TERRIBLE LOSSES

I'm sure all Yankees fans were just as disheartened as I was as we watched Jeter pinned to the infield dirt, grimacing in pain for a prolonged period, and trying to make every attempt possible to lightly toss the ball to Cano.  This was not just a player that was about to go to the hospital for x-rays, this was our Captain.  Derek has, together with Mo, led our team to so many victories and literally a handful of championships.  This happened in Game 1 of the ALCS and resulted as the first time since 1996 that Yankees fans had neither Jeter nor Mo for the championship run!

While we have all been preparing for these aging superstars to eventually retire, neither player was set to do so this year.  When it finally happens, it will still be hard for us to readjust after so many years of success, but it's merciless for severe injuries to make it happen.  Next year we know Jeter will be back (after his ankle surgery) and I'd be shocked if Mo didn't attempt to play one more year so that he had the chance to retire on his own terms.

Of course, the Yankees could have attempted to "win for the Captain" but their hitting woes not only continued, but worsened.  A-Rod mounted his failures at the plate (for the at-bats Joe Girardi scheduled) and both Granderson & Swisher seemed determined to hit a home-run with every pitch thrown.  Of course, neither Ichiro nor Gardner bunted for base hits to take advantage of the so-so fielding of the Tigers' Cabrera or Fielder.

The Yankees' hitting looked way too lethargic in this series.  As a result, not only did they lose the ALCS, but they got swept 4-0 by the Tigers!  I hate to lose, but if it has to happen, at least I get some personal satisfaction knowing I fought to the end; something they clearly failed to do.  

By the way, I must mention how classy Jim Leyland acted throughout this series.  The man's reactions to Jeter's injury and the complementary comments he mentioned towards the Yankees, Girardi, and Cashman genuinely came from his love and appreciation of baseball.

This past ALCS loss will be one that stands out as one of the worst losses in Yankees history.  Of course Jeter's injury before Game 1 even finished was certainly a terrible loss in itself but, the ineffective hitting and the lack of effort by this 2012 team during this series disgracefully added to one of the Yankees most "Terrible Losses".

NOW, THE 2012 AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES (ALDS) CHAMPIONS!!!

Well, the Yankees pulled it off and beat the Baltimore Orioles for the aforementioned ALDS title!  It certainly didn’t come easy, as it took all five games to achieve.

As with any series, there are always many stories to tell.  For the ALDS, besides the Yankees’ accomplished outcome, the other key story revolves around A-Rod.  Joe Girardi did something out of the ordinary for managers these days – he managed a major decision with his brain instead of depending on doing things by the book.  In my last blog, I was adamant in pointing out that Joe needed to manage as such in my “Stop managing like a robot and manage by what you're seeing in front of you!!” point.  Joe saw the failures of several hitters including Granderson, Swisher, and A-Rod happening right in front of his own eyes and decided to replace A-Rod in the 9^th inning of Game 3 with Raul Ibañez as the pinch-hitter.  The Yankees were losing at that point by one run and, lo-and-behold, Ibañez smashed the ball for a homerun, tying the game.  A few innings later, Ibañez connected again to win the game!!  Joe looked like a genius!

I am not an A-Rod supporter, but I am also not one who focuses on ripping him, as many members of the press and baseball fans often do.  As a Yankees fan, I am lucky that my favorite team has such great owners as the Steinbrenner family, whereby I don’t need to focus on “their” A-Rod expense.  He does indeed have a ridiculous contract that pays him way too much money, but why should I hold that against him?  My main focus is towards the Yankees winning, so I am thankful that Joe did exactly what was needed for a win – replacing one of the failing hitters, who happened to be A-Rod in this case.

In Game 4, he was again replaced with a pinch-hitter – this time by Eric Chavez who didn’t come through and, in Game 5, Joe chose to omit A-Rod from the whole game – also uneventful.  One thing that was eventful in Game 5, Granderson began showing good offensive signs as he finally hit the ball with authority for a homerun.

Now, we get ready for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) tonight.  As I write this, A-Rod is officially scheduled to bat 6^th in the starting lineup tonight.  One thing for sure - this will be an intense series against the Tigers, who have the best hitter in baseball (Miguel Cabrera) and the best starting pitcher (Justin Verlander).

There are many questions including:

1)  Will A-Rod finally begin to hit the ball solidly during this series?

2)  Will Joe pinch-hit for Swisher if his woes continue?

3)  Can the Yankees limit Cabrera from too many extra-base hits?

Those are obvious questions, but I have five key points that I think can help the Yankees win, if they’re applied:

1)  Joe should continue managing away from the provided stats on many of his decisions.

2)  The Yankees should take advantage of the weak infield defense of the Tigers.

3)  Hughes needs to duplicate his last games’ effort for his scheduled Game 3 start.

4)  Teixeira has to continue driving the ball and return to being a key run-producer.

5)  The Yankees should take extra pitches to accelerate the ousting of the Tigers’ starters so that they can take advantage of their questionable bullpen.

Okay, Yankees, let’s win this thing and move onto the World Series again!!!

THE 2012 AMERICAN LEAGUE EASTERN DIVISION CHAMPS

First of all, congratulations are in order for the New York Yankees as are now the American League Eastern Division Champions.  Wasn't it even more rewarding that they didn't have to depend on the Orioles to lose as the Yankees took on their own fate by humiliating the Red Sawx in a 14-2 bashing?  Now, they are on a quest to win their 41st American League Pennant and 28th World Series Title!


My expectations of the Yankees winning 95 games and the Red Sox being a weak team were right on the mark this year.  Regrettably, I predicted that to several friends on an email back in April, before my "The NYY Writer" blog was initiated to share my prediction with everyone.

Of course, I hope that the Yankees work their way to winning their 28th Championship; however, I have three major concerns:

First, as I have always felt, the best-of-5 format should not exist in baseball.  I believe that the following rounds which offer the best-of-7 format is much more definitive in baseball.  So, while the Yankees are playing within the first round, I will be nervous of them proving their full abilities in a short series.  Of course, I'm elated that they didn't lose the division and end up in a one-game playoff to determine the wildcard team!

My second concern evolves fully on their health.  While all teams have health issues, this year was totally ridiculous for the Yankees.  The best closer in the history of the game is still recovering from surgery and will still not be available to help the team besides being able to add more great stats to all the records he has already established in the playoffs since 1996.  Furthermore, players who have just returned from injuries include Teixeira, A-Rod, Pettitte, Gardner, and CC.  Are they healthy enough to produce at least 90% of their earlier abilities?  Now, I know Teixeira and A-Rod haven't proven much in the playoffs lately; but, I want them to be mostly healthy so that health is not a factor - whether they produce or don't produce.  The last health concern is based on their Captain, Derek Jeter.  Everyone knows his abilities in the playoffs are positively off the charts.  Hopefully, this 38-year-old phenom can be his abnormal self and produce his usual without hobbling on his injured foot.

My last concern is Joe Girardi.  He has shown us some strange decisions over the past few years in the playoffs.  I am hoping he manages the Yankees as if each game is do or die, instead of counting pitches!  I also hope he doesn't do his impersonation of La Russa by constantly changing pitchers from lefty to righty and vice-versa.  It's overrated!  Even La Russa wasn't doing it as often as he used to before he won in his final year last year.  If the pitcher (especially a reliever) is pitching well, leave him in there!!  Stop managing like a robot and manage by what you're seeing in front of you!!

There's one thing for sure - this Sunday will begin a very intense series!  Let's keep our fingers crossed that we win the series and move onto the next round.  We have a team that can certainly do it, especially if my last two concerns are negated by them staying healthy and Joe managing with his sight and not his detailed stats.