In this article, Bill Simmons says the following:
Crap, since I picked the Giants, that means I'm picking the Yankees in Game 4.
May the 2009 World Series never go back to Yankee Stadium.
Bullshit (B.S.) was obviously going for the scenario where the Phillies sweep at home - sorry brah, not going to happen. In a classic Simmons jinx, there is now a chance that the World Series may actually never go back to Yankee Stadium, but that the Yankees would be the winners of the series. Does it happen Monday night? Cliff Lee versus A.J. Burnett - we'll find out in just about 24 hours...
Some of my reactions to Neyer's reactions:
If Phil Coke comes out in the 9th inning with a tie game, I don't think it's a poor managerial decision. If you bring Mariano out you are guaranteeing him 2 innings of work, or are potentially wasting him for 1.0 IP. You want Mariano to lock down wins, not be in a position to exert energy and be wasted for another few nights potentially. It ended up not mattering at all, but if Coke or Mariano come out in the Bottom of the 9th it doesn't guarantee that the Yankees could manage a win, and then Mo might not be available for the next game if you need him for more than one inning.
Joe Girardi apparently has no faith in much of the "bridge to Mariano". Damaso Marte has been brilliant over the past few outings, and he deserves credit. Chamberlain looked brilliant for all but one pitch, and it was a game tying swing in the Bottom of the 8th Inning. Where was Phil Hughes? He doesn't seem to be a later inning option as he wasn't even stretching during the later innings.
Chase Utley's stupid play at second base - how would that have gone differently? He wasn't in position to stop and make a guaranteed out at 1st base, and how would he make made the "sure out" at 2nd if he couldn't manage the quick flip to 2nd to attempt the beginning of a 4-6-3 double play? I'm confused.
Real quick - who are Girardi's "two best relievers" that he didn't use in the 8th? Mariano (obviously) is one. Who is the other? Hughes? Not recently. He WAS using his best options to that point without trying to burn out Mariano Rivera. On Thursday, Mariano pitched 2 innings for a save, and pitched 2 outs last night (5 pitches, true), and then there is another game tomorrow night, and then in another few days potentially on Wednesday and Thursday. You want Mo to close out every possible victory, and you can't do that when you over-use his talents. What do you do for tomorrow's Game 5 if Mo pitches 2 innings tonight? I'd rather have Mo available for 2 innings tomorrow night than waste his talents on a loss, let alone an extra innings loss where he isn't involved in the decision...
My prediction: Yankees in six.
That said, I'm pulling hard for them tomorrow night. I just wouldn't be surprised at all if the Phillies rocked Burnett and Lee was lights out again - I also wouldn't be surprised if the Yankees rocked Lee, Burnett is lights out, and Yankees win, but I'm just not expecting it. That's all. GO YANKEES!
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