This was one of those time-capsule games for the Yankees – one they'd like to bury now and dig up in October when they might face these same Tigers.
Randy Johnson pitched into the ninth and wasn't satisfied. Grumpy is good for him. Alex Rodriguez hit a home run – really, he did – and got a curtain call. And, perhaps most importantly given his morning MRI and the uncertainty that surrounded it, Mariano Rivera closed out the Tigers.
"They're the main people for us," Joe Torre said. That's a bit of a stretch, since the Yankees' manager is blessed to have other main men, like Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu, all of whom also contributed yesterday.
But Mo, for physical reasons, and the touchy Big Unit and sensitive A-Rod, for mental reasons, are the main sources of worry for Torre and the Yankees.
That's why yesterday's win was so sweet. Johnson pitched at least seven innings for the fourth straight outing, a salve for a wounded bullpen. Rodriguez showed signs he may be able to salvage this season after all. Remember, 'true' Yankees are judged by October more than any other month. And Rivera's fastball was in the mid-90s, allaying any fears the Yankees or their fans had that his elbow injury was serious.
"I was pleased, especially after the way we finished the road trip," Torre said of the Yankees taking two of three from the team with the best record in the league after losing two of three to both Anaheim and Seattle last week.
With the Red Sox in their rear-view mirror, the Yankees can realistically consider motoring past Detroit. They trail the Tigers by just three games with a month left to play. If yesterday's Big 3 really is fine, that's not much of a deficit.
Comments (7)
I don't consider Randy a part of the Big 3.
Mussina or Wang is more deserving of that spot.
To win the 27th title we need everybody operating at top performance levels especially the pitching. Sure the team can't win without some guys but the other team members put the some guys in position to do there thing. This is the nature of teams. Now is the time for Joe to start resting his pitchers. No one bull pen pitcher should pitch two days in a row except for expanded roster people. Have Farnsworth or Proctor available on Mariano's off day to close. We should be able to salvage some of the saves. It would be good for Proctor to gain this experince. Bernie has been just great if you don't over work him he can be an important piece of the puzzle in the playoffs. I look forward to him next year. I never thought I'd say this after his performance in the field in 2005. There is no reason with the talent on this team that all starters can not be given rests. This why I have a tough time with Big 3.
I would interpret "big 3" as the big 3 uncertainties for today--Arod's psychological frailty (not an issue today), Mo's MRI'd elbow (ditto) and the good Randy/Bad Randy crisis. All big 3 uncertainties looked good.
I would definitely put Unit and A-Rod among the "Big 3" because these are the key guys that the Yankees need to play well for them to win another title.
Having two starters like Moose and Wang pitching well in the playoffs is pretty solid, but having Unit pitching anywhere near his capabilities would make that rotation MUCH scarier and certainly capable of matching up with any other rotation in the playoffs.
Secondly, everyone is frustrated at A-Rod's performance this season in pressure situations and against the good teams.
However, just imagine if A-Rod is hitting his stride and playing well in those situations and driving that run in with less than 2 outs.
The Yanks current lineup is already bludgeoning most pitching right now, but how good would this lineup be if A-Rod was hitting the ball well, too?
It would be a modern day Murderer's Row, even if Sheff doesn't come back this season.
I don't think anyone needs to explain why Mo is a part of that "Big 3" and the most important member of that trio if they are going to win the whole thing.
Home field advantage in baseball is of no real value. Other than generating extra revenue to be used to purchase free agents the following year, it's a joke. The Yankees real problem is not trying to pass the Tigers for best record in the AL, but having to possibly face the Twins in the best of 5 first round of the playoffs. We don't need to see Santana and poossibly Liriano in the first 2 games of a best of 5 series. It's like Schilling and Johnson all over again. Go White Sox.
Good point Roy.
In a short 5-game series, you'd rather not deal with those two pitchers, whereas your odds are better later in the playoffs when you play 7 games.
There's more room for error should they shut you down.
Okay, so it looks like the Yankees are going to play in the first round of the playoffs, one of these AL Central teams: Tigers, White Sox or Twins.
Who do you prefer to play?
Here are my preferences:
1) Detroit Tigers
2) Minnesota Twins
3) Chicago White Sox
Some of you may prefer to play White Sox instead of the Twins because of their feared duo of Santana and Liriano, but I have a feeling that they match up better against the Twinkies than the Sox.