Playoff Pulse is our morning rundown of the night that was and the night that will be during the MLB postseason.
Looking Forward ...
Controversy? What controversy? We won't know officially until Saturday afternoon if backup Yankees catcher Jose Molina is once again paired with scheduled Game 2 starter A.J. Burnett, though it seems highly likely that Molina will once again get the nod.
Manager Joe Girardi told reporters before Game 1 that the pairing "worked pretty well last time," about as strong a hint as he could give that it will be an encore for Molina.
NEW YORK -- They could have tossed aside their mittens and shunned their wool coats, that's how blistering hot the cozy confines of the new Yankee Stadium felt now that CC Sabathia had everything under control. It's been quite awhile since this corner of the Bronx has rocked with so much confidence and rolled with such delightful expectations, but that's what happens when the ace doesn't sweat.
Up on their feet, banging whatever or whoever stood near, tens of thousands of Yankee fans rose as one and emptied their lungs in rapturous unison: CC! CC! CC! It wasn't just that Sabathia was blowing through Angel hitters with shocking ease; no, it was so much more. It was the eighth inning and he was still throwing ridiculous heat, his fastball kissing the inside corner of the plate, his slider hypnotizing the batters from Southern California until it looked as if they were swinging at the big lefty's stuff with greased-up surfboards.
When September opened, one of the biggest question marks surrounding the Yankees was how much they could trust A.J. Burnett in a big playoff start. He'd just flopped at Fenway Park for the second time, calling into question his fitness under the spotlight and making some Yankee fans worry about their investment in the right-hander.
Those fears subsided thanks to Burnett's strong final month, however. He went 3-1 with a 3.83 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings pitched. What was the difference? Jose Molina was wearing the tools of ignorance for all but one of the seven September outings while Jorge Posada sat on the bench, which is why he'll get the start with Burnett on the mound in Game 2 of the ALDS.
The Yankees indicated about two weeks ago that they were looking at using 10 pitchers in the Division Series, which would seem to suggest that they're looking at choosing the schedule with an extra off day, allowing them to use three starting pitchers in the series. Since those three pitchers will almost certainly be CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte, it makes sense to get Chamberlain some relief work before the series starts.
As fall begins and the Yankees near their first American League East championship since (gasp!) 2006, it's time for the focus in the Bronx to turn to the playoffs. While discussing Joba Chamberlain with the Bergen Record, Brian Cashman let two interesting playoff-related tidbits slip. The first is that the Yankees are planning on going with a 10-man pitching staff during the Division Series. The second is that Chamberlain isn't guaranteed one of those ten spots if he doesn't, "step it up," in the near future.
There's no denying that Chamberlain's been awful lately. In his last nine starts, his ERA is 8.25 and hitters are reaching base at a .409 clip. Even if he can't turn things around completely, it's hard to imagine him being left off the playoff roster entirely. Leaving him off of the playoff roster would leave a spot open for someone like Chad Gaudin, who's not really much of an upgrade. Still, looking at the schedule it's entirely possible that Cashman isn't bluffing.
Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.
You Oughta Know ... The names Hal McCoy and Ernie Harwell.
Both were honored at ballparks on Wednesday, and their absence from the game will be felt by fans in Cincinnati and Detroit.
Harwell, the long-time Tigers radio announcer, has inoperable, terminal cancer. So the team chose Wednesday night to honor him at Comerica Park, and after a video tribute in the third inning, he thanked the fans:
From the Windup is Matt Snyder's extended look at some aspect of America's pastime each Thursday -- it's running Friday this week.
Earlier this week, Brad Lidge's nightmare 2009 season continued, when he allowed a walk-off homer to Andrew McCutchen. Ed Price covered the outing the following morning. The abysmal performance by the Phillies' closer underlines the only weakness of the defending World Series Champions.
NEW YORK -- Just like last year, there is neither candy nor ice cream available for the Yankees in their clubhouse.
"I don't think anyone cares," Johnny Damon said Tuesday.
Manager Joe Girardi infamously banned sweets last year, much to the dismay of inveterate snacker Mike Mussina (now retired to a life of M&Ms and Mountain Dew).
And while Girardi hasn't become the Candyman, he has changed in his second year on New York's perennially hottest seat. And the Yankees say that's part of the reason they are running away with the AL East.
NEW YORK -- Asked the question, Derek Jeter just threw his hands in the air as if to say, "You got me."
"Same as hitting second, man," he said about batting leadoff this season. "People pay too much attention to all that stuff, in my opinion.
"We haven't had problems scoring runs here, for years, really."
Well, that's Derek Jeter. The key to his remarkable consistency and ability to rise to the occasion lies with his almost stubborn refusal to change his approach whatever the inning, month, opponent -- or spot in the batting order.
But the reality is that the Yankees' decision to flip-flop Jeter and Johnny Damon has so far paid off, helping the Yankees lead the majors in scoring.
NEW YORK -- Yeah, he was nervous, he admitted with a shy smile. Ricky Romero was pitching against the Yankees, in front of more than 46,000 people on a perfect summer day in the Bronx. The Blue Jays' 24-year-old rookie left-hander was fired up and throwing way too hard, which is why he darn near Yahtzeed* the scorecard in the first inning.
"I was excited, I'm not going to lie," Romero said when the Jays' 7-6 victory was over and he'd improved to 5-1 with a 2.22 ERA in his last seven starts. "Packed house, pitching against the Yankees -- I was overthrowing. And that is something that has just not been me. Not this year, at least."
Not for the past month, for sure. In that time, Romero has been one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Playoff Pulse is our morning rundown of the night that was and the night that will be during the MLB postseason.
NEW YORK -- They could have tossed aside their mittens and shunned their wool coats, that's how blistering hot the cozy confines of the new Yankee Stadium felt now that 
When September opened, one of the biggest question marks surrounding the 
With the playoffs looming, 
As fall begins and the 
Starting Five
NEW YORK -- Just like last year, there is neither candy nor ice cream available for the Yankees in their clubhouse.
NEW YORK -- Asked the question, 
NEW YORK -- Yeah, he was nervous, he admitted with a shy smile. 
