Now it’s a series.
By squandering many early chances against the Tigers and being unable to muster any offense against the Tiger bullpen, the Yanks dropped a 4-3 heartbreaker to Jim Leyland’s young club.
It was a nerve-racking now-you-have-it, now-you-don’t affair. I kept expecting the Yanks to come back in the late innings, but the story of the game was the Tiger bullpen.
The Yankees had no answer to Joel Zumanya in the 7th and 8th, as he struck out 3 of 4 batters faced. He mixed a 103 MPH high fastball with breaking pitches on the outside corner. He’ll likely be the Tiger closer next year. For what it’s worth, Brian Bruney looked equally dominating in the top of the 9th for New York. Hard throwers who throw strikes are crucial to post-season success. (Are you listening Kyle Farnsworth?)
In the 9th, Todd Jones got ahead of the hitters and mixed his pitches well to nail down the game for the Bengals. After following Zumanya, Jones appeared to be fluttering the ball up to the plate, but he posted the zero that he needed for the save.
Any thoughts that the Yanks were going to steamroll past the “overmatched” Tigers might as well be forgotten about now. Jim Leyland’s club doesn’t quit, and with the ailing Randy Johnson going Friday, the Yanks could find themselves down 2 games to 1.
In his post-game interview, Jim Leyland said he hope that people “realize that we are a true playoff team.”
The Tigers deserve to be here, and they are proving it on the field.
The Marvel of Jeter
As a Yankee fan, watching Derek Jeter play in the post-season is one of the greatest perks that the job offers. Just when you think he can’t possibly do more to solidify his reputation as a money player, he comes up with a way to do more, more and more.
Was anyone really surprised when Derek Jeter went 5-5, with 2 doubles, 3 runs scored and a cherry-on-top-of-the-Sunday crushing homer to centerfield to put Game #1 away?
That’s October.
That’s Jeter.
Yankee Gm Brian Cashman had this to say about Jeter: “You’re not surprised. He has the focus down correctly. He knows what this time of year is all about. He wants to be in position to make the great play. He’s not afraid of failure. He can slow the game down. He keeps adding to his resume.”
After the game, when Jeter was interviewed he offered his obligatory “Going 5-5 doesn’t mean a thing if we lose tomorrow.” That may sound like a cliché, but with Jeter, it’s a believable cliché.
I noticed that the first one to come out of the dugout and congratulate Jeter after his homer was none other than Alex Rodriguez. You can rest assured that if A-Rod had hit a homer to make it 8-4, the media would have described it as a “tack-on” homer, when Captain Clutch does it, it’s an important “insurance run.”
But that’s life in the Big Apple for Jeter and A-Rod. And it’s not going to change until A-Rod gets at least one ring. Of course once A-Rod wins his first, it will be Jeter’s fifth.
As Yankee fans, isn't it enough that we can watch two of the greatest players of their generation everyday? Why is it necessary to compare the two constantly and choose between them?
I'll take one of each, thank you! (Just STOP bunting in the first inning, Derek.)
Comb the baseball forums across the web and almost any thread about A-Rod will eventually turn into a comparison of him and Jeter. Why not compare A-Rod to Giambi, or Cano for that matter? It is indiscriminant anyway.
It seems nearly impossible to find a level-headed assessment of Jeter's abilities and contributions. You'll either find mesmerized devotees who see no blemish, or you'll encounter embittered, jealous detractors who see little upside the over-rated defensive liability.
When I got up the morning after Game #1, I put EPSN radio on. With all the baseball news from the first game of the playoffs, with three games to cover, what are Mike and Mike doing but comparing A-Rod and Jeter…..STOP already. Please.
Then I go to read the fine blog “Was Watching,” and I see that Steve Lombardi noticed the same thing. The A-Rod bashing is ridiculous.
Jeter post-season: .307/.379/.463
A-Rod post-season: .305/.393/.534
Now, if you’re a Yankee fan looking for something to worry about, there’s Kyle Farnsworth.
Farnsworth’s Foibles
If the Yanks don’t win their 27th World Championship, it may very well be because of Kyle Farnsworth. Man, does this guy give me the hee-bee gee-bees when he enters a game. There is nothing more annoying than a strong-armed guy who can throw 100 MPH who does not trust his stuff.
Farnsworth tries to paint corners like Maddux or Moyer, but all he does is get behind the batter. Joe Torre will have to go to Mariano in the 8th inning in the ALCS or World Series to squelch rallies, and I believe he will. Rivera has pitched more than 1 inning in 65% of his post-season appearances. That can’t stop now.
If you’re looking for a ballplayer who is having fun….It’s Johnny Damon
His 3-run homer in the bottom of the 4th inning against Justin Verlander in Game #2 was his first real Yankee post-season moment. It was wonderful to see him clowning around in the dugout after the tater when he was carrying everyone’s gloves. Johnny is still an idiot…but he’s OUR idiot now, and that makes all the difference.
Patience. Patience.
Rookie Justin Verlander is a major reason why the Tigers are in this ALDS, and his 100 MPH fastball seems unhittable at times. As he learns how to pitch at the major league level and mix in his curve more effectively, he has a chance to become one of the most dominant pitchers in the league. Facing the Yankees, of course, was a major test for him, not just because of the quality of the Yankee hitters, but because they are so incredibly patient. Verlander threw 105 pitches to get 16 outs. That’s just another reason why Bobby Abreu has been a perfect addition to this Yankee lineup.
Talk about class, that’s Jim Leyland
It’s impossible not to appreciate the job Jim Leyland had done with the Tigers. In one year, he has taken a perennial loser and taught them how to win like professionals. Regardless of the outcome of this series, Leyland deserves sincere accolades. He is hands-down Manager of the Year in the American League.
Leyland also appreciates the way the Yankees go about their business, as he told mlb.com:
"I'm a Yankee fan, and that sounds corny and I want to explain that real quick. You almost wish going into a playoff game that you had something against the team, that you didn't like their players, that you had some extra motivation, but you don't.
"How can you not like Derek Jeter? They never show anybody up, they play the game right -- I respect what they have done. You almost wish that you had an axe to grind with them, but you don't.
"I almost wish they would have thrown at somebody during the season or hot-dogged, but they don't do that. Their manager is a close friend of mine, he's a gentleman, an outstanding manager and there's no motivation there. I wish I could dig something up, but I can't. And that is something that worries me a bit, and I talk to the team about that.”
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