thing unfold a little bit and see how the weekend goes. If there is an opportunity to look at bringing a guy like John back, it’s something we certainly would consider. We’ve talked about a bunch of things.”
Jered Weaver(notes), who pitched an outstanding eighth inning of relief in Game 5, is the scheduled starter for Game 7—but Lackey is the Angels’ best, most experienced pitcher. Lackey, a soon-to-be free agent with every motivation to star in the playoffs, confounded the Yankees for six innings of Game 5 before Scioscia removed him with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, precipitating New York’s six-run comeback.
But the Angels made a three-run comeback of their own in that sublime seventh. Closer Brian Fuentes(notes) slept soundly after finding trouble and escaping it in the ninth inning of Los Angeles’ 7-6 comeback victory, retiring Swisher on a bases-loaded popup with a full count and two outs.
Fuentes is no stranger to high stakes, and the major leagues’ saves leader knows his teammates also thrive in such straits. Ever since the tragic start to their season with the death of pitcher Nick Adenhart(notes), the Angels have tapped untold wells of strength on the way to an AL West title, 97 victories, a first-round series win over Boston—and now an ALCS that gets more tense by the inning.
“Pressure is something you put in your car tires,” Fuentes said. “I don’t feel like it’s any different now. We’ve still got to keep playing, still got to keep doing our work for another game. We don’t get anything extra for that one. … If it’s raining, we’ve all got to play in it. If we get postponed, we’ll be ready when we get the chance.”
Los Angeles is quietly confident about its chances against Andy Pettitte(notes), who is expected to make the Game 6 start even if it’s pushed back a day and can set two records with another solid postseason outing. The left-hander has four series-clinching wins among his 15 career playoff victories—both tied for the most in baseball history.
“However many starts I’ve had in the postseason or how many innings, it’s not going to help me tomorrow when I go out there,” Pettitte said. “It’s a matter of getting out there and my cutter cutting, my location being good, and this is a game of just inches.” (Y! Sports)
POD: Los Angeles @ New York Under 9.0 (3K units)
Watch the games live for FREE @ Bet365
Heavy showers in Saturday’s New York forecast are threatening to wash out Game 6 of the AL championship series, yet that’s a minor drizzle compared to the high-pressure system the Angels created for both themselves and the Yankees by extending the ALCS to the weekend.
Rejuvenated by a ramshackle win in Game 5 that cut the Yankees’ series lead to 3-2, the Angels still face long odds to make the seldom-seen comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against their star-studded opponents. Yet Figgins still senses a team-wide confidence that the Angels can rain on the Yankees’ 27th championship parade.
“It doesn’t get any better than this, especially going into that ballpark,” said Figgins, the Angels’ leadoff hitter. “It’s going to be another crazy game, I can tell you that. You go back and just enjoy it. The pressure is on both teams.”
The Yankees arrived back in New York early Friday morning and held an “optional” workout—“In the playoffs, it’s not optional,” catcher Jorge Posada(notes) said with a grin—under an overcast sky in the Bronx that afternoon. A chilly wind rippled the flags that line the top of the stadium and jostled the ceremonial red-white-and-blue bunting along each deck.
It was a much different scene than the picturesque weather they had in Southern California, and they still were thrilled to be back.
“Our guys feel very good when we walk in this ballpark,” manager Joe Girardi said.
The Angels were grateful to show up to work Friday in suits instead of sweats, holding a brief workout before flying to New York.
Figgins and his teammates all packed the cold-weather gear that did little good in their last trip to Yankee Stadium, when they lost the series’ first two games with poor hitting and sloppy defense. The Angels’ defense and pitching mostly got back to normal in Anaheim, but their hitting didn’t improve until Game 5, when they scored seven runs after mustering just 10 in the entire series beforehand.
“They are the favorites, but after this one, we’ve got obviously a lot of confidence, a lot of momentum,” said Joe Saunders(notes), the Angels’ Game 6 starter. “It’s going to be the usual Yankee hostile environment. It’s going to be a lot of fun. They’re going to be all over us.”
The Yankees had a major league-best 57-24 record at their new home this season, including a 36-10 mark since June 30. They lost consecutive home games only once in that stretch.
New York has won each of its four playoff games in the Bronx, outscoring the Twins and Angels 19-9 in its $1.5 billion ballpark.
“We feel comfortable here and we just want to keep going out there and playing good baseball,” outfielder Nick Swisher(notes) said.
It will be hard for anyone to be comfortable if the forecast is accurate. If Saunders has to wait a day to pitch, it could create another possibility in the series—one that might make the Yankees push even harder for a closeout victory.
If Game 6 is postponed, manager Mike Scioscia says the Angels would consider bringing back ace John Lackey(notes) on three days’ rest to pitch a potential Game 7 as a counter to Yankees stalwart CC Sabathia(notes), who already has shut down the Angels twice in the series.
“Yes, we’ve talked about a lot of different scenarios,” Scioscia said before the Angels’ flight. “We’re going to let this thing unfold a little bit and see how the weekend goes. If there is an opportunity to look at bringing a guy like John back, it’s something we certainly would consider. We’ve talked about a bunch of things.”
Jered Weaver(notes), who pitched an outstanding eighth inning of relief in Game 5, is the scheduled starter for Game 7—but Lackey is the Angels’ best, most experienced pitcher. Lackey, a soon-to-be free agent with every motivation to star in the playoffs, confounded the Yankees for six innings of Game 5 before Scioscia removed him with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, precipitating New York’s six-run comeback.
But the Angels made a three-run comeback of their own in that sublime seventh. Closer Brian Fuentes(notes) slept soundly after finding trouble and escaping it in the ninth inning of Los Angeles’ 7-6 comeback victory, retiring Swisher on a bases-loaded popup with a full count and two outs.
Fuentes is no stranger to high stakes, and the major leagues’ saves leader knows his teammates also thrive in such straits. Ever since the tragic start to their season with the death of pitcher Nick Adenhart(notes), the Angels have tapped untold wells of strength on the way to an AL West title, 97 victories, a first-round series win over Boston—and now an ALCS that gets more tense by the inning.
“Pressure is something you put in your car tires,” Fuentes said. “I don’t feel like it’s any different now. We’ve still got to keep playing, still got to keep doing our work for another game. We don’t get anything extra for that one. … If it’s raining, we’ve all got to play in it. If we get postponed, we’ll be ready when we get the chance.”
Los Angeles is quietly confident about its chances against Andy Pettitte(notes), who is expected to make the Game 6 start even if it’s pushed back a day and can set two records with another solid postseason outing. The left-hander has four series-clinching wins among his 15 career playoff victories—both tied for the most in baseball history.
“However many starts I’ve had in the postseason or how many innings, it’s not going to help me tomorrow when I go out there,” Pettitte said. “It’s a matter of getting out there and my cutter cutting, my location being good, and this is a game of just inches.” (Y! Sports)
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