Chances are there will be an upset in the Division Series

As we get ready to start the second to last day of the season, not one single Division Series match up is official yet… and that’s pretty cool.

All four AL participants are in, but will it be Rays/Rangers?

Yankees/Twins? Rays/Twins? Yankees/Rangers?

It can’t be Yankees/Rays… the logic of which will be questioned in another post.

And we know the Phillies and Reds are in… but the game of musical chairs between the Giants, Padres and Braves has at least another day.

Once the match ups are set, everyone and their moose (including yours truly) will be making their picks.

I can’t tell you who is going to win what… but I WILL say that you shouldn’t put too much weight on which team has Home Field Advantage. Historically at least you can bet a team or two starting the series on the road will advance to the League Championship Series.

Since the creation of the Division Series, only twice has the World Series been played between the National League team with the best record and the American League team with the best record. (1995 when the Braves beat the Cleveland Indians and 1999 when the Yankees swept the Braves.)

But the League Championship Series also rarely has the 1 and 2 seeds. Since the first annual Division Series in 1995, only once did both the NLCS and ALCS been played by the four teams who had home field advantage in the first round:

Last year… when the Phillies and Dodgers played in the NLCS and the Yankees and Angels played in the ALCS.

Now you could argue I should include 1995 when the Reds, Braves, Mariners and Indians all advanced. But remember because of the mind bogglingly stupid home field rules used in the first 3 years of Division Series play, the Indians didn’t have home field advantage in the Division Series, even though they won more games than anyone in baseball that year!

Each year after that, there was an upset or two… or three… or in 2002 there were four.

Wild Card teams advanced to the ALCS in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008.

Wild Card teams advanced to the NLCS in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.

Underdog Division winners advanced to the ALCS in 2002 and 2006.

And underdog Division winners moved on to the NLCS in 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2008.

So make your picks and use whatever methods you want.

Look at stats. Look at history. Flip a coin. Stare into at your parrot until you see the winner’s logo appear in their eyes.

But if you just pick all the teams with home field, chances are you’ll get burnt.

Chances are there will be an upset in the Division Series

As we get ready to start the second to last day of the season, not one single Division Series match up is official yet… and that’s pretty cool.

All four AL participants are in, but will it be Rays/Rangers?

Yankees/Twins? Rays/Twins? Yankees/Rangers?

It can’t be Yankees/Rays… the logic of which will be questioned in another post.

And we know the Phillies and Reds are in… but the game of musical chairs between the Giants, Padres and Braves has at least another day.

Once the match ups are set, everyone and their moose (including yours truly) will be making their picks.

I can’t tell you who is going to win what… but I WILL say that you shouldn’t put too much weight on which team has Home Field Advantage. Historically at least you can bet a team or two starting the series on the road will advance to the League Championship Series.

Since the creation of the Division Series, only twice has the World Series been played between the National League team with the best record and the American League team with the best record. (1995 when the Braves beat the Cleveland Indians and 1999 when the Yankees swept the Braves.)

But the League Championship Series also rarely has the 1 and 2 seeds. Since the first annual Division Series in 1995, only once did both the NLCS and ALCS been played by the four teams who had home field advantage in the first round:

Last year… when the Phillies and Dodgers played in the NLCS and the Yankees and Angels played in the ALCS.

Now you could argue I should include 1995 when the Reds, Braves, Mariners and Indians all advanced. But remember because of the mind bogglingly stupid home field rules used in the first 3 years of Division Series play, the Indians didn’t have home field advantage in the Division Series, even though they won more games than anyone in baseball that year!

Each year after that, there was an upset or two… or three… or in 2002 there were four.

Wild Card teams advanced to the ALCS in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008.

Wild Card teams advanced to the NLCS in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.

Underdog Division winners advanced to the ALCS in 2002 and 2006.

And underdog Division winners moved on to the NLCS in 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2008.

So make your picks and use whatever methods you want.

Look at stats. Look at history. Flip a coin. Stare into at your parrot until you see the winner’s logo appear in their eyes.

But if you just pick all the teams with home field, chances are you’ll get burnt.

Sorry A-Rod... you weren't the MVP of the post season

Alex Rodriguez capped off a season that began with his marriage in shambles, a tell all book on the shelves, being caught lying to Katie Couric about his steroid use and becoming the new face of steroid users and denial.

He finished it a post season hero, beloved in New York getting his first ring.

(Take note Tiger Woods... the best way out of trouble is to win, win win!)

He was awarded The Babe Ruth Award as the MVP of the post season. And hey, he had a terrific post season... he hit a game tying homer in the Division Series and the LCS when the Yankees were 3 outs away from a huge home loss. And while his numbers weren't as eye popping in the World Series, he hit a game turning homer in the 3rd game and the 2 out game winning RBI double in Game 4.

He was terrific.

He wasn't the MVP of the post season.

Just as I felt that Hideki Matsui was not the MVP of the World Series, I feel the same person was cheated out of the Babe Ruth Award.

If any post season illustrated the importance of a reliable closer, it was the 2009 post season.

Had Joe Nathan not blown a save, the Twins would have gone back to the Metrodome tied 1-1 and with momentum.

Had Jonathan Papelbon not blown a save, the Red Sox would have stayed alive and maybe pull off yet another post season comeback.

Had Ryan Franklin not blown a save, the Cardinals would have come back to St. Louis with the series tied. (Yes I know Matt Holliday dropped the ball, but Matt Holliday didn't let the next 4 batters to reach!)

Had Huston Street not blown a save, the Rockies would have forced a game 5 against the Phillies with a shaky Cole Hamels taking the mound for the eventual NL Champs.

Had Brian Fuentes not blown a save, the Angels would have gone back to Anaheim with the series tied 1-1 and the whole complexion of the ALCS would have been different.

Had Brad Lidge held the Yankees scoreless in Game 4, the Phillies would have had a chance to tie the series at 2-2 with Cliff Lee pitching Game 5.

But they all did and all of their teams lost their series...

Only one closer escaped unblemished.

Maybe everyone takes him for granted... but no player in the post season was more valuable than Mariano Rivera.

I have a feeling even A-Rod believes that.

Post Season Innings to Redo

Well the World Series is over. Going into October the Yankees sure looked like the best team and they never faced an elimination game the entire post season.

But what about the other teams?

Each of the other seven playoff teams (and the one game playoff runner up) go into the off season wondering what might have been. And each team has one blatantly obvious inning they’d love to have back as each closer NOT named Mariano Rivera coughed one up.



But each team also had a less obvious inning that I am sure they’d like to do over.



An inning that might have turned around a game earlier…an inning that might have killed the other team’s momentum… an inning that might have actually changed the outcome of the post season.



This is Sully Baseball and listing is what we do best. So the staff has compiled a list of the obvious innings and the not so obvious innings the also rans must be grinding their teeth over… and wish that Superman could turn the world backwards and fix.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPION PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Obvious Inning To Redo.
GAME 4, Top 9.

The Phillies had shockingly tied the game in the 8th on Pedro Feliz’s 2 out 2 strike homer. And every Phillies fan and Yankee hater had the same thought in their head… make it through the 9th scoreless and the top of the Phillies lineup could score a run… the series would be tied and a rested Cliff Lee would pitch Game 5!

And Brad Lidge got two quick outs and had two strikes on Damon… and suddenly the roof caved in.

Damon fouled off 38,211 pitches, plunked one into left, stole second and took third because nobody was covering… and before you could say “TAKE LIDGE OUT!” the Yankees were up 7-4 and the end of the series was a mere formality.



Less Obvious Inning To Redo
GAME 2, Top 8.

Manuel left Pedro in too long and a 2-1 game became 3-1… but the Phillies got 2 on with only one out off of Mariano Rivera… with Utley and Howard coming up. Tim “Nostradamus” McCarver kept saying the Phillies runners should be in motion. Utley, representing the go ahead run, smacked into a double play (although replays showed he was safe at first) preventing a potential Howard vs. Rivera showdown.


Had the Phillies tied or taken the lead in that inning, the chances of going to Philadelphia up 2-0 would have been great… and the tone of the series would have been totally different.

AL WEST CHAMPION LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

Obvious Inning To Redo
GAME 2, Bottom 11.



The Angels were three outs from stealing a game in the Bronx and sending the series back to Anaheim tied. Closer Brian Fuentes needed to get past Alex Rodriguez and then would face easy outs in Freddy Guzman, Bret Gardner and slumping Robinson Cano.


With two strikes on A-Rod and a steady rain, he somehow willed a homer over the right field wall, tying the game.



Fuentes got the next three outs, but the game was tied and the Yankees won in 13.



Less Obvious Inning To Redo
GAME 2, Top 13th.

The Angels put two on with only one out and had sluggers Torii Hunter and Vlad Guerrero facing David Robertson. Chances are a base hit would have driven in 1… and with the rain and weak outfield arms, a hit into the outfield would probably be extra bases.



And neither Hunter nor Guerrero hit it out of the infield. The Yankees would score the next inning on an error.

NL WEST CHAMPION LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Obvious Inning To Redo
GAME 4, Bottom 9

The Dodgers seemed poised to tie the series at 2 games apiece with closer Jonathan Broxton on the mound, 1out and nobody on. But a walk to Matt Stairs and a hit by pitch on Carlos Ruiz gave the Phillies life.

Pinch hitter Greg Dobbs lined out but Jimmy Rollins hit a 1-1 pitch into the gap, scoring 2, winning the game for the Phillies and effectively sinking the Dodgers.


Less Obvious Inning To Redo
GAME 1, Top 8

The Dodgers and Phillies game 1 was supposed to be a pitchers duel between Clayton Kershaw and Cole Hamels. Instead it became a slugfest with neither pitcher making it through the 6th.


George Sherrill was brought in to keep the game close as the Dodgers trailed 5-4 in the 8th. Instead he faced 5 batters and retired only 1, giving up a three run homer to Raul Ibanez in the process.


The Phillies had a 4 run cushion and were able to survive an 8th inning rally by the Dodgers.

NL WILD CARD COLORADO ROCKIES

Obvious Inning to Redo
GAME 4, Top 9

The Rockies had rallied off of Cliff Lee and reliever Ryan Madson to take the lead going into the 9th inning. Colorado had a chance to tie the series and have a deciding game against struggling Cole Hamels.


With 2 outs and 1 on, Huston Street walked Chase Utley. Then Howard hit a game tying double. Jayson Werth then drove home Howard for the go ahead run.


The Rockies tried to rally in the 9th but Tulowitzki struck out with the tying and winning runs aboard, eliminating Colorado.





Less Obvious Inning to Redo
GAME 3, Top 9

With the game tied, Rollins led off with a single. Victorino sacrificed him to second and then Utley hit a slow chopper.

The batted ball appeared to have hit him, making it a foul ball. But the umps didn’t call it that way and because these are just the playoff games, nothing important… ergo couldn’t be reviewed even though everyone on the planet saw the clip of him being hit by the batted ball.

That put runners at the corners with 1 out and Ryan Howard got Rollins to score on a sacrifice fly. Lidge would somehow hang on for the win.

NL CENTRAL CHAMPION ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Obvious Inning to Redo
GAME 2, Bottom 9

The Cardinals, picked by many including yours truly to go to the World Series, had two outs and nobody on and seemed ready to send the series back to St. Louis tied at 1.

Closer Ryan Franklin faced James Loney who hit a short fly to Matt Holliday… and… GAG! Holliday let the ball hit off his body to become a 2 base error.


A few walks and a pair of singles, the Dodgers won the game and the demoralized Cardinals were blown out in Game 3.



Less Obvious Inning to Redo
GAME 1, Top 1


The Cardinals, despite opening on the road, were considered to be the team to beat. And they started the series against Dodgers starter Randy Wolf by loading the bases with nobody out. The Cardinals got a run out of it, but it looked like it was going to be disastrous opening frame and put the Dodgers on their heels.

The Dodgers would score 2 in the bottom of the frame and win the game 5-3.

AL CENTRAL CHAMPION MINNESOTA TWINS

Obvious Inning to Redo
GAME 2, Bottom 9

The Twins basically threw their junior varsity pitching staff in Game 1, conceding to Sabathia. But in Game 2, Blackburn and company held the mighty Yankees to 1 run over 8 innings and had a chance to take the series back to the Metrodome tied 1-1. Gardenhire couldn’t ask for more than a 2 run lead in the 9th with Joe Nathan on the mound.

Well maybe he COULD ask for more… he could have asked for a few outs.

He let up a lead off single to Mark Teixeira and then wouldn’t throw a strike to A-Rod. With the count 3-1, he threw a meatball… and A-Rod crushed a game tying homer… erased his playoff choker image in one swing… and deflated the Twins.



Less Obvious Inning to Redo
GAME 2, Top 11

Even with the A-Rod homer, the Twins were still alive. A brilliant double play saved the Twins in the bottom of the 10th. And now with Rivera gone, they needed to rally against Damaso Marte.

Joe Mauer hit a double down the left field line. Anyone who watched the game saw he hit a ball that landed fair. That would include the umpire staring at the play.

So naturally it was called foul and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

These are playoff games… nothing important.

Mauer then singled and the Twins loaded the bases with nobody out. A winning rally would still do the trick of splitting the series.

Robertson got out of the inning without a run and Teixeira hit a walk off homer in the 11th. The Yankees would pull off the sweep two days later.

AL WILD CARD BOSTON RED SOX

Obvious Inning to Redo
GAME 3, Top 9

The Red Sox, trying to stay alive, had a fat 5-1 lead… that became a less fat 5-2 lead… that became a nerve wrecking 5-4 lead… which then became a more manageable 6-4 lead in the 9th with 2 outs, nobody on an Papelbon pitching to 9th place hitter Erick Aybar.

Nothing to worry about…

Then Papelbon, who had never let up an earned run in the postseason, couldn’t retire another batter. Figgins walked on a 3-2 count. Abreu singled in a run with two strikes. Then Vlad Guerrero singled home the tying and series winning runs, silencing Fenway and making the Red Sox faithful do the unthinkable: Boo Papelbon.



Less Obvious Inning to Redo
GAME 2, Bottom 7

The Red Sox dropped game 1 but had a chance to come back to Boston with a split. The game was tied in the 7th 1-1 with Beckett and Weaver dueling. Maicer Izturis hit a 2 out RBI single off of Josh Beckett. The Angels would score two more to take a 4-1 lead, which would be the final score… and the Angels were in control.

AL CENTRAL RUNNER UP DETROIT TIGERS

Obvious Inning to Redo
TIE BREAKER, Bottom 10

The Tigers were 3 outs away from making the playoffs and having a Justin Verlander start the opener.

But Michael Cuddyer tripled past Don Kelly in left field. Reliever Fernando Rodney got one out but couldn’t prevent the Twins from tying the game.

Only a brilliant and redeeming throw to home by Kelly kept the Twins from clinching in the 10th.



Less Obvious Inning to Redo
TIE BREAKER, Top 12

The infamous Brandon Inge inning.

The Tiger loaded the bases off of Bobby Keppel with one out and the Tigers looked like they were in great shape.

Then Keppel hit Inge with a pitch forcing in the go ahead run.

Except of course that it wasn’t called a hit by pitch… even though every replay showed it hit him.

Not that this game was important.

But that being said, the Tigers should be able to score a run off of Bobby Keppel. But they didn’t. And when the Twins scored in the bottom of the 12th, Keppel got his first ever big league victory.





So there you have a bunch of teams grinding their teeth.

Would any of them have been able to beat the Yankees?



Probably not.



But if these innings had turned out differently, who knows? Maybe all of October would have too.

Sully Baseball Presents THE BEST AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAMES OF THE 2000s

There was a period of time during the 1980s and 1990s where the drama of the NFC title game over shadowed the drama of the Super Bowl.

The same could be said to a degree about the ALCS this decade. While many years the World Series was a bit of an anti climax, the ALCS was reliable for some of the most thrilling and down to the wire games of the decade.

And yes, a lot of attention was put on the Yankee/Red Sox series. Well I am sorry, rest-of-the-country... but the Red Sox and Yankees played in back to back ALCS and they were two of the best ALCS in history! And not just because of an East Coast Bias. They were thrillers and each had a spectacular "I can't believe the rivalry is getting bigger!" conclusion.

This decade featured walk off homers, including two ALCS ending walk off shots. It featured coaches being thrown to the ground, balls being slapped out of gloves by superstars, a team blowing a late 7-0 lead, a remarkable come back started by a stolen base... and of course a bloody sock.

As started in the Best of 2000s Post Season Home Page, I am picking the best game for each game of the series... Best Game 1, Best Game 2... etc.

And when need be, I'll have some honorable mentions.

Best Game 1 of the American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2002 – Twins 2 Angels 1

A year after the Twins were threatened with contraction, they found themselves with home field advantage in the ALCS.

Joe Mays took the mound for the Twins and was brilliant against a hard hitting Anaheim Angels squad.

He pitched 8 strong innings, letting up only a single unearned run. The Twins took the lead on Corey Koskie's 5th inning double and Eddie Guardado made it count with a shut out 9th inning.

The Twins wouldn't win another game in the series, but for one day it looked like Minnesota could give the ultimate middle finger to the powers that wanted to contract the team.

Honorable Mentions for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2001 – Yankees 4 Mariners 2

After squeaking past Oakland, the Yankees faced the 116 win Mariners. Paul O'Neill's homer in the 4th gave the Yankees a 3-0 lead, putting Seattle on the defensive. The Mariners offense could not get going but still brought Edgar Martinez to the plate as the tying run in the bottom of the 9th. Mariano Rivera got him to ground out to end the game.

2008 – Red Sox 2 Rays 0

Daisuke Matsuzaka no hit the Rays for the first 6 innings but James Shields was also tough, holding the Red Sox to 1 run over 7 innings.

Dice-K wiggled out of trouble in the 7th but needed help from the bullpen in the 8th. With 2 on and 1 out, Justin Masterson got Evan Longoria to ground into a double play and end the threat.

Best Game 2 American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2005 – White Sox 2 Angels 1

The White Sox did NOT want to go down 2-0 back to Anaheim and they would do anything to get a win in Chicago... even something sneaky.

The game was tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 9th thanks to a great 9 inning performance by Mark Buehrle and Angels reliever Kelvim Escobar. With 2 outs and nobody on, Escobar got White Sox catcher A. J. Pierzynski to strike out to end the inning.

Angels catcher Josh Paul casually went back to the dugout but Pierzynski saw he wasn't called out and sprinted to first base. Home plate umpire Doug Eddings claimed the ball hit the dirt before going into Paul's glove, making it a live ball and Pierzynski reached first. Replays showed it actually went into the glove.

Either way, another out would have made the point moot. But pinch runner Pablo Ozuna stole second and scored on Joe Crede's walk off double.

The Angels were fuming but the White Sox got the win... and they wouldn't lose again the entire post season.

Honorable Mentions for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2007 - Indians 13 Red Sox 6 (11 innings)

The Red Sox stampeded through the Division Series and Game 1 of the ALCS. In Game 2, the Indians took an early lead off of Curt Schilling but Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell hit back to back homers to briefly give the Red Sox the lead.

The Indians tied it up... and suddenly the scoring stopped.

In the bottom of the 9th, Kevin Youkilis fouled off a bunch of pitches before hitting a low line drive snared by Grady Sizemore, saving the game. In the 11th, Francona handed the ball to Eric Gagne who got rocked... before the 11th was over the Indians scored 7 runs, including a go ahead single by Trot Nixon and a homer by Franklin Gutierrez.

The Indians had new life and looked like they had life in the ALCS.

2008 – Rays 9 Red Sox 8 (11 innings)

The crisp pitchers duel of Game 1 gave way to a sluggish slug fest in Game 2. Jason Bay and Evan Longoria traded 2 run first inning homers. Pedroia would homer twice. Youkilis would add another one. Cliff Floyd and B. J. Upton homered for the Rays.

But Beckett couldn't hold onto a 6-5 lead and Tampa couldn't hold the lead with 2 outs in the 8th.

The Red Sox left runners in scoring position in the 9th and 11th and Tampa won the game on a sacrifice fly in the 11th by Upton. How could the series have been different had the Red Sox taken a 2-0 series lead?

2009 – Yankees 4 Angels 3 (13 innings)

The Angels needed to win Game 2 in order to realistically have a shot at going to the World Series... and somehow the Angels blew every conceivable chance to win it, even when the Yankees handed the game over on a silver platter.

Joe Saunders and Kevin Jepsen held the mighty Yankees to 2 runs over 9 innings... but A. J. Burnett of all people shut the Angels down as well. The Angels loaded the bases in the 5th and tied the game on a wild pitch... but left the bases loaded in the 7th and left runners in scoring position in the 8th.

In the pouring rain in the 11th, the Angels took the lead and sent closer Brian Fuentes to close out the 11th. He faced A-Rod and then a bunch of bench players... all he had to do was make sure A-Rod didn't homer in the downpour.

OF COURSE HE DID and the game was tied.

The Angels left runners in scoring position in the 12th and the Yankees left the bases loaded in the bottom of the frame. Vlad Guerrero once again left runners in scoring position in the 13th while the Yankees took advantage of sloppy defense to win it in the 13th.

Best Game 3 of the American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2003 – Yankees 4 Red Sox 3

Let's get the Don Zimmer/Pedro Martinez fight out of the way first.

Yeah there was a big fight. And yeah I thought Manny Ramirez was out of line yelling at Clemens because the pitch was nowhere near his head.

But anyone who saw it saw Don Zimmer, one of the great idiots in baseball history, running at Pedro Martinez... clearly not to chat.

Pedro tossed the old fool aside... maybe with a little too much relish.

But how it was covered in New York leapt far beyond absurd. Pedro did NOT attack Don Zimmer. One person talked on the radio about how "Zimmer was trying to make peace and Pedro attacked him."

That is as truthful as saying "Los Angeles is in Rhode Island."

What you might forget about that insane game was that it was actually a good GAME! Pedro and Roger... Sox taking an early lead... Jeter and Ramirez homering...

But the fact of the matter is the high pitches to Posada that started the insanity woke up the Yankees and gave them life as Pedro Martinez lost a playoff game for the first time.

Honorable Mention for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2009 – Angels 5 Yankees 4 (11 innings)

The Yankees looked like they were ready to sweep away the Angels when they took a 3-0 lead in the 5th. But the Angels got off the matt, highlighted when Game 2 goat Vlad Guerrero launched a game tying homer off of Andy Pettitte. The Angels took the lead but Jorge Posada tied it with a homer in the 8th.

The game went into extras again... where once again Guerrero left the bases loaded. But this time the Angels were able to push a run across in extra innings when Jeff Mathis singled home Howie Kendrick and gave the Halos some hope.

Best Game 4 of the American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2006 – Tigers 6 A’s 3

Don't worry. I haven't forgotten the Dave Roberts game... just giving some love to the good folks in Detroit.

Just 3 years removed from a 119 loss season, the Tigers were on the verge of a pennant.

But the A's, fighting for their life, came out swinging. Milton Bradley and Eric Chavez hit RBI doubles in the first and Jay Payton added a solo shot to make it 3-0 Oakland. But the Tigers fought back, tying the game on a Magglio Ordonez homer in the 6th.

The A's blew a bases loaded chance in the 8th. In the 9th, with 2 outs and nobody on, the Tigers rallied. Finally Huston Street grooved one to Ordonez, whose second homer of the game, a 3 run shot, won the pennant for the Tigers.

Honorable Mentions for Game 4 of the American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2001 – Yankees 3 Mariners 1

Mariners starter Paul Abbott had a no hitter going through 5 innings. The problem was he also let up 8 walks and wasn't exactly sharp.

Either way, it is harsh to lift a guy while throwing a post season no hitter!

Roger Clemens and Ramiro Mendoza combined for 2 hits over 8 innings. In fact going into the bottom of the 8th, the Mariners had a 1-0 lead and there were only 3 hits in the entire game.

Bret Boone's homer gave Seattle the lead, but Bernie Williams' homer tied the game in the bottom of the 8th.

In the bottom of the 9th Alfonso Soriano hit a walk off homer off of Kaz Sazaki, giving the Yankees a 3-1 win and a 3-1 series lead.

A lot of people made a big deal about the fact his homer took place at 9:11 PM in the wake of the September 11th attacks. I think it was a coincidence.

2004 – Red Sox 6 Yankees 4

I know I will catch flack from Red Sox fans for not putting this game at the top.

Yes, I know it was the turning point of the rivalry. Yes I know it was the moment where the Red Sox stared into the abyss and found their character. I know it was the moment where the single most transcendent moment happened in Red Sox history and Dave Roberts stole that base and started a chain reaction that resulted in the Red Sox slaying their demons.

I know. I remember the game well.

I remember Papi's homer too.

I remember it all.

And guess what? The 2004 ALCS is going to get a lot of love on this page. And besides, when the game was over, I thought "Oh man... this is just prolonging the agony." It wasn't until the Game 5 victory that I began to think "wait a second! We can win this thing!"

Best Game 5 of the American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2004 – Red Sox 5 Yankees 4

Less than 24 hours after The Dave Roberts Game ended, the Red Sox and Yankees had to play another game.

As I said in Reverse the Curse of the Bambino, I was actually a little pissed when the euphoria ended at the end of Game 4. The Red Sox were still in a terrible hole, down 3 games to 1, and while it was fun to see the Sox squeeze out a win... the series was still over.

Game 5 just seemed cruel, especially when the Red Sox took an early 2-0 lead only to see it slip away on a 2 out 3 run double by Jeter on Pedro's 100th pitch.

Then Game 5 became surreal. Down 4-2 with Tom Gordon on the mound, David Ortiz homered to make it a 1 run game... and Kevin Millar walked again and Dave Roberts came in to run again.

And I sat back thinking "Oh man... so cruel. They'll bring in Rivera now."

But an unnerved Tom Gordon remained in the game long enough to let Trot Nixon execute a perfect hit and run putting the tying run on third with nobody out. Rivera came in but let up a game tying sacrifice fly.

Then Game 5 became insane...

Tony Clark hit a 2 out ground rule double that just skipped over the fence, taking a potential pennant winning run off of the board for the Yankees.

The Red Sox had 2 on and nobody out in the 11th and couldn't score.

David Ortiz tried to steal in the 12th. He was called out even though replays should he might have been safe.

The Red Sox had to bring in Tim Wakefield and use Jason Varitek as his catcher. The Lobster couldn't catch Wakefield's knuckler yet kept calling for it. In the bizarre 13th inning, Wakefield had two base runners and threw three passed balls... and yet didn't let up a run. Why Torre never set the runners in motion never made sense to me.

In the 14th, the Red Sox rallied against a surprising Esteban Loaiza with David Ortiz driving home the winning run with 2 outs, 2 strikes and a brown stain creating at bat.

After that game, Red Sox fans dared think "Hmm... I wonder if the Sox could win this."

There was no time to think. The next game was less than 24 hours away.

Honorable Mentions for Game 5 of the American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2008 – Red Sox 8 Rays 7

Only the emotion of the 2004 series kept this from the top spot. One of the most mind boggling comebacks in post season history. The Rays took a 7-0 lead with 2 outs in the 7th at Fenway and were poised to blow the Red Sox out for the third straight game for the pennant.

The Red Sox cut the score to 7-4 and the next inning J. D. Drew brought the Red Sox to within 1 with a homer. Then Coco Crisp fouled off 4,391 pitches and singled home the tying run with 2 outs in the 8th.

After a double play killed a 9th inning Rays rally, the Sox took advantage of an error and a J. D. Drew double to win a game that just didn't seem to be really happening.

2009 – Angels 7 Yankees 6

I will go on record in saying that Game 5 of the 2009 ALCS was one of the strangest playoff games I have ever seen. The Yankees were held scoreless in all but one inning. The Angels were held scoreless in all but 2 innings.

Most of the game was a tense pitching duel. But those three innings were so wild that it gave the game a sense that it was a crazy slugfest.

The Angels pounded A. J. Burnett and were up 4-0 before he recorded an out. Then the Angels bats went dead.

Then with 2 outs in the 7th and the bases loaded, Mike Scioscia took out John Lackey, who didn't seem happy about it. Turns out Lackey was right. The Yankees scored 6 runs with 2 outs and looked like they were lined up to win the pennant. But Girardi let A. J. Burnett start the bottom of the 7th and then the Yankee bullpen collapsed. Vlad Guerrero tied the game with a single and Kendry Morales gave the Angels the lead.

Brian Fuentes had 2 outs and nobody on... and managed to let the Yankees load the bases. But Nick Swisher popped up to end the game and force a Game 6.

Best Game 6 of the American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2004 – Red Sox 4 Yankees 2

First of all, let me say this right off the bat:

I was there.

It's not often you get to be in the stands during one of the classic playoff games of all time. But I was there, thanks to Jon Griggs getting me a ticket.

The game was an unnerving experience, waiting for that moment when the other shoe was going to drop and the Yankees would win in front of the home crowd.

First I thought the Yankees were going to bunt like crazy off of Schilling. I couldn't see the bleeding sock... but we all knew he had a crazy surgery just days before the game and nobody was sure if his foot was going to pop off of his ankle, let alone have him throw a shutout into the 7th.

And then came the A-Rod slap. From where I was sitting, it wasn't clear what happened. I just assumed Bronson Arroyo did something stupid and threw the ball away.

But when Yankee Stadium was going nuts, screaming 19-18 and Boston Sucks, I noticed the umpires huddling. Now heaven forbid they use replay to check the play... but they did get the call right. A-Rod slapped that ball away and was out... despite his protestations.

What people forget about that game was that the Yankees brought the pennant winning run to the plate in the bottom of the 9th. With 2 outs and 2 on, Tony Clark faced Keith Foulke... who could have been the post season MVP for the 2004 Red Sox.

All the while I was thinking "This is it... this is where the 2004 Red Sox end... Tony F---ing Clark."

But Foulke struck him out and one of the iconic games of the decade went to the Red Sox.

There was no time to rejoice... they would play again in less than 24 hours.

Honorable Mentions for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2000 - Yankees 9 Mariners 7

Facing elimination, the Mariners jumped out to an early lead thanks to first inning RBIs by then Mariner A-Rod and Edgar Martinez.

Their 4-0 lead quickly became 4-3. Then in the 7th, David Justice launched a 3 run homer that game the Yankees the lead.

The Mariners would rally with an A-Rod homer in the 8th and had the tying run at the plate in the form of Yankee killer Edgar Martinez in the 9th. But Edgar grounded out to give the Yankees the pennant.

2003 - Red Sox 9 Yankees 6

The tremendous 2003 ALCS looked like it was running out of gas with the Yankees pulling away. The Red Sox blew an early 4-1 lead and the Yankees took the lead partially on a Nomar Garciaparra error.

But Nomar made up for it by tripling in the 7th and scoring on Hideki Matsui's error, making it a 1 run game. In the same inning David Ortiz tied the game with a single and Johnny Damon's walk with the bases loaded gave the Red Sox the lead.

Trot Nixon's homer gave the Red Sox some wiggle room and the Yankees couldn't rally off of relievers Alan Embree, Mike Timlin and Scott Williamson... a fact forgotten by manager Grady Little 24 hours later.

2009 – Yankees 5 Angels 2

The Angels were on the brink, trailing the series 3-2 and were down 3-1 in the 8th. But the Angels cut the lead to one on a Vlad Guerrero RBI single. The Angels just needed to play mistake free ball in the bottom of the 8th to give the team a shot in the 9th.

That didn't happen. The usually steady Angels made two errors in the bottom of the 8th and the Yankees pulled ahead and clinched the pennant with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Best Game 7 of the American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2003 – Yankees 6 Red Sox 5

Arguably the single greatest game of the decade.

The Red Sox seemed poised to finally slay their demons in the Bronx.

The Yankees were ready to maintain supremacy.

It was Pedro vs. Clemens just a few days after the Zimmer brawl.

The build up to the game was so intense that there was no way it could match up to the hype. Somehow it surpassed it.

If you are reading this blog, then you don't need a recap for Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS.

So here are some facts and thoughts about the last game of the curse:

- Aaron Boone didn't start the game. Enrique Wilson had a solid record against Pedro Martinez and started at third in his place. Boone didn't enter the game until he was a pinch runner in the dreaded 8th.

- The biggest hero of the game might have been Mike Mussina who came into the game in the 4th, Yankees down 4-0 with 2 on and nobody outs... Sox in danger of blowing the game open. He threw 3 scoreless innings and kept the Yankees in the game.

- Every single Red Sox fan knew that Pedro Martinez always fell apart after 100 pitches. When he struck out Alfonso Soriano with 2 on to end the 7th, I yelled what every other Red Sox fan yelled. "GREAT! TAKE HIM OUT!"

- When Pedro came out to start the 8th, I thought "OK, but take him out after he lets up a base runner."

- Alan Embree's ERA in the ALCS was 0.00... so was Mike Timlin's... and Scott Williamson had 3 saves. It's safe to say they could have cobbled together 5 outs. In fact Embree and Timlin DID get 5 outs... when it was too late.

- Anyone who said that Grady Little made the right decision with the lame excuse "Pedro was the best pitcher so he should have been there in the 8th" is insane. I would always say in return "So did Grady make the wrong decision taking Pedro out when the game was tied?"

- Little took David Ortiz out of the lineup in the 9th when he lifted him for a pinch runner. If the game went deep into extras, Gabe Kapler would have been protecting Manny Ramirez.

- If the Red Sox won this game and won the 2003 World Series, chances are the Yankees would pick up Curt Schilling in the off season and the Red Sox would have acquired Alex Rodriguez.

- That night almost hurt as much as 1986... the only thing that made it hurt less was that it was erased the very next year.

Honorable Mentions for Game 7 of the American League Championship Series for the 2000s

2004 – Red Sox 10 Yankees 3

The closest 10-3 game in history. Even when the Red Sox were up 8-1, I couldn't relax. I kept thinking "Oh Christ... how will the Yankees come back?"

And it sure seemed like we were going to get our answer when Pedro Martinez came into the game in the 7th. The game went from 8-1 to 8-3... then Pedro reached back and struck out Olerud and got Cairo out... and Bellhorn homered in the top of the 8th.

Then I remember a very strange feeling take over my body... confidence.

And in one game the rivalry was changed forever. The Yankees can win in the future and they did this year... but the Red Sox finally had a highlight against the Yankees go THEIR way.

In some ways the World Series was an anticlimactic after thought. As Red Sox fans, what do you think about when 2004 is mentioned? Is it the Cardinals? Or beating the Yankees?

2007 – Red Sox 11 Indians 2

There is no way to look at the final score to know how tense this game was. The Indians were trying not to let a 3-1 ALCS lead completely slip away. The Red Sox were trying to complete yet another comeback and get back to the World Series.

And in the 7th inning, it looked like the Series was going to turn in the Indians favor. With the Red Sox up 3-2, Kenny Lofton reached when Julio Lugo let an easy fly ball drop. With the speedy Lofton on second, Franklin Gutierrez singled to left. Manny Ramirez loafed in and tossed it to second... and Kenny Lofton was standing on third base. Third base coach Joel Skinner held him from scoring the tying run. Historians for generations will study that tape and not have any clue why he was held at third. A double play in the next play ended the rally.

Dustin Pedroia homered to give the Sox some breathing room in the 7th, but the Indians put the tying run at the plate with nobody out in the 8th. Papelbon came in and got Hafner and Martinez out... then Garko hit a deep flyball that looked like it was going to tie the game or at least make it a 1 run game. But Jacoby Ellsbury tracked it down.

The Red Sox unloaded on the Indians bullpen in the 8th to make it a blow out... but make no mistake, this game could have gone either way.

2008 – Rays 3 Red Sox 1

The Red Sox looked like they were going to complete their third "Down by 3-1 in the ALCS" comeback in 5 seasons. Pedroia homered in the 1st and Jon Lester was on the hill... and the Rays were suddenly the Devil Rays again.

But Matt Garza didn't let up another hit until the 7th and the Rays managed to score 3 runs and take a 3-1 lead into the 8th... setting up one of the most heart stopping innings of the decade.

Alex Cora reached on an error, knocking Garza out of the game. Against the bullpen that blew the 7-0 Game 5 lead, the Red Sox loaded the bases and had playoff hero J. D. Drew come to the plate.

In came David Price, a year removed from Vanderbilt University. Drew chased a 1-2 pitch and the inning ended as a heart breaking goose egg (for me at least). Price worked around a walk in the 9th to be one of the most unlikely bullpen closers in playoff history.

He was so cool under pressure that he was enlisted to introduce Barack Obama at a rally in Florida.

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This was almost a great series... but not quite

We've had 4 Division Series and 2 League Championship Series finished... and no great series yet.

Oh we've had some great games. In fact each series has included one heart stopping finish... and yet we haven't had that series where you look up and think "Man, this could go either way."

If the Angels forced a seventh game, I would call this a great series. Instead it is just a darn good one

Now we have the Phillies/Yankees... and the possibility of a great World Series (something we haven't had in years.)

Now before anyone writes in saying that I am saying only 7 game series could be called great, let me say three of the greatest World Series I ever saw were 6 game series.

The 1992 World Series where the Blue Jays beat the Braves was a great series... as was the bizarre 1993 Series between the Jays and the Phillies.

And the Yankees 1996 come from behind win against the Braves was one of the most startling turn arounds in October history.

But from the moment that pop fly dropped between Aybar and Figgins in Game 1, the Yankees were in control of this series.

We haven't had a memorable World Series since 2003... We haven't had a great one since 2001.

It's up to the Phillies/Yankees.

Let's have a classic. And while we are at it, let's have the Yankees lose.

(Sorry... I can only stand so much Yankee happiness.)


.

My son could not see the future... but did my Mother In Law?

Well... my son Aidan was almost right.

He picked the Division Series perfectly.

And he picked the NLCS and when the Angels stayed alive, his ability to see the future even caught Alyssa Milano's attention.

But for the third time this series, the Angels defense collapsed in the Bronx and what looked like a potential Angels rally in the 8th was cut down by Robinson Cano's positioning on Torii Hunters grounder.

So there goes Aidan's prediction of the Angels eating the Phillies.

But wait a second!

When I put my picks up against my two 4 year old sons, a coin flip and my mother in law's picks, I noticed something.

My mother in law made some wrong picks... (she had the Red Sox and the Cardinals in the LCS... as did I).

But she DID pick both pennant winners correctly.

She had the Phillies and the Yankees in the World Series... and she had the Phillies winning it all.

Hmmm. Maybe there is hope for Phillies fans.

Girardi's quandry

Man I am glad I am not Joe Girardi today.

It looks like we’re going to have thundershowers in New York today and the chances of the game being played are thinner than that airbrushed picture of Filippa Hamilton.

So if the series is to resume on Sunday, what the hell should Girardi do?

Should he go for the jugular and start C. C. Sabathia on 3 days rest?

Should he start Andy Pettitte on his regular rest and have Sabathia ready to go in either Game 7 of the ALCS or Game 1 of the World Series?

Jeez when I write them both out like that, they both make a lot of sense.

The Angels’ confidence is running high right now going into New York. They have a new lease on life… and the two guys who are credited with lightening up the Yankee clubhouse (Nick Swisher and A. J. Burnett) are wearing goat horns.

But the Angels haven’t figured out Sabathia… who is 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA in the ALCS and has an awesome WHIP and strikeout to walk ratio… and is a stud.

It would all but certainly put an end to the series.

It would pull the rug out of any momentum and erase any relevance of the two Angels losses.

Remember how the A’s and the Mariners extended their 2000 series against the Yankees with big wins? Remember how the Indians pushed the Yankees in 1998? Or the Red Sox played the Yankees tough in 1999?

OF COURSE YOU DON’T! The Yankees went on to win the World Series those years… and the Angels grittiness would be thrown into the pile of forgotten playoff series.

Sabathia would be the exclamation point. Plus he is capable of throwing 8 or 9 innings, thus making sure the suddenly ineffective Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain don’t have to come into a big game.

But then again…

Wouldn’t that be a desperation move?

The YANKEES are in the lead, not the Angels. The Yankees are throwing Andy Pettitte and save for a Vlad Guerrero homer in Game 3, he pitched well.

And what if… and bear with me on this… the Angels BEAT Sabathia in Game 6? It’s possible. Sabathia lost 8 times this season.

He was dreadful in the post season prior to this year.

There could be a pitchers duel… or a battle of the bullpens.

So let’s say the Angels win a Game 6 started by Sabathia. They would have insane confidence going into Game 7… the Yankees would be pressing and the Game 7 pitching match up of John Lackey vs. Andy Pettitte would favor Los Angeles… or California… or Anaheim… or Los Angeles of Anaheim.

And isn’t this over managing exactly what has Girardi in the crosshairs of the fan base’s ire?

And if Sabathia DOES win Game 6 on Sunday, he would not be ready to throw in the World Series until Game 2… and he’d only have 2 starts. Which means the Yankees would be forced to start either Chad Guadin or the artist formerly known as Joba Chamberlain.

Can you imagine how Girardi would be crucified if Chad Gaudin is forced to pitch a critical Game 4 of the World Series?

But then again… how will he be slaughtered if he DOESN’T start Sabathia and he’s blamed for letting the Angels stay alive…

What I am saying is, I’m glad I’m not him.

But his job is to make decisions… and as George W. Bush said “My job is a job to make decisions. I'm a decision.. if the job description were, what do you do.. it's decision maker.”

Use those pearls of wisdom when you make your decision Joe.

Alyssa Milano and my son...

Good lord the Internet can be a very strange place.

I checked on my blog tracker to see if anyone had been reading my blog. And it turns out a post I wrote about my boy Aidan picking the Angels and all of his picks being right so far got a bunch of hits on someone's Twitter site.

And whose Twitter site was it?

The Ayssa Milano site for her clothing line and baseball thoughts.

So mark this under "sentences I thought I'd never say"...

Thank you Alyssa Milano for spreading the word about my son!

Aidan himself is quite thrilled as you can see

Didn't this guy used to be Joba Chamberlain?

For three seasons the Yankees have handled Joba Chamberlain with kid gloves.

There were Joba rules for Torre in 2007. Basically he was supposed to handle him like a delicate Ming Vase... unless he was covered by midges in a crucial playoff game.

Then there was the grotesque farce that was 2008 where he was a set up man... then a carefully monitored reliever (ironically a reliever who needed relief) and then a starter who was only allowed 3 innings a game (ergo treating the regular season like his own spring training) then a starter... WHO GOT HURT!

Now the foot is down, he's a starter, let's not even talk about it, the controversy is over... until the most important games of the year and he's the 7th inning set up man.

And he has a WHIP of 5.00. That means he would AVERAGE 5 base runners an inning. His ERA is 9.00... yup, a run an inning. And I am not sure of his batting average against, but I have a feeling it would be one that would make a batting champion or two.

If the Angels get to Andy Pettitte in Game 6, would any Yankee fan feel confident seeing Joba come in at this point?

Maybe by year 4 he will be worth something.

I'll say it here. The best thing to ever happen to Joba Chamberlain would be if the Yankees trade him.

Then all of this nonsense would end.

I'm confused

Didn't the Yankees already clinch the AL Pennant?

Listening to the radio today and hearing about how the Phillies wouldn't match up well with the Yankees.

Maybe they won't have to.

Look, there's still is a lot of work to be done for the Angels, but this series has already had 3 terrific games... if it goes to a Game 7, then it might be a classic.

And if it goes to a Game 7, Phillies fans should be going nuts because that would mean Sabathia wouldn't be able to go in Game 1 and have 3 starts in the World Series even if the Yankees win.

Now is it possible for the Angels to win a Game 6?
Sure.

All I know is they will be playing lots of clips of the 2004 ALCS... which is always fine by me.



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