Interesting Finish

Tonight the Yankees played the Texas Rangers, a possible preview of a first round playoff matchup, if the Rangers can win the wild card and the Yankees maintain the best record. The Rangers threw veteran Kevin Millwood against young gun Joba Chamberlain. Both looked like rookies in this one and this game was high scoring right off the bat. Both teams can swing the bat and playing in the friendly comfines of Yankee Stadium made for lots of pop and circumstance. Matsui had a 2 rbi double and Posada a 2 run HR both in the first to give the Yankees a 4-0 lead. Joba lost the lead by giving up a career high 7 ER in only 4 and change. The Yankees got a solo blast from cano to chip away, but before long the defecit was 5 runs, 10-5. The Yankees failed to comeback or show any fight...until the 9th.

In the 9th inning down 10-5, the Rangers went with Jason Grilli to face Johnny Damon. Damon singled and next up Teixeira walked. Ron Washington decided it was time for his closer and no more funny business. Frank Francisco came on to face Arod with 2 on and 0 out Texas still leading 10-5. Arod worked a full count and then walked. Bases now loaded the tying run on deck. Matsui was next and lines a base hit on an 0-2 pitch. Posada as the tying run and the bases still loaded hits a soft ground ball to third which was unplayable and goes as a hit. Bases still loaded now 10-7 and Cano up. Cano drills a hard hit single and its now first and second still 0 out and now 10-9. Hairston pinch runs for Posada and he's at second as the tying run. Swisher is up and the winning run at first. Swisher attempts to lay down and bunt and hits a pop out to Michael Young at 3B. Melky Cabrera comes up next and he hits a hard line drive to Andrus at short. Andrus makes the catch and then sprints towards second to try to double off Hairston. Jerry races back as well and Andrus wins the race by a nose making the double play and ending the game. Jeter had to watch the drama unfold with a bat on his shoulder while waiting on deck.

One could view this loss as just one of about 60 for the season. Joba didn't pitch well, the Yankees fell behind by 5 runs and the comeback was a good sign of good fight and good perseverance rather than failing to finish the job. I instead view this as a bad loss. This is a team that is fighting hard to make the playoffs and has played extremely well. This is a team that would come to NY for the playoffs and has no pitching. This is a team that should be beaten when the matchup is in NY, every time. This is a good team but their recent success shouldn't phase the Yankees. I think when down 8-5 the pen should have held them to 8. I think the Yankees should have been able to finish the job and gotten the necessary 10th and 11th runs. when you look at the 9th as a whole you say "4 runs!! they almost won!! What a comeback attempt." I think, "You had first and second nobody out and the last 6 batters had reached safely, how do you not get the runner from 2nd in." Good teams don't blow good opportunities like that, even if it came on the heels of the previous 6 men reaching. I don't like the Swisher bunt attempt. i don't get why Girardi thought after the first 6 guys had reached base safely, that they needed to start playing small ball. Especially Swisher who likely hasn't bunted ever. Melky then hits a line drive out and Hairston is in no-mans-land and gets doubled off. The fact that I was asking Melky to plainly strikeout so Jeter would be guaranteed an at bat tells you the confidence I have in Jeter. I love Melky and think he did a good job getting the bat on the ball and almost got a hit, but I think the Yankees win if Hairston isn't doubled off. Jeter would have gotten a hit, I'm positive. Don't ask me why or how I know this, don't even argue with me because I will not waiver in my opinion. Derek Jeter is the best hitter in baseball history--fuck yea I just said that--when the game desires him to get a hit. I've watched 13 seasons of a guy who NEVER fails when you put the game in his hands. Not to mention he's 30 for his last 55, get that. So I know you can say what a good try to win the game, but I'm looking at a bad loss vs a playoff team with late game failures not late game triumphs that cost the Yankees the W. This stings and bothers me tremendously...Tomorrow is a new day and they ought to win behind Andy, but you never know.