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.

MLB Playoff Notes: Braves End Cox’s Career by Blowing Winnable Series, Phillies Still Favorites in NL; Rays-Rangers Series Plays into Yanks’ Hands

- Bobby Cox gets to end what should be a Hall of Fame managing career by watching his team do what it seemingly did best during his tenure: Lose in the playoffs.

Yeah, that’s a little bit harsh, especially considering how they rebuilt the team and stayed somewhat competitive after Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz all left or stopped starting games for them. But, with the talent they had through the 90’s and through 2005, to only come away with one World Series and two other appearances has to be disappointing.

Add to that the fact that they’re still synonymous with the Buffalo Bills in terms of success in the regular season but not in the playoffs, and Cox should really treasure that ’95 Series win.

- Give a lot of credit to the Giants for excellent starting pitching, as their starters gave up a total of 22 baserunners and 4 runs in 29 IP, and got quality starts out of all four pitchers. But also fault the Braves’ defense, with Brooks Conrad handing them Game 3 with three errors and Alex Gonzalez’ throwing error in Game 4 prolonging the 7^th inning in which the Giants took the lead for good.

- Given the performances by both rotations, expect runs to be at a premium in the NLCS. While the Phillies have the better offense of the two teams, it might be the first to score one, let alone 2 runs in each game. I still like the Phillies – like I said, their offense is better, and their starting pitching is obviously excellent – but this could be 7 games of 1-0 or 2-1 games.

- Obviously, I like the Yankees’ chances to make it to the World Series now that Cliff Lee and David Price have to pitch tomorrow, which means both will probably be available to start in Game 3 at the earliest. Even playing on the road, starting off the series against CJ Wilson/Colby Lewis or Matt Garza/Wade Davis going against a rested CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte is a big bonus in the Yankees’ favor.

- So far, it looks like Curtis Granderson is having the kind of postseason that would make me eat my words on whether it was a good idea to trade for him (A Grand Move, or a Grand Mistake?). 5-11, with a double, triple and 3 RBIs is a good start. Next round will be against tougher lefties, so we’ll really see if Kevin Long has his swing fixed.

- Jason Heyward lucked out in the sense that the voting for Rookie of the Year is only for regular season performance. Because Buster Posey would’ve definitely taken the award based on their NLDS performances. Posey was 6-16 with 3 runs when runs were at a premium, while Heyward went 2-16 with 8 K’s, and both hits were empty singles in Game 4.

- Game 5 Prediction for Rays-Rangers: When in a Game 5/7 scenario, smart money is to take the best pitcher. Rangers squeak by after blowing both home games on the back of Cliff Lee, who will take the bats right back out of the Rays’ lineup after their two-game wakeup.

MLB Playoff Notes: Rangers, Giants Blow Huge Opportunities; Yankees Sweep Away Twins, Expect the Same for Phillies

-From the late Friday game in San Francisco to the early game Saturday, the story of the playoffs looks like it will be who takes advantage of the opportunities in front of them.

The four series are in sharp contrast of each other. In the ALDS, the Twins led in the two games in Minneapolis, but couldn’t put the Yankees away for good, and the Yankees took advantage in their three-game sweep.

At this point, it’s almost sad how the Twins can’t get over the hump against the Bronx Bombers. The biggest issue is that, while their pitching sets up well in the regular season, they don’t have a real shutdown pitcher who can win you two games in a short series. Johan Santana was the closest they had, but they got the extra revenue to spend a few years too late to hang on to him.

-Next up for the Yanks in the ALCS is the winner of the Rangers-Rays series, which is now starting to swing in the Rays’ favor if their bats can stay awake for the next two games. After Ian Kinsler’s solo homer in the bottom of the 7^th gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead, the Rays responded with 5 in the 8^th and 9^th to win 6-3 and force a Game 4.

If the Rangers don’t make it to the World Series – either from losing this series or going to 5 games with a team they had on the ropes – Game 3 will be the game that changed the AL side of the playoffs. Now they have to start Tommy Hunter, who had a great record at 13-4 but a bad second half, going 5-4 with a 5.07 ERA after an 8-0 start, against Wade Davis, who has had a great second half (7-1 with a 3.22 ERA in his last 13 starts).

Either way the series goes, it greatly improves the Yanks’ chances to make the World Series again if this series goes 5. Both teams would have to use their best starters, and neither David Price nor Cliff Lee would be ready to start until Game 3.

-The Reds, meanwhile, caught a huge break in Game 2 when Roy Oswalt was not sharp at all, but much like the Twins, could not finish off the Phillies, blowing a 4-0 lead in losing 7-4. Now they have to go home with their best pitcher, Johnny Cueto, face Cole Hamels, who has excellent career numbers pitching in Cincinnati (3-1, 1.67 ERA in four starts) and also pitched 7-2/3 innings of shutout ball in July against the Reds.

-Give the Braves a lot of credit for making it a series against the Giants by coming back from three down to win Friday in extra innings, 5-4. Now they get their ace, Tim Hudson, going in Game 3 with a chance to win the series at home.

The Giants, meanwhile, might look at this game much like the Rangers will look at Game 3: a blown opportunity for a young team to advance in the playoffs that will hurt their chances to get to the World Series.

-I’ve read some criticism over the decisions to bring in Brian Wilson and Neftali Feliz in the 8^th innings of their teams’ losses. And while you’d obviously want better results than what Wilson and Feliz gave, I don’t see what’s the problem with bringing in your closer for more than 1 inning. Your closer is supposed to be your best reliever, and if you need more than 3 outs from your closer, then you go for it.

-Quick baseball question: Is it really a comeback win if you’re down but tie or take the lead before the 5^th inning, should we really consider it a comeback? And maybe that could even be changed to before the 7^th?

I just find it silly if you give up a run in the 1^st, then take the lead in the 3^rd, that it’s considered a comeback. We should save that for at least the 5^th or later, in my opinion.