The Yankee Clipper: Yankees Take Series #1

It's early, but a series win is always sweet--especially against the Red Sox. Let's take a look at how we got there:

1. The Grandy Man Can. What a shot! That was the first extra-inning homer Jonathan Papelbon had ever allowed and the second extra-inning homer Curtis Granderson ever hit according to Baseball-Reference. Also from B-R, Granderson has 104 career home runs and 54 of those have come with no one on base and no one out. This one he'll remember for a while. After making the last out against Papelbum in Game 1 of the series, he put the dagger in him in Game 3. Sweet revenge for the Grandy Man (who got sung to by John Sterling). Let's see him do in in October now. 2 HR down, how many to go? Curtis!
2. This one comes from ESPN on a very odd record set: "The Yankees set a record for the modern era with their 17th straight win in regular-season games that were tied after seven innings. They equaled the 1906 New York Giants at 16 on Tuesday night." So if you're tied after 7 innings, they have won 17 straight and if you're losing after 7 innings they have Joba and Mo. You probably need the lead.
3. Well they would have had the lead had Daniel Bard not blown it in the 7th. Daniel Bard continues to struggle against the Yankees. They seem to have his number. In 2009, Bard gave up 5 home runs total--but 4 of those were served up to the Yankees. Last night, on an 0-2 count to Nick Swisher, Bard left one over the plate and Swischalicous smacked it into rightfield which scored...
4. ...Jorge Posada, who may be one of the worst baserunners I've ever seen. I know that he's slow, but jeez. The throw actually beat him there and his belly flop of a slide left him scrambling to get back home to touch up. Jorge does a lot of things well, but running the bases is certainly not one of them.
5. Chan Ho Park's redemption. It was a series of ups and downs. Granderson made the final out of one game and got the game-winning hit of another. Papelbon was lights-out in game 1 and got hit hard last night. Joba wasn't good in game 1 and was fist pumping in Game 2. It was "Chan Ho, and away we go" (H/T Calter) in Game 1 and last night it was 3 innings of redemption for someone who could be a very important piece in the Yankees bullpen.

Final thought: It's only three games into the season, but this was a really good start. This was typical Yanks-Sox. Either team could have easily won 1, 2 or 3 games in this series. The bullpens were tested. And the Yankees came out with two wins. On to Tampa Bay.

Update: Didn't see this before I posted. Maybe Joe West wouldn't be so mad if he would of, you know, called strikes. Others agree.

Best Record Guarantees Nothing

After last night's Yankees win, they are now guaranteed a playoff spot, 6 games up on the Red Sox for the best record in the AL East (and home-field advantage in the first round), 5.5 games up on the Angels for the best record in the American League (and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs), and 4.5 up on the Dodgers for best record in baseball. While the best record in baseball is nice, it guarantees you nothing. You get no more home-field advantage or bragging rights. And as the great Flip Flop Fly Ball shows, it doesn't even give you all that much better odds for a World Series title (I've been told on some browsers the graphic is being cut off, just click on the graphic below to be able to see the whole chart) :


What having the best record in the AL does do however is limit the amount of games the Yankees have to play on the road in the playoffs. Although the Yankees are 44-33 on the road, they have struggled in places like Anaheim and Boston in the recent past. They are also play very well at home with a tie for the major league with 52 wins in the New Yankee Stadium.

I think what that graphic above does show is that once October starts, any team, no matter how they did in the regular season vis-a-vis the other playoffs teams, can win the World Series. That's why, as a Yankees fan, it's great to be back in October, where anything can (and will) happen.

Let the Celebrating Begin

18 straight games without an error, a new major league record. And some great leather tonight all around. I honestly can't believe that more wasn't made of this record. It's pretty cool for a team that was supposed to be so bad defensively.

But by far, the best play today was this one in very grainy YouTube style as Joba Chamberlain dove (read: belly flopped) for a huge double play. Fist pump and all...

"I felt the ground shake all the way from right field" - Nick Swisher



(H/T Twitterer @Bronx_Bombers)