October 31, 2009 - 9:08 PM | Comment
PHILADELPHIA -- After waiting around in Citizens Bank Park like it was, oh, 2008 against the Rays, we're finally ready for Game Three of the World Series between the Phillies and Yankees. The tarp is off, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt has thrown the ceremonial first pitch and the rain is still falling lightly but we're not expected to have any weather trouble the rest of the night.
Here's the lineups:
New York: Jeter, ss; Damon, lf; Teixeira, 1b; Rodriguez, 3b; Posada, c; Cano, 2b; Swisher, rf; Cabrera, cf; Pettitte, p
Philadelphia: Rollins, ss; Victorino, cf; Utley, 2b; Howard, 1b; Werth, rf; Ibanez, lf; Feliz, 3b; Ruiz, c; Hamels, p
Yankees win: Tough night on the blog as print duties and Internet trouble hurt us at the end. The final was 8-5 and we'll have more thoughts soon
Mid-7th: Posada makes it 7-4 with a two-out RBI single off ex-Bison Chad Durbin. The Yankees had just four runs in the first 21 innings in this series. They have seven in the last four.
Bot-6th (6-4, Yankees): Swisher takes Haap deep for his first longball of the postseason. That's a double and homer in back-to-back innings for the Yankees' right field. Until those at-bats, he was 4 for 36 with one extra-base hit the entire postseason. What a sport. Werth leads off the bottom of the inning with a bomb to the upper deck in left for his second of the game. MLB.com notes that Pettitte had allowed two HRs in 66 World Series innings before tonight. And now Werth has two off
Top-5th (5-3, Yankees): A pair of unlikely sources help the Yankees tie the game. Swisher, in a 1-for-18 slump, doubled into the left field corner. One out later, Pettitte, of all people, looped the first pitch to center on a Hamels curveball for a broken-bat single to tie the game. Jeter followed with another looper to center that Victorino couldn't corral and Damon roped a two-out, two-run double to right to put the Yankees ahead.
For three innings, we saw the Hamels of '08. For two innings, we've seen the Hamels of '09. Last Yankee pitcher with a World Series RBI: Jim Bouton in Game Six, 1964 against the Cardinals.
End-4th (3-2, Philly): A-Rod arrives. His first Series hit, and the Yankees' first of the night is a two-run homer to right. It first looked like a double but was correctly overturned on replay because it struck a TV camera just over the railing. A-Rod's 6th of the postseason, tying Bernie Williams' club record in 1996. It's also the team's 17th of the postseason, breaking the franchise record set three times. Pettitte has gone hitless in the third and fourth in a good recover. A-Rod, by the way, has been brutal other than the home run. He ole'd Rollins' single in the first and made a throwing error in the fourth.
End-3rd (3-0, Philly): A 1-2-3 inning leaves the Yankees hitless through three and batting just .194 for the series. They're 14 for 72 with 24 strikeouts and just two walks. Wow.
End-2nd (3-0, Philly): Hamels has thrown two hitless innings while Pettitte found big trouble in the bottom of the inning. Werth led off with a home run to left on a full count and a bases-loaded walk to Rollins and sacrifice fly by Victorino also scored runs. Great bunt single by Hamels in the inning as well. Pettitte is missing with everything and needed 51 pitches to get through two innings. Dude didn't get the memo we started 80 minutes late. Yeesh.
End-1st (0-0): Hamels' first pitch, a strike to Jeter, came at 9:17 p.m. That's a delay of 1 hour, 20 minutes. We waited 1:31 to start Game Three here against the Rays last year. At least it's 70 degrees. Hamels pitched a 1-2-3 inning in 13 pitches. Pettitte, meanwhile, gave up a hit and stolen base to Rollins but got the next three batters (Utley and Howard on strikes) to leave him at second. The fans are loud -- much louder than at the corporate-filled new Yankee Stadium. They're all clad in red and waving their white towels for a pretty cool effect. They chanted "You took ster-oids" at Pettitte. Can't wait to see what they do to A-Rod.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
October 31, 2009 - 7:27 PM | Comment
PHILADELPHIA -- It just started pouring at Citizens Bank Park and the tarp has been put on the infield. It's not supposed to be a night filled with prolonged rain. We'll see. Stinks. We get a 70-degree day on Halloween in the Northeast but we get rain too.
So if -- if -- we get a rainout tonight, that would almost certainly scuttle the Yankees' plans to use CC Sabathia on short rest in Game 4. MLB would likely just scrap Tuesday's travel day and Games 3-7 could be played over 5 days in a row.
7:57 p.m. update: Our starting time has come and gone. The rain is a little lighter but the tarp is still on the field and starting pitchers have yet to begin their warmups. Looks like the earliest we get this going is 8:45ish.
8:30 p.m. update: The tarp was on the field and it wasn't raining. But it was no Halloween trick: The folks here apparently knew it was coming. Because now it is pouring again. The stands were packed and people have scattered. Ugh.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
October 31, 2009 - 5:12 PM | Comment
PHILADELPHIA -- Joe Girardi just announced CC Sabathia will pitch Sunday in Game Four on three days rest. He then said he was leaving open "the possibility" that A.J. Burnett would do likewise in Game Five and Sabathia would come back again in Game Seven. Andy Pettitte is slated for Game Six.
It's a three-man rotation. Period. If this goes seven games, it's going to be Sabathia-Burnett-Pettitte-Sabathia-Burnett-Pettitte-Sabathia. Book it. Do you want one of those guys or do you want Chad Gaudin out there?
You can go through all the explanations you want but Girardi summed it up best when he said, "This is the World Series. There is no baseball after the World Series for four or five months. There's plenty of time to rest."
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
October 31, 2009 - 4:23 PM | Comment
PHILADELPHIA -- It's a warm and windy day here at Citizens Bank Park -- haven't seen 70 degrees at the World Series since '05 in Houston and don't even think it got that warm in Tampa. The problem: It's dark. It's been raining some. It might rain some more. We can't catch a break.
My shot (left) shows you the clouds behind the rear of the scoreboard. It's one of the iconic views outside, with the Phanatic picture and the plaza statue of Steve Carlton.
Anyway, Game Three is on time for a 7:57 start. Assuming we play, be sure to watch the wind situation. As we were standing outside the ballpark waiting in a bag search line, two large steel batting cages set up for a kids display on a closed street maybe 50 yards away were completely toppled by the wind (no one was hurt). So this could be interesting.
We'll hear from Joe Girardi in the 5 p.m. range to see what was decided about Hideki Matsui. As of yesterday, the word was no decision on CC Sabathia pitching Game 4 until after Game 3. But let's be honest. CC or Chad Gaudin? CC is pitching. Especially now that the Phillies aren't going with Cliff Lee.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
October 31, 2009 - 12:01 PM | Comment
PHILADELPHIA -- There were some tech issues with the Web publishing of our World Series stories from today's editions but the links are up and working now.
My main story was about the top billing starting on the bats but now the pitchers are dominating.
In our Series notebook, the Yankees have quite the dilemma the next three days with Hideki Matsui.
Some links from the New York and Philly papers:
The NY Daily News: Andy Pettitte in the World Series: It's been a regular show since 1996.
NY Daily News columnist John Harper: Mariano Rivera needs help in the bullpen.
Philly Daily News columnist Rich Hofmann: Don't tell Charlie Manuel how to manage. That means you, Tim McCarver.
---Mike Harrington
October 30, 2009 - 9:14 PM | Comment
PHILADELPHIA -- Already got a couple emails from Yankee fans planning to make the trek down here for the World Series this weekend. My advice: Prepare for chaos in the area around the famed Sports Complex in South Philly where Citizens Bank Park is located (click photo at left for bigger view).
The complex, for those of you who may not know, consists of the Bank (top right in photo), the Wachovia Center (bottom left, home of the Flyers and 76ers), Lincoln Financial Field (bottom right, Eagles) and the old Spectrum (top middle, old Flyers and 76ers' home).
The buildings use common entrances and parking lots and things can get pretty congested on days like this weekend when there are multiple events. I know: I went in the ballpark this afternoon when it was quiet. I came out and the lots were packed for the Sixers' home opener and Pearl Jam at the Spectrum. Took me 20 minutes to find my rental car. Yeesh.
If staying downtown the subway is an option -- except that Philly transit workers are threatening a strike at midnight Friday. Here's the latest on the situation from the Philly Inquirer. If there's a strike, that will strain traffic and parking even more with all these events. The rundown:
Saturday: Flyers-Carolina at 1, World Series at 7:57 and Pearl Jam at the Spectrum in the final event in the building's 42-year history at 7:30.
Sunday: Giants-Eagles at 1 (smartly moved from 4 by Fox), World Series at 8:20
Monday: Flyers-Lightning at 5 (again, smartly pushed back by the Flyers), World Series at 7:57
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
(Photo: Ballparks.com)
October 30, 2009 - 5:24 PM | Comment
PHILADELPHIA -- Here's the key points that have emerged from the Yankees' workout and Joe Girardi's session with the media.
1). No decision on a Game Four starter. It might be CC Sabathia, it might be Chad Gaudin, it may not totally rest on the Yankees leading or trailing the series, 2-1. The Yankees are carefully gauging how Sabathia feels. I think he'll be out there.
2). Forget about Hideki Matsui in the outfield. He says he's been taking grounders, Girardi said it's not an open-and-shut case but realistically it's not going to happen. Johnny Damon will be in left. Girardi will be choosing between Nick Swisher, Jerry Hairston and Brett Gardner in right. Matsui will pinch-hit when needed.
3). The Yankees are going to monitor Mariano Rivera closely. He threw 39 pitches Thursday -- his most ever in a postseason game. Girardi didn't know if he'd be able to go two innings Saturday and, in fact, said he probably won't. For the first time this postseason, the Yankees are playing three days in a row so I'm thinking Rivera is going to be four outs at most. And Girardi so much as admitted it's unlikely Rivera would pitch all three games.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
October 30, 2009 - 3:01 PM | Comment
PHILADELPHIA -- Made it to Citizens Bank Park for today's workout and Phillies manager Charlie Manuel just gave us our first big news nugget: Joe Blanton will start for the Phillies in Game Four here Sunday night.
So don't look for another Cliff Lee-CC Sabathia matchup. Manuel said he's concerned that Lee has thrown more than 260 innings this year and has never pitched on three days rest. Sabathia, of course, did it most of September last year with the Brewers and has done it this month with the Yankees.
"That's really pushing it," Manuel said when asked why he won't go back to his ace. "He's never done it before."
Blanton, remember, was the winner in Game Four against Tampa Bay last year and even homered in that game. But he's 0-3 with an 8.18 ERA in four starts against the Yankees.
We won't hear from Joe Girardi for another half-hour. Will be interesting if he goes to Sabathia in Game Four or Chad Gaudin, especially now that he knows Lee is not going. I would imagine it's Gaudin if the Yankees win Game Three and Sabathia if they lose.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
October 30, 2009 - 12:16 PM | Comment
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
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
October 30, 2009 - 12:47 AM | Comment
NEW YORK -- In two games, four starting pitchers have been dealing in this World Series. Cliff Lee, Pedro Martinez, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett have combined for a 1.86 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 29 innings. Lofty standard for Andy Petttitte and Cole Hamels to live up to Saturday night in Philadelphia.
Other quick thoughts:
Umpiring: Brian Gorman was behind Ryan Howard at first base, so he couldn't see the trapped line drive in the Yankees' seventh. But no one else on the infield, especially plate ump Jeff Nelson, couldn't help with the call? Terrible. Then Gorman blows the huge DP call on Chase Utley in the top of the next inning. Wonderful. This guy should have been working the ALCS. Would have fit right in.
A-Rod: 0 for 8 with six Ks and an error. Probably good for him to get out of New York before the boos get too large. Weren't the Angels just walking him intentionally with no one on base?
Pedro: After the game, he gave another classic press conference that stretched to nearly 12:30 a.m. He indicated he'd probably want to come back and pitch next year, especially if the Phillies don't win. He professed admiration for the New York fans and even admonished a leatherlung in the expensive seats as only Pedro can.
"One guy in the front row sitting with his daughter, his daughter in one arm and a cup of beer in the other hand," he said. "Saying all kinds of nasty stuff. I just told him, "Your daughter is right beside you. It's a little girl. It's a shame you're saying all these things. I had to stop and tell him because I'm a father myself and God, how can you be so dumb to do those kind of things in front of your child? What kind of example are you setting?"
Bullpens: Joe Girardi and Charlie Manuel seem to have lost all faith in them, especially Girardi. It will be interesting to see who he actually goes to in Philly before Rivera after the Game One meltdown. It seems like Joba Chamberlain has to be the first call.
Cliff Lee: What in the world is this story about the subway Fox is telling? No one knows anything about that. We'll have to find out in Philly.
Off to Philly.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
