MLB

FOX Sports Exclusive

ALCS-bound Yankees are cool again

Share This Story

Jon Paul Morosi

Jon Paul Morosi is a national MLB writer for FOXSports.com. He previously covered baseball for the Detroit Free Press and Seattle Post-Intelligencer. He began his journalism career at the Bay City Times in his native Michigan. Follow him on Twitter.

MORE>>
 
Updated Oct 12, 2009 5:16 AM ET
     
 

MINNEAPOLIS

It had been five years since the New York Yankees last won a playoff series. Before we go further, think about that for a moment. They were humbled by the Angels, Tigers and Indians, respectively, in successive first rounds. Last year, they didn't reach the postseason at all. There were wasted dollars and unmet expectations and explanations that didn't satisfy. Well, it's cool to be a Yankee again. New York swept Minnesota from the American League Division Series with a 4-1, Metrodome-closing win on Sunday night. The Angels are next. And it's the right time to ask what took the Pinstripes so many years to arrive at a stage of October that once seemed their birthright. The answer isn't surprising. "Pitching," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "The pitching was phenomenal, from the starters to the bullpen. And the defense. Our pitching and defense really got us past this first round. "We did not hit, outside of Alex, collectively." New York's pitching excellence was self-evident. Starters CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte allowed one earned run each. But more on that later. As Cashman discovered, it's tough to render any opinion on this series without mentioning No. 13. Alex Rodriguez batted .455 and reached base in half of his plate appearances. Of his team's 15 runs, A-Rod scored four and drove in six. Rodriguez's game-tying, two-run thunderclap in the ninth inning of Game 2 was the defining moment in the series. Then he squared Sunday's game, 1-1, in the seventh, when he took a Carl Pavano full-count fastball over the wall in right. Until that moment, Pavano appeared to be sinking and sliding his way to a redemptive win over his former employer. But A-Rod had the talent to stop him, and he did. So much for failing in the clutch. His slugging percentage in the series? 1.000. "Without Alex," manager Joe Girardi said, "we're probably still playing." He's right. If A-Rod hadn't stood so tall, we'd be discussing the Game 4 pitching matchups — and maybe whether Scott Baker could win the clincher for Minnesota. Yes, Rodriguez made that much of a difference. Take his numbers away, and the Yankees had a .198 batting average. Even with him, they hit only .225. But we're starting to see that these Yankees — in Year 2, After Torre — understand that there is a method to winning in October that is distinct from all other months on the baseball calendar. If this series was any indication, the new Bronx trademark has three essential features: ... A starting rotation led by Sabathia, Burnett and Pettitte, each signed as a free agent by Cashman last winter. Pettitte pitched brilliantly on Sunday (6 1/3 innings, one earned run) and tied John Smoltz for the most career postseason wins (15). Teammate Johnny Damon said Pettitte "is pitching as well as an ace — or at worst a No. 2." ... A bullpen featuring Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes in setup roles and (of course) Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning. They combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings on Sunday. "Now that Joba's in the bullpen," Damon said, "it definitely shortens the game." ... An offense that relies heavily on Rodriguez. The Yankees can't count on him to be this good all the time. But at least they're not wincing at every two-strike count, knowing that he's about to flick his wrists at an in-the-dirt slider. It's been said that Rodriguez — after the steroid admission, hip surgery and missed time — is a better, more focused player than at any other time in his Yankees career. And to the extent that we can judge someone's mental state by the manner in which he swings a baseball bat, I'm starting to believe it. "I think he's focused on his family and the game," Girardi said. "That self-reflection time really helped him. He's in a great place." "I am content right now, both on and off the field," Rodriguez said Sunday. A-Rod's apparent metamorphosis is a nice story, but the more important one is that the '09 Yankees — the front office, Girardi, the players — have forged an identity apart from their forebears. It was five years ago that the cracks in the New York pitching staff became apparent. Jon Lieber, Kevin Brown and Orlando Hernandez started games in that epic American League Championship Series loss to the Red Sox. Cashman sought starters that offseason and believed he found them in Pavano and Jaret Wright. He was wrong.
downlevel description
This video requires the Adobe Flash Player. Download a free version of the player.
Now, at last, he seems to have fashioned that gaudy payroll into a team that functions in October. Like it always used to. "This team is deeper in pitching, this team is deeper on the bench, this team is deeper in the bullpen, this team is deeper offensively — and we're healthy right now," Cashman said. "The teams we had with Joe Torre were well-prepared, and they were quality. But this team, I think, we're a stronger team. "We've got frontline starters. We're just stronger and deeper, that's all. ... We have a loose, very talented baseball team." Of course, none of that offers a guarantee against the Angels in what promises to be a thoroughly entertaining ALCS. Recent history — including postseason series in 2002 and 2005 — would suggest that the Angels have an advantage. Also, the Angels were more impressive in the first round against Boston than the Yankees were against Minnesota. There will be a lot of pressure on New York, because there is always a lot of pressure on New York. This team didn't show up in Tampa for spring training and talk about how badly it wanted to make it to the second round. But these Yankees have an odd, effective way of diffusing the expectations placed on them by fans, media members and their own paychecks. They have also been lucky. Burnett put seven Twins on base (five walks, two hit batsmen) in Game 2 and didn't suffer any serious consequences. The Twins finished the series with the higher batting average but were undermined by catastrophic baserunning blunders in the final two games. So there you have it: The Yankees are pitching well and catching breaks while A-Rod looks clutch. It's getting hard to bet against them, don't you think?
Tagged: Carl Pavano, CC Sabathia, Red Sox, Angels, Mariano Rivera, Tigers, A.J. Burnett, Twins, Yankees, Johnny Damon, Scott Baker, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Cardinals

More Stories From Jon Paul Morosi

FOX Fantasy Baseball Game 2012


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

MLB Videos

Morosi: AL spring training headlines Posted: Feb 09, 2012
FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi discusses all the AL headlines heading into spri...

Morosi: NL spring training headlines Posted: Feb 09, 2012
FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi discusses all the NL headlines going into spring...

MLB2K12 - Verlander on Verlander Posted: Feb 08, 2012
Justin Verlander loses his mind playing himself on MLB2K12.

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »
SimLeague Baseball - Simulation Baseball Game

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Nike Chicago Cubs Tackle Twill Hoodie Sweatshirt - Royal Blue http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Chicago_Cubs/browse/featuredproduct/250780/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_250000/FF_250780_xl.jpg&w=100 49.95 Nike Chicago Cubs Tackle Twill Hoodie Sweatshirt - Royal Blue
    Nike Boston Red Sox Ladies Red Local T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Red_Sox/browse/featuredproduct/605356/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_605000/ff_605356_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 Nike Boston Red Sox Ladies Red Local T-shirt
    New Era New York Yankees Youth Navy Blue Tie Breaker 39THIRTY Stretch Fit Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Yankees/browse/featuredproduct/605557/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_605000/ff_605557_xl.jpg&w=100 16.95 New Era New York Yankees Youth Navy Blue Tie Breaker 39THIRTY Stretch Fit Hat
    Nike Oakland Athletics Green MLB Practice T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Oakland_Athletics/browse/featuredproduct/606322/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_606000/ff_606322_xl.jpg&w=100 27.95 Nike Oakland Athletics Green MLB Practice T-shirt
    Philadelphia Phillies Mascot Pillow Pet http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Philadelphia_Phillies/browse/featuredproduct/626447/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_626000/ff_626447_xl.jpg&w=100 29.95 Philadelphia Phillies Mascot Pillow Pet
    New Era Colorado Rockies Black-Purple Stoked Snapback Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Colorado_Rockies/browse/featuredproduct/644117/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_644000/ff_644117_xl.jpg&w=100 28.95 New Era Colorado Rockies Black-Purple Stoked Snapback Hat
    Texas Rangers Manager Stainless Steel Watch http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Texas_Rangers/browse/featuredproduct/722692/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_722000/ff_722692_xl.jpg&w=100 69.95 Texas Rangers Manager Stainless Steel Watch
    Majestic Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers #35 Youth Navy Blue Player Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Detroit_Tigers/browse/featuredproduct/723016/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_723000/ff_723016_xl.jpg&w=100 39.95 Majestic Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers #35 Youth Navy Blue Player Pullover Hoo..
    Majestic Albert Pujols Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Replica Jersey - White http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Angels_of_Anaheim/browse/featuredproduct/777026/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_777000/ff_777026_xl.jpg&w=100 99.95 Majestic Albert Pujols Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Replica Jersey - White
Microsoft© 2012 Microsoft