Pinstripe Posts

Girardi's pinstriped future

 Today at the Stadium, Hal Steinbrenner (photo courtesy of New York Magazine) was careful not to go into any specifics about his manager's contract -- which runs out after the 2010 season. But there was this from Hal: "I am saying he's the man for the job.''

Does that mean Girardi would remain the man for the job no matter what happens in October, especially in the anything-can-happen Division Series?

Asked if there were an ultimatum on Girardi in postseason, Hal Steinbrenner said, "No, Joe has had a tremendous year...as far as I am concerned, as far as the family is concerned, as far as the organization is concerned, he's the man for the job.''

The opinion here at Pinstriped Posts is that Girardi has already done enough to merit a contract extension, whatever happens in postseason.

If he wins the World Series, he'll obviously be in a better bargaining position. Either way, you'd expect the club to address -- and approve -- an extension after the season, perhaps in the two-year range, through 2012.

After the Joe Torre Era ended, this ownership group became deeply tied to the manager's success. With an AL East title in the bag, the top-notch job Girardi has done in Year 2, and with no other remotely intriguing outside candidates, you'd think this marriage gets extended by Thanksgiving.

The champagne party, stats, and our contest winner

Well, a month ago we asked when the Yankees would clinch the division, and the winner was sam-yf, who picked the 26th. As the closest to not going over, Sam, e-mail me your choice of the prizes - keychain bottle opener, pinstriped bottle cover thing, or calculator - with your address.

We'll run another contest this week. More giveaway items given away by your favorite team.

Anyway, having been through many of the misty champagne Yankee celebrations since '96, this wasn't the craziest by any means, though it had its moments. You knew Swisher would be a presence, but the core vets seemed to drink in the scene more than participate in the madness.

 As Pettitte said, they did enjoy that the younger players could let loose. But, as they all know, there's bigger things to celebrate.

And how about evening the season series vs. the Red Sox at 9-9 after going 0-for-8 this year?

First 8 games vs. Boston, the Yankees averaged 3.88 runs per game, a .267 BA, and a 6.06 ERA. In the last 10 games vs. Boston, those figures were: 7 runs per game, .326 BA, and a 3.79 ERA.

"They're a good team, and they had a great regular season,'' Boston manager Terry Francona said. "It's tough to do what they have done, especially since Alex came back. Whenever you win games in our division, it's not an easy thing to do.''

The Yankees went 7-2 at home vs. the Sox, and Boston is now three games under .500 on the road this year. In those nine games, Yankee starters are 5-2 vs. Boston, with a 2.57 ERA.

Also, this was the Yanks' 16th division title, matching the Braves for the most since division play began in 1969. And in claiming home field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Yanks also won their 100th game - reaching that figure for the 19th time, their first since 2004 (101-61).

And we'll close with Mariano: With today's save, Rivera has converted each of his last 47 opportunities at home, dating to Aug. 13, 2007 at Baltimore. That's the longest such streak in franchise history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Andy, again

Andy Pettitte has been in dozens of these champagne parties, celebrating a postseason berth, a Division Series, a pennant or a world championship.

Today, he stood off center from the hit-and-run dashes of his younger, wide-eyed teammates and talked about why they should enjoy this moment.

"This is so hard to do,'' Pettitte said. "We know we've got a lot more work to do. But these guys need to enjoy this right now.''

After a shaky start, and a Mike Lowell liner off the inside of his left foot (X-rays negative), Pettitte wound up the winning pitcher in today's AL East clincher. He was thrilled to be in the midst of another heavy mist of champagne, but Pettitte also brought some perspective to the party.

He hates the idea that a 100-win season could be reduced to failure status if there's no World Series ring at the end. "That's just not right, because it's so hard to win.'' And yet, there's only one reason Pettitte is still pitching.

"For me, that's how I feel,'' Pettitte said of the goal of being the last team standing.

2009 AL East champs: The quotes

Andy Pettitte: "We came together as a club throughout the year, and it was really great to watch.''

Mariano Rivera: "We have everything that it takes to win a championship. So, it's up to us.''

Johnny Damon (on adding the four key players in CC, A.J., Tex and Swish): "I know when I came over, there was a lot of focus on me. This time, there was a lot of focus on everybody. (And) those guys fit in right away.''

And there was a lot of praise for Joe Girardi, starting with A-Rod saying he's "our MVP this year, too.''

Phil Coke: "He speaks to me like any father would. And when he said we were all a band of brothers, that really hit home for me....We're not done yet. Ask me about (what we've accomplished) when we're all done with the season.''

Pettitte: "I was happy for (Joe). He's a great man. He got us playing as a team...We do things the right way. We play the game the right way, and hopefully it pays off in postseason.''

Mark Teixeira on Mission 27: "There's only one team that's really satisfied at the end of the season...And here in New York, that's what we want.''

Derek Jeter on the crazy celebration: "This is one of our goals. We have a lot of goals coming out of spring training - this is one. They should enjoy it. It's a long season.''

Also, A-Rod talked about his "nightmare'' about hip surgery; "That I wouldn't play one game this year,'' and Brian Bruney talked about his standing ovation; "I would've loved to...give a thank you (to the fans), but I had tears in my eyes.''

Did you say playoffs?

We're about ready to go at Yankee Stadium, on this busy Sunday.

And talk about soggy conditions -- the Yankees are hoping to be in a heavy mist of champagne about three hours from now, splashing around their vast plastic-coated clubhouse.

We got to talking about playoff formats earlier today. Now, I'm no fan of the wild card, and I can't comprehend the idea of ADDING two playoff teams, just to make it more interesting. Why reward even more mediocritiy? This is baseball. You play 162 games to eliminate these teams.

And finding creative ways to overly penalize the wild card teams strikes me as equally absurd. If you want to make a wild card play four or five road games, why even have a wild card?

The best solution I've heard of comes from Ian O'Connor, at the Stadium here today. The Division Series should not be a best-of-five but a best-of-seven, just like the ALCS and World Series. And the wild card team would only host Games 3 and 4.

A best-of-seven is fairer to the higher seed. And your "penalty'' for the wild card team is only two home games. And cut out these extra off dates. We suppose this is for TV purposes, but why do we have to be locked into a date to start the LCS and World Series, which will end on Nov. 5 if it goes the distance this year?

Once again, today, Joe Girardi hinted that the Yankees would prefer the first round series with the extra of day, so that you could have everyone available in your bullpen for each game. But that would also allow a club such as Detroit the ability to start Justin Verlander twice on regular rest in Games 1 and 4.

Nothing like '49

 Champagne might be spilled at the Red Sox' expense if the Yankees should sweep the Bostons this weekend at the Stadium. But with the Sox all but assured of getting in as the wild card, the excitment factor isn't exactly on par with, say, the 1949 season ender.

Sixty years ago, the Yankees - trailing the Sox by a game - hosted Boston in the final two games of the season. No wild card. No divisions. The pennant was at stake.

Raschi and Reynolds secured the victories, 5-4, and 5-3, and the Yanks went on to beat Brooklyn in the World Series - starting the string of five straight world championships.

For that kind of excitment, these teams will have to meet again in the ALCS. For now, the focus is on Joba Chamberlain getting himself right, and the Yanks' ability to map out the right pitching formula to get through the Division Series.

 

Rested and ready

A.J. Burnett stuck with a plan, and had everything working today. Sure, you want him to go longer than 5.2 innings, but he struck out 11 Angels, had outstanding stuff, was still throwing 95 mph fastballs at 100 pitches, and didn't wilt in tough spots.

And he didn't want to come out of that game today.

Now, he'll pitch again on Tuesday, two extra days of rest. CC Sabathia is getting the same treatment, as he'll now go on Saturday, with Joba going in his very important start on Friday vs. Boston.

The AL East clinching, you would figure, is coming this weekend against the Red Sox. But the exact date of that champagne party is secondary to getting the pitching in order.

 And you'd also figure that Sabathia is in line for a much better October than his playoff struggles in '07 and '08, mainly because he hasn't been taxed as he was before -- especially last year, when he twice went on three days rest to get Milwaukee in the playoffs.

Jorge Posada (X-rays negative) should be fine, with a bruise on his right foot. You could see him in Friday's lineup. The worse news to come out of Wednesday in Anaheim was the "pop'' Jerry Hairston Jr. felt in his left wrist.

He developed the problem in Cincinnati this spring, and it surfaced again today -- on a practice swing. (He also had an MRI and a cortisone shot about 10 days ago, which was never previously revealed). He'll have another MRI today.

Hot Anaheim afternoon

And we're still drinking hot coffee in the press box, on a 95-degree day in SoCal. But enough about our java addiction...

Jorge Posada was sent for X-rays this morning on a bruised right foot (he fouled a ball off it in last night's 5th inning), and the pictures came back negative. He's day to day, and will benefit from tomorrow's off day as well. He was probably going to DH today (with a .440 BA vs. Kazmir) but he's unavailable.

Nick Swisher is also out of the lineup, with a small bruise on his right knee, courtesy of a foul ball last night, but he's available if needed.

Phil Coke might be available today. He was sent back to the hotel after playing catch on Tuesday evening, giving him an extra day to recover from the stomach flu. Joe Girardi feels Coke lost 7-8 pounds.

Speaking of Girardi, the manager received some calls of congratulations after the Yankees clinched a playoff spot (their 48th, his first), and expected to hear from Hal Steinbrenner today. He'd already received calls from Brian Cashman, Jean Afterman, and, naturally, his wife and family members.

As per our conversation with Cash the other day, Girardi mentioned that it was very possible to take only 10 pitchers into the Division Series if they were to choose the series with the extra off day. That would give them the flexibility to carry another pinch-runner type, such as Pena or Guzman.

You already know what Brett Gardner can do to change a game - even when the pitch-out is on.

Later today

Guesing that Jorge Posada, will be the DH, considering his .440 average (11-25) vs. Scott Kazmir, and Matsui's .192 mark (5-for-26).

Of the Yankee regulars, only Melky Cabrera (.353, 6-17) and Mark Teixeira (.667, 6-9) are above .200.

Here's the rest: Johnny Damon (.167, 6-36), Derek Jeter (.167, 6-36), A-Rod (.125, 3-24, no extra-base hits, no RBI), Nick Swisher (.185, 5-27), and Robinson Cano (.130, 3-23).

Yanks clinch at Anaheim: The numbers

Yankees postseason appearances: 48

Magic number to clinch AL East: 6 (combination Yankee wins, Red Sox losses)

Home runs: 3 more tonight, 231 on the season, most in the Majors. According to Elias, the Yankees haven't led the Majors in homers since 1961.

A-Rod (27 HR, 89 RBI) and Matsui (28 HR, 88 RBI) have shots at 30 homers and 100 RBI.

More Matsui: Has four homers in his last six games, and 12 RBI in his last nine games.

More A-Rod: Has 67 homers and 151 RBI vs. Angels in 171 games, the most of any active player vs. one opponent.

Derek Jeter: Reached 200 hits in a season for the seventh time, one shy of Gehrig's club mark. His seven 200-hit season are the most by any shortstop in history. Stole his 27th base, giving him more than his '07 and '08 totals combined (26).