Bring me the head of Phil Coke.

I can’t be the only one who is completely terrified of Andy “I’m not going to lie, I was gassed out there” Pettitte going on 3 days rest.

Almost 48 hours till game time. Unbearable.

I just wish Jeter had raised his game in that spot right there…

There’s a poster from page one I’m lookin’ to blame. Something about a good feeling.

I have no complaints if I never have to see Coke pitch again.

No complaints here.  That was a fun game… good AJ, good umpiring, good work from Coke, what’s not to like?

Flip-flop Trader and Teix Wednesday?

Can’t really fault Jeter, he’s been great the whole month.

Despite my Battle Cat fears, I’m optimistic about game 3. WOE seems to be coming alive and a second look at Pedro will be good for it. No one except AJ and Choke gave up any runs.

I just wish Jeter had raised his game in that spot right there…

I would have settled for a strikeout.

I would also like to humbly request that Jose Molina never get into another game as a Yankee again. I only want to see him on the field in a celebratory dogpile.

aj. coke. jeter. teix.

chronological order..

aj. coke. jeter. teix.

chronological order..

And in descending order of responsibility.

So, the mobile vortex van was vandalized in the parking lot in Philly. I’m not holding out much hope for the tape deck, or the Credence tapes, but what about my briefcase ?

This is the type of loss that the Yankees tend to follow up with a win this season.

You know, the valiant comeback that falls just a bit shy.

So I’m feeling very confident about the offense on Wednesday, especially the locked-in A-Rod.

PLUS, think about it - it could theoretically be Mo for two on Wednesday, right? Marte for one, Mo for two, that leaves six innings for Pettitte and the bullpen to patch together.

I think it’s very doable.

And even if that should fail, CC in Game 7 versus Happ/Hamels is a HUGE advantage for the Yankees.

Damn, the Yankees did score “at least 6 runs”.  Maybe I should have also been confident and optimistic about Phil Coke not ever coming within 50 feet of the mound.

I know many are questioning BattleCat on short rest, but I am not. This MIGHT be the last start of Battle Cat legendary and battle filled career. I expect he brings his stuff, and the lineup goes from WOE to WOW!

These are the MoDamn NEW YORK YANKEES, have some confidence folks. Kevin Brown isnt starting game 6.

I was wondering where all the Coke fury was in the game thread.

The Yankees on an awful night are pretty close to a wash with the Phillies on a good night. That’s my takeaway. </delusion>

In #7, I meant game 6. Maybe game 3 at home…

I like the Yankees’ odds on Wednesday. In the unlikely event there is a game Thursday, I love their odds.

I also wouldn’t mind a ten-hour rainstorm Wednesday afternoon, evening, and night.

Tex should’ve crowded the plate and tried to get plunked again.

I’m real close to clicking on one of these farnsing back pain ads. I could use some pills tonight.

Oh man, a rainout would be wonderful, especially since we know they won’t go to Lee on short rest.

The most annoying thing about this loss will be the endless second guessing about starting AJ.  The fact is, though, that even those who first guessed the move mainly did so because they feared, irrationally, losing game 5 and no longer being able to start AJ, ignoring the fact that AJ gives you the best chance to win both game 5 and the series.  But now that the Yankees have lost game 5, all the first guessers can say, “I told you so.  Now you’re in trouble.”

The one thing I will say is that Pettite better start game 6.  In his presser, Girardi was asked who’d start game 6 and he said he’d check how Andy felt tomorrow.  That better be Girardi dissembling, because I do think that if you are going to start AJ in game 5 (which I wanted), you absolutely have to be certain that Pettite can go in game 6, otherwise that defeats the purpose of the whole thing.

Also, it is pretty funny how the Yankees ARE pretty much 86 NLCS-ing ‘em.

Oh man, a rainout would be wonderful, especially since we know they won’t go to Lee on short rest.

I bet they would, actually. But it would be nice for Pettitte to get full rest.

Here’s something to make you all feel better: Game 6 probable lineup now that we are leaving AAAA.

Jeter
Damon
Teixeira
A-Rod
Matsui
Posada
Cano
Swisher
Gardner

That better be Girardi dissembling, because I do think that if you are going to start AJ in game 5 (which I wanted), you absolutely have to be certain that Pettite can go in game 6, otherwise that defeats the purpose of the whole thing.

Co-sign.

This was probably addressed in the game thread, but has there been adequate bitching yet that no one PR for Matsui for a little hit-and-run with Jeet up?

weather.com says basically no chance for rain, but I’m pretty sure they make predictions by having monkeys throw darts at a wall.

The one thing I will say is that Pettite better start game 6.  In his presser, Girardi was asked who’d start game 6 and he said he’d check how Andy felt tomorrow.  That better be Girardi dissembling, because I do think that if you are going to start AJ in game 5 (which I wanted), you absolutely have to be certain that Pettite can go in game 6, otherwise that defeats the purpose of the whole thing.

If Pettitte had gotten to the park and told Joe he wasn’t up for tomorrow, Al Aceves or Chad Gaudin would have stepped out for the bottom of the first.

27. Posted at 11:19:59 pm on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 by A. Phil

Here’s the deal. Tomorrow, I’ll only be able to sign on the blog around 10ish. If the Yankees are leading in the game, I will not venture anywhere near RLYW. If they are losing however what the heck. Also, if they are leading tomorrow before I have a chance to sign on and eventually win, then I will not only stop myself from commenting on Game 2’s thread, but the rest of the threads following. We’ve got to change the luck somehow.

That’s what I said last Wednesday. Oh well, guess I’m back!

[15] I think most of us, in all honesty, never “felt” this was gonna be winnable.

I never had that certain feeling of several previous come-from-behind wins, I’ll say that much.

Instead of being angst-ridden, why don’t we congratulate our boys on valiantly taking 2 out of 3 in the hostile, raucous environs of Citizens Bank Park, where the crowd is louder than standing under a 747 during takeoff and no one ever sits down, not even on the car ride home.

#27 - I think Pena was all they had left, and they were down 3 - need to see that 2-1 pitch (I think) again to see what it was - Jeter didn’t make good contact for being ahead in the count.

Get ‘em on Wednesday

That better be Girardi dissembling

Girardi on his game 6 starter:

Look, man, I’ve got certain information, all right? Certain things have come to light. And, you know, has it ever occurred to you, that, instead of, uh, you know, running around, uh, uh, blaming me, you know, given the nature of all this new shit, you know, I-I-I-I… this could be a-a-a-a lot more, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, complex, I mean, it’s not just, it might not be just such a simple… uh, you know?

I’ll tell you what I’m blathering about… I’ve got information man! New shit has come to light!

[29] I sure hope so.

Instead of being angst-ridden, why don’t we congratulate our boys on valiantly taking 2 out of 3 in the hostile, raucous environs of Citizens Bank Park, where the crowd is louder than standing under a 747 during takeoff and no one ever sits down, not even on the car ride home.

There is no question at all that this little excursion down the Pennsylvania railroad was a rousing success. It’s a bit frustrating to see how it could have been even better, but I think a rational Yankees fan ought to be extremely pleased with the outcome of this extended weekend.

Hilariousness from the fake Centaur twitter:

“Cabrera wouldn’t stop crying so I told him, hermano, you’re actually lucky. When someone like me has a leg breakdown they euthanize”

[34] The Dude abides.

Errrrr, thanks, I think, A. Phil.

If Andy Pettitte is not the Game 6 starter, the Yankees should have a new manager for Game 7. I fully expect Pettitte to start Game 6. He’d better not pull a David Wells, 2003, that fat scumbag.

Ok, boys, I’m turning in.  We’ll get ‘em Wednesday, behind the Battle Cat.

This was probably addressed in the game thread, but has there been adequate bitching yet that no one PR for Matsui for a little hit-and-run with Jeet up?

I’m guessing the rationale was that there were no one really left on the bench, so basically the only move was putting in Ramiro Pena, who is faster than Matsui but do you really want to put him in the game at that point?  Rookie jitters, hasn’t played at ALL in weeks, etc.

That being said, they still could’ve hit and run with Matsui.  But Madson has some pitches that can miss bats so if Jeter misses then Matsui is toast.

On an unrelated note—the strike zone was tighter than it’s been in any games this series.  The low strike wasn’t there and the outside strike was inconsistent the whole night.  Just a bad combination for Burnett.

[34] best movie ever.

Utley should only see beanballs on Wednesday.

[44] agreed. they hit the wrong dude on the hands.

they hit the wrong dude on the hands.

If Victorino is out, the bottom of that lineup isn’t too intimidating.

The way he’s going, Utley would hit a triple with the knuckle.

Alright, I’m either going to bed or to play video games. One way or another I’m going to stop talking baseball.

You know, Joe DiMaggio didn’t get to the Hall on his first chance, so there’s no reason the Yankees should have to clinch their first opportunity.

Also, it is good to know that they at least have a lefty going for the next two games.

Parallels to the ALCS should also not be lost. Burnett sucks. A valiant comeback effort doesn’t result in a win. Teixeira hits a double. Uh…i think that’s all I got.

This boring ass football game is taking forever.

Game 6 is going to do a huge mega rating for Fox. Baseball is back!

Parallels to the ALCS should also not be lost. Burnett sucks. A valiant comeback effort doesn’t result in a win. Teixeira hits a double. Uh…i think that’s all I got.

The opponents wore red and white. The fans there had a rooting gimmick (monkeys, towels).

If worse comes to worse, they can fake an injury to Coke, replace him with me on the active roster and let me spell Pettitte in the 4th on Wednesday.  I throw straight fastballs in the high 70s.  I can’t throw a changeup, but I throw a breaking pitch with either a small wrinkle or a ridiculous slow-motion hook.

Hermano?

Hermano?

Spanish for Herman. They think Melky looks like Fred Gwynne.

Watching Zodiac to cheer myself up.

Is drinking til Wednesday at 5 PST a good plan to pass the time?

Heyman tweets:

nothing official for game 6 yet but #yankees gm cashman just told me, “andy’s looking forward to it”

well, sounds like Hermano is about to get his ass kicked.

Watching Zodiac to cheer myself up.

That one is a charmer.

Zodiac to cheer you up? I’d watch something like Office Space. Or porn.

If worse comes to worse, they can fake an injury to Coke, replace him with me on the active roster and let me spell Pettitte in the 4th on Wednesday.  I throw straight fastballs in the high 70s.  I can’t throw a changeup, but I throw a breaking pitch with either a small wrinkle or a ridiculous slow-motion hook.

I just texted Girardi your stats and mine.  I pitch on my slow-pitch softball team.  We’re 4-1-1 and last game I only gave up 3 runs.  I don’t know my ERA because there was a 24-15 game that kind of skews my stats but you know, SSS and all that.  I think my K/9 is like… 1.5, but I can’t really tell because we only play 7 innings.  Either way I wonder if I could go up against Chase Utley, throw that easy 40 mph, 12 ft high strike, and not give up a homer.

Another game at NYS: good for business.

[61] yeah, aj threw that game on purpose. orders from the boss.

I’m pretty sure the only orders the Boss issues nowadays concern pudding.

[59] +1000000! Seriously had me laughing on that.

I should clarify that I enjoy Zodiac sooooo much that it doesnt matter how Burnett-esque depressing it is. I just love watching it. Might follow it up with Se7en.

LoHud: “We’re on a real tight deadline but I wanted to give you a taste of how A.J. Burnett was in the clubhouse. In short: He was crushed. “I feel like I let 25 guys down,” he said. “I just couldn’t get it to go where I wanted it to go. … I had a chance to do something special in here tonight and I let all the guys down. I let the city down.””

At least Mo gets two days off!

Also, Hughes looked ok.

Fire Girardi.

Girardi didn’t do anything wrong. As much as we like to point out the mistakes he makes and god knows there are a lot, I think he makes less than other managers. With managers it really is who hurts their respective team the least.

More ALCS parallels: Battle Cat ready to close it out in game 6 at home.

I think vill was being sarcastic. Unless I have interpreted wrong and I dont think I have.

Now excuse me while I get back to Zodiac/explaining to my gf why losing a game 5 while up 3-1 is bad.

[68] Rationale arguments have no part in a complaint thread.

Alex is unclutch half horse. Jeter is overrated. AJ sucks. Cashman sucks. Posada blew the game with his terrible pitch calling/ball framing, etc.

Since Hairston replaced Swisher in Game 2 v. Pedro, is it likely that Girardi will start him in Game 6 instead of Gardner?

No. Unless Girardi’s binder doesn’t include defensive metrics.

No. Unless Girardi’s binder doesn’t include defensive metrics.

Exactly.  Gardner’s probably going to be basically a zero with the bat, but he still has a lot of value in the outfield.  Witness tonight’s catch on Werth’s long fly ball.  Hairston played all of 5 games in CF this season.

“Just make my pitches, that’s the biggest adjustment,” Coke said. “[Utley’s pitch] was down the middle. We’ve had a few issues with the ball in that spot.”

No shit!!!

Gardner’s probably going to be basically a zero with the bat, but he still has a lot of value in the outfield.

I agree, but I thought that Swisher’s relative value would have persuaded Girardi to keep him in the lineup for Game 2.

Your faith in your friends is yours.

The Phillies loom.

That game sucked.

Two amusing Centaur-related articles for y’all to laugh off the whatever nonsense stories are dominating the airwaves on today’s travel day:

1. On Kate Hudson.

2. On pitching to A-Rod.

Short rest looms.

Haven’t read the game thread or most of this one, but I just want to go on record as refusing to second-guess the short rest call.  We all know that Burnett could easily be just as bad at home on longer rest, and they don’t need dominance from Pettitte on Wednesday, just adequacy.

What I will second guess is having Gaudin on the roster for this series in the first place.  The fact that he had to be stretched out in a side session alone means that he was never all that viable as a long man or fourth starter in the first place, and there must be somebody in the organization who is at least a marginally better matchup against the Phillies—not to start a game, but at least to give you a couple of innings in a “trying to claw back” scenario like last night.

Looking for some bright spots:
1) Yankees still up 3-2
2) Bullpen (aside from Coke) looked good last night
3) Joba, Marte, Mo get two days rest
4) Yankees have scored 7 runs after the 7th inning last two games

I’d be happy with 5IP/3R from Pettitte tomorrow. Keep it close and let the bullpens decide it. Same for Thursday.

I like that they got to Lee and they got to the Phils’ best reliever, Madson.  For a moment (right before Jeter GIDPd), I believed they’d come all the way back.

The better relievers are rested, and I think Girardi knows Marte > Coke.  I don’t think we see Mr. Coke again this year.  Going home, still up 3-2.

BattleCat on short rest, yes.  But then it’s similar for Pedro.  His good pitching came on long rest, which I really believe helped him.  Now he’s on normal rest and I doubt he’ll be as sharp.  Just keep them in it, Andy!

there must be somebody in the organization who is at least a marginally better matchup against the Phillies—not to start a game, but at least to give you a couple of innings in a “trying to claw back” scenario like last night.

There are.  Their names are David Robertson and Alfredo Aceves.  Unfortunately for us, D-Rob wasn’t admitted until two batters two late and Phil Coke - not on that list - slipped past the bouncer.

Gaudin is clearly there for emergency blowout innings, and nothing else…which is probably not the best approach to WS roster construction.

Let’s hope that late inning burst last night is evidence of better things to come.  Hey, the Yankees are exactly where they should be right now: up 3-2 coming home in a best-of-seven series.  After running into the Game 1 buzzsaw that was Cliff Lee, they hammered out three wins, and then got a dose of Bad Burnett.  It happens.  And I’m really, really excited for tomorrow, and if need be, a Game 7.  It’s the farnsing playoffs, which are amazing… and joyous, screaming Yankee fans is, to me, a much finer picture for winning it all than sullen, beer n’ battery throwing Philadelphians.  At NYS, the players get to stand on top of the dugout and spray chanting throngs of faithful with champagne.  What could be better?

I’m not down on Teixeira per se, but I was really disappointed that he didn’t get on base to get A-Rod to the plate.  What a moment that would have been.

This was one of those losses that for some irrational reason make me feel better about the team.  The Yankees spotted the Phillies a 6-run lead and still battled back against their “unhittable” starter to get the tying run to the plate twice in the 9th inning.  It just seems nearly impossible to completely put the Yankees away.

Pedro will be on five days rest, FWIW.

BTW, Coolstandings still likes the Yankees:  80.1%

There are.  Their names are David Robertson and Alfredo Aceves.

I thought I made it clear that I was talking about Gaudin being on the roster in the first place.  He’s just such a lousy matchup against this specific opponent that it makes very little sense to carry him even as the emergency guy.  And if he isn’t going to start a game even if one of your big three trips on a sprinkler head walking from the bullpen to the dugout, then you might as well just carry another one-inning guy.

It seems like his real role was to start game four if the Yankees had been up 3-0.  I don’t think that’s particularly good roster management.

there must be somebody in the organization who is at least a marginally better matchup against the Phillies

Eh.  Glancing at the 40-man, and taking into account that most of the other options haven’t pitching meaningful baseball in a month going into the WS, I’m not sure how much better.  However, it probably *would* have been better to have an extra player on the bench.

edit:  I don’t think that’s particularly good roster management, as you said.  IOW, we pretty much agree.

It seems like his real role was to start game four if the Yankees had been up 3-0.

Now you’re just being silly.  There’s no way if Yanks were up 3-0 in the series Sabbathia wasn’t starting game 4.  Gaudin is there in case any starter can’t go - not just from 3-days rest thing but if they wake up and have a stiff-neck and can’t pitch or something - or if they need length out of the bullpen.  It’s poor roster construction unless they end up needing him, IWC it’s great foresight. 

He’s an insurance policy.  The main question is, is there anyone else they could have had instead of him that would have gotten into games if Gaudin wasn’t on the roster?  And the answer is probably not.

taking into account that most of the other options haven’t pitching meaningful baseball in a month going into the WS

Of course, Gaudin hadn’t pitched meaningful baseball in a month heading into the WS, either.  Josh Towers would have been a better choice for the “break glass in case of emergency” role, for crying out loud.

Now you’re just being silly.

No, just making a WAG about why they took a pitcher that they’re deathly afraid to let into a game.

What exactly does Gaudin insure against?  Playing too many extra innings?

Gaudin is there in case any starter can’t go - not just from 3-days rest thing but if they wake up and have a stiff-neck and can’t pitch or something…

I guess you missed the part where I doubted this.  Just speculation on my part, of course, but I’ll bet you a coke that Aceves starts if Pettitte wakes up with a stiff neck tomorrow morning.

You guys didn’t really want to see them celebrate in Philadelphia, wearing road gray, did you?

Is anyone else getting bombarded with these ‘max page load frequency’ errors? I was getting it last night and now again this morning..

a taste of how A.J. Burnett was in the clubhouse. In short: He was crushed. “I feel like I let 25 guys down,” he said.

Um, I believe there were 44 of 884 registered readers logged in at the start of the game, AJ.

Also, I would like my undies back.

I am still amazed the careless approach that was taken with Utley regarding his second homer. What is scary though is that Howard is way too good to keep sleeping, but I guess the same could be said for Tex. Well, I have to agree that I would have quickly signed up for two out of three in Philly. The bottom line now is that the team needs to play like champs going forward to be champs and that is all that we could have hoped for.  Back in April would any of us not have been really ecstatic to have our team in this postion?

I think we have seen the last of Molina at bat as a Yankee, there’s another positive.

I can’t blame Jeter, he has been abundantly productive throughout the ENTIRE post season!!! I do have to comment though on the non-hitting of Swisher & Tex, which has made the job of winning throughout the post season difficult for the Yankees.  My biggest complaint is about Robinson Cano…. Not only is he been terrible at the plate, he just seems like he really does not care.  I know it is a judgement call, but he seems like he is more interested in his BIG LEAGUE CHEW Bubble-Gum, instead of getting some Big League hits! lol I actually don’t find it funny, but I think that Cano’s new catch phrase should be….I came here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I’m all out of kicking ass!