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Big League Stew

Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:54 am EST

There's no reason for the Yankees to worry just yet

By 'Duk

PHILADELPHIA — So we're headed back north for at least another game of this 2009 World Series and I fully expect that the New York tabs will work themselves up into a healthy lather over the fact the Yanks couldn't close it out in five games.

They'll have a few points to touch on, of course: Their next two pitchers will be throwing on the same three days' rest as A.J. Burnett(notes). Mark Teixeira(notes) continues to be a postseason phantom. The bottom of the lineup has been about as productive as a rusted-out wheat thresher.

There are probably a few more issues I'm forgetting that will be resurrected over the next 32 or so hours, but the truth is that the Yankees maintained a pretty even keel after Monday night's Game 5 and so should their fans.

Did the Phillies lineup look impressive on Monday night? Yes. Is Chase Utley(notes) crushing the ball? Mmm hmm. Is Philadelphia a team capable of pulling off a comeback from 3-1? You bet.

Still, the fact remains that New York holds a 3-2 lead with the two remaining games scheduled for their own place. They have the postseason's most victorious pitcher scheduled for Game 6 and the $160 million man going for Game 7. They have a superior and more trustworthy bullpen and history remains on their side because a World Series winner hasn't overcome a 3-1 deficit since the 1985 Royals. (And only six teams out of 43 have resurrected themselves.) 

There will be time to worry should Pedro Martinez(notes) and the Phillies summon a little Game 6 magic on Wednesday night. But for now the Yankees have a one-game lead over a team that has just as many areas to worry over. All's well in the Bronx, everybody remain calm. 

Related: Chase Utley, Mark Teixeira, A.J. Burnett, Pedro Martínez, 2009 postseason on the Stew, 2009 World Series on the Stew

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  1. Mat M
    1. Posted by Mat M Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:39 am EST

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    Yankees are the kind of team that would get the help that the '85 Royals needed to win.
    Now if we could only get Tim MacClelland & Phil Cuzzi back out there...
  2. flyersmikey
    2. Posted by flyersmikey Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:41 am EST

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    Well I think there is alot to worry about in yankee land the Phils are facing pettite a second time around and we saw what Burnett did on 3 days rest. Its all about the first 3 innings if the Phils jump on pettite early then that negates rivera and its game 7 and anything can happen and expect C.C to have a few miles a hour off his pitches
  3. benjamin63_99
    3. Posted by benjamin63_99 Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:50 am EST

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    It's official -- 'Duk is Jeter's whiny little b!tch!
  4. P&R
    4. Posted by P&R Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:58 am EST

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    Can't Yahoo hire some decent writers? So many newspaper people are losing their jobs, better writers must be available. Passan is the worst baseball writer in America (and I assume in the world). His column saying that Manuel was stupid for not pitching Lee on three days of rest was the single most moronic sports story I've ever read. Actually, I should say that Gordon Edes is pretty good, and more interested in writing a good story than grandstanding with laughably bad attempts at "style."
  5. Pete
    5. Posted by Pete Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:14 am EST

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    I have to agree with P&R 100%. I was completely annoyed at Passan's idiotic column about manuel. I just wish I could have posted directly on his article. He is such a dope and yet it says he's an award winning baseball writer. What kind of moron doesn't understand that every pitcher can't go on three days of rest? Let's see if he writes a contradictory article about Girardi blowing it, for pitching A.J. on three days. And on top of lambasting Manuel, he suggested that Cliff Lee is not an ace because he didn't insist on taking the ball. Passan, you are a freaking idiot! The guy pitched a COMPLETE game in the world series in Yankee stadium and his post-season ERA proves he's an ace, you can't just pitch him on short rest and expect that type of performance, you idiot. The phils didn't lose that game from starting pitching either, it was the bullpen that couldn't give the phillies a chance to win. Yahoo needs to find writers who aren't totally moronic.
  6. LetsGoTwins
    6. Posted by LetsGoTwins Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:32 am EST

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    Is it possible for 'Duk to be any more of a "Homer" for NY? Put away the pom poms 'Duk.
  7. Stauffer
    7. Posted by Stauffer Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:37 am EST

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    P&R and Pete...And if Manuel would have started Lee on 3 days rest and Lee had a terrible outing Passan would still call Manuel an idiot. Its a lose lose situation. GO PHILS!!!
  8. b.p.
    8. Posted by b.p. Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:46 am EST

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    I hope Jeff Passan understands the hazards of pitching on 3 days rest now; he's good sometimes, but that was an asinine article to write, particularly after-the-fact.
  9. Oliver Klosov
    9. Posted by Oliver Klosov Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:47 am EST

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    Oh yes there is - I'm not a Philly fan, but another pitcher coming back on short rest for the Y's, and Milt Thompson is doing an OUTSTANDING job of getting the Philly hitter's where they need to be, mentally, in order to make the most of the situation... Milt should be considered for one of the managerial jobs - being from the DC area, Wahington or Baltimore would be great fits - and both need someone with his hitting knowledge... I wonder why he switched from 24 (his number playing for the Phil's) to 25 (his number now, as a coach)??
  10. flyersmikey
    10. Posted by flyersmikey Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:46 pm EST

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    I dont think Passan even watched the game. Blanton actually pitched a good game .It wasnt because Lee didnt start on 3 days rest. Lidge blew the game. So i guess someone owes Charlie an apology
  11. Dennis D
    11. Posted by Dennis D Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:35 pm EST

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    Why do all the sports writers idolize A-ROID. He is a cheater in relationships, on a ball field, and is a narccist, or did he take the picture of himself down from above his bed? What a creep, him back to Mexico, PR, Samoa, or wherever he escaped from. Concentrate on the hard working guys like Jeter/Damon,Utley, etc, not a bum.
  12. j king baby
    12. Posted by j king baby Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:36 pm EST

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    too much weight is being put on pitching on three days rest. Tons of pitchers have done it before with somewhat good results. Sabathia was insane last year when he did it, and he has done it again this year. Burnett historically has done well pitching on three days rest. Passan had a point when he said the Phils should start Lee on three days. Down 2-1 in the series, you almost need to win that game. No Phils fan can say that they were going to win the game with Blanton going up against CC, even on three days. And of course the Phils went down 3-1. I would never start Blanton on 18 days rest against CC on three days rest. Its the World Series and you go for it all. If Manuel starts Lee and he outduels CC, then you are in a 2-2 tie plus you could put Happ or Blanton against Burnett on three days. Much better situation.
    Oh and by the way, those that are saying Burnett was affected by lack of rest obviously are not Yankee fans. If you had watched Burnett all year you would know that Burnett is on and off and is very prone to having these type of games. There were games where Burnett walked 6-7 batters and just was totally off, but was on normal rest. He still had the stuff yesterday, he just couldn't locate. Its not like he lost velocity or movement by pitching with short rest. He was just being the normal inconsistent AJ Burnett.
    Dont worry Passan, I agreed with you on the situation.
  13. Rosevelt H
    13. Posted by Rosevelt H Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:43 pm EST

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    yankee's are overconfident to say the least...the phillies hitters are coming alive one by one...if i were yankee's pitching coach that would concern me....the pitching side of phillie's are getting it done and by the way it looks the hitting side is coming to life as well...these guys are defending champions!..with all the praise and dickriding on the yankee's that seems to be forgotten...i wish the commentators on fox would get off the yankee's dick for a minute and be objective with the series...dam! get tired of hearing a-rod this jeter that...i guess the parade yankee's were hoping for is on hold..as phillies are still in it.....it'll go seven games and if phillies played like they did last night...yankee's are in for another heartbreak......
  14. Brian Lynch
    14. Posted by Brian Lynch Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:46 pm EST

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    100% agree with the Arod thing... it is Damon and Jeter that work to get on base four times a night while Arod goes 1 for 4 and gets the "big hit". I love that recently he has come through but the yankees live and die with Damon, Jeter, and their starting pitching.
  15. Rosevelt H
    15. Posted by Rosevelt H Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:52 pm EST

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    cliff lee did not have a bad night last night.....the pitchers behind him almost cost him the big lead he gave phillies and hey!... a win is a win!....burnett isn't walking on water like the rest of yankee's...dam!...if so why he get benched after only three innings?....like i said it''l go seven games...
  16. GH
    16. Posted by GH Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:54 pm EST

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    F@#$ this article and F@#$ the Yankees. Go Philly!
  17. Mark H
    17. Posted by Mark H Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:06 pm EST

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    We Shall Defeat The Blue Menace
    FOR THE GOOD OF BASEBALL!!!
  18. Kate
    18. Posted by Kate Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:08 pm EST

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    For the record, Duk picked the Phils to win in six. I mean, I know that's not gonna happen, but he's one of like three experts I read who picked the Phils.
    Just sayin.
  19. oLLie BoomBayay
    19. Posted by oLLie BoomBayay Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:16 pm EST

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    Naw, I would say it is time to panic. The Yankees are one hit from being down 2-3 instead of up 3-2. The pressure is on the Yankees and their payroll, not the defending champs. Gotta love the throwback matchup of Pedro vs. Pettite.
  20. Brian Lynch
    20. Posted by Brian Lynch Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:17 pm EST

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    I have a hard time accepting that the Phillies hitters are coming alive when Burnett didn't make a single good pitch last night. Every hit was off a fat pitch high in the zone. Then they were shut down by Alfredo Aceves, who had surrendered runs in every previous postseason outing this year. Granted, they did hit two homers off of the Yankee's give-up reliever Phil Coke. Chase Utley's bat is alive... to convince me that the rest of the Phillie's bats are alive I want to see it against some decent pitching.
    If anyone knows how to pitch even if his stuff isn't fully there... it is Andy Pettite. Yanks ended game 5, despite losing, with the momentum. Yankees will win a close one off of Pedro, which couldn't be more fitting, to win their 27th title.
  21. Brian Lynch
    21. Posted by Brian Lynch Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:19 pm EST

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    Not to mention shut down by David Robertson.
  22. oLLie BoomBayay
    22. Posted by oLLie BoomBayay Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:22 pm EST

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    #20 - Blanton pitched the game of his life vs. the best hitting lineup in baseball and the Phillies wasted it. If you want to blame a Series loss on any single event, it was the Lidge meltdown after letting Damon go to third in game 4. Lidge abandoned his curve/slider after Damon got on third and was punished for it.
  23. LouZerr
    23. Posted by LouZerr Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:01 pm EST

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    The Yankees went into game 5 with Melky out and 0le .100 Molina catching. The bottom 1/3 of their batting lineup was useless, and Teix hasn't exactly been walloping. Yet despite all this and A.J.'s lack of control and facing Lee, they lost 8-6. I mean, 5 runs off Mr. Invincible? Now they are going back to the Bronx with a DH and Posada catching, adding two quality bats for Molina and the pitcher. And they have Andy and CC, if needed.
    Oh and the Yankees have Damon, one of the smartest players in the game. You just know he'll come up big.
  24. Scooter
    24. Posted by Scooter Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:09 pm EST

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    Be afraid new york, be very afraid. I sense the fear in this blog and it's only a matter of time before the sleeping giant Howard awakens and the rest of Phillies follow suit. Phillies will win games 6 & 7 and become repeat champions of the world!!!

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Big League Stew is an MLB blog edited by Kevin Kaduk. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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David Brown, Alex Remington, Steve Henson, Curtis Granderson, Jay Levin,

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