Deadspin
Forgive us for referencing our column again, but we can't quite get over how dead the Yankees looked in the third inning last night. Whatever your thoughts on George Steinbrenner's "ultimatum" — and we tend to think it's the rantings of a doddering old man who mistakenly let someone end with a notebook — it certainly added a level of intrigue to the game last night and, to our surprise, the Yankees responded.
As we mentioned earlier, we're just glad we have a series to watch now, and we suspect staring Chien-Ming Wang tonight on three days' rest is the right move, using that old "sinkerballers are better when they're tired" maxim that makes theoretical sense, we guess. (Honestly, we don't see how a pitcher can ever be better when they're tired.)
So, let's look at A-Rod, shall we? He's only had one signature moment this series, and it was a strikeout. He had two hits yesterday and started to look like a guy who was coming out of a postseason funk. If he's gonna do it, now's probably the time. That is, if he or Joe Torre even wants to come back next year.
Won Yesterday [Bronx Banter]
Sweepless Night [New York Times]
Comments
The New York Yankees, brought to you by Oops I crapped my pants.
If the Yankees are lucky, Jeter won't come up in a clutch spot. He looks hurt. Maybe it's the herpes.
I just can't see Paul Byrd going into the Stadium tonight and winning. It's going back to Cleveland.
"sinkerballers are better when they are tired"
Brandon Webb hopes this isn't the case.
Are they having an underwater tea party?
Will is my favorite Hot Expert
@Crookednose: Nah, he just has sand in his vagina.
The Disney movie is forthcoming
Clemens should have another kid and name him Krook.
if the yankees do pull this thing out, do you think espn will even bother to cover the nlcs and world series? or will they just crown the winner of the sox/yanks series and start the mich/osu countdown clock a few weeks early? no cubs? no phillies? no nlcs.
@I Heart Poop: They'll cover it heavily in two areas: the four-corner states, and the Bible Belt.
Is Chip Caray contractually obligated to say "here come the Yankees!" after every hit? What a fucktard.
@I Heart Poop: Well since the WWL is a little bitchy when an organization doesn't bow to it, I suspect them to barely mention the game and cream all over whatever Monday Night snoozer is on the schedule for that week, and then continually call the NASCAR playoff thing "THE WORLD SERIES! (of left turns), cough"
Will, good point on your NY times blog about Chamberlain pitching two innings with a 5-run lead. That is managing scared, and dumb. Hopefully the Yankees need to protect a close lead in tonight's game and (because Chamberlain will be either unavailable or a wee bit tired) have to rely on Farnsworth. I'd like to hear the collective groan in the Bronx when Farnsworthless enters the game.
@Crookednose: Torre doesn't have the best history handling a bullpen. If the Joba rules hadn't been instituted in the regular season, Chamberlain probably woulda pitched 3 innings in every single game in September.
@Crookednose: he will be throwing directionless haymakers at the crowd.
@Crookednose: It's Mussina time!
Even with Byrd pitching, you have to be a little concerned if the game ends up being close with an unavailable/tired Chamberlain, Mariano only available for one inning most likely, and Hughes completely unavailable for long relief.
@I Heart Poop: After all of the "Detroit in 3" World Series predictions last year, I guess they'll have to at least take a look.
I'd just like to note that I was at the game last night and dislocated my thumb high-fiving after Damon's HR.
I'm almost as bad at high-fiving as Tiger Woods and Steve Williams. Almost.
@Rob Iracane:
Can you nominate yourself for that really long thing you write each week?
@Mr. Poon: I know you're excited about the Yanks victory, but lets not go crazy!
@Rob Iracane: Wang's not exactly coming back on short rest. He barely pitched in game one, so he should be well rested and ready to suck again.
I can't believe the east coast bias here... there's only two baseball posts today and one is about the Red Sox while the other is about the Yankees. This is just as bad as ESPN.
@1 Speed Bike: Well, seeing as the Red Sox and Yankees played games yesterday, while the two teams from Outer America did not, I think it makes perfect sense. Check out www.deadspinwestcoast.com for all the updates on Randy Johnson's back and Dante Bichette's favorite hobbies.
So, uh, when does Moose get to pitch? I know he had a bad stretch and clearly isn't the pitcher he used to be. But his last few starts, he seemed to finally catch onto that fact and was doing pretty well.
Are we guessing the Yankees are going to use him for bullpen work? Obviously, Pettitte goes in Game Five.
I mean, it'd be pretty shitty if, after Mussina speoke to the team yesterday about stepping it up to save Torre's job, Torre basically said, "Yeah, fuck that guy."
sorry, I thought that my post came off as stupid enough to be detected as sarcasm
@Crookednose: Is DeadspinWestCoast as crappy and transparently commercial a ripoff as Avengers West Coast?
@MitchKayak: He'll also be barkin in their ears rawp rawp!!11!
Invisible Toilets!
@1 Speed Bike: In the future, I'll take your stupidity for granted. I kid.
Luis, the Avengers? Wasn't that a movie starring Robin Williams?
@Crookednose: Remind me again where you got that avatar?
@Crookednose: he is hurt
but you do know that if he comes up in a big spot, the chances are that he will come through.
@Philistine: I got it at the Villager Tavern in Hillsboro Village.
@AddisonMavenue: He came up in two big spots last night and hit into double plays both times.
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