ALCS Game 1 Breakdown: CC Struggles, Yanks’ Rally and Bullpen Stops Rangers, Michael Kay Needs to Stop Talking

-If you told me that through the first 4 games of these playoffs, that CC Sabathia would have an ERA somewhere around 6 (7 ER in 10 innings) and his biggest play would be a forceout at home, I would tell you that the Yankees didn’t make it past the Twins.

That they’re 4-0 after winning Game 1 in the ALCS is a testament to their overall depth and a never-say-die attitude that befits a defending champion.

Look, it’s really simple enough: The Yankees cannot win a second straight title if Sabathia continues to pitch like it’s spring 2009. The next round will feature a team that have a huge advantage in starting pitching to the Yankees, and Sabathia will need to be able to match zeroes on the scoreboard, not give up 5 in four innings like he did last night.

-Small side note on the play at the plate in the 1st: What a great call by the home umpire Gerry Davis, who had great eyes for that play when few others saw that Nelson Cruz was out well before he touched the plate. There’s been plenty of bashing the umpires in this offseason, so when a great call is made on a play that could’ve easily been another argument for instant replay, you have to give the umps some love.

-After the play at the plate, it took 6 innings for the Yankees to get a clutch hit, but after Robinson Cano’s solo homer in the 7^th got them on the scoreboard, the floodgates opened in the 8^th.

Brett Gardner gets spiked on a hustling infield single, then Derek Jeter smokes a double down the line past a drawn-in Michael Young (Why he wasn’t playing back to prevent a double when up by four is still a mystery to me) to score Gardner. Darren Oliver relieves CJ Wilson – who deserved much better than what he ended up with (7 IP, 3 ER, no decision) – and walks the bases loaded on consecutive 3-2 counts.

Alex Rodriguez got his first big hit of the postseason, lacing a two-run single to left that absolutely handcuffed Young when he tried to glove it instead of knocking it down, followed by Robinson Cano lining the game-tying single to center. One broken-bat single by Marcus Thames later, and the five-run rally was complete.

-The story of the first round was opportunities squandered by the losing team, which got a new chapter for these playoffs last night. Give the Yankees a lot of credit, as they played with poise and took advantage against the Rangers’ bullpen in the 8^th.

But how different is the result if Young makes either play against Jeter or A-Rod in the 8^th? How different is it if Oliver doesn’t walk the only two batters he faces, on 3-2 counts no less? Or if the Rangers’ offense didn’t go to sleep against the Yanks’ bullpen (5 innings of shutout ball, and only 3 baserunners allowed)?

The biggest what-if, however, belongs to Ian Kinsler getting picked off first as the tying run in the bottom of the 8^th, when Kerry Wood was struggling with his command. What could have been a game-tying rally by the bottom of the Rangers’ lineup ended up being an eventful and unusual 1-2-3 inning of sorts.

-Michael Kay is officially an idiot with a stunning lack of foresight. Why, oh why would you call out potentially the best pitcher in these playoffs for cheating?

For those who don’t know, Kay – on his radio show for the ESPN network in New York – decided it was a good idea to jump on the idea that Cliff Lee is combining resin from his cap with his sweat to get a better grip on his pitches.

He can “think that’s illegal” all he wants. He should absolutely know better than to broadcast such an idea during a playoff series, against a pitcher the Yankees are absolutely nuts about signing this offseason. First off, you never intentionally give the other team bulletin-board material, especially a team that played the Yankees to a draw this season. Second, why piss off a guy who your team wants to sign in a couple months, when no prior accusations have been made against him?

Dumb, dumb, dumb.

-One thing this postseason is showing is that the Yankees, for all their payroll, have an extraordinary issue in terms of starting pitching depth.

I say extraordinary because no team that spends $200 million should be worried about their starting pitching.

With AJ Burnett plunking two batters in a simulated game – which he described as a confidence builder! – Sabathia struggling and Phil Hughes going way above his innings limit this year, Cliff Lee can expect a Sabathia-sized offer from the Yankees this offseason.

Add to that the fact that Andy Pettitte is going to retire eventually, and maybe as soon as this offseason, they’re going to need at least two starting pitchers from somewhere next year. I’d expect to see another open competition for the 5^th starter spot in spring training – which might include Burnett – and some kind of move for a No. 4-type starter, since Javier Vazquez is on his way out.

Expect an offer to either the Royals for Zack Greinke, or a good-sized offer to Matt Garza (if the Rays don’t offer him arbitration and let him go to free agency) if Pettitte retires this year.