In truth, the ALCS should be over already. While there's been just the one blowout, the Yankees have outshined the Halos in every aspect of the game through four long nights of baseball.
*The Bombers are hitting .278/.375/.481 with eight homers, while the Angels have struggled to a .201/.273/.329 line.
*The Yankees' pitching staff has an exceptional 1.032 WHIP, while the Angels are at 1.661.
*With Mark Teixeira hauling in wide throws left and right, the Yankees have committed just three errors to the Angels' six.
Maybe the baserunning goes to the Angels, if only by default. Both teams have been abysmal, but at least the Angels have been caught stealing just once, while the Yankees have been gunned down three times in five attempts.
The Angels didn't even seem to make a real effort in Tuesday's Game 4. Their at-bats are getting worse by the day.
Against CC Sabathia in Game 1, the Angels saw 3.94 pitches per plate appearance. Facing A.J. Burnett and a cast of relievers in Game 2, it was 3.97. In the Game 3 victory, though, it dropped to 3.70. In the Game 4 humiliation, they were all of the way down to 3.45.
For the Angels to win the series now, they'd need to beat A.J. Burnett, Andy Petttite and Sabathia in succession. They have a realistic chance of winning Game 5 with John Lackey on the mound, but it's doubtful that Sabathia will work again until Game 1 of the World Series. The Yankee bullpen is fully rested after the completely unnecessary off day on Wednesday, and all of the extra time off has given Joe Girardi's crew a big advantage at the end of games, even if Girardi doesn't know how to optimize it. At this point, it's just a matter of whether the Yankees will wrap it up in five or six.
I just love the east coast mentality of you bloggers-you obviously think nobody but the Yankees exist! May I remind you of a few facts, as in, the Angels have come from behind and taken a championship before. There have been other teams 3-1 that have come back and won, and why should a team that has beaten the Yankees like a drum previously roll up and die just because you think they should? For the record-the Angels didn't give up in the face of tragedy, injuries, 18 players on the DL, a pitcher lost for the season-why should they give up now? I believe they will take the Yankees despite the naysayers! Including you!
I agree! As a Mets fan, I too am sick and tired of the relentless media bias in favor of the Yankees. When the Yankees win a few games and have a series lead it's "better pack your bags and go home, they're winning it all," but when the opposing team has a lead it's "don't worry, the Yankees will find a way to come back." I thought the media learned its lesson when the Yankees collapsed in '04, blowing a 3-0 series lead, and then performing miserably in the playoffs (or missing it entirely) for the next 4 years in a row. The Yankees remind me of the stereotypical "hot stock" in the stock market. When there is a little bit of good news, the herd comes a runnin' like no tomorrow. Only difference here is, the sports writers never seem to want to dump this stock.
This ain't your 2004 Yankees or 2005-08 Yankees, too bad you're a Mutts fan, you chose the wrong NY team, pack your bags Angels, it's over
The Angels are at a HUGE disadvantage. All the pressure is on them because this is their sudden death. If the Yanks score in the first and AJ comes out firing strikes, the Angels will be unnerved and play as bad as they did during Game 1. Scioscia will have a short hook on Lackey. No reason to save anyone.
Hey,
Wasn't there another team a few years ago down 3-1, who came back and beat the Yankees and then won the World Series? So Angels, it can be done, it is possible.
I doubt it!
The Red Sox have dominated the Angels in Octobers of the past, and they did again this season, and they are in the ALCS right?
.. no? It's ridiculous attempting to extrapolate previous years' results to this year's postseason. This is a significantly different Yankees team from years past. This Yankees team has a true ace (Sabathia), a number two starter who has amazing stuff but can be rather inconsistent (Burnett), and a truly great and consistent postseason starter (Pettite). In addition to those who always come up big in the postseason (Jeter, Rivera), this Yankees team, among other things, has Alex Rodriguez finally hitting like one of the best players in baseball, and Mark Teixeira who gives gold glove defense at first base, and a powerful bat in the order. This Yankees team lacks depth in the bullpen (Rivera, Hughes, Robertson, then everybody else) and experience at manager, but top to bottom this is a very solid team that probably won't collapse.
And before you say it, I'm far from a yankees fan. I'm just certainly not delusional.
Well, maybe these teams shouldn't be in the same league as the Yankees if their fans need to run around whining about their wins.
I love how everybody goes nuts when Yankee fans talk about 26 world championships. It's always "That's in the past! This is 2005, or 2009, etc" but it's perfectly ok for other fans to say "Hey, we won it all in 2002!!!"
Like the other guy said, the Sox owned the Angels since 1986, but that's over. The Yanks have taken 6 of the last 8 games they played against the Angels, with 5 of those games taking place in L.A.! Sorry, I mean ANAHEIM!! Bleahhhh!!!!
Yes the yankees are the best! I'm a native new yorker and a proud yankees fan. Yes they are the best!
Don't hate us because we're beautiful...
-NY Yankees, 2009 World Series Champions
JTBWriter: One should always dream!
could the halo's win...of course. it isnt impossible. but the fact is that the yankees have won 6 of the last 8 games played against the angels. of course the angels will still try and not give up, it is just very highly unlikely. there is no comparison to 2004. in that year the red sox could throw Beckett, schilling, pedro. The yankees had kevin brown and jaret wright...and THAT is why sox won.
CC Sabbathia and AJ Burnett are most certainly NOT Jaret Wright and Kevin Brown.
Fools all f you relying on past history to make your decisions.
The Yankees will win this series in 5 or games not because of media bias but because they are a better team. They were better than the angels in every offensive statistic except stolen bases and base running and the angels only hit 2 points better 285 to 283.
The Yankee pitching staff statistically is much better top to bottom and especially the bullpen.
Do you fools think Fuentes can close out 3 wins against New York
or you can eat Hughes and Mariano three games in a row or you can beat Pettitte and CC 2 games in New York.
Forget media bias and past history those Yankee teams that lost had no pitching compared to this team. And a cold Alex. They did not have a power bullpen and power pitching that led the American league in strikeouts.
This Yankee team is stronger then the angels on the mound in the batters box in power hitting and power bullpen.
Yanks will close out angels in 5 or 6 games at most. But most probably the angels season ends tonight. The Yankees have seen Lackey already. They will do same to him as they did to Kazmir.
Patience at the plate and make him throw strikes. They will hit good pitches hard and Lackey will have 100 pitches in the 6th.
All Burnett has to do is keep the Yankees close and their power bats and power bullpen will in game 5. In game 2 Burnett held the angels to 2 runs in 6 innings and one run was on a wild pitch if not that then one run in 6 innings.
Watch Lackey get frustrate tonight when they Yankees don't swing at his offerings outside the strike zone. He will pitch behind int he count most of the night then watch what happens when he has to throw
2-1 3-1 fastballs in the strike zone to the most powerful team in the major leagues.
BANG BANG BANK BANG BANG LACKEY LEAVES IN 6TH INNING BEHIND ONT HE SCOREBOARD. POWER BULLPEN CLOSES 7TH AND 8TH AND THE ANGELS ARE BEHIND IN NINTH WITH PRESSURE OF LOST SEASON AND STARING AT THE MOST
DOMINANT AND GREATEST CLOSER IN TE HISTORY OF BASEBALL THE ONE AND ONLY GREAT MARIANO.
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ANGEL FANS
Come on, Folks! NY Yankees have played very well this year and deserve to win big time! Right On --- Go NY NY Yankees! :)
So I had to scan the NY Daily news to see what NY is thinking about our Phillies. If Filip Bondy is any indication of what the arrogant Yankees fans are thinking then we are right where we want to be. This guy had to struggle to say anything positive about the Phillies. I want Ny to think we are "just" a National League team (Peter Gammons can stick his AL bias)before we go to NY, SPANK the Yankees and hoist the Championship in their new stadium and curse it!!! The Phillies curse will plague NY for the years to come. This is a special Phillies Team. My favorite quote is from Joe Torre, still a Yankee at Heart "as far as similarities between the Phillies club and the Yankees, there's alot of fearlessness, That is what I had in NY, in fact they taught me that. The Phillies learned that fearlessness on their own somehow"
The Phillies didn't learn their fearlessness, they developed it without history telling them they were great, being in the NATIONAL LEAGUE, with 1/2 the payroll of the Yankees, ownership with a dash of humility and NOT being from NY.
I like our chances. Oh no, I'm starting to smell like a Yankees fan. GAME ON! Go Phillies!
Hey Pam,
there is a reason Reggie Jackson is called Mr. October. That is because how they play the entire season is irrelevant in October. Just ask the back end of the Phillies lineup. Phillies in 6
The thought of the Yankees being in the World Series makes me want to hurl! The other day, I was listening to a Yankee fan whining that "we haven't been in the World Series since 2000, and haven't won a pennant since 2003." Well, when remembering that the Yankees have played in more than a third of all World Series, and have won roughly a quarter of all World Series, I'd say that if the Yankees never won another pennant or World Series for the next 200 years, that would be about right.
No, I'm not talking about the Red Sox, Dodgers, Mets or any team like that taking their place. I'm talking about the Chicago Cubs, the Washington Nationals, and the Texas Rangers.I'm also talking about breaking the arrogance of the Yankee fans, who know that, due to their location and the size of their media market, their team ownership will always be able to throw truckloads of money at their free agents and their farm teams, while schmoozing the h*ll out of players with croonings about how "you are almost guaranteed to play in the postseason if you play for the Yankees."
If the Yanks do manage to make it into the Series, my fondest wish is for the TV ratings to be close to zero outside the Metro New York and Metro Philly areas. Maybe that will send a wakeup message to MLB about maling MLB as competitive as the NFL.
You people need to get over the past. This is not 2004. Nor 2005, 2006, or 2007.
Do you know what sets this team apart from 2004 and the nearly impossible task of the Angels winning three straight games?
PITCHING.
The Yankees went up 3-0 on the Red Sox in 2004 but their starters ERA in those 3 starts was 5.00 which didn't matter much because the Yankees were hitting the ball as well. However, when their bats went cold, the pitching didn't pick them up as the Sox scored 25 runs over the next four games.
If it happens to go seven, the Angels will not be facing an aging stiff-backed Kevin Brown and jittery Javy Vasquez. They're going to face CC....who has owned them in two games so far. But first they have to get past Burnett and a well rested bullpen.
So please. Stop whining about the media loving on the Yankees. People are saying they're going to win, not because they're the Yankees, but because THEY'RE BETTER THAN THE ANGELS.
Hey Gunaquot...if what you say about the size of the NY market is true, then we can expect the Mets to roll out their dynasty any minute now. It's not only the market, but a commitment to the fans in that market. The Yankees are just more vigilant, and unafraid to invest in success. Are you saying the Los Angeles market is not huge.
Red Sox fan here and do root for anybody-but-the-Yankees mantra but the Angels have bee simply awful in every aspect of the game. I always liked Scioscia but he appears clueless sometimes and has he EVER been thrown out of a game in his career! Jesus Mike show some outrage! Gotta wake up those umps! Please. And maybe Torii and teammates will then get an attitude. I mean, game 2, the Angels decide on "let's take the 1st pitch" strategy and stick with it the whole game resulting in about 70% 1st pitch strikes. Means a lot to a pitcher. And where's the guy who won your only game the other day. Could you find a place for him in a lineup that looks as bad as the "three-hits-to-score-a-run" Minnesota team. And finally, you're up by a run and A Rod is up 8th inning. Lets take out the right handed reliever who's doing well and bring in a lefty. And then call for nothing but fastballs!! And Scioscia was a catcher!
And Yankee fans, until this last game you certainly did not look like champs. Minn Yankee series was hard to watch. Angels lost only opportunity last game so I think they're done (hope not). Phillies look awfully good. They developed some kind of a swagger last year and looks like they still have it.
And lastly Yankee fans, keep Giradi in the dugout please.
and the meek shall inherit the earth ...
If there is any justice in the world, the Angels will come from behind!
Yankees should win tonight. But I wouldn't be surprised if it goes 6 because how good the Angels are. The Angel's problem is that the Yankees are THAT much better. Remember, the Yanks are winning with some of their player (Texeira, Swisher, Cano, Matsui) not hitting.
Phillies vs. Yankees - Yankees in 5. Why? Pitching. The lineups cancel each other out (even though I think the Yanks' is a bit deeper and there is evidence that they might be heating up at the right time). Hammels is a great pitcher, but he isn't Sabathia. Don't even get me started with the bullpens. The only reason the Phillies look really good in the NLCS is bc the Dodgers couldn't make their pitches. You walk people it's bound to bite you back.
I know Yankee fans seem arrogant and whatever, but it's with good reason. This team is special. I've seen it all season. No disrespect to the Phillies, but they're gna get a rude awakening playing against the best Yankee team since 1998.
Let's face it folks, the Yankees and the Angels both bring excellent talent to the field, but the series will be decided on the field, not on some meaningless blog. The Yankees have the advantage and seem to be the hot team right now so the greater burden is on the Angels. I expect a good ending to this series no matter who prevails. Being a Ranger fan, I just enjoy seeing quality teams play for a change.
since the phillies were brought up, might as well continue.
Basically an above average line-up (similar to the Red Sox).
Average defense outside of Rollins
1 great starter, 1 good starter the rest average starters
A jekyl and Hyde bullpen with an above average closer
Yes a quality team.
...but the yankee are not Tampa or the Dodgers.
Yankees (if they make it) in 5.
WAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
As a Yankee fan I always say 'We have to let the other teams win once in awhile or they won't play with us anymore'. Stats are stats and facts are facts. And ... we love to be hated by you! NYY 2009 World Series Champions.
hey gunaquot
in the years that the yankess are in the world series since 1995 the avreage TV rating was 15. in non-yankee years the tv rating was 12. the ratings for 2008 between the phils and rays was the worst in history at 8.4.
Yes, MLB has seen the numbers and knows that the path to viewership ratings and wealth passes through the Bronx.
The yankees are a money making machine which means the yankees have money to spend, sometime sit works like this year. sometimes it doesn't.
Unfortunately he's a terrible writer, sorry you had to read him. Don't think he's indicative of what most NYers think.
Assuming the Yanks win the series, if you want a much more honest view of the series matchup, head over to riveraveblues.com and read what Ben, Mike and Joe put together.
You must be new here Mike. This is CTB were only outrage, irrational ranting and insults are posted. Take your "logic" someplace else.
:)
Yankees, 2009 WS Champs, forgot about the Phillies? They are beating everybody they play, and breaking records in the process, remember they say the Dodgers were to pose a challenge. What challenge, and who WON last year. The AROD (PAY ROD) curse will continue, oh, and I lived on the west coast for many years.
I have been an Angeles fan for many years and this is turning in to a nightmare. The Yankees are a powerful club this year. This is unfortunate and I looking forward to the Angles to give them a tough run tonight.
I'll check them out... thanks...
Just to expand a little on the comment by bb, there aren't too many teams in either league with pockets as deep as the Yankees. They can well afford to buy the best players available, where as many other teams need to rely more on trades and their farm systems.
Sour grapes? Maybe a little. Unfair advantage? You could argue that one either way. The bottom line is that money attracts good players, and good players bring opportunity to a team.
Lest we forget the 2008 NLDS... Sabathia was irrelevant and gave up a grand slam to Shane Victorino. He didn't last long. Also, Manny heard 47000 Phillies fans chant "you took steroids" and paused as he was taking the field because of the PSA against steroids was on the jumbotron. Arod has a target on his back and his steroid use will become a public demonstartion in Philly...
Agreed that Hamels is our biggest question mark.
I love it. This will be one of the best world series of all time. The best team money can buy verses the best team, which is largely home grown through the farm system.
Funny how I just discount the Angels... and I should not, but we could care less who we play. Bring it on!
ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz
Living on the west coast for a spell doesn't excuse you're ignorance. Obviously you have regressed to curses and salaries to make your case that the Phils have a good ball club. They don't need you. As you ring your hands and hope A-Rod fails, the collective strength of the Yankees should make them a slight favorite. Did I mention they have home field. Have they greatly improved their pitching staff?...Yes. These are the facts. Let me know how your hope for a "curse" works out for ya!!!
Yes Virginia, There is a Rally Monkey!
OK?
Uhhhh, where has the rally monkey been thus far?
He didn't work at the game I was at Saturday when some dumb broad pulled one out.
to choosefreewill
you clearly have not been watching the yankees this year, yes they spent alot of money but, this is also by every possible definition a cohesive and unified team. The yankees have not had this type of group in almost ten years.
also, you flatter yourself if you think that you will say ANYTHING that alex has not already heard. also, philly fans are vocal but, when it comes to treatment of opposing hated players, you guys are pikers versus the crowd at fenway.
lets talk about homegrown versus free agents:
Yanks homegrown:
catcher - Posada
Short - Jeter
2nd - Cano
Center - Cabrera, Gardner
Closer - Rivera
Bullpen - Hughes, Robertson, Aceves, Coke, Chamberlain
Starters - Pettite
Free agents:
Damon
Tex
Sabbathia
Burnett
A-rod
Trade
Swisher
So you see, when you know nothing other than what others tell you to know, you, you relaly run the risk of looking stupid.
if your strategy is to wilt a-rod with shouting...better get a plan b very quickly.
Nightmare World Series for Mets fans....who do you want to win...Phils, or Yanks? Hmmmm. Ouch. Really, no one is beating the Yanks this year.
hey rafalweb!
as a life long yankee fan, i can say without any hesitation or embarassment that i was 100% with the Mets in 86.
...hope it helps.
CHOOSE FREE WILL needed that little bit of schooltime ya just gave em. Isn't it funny how the pressure of facing the Yanks clouds even what would under normal circumstances probably be a lucid baseball fan into delirious and uninformed rants. Yeah, I can see it now. The old and played out Santa Claus booers making the Yanks so nervous that they can't even function. Does CFL even know who has home field. I suspect by the time this thing gets to Philly the fans will have bigger problems to worry about than A-Rod's publicity issues. Yeah....you know the pressure is on....WE AINT THE RAYS. Deal with it Philly!!!!!!
Ur right Sabathia got hit in 2008... but he was pitching his fourth or fifth game on short rest IN A ROW. This year, he's rested. Also, he didn't have the lineup backing him up that he has now. An ERA under 2 and a 3-0 record proves this.
Also, with the home stadium situation, the Yanks have the best home record in baseball. Better than the Phills. Who has the home advantage again?
As for AROD, are you telling me you're going to try to pitch around him? What if Tex heats up? You rather face matsui or posada with runners on base? That's the beauty of this lineup. There is no let up. 1 through 9 can take you deep.
I agree this is going to be a great WS (assuming the Yanks beat the Angels.. it ain't over yet, but close), but in the end the pitching will be the difference.
Yanks in 5
It's certainly not for you to say who can or cannot participate in this blog or any blog. It's arrogance like that which has kept the Yankees hated as a unit for so many years, not the games and series they have won. Do you notice anyone hating the Phillies? or the Cardinals? the Angels? the Rays who were a fantastic story last year? I doubt it . . . .most of us fans know and appreciate good quality along with excellent sportsmanship, and appreciate those who play the game that way. Your attitude is an exact example of why, no matter HOW many World Series then win, the Yankees will NEVER be perceived as true champions. It's a shame, and it's unfair to the true class of that team, such as Jeter, Posada and Cano, that they get lumped into the general perception of a team who loves money, victory and fame, but could not care less about honor or good sportsmanship.
The Yankees have to be hated. They need us on that wall. They want us on that wall. Without us they have nothing. The Yankees give them the pain they so desire. Misery lasts longer than happiness anyhow. So we'll give them a heavy dose. Yankee haters- I think you should just thank us for being there for you time and time again. Over and over and over. We will always be there for you. Without you we would be sad and lonely. Without you it would get boring. 26 championships. You make love fun!
I think it's time for the Angels to hit the showers. It's all over for them.
As humbly as I can state it, the Angels & Dodgers are/were no match for the Yankees and Phillies this year. While it may be true that the Yanks have the 'best team money can buy', it's also been true in the past when NY players failed to deliver. The big difference this year is that guys other than Derek Jeter are picking up the slack. Tuesday's game showed the Yankees' strengths and the Angels had no answer. But give them credit, they won 97 games which tells me they're at least the second best team in the A.L. If the Angels play 101% tonight and the bounces (and calls) go their way, they may get to finish out their season in New York, closer to the opening game of the World Series.
While the Phillies pounded the Dodgers and boast youth, power and confidence, the Yanks have Jeter, Arod and Sabathia along with one of the strongest supporting casts in a very long time. New York in five, maybe six games IF the Phils don't suffer a power failure.
Hey Matthew, as a Met fan you should be last one talking about the Yankees.Of course there is a media bias when it comes to the Yankees, there is an every possible bias with the Yankees when you compare them to the Mets. The FACT is that they have gone all the way 9 times out of 10 with the one exception being 2004. Unfortunatly the Mets have only won 2 championships and both were won due to the other teams errors, win one on your own for a change.
You being a Met fan i can understand how you feel. I can also understand why you know all the Yankee stats for the playoffs for the last ten years the Mets have hardly ever been there. Yankees win 40th pennant tonight.
bb... yes you are correct. I have watched 3 Yankees games this year, and in that series the Phillies SMACKED the Yankees... And regarding looking stupid... the only thing more stupid than Yankees fans are Cowboys fans... and your mother dresses you funny :)
I'm not a fan of the Yankees in any way, from the owner all the way down the organization. And another point, The American League is a fraud. The DH? the Yankees have an .111 disadvantage in Philly with the pitchers batting. We put Francisco in left and let Ibanez DH and now we are a better team.
The Phillies will win the 2009 World Series...
IT'S A WRAP TONIGHT, THE ANGELS DON'T WANT TO GET ON A PLANE AND FLY ACCROSS THE COUNTRY EAST TO LOSE AND FLY BACK TO THE WEST COAST.
I'AM VERY SURPRISED AT THE ANGELS SHOWING IN THESE GAMES.
You need to get over it!!!!!!!!!
THe Yankees are a storied franchise since the beginning.
Do you know the tax we pay to make MLB be more equal. About 80-100million dollars a year. We have a owner who puts his money back into his team and that is why we are winning our 40th pennant tonight and our 27th World Series shortly. All these "poor" teams that you mention have greedy owners who pocket their profits, that is why these teams stink. Also we Yankee fans are loyal to our team and pack our stadium daily. What about these teams that have fifteen to twenty thousand fans for a game if that.
Don"t be bitter be A YANKEE FAN and happy all the time!!!!!!!
EVERYONE HATES ON THE YANKEES BECAUSE THEY ARE THE BEST, PEOPLE EVEN MAKE UP DUM THINGS LIKE " THE BEST TEAM MONEY CAN BUY ", CHECK
OFF HOW MANY HOME GROWN PLAYERS ON THIS TEAM, GO AHEAD AND COMPARE.'
LAST YEAR JIMMY "BUTTER ROLL" WAS SO ENVIOUS OF WINNING IN NEW YORK
HE HAD TO MENTION NEW YORK IN HIS LITTLE POST WORLD SERIES SPEECH ... IF I HAD WON A CHAMPIONSHIP FOR PHILLY I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE REFERENCING NEW YORK IN MY SPEECH BUT HEY HE KNEW THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE PARADE DOWN THE CANYON.THERE IS NOTHING LIKE WINNING IN NEW YORK, NOTHING!!!!!!!
THE WORLD SERIES TROPHY WILL BE BACK IN IT'S
RIGHTFUL PLACE, NEW YORK .............
KEEP ON HATING ON NEW YORK,,,,,,,
CONCRETE JUNGLE WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE OF
THE LITES WILL INSPIRE YOU, NEW YORK, NEW YORK.......
EVERYONE HATES ON THE YANKEES BECAUSE THEY ARE THE BEST, PEOPLE EVEN MAKE UP DUM THINGS LIKE " THE BEST TEAM MONEY CAN BUY ", CHECK
OFF HOW MANY HOME GROWN PLAYERS ON THIS TEAM, GO AHEAD AND COMPARE.'
LAST YEAR JIMMY "BUTTER ROLL" WAS SO ENVIOUS OF WINNING IN NEW YORK
HE HAD TO MENTION NEW YORK IN HIS LITTLE POST WORLD SERIES SPEECH ... IF I HAD WON A CHAMPIONSHIP FOR PHILLY I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE REFERENCING NEW YORK IN MY SPEECH BUT HEY HE KNEW THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE PARADE DOWN THE CANYON.THERE IS NOTHING LIKE WINNING IN NEW YORK, NOTHING!!!!!!!
THE WORLD SERIES TROPHY WILL BE BACK IN IT'S
RIGHTFUL PLACE, NEW YORK .............
KEEP ON HATING ON NEW YORK,,,,,,,
CONCRETE JUNGLE WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE OF
THE LITES WILL INSPIRE YOU, NEW YORK, NEW YORK.......
Maybe it's the 26 championship rings......
Oh please. People that hate the Yankees hate them for one reason:
THEY WIN.
There was no big Yankees hate going on in the mid 80's through the early 90's when they were sucking badly. There wasn't even any hate after they won in 1996 which was a story-book thing. It was after they clobbered everybody in their path in 1998 when the haters surfaced and it just got worse as the years wore on.
As for the money haters.....you can't have it both ways. You can't "money doesn't mean anything" when they lose and then blubber about they "buying championships" when they win.
With regard to a potential match-up with the Phillies? Bring it. Look at these names:
Clay Kershaw
Hiroki Kuroda
Randy Wolf
Vicente Padilla
Those were the starting pitchers in the Phillies 4 wins in the NLCS. The Dodgers were relying on a Texas Rangers cast-off like Padilla to take them back to LA. Cliff Lee pitched great, but then what? A shaky Hamels against a lineup like the Yankees with their right handed hitters and switch hitters? Who the Phillies have after that? And their bullpen is still a question mark.
Yankees in 5 in the World Series.
The Phillies are defending their World Championship... The Phillies are the BEST! The DH is for wussies...
One thing that Phillies, Yankees and soon Angels fans can all agree on... Bobby Abreu is just bad luck!
This series could be over but it also could be 2-2 except for a fat 0-2 fastball to A-rod. Angels are off-balance, in part because of some fine pitching and in part because of going into the series with a five-day layover and let down.
The Angels ARE NOT a weak hitting team and they are NOT a poor defensive team. If the Yanks don't keep them off balance and open the door for the Angels to get back in this series (or if the Angels break out of their series slumber), you eastern media hype guys will be served crow, cooked and seasoned! Go Angels!!!
ChooseFreeWill, you do remember that the Yankees/Phillies series took place in May correct? When Burnett wasn't pitching well and the Yankees were relying on Brett Tomko to come in after Mo Rivera in extra innings. You do also remember that in the one win that it was Alex Rodriguez, not long after surgery smacking a home run off Brad Lidge to tie the game in the 9th right?
That was a LONG LONG time ago. The Phillies don't have the starting pitching nor the bullpen to beat the Yankees OR the Angels for that matter.
francisco? who???
oh and thats right ibanez...another of the phil's home grown talent.
a talented team in a lesser league. Lee was very good in the AL...in the NL he becomes dominant. same with CC. even pedro with no arm can hang in the NL.
What is all this whining about the DH. When the games are played in Philly, they will be played under NL rules. Are Philly fans making excuses just in case things don't workout? Maybe the P's should have won more regular season games, and secured home field. Sorry about you're luck................WHINERS.
I have a friend who sounded just like you until a couple of days ago.............He's an Angels fan.
It's always the same. One hit wonders trying to talk themselves into being a dynasty. The Yankees just deliver. 27 sounds like good number. Keep that in mind next you're crunching them.
Well Jay, since you are obviously not a Yankee hater, I doubt you are in a position to understand why they are so hated. You are looking at from a Yankee fan's point of view. I do agree with your dates, as to when they started to build their rep as a team with a "we are SO much better than the rest of the world" mentality. Yes, that mentality started when they started winning. Many teams have been consistent winners without the ego. The Phillies are in contention to repeat last year's success, and I do not detect any superiority attitude at all in that clubhouse or from that manager, OR from any of their fans. Nor do I hate them, nor will I if they repeat last year's success, because they are a classy, hard working, unconceited group of team players with a true love of the game. So thank you for making my point, which was that you are a good snapshot of the typical Yankee fan, and Yankee player. Completely convinced that you, and the Yankees, are "entitled" to win the World Series. That's what gets people to despise you. No one is entitled. It has to be earned. And winning doesn't make ANY member of ANY team a better or more deserving PERSON than any other player equally hard working. As a Red Sox fan, I admit freely that the Yankees fielded a stronger team than we did this year. I don't despise them for that, and they won the division title (which we won last year) fair and square, money notwithstanding. That may make them the best team, but it doesn't make them, or their fans, any better PEOPLE than any of the rest of us. If you can't grasp that, you only make my point for me.
That's better. SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Start spreading the news... The Phillies will repeat!!! The Philadelphia Phillies will hoist the 2009 World Series Championship, and if it happens in the Bronx all the better!
Oh wait, the Yankees haven't won anything yet, I keep forgetting. They still have a game scheduled against the Angels tonight. And I guess Yankee fans are forgetting the 3-0 lead against the Red Sox.
Say Goodnite Gracie!
Oh please stop. You're making me cry Oprah.
One hit wonder trying to make hit records............NICE
What cave do you live in. NY sports fans in general and Yankee fans in particular are the best and smartest fans in the world.
Why the NY Yankees may be hated by people like you who don't get to root for a very sucessful team. SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, the Yankees are pretty good. But it is a known fact that Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettit (and maybe others) are known steroid users. Can we all agree their accomplishments and the Yankees' success and greatness are tainted and meaningless? I used to like baseball until I learned that MLB chose to not deal with the steroid issue. Yeah the Yankees are great. But it's all a drug-induced illusion.
When CC turns Rollins into Figgins..........anyway you get my point.
Let me guess............Blue Jays
Ah yes, the classic male comeback. When you can't win an argument because you don't know what you are talking about, you resort to personal nastiness. Perfectly done. You won my argument FOR me. Oh, and for the record? if you will read my comments, you will see that I never said that I myself hate the Yankees. I think hatred of any team, as a group, is beneath a true baseball fan. In face, I believe I said that you beat us, fair and square, and I offered no excuses for my team. What part of that was too complicated for you?
lady fan
a few points. any true yankee fan does not feel entitled to win. the yankee fans who do feel that way are generally post 1996 fans who never went through the lean years that the rest of us went through.
we WANT to win...we LOVE to win...we get upset when we DONT win and we are forever proud of our LONG HISTORY of WINNING. that doesn't make most of us feel entitled.
we do however, fully expect that our ownership will do what it takes to field a team that can win and expect our coaches to create a climate where that can happen. finally, we also expect or PLAYERS will play as a team, as you say, out of a love of the game and desire to win.
when we have players who do not do that, we let them hear it (Pavano etc etc). yes these guys this year make alot of money (even the home grown ones like robbie cano..we believe in paying for performance) but they are also a team that really came together.
so yes, i want to win. i even expect to win. i even insist on winning. i dont however feel entitled to win.
i also have no interest in me or the team i cheer for to be better people. this is baseball not philosophy or theology.
A lot of you are West Coast bloggers. Fine. But the probability of the Angels coming back are remote. Sure, the Yankees lost after leading 3-0 to the Sox in the 2004 ALCS.
But don't you think that the series back in 2004 left a bitter taste in the four remaining players from that season? The rest of the cast is totally different and has cast indifference on that playoff blunder.
That's why this year's Yankees' team will be MUCH MUCH MORE resolved to get to the Series. Torre isn't the complacent manager anymore...it's a lean and hungry Girardi. And look what Torre has done in LA...he's gotten them to the post-season but "they ain't the same".
BB, very well spoken. YOU are a true fan with a heart for the game. It's not fans like you than engender hatred from fans of other teams. I'm glad you want to win, expect to win, and even insist on winning. It's certainly about time that such a talented team should show the world they CAN win. If they do that, THEN they can claim to be the best team. If they don't, I bet I won't see you on any blogg, whining about umpires or making any other excuses about how they SHOULD have won.
I have no dog in this fight, my team is long out of it. So good luck to you and other fans like you.
I'm gonna puke. How about we make it personal, but not take it personal. Enough already!!!!!!!!!
hey russ
...i guess and the red sox as well.
I'm sorry but which Yankee players act like they're 'entitled' to win World Championships? The attitude you are referring to is that of SOME fans, the loudest ones. A lot of us prefer to sit back, participate in the discussion, and root for our team passionately. The attitude and the ferver is not a sense of an entitlement, it's called wanting to win badly. As a Yankee fan, I never expect to win. I hope for it, pray for it, do rain dances for it. This year feels special to me but who knows? It's hypocritical for fans of lesser teams to hate the teams that are better at that point in time than them just for that fact. I assure you, none of us with a right mind think we are better people than you because we love the Yankees. Please spare us your misdirected frustration.
And not for nothing, I never really had a problem with Boston or even the Red Sox other than thinking it was just a great sports rivalry until I was attacked by Red Sox fans. Way to show sportsmanship.
ladyfan
yes you will see me on blogs if the yanks lose. however, i will be talking about what yanks did or did not do to lose. i have alot of recent experience in doing that.
While I respect how steroids has tained baseball, I think you're being a little biased against the Yankees on that one. PLENTY of teams have had players that have used, not just the Yankees. In the steroid heydey, probably a third or half of the league used in some capacity. Again, because the Yankees are targeted by the media just as much as they are darlinged, their players got exposed. FYI, when A-Rod tested positive, he wasn't a Yankee.
Personally, I think that list of players that tested positive is a joke. Make them ALL public. Then we'll see what everyone has to say and the issue would be forced to the front.
Not a very thoughful comment. How many other players for mlb have tested positive for steroids?? How many players need astericks beside their names in the record books????? How many players in mlb were on the list compialed in 2006??????? If you want to go there then you have to acknowledge that players from ALL TEAMS have the same problem. But lets just say its a Yankee thing.
Not too smart.
To the guy that stated the Phillies should have won more games to secure home field....it wouldn't matter if they won all 162 games, home field is decided by the all-star game for the world series and like usual the AL took those rights like it was cool.
YANKEES WILL SPANK THE PHILTHYS, NEW YORK STYLE.....
GET YOUR KINKY ON
FO SHO............SLAPPADILLY. TAKE A BREAK CHEESESTEAKS
I'm not a Yankee fan but you can't deny that they have bought themselves a winner this year. Sorry Phillies, this year belongs to the Yankees. If this was 2008, I'd agree with you 100% but with A-Rod producing and strong pitching there isn't a chance.
Firstly everything you have written on this blog contains the words "hating Yankees". Second off youn don't sound like a fan but a preacher. And thirdly I am a female. So I really don"t think you know what you are talking about. You have proved my agrument for me!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's see what you have to say after the series is over (most likely tonight).
This is the Yankees year. The Angels will fall tonight or in the Bronx. Yes, the Phillies look real hot but we are playing for keeps this time and yes they the Yanks are out to avenge their loss during 2004. As far as the way people are slamming A-rod it is totally unjustified he confessed it is behind him and their is no proof that he is on steroids. We will crush the Angels and their will be a "Battle Royale" with the Phillies. Go Yankees.......
I dislike the Yankees intensely but this ALCS is over, if not tonight then in game 6. However, the Phillies are jerks and will get beaten as their pitching does match up to the Yankees.
Really, does any team exist but the Yankees? NO WAY, THIS IS YANKEE COUNTRY!! Always has been and always will!!
The past is the past. This NY team has played all 54 outs of each playoff game. So well, I'd say that they're making Girardi look smarter than he is... and I like Joe G. These guys aren't folding up like they did in 04. Heck, there are only a handful of those 04 cats left... so it's not much to compare.
the Angels may be behind-- but i'll bet they will comeback! true the Yanks have a good team this year. for the amount of money they paid for that talent, who would be surprised. but- they should test rodriguez for roids.
Actually no in '04 they Sux were down 3-0 and more power to them for winning the series, BUT these Angels are not the '04 Sux no are these the '04 yanks. Yanks do it her ein game 5 or no later than game 6.
I hate to break your dumb mythmaking about the "mercenary" Yankees but Jeter, Cano, Posada, Melky, Hughes, Mo, Pettitte, Joba, Robertson are all home grown.
I'm a Yankee fan, and you are referring to the Red Sox coming back to beat the Yankees in 2004, I think. Actually, it wasn't a 3-1 game deficit, it was 3-0, and Mariano Rivera was within one strike of ending the game for a 4-0 Yankee sweep. I believe the Red Sox were the only team to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. After the series was tied 3-3, I knew the Yankees were doomed.
I do not think the Yankees have it "sewed up". Comebacks happen in all sports. It will be difficult, but if the Angels are able to tie the series 3-3, then I believe they will win and go to the World Series. It's just very difficult to beat a playoff team 3 times in a row (although it has happened a couple of times during these playoffs).
THE EVIL EMPIRE IS BACK!!! Sorry to all the Haters.
I ain't heard no "fat" lady singing
I agree!!!!! Go Lakers
The Phillies have way more heart than any team in baseball. Unfortunately for the Yanks......$250 mil doesn't buy you heart. Plus, Joba and Hughes are absolute garbage......so unless the three top starters can pitch complete games.......it will be home run derby in that little league field known as yankee stadium
No one I've seen has mentioned the obvious..The Yankees must win so that they can play and win the World Series in their new hugely expensive stadium. Have they paid off players on opposing teams or had those players play poorly in hopes of landing with the Yankees and higher pay as a reward? Who knows?
A previous post: "Yeah, the Yankees are pretty good. But it is a known fact that Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettit (and maybe others) are known steroid users. Can we all agree their accomplishments and the Yankees' success and greatness are tainted and meaningless? I used to like baseball until I learned that MLB chose to not deal with the steroid issue. Yeah the Yankees are great. But it's all a drug-induced illusion."
A lot of people pointed out to me that the Yankees are not the only team with steroid issues. Exactly. I used to be a Dodgers fan until Manny Ramirez joined them. TAINTED. Of course, I am sure there were plenty of Dodgers who used steroids before Manny joined them. Knowing about the rampant steroid use took all the fun out of MLB for me.