One More Game

If you are a Yankees fan this world series could not have started any worse with a dominating performance by Cliff Lee coupled with the non-existent offensive attack of the Yankees...However everything has changed quite dramatically and it very much a credit to the resiliency the Yankees have shown all season long. A.J. was terrific in Game 2 which is exactly what was needed in response to Lee. Andy Pettite was as he always has been, a grinder. I feel that there is no one better in baseball at fighting through a shaky start and still pitching effectively for a win. though hits when needed have come with less regularity, they are coming in pressure situations when a spark is needed or the game is on the line. Alex Rodriguez only has 2 hits in 4 games, but with what they have meant to the team he might as well have 10. His two run home-run was an absolute game changer as we were down and poised to look very poor against a pitcher who had been struggling. Game 4 was a testament to what Rodriguez' post season has been like, he has come through late in the game with monumental hits when the team has to have it...try telling any Yankee from in the past 4 years that this was going to happen and they'd all think you are delusional. One player that has almost as surprising as Rodriguez has to be Demaso Marte, who if the fans had their way would have been designated for assignment in May for impersonating a good left handed pitcher. He has come in and done his job, all a manager can ask for.

Having Mariano Rivera is quite possibly the greatest advantage in all of Major League Baseball. many analysts have said that the Phillies hitters did a great job sending a message to Rivera in Game 2 by working him into a 39 pitch 6 out save. However Yankees fans would beg to differ simply because Mariano is the type of pitcher to answer a challenge by not only rising to the occasion, but excelling, that is why he is a future hall of famer and the greatest closer of all time. One cannot help but feel for Brad Lidge who has fallen from grace sooner that anyone anticipated after being perfect all of 2008. But I do digress as I now like all of Yankee Universe will be watching Game 5 with angst as the Yankees look to win their 27th championship, but it will not come easy with Cliff Lee going back to the hill with the Phillies season on the line, Let's all hope Burnett can duplicate his game 2 performance...It world mean the world to us all.