To have beaten Cliff Lee tonight, the Yankees would have had to pitch perfectly.
Sabathia didn’t even pitch poorly–he’s been so dominant lately that a little bit of rust looked akin to a collapse–but he wasn’t a match for Lee tonight.
Lee’s performance tonight sparked memories of Koufax and Ford–that’s how good it was.
Until the ninth inning, the Yankees had just one batter reach second base, and none reach third.
There’s not much else to day–it wasn’t a bad managerial move that cost the Yankees the game; the other team simply pitched better.
Okay, so perhaps Brian Bruney should not be anywhere near a postseason roster, but this isn’t really the point here.
You can debate how you would have pitched the top of the eighth–my faith in Robertson didn’t work out the way I’d hope, but it happens–but it wasn’t a bullpen that blew the game.
With the way that Lee pitched, even if the score had remained 2-0, the Yankees’ chances were still slim–he was that good.
The first six innings, at least–before the Yankees went to the bullpen–were everything that a neutral fan would want to see in a World Series game: good pitching, good fielding, and played in a crisp manner.
Alas for us, we have a rooting interest that was on the wrong end of that game.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
9 Responses to Yankees drop game one of series as Lee dominates
Leave a Reply
TIQ IQ
The Yankees were embarrassed tonight. The bullpen is a mess at this point. I think Girardi needs to reevaluate and think about using Robertson as the bridge to Rivera. Coke and Marte have been solid so hopefully by sprinkling in a little Hughes and Joba they’ll get to Rivera. It’s a tough situation, but something needs to be done. The offense looked flat against Lee, but he had tremendous movement on his pitches. Hopefully, with this embarrassment under their belts, the Yankees will try to mash tomorrow.
I just hope they don’t try to over due and in the process get tense and go flat again from pressing…
OK, I’m angry and disappointed that the Yankees lost so badly tonight. But, following the greatest franchise for almost 50 years, has taught me to see the big picture.
I walk on air when the yankees win a WS, but occaisionally they lose a WS, too, and it is usually one of the greatest sports moments of the other team and other city.
I can accept this and look at the strengths of the other team, and respect them for it.
I remember watching every inning of the 1976 series and feeling almost helpless, as an enthusiastic Yankees team(during the season and earlier playoffs)could do absolutely nothing against a Great Reds team. As the series progressed, I remember my feelings changing from despair to “this is a great Reds team, with numerous HOF players”. And I saw the flaws of the Yankees team.
I sense something similar here. But I think the team is at a nexus. If they beat Pedro–its going to be a great knock ‘em down, back and forth series. If Pedro pulls one out of his hat, I see 1976 happening again. I love Andy P., but I don’t like his chances going into Philly down 0-2, and trying to turn it around. Andy, usually doesn’t pitch gem after gem after gem. He pitches a couple of gems, then he gets blasted. I hope that my feelings are wrong, if this occurs.
It is no shame to lose to a class guy like Utley, nor to a reigning Cy Yong winner.
I want the Yankees to win–badly. But I sense the coming out-of a great Phillies team.
Next game will tell.
The Yankees are the better team. They won more games in the tougher division in the more difficult league. Sometimes, a pitcher just shuts you down. You tip your cap and move on to the next game.
Yes, I agree that the Yankees are the better team, but if the Phillies beat us this year, they will cement their spot as one of the best (if not THE best)NL teams of the past 25-35 years—and they know it.
Some of my concerns….
1)-Having only 3 dependable starters, plus the constant pressure on CC to pitch with less than normal rest.
2)-The larger number of WS “newbies” on the Yanks, while the Phillies are defending champs and act like it.
3)-The youth of our bullpen. Really, other than Mo, who has done anything really big? Yes, Hughes was considered the “best 8th inning setup guy in baseball” this season. But I worry that the kids will realize “I’m actually in the WS?” and freeze up.
4)-The feeling of”just being glad to be here” by many Yanks–even veterans.
Plus some other concerns.
The 1981 Yankees were better than the Dodgers, and they lost.
The 1955 Yankees were better than the Dodgers, and they lost.
The 1926 Yankees were better than the Cardinals, and they lost.
And the 1960 Yankees were much, much, much better than the Pirates, and they lost.
And the 2003 Yankees should have beat the Marlins.
So it happens.
I hope not.
One key hit can turn it all around.
I’ll be watching every inning no matter how it goes, but I’ll feel a lot better, if the Yankees deny the Phillies a repeat.
And look to a tie breaker meeting in 2010.
Exactly Moshe, Cliff Lee was sharp last night, great pitching will shut down great offenses all the time, Yankees couldnt grind out at-bats because Lee was getting strike 1 on everybody. Got a question for you, does anything good every come out of shaking the catcher off 2 or 3 times? not second-guessing, just curious.
This just reminds me so much of 2003 I’m sick to my stomach! I don’t subscribe to the “it was nice just to get there” theory, if we lose there is no tipping the cap or feeling good about just making it to the world series…. second place is just the first loser, no matter how you look at it this team was built to win a championship if they don’t it’s the biggest laughing stock and failure in sports!
Well, we haven’t lost yet. But we’ve got to beat Pedro. We’ve got to get to the back end and underbelly of Phillies pitching, and rake them.
If Pedro duplicates his Dodger-series performance,and wins, it’s deep doo doo.
Next game is key to this series.
How can you blame D-Rob, Cano was out of position for a breaking ball. D-Rob got Ibanez to rollover on the curve and nobody was there. He was also squeezed by the ump.