How valuable has
Alex Rodriguez been during this postseason?

With his fifth
inning blast, Rodriguez moved into a tie with Reggie Jackson for second on the
Yankees all-time list in home runs during a single postseason. Jackson and
Rodriguez trail Bernie Williams by only one homer. A-Rod’s latest long ball was
his fifth of the 2009 postseason. It was his third in three games, and like the
bomb he hit last night, it cleared the left-field wall and the Angels bullpen.

And, of course,
three of Rodriguez’ home runs this postseason tied three separate games in the
seventh inning or later. The Yankees went on to win all three of those games.

–Alfred
Santasiere III

The biggest question of the past week was whether Joe
Girardi would (and should) start CC Sabathia in tonight’s Game 4 on only three
days rest. From my vantage point, it seemed like a smart decision to put
Sabathia on the hill tonight. By doing so, Girardi put the Yankees in a
situation where their ace would potentially pitch three times (Game 1, Game 4
and Game 7), and only one of those starts would come on short rest (tonight).

Through the first four
innings of tonight’s game, Sabathia has allowed one hit (which didn’t leave the
infield) and no runs. Of equal importance, Sabathia has only thrown 38 pitches
– a stat that could really help the Yankees, who used seven pitchers last
night.

Through the same number of innings, Angels starter Scott Kazmir has given up three runs and thrown 84 pitches, 40 of which did not hit the strike zone.

–Alfred
Santasiere III

Congratulations to Zach Kilroy [L] and Sofia Gomes on winning tickets to Game 1 of the ALCS through Yankees Universe “I WANT ALDS Tickets Daily Draw Sweepstakes.

In the 15 minutes leading up the start of ALCS Game 3 in
Anaheim, the mix of heavy metal music reverberating through Angels Stadium’s
sound system and the screaming fans who were cheering (even though the Angels
were not on the field) made for the loudest pre-game atmosphere I have ever
been privy to.

Even Minnesota’s Metrodome, where the noise is contained by
the building’s roof, pales in comparison to the Angels’ home.

Five hours and ten minutes after it began, Game 2 of the ALCS ended with a most unlikely hero crossing home plate for the winning run.

A.J. Burnett threw 33 pitches in the top of the fifth
inning, giving up two runs in the process. During that frame, Jose Molina
and/or Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland made six trips to the mound to
strategize with Burnett.

A.J. Burnett has allowed one hit and no runs over his first four innings of work in Game 2 of the ALCS.

CC! CC! CC!

What Alex Rodriguez did in the 2009 ALDS is well documented.
A-Rod batted .455 and his two home runs were as dramatic they come. The first
of those homers tied Game 2 in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was epic,
magical and amazing.