You all know what’s on the line. Let’s do it, Yankees.

Ivan Nova will face:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Don Kelly 3B
3. Delmon Young LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victory Martinez, DH
6. Magglio Ordonez, RF
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Jhonny Peralta, SS
9. Ramon Santiago, 2B

Doug Fister will face:

1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Curtis Granderson, CF
3. Robinson Cano, 2B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Mark Teixeira, 1B
6. Nick Swisher, RF
7. Jorge Posada, DH
8. Russell Martin, C
9. Brett Gardner, LF

LET’S. GO. YANKEES.

 

267 Responses to Game Thread: ALDS GAME FIVE.

  1. smurfy says:

    Holy mackerel! I was gathering wool, reading the newspaper, not listening to ads on the wrong channel, and the Tigers hit two homers, out of the first three batters!

    Either the game is already gone, or we just gave them a big handicap.

  2. Professor Longnose says:

    They’re going to have to hit.

  3. Steve S. says:

    Everything from Nova was up. He can’t make a living that way.

  4. Steve S. says:

    Get Hughes up. Nova’s completely off his game.

  5. Professor Longnose says:

    They gotta hit. They just gotta hit.

  6. smurfy says:

    Well, Nova has realized this ain’t gonna be easy. Now for some hitting to get this game back on track!

  7. Professor Longnose says:

    XBH by Teixeira is a good sign.

    Now get the bleeping run in.

  8. Professor Longnose says:

    Is Swisher’s postseason average actually negative yet?

    • bornwithpinstripes says:

      swisher should not have played in this game…he stunk in years past and has gotten a big break starting the first four..girardi is sticking with a guy who has stage fright .. chavez and dickerson should have gotten a shot tonight..this ump again is killing us..fister is getting things not close and hughes has made great pitches and not gotten the calls..very frustrating.

  9. smurfy says:

    Fister is tough, cutting them in and out.

  10. smurfy says:

    The announcers are being too generous, too kind to the yankees. Something’s up.

  11. Professor Longnose says:

    Why let Nova pitch his way out of the second and then take him out? If they were going to take him out, why not with the runner on third?

    • smurfy says:

      changing the dynamics of the game? thought Phil would be better ready now?

      • Professor Longnose says:

        Maybe the second one. I hope it’s not because they’re afraid of bringing guys in with runners on. That’s backwards thinking.

  12. smurfy says:

    Phil is steaming the corners. Keeps that up, it will inspire our hitters.

  13. Professor Longnose says:

    Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit!

  14. Steve S. says:

    Great move by Joe. Everything was up, his curve was horrendous. Dont let this game get away from you with your bullets in the chamber.

  15. Alex says:

    do you guys like the move bringing Phil in?

  16. bornwithpinstripes says:

    great move by joe taking him out..all his curves were flat hangers..hughes is on..harky must have told joe his bullpen is great..we needed to score 6 runs to win any way..they will hit this guy..unless the ump takes it from us

  17. Rich in NJ says:

    The strike zone is curiously inconsistent for the respective teams.

  18. bornwithpinstripes says:

    got to make gardner steal

  19. Eric Schultz says:

    Bullpen Phil is once again pretty awesome, weird strike zone though.

  20. Steve S. says:

    Now steal 2nd Brett. Don’t be passive.

  21. smurfy says:

    Fister broke Martin’s bat, then mysteriously went to a straight fastball for three pitches to Brett. He didn’t swing twice, expecting movement.

  22. bornwithpinstripes says:

    what are they waiting for to steal..that was a great pitch to go .jeter two strikes

  23. Professor Longnose says:

    Where’s my famotidine?

  24. Steve S. says:

    50 piÞches in the 3rd is good. Detroits middle relief is weak.

  25. Rich in NJ says:

    If they hold Detroit at 2, it’s just a matter of time before the Yankees score a bunch of runs.

  26. bornwithpinstripes says:

    they will get this guy.that was a few inches on the bat from finding the gap..good at bat by robbie

  27. bornwithpinstripes says:

    we need phil to be shut down for 3 more innings, get em phil

  28. Rich in NJ says:

    Not a fan of this move.

  29. bornwithpinstripes says:

    that is too quick taking phil out..he got out a great hitter ,behind 3 and 0..and that hit was weak..

  30. Steve S. says:

    Wow, we might see Sabathia in this game after all.

  31. Professor Longnose says:

    He’s gonna go through guys too fast. That’s why they never win an extra inning game.

    • T.O. Chris says:

      Didn’t we win multiple extra inning affairs this year? Noesi’s debut came in an extra inning win.

      • Professor Longnose says:

        They won a few, but were way under .500 as I remember. I’ll look.

      • smurfy says:

        No, I think we had a .400 or so winning %.

        • Professor Longnose says:

          4-12 in extra inning games this year. That’s horrible, no matter how you slice it.

          • T.O. Chris says:

            That’s interesting, according to mlb.com we were 3-4 in extra inning games on June 14th. I wonder how much fatigue played a role in the 1-8 down the stretch.

      • Professor Longnose says:

        By the way, T.O., I’ve posted my e-mail in a couple of threads. Feel free to chat baseball over the offseason.

        • T.O. Chris says:

          That’s mine. Even though that Email makes very little sense now haha. I made it when Ronnie Brown was in college playing for Auburn and wearing 23. Now he plays for the Eagles, and I think he wears 34 or something haha.

  32. Rich in NJ says:

    Not into Logan at all.

  33. bornwithpinstripes says:

    i would not bring logan in .i think he stinks

    • T.O. Chris says:

      He wasn’t dominant against lefties this year as he was in 2010, but he far from stinks.

      In 2010 he held lefties to a .501 OPS in 79 ABs, with HRs allowed. This year in 104 ABs lefties had a .780 OPS, but he improved against righties holding them to a .673 OPS. He also was a beast at Yankee stadium this season posting a 1.25 ERA with a .224 BAA, with only 1 HR in 31 GP (21.2 IP).

  34. Professor Longnose says:

    How many games has Logan given up a hit to the lefty he’s brought in to face? Must be a bunch.

  35. Rich in NJ says:

    Well…good. Now score.

  36. Professor Longnose says:

    No more wasting baserunners. At least score one here.

  37. smurfy says:

    Tex has looked the best. Come on, big boy!

  38. Professor Longnose says:

    I think Girardi is panicking.

    • T.O. Chris says:

      You gotta manage like tomorrow doesn’t exist. This may not be the 7th game of the World Series, but if you don’t win it might as well be.

      • Professor Longnose says:

        You’re right, but you can make too many moves. Taking out Hughes when he was pitching well with so many innings to go…

        • T.O. Chris says:

          Hughes hasn’t exactly been Mr. Rock Solid this year. Even in his starts he tends to start strong, and then fade the more he pitches. I personally wouldn’t be hanging my hat on Phil for 3+ innings.

          • Professor Longnose says:

            But I wouldn’t take him out when he’s pitching well.

            • T.O. Chris says:

              I’m not necessarily saying he should or shouldn’t have taken him out, but I’m cool with it either way.

              Hughes is a lot like Burnett, in that when he’s pitching well you always have to follow it up with “for now”. He’s also like Burnett in that one hit can start a serious snowball.

              I feel like a lot of fans were looking for Hughes to come in for Nova and pitch a good chunk of the rest of the game. That would never have been my plan whether I let him finish the inning or not. He’s just too unpredictable.

              • Professor Longnose says:

                Agreed. But if you can squeeze a few extra outs out of a guy who’s pitching well, I’d do it.

              • T.O. Chris says:

                “Agreed. But if you can squeeze a few extra outs out of a guy who’s pitching well, I’d do it.”

                I can see that. Maybe Girardi just liked the matchup, and knowing he had Sabathia to pitch multiple innings sealed his decision.

            • bornwithpinstripes says:

              how he is pitching now is what counts ..not what happened months ago

              • T.O. Chris says:

                How he pitches now is directly related to how he pitches period. You can’t ignore the fact that his good times go quickly.

                That would be like saying a lefty-lefty or righty-righty matchup is dumb, because he got that guy out months ago, not today.

  39. Rich in NJ says:

    Time for a postseason statistical correction, Swish.

  40. smurfy says:

    Alright, alright, Swish. Come on, lefties!

  41. Professor Longnose says:

    Sabathia hasn’t even been pitching well. I don’t like relying on him for 3 innings.

    • T.O. Chris says:

      If we lose this game I’d rather have him pitch than not. No need to save him for a game that might not happen.

    • smurfy says:

      I have faith in CC. He has his three pitches working. He was a little offstride last time.

    • bornwithpinstripes says:

      terrible move

      • T.O. Chris says:

        It can’t really be labeled a terrible move. You can not like bringing in CC, but it can’t be a terrible move. If we don’t win then CC doesn’t pitch again until next year. Besides Mariano he is the best pitcher we have had for 3 years, him pitching is never a terrible move.

  42. Professor Longnose says:

    My man, Posada. Come on, BIG spot.

  43. Rich in NJ says:

    We need more Posadas.

  44. T.O. Chris says:

    I like Alex holding up. Don’t push for a meaningless run in the long run.

  45. Professor Longnose says:

    Gotta get at least one here.

  46. Rich in NJ says:

    Don’t pull the outside pitch.

  47. Professor Longnose says:

    Come on, Gardner!

  48. Rich in NJ says:

    F in A

  49. T.O. Chris says:

    Looked to be a strike to me.

  50. Rich in NJ says:

    Why didn’t you ask what Girardi meant while he was on?

  51. T.O. Chris says:

    Probably Nova’s back? Seems to be the most logical spot to tighten up on a pitcher.

  52. T.O. Chris says:

    Does Ron Darling sound like James Woods to anyone else?

  53. Rich in NJ says:

    Right move.

  54. Rich in NJ says:

    When the right move doesn’t work you can’t complain.

  55. Rich in NJ says:

    Runs…

  56. T.O. Chris says:

    I’ve seen some negativity around the Yankees pursuing CJ Wilson in the offseason, but I’m behind it. I know many want to wait until the following offseason, when more, younger pitchers are available. But with the trend of signing, or trading young pitchers away before free agency there is no guarantee any of them will actually be available.

  57. Rich in NJ says:

    Cano and Montero will scare the crap out of pitchers for years.

    More runs…

  58. smurfy says:

    Yeeaah, Robbie! Lefties, you gotta get him, his slider’s not much.

  59. T.O. Chris says:

    Cano has really broken out in this postseason. He was already a great player coming into this series obviously, but this is kind of his coming our party to the world.

    Alex was really the whole story for the ALDS, and CS of 2009, but this DS is Cano’s alone.

  60. bornwithpinstripes says:

    cano gives you a great at bat..

  61. bornwithpinstripes says:

    well lets beat up valverdi tonight..it would be fitting..he has not lost all year.. bout time..

  62. Rich in NJ says:

    I would use Robertson.

  63. Rich in NJ says:

    Cool. Kick butt.

  64. bornwithpinstripes says:

    great hands robbie.

  65. T.O. Chris says:

    With a fastball-split like that you can dominate any hitter, at any time.

  66. bornwithpinstripes says:

    i know tex’s problem..he can not hit a ball down the middle

  67. Rich in NJ says:

    I wish Po caught some games.

    Come on, Martin.

    • T.O. Chris says:

      I don’t. Posada would give up runs Martin has saved just by being behind the plate. Imagine Posada in Detrot with Jorge behind the plate.

      • Rich in NJ says:

        Posada is a borderline HoFer because of his offense. Offense/defense, Martin isn’t in his universe.

        • T.O. Chris says:

          Martin is a way better catcher defensively than Posada ever was, and at this point it isn’t even close. Posada also isn’t close to what he once was, he simply can’t catch anymore. Period.

          Martin calls a better game, frames pitches better, blocks balls better, and all around is 10 times the catcher Posada is. Posada has been really good with the bat in this series, that doesn’t change the fact that if he was behind the plate he would be a butcher.

          • Rich in NJ says:

            I’ll take a butcher for a game here and there (he was fine against the Angels after not catching all year) in a playoff against a team that doesn’t run much when the starting catcher has serial horrendous AB.

            • T.O. Chris says:

              There is much more to being a catcher than throwing out runners. You can cost your team strikes just by the way you frame pitches, not to mention Posada has always been a very stubborn backstop who demands pitchers follow his signs more often than not.

              You are seriously underrating the job of a catcher defensively.

  68. Rich in NJ says:

    Martin just doesn’t do enough offensively to be the catcher here for long.

    • T.O. Chris says:

      Then you’re probably going to be mad when he is the starting catcher next year as well.

      • Rich in NJ says:

        No, because he will start less games as Montero transitions in. It may help his offense.

        • T.O. Chris says:

          Martin played in 125 games this season. I think he is going to play in another 120 games next season as well. Montero is going to be the everyday DH, he won’t get more than 30-40 games at catcher.

          • Rich in NJ says:

            40 games would be a start; 60 makes more sense.

            Meanwhile, Martin is going to get another AB in this series. It’s time to produce.

            • T.O. Chris says:

              I personally want Martin catching 100+ games. his game calling, and ability behind the plate add much more than can be quantified in stats.

    • smurfy says:

      Jorge’s offense was outstanding, but we have now seen how important good defense is, as well as pitcher handling. Why we’re slow to try Montero catching.

      • Rich in NJ says:

        It’s not as important as HoF offense. We got that from Po. We’ll get that from Montero.

        • T.O. Chris says:

          WOW! You have already made Montero a HOF offensive player? Getting carried away aren’t we?

          • smurfy says:

            yeah, we got a game to win here, let’s not get carried away.

            • T.O. Chris says:

              Whether or not we have a game to win, guaranteeing hall of fame production from someone with 18 games played at the majors is silly. Montero could be a monster player for us without ever touching the hall of fame.

              • Rich in NJ says:

                It’s also silly to overrate a catcher who is an offensive zero.

              • T.O. Chris says:

                “It’s also silly to overrate a catcher who is an offensive zero.”

                Martin had a 3.1 WAR this seaoson, the last time Posada had a WAR better than that was 2007. That includes a 22 HR season in 2008 where he posted a 2.9 WAR, and a 18 HR season of 1.9 WAR in 2010.

          • Rich in NJ says:

            Call me on it in 15 years. Offense/defense I think he will have a great career.

            • T.O. Chris says:

              I think he will be a god player as well, but a ton of great players never made the hall of fame. Don Mattingly had a monster career for 4-6 years, no one would have thought it would have u-turned so abruptly.

              I think Montero will eventually be a full time DH anyway. His catching is always going to be a liability, and he showed nothing this year to dissuade my opinion on his defense. He is going to be a passed ball nightmare as a starter.

              • Rich in NJ says:

                Even if you’re right, he will be 26 when Tex’s contract is up. I still like catchers who can hit.

              • T.O. Chris says:

                “Even if you’re right, he will be 26 when Tex’s contract is up. I still like catchers who can hit.”

                Let’s not act like I’m trying to ship him out of town here. I just don’t think you should value offense over defense at the catcher position. It’s been proven time and time again how important a good backstop is.

                It’s just too easy to check stats on offense, but on defense you can’t say he drove in (saved) x amount of runs. That however shouldn’t dismiss the importance of it.

  69. smurfy says:

    Scherzer with a wicked two seamer. Little faster than Fister, but similar approach.

  70. Professor Longnose says:

    Gotta get Gardner on.

  71. smurfy says:

    Leyland is not chewing sunflower seeds, but blood pressure pills.

  72. Rich in NJ says:

    Good AB.

  73. smurfy says:

    attaboy, Jete. Good fight and scrap.

    Saw Jeter walking in the dugout. Did they take him out?

  74. smurfy says:

    Scherzer was pitching well, but looked less confident thean last time. Leyland is twitchy with the trigger finger.

  75. Professor Longnose says:

    Ben-wah or Ben-oyt?

  76. Professor Longnose says:

    That mighta been ball 4.

  77. Rich in NJ says:

    Step up, Robbie.

  78. smurfy says:

    alright, Curtis! Robbie, NOW!

    well, that’s ok, too.

  79. Professor Longnose says:

    Hoo-hah!

  80. bornwithpinstripes says:

    arod has a chance to wipe out a bad year…

    • T.O. Chris says:

      Really an injured year more so than just bad. He was getting hot a couple of different times, but injuries always brought him back down.

  81. Rich in NJ says:

    “It’s just too easy to check stats on offense, but on defense you can’t say he drove in (saved) x amount of runs. That however shouldn’t dismiss the importance of it.”

    TO

    I’m not dismissing it. I’m viewing it in context.

    Come on, Alex.

    • T.O. Chris says:

      You are viewing it in your own context, which you have slanted towards offense. Catchers play defense much more than anyone else on the field, and the work they do on defense is done much more often than the work they do on offense.

  82. Professor Longnose says:

    Season on the line. This is it.

  83. T.O. Chris says:

    He was right behind that one.

  84. bornwithpinstripes says:

    how quite is the crowd

  85. Rich in NJ says:

    Pick him up, Teix.

  86. bornwithpinstripes says:

    arod is a pure dog..

  87. smurfy says:

    gimme some Texy magic.

  88. Professor Longnose says:

    Twice they couldn’t get the damn run in from third with one out.

  89. Rich in NJ says:

    Great AB.

    Do it, Swish

  90. Professor Longnose says:

    Benoit scored that run for the Yanks practically by himself.

  91. smurfy says:

    snick-snick. Reload. Swish!

  92. bornwithpinstripes says:

    bout time tex didn’t swing 2 and 0 or better 3 and 1..now the choke king

  93. smurfy says:

    good eye, Swish.

  94. T.O. Chris says:

    Thought that one was a strike on first look.

  95. Rich in NJ says:

    Overswings yet again.

  96. T.O. Chris says:

    At least they cut it to one run.

  97. bornwithpinstripes says:

    this guy will go down in yankee history as the biggest choke artist he has done this every year..every year .i will have a hard time watching this team next year if he is on it..better off if he just got up and didn;t swing we would be tied right now

  98. T.O. Chris says:

    I wonder who pitches the bottom of the 8th for the Tigers? Benoit again? Surely not.

  99. smurfy says:

    They showed Mo warming up. I’d stick with Robertson for another inning, unless the Yanks take the lead.

  100. Professor Longnose says:

    My man.

  101. Rich in NJ says:

    Come on, Martin. A good, patient AB with a plan.

  102. T.O. Chris says:

    lol at some fan yelling at Cabrera.

  103. Professor Longnose says:

    Did somebody yell, “Hey, Cabrera! Nice haircut!”

  104. bornwithpinstripes says:

    why is joe saving chavez?????martin no way hits now

  105. T.O. Chris says:

    Come on, that was a walk.

    EDIT: it was a strike on second look.

  106. Rich in NJ says:

    Someone needs to take Rob Thompson off the hook for being conservative when he is often reckless.

    • T.O. Chris says:

      I actually think Arod is probably thrown out if he goes home on that play. It would’ve been close, and Alex hasn’t been running well since his knee injury.

  107. T.O. Chris says:

    That Brett Gardner, he’s so hot right now.

  108. smurfy says:

    Fuuuuuuuuuuuugggg!

  109. T.O. Chris says:

    I thought that one was out.

  110. bornwithpinstripes says:

    this guy finally tried to steal and jeter has to swing…boy where is the manager..this guy is deer in the head lights..panic joe as usual

  111. Rich in NJ says:

    This is probably coming down to A-Rod. Rinse. Repeat.

    I’m still confident.

  112. T.O. Chris says:

    How many computer baseball games do people play?

  113. Professor Longnose says:

    Was that a 3-broken-bat inning?

  114. smurfy says:

    it is time to stuff Malverde.

  115. Professor Longnose says:

    I can’t believe those two homers in the first inning are the difference.

  116. bornwithpinstripes says:

    time to shut this guy up….the win would like beating paplbum..he is now on that list..if we get to tex we have over 100 homers coming up.t

    • T.O. Chris says:

      He was the Astros closer, so I can’t put him on that list. Plus he doesn’t have that stupid stare in look Paps does.

  117. Professor Longnose says:

    Baserunners. Always need baserunners. And key hits.

  118. Professor Longnose says:

    Yankees are seriously underperforming their pythagorean in this series so far.

  119. bornwithpinstripes says:

    leyland was going to walk cano

  120. T.O. Chris says:

    Surprised that ball carried that far on a broken bat.

  121. smurfy says:

    Robinson hit that a ton! Too much for the bat!

  122. T.O. Chris says:

    Good season fellas. Let’s re-tool and get em next season.

    I think I’m going to root for the Tigers going forward in this playoffs. Scrappy team, with some scrappy pitchers.

    • smurfy says:

      yeah, scrappy pitchers, that’s right. It will be interesting if they can stretch those few scrappers against Texas in 7. Wish we had been in a 7 game series.

      • T.O. Chris says:

        I don’t know, Texas isn’t super deep in the rotation. Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Colby Lewis can all pitch a gem, but all of them can throw up on themselves from time to time as well. Plus I don’t think CJ Wilson can matchup with Verlander, because almost no one can right now.

        • smurfy says:

          Yeah, I thought the Yanks would do well against them, or the Rays. Tiger’s pitching will be spread thinner, they’ll have to expose some weaker links. I’d maybe wouldn’t match aces, if I were Texas.

  123. smurfy says:

    Ugh, what to say. Feels like our team should have, could have, but didn’t.

    • Professor Longnose says:

      That’s exactly right: they didn’t. They had everything set up, and they didn’t hit when they needed to.

      • smurfy says:

        I don’t blame the hitters. I tips the cap to Detroit’s scrappy pitchers, who kept us off balance so well with blazing heat and two-seam faders, in on the hands and off the barrel.

        • Professor Longnose says:

          No, when you can’t get runs in with runners on third and one out, I blame the hitters.

          They seemed so inconsistent over the year.

  124. Professor Longnose says:

    That was…disappointing. Sigh.

    • T.O. Chris says:

      I’m disappointed but it’s not as bad as in years past. I just never really saw this team as a championship contender coming into the year. The pitching was never championship depth quality, and Alex never really got a chance to lock in with all the injuries.

  125. Dangerous Dean says:

    It was a great season, fellas, and a series that could have gone either way. Congrats on making this far. Back in April, I didn’t think you would make the playoffs and you proved me wrong with the best record in the AL.

    Take care. I am sure you will have a big offseason.

  126. smurfy says:

    Some birthday present. Wah!

    • Professor Longnose says:

      Is it your birthday? Happy birthday.

      Well, the Yankees lost, but I think we set the record for comments in a yankeeanalyst.com thread. >250.

      Good night, all. Have a peaceful hibernation until the wood meets the leather again in the spring.

  127. Hey guys, I just wanted to say thanks so much for hanging out on here during the games all season. You’re truly dedicated and it’s wonderfully gratifying to see that. I think I can speak for everyone when I say thank you so much for coming every day and participating. It means more to me (us) than you’ll ever know.

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