Quick Review of Yesterday's Games: ALDS Day 1

I'll try to do this every day (if I can) during the playoffs. Get you caught up on the games from the day before with lots of links to accompany it. Here we go on Day 1:

Yankees 7, Twins 2: As we said before, The Yankees won a vintage Yankees playoff game. They followed their blueprint for success, exactly the way they drew it up, and took apart a bad pitcher on a groggy and gassed team. Derek Jeter continued to lead the march and christened the New Yankee Stadium. CC was great and enjoyed the love. A-Rod looked horrible in his first two at-bats and instead of letting bad get worse, he got himself back on track and off the snide. Maybe it was Mr. October who finally helped A-Rod. The question is now can A-Rod build on his solid start (because, as we all know, he still has work to do)? Can the Yankees continue to pound the Twins? If A.J. Burnett is on tomorrow night, it may not matter and it may equal short trip to the playoffs for the Twinkies, especially with the American Idle himself, Carl Pavano, going in Game 3 for Minnesota.

Phillies 5, Rockies 1: When I picked the Phillies to just sneak by the Rockies, it was because I was worried about the Phillies having to go to their bullpen, knowing full-well that their starting pitching and hitting was superior. Well I can see Charlie Manuel's game plan now: Cliff Lee pitched a complete game (and savored the moment) and every player in Manuel's lineup got a hit, including Lee. That's one way not to use your bullpen. Lee's strategy was clear too: throw first-pitch strikes and pitch off the fastball. This was a good way to start a title defense and quiet the critics who wanted Cole Hamels to start Game 1 over Lee. The Phillies didn't lose at home last postseason and they're now 1-0 there. Some are suggesting that the Rockies change up their lineup, maybe benching Brad Hawpe. But this could be over fairly quickly if Hamels does his thing in Game 2.

Dodgers 5, Cardinals 3: Well that was a shocker, no? The Cardinals took a Cy Young candidate into a pitchers park and he didn't pitch very well at all. Matt Kemp's home run to center field was an absolute blast. It all worked out for the best for the Dodgers as the swagger is back, along with the big hits (though they did, amazingly, still strand 16 runners). In total, the teams set a division series record leaving 30 runners on base. For the Cardinals, the big hits were elusive (maybe that had to do with Albert Pujols being walked intentionally in his first two ABs). The winners escape the scrutiny when men are left on base, the losers do not.In the end, it was the longest game in division series history. The Dodgers relief stood out as well. The good news for the Cardinals? They get to throw out their other Cy Young candidate, Adam Wainwright, in Game 2.

Today:

• Early game: Colorado @ Philadelphia Game 2 (Cook vs. Hamels)
  
• 6 PM game: St. Louis @ Los Angeles NL Game 2 (Wainwright vs. Kershaw)
  
• Late game: Red Sox @ Los Angeles AL Game 1 (Lester vs. Lackey) - Baseball Musings has a preview
• Yankees and Twins have a workout day