Keeping Hope Alive In YankeeLand

The Yankees take the ALCS back to Texas.  The Times presents their problem:

But if you are the Yankees, heading to the heart of Texas for what most people believe will be a hoedown of pennant-clinching proportions, there is a counter thought to the widespread belief that no matter what they do in Game 6, Cliff Lee is guaranteed to turn them into a bunch of pinstriped bobblehead dolls in Game 7.

First, the Yankees have to win Friday at Rangers Ballpark, where they again are scheduled to trot out Phil Hughes against the immortal Colby Lewis. Far from a sure thing, given the outcome of Game 2, but not exactly the scaling of Everest, either. And if they can win Game 6, then the grand finale becomes something quite different than what had been advertised this week as the Rangers bullied the Yankees to the brink of extinction.

Game 7 becomes as much about Lee’s head as his splendid left arm and Zen-like control. It becomes about his ability to carry a team that had never won a playoff series before this month across the threshold to the World Series. It becomes about him winning the game most people have decided he can’t lose.

Yeah, and it becomes about the fact that it doesn't get easier the second time around.  Here is a misleading stat about Lee versus the Yanks:

We know that Lee has never lost a postseason game in seven decisions. We know that when you combine his numbers against the Yankees with the Phillies in the World Series last year and with the Rangers in this series, what you get is 3-0, 24 innings, 15 hits and 5 earned runs allowed.

Uh huh.  But all of those earned runs ocurred in his second start against the Yankees in the World Series last year.  In Game 1 he pitched nine innings and gave up an unearned run in the ninth; in Game 5 he was the winning pitcher despite being charged with 5 earned runs (he left after facing three batters in the 8th without recording an out, but the Phillies won 8-6.)

OK, that's your Game 7 preview.  Now we just need to get Game 6 out of the way...

 

Comments

[Thomas Collins]

Does the NYTimes have to over-intellectualize everything? Let's have fun with good natured sniping at each other and enjoy the games! Speaking of which, TM, if the Bronxers need advice on ALCS comebacks, I'm sure there are some folks about 180 miles up 95N who would be happy to advise!

[Appalled]

TC:

A Red Sox fan advising the Yanks would be like an Atlanta fan advising the Phillies this year.

Don't think they'll be coming up 95 for a consultation...

[sbw]

I attended a congressional debate this morning. Thanks, TM, for invoking sports to distract me from it.

[Thomas Collins]

I'm thinking that with the coming into being of the 21st Century, Appalled, a singularity has occured, and the Red Sox are now the power franchise (with twice as many WS titles as their nearest competitors). Those Yankees titles in the 20th century are sooooooo yesterday!

[Thomas Collins]

Speaking of the 20th Century, I barely remember the Yankees as a contender when I was growing up. After getting swept by the Cards in 1964, didn't the Yanks disappear for awhile? My most painful Red Sox memory from when I was a ute had nothing to do with the Bronxies; it was Gibson besting Gentleman Jim in Game 7 of the 1967 WS.

[Jack is Back!]

I sense a Mazeroski moment, albeit in the ACLS than the WS. After all it is now 50 years since and the only thing missing will be the fedoras and camel hair coats. Just don't load the bases to get to Benji Molina:)

Most importantly, who throws out the first pitch and who sings the National Anthem?

Remember - Don't Mess with Texas!

[MarkO]

When CBS owned the Yankees, the team was about as good that the news division is today. 1961. Now we're talkin'.

[Mad Jack]

Teams I'd like to see sign Cliff Lee.
1. Boston
2. Any team other than the Yankees.

Go Rangers! Sorry, TM. Love the blog. Hate the Yanks.

[Danube of Thought]

I think the Cardinals won in seven in '64. Starting the next year the Yankees went in the tank, Mantle retired and that was that.

Since Lee appeared to be living rent-free in the Yankees' heads the other night, odd to see them Times speculating about what's going on inside his own.

[Jack is Back!]

DoT,

Psychiatrists call it projection. Lee calls it his fastball-slider.

[matt]

We have another major clash going on in California this fall, Prop 23. I have a very significant stake in the green energy sector, but am deeply perturbed by the sheer dishonesty and self serving, self enriching agenda of the green lobby. I wrote it up. LUN.

Now getting on to more important things, what if it's Texas - San Francisco for the Series? Think of the contrast of cultures!

[Jack is Back!]

Hey, how about this headline over on Fox News website "Obama Blames His Pitch". Didn't know he was starting tonight.

[DrJ]

matt, bad link at LUN

[Thomas Collins]

I stand corrected by DOT. The sweep of the Yankees was in 1963, and it was by the LA Dodgers.

[matt]

let's try that one again.

[MarkO]

Did I mention 1961?

[Thomas Collins]

The LUN should bring you pleasant memories, MarkO.

[MarkO]

TC, I have almost every one of these Yankee plaers in a 1959 Topps baseball card, or older with Lopez. My pal and I played a spin-wheel baseball game where we had line-up cards and moved the cards around the board according to the spin. Unfortunately, he liked the Dodgers. But, we would trade good cards, not Solly Hemus, but Duke for Mickey.

The cards have appreciated, but I would never sell them.

Thanks for the link. I am grinning.

[Captain Hate]

Is there anybody else who is outraged that the election might happen before the World Series is over?

[Captain Hate]

Does the NYTimes have to over-intellectualize everything?

Reading the Times for sports information is like watching MSNBC for insights on conservatism.

[Ignatz Ratzkywatzky]

--Is there anybody else who is outraged that the election might happen before the World Series is over?--

Yep. Of course I'm still ticked off about 162 games let alone divisional playoffs.
And don't even mention a February Super bowl.

[hit and run]

MarkO:
I have almost every one of these Yankee plaers in a 1959 Topps baseball card, or older with Lopez ... The cards have appreciated, but I would never sell them.

And I,of course,would never think of offering you money for them.

One question,though. Would you consider bequeathing them to your favorite JOMer?

[PD]

A Red Sox fan advising the Yanks would be like an Atlanta fan advising the Phillies this year.

Or Frank Rich advising the Republicans about how to deal with their Tea Party "problem."

Don't call us, we'll call you.

On another note:
I didn't realize there was an "Official Beer of the First Inning."

[PD]

That's quite a hat.

[peter]

Is Tim Lincecum the guy who does the UPS commercials, or is he the actress who played the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz?
Then again, who is classier than Phillies fans?

[Captain Hate]

Thanks to Lincecum being a complete douche I now hate the Giants more than the Yankees.

[maryrose]

The last time the Giants were in the World Series wasn't there an earthquake? I remember watching the sportscasters talking and all of a sudden things started moving.
OT
Captain Hate I was on your side of town tonight at a classical music concert at Severance Hall. The eastside really looks beautiful in the fall.

[Stephanie]

Giants vs Oakland. The Loma Prieta earthquake. It caused baseball to delay the series for a week or more.

There have been several quakes interrupting games at SD, Oakland and Anaheim, but I don't remember any televised games that had moving and shaking going on at Dodgers stadium.

[MarkO]

hit, you're in the running. You do like Duke basketball, right?

[MarkO]

Once, in another incarnation, I was sitting at a World Series game, three rows in from third base. Hank Aaron was five seats away and I planned to get an autograph during the game. I leaned back to enjoy the bright sunlight when the entrie section slid forward, the scoreboard lights went off and a roar came up from the crowd.

Earthquake. I wanted them to play the game anyway.

[maryrose]

I confess, I do love Duke basketball, though the year I won the March Madness college basketball pool it was with Michigan State as the winner.My brother helped me with that one.

[Captain Hate]

Captain Hate I was on your side of town tonight at a classical music concert at Severance Hall. The eastside really looks beautiful in the fall.

Hope it was a good performance because Severance has been so nice since they spruced it up. Yeah it's been a nice Fall with the leaves still holding their colors. I walk my dog at the Shaker Lake park off Coventry which is nice.

[MarkO]

maryrose, you are definitely in the running, although you may not even care. Michigan State had a great team that year.

[daddy]

Go to Hell Duke!!!

[tiffany]

Marriage is a only thing for lifetime, I like it very much, tiffany jewelery After dinner i go to a tiffany store. tiffany

[hit and run]

MarkO:
You do like Duke basketball, right?

If I didn't before,http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/19/duke-coach-obama-worry-economy-ncaa-picks/>this won me over:

"Somebody said that we're not in President Obama's Final Four, and as much as I respect what he's doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said from the Blue Devils' first-round site in Greensboro, N.C.

Give Him Hell Duke!

[Thomas Collins]

MarkO, my baseball game with the spinner was Negamco, which I received as a present from my parents. I could never collect enough pennies from the odd jobs of my ute to be able to afford Big League Manager, which I think was the top rated game of that time.