October 11, 2012 — Regardless of how the ALDS ends up, I will remember one aspect of it… the length of each game.

The first game of the series didn’t begin until a 2 hour, 26 minute rain delay came to a close, and the second game didn’t get under way until a 40 minute rain delay ended.

Then the series moved to Yankee Stadium after an all-night trip back to New York that began on a train and ended on buses.

Game 3 took 11 innings to complete, and tonight’s Game 4 went 13 frames.

For two teams that entered the postseason with a 9-9 split in the season series, the long battles are of no surprise. All four games have been well played, and for the most part, each contest has come down to one hit. The Yankees and the Orioles have given fans great theater and wild suspense.

As I look forward to tomorrow’s Game 5, I’m sure it will be just as close of a game as Game 1, Game 3 and Game 4.

But with CC Sabathia taking the mound for the Yankees in the deciding game at Yankee Stadium, I certainly like the Yankees chances. I am especially encouraged because of how dominant Sabathia was in Game 1, and I think he’ll be just as sharp tomorrow.

–Alfred Santasiere III

October 11, 2012 — When Phil Hughes exited the game with two outs in the 7th inning, the Yankee Stadium ribbon board read “Wonder-Phil.”

That moniker was appropriate tonight, as Hughes put together one of the two best starts of his career (he blanked the Minnesota Twins over seven innings in the 2010 ALDS). Sure, Hughes has gone deeper into some regular season games or given less hits and runs. But just like CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and Hiroki Kuroda did earlier in the ALDS, Hughes has kept the Yankees in tonight’s game for more than six innings.

On the night, Hughes went 6 2/3 innings, giving up only one run while striking out eight batters. Hughes got into trouble in the third inning, when the first two batters reached and in the fourth inning, when a two-out double by Ryan Flaherty moved Matt Wieters to third base. In both frames, Hughes battled back and didn’t allow a run to cross the plate.

The Orioles lone run came on a leadoff home run in the 5th inning by Nate McLouth, but for Hughes, who has had mixed results in three postseason starts, this represented the opportunity to prove he can be major contributor to the Yankees rotation this postseason and in the future. He’s done that.

–Alfred Santasiere III

October 11, 2012 – When Joe Girardi pitch hit for Alex Rodriguez in the bottom of the ninth inning of last night’s ALDS Game 3, the third baseman handled the humbling move to the bench with class.

In my opinion, A-Rod was genuine in his respect for Girardi’s gutsy decision to take out a guy who will probably end up with more than 700 home runs for Raul Ibanez, a part-time player who is 40 years old.

Rodriguez discussed how much the team means to him, and seemed unfazed by the unprecedented move by the Yankees skipper.

Of course, Girardi’s move paid off in a major way as Ibanez tied the game in the 9th and won it in the 12th with two of the most dramatic home runs in decades.

But not it’s time to turn the page to tonight’s Game 4 of the ALDS. A-Rod has a walk and a single in his first two at-bats, and in my opinion, he looks more confident at the plate than he has at any other point in the ALDS.

Rodriguez will have a few more at-bats tonight, and I believe he will due some serious damage at the plate. I’m not sure if he’ll hit a long-ball or collect a few doubles, but I’m confident that he will hit the ball hard and find his way back to the base paths.

I’m making this prediction because the biggest issue Rodriguez has faced over the last few days is the snowball effect of his struggles. But he’s already back on track, and I think he will keep the momentum of the first two at-bats going.

Also, A-Rod has a ton of pride and determination. He knows the time to turn it up is now, and he will.

–Alfred Santasiere III

October 10, 2012 — Even though he hasn’t been on the field this postseason — except for a ceremonial first pitch before last night’s game — Mariano Rivera’s legend continues to grow.

In addition to collecting more regular saves (608) than anyone in history, while compiling a 2.21 ERA, Rivera has been at his very best in the most pressure-packed games against the best competition.

In other words, Rivera has dominated opponents in the postseason like no other. In 141 October innings, Rivera owns a mind-boggling 0.70 ERA. He has a record 42 saves, and he has closed out more World Series games than anyone in history.

Closing games in the postseason is infinitely more difficult than getting the last three outs in regular season games. And, for anyone who questions that or thinks that the challenge of getting batters out under the glare of October is in the same stratosphere as getting it done in the regular season, take a gander at the ALDS between the Yankees and the Orioles.

It’s safe to say that Orioles closer Jim Johnson, who led all of baseball with 51 regular season saves this season, is one of the best closers in the game. He only yielded three home runs during the entire regular season, and made things look pretty easy in the mid-summer months, racking up save after save without blowing any games for months at a time.

Then came October. The Yankees entered tonight’s contest with a two games to one lead over the Orioles. In Game 1 of the series, Johnson gave up a go-ahead home run to Russell Martin in the top of the ninth inning, and in last night’s Game 3, Johnson gave up a game-tying home run to Raul Ibanez. As we all know, the Yankees won both of those games.

Last season, the Yankees stole an ALDS game from the Detroit Tigers, by tagging Jose Valverde in the ninth inning. Valverde came into that series with 49 saves, and was as automatic as any closer in the game during the 2011 regular season.

A few year before that, the Yankees came back on All-Star closers, Joe Nathan of the Minnesota Twins, Brian Fuentes of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Brad Lidge of Philadelphia Phillies en rout to the 2009 World Series championship.

Rivera’s body of work becomes more impressive as one closer after another foils under the pressure of the postseason. Johnson’s inability to match his regular season performance in October is more proof that Rivera is in a class of his own.

I think it’s safe to say that a guy who has closed out 42 postseason games and done so with a 0.70 ERA for the New York Yankees is a once in a lifetime treasure.

–Alfred Santasiere III

October 10, 2012 — Wow, I never saw that one coming!

Raul Ibanez tied the game with a home run in the bottom of the ninth, and he won it in the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the 12th.

If any player hit a game-tying and game winning home run in a postseason game, it would go down as one of the great single-game feats in baseball history. But for a guy, who didn’t even start the game, who’s 40 years old, who batted .240 and who struggled down the stretch to bring his team back from the jaws of defeat and to then win the game — is amazing.

Raul Ibanez has carved his name into the lore of the New York Yankees. He will always be remembered by Yankees fans for tonights moments. He’s the only Yankees player to collect a game-tying and game-winning  hit in a postseason game, and one of only two players to do it period.

As I wrote in my previous blog entry, he’s a character guy, and he got it done tonight.

–Alfred Santasiere III

October 10, 2012 — After Brian Cashman passed on a group of high-profile pitchers last winter, he was questioned by the media and everyone else who has a voice these days.

When Cashman signed Hiroki Kuroda, no-one cared. When he signed Raul Ibanez, everyone reminded him that the DH was 40 years old.

But to the credit of Cashman and his staff, they signed two guys who have played in the postseason before and whose characters could never be questioned or criticized.

Tonight, as we enter the 11th inning of Game 2 of the ALDS, the Yankees are in the game because of Kuroda and Ibanez. Kuroda carried the Yankees for more than eight innings, giving up only two runs, and Ibanez came up with one of the biggest hits of the season (or in the last few seasons for that matter) when he hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth off Jim Johnson, who led all of baseball saves.

And, kudos to Joe Girardi for making the tough decision of pinch hitting Ibanez for Alex Rodriguez, who didn’t stack up well against Johnson. It couldn’t have been easy to sit one of the greatest players in baseball history late in postseason game. That might be the best strategic move in Girardi’s managerial career — and I’m an A-Rod supporter through and through.

–Alfred Santasiere III

October 9, 2012 – Even though Andy Pettitte and the Yankees lost Game 2 of the ALDS, I lauded the pitcher’s effort.  He only gave up three earned runs in seven plus innings, despite seeing the leadoff guy reach base on errors in two consecutive innings.

As I watched Hiroki Kuroda tonight, I couldn’t help but to think about how similar of an effort he gave the Yankees in comparison to what Pettitte did earlier this week.

The circumstances were different. Pettitte took on the Orioles on the road, while Kuroda made the start at home. Kuroda was hurt by the long ball, and Pettitte got into one two many jams.

But in both cases, the pitchers went deep into the game and kept the Yankees within one run of the Orioles throughout.

Kuroda gave up two earned runs on solo home runs over 8 1/3 innings. In other words, he made two mistakes the whole night. Certainly, it wasn’t a perfect outing, but for most of the night, the Orioles were off the base-paths, and more importantly, the Yankees batters were never out of striking distance.

Kuroda only gave up five hits, and turned the game over to the bullpen with one out and no-one on base in the ninth. He got the leadoff out in all but one inning, and he allowed one walk.  That type of efficiency and command allowed Kuroda to go after every batter, most of whom who he retired.

For the Yankees pitchers, it was a third great start in three nights.

–Alfred Santasiere III

October 9, 2012 – Derek Jeter’s third inning RBI triple to centerfield in ALDS Game 3 not only tied the game for the Yankees, but it also ignited the sold-out Yankee Stadium crowd.

Jeter sailed a Miguel Gonzalez offering to straight-away center field, and he hit the ball far too hard for Orioles center fielder Adam Jones to catch up to it. From my vantage point in the press box (located two levels up and behind home plate), the line drive looked as if it was going to land on the other side of the fence, which is probably why lead runner Russell Martin ran so hard from first to home.

Jeter continues to be ageless. He sprinted around the bases with nearly the same speed as he had 10 years ago, or even 15 years ago for that matter.

But more notably than that, he always comes through when the Yankees need him to. How many times has Derek Jeter got a big hit in a big game within an inning of when his team fell behind?

I’m not sure what the answer to that question is, but I’m confident it’s happened more with Jeter than any other player the game has seen in a very long time.

–Alfred Santasiere III

October 9, 2012 — It’s a good thing tonight’s ALDS Game 3 wasn’t scheduled for last night.

If there had been a game in New York last night, it would have been played between two very tired teams.

The Yankees and the Orioles both planned to travel back to New York on chartered trains, and they both planned to arrive in New York City at about 3 in the morning.

Those plans changed when the Yankees’ train encountered electrical difficulties and came to a gradual halt about a half hour outside of Baltimore.

Coincidentally, the train coasted to a stop in Aberdeen, which is the home of the Orioles short-season Single-A club and is located a stone’s throw from Cal Ripken Jr.’s hometown.

I was already asleep when the train stopped, but I realized what was happening when Andy Pettitte walked into the car I was in and make the following announcement.

“Wake up, ya’ll… this train is done.”

A few players asked what Pettitte what he was talking about, and the pitcher divulged the information he had received.

We waited on the train for nearly an hour, while Yankees officials got the buses that we had been using in Baltimore to pick us up and take us to New York.

That hour was not filled with frustration, but instead the players were amused by the situation.

Pitching coach Larry Rothschild jokingly asked CC Sabathia if he wanted to take the time to throw a bullpen session, while another Yankees official simply said, “There’s one thing about the New York Yankees … We travel first class!”

A few minutes before the buses arrived, I feel as if I witnessed a scene out of a movie. The entire team exited the train to wait for the buses in the station’s deserted parking lot, and as soon as we stepped onto the pavement, it began to rain.

When I looked to my right, I saw Derek Jeter putting his hands out to gauge how hard the rain was coming down. To my left, Alex Rodriguez stood laughing at what was happening. It seemed as if wherever I looked, there was a legendary Yankee standing in the parking lot, located in a residential neighborhood, taking it all in while waiting for a bus that still wasn’t in site.

“This is like being back in the minors,” Nick Swisher yelled out. “It’s pretty cool.”

Instead of getting into New York’s Pennsylvania Station in the middle of the night, we arrived there (on two buses) at 7 in the morning.

As for the Orioles, they were stuck on the tracks behind our train, and they too had to switch to buses. However, in their case, it took longer for the buses to arrive (since they had to come from further away) and they pulled in to New York City at about 9 am.

–Alfred Santasiere III

October 8, 2012 — Andy Pettitte didn’t get the win in Game 2 of the ALDS, but he certainly gave a memorable effort.

The 40-year-old battled a tough Orioles lineup on a cold night (52 degrees at game time) in a difficult environment for seven plus innings.

Pettitte yielded three runs and put his team in a position to win the game. If Pettitte continues to pitch the he did last night and if CC Sabathia continues to throw the ball as well as he did in Game 1, the Yankees will have as good of a chance to go deep in the playoffs as any team in baseball.

What impressed me most about Pettitte, is what I have always been in awe of — his level of calm in the most intense situations. For anyone who has watched Pettitte win big game after big game through the years, you know that what you witnessed in Game 2 was Vintage Pettitte. He has the same look on his face as he did all those years ago in the 1996 World Series and again in the 2009 World Series. He peered over his mitt and stared down batters, and then he found the way to get hitters out time and time again.

In last night’s game, the Orioles leadoff hitters reached base on errors in the fourth and fifth innings. Pettitte came back in each of those frames to get out of trouble and to not allow a single run to score. Pettitte gave up back to back hits to start the sixth inning, including a leadoff double. Again, he made good pitches when he need to the most, and only one run scored.

After the Yankees Game 2 lose, the ALDS comes back to Yankee Stadium for the duration, and if you’re a Yankees fan, you have to be happy that they’re coming home for three consecutive games and that they already won one game on the road.

–Alfred Santasiere III