And then there were four...
With the Yankees down 5-2, Derek Jeter, who was pretty well the only man on the team who played as if Mystique and Aura was something he knew about, homered in the seventh to cut the deficit to two runs. Jeter then led off the ninth with a single, bringing the tying run to the plate, in the person of the man who led the American League in home runs.
Alex Rodriguez hit into a double play, capping his 2-15 (.133) post-season.
The Angels pitched around Rodriguez (they walked him 6 times in the five games.) The Angels limited the damage done by Gary Sheffield, who had 6 hits in the series, but none for extra bases.
Mike Mussina pitched well in the opener, but his Game Score last night was 28. Which meant only that it was better than Randy Johnson's work in Game Three. Johnson pitched very well in relief of Mussina, and gave his team a chance to get back into the game. But you can't come from behind every time.
The beasts of the East are finished for the year. What next in Boston and New York? The Red Sox have some exciting young talent - Hansen, Papelbon, Ramirez - is it time to work them into the lineup? The Yankees have at least one big contract - Bernie Williams - coming off the books. They badly need a centre fielder, and Johnny Damon is a free agent... They brought in three starters last off-season, but they still need pitching, starters and relievers. Badly. And so do the Red Sox, of course. Equally badly.
These are strange divisional powerhouses.
I think that combination pretty much guarantees that A.J. Burnett won't be looking for a Toronto apartment any time soon Which doesn't bother me all that much...
There was other news. The Phillies dismissed GM Ed Wade after eight years on the job, and no trips to the-post-season. The Phillies have made just one trip to the post-season in the last 20 years, and that ended badly.
One half of the Orioles GM tandem - Jim Beattie - has been shown the door. The other half, Mike Flanagan, who at least has a distinguished Orioles pedigree, is expected to be assigned to different duties in the organization. The Orioles have received permission to talk to Jim Duquette of the Mets and Tim Wilken of the Devil Rays. Wilken, of course, was part of the Blue Jays organization from 1979 through 2003, serving as Director of Scouting (1995-2000) and Vice-President, Baseball (2000-2003.)
One game tonight, as the ALCS kicks off in the Windy City. The Angels obviously have to be very worried about Bartolo Colon's shoulder, and now there are concerns that Jarrod Washburn may have strep throat. Kelvim Escobar, who turned in some very gutsy work out of the pen against the Yankees (literally - Escobar has been sick as well), may end up starting some games at this rate:
Los Angeles (Byrd) at Chicago (Contreras) 8:00
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20051010235554779