Yanks-Twins Game 1: Sheer Joy
If only this little cheerleader could be wearing Yankees blue. Oh, well. You get the idea, which is that I’m really, really excited right now. Mo just saved the game and the Yanks came from behind to torture the Twins yet again. What a nail biter.
CC didn’t have his best stuff, but it didn’t matter; the offense picked him up. Grandy rewarded Joe’s faith in him, Tex went deep, Cano had a big RBI, lalalala. The next thing I knew we were erasing Minny’s lead – twice – and winning the ballgame. The only controversy was the Golson catch – and it was a catch, as the replay clearly showed. Why bother to have an extra outfield ump or two if they all miss the call? Oh well. I can afford to be charitable about it, since there was no harm done.
In other news, I would be remiss if I didn’t congratulate Doc Halladay for the no-hitter. He’s an amazing pitcher. I’ll never stop wishing he were a Yankee, but what a thrill for Phillies fans.
Back to our game, the victory sure does make me feel better about tomorrow night. I assume Mo won’t be available for Game 2, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I just hope Andy feels dandy and pitches like it.
Confessions of a She-Fan 
Robbie
Curtis
Teixeira
Mo
whew
The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak. I fell asleep with us down 3-0 and am now watching clips and savoring our victory around 3AM here in the east. It’s all good, but Mo breaking three bats in the ninth may be the best omen of all. Time to get back to sleep and I’m expecting visions of sugar plums to dance in my head.
I agree with levelboss, WHEW! We left too many runners in scoring position. I’m glad we were able to come out on top. When I got home from work yesterday, I tuned into the MLB Network. I watched all the press conferences and caught up to the Yankees beat online. The broadcasters urged me to tune into TBS to see Doc Halladay’s no-hitter. My mom and I watched the 9th inning of that game. It was AWESOME! No matter who you root for, it’s such a thrill to see stuff like that. I tip my hat to Roy and to future Yankee Cliff Lee. Lee pitched a great game yesterday too. Now, I hope my beloved Andy Pettitte has a great game tonight. He spoke at the press conference yesterday too. There’s all this talk about him being able to pitch like he normally does in the postseason. Andy Pettitte is Mr. Postseason. Fingers crossed he has a great start and we get to see that pickoff move of his. Have a great day, fans! – Becky 😀
P.S. Jane, I didn’t think Boomer owned a suit and tie either, haha! I would love to meet him and David Cone one day. And all my other favorite Yankees, lol!
Great come from behind win, I think this type of win is what makes a great post season team…
if all this happened on day 1 of the post season looks like we are definitely in for a great set of play off series this year…
-peter
Phillies Outside
I didn’t feel too good last night, so I ended up falling asleep early. I’m so mad I missed the comeback though! But when I went to bed the Yankees were down by 3, so when I woke up the first thing I had to do was check the score. I kept saying “there’s no way they came back against the Twins AGAIN”. But they did, they hurt the Twins late in the game again and that makes me very, very happy. From all the replays the Yankees looked like a playoff team. We just need Andy to be himself tonight.
If Mr. Scott were at our house last night and checked my heart rate, I think he would have said “I don’t think her engine can take it!” Remember that game against the Rays that you said almost killed you Jane? That was what it was like last night.
And yeah, Audrey the reaction to Tex’s home run was weird. I thought it was a foul ball! I listened to the wrap up on the radio to go to sleep and after he says “He sent a text message”, John Sterling usually says “You’re on the mark, Teixiera” after Tex hits a home run. This time he said the text message thing and then he just said “OH MARK!” I think he was overcome with joy.
And Golson’s catch was great.
I almost was able to score tickets from Granderson! He offered some to my friend’s son and to my friend, but they couldn’t go, so they asked if they could give them to friends, but he wanted to give them to people he knew who supported him. That is nice of him.
I’m so glad that tonight is early because I’m dragging today. I just hope we hit Carl F Pavano hard.
Halladay was absolutely amazing.
Here is Texas with Lee and the Phillies with Halladay, but no one seems to complain how they went out and got them so they could win. Nope, only the evil Yankees do that.
My latest baseball revelation. It is the only sport where the beginning of the game starts out with such potential. Until the first man gets on, there is always a potential for a perfect game. (Even when Dallas Braden is pitching). Until the first hit, there is always the potential of a no hitter.
I realized that because every time I watch a Yankees pitcher, when the first man gets on I say “There goes the perfect game.”
I hope this post makes some sort of sense – I’m not firing on all cylinders today.
Melissa
I’m an early riser so these late games are killers for me. I finally went to bed at 11:30, after the bottom of the seventh, after watching Robertson pitch his way into and out of trouble. I have a lot of faith in that kid – since the All-star break he has rarely let us down.
Anyway, the first thing I did when I woke up was come here to see if the score held (I’d much rather get the news, good or bad, from Jane than from some soulless numbers on the scoreboard.) Wahooo!
Our boys looked good last night, especially in the sixth. I was especially happy for Grandy, who certainly withstood his share of criticism earlier in the season. But a lot of people came through right when they were needed.
Speaking of coming through, Tex’s homer was awesome, but the play by play was awful. The lack of excitement from the TBS announcers (combined with the deathly quiet in Target field) really spoiled it. I went out to my kitchen radio and turned on John and Suzyn just so I could hear a little enthusiasm. I thought of Jane’s column from Tuesday and thought about how right she was. It would be nice to have someone in the booth who cared just a little bit about the Yankees. As it was all we heard about was how this could be the year for a Minnesota comeback. Well, maybe not.
I’m happy tonight’s game is one at a time more conducive to getting a good night’s sleep. Go Yankees!!!
I meant to also say that I was especially glad Granderson got that hit because the TBS announcers were acting like he and Brett were easy outs against a leftie. HA!
Melissa
Overall, it was a great first night for playoff baseball. I was impressed… especially with the Yanks bullpen (and of course, Doc Halladay in Philly).
–Jeff
http://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com/
http://mtrredstatebluestate.com
I lasted till 10 pm listening to those duds on TBS. Listening to them was like listening to rain fall in the middle of the ocean. Went radio the rest of the way. TBS should lose the guy running with the camara on the field. Why is he doing that?
On the post/pre game on TBS I was surprised that Boomer didn’t punch out Eckersley at some point (maybe he did off the air). Eckersley is a total fool who loves to hear himself talk and he hates the Yankees.
I was impressed with the way the guys came back and silenced the home crowd. Mo will be available today for 1 inning.
Pavano’s hometown of Southington CT is strong Yankee country and most baseball fans there like him as much they like poison ivy.
Wow. That was quite a game. I feel so much better about the series now that we have won that first one. I’m glad other people here noticed how quiet it was when Tex hit that HR. That was very weird. The announcers could have at least faked some excitement. This is their job after all.
I have a dinner tonight so I will miss most of the game but I hope we shell Pavano.
Go Yankees!!!
Gardenhire disappointed me last night. Bunting in the first inning? I know Joe Mauer was coming up, but still…
http://www.paullebowitz.com/
http://princeofny.blogspot.com/
Oh, Kay. We got ONE.
First, congrats to the Doc — although Melissa said it beautifully — every OTHER team is “So Great” when they buy or trade for a Top Pitcher, except OUR rich evil team. Boo hoo hoo…
Second, condolences to Renegade. That one hurt at home — but it is just Game 1. Gotta have it today for the Rays (and after all, you Optimists, we DON’T want ANYONE to sweep…except, of course, us!!)
Third degree. Had to ump last nite, so I missed the no-no (but, honestly, I’d probably have rooted against it, so that Don Larsen could remain all alone…oh well…). Got home in time to see Da Boyz. You know, in years past, the way the first 5 innings played out, I’d have definitely given up…it’s late, we stink, I just KNEW this would happen…but my wife the Anti-Yankee Fan had happily retired upstairs by then, and I wasn’t sleepy yet, so I decided to wallow in my misery alone downstairs and share my views tomorrow.
And then. WOW. All credit should go to Tex, for lighting the fuse with that 2B and then exploding the bomb. And I’m SO happy for Grandis Curtison…what a time for THAT!! Of course, since I get up at 4:30am most days, they just would NOT let me go to bed. Felt good with Wood, and then I didn’t. Oh, Mo! And when the ump made the bad call on that sinking fly in the 9th, it was Oh No, a Made For Thome Moment. Lucky for us, he followed “The Book” against Mo, go up there hackin’, and his first hack was a broken bat pop-up.
So, off to bed by 12:30am for a nice 4-hour nap, and here I am at work on my 3rd?/4th? cup o’java. Not really awake, but not asleep either. Just typing typing typing…
As long as I’m conscious…one little bit of leftover ESPN smarminess to get us more Fired Up today. Remember those “100 things they loved” about playoff baseball? Here’s Number 5:
“Carl [F] Pavano. Minnesota’s No. 2 starter will get to pitch against the Yankees, the team he crapped on in an ill-fated four-year contract during which he won nine games [was it even THAT many? But I digress]. Sadly (for the added entertainment value we’ll be missing), the game will take place in Minnesota instead of Yankee Stadium.”
That’s all right, Mr. Pornstar Mustache. Anytime, anywhere. We’ll be waiting for you…!!
Barbara, I felt the same way. I was so stressed I kept trying to say to myself “You love baseball, enjoy the game.”
Melissa
Have been very busy again, Jane but I’m as happy as you are about the outcome of last night’s game. My daughter and I went to C.W. Post last night for a concert (An acapella group called, “Straight No Chaser”) — Dave Schaub would have loved them — they played classic old music and today’s music using only their voices, no instruments. The were amazing and they stayed and met with us and signed autographs afterwards. When we got up to them, the first guy saw the interlocking NY on my necklace and said, “Hey! What’s The Score?”. At the time we can checked and it was 3-0 — he pointed at one of his band members and said, “He’s from Minnesota and he’s a big Twins fan”. We all laughed and talked for a while but then it was time for heading home with the game on the radio — at that time it was 3-1 and Our Boys came back strong. C.C. weakened there a little but the bats supported him and in the end it was a great win. Sorry Mariano had to get 5 outs instead of 4 — terrible call by the umps — but in the end we took home field advantage away from The Twins. Would like to see a sweep so The Yankees could get a little rest before the next series.
The No-No for Philly was crazy. My brother-in-law and his wife live in Philadelphia and they are huge Phillies fans – I’m sure they were dancing in the streets. But The Yankees win required more effort and determination and a refusal to lose. That will get us far. I HOPE!!! Crazy early game tonight which is a good thing for those of us who have to get up early. GO YANKEES!!!
I’m sleep deprived but in a great mood today after last night’s game. I even stayed up for the post game show. Now we must beat Pavano!
Freya
Hey, Diane — glad to hear that your nite was a lot more fun than mine (but we all got to enjoy something)!
Yeah, you’re right…I’d have loved that a cappella stuff. Found a gem of a CD this year called “Modern A Cappella” that’s full of great stuff by Bobby McFerrin, Todd Rundgren, Yes, The Persuasions…so I copied it and added a couple of other nuggets, like “The Longest Time” by Billy Joel and “It’s All Right” by Huey Lewis & the News…if interested, get in touch, and it’s yours!
Meanwhile, back to beisbol…don’t it feel great to get Game 1 on the road? You can relax just a teeny bit, knowing that your Minimum Goal is achieved…but hey, let’s face it, we’re all greedy little buggers…let’s get another for Andy (less pressure, too; I like that)…and bite off a Piece of Pavano Pie while we’re at it…!!
Dave, Halladay has a post-season no-hitter on his record but not a perfect game – that honor belongs to Don Larsen alone. Still, it was an incredible accomplishment by a pitcher who continues to amaze the baseball world – I just wish he was doing it as a Yankee:).
The money in baseball thing is getting so old, especially since the Yankee team is the only one which seems to be under all this scrutiny. I’ve had lots of Boston fans take that tack with me but shut up when I point out their payroll is not far behind ours. Same thing with Mets fans. There was a whole article in our local paper about how four of the playoff teams this year are in the bottom half for payroll numbers. Whatever. A whole lot of factors go into fielding a championship team and while money and talent help, they are no guarantees. I give you Carl Pavano as exhibit A and AJ Burnett as exhibit B.
Maybe I’ll try to get used to radio/tv time delay so I don’t have to listen to the TBS duds tonight. It’s worth a try. I could also just listen on the radio while the television is on in the other room and just run in to see amazing hits and plays. The exercise wouldn’t hurt.
ok i am happy today but i could barely stand it last night. first i went to sleep at 3-0. i was so tired. then my dad called and woke me up and said we were winning so i got up and watched the rest of the game and now am happy but sleep deprived. i was so nervous that i could barely enjoy it. it was hard to watch cc not be great. it was hard to see 1st and 2nd and no out and not score but then the bats and the bullpen came through. 40 post season saves for mariano. wow. i think i want to watch the game again, now that i know we are ok. the highlights were fun to see at the gym.
now if only andy can be who he was the first half of the season…
barbara
i was hoping for a game like that. Seeing Liriano coast through the treacherous lineup was fun for a while but theres nothing like a sweet comeback.
http://pittpeas.mlblogs.com
Whew is right, levelboss. Glad you were the first to post last night. Now I know we’ll win tonight! The lucky charm worked again.
This is why it’s good to live on the west coast, jojovanb. The flesh is still weak but not as. Actually, even though the game ended at a reasonable hour here, I was too keyed up to sleep. So I’m probably as tired as you are! I just kept reliving the game over and over and by 4 am I gave up!
You’re right, Becky. It was a great day for aces Lee and Halladay. CC too, even if he wasn’t the CC we’ve seen all year. Now Andy needs to deliver us a great game, groin/back or no groin/back. I want Postseason Andy so we don’t have to bite our nails every single inning! Funny about Boomer and the suit. I couldn’t help tweet about that last night. It was weird seeing him in a tie but, as Prince of NY/Paul tweeted, he was probably not wearing pants. LOL.
What a day is right, Peter. Every game was exciting. And yours? Wow. You must be flying today. Your boy was sensational.
Sorry you weren’t feeling well last night, Sarah. You missed a great comeback. Ron Gardenhire must wonder what he has to do to maintain a lead. You could see the disappoint and frustration on his face because I’m sure he thought he has the game in the bag!
Melissa, the game almost killed me too. I don’t remember yelling at the TV as much as I did last night. When Mo came in to pitch in the eighth, I stood six inches from the TV and WILLED him to get the out. I was beyond nuts. And yes, the TBS announcers on Tex’s homer. I could have written a whole post about them, but since I’ve already whined and complained about the broadcasters for the postseason I thought I’d spare everybody. First of all, the camera work was horrible. Didn’t you get excited about fly balls because you thought they were homers? No way to see where they went. And when Tex hit his out, they sounded like they were at a funeral – a tone that only got worse when the Twins lost. I swear to God, I said to Michael, “Did somebody die?” Were they rooting for the Twins or just comatose by the end of the game? And your point about how other teams have their “hired guns” that pitch lights out in the playoffs and yet don’t hear the payroll harangue that we do is right on. Where’s the outrage? Oh well. Cool about almost getting tix via Grandy. He’s such a great guy. And yes, every game is a potential no-hitter and last night I was praying Liriano wouldn’t get one!
Audrey, see above about the announcers. I share your pain on that point. Robertson has been scaring me lately. His delivery seems to have changed. He’s still our Houdini, getting out of jams, but he makes it more interesting than he used to. And very happy for Grandy. He worked so hard to get better, so I was thrilled – absolutely thrilled – that Joe put him in the lineup instead of Kearns. I hope tonight’s game doesn’t go into extras so you can get some sleep!
You’re right, Jeff. It was a great first day for baseball and Bud Selig must be dancing around his house this morning. Oh, wait. That’s an image I don’t want to have. Never mind.
I’m not a fan of Eck either, John. Maybe he and Boomer went at it after they left the studio. LOL. I switched over to ESPN after the game and Aaron Boone was pretty good, plus he’ll always hold a place in my heart. Pavano. Now there’s a guy I’m not a fan of. Every time there was a shot of him standing in the dugout in that porn mustache, I just laughed. I want us to beat him so badly, but we’ll see.
I feel better too getting that first one under our belt, cheshirecat. That’s why I wasn’t upset with Joe that he used Mo in the eighth. We needed the win, so why not go to the best closer ever? And yeah, the announcers could have at least faked excitement, but I guess they’re as bad at acting as they are at broadcasting. Sorry you’ll miss most of tonight’s game, but we’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone.
Gardenhire didn’t manage like the genius he was portrayed to be, Paul. According to TBS, he should be a Nobel Prize winner! But he seems like a good guy whose players play hard for him.
Don’t forget, Dave, that Larsen pitched a perfect game, not a no-hitter, so he’s still in the record books. Not that I’m diminishing Halladay’s achievement in any way. The guy threw TWO no-hitters in one season, which, I believe, hasn’t been done since Nolan Ryan in the ’70s. And yes, condolences to Renegade. I always assume the Rays will come back, so I have no doubt they will against the Rangers.
Glad you had fun last night, Diane. I know how you enjoy those concerts. This wasn’t an easy win for the Yanks. CC struggled. I kept waiting for him to settle down, the way he often does when he gets off to a shaky start, but it never really happened. His final strikeout was huge though. My concern is that he threw a lot of pitches and we need him on short rest for Saturday. Hope he bounces back. Congrats to your brother-in-law and his wife. They sure must have been dancing in the streets.
I think everybody on the east coast is sleep deprived, Freya. But, as you say, it was worth it to see our boys win that one. Such a relief to come back against a very tough Liriano. For a while there, I thought, OH NO. We’ll NEVER hit him! I did panic.
I know what you mean, Barbara. I’m happy now that it’s over but I was a nervous wreck while I was watching. I kept saying to Michael, “Remind me why I do this again?” But we had our rally turkey burgers for dinner, and it was right after we finished eating that Tex hit the homer. Guess what we’ll be having for dinner tonight.
Liriano was great, Matt. Very poised out there on the mound and tough on the hitters, throwing strikes and working quickly. But all that made the comeback even sweeter. The Yanks did their thing!
Nice win for the Yanks! And I was at the Halladay no-hitter yesterday…amazing! SO excited…still :O)
Jenn
http://philliesphollowers.mlblogs.com/
You were there, Jenn? OMG, it must have been wild. Of course you’re still excited!
Why is your team loaded with so many doggone Twins killers?! Just when you think you’ve gotten by A-Rod and Tex (two notorious MN bashers), then Curtis Granderson twists the knife. Pettitte is another one of those guys, but his effectiveness is in question. Should be another tight contest tonight (don’t laugh…Pavano is actually pretty good now!).
http://zkonedog.mlblogs.com/
Hi Jane & Fellow Baseball Fans …
I’m going to make this short and sweet (I know you are all thinking that will be a miracle…lol).
Had a GREAT time at Mickey’s with 30 other Yankee fans. We went wild when the Yankees went ahead …back down when CC walked the runner in …wild again with Tex’s homer…VERY happy when Mo made his entrance. CC battled…the guys never quite …the bp did their thing and all that’s left to say is …THEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YANKEES WIN !!!!!
As for tonight ….GOOOOOOOOO Andy !!!! ….
Go Yankees 2010 !!!
Granderson did twist the knife, zkonedog. Sorry about that. (Well, kind of.) And I’m not laughing about Pavano being good for you guys. That’s the scary part. He didn’t show up for us, but he’s been pitching well ever since. I take nothing for granted.
Hi, Peggy. I bet you had a roller coaster ride with your buddies watching that game. Down, up, down, up, down and finally up to stay. CC did battle. So did D-Rob. Wow.
I wonder if I’ll ever post WITHOUT making some error in the post…LOL. I read it over and still miss the error. Oh well ..I’m blaming it on old age …that’s my story and I’m sticking to it…
:o)…
Go Yankees 2010 !!!
Jane …
I wrote quite instead of quit. It may be small but it’s an ERROR !!!
I’m out of work early so I can get home for the start of the game ….
GOOOOOOO Andy !!!
Go Yankees 2010 !!!
I don’t see your error, Peggy. Maybe it’s my old age too. What did you write that was a mistake?
Halladay’s no hitter yesterday really caps off this year well as being billed as the year of the pitcher. He’s in good company with Don Larsen in the record books although I hope Larsen stands alone in history for his WS perfect game but I would welcome another Yankee doing it in the future. Jane, I also wish he were a Yankee along with Felix as I said on one of your previous blog entries. Imagine what a lethal rotation that would be with the 2 of them on our side but too bad there’s no chance for it to happen now. I shudder thinking about a rematch in the World Series against the Phillies with their much better rotation. BTW, anyone else think that the H2O acronym is so cheesy? As for our game, I’m glad that we won when CC wasn’t at his sharpest but he didn’t go too overboard and kept us in the game. Liriano was looking unhittable for the first 5 innings but thankfully, some timely hits helped us win. And of course, our bullpen being as good as it has been the past few weeks not giving up any runs. The offense will need to support Andy just the same tonight.
Leo
Quit. Quite. Who cares, Peggy. The main thing is we wonnnnnn!
I thought Liriano looked unhittable too, Leo. I kept wondering if it was our turn to get no-hit! I should have had more faith in our Yanks. They wear pitchers down and last night was no different.
Jane, glad to see your guys pulled out the win. I know from past posts you are not a fan of the nail-biters. Unlike Jenn, I watched Halladay on TV – he was amazing! Remember, “manifest” your guys to victory!
Sue
Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts
No, I’m not a fan of nail-biters, Sue. You know me well. And right now I’m watching another one. The score is 2-1 Yanks and I’m on the edge of my seat! I will manifest!
They did play their kind of game in the opener, Mike. And CC wasn’t at his best by any means. And you’re right about Wood and Mo; both looked really sharp. I’m glad there’s a day off now so Mo, especially, can rest up.
After watching game one I thought, the Twins played their kind of game. They incorporated everything they do well and still lost. That was their best chance. Now after game two, they are just plain doomed! As Andy goes, so do the Yanks. Mo looks absolutely tuned in!
mike
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/