Yanks In (More Than) A Sentence: Yankees 10, Angels 1
1. Could a two-man team of Alex Rodriguez and C.C. Sabathia beat the Angels without any assistance from their peers? Last night’s evidence would suggest that they could.
2. There’s not much to say about this one, just as there wasn’t much to say about Game 1 of this series. When Sabathia pitches like that, the Yankees win. Always. He didn’t locate his fastball as well as he did last Friday, but he made up for it with that change-up which sat on the corners. Faced with this, the Angels reverted to their old, hacky selves.
3. I’m loving A-Rod’s studiously bland post-game interviews. Question: “Alex, that was your third straight game with a home run. What are you doing differently than in years past?” Answer: “Well, [name of interviewer, used to establish an easy rapport], I’m seeing the ball well. It was a great game for us. The team is playing great and I’m just trying to do my small part.” Question: “Alex, in the light of your struggles in the post-season, how much validation do you get from your performance this October?” Answer: “Well, [name of interviewer again, just in case], the team is doing so many great things out there. I’m just contributing what I can. It’s been a great team effort.” Question: “Alex, what color is the infield grass?” Answer: “Team team team team team team team team team team team team team. I am a player on a team. Team team team team team. Team.”
4. Hey, it’s not like the umpiring is all that great during the regular season, either. What amazes me, though, is that the umps aren’t simply blowing the occasional close call. They’re missing and misinterpreting plays that are happening three feet in front of them. They’re in proper position, and yet they still can’t get it right. That’s actually hard to do. Screw the “human element”; bring in the umpirebots.
5. The Yankees ran the bases as if concussed (the Posada/Cano joint occupation of third base, Posada’s inability to get home from second on a double), continued to struggle with RISP paralysis (will Matsui ever again make contact with a pitched ball? I’m no longer certain) and committed any number of mental mistakes (Posada losing track of the number of outs). They still won by nine. Silly.
6. I think it’s time for the Yankees to dispense with any pretense of small-ball thinking. Most of the runs are coming on dingers - which are quite the efficient way to score, contrary to the belief of old-school stylists who get something akin to sexual gratification from watching runners trudge from base to base - and pinch-running pixie Brett Gardner has been caught stealing twice in two tries. Should the Yanks be so fortunate as to advance to the next round, it’s time to ditch the just-in-case depth (Cervelli, Guzman) and reinstate the boppers (Hinske). This is a blunt-force roster, not a play-for-one concern.
