All aboard to Philly
ABOARD THE NORTHEAST REGIONAL -- This World Series is certainly a boon for Amtrak. The teams are riding the rails and so is most of the media. Quite a refreshing change from the hassle of airports. And I give it up to Amtrak for taking care of us formerly ink-stained wretches. This is a way cool way to go.
As for the Series, there should be a lot of interesting questions and answers in today's media sessions as the teams work out in Citizens Bank Park.
(For starters, lots of reporters are still chafed and want to know why we were locked in the press box stairwell last night or pushed into rooms out of the hallway if they had already made it to the basement -- all so the Yankees' security toughs could get George Steinbrenner out of the ballpark without being seen. Brutal.)
I think the biggest issues today will center on Hideki Matsui and whether the teams will bring back CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee on short rest Sunday in Game Four. The second question has an easy answer: Yes. It's going to be 2-1 so that's a huge, huge game for both sides. You're not turning it over to, say, Chad Gaudin or Joe Blanton. Especially if you're down in the series.
The Matsui situation is a much stickier one. He has sore knees -- and hasn't played the outfield a single time all season. But there's no DH in Philly. And Matsui just hit the decisive home run in Game Two. What does Joe Girardi do?
Now 35, Matsui hit 28 home runs and drove in 90 runs this season and is at .278 with two homers in the postseason. He's in the last year of his contract and his declining health, combined with the emergence of prospect Austin Jackson, may mean this is the end of his time in pinstripes. But it would undoubtedly be tough for the proud Japanese star to spend his final days as a Yankee on the bench.
Still, it's not like Johnny Damon is a demon in left or has been hitting all that well in the postseason (.220). I find it hard to believe Girardi doesn't at least try Matsui in left. He hit .282 with 13 home runs against left-handers this season, so Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee on the mound shouldn't automatically disqualify him. Tough call.
---Mike Harrington
Sir, So Glad to Here, All Traveling Parties, What a Great Tradition of Amtrack-Train-Service, Brings Back Days of Nostalgia..Sir, Sorry about Delay of Media Exit Last Evening, But as Always Sir, Respect Thy Elders, The Boss is First Priority, He Built The Facility Thy Media is Standing Attentively In. Have a Enjoyable Evening in City Rich in Tradition, Philadelphia and If You Listen Closely, You May Just Here Paul Revere. Mr. Kevin H. Hodge
Posted by: Mr. Kevin H. Hodge | October 30, 2009 at 03:51 PM