Game 6 final sprays, er, thoughts
NEW YORK -- Yes, the champagne stings if it gets in your eyes. And the whole celebration is one loud, chaotic, raucous circus. But the New York Yankees have waited nine long years to celebrate a World Series title and it was party time in the Bronx early this morning after the 7-3 Game Six win over the Phillies completed the quest for 27. Uncluttering the mind, the notebook and the bubbly stains after this one:
Joe Girardi: His legacy last year was missing the playoffs after Joe Torre had gone for 13 straight years. He has own legacy now. He's right there with Billy Martin as guys who played for a Yankees Series winner and managed one. He was 2 for 3 on pitchers working on three days rest, with Andy Pettitte's work in the clincher proving Girardi right (you have to excuse him for A.J. Burnett, who can drive any manager crazy).
Hideki Matsui: It truly became a World Series as Godzilla (left) completely spooked Philly pitching en route to MVP honors. The Phillies simply couldn't get him out as he went 8 for 13. He'll get plenty of attention on the free agent market this winter and I still say the Yankees let him go and move Johnny Damon to DH/partime OF so prospect Austin Jackson can move in.
Andy Pettitte: Another series clinching game for the all-time leader in postseason wins. If Pettitte can play 2-3 more years and push his victory total into the 250 range, he has to be in Hall of Fame conversations.
Mariano Rivera: He is a Hall of Famer. Period. Had Matsui not gone beserk in the finale, Rivera (holding trophy at left) would have been the MVP. He was the difference. The Yankees had him. The Phillies didn't.
Derek Jeter: Another MVP candidate. He was 11 for 27 and is a career .321 hitter in Series play.
Ryan Howard: Epic fail. Nice job hitting your only home run when your team is down, 7-1. Series record 13 strikeouts.
Pedro Martinez: You can't pitch regularly on 10-15 days rest. You're supposed to go on five. That's what he did Wednesday and he had nothing. It should make teams pay heed to giving him a lot of bucks this winter, including the Phillies.
Yankee domos: Hank and Hal Steinbrenner, Lonn Trost and Randy Levine all made sure to make themselves accessible to the media. Hmmmph. I felt dirty listening. Other than writing the checks (an admittedly important skill), all they're responsible for is making sure the common fan is priced out of a new stadium. GM Brian Cashman gets the credit. I listened in a little on one scrum with Hank and it was at least heartening to hear him giving Cashman and Girardi credit.
Fox: The media was herded on the field during the postgame celebration. What in the world was Chris Rose doing asking the questions? What kind of questions were they? Who the heck is Chris Rose anyway? If we're gonna be here into November, put a real host on the field.
Thanx to all for reading the blog the last 10 days, its most successful run since its inception in 2007. Did all the Yankee fans agree with the choice of Matsui as MVP?. Make your pick below and have your say on the Bronx Bombers in the comment section.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
