The ALCS victory was theirs for the taking even after an awful first inning, but the Yankees couldn't reach out and grab it. Instead, the series will head back to New York for a Game 6 on Saturday. The end result came in spite of the efforts of one Mike Scioscia, the AL's likely Manager of the Year for 2009.
Let's run down the mistakes:
- He sat down his hottest hitter, Howie Kendrick, to go to Maicer Izturis, just as he had done during the regular season. Izturis did make one notable defensive play, snaring a grounder that had deflected off Kendry Morales' glove, but he went 0-for-4 while batting sixth in the lineup. Kendrick is 4-for-11 with a homer and a triple in the series.
- In the seventh, he made the bizarre choice to let John Lackey face Johnny Damon with the bases loaded, only to pull him in favor of Darren Oliver once Damon was retired. Removing Lackey prior to Damon's at-bat would have been defensible. Letting Lackey face Teixeira after retiring Damon would have been defensible. Instead, Scioscia went the one route that made no sense at all. It's not like he even had history on his side, as Teixeira went 2-for-3 with a walk lifetime against Oliver. Teixeira delivered a three-run double, and Oliver never got an out in what ended up being a six-run inning.
- Scioscia twice played small-ball in bad situations. In the seventh, he had Chone Figgins put down a sacrifice with two on and none out, even though Figgins has grounded into a double play once every 91 plate appearances in his career. The Angels went on to score three times in the inning, and perhaps they would have broken the game open if not for giving up an out. In the eighth, the red-hot Jeff Mathis was asked to bunt against Joba Chamberlain with a man on second and two outs. He failed to get it down in two attempts and ended up striking out.
- Scioscia actually made a great call in the eighth, turning to probably Game 7 starter Jered Weaver in reliever. Weaver was dominant in retiring Melky Cabrera, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter on two strikeouts and a comebacker. Scioscia, though, couldn't resist going to closer Brian Fuentes in the ninth. In the end, it worked out. Fuentes loaded the bases on two walks -- one intentional -- and a HBP, but he got out of it by retiring the ice-cold Nick Swisher to end the game.
So, now we'll see a Game 6. Joe Saunders vs. Andy Pettitte. It means both teams will resume using their best lineups, with Jorge Posada catching for New York and Kendrick playing second for the Angels. The only thing in doubt is whether Mathis or Mike Napoli will catch. Napoli caught Saunders in Game 2, but Mathis is too hot to be benched now.
RedSox fan - you're right about "Bumbling Scioscia". Always thought over the years he was on of the best but watching him in this NY series is painful. Between the umpires (nice call at 1st tonight on Teixeira(?) and Scioscia it's distressing to say the least). Easily safe at 1st. Almost getting used to these umps. My sons disagrees with me but in the 8th can Figgins try a delayed squeeze. He's not gonna hit it deep enough for a sacrifice fly. It fact he can barely hit it at all in this series. There's no force at home so why not try it. And making Mathis bunt was stupid. The guys smacking the ball. On fire. He's the one you trust, not Figgins. But they won. Bats and confidence coming back but Scioscia has to get it right or they're done. Yanks are not world-beaters. Have mostly looked underwhelming, especially against the Twins. They have upper hand but could easily go into a funk.
It matters not that Scioscia mismanaged this game for the "W" is all that counts. As for NY the chinks in the armor have been exposed and with this loss doubt has begun to creep in as memories of 2004 are not that far out of the minds of Yankee players, whether they were on the roster back then or not for everyone knows about the historical collapse of that team. Saturday Pettite takes the mound and he is far too old to count on shutting down a revived Angels line-up and the Yankee bullpen once again proved they aren't as good as everyone says. Which brings us to game seven where Sabathia will HAVE to come through for a third time and that will asking too much of him as anyhting can happen when it comes down to one game. Angels in seven!!! MARK MY WORDS!!!
Heading should read Bumbling Girardi...OMG someone should kick this guy in the nuts and wake him up....we are not playing the twins....burnett is a mental midget, just a matter of time he and posada would not mesh, and it had to happen in the seventh...why was robertson not up, why was hughes not brought in right away, why? why? why?
You forgot to mention that he has one of his best hitters, Aybar, batting 9th. He should be benching Rivera because Rivera always takes the first pitch which is right down the middle and then starts swinging at pitches out of the strike zone (tonight was an aberration when he got a hit which shows if your manager is dumb enough to leave you in, you will occasionally hit something)
One thing I found quite amusing today, and even moreso after tonight's game, was the fact that no matter where you turned all of the so-called experts already had the Yankees and Phillies in the WS. On all of the ESPN talk shows nobody even bothered to mention the fact that even though they're down 3-1 LA just might comeback to win the ALCS and instead were comparing how the Phillies offense and pitching would stack up against NY's offense when the WS starts next Wednesday. Now all of a sudden all of those same "experts" can't say enough how good the Angels hitters look coupled with just how bad the Yankee pitching looks.
The choking has begun!!! ;-)
ANGELS IN SEVEN!!! MARK MY WORDS!!!
SCIOSCIA SHOULD HAVE LET LACKEY FINISH HIS GAME. ONCE SCIOSCIA TOOK LACKEY OUT OF THE GAME IT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE DONE AND BURIED. I SOMETIMES WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE MANAGERS AND SHOVE THEM ASIDE AND LET SOME OF THE PLAYERS SHOW THEIR TALENT.
The game came apart for the Yanks once Burnett walked Aybar. It had nothing to do with Posada. The Bullpen just coughed it up. I'd say the biggest goat of the game is Swisher. I said he should have been benched games ago. He's moving his body like he has turrets at the plate. Gardner should have been playing. He couldn't have done worse. Fuentes is awful and I'm not just talking about his face. Pettitte may not have the best stuff by far, but his postseason experience outways every starter in the playoffs combined. He's up to the challenge. Yankees down the Angels on Saturday. Big games from Pettitte, Teixeira, and Arod.
Postseason experience? Does that include being a part of the biggest choke in the history of baseball? Yes it does and both Pettite and A-Rod were in on it. Those are the two players we'll see on Saturday as they have the entire flight to stew on this loss as well as all day tomorrow with reporters reminding them of '04 everytime they turn around. ANGELS IN SEVEN!!! MARK MY WORDS!!!
I like how everyone thinks they can manage a team. It's not enough to be able to juggle personnel and make game day decisions and game time decisions, there are aspects of team management that help to create the situations you eventually see on the field and camaraderie and trust among players and coaches.
Scioscia mis-managing the team? BS. Writers will say that for shock value. Bumbling idiots don't lead teams into the playoffs. Otherwise, we'd definitely see Manna Acta's face on TV right about now.
On a side note: Scioscia taking out Lackey when he did was the right decision - Lackey was clearly throwing strikes that the ump was calling balls, and that was just making Lackey more infuriated. Scioscia knew that he had to bring in a reliever to give the umps a blank slate for the umps to work with; those umps would be less inclined to favor Lackey the more pissed off he became at them. Umps hate being shown up by players. Lackey badmouthed the umps during the post-game interview. Yep, still ticked even then.
The way to beat Pettit is to keep the lead at first small enough that there is no need to throw over. That keeps the batter focused on the at bat instead of wondering if there will be a pitch or a pickoff attempt. They can beat Pettit if they don't let themselves get caught watching the game while they're supposed to be hitting. There is a rythum to hitting.
Michael,
Great analysis of Scioscia and Lackey. Y
Ya oughta be on ESPN. But then they're not interested in intelligence, just motormouthing. It's amazing what these guys can-Not say in 30 minutes.
The Yanks have too much, just like the Civil War. The Angels are in for a HUGE beat down - MARK MY WORDS!!! The Phillies are too much for the Dodgers. Manny is nothing without his "lil helper" to shoot up his veins. Dodgers lose - MARK MY WORDS!! The only problem with the Yanks is Girardi - he was an idiot player and is continuing that history as a manager. He will not be with the team in two years - MARK MY WORDS!! It might only take one - MARK MY WORDS!!!! The Angels suck because they really have nothing to offer. Pitching? Hitting? Give me a friggin break, they have nothing. They appear pretty good when EVERYONE actually plays 100%. That is once in a blue moon because they are all emotional trauma cases. Angels will lose - MARK MY WORDS!!!!!!!! Yanks will win - MARK MY WORDS!!!! The Sun will rise in the morning - MARK MY WORDS!!!! The moon orbits the earth - MARK MY WORDS!!!! Water seeks its own level - MARK MY WORDS!!!!!! The Cubs will never win the NLCS, much less the WS - MARK MY WORDS!!!!!!!
think yanks should have hinski on world series roster?????
ummm MarkMyWords........the Dodgers have already lost. I think you forgot your meds this morning...mark my words!
I'm not a fan of the bunt, but these are two tough situations to criticize Scioscia for.
Figgins is hitting .065, and followed by three superior hitters.
As hot as Mathis is, Aybar is also hitting pretty well. Mathis has also been carrying a K-rate of about 1:3 ABs for the past couple of years, with a lifetime .200 average.
Uh, John, check your facts before spouting off. Pettitte was with Houston in 2004. Last night was one game. Settle down.
Interesting how no one noted all the errors in this blog, which you all like to do. Mathis was trying to bunt with 1 out, not 2 of course. And Fuentes actually walked 3 to load the bases, 1 intentional, 1 non intentional, and 1 HBP. And decisions like this get managers fired. Just ask Jimmy Williams for his decision to keep Pedro Martinez in the game in game 7 of the ALCS in 2003 against the Yankees with a fresh bullpen warmed up and ready and Pedro at over 100 pitches.
How ridiculous! Scioscia is a brilliant manager - two games before Jepsen was pitching and through no fault of his own put a couple of guys on. Scioscia came out talked to him - left him in - when any other manager would've yanked him - and the guy got out of it no problem.
Mike, I totally agree with you. All these "armchair managers" crack me up. If you know so much, why the hell are you at home getting fat in your lazy boy recliner???? Seriously Baseball is half skill, a quarter knowledge, and a quarter luck. It's a very tough game to manage. And you'll always be second guessed by folks that should just keep their mouths shut!!! Because they couldn't manage a little league game!!!!! :>)~ end rant.
I believe Grady Little was the Red Sox manager who got canned for leaving Pedro in too long.
Didn't watch the game last night...just checked the play-by-play online. Seems Fuentes is determined to melt down no matter the situation. That is NOT what a good closer does. Hard to believe he got as many saves as he did this year.
At any rate, the Yankees lost, and that's good news...however, I'm sure they will come back gangbusters Saturday and put the Angels away. LAA is a great team, but this the Yankees' year, as much as it pains me to say it.
Yes, your right. It was Grady Little.
Mike just needs to remember the baseball credo, "the only good yankee is a dead yankee". I would start anybody in his bullpen that can throw 95 plus and place one in Aroids ear. The quarter billion dollar man would turn to jelly. Good luck anybody facing the Fankees.
Well if game 6 is rained out tomorrow night and rescheduled for Sunday then Girardi had better pitch CC on Sunday and if the Yanks win then have Pettite pitch on Wednesday vs Philly and Sabathia pitch on Thursday in game 2.
Let's pray for a whole lot of rain tomorrow night.
"the only good yankee is a dead yankee"
Wow, and I thought my contempt for the Yankees was unparalleled. Heh.
Can't anybody here report the facts? The Mathis bunt attempt was with NO OUTS, not two, and not one. Which made it even more idiotic. You pinch run a fast guy and then give up an out with a guy at the plate that has SIX straight hits? I generally like Scioscia, but he crapped the bed at least five times in the last three innings. Make one mistake against the Yanks, whether it's throwing a ball away or throwing an inning away, and 9 out of 10 times they will stomp you to death. The Halos got VERY lucky.
Been a Yankee fan for 50 years. I realize certain fans don't appreciate the team, but the hatred displayed in the comments above by Billie Bob goes beyond baseball and any baseball team. Very shocking, disturbing stuff.
So Pettite was an Astro, semantics for as I said before everyone is fully aware of the colossal collapse the Yankees pulled off in 2004 including Andy. Last night was indeed "one game" and I'm sure that is what you and every other Yankee fan said with each Red Sox win five years ago, no? So deny it all you want but you know the doubt has crept into your mind as well, "Oh no not again!!!" ;-) ANGELS IN SEVEN!!! MARK MY WORDS!!!
You people have to be kidding. Scioscia knew Lackey's temper. The ump got into Kazmir's head the other night and he overthrew into trouble, Lackey does the same thing. I'm more interested in calling out the ump and stopping one sided yankee calls at key moments. Angels called out ump in Boston and now to yankees, is that what it takes to make the ump stop givin the Yanks every ounce of the plate. Last night was an example of making the umps stop favoring the yankees. Scioscia made his moves and they worked like walking a-fraud. Seems like only Angel fans want the Angels to win and everyone else wants on the bandwagon.
The Angels will have one of there usual post-season collapses this weekend, because no one has choked more in the playoffs than the Angels. 2004-CHOKE! 2005 CHOKE AGAINST THE White Sox! 2007 CHOKE against the Red Sox! 2008 CHOKE against the Red Sox. 2009 giant CHOKE this weekend against the Yankees. Face it, the only reason the Angels are still in this series is because of Giardi's bullpen mismanagment in both losses. So here comes the beat down. Say goodnight. They shouldn't even bother to play the game!
"2009 giant CHOKE this weekend against the Yankees" - How, exactly, is it choking when they are down 3-2 and will be playing the next 2 in New York?
"They shouldn't even bother to play the game!" - Most people were saying that before last night's game, and we saw how that turned out....
dcfan - wasn't grady little the manager of the red sox playoff team in 2003? I could be wrong, but I think it was him...
John, will you be back on this thread to make some more brilliant comments are the Yankees win one game this weekend and move on to the World Series? NO, YOU WON'T!!!! MARK MY WORDS!!!!
Monday morning quarterbacks are a dime a dozen!...and worth less!
The bullpen has been the Angels downfall all season long. If not for Weaver coming in and shutting them down in the 8th the Angels would have lost for sure. Sciosca made the "statistically" correct decision to bring Lackey out but the "gut-instinct" decision would have been to keep him in. I doubt it that Lackey would have given up 6 runs like Oliver and Jepsen did.
Anyway, the Angels live to play another game!
John-
Do you like the Angels in 7?
All this talk about choking, This is not the Angels or the Yankees of the past welcome to 2009. As far as I can tell the fans are the only ones living in the past. So sit back enjoy the game.
I hate to correct all this intelligent babble....but JOHN,......
Andy Petitte was on the Astros in 2004...not the Yankees.
All this talk about choking, This is not the Angels or the Yankees of the past welcome to 2009. As far as I can tell the fans are the only ones living in the past. So sit back enjoy the game.
Really Joe, for if you would've read a little further down you would've seen where RickyB already "schooled" me on that fact. And as I said it matters not for Pettite, whether he was with the team or not in '04, is well aware of the choke job laid down by the Yankees that year and he is going to be reminded of it non-stop by the media for the next two days. As for Mike, I will be back here in a few days rubbing your nose (and every other Yankee fans nose) in it when NY chokes away another insurmountable lead in the ALCS. ANGELS IN SEVEN!!! MARK MY WORDS!!!
One reason fans hate the yankees so much is the arrogance of their fans same with red sox. I was at Mon and Tues games and in both cases wank fans taunted until they lost Mon then Tues kept saying it's over don't show up. We all ask if they've ever been to Yankee stadium most live local never been to New York. It's easy to follow a team with a bunch of titles but it doesn't make you a fan.
wankee fans are two things bad losers and worse winners though they act just like the team they hate the most, red sux.
Ah. So which team, if I may ask, are YOU a fan of, Hateyankeebandwagon? any particular team, or do you just enjoy ranting? do you, in fact, even know anything about baseball? What may apply to one Yankee fan does not necessarily apply to ALL Yankee fans. Same for Red Sox Nation. Some may be arrogant. Most are not. But YOU certainly are . . .
actually john, petitte was playing for the astros in 2004. which is part of the reason the yanks blew a 3 game lead.
John, for someone so critical of Yankee egos, you seem to have a terrible need to have your words marked. To see yourself in print OVER & OVER & OVER again, pontificating the same ill-informed talking points... Perhaps you should take a cue from the pundits who announced the Angel obituary too early, and not set yourself up for a huge crow-eating session on Sunday.
The Yankees were confident that they could beat the Sox - but when the Angels swept the Sox - the Yankees were concerned...and well they should be! The Angels are a force to be reckoned with! Yesterday, I made the comment "Yes Virginia - there is a Rally Monkey!" (which was not well received in the Blog). I am not into "I told you so's!" however it may be time to put your faith and (might I add) respect into The Power of the Rally Monkey!(one case in point - last nights game!)
And the Phillies will take advantage of the chink. GO PHILLIES!
Yes... The Yankees did choke, John, against the BoSox in 2004. What you're missing, however, is that the YAnkees are a LOT better than they were in 2004, and the 2009 Angels are no 2004 Red Sox. I know they beat the Sox this year, but between the blown save by Paps and the terrible officiating, who knows what would have happened otherwise...
I hope you're right! I hate the Yankees and 99% of their stupid fans
Talex,
Its not a choke if you're behind by two games and lose the ALCS. Its a choke when you're AHEAD by two games and lose.
So if the Angels lose, its borderline inevitability, (which I'm rooting AGAINST!) but if the Yankees lose, its a choke, and it's also proof of the curse of the bambino reversed!
YANKEES LOSE A GAME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S 2004, THE CURSE BLAH BLAH BLAH, HOPE THE ANGELS DIDN'T PACK TOO MUCH STUFF, THEY WON'T NEED IT, COLD AND RAINY ON SATUDAY CERTAINLY NOT LA WEATHER, ANGELS ARE TOAST!!!!!
The rally monkey will be slapped back to
LALA LAND, ALONG WITH THE ANGELS
Me thinks John is worried about the Angels. The gentleman doth protest too much!
GO YANKEES!!!
WTF Cubs taking shrapnel here?
Well said, LadyFan. My local newspaper just spouted a bunch of hatred towards Yankees and Yankee fans. It was the most un-sportsman like thing I have seen in print yet. Being a fan of a team you get humbled when your team stumbles and you cheer when they do well. Some go overboard (as you see in some of the above posts), but most people are just following a sport they love and all of these players give that to us, regardless of the team they play for.
So if you feel the need to badmouth a team or its fans, it really says a lot more about you as a person than anything else. Get a life.
Your entire post here is unintelligible, so I label your argument invalid.
I am a good ol' Southern girl/Yankee fan, who lived in NY from the age of 8 untill I left home for a job in Atlanta, where I reside to this day. I have been to more MLB games than I can count and there are arrogant, taunting, and rude fans for each team. Yankee, Red Sox, Cub fans.....whichever. Ignorance is all around, obviously.
Thank you Civil. It's nice to hear from one of the MAJORITY of Yankee fans, who are courteous, knowledgeable, loyal people, much like the majority of us Red Sox fans, and unlike many of the people blogging here today. My team couldn't make the cut this year, so I wish you and your fellow fans luck. You have a great team this year, no doubt about it, and so does LA. Perhaps next year it will once again be your team and my team in the final battle, who knows. But this year, one thing is certain . . .whoever wins, we are going to see some great baseball!
MIKE SCIOSCIA MADE BIG MISTAKES AND THE ANGELS STILL WON.NEW YORK
DIDN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE AND IT WILL COST THEM THE SERIES. I DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHY IF YOU LIKE ONE TEAM YO HAVE TO HATE THE OTHER. BOTH TEAMS ARE GOOD AND THE BEST TEAM WILL WIN IN THE END.
Jeff, thank you. Really like Scioscia, his team brand of BB, but he's been marginal at best in this series, and if I wanted to be hard on him I could easily make the argument for a 3-2 Angels lead going back to NY (Fuentes giving up HR to A Rod in game 2(?). Yes, Angels were VERY lucky but the plus side is they blew a 4-0 lead, came back and took the lead again, and the win. Would have expected Angels to fold the tent in bottom of 7th inning but they didn't. They're passed the NY mystique and hopefully the bad weather. Want Scioscia to stay aggressive next two games and if necessary keep the umps on their toes and "invade their space" if necessary. Can't remember seeing such ridiculous calls this series, even when they (umps) had a good look. Nothing compares though to the 3rd strike called/no 3rd strike called against Angels 3-4 years back Angels vs. Cleveland playoff series. Does anyone remember details? Cost them the series. Pitcher was so devastated he gave up HR to next batter and Angels never made it to Boston. Good luck Mike and Angels. Yanks, FU.
Fuentes is a melt down waiting to happen and I'm an Angel fan! I have no idea how he got so many saves with his girly delivery.
I think he would only be ok to put in if the Angels had a 8 run lead at the time!
Mark my Words, I appreciate your undying support for your team. But you are an idiot.
Mark my Words, I appreciate your undying support for your team. But you are an idiot.
You gays cant talk all you want it turnsed out to be a smart move.
I've wondered the same thing myself... why let A-Rod have these monster games at the plate without giving him something else to think about, like, what if the next one comes at my head? He's way too comfortable up there and they're not doing anything about it. Make him hit the deck and get his uni dirty.
"pontificating the same ill-informed talking points..." Look at the big brain on Sammy. ;-)
And Fecteau other than Tex, Jeter & CC how are the Yankees better than in '04?
They have two average starters behind CC, one a pitcher who is in the twilight of his career in Pettite (who will be lucky if he can hold LA to four runs or less in game six) and the other a head case who throws seemingly every other pitch in the dirt, especially in key moments of a game (and who didn't record a single out before giving up four runs the other night).
The Yankee bullpen, other than Mo, is far worse than it was in '04.
A-Rod has been hitting but he's so fragile that all it takes is one game for him to go hitless and he'll be right back in the postseason funk he is famous for... or should I say infamous for. ;-)
Tex was great all season but hasn't lived up to his billing in the playoffs.
Matsui is five years older and is playing on knees held together with Ben Gay.
Swisher is a total piece of crapola who couldn't come through with his bat in a key spot if his life depended on it.
ANGELS IN SEVEN!!! MARK MY WORDS!!!
Ok john we marked your words! hahahahahhahahaaha
ANGELS IN SEVEN!!! MARK MY WORDS!!!