ALCS: Still a long stairway to heaven for Angels
Angels manager Mike Scioscia managed to avoid his Pedro Martinez moment last night. He pulled bulldog starter John Lackey right before the Yankees scored six runs in the seventh inning to wipe away a four-run Angels lead in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.
Lackey was livid. You could read his lips when Scioscia came out to get him with two outs and the bases loaded.
"It's my game,'' he said. "Mike, you told me this game was mine."
The Angels hitters had Scioscia's back, rebounding quickly to score three times in the 7-6 victory that forced the ALCS back to New York. The Yankees remain a prohibitive favorite to reach the World Series, but Yogi Berra had a saying about this kind of situation.
Lackey hadn't even calmed down after the victory. Fox's Ken Rosenthal asked him at what point in the game he was able to get past the anger, and he basically said he was still ticked off at his manager.
I think the Yankees will hold on, but it sure would be fun if the Angels took Game 6 and made them sweat through those pinstripes. If the ALCS goes seven, they Haloes would have to beat C.C. Sabathia, who would be back on regular rest after the extra offday Wednesday. Even better, maybe we could get a rainout and have Sabathia and Lackey go head-to-head on Monday.
Comments
To paraphrase Monty Python, "Were Not Dead Yet!" I really figured it was over after the Yankees score 6 in the 7th but these Angels refuse to die. They might lose tomorrow night, but if they do, they hopefully will not go quietly!
Posted by: James Doss | October 23, 2009 2:49 PM
Since C.C. pitched on Tuesday, and would go again on Sunday, that's four days rest, not three. An error by Peter Schmuck?
..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Indeed it was. I forgot that there was an offday in the middle of the Anaheim portion of the series. I have corrected the error, but accept full responsibility.
Posted by: Drew Leder | October 23, 2009 3:03 PM
I could hardly believe it last night. When the Yankees exploded for 6 runs I figured it was all over but the crying. Thankfully I didn't give up and listened all the way to the end. Better yet, I was listening on the Yankee affiliate up here because the national broadcast with Jon Miller wasn't coming in. John Sterling was as excited as a little boy when the Yanks scored the six, delightfully less so when the game ended in a loss.
Posted by: Roy | October 23, 2009 3:47 PM
Lakcey doesn't sound like much of a team player to me. He should be happy his team won and yet he is still sour after the game? Yeah, I know, he's a 'competitor'...He'll probably sign for a bloated, 20 mill/yr contract over the winter with the RedSox/Cubs or Yanks anyway.
I think the Angels may be win against Pettite but won't beat CC.
Posted by: TerryP | October 23, 2009 4:31 PM
The Angels are going to beat the Yankees in 7 games. And to spice things up, Tim McClelland, the home plate ump in game 7, will take another venture to La La Land and eject Nick Swisher for excessive pine tar.
I believe McClelland was thinking ahead to just that moment when he gazed out to center field the other night like Ahab looking for the white whale and called Swisher out for leaving the bag too soon.
Posted by: Barry | October 23, 2009 5:54 PM
Terry -
Lackey's exactly the kind of pitcher that any team will love to have: He wants the ball when the game, and in this case, the ALCS, is on the line.
Sure, his comments may read as a bit selfish, but when every single reporter is asking you how you felt when you got yanked and your bullpen gave up six runs, what are you going to say?
Oh, and there's no way Lackey gets $20M per. That's approaching Sabathia territory and Lackey's no Sabathia.
I'll say Lackey nets almost the exact same contract that the Yankees gave A.J. Burnett.
As for where he lands, I'll say either one of the Texas teams or a surprise team like Toronto or the Mets.
Posted by: b | October 23, 2009 6:20 PM
So ironically I will say that Scioscia made a horrible call. I'm applying a bit of a double standard since I gave Trembley a pass for things like that since there were issues like protecting a starter or getting guys work.
Bases loaded, two outs and you're up six. Worst case from your starter is a grand slam pitch and you're up 2 still and can re-evaluate then. From there you can walk the next batter or go to the pen to get the matchup you want. Instead he was stuck with the reliever and had to wait it out as hell unfolded. Luckily the bats bailed him out or he'd have had a very long winter.
The Anaheim equivalent of wayne probably blew his brains out though before the bottom of the inning even started.
Posted by: James C | October 24, 2009 1:34 PM
James C;
The Angels were never up by 6.
Posted by: Roy | October 24, 2009 4:24 PM
Making too big a deal out of a decision in which the Angels won. If they lost then beat it to death, but no biggie! GO ANGELS!
Posted by: CB Coach | October 24, 2009 6:50 PM
Sorry, they were up 4, but still ended up giving up 6 in the inning with 2 outs. Still a bad call.
I think it can safely still be a big deal since a certain someone has to sign a free agent contract this offseason (which has officially started for the Angels now).
Plus, we've seen it in Baltimore where losing faith in the bullpen can affect the entire team (especially the starters). What's the mindset of the team if they locked it down in Game 5 as opposed to feeling like they are lucky to still be playing after that mess? Think they play looser if they came off a game to feel good about? Nothing's guaranteed, but the dam broke there at the end.
Posted by: James C | October 26, 2009 7:04 PM