Optimistic Start

You can’t get overly excited when your team scores in the
first inning, mostly because we’ve seen several starting pitchers settle down in
the second inning.

But tonight is different. The fact that the Yankees tagged
Phillies ace Cliff Lee for one run in the first inning is a reason for some
major optimism.

The reasons for my increased confidence are because the
Yankees have now scored more runs (1) in one inning tonight (World Series Game
5) than they did in nine innings of Game 1.

Secondly, Lee threw 20 pitches in the top of the first,
which means that he’s having location issues. That’s not the same Cliff Lee the
Yankees saw in Game 1, and it could spell an early exit for Lee.

The Yankees first inning score came on an RBI double by Alex
Rodriguez, who continues to blaze his way toward one of the greatest postseasons
a player has ever had.

With the hit, A-Rod knocked in his 16^th run of
the 2009 postseason — and that is a Yankees franchise record.

–Alfred Santasiere III