Riveras future: Up in the air????

Rivera's future may be tied to Torre's

Closer's decision could hinge on whether manager remains

Joe Torre's future in New York holds implications that range well beyond the manager's office in Yankee Stadium. Whether or not Torre returns may also have a direct influence on who will pitch, who will catch, and who will close for the Yankees next season. Mariano Rivera made the latter portion of that clear on Tuesday, when he said that his future in the Bronx could very well be linked with his manager's. "I don't feel good about it," Rivera said of the possibility that Torre will not return to the Yankees next season. "I don't see why they're even thinking it. But I wish he's back, definitely. If you asked me what I want, I want him back." Rivera and Posada are two of the only four current Yankees -- Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte are the others -- who have won four championships under Torre. They're two of the only Yankees to wear pinstripes even before Torre came along, so it's no surprise that they've formed a deeply rooted bond. "It's going to be a good number," Rivera said when asked to what extent Torre's future will affect his own. "I won't tell you the number, but it will be a good number." Rivera asked the Yankees to discuss a contract extension with him during Spring Training, but the Yankees declined. Now Rivera holds a fair share of leverage. "I'm going to be open to hear all offers," Rivera said. "The Yankees had their opportunity, and didn't do nothing with it." Rivera, like Posada, is eligible to file for free agency after the World Series, and he gave no indications that he would forego that right. He said he would be willing to listen to the Yankees in the interim, while the team retains exclusive rights to negotiate with their closer. Yet, he wouldn't say whether he'd consider signing a new contract before seeing what other teams have to say -- and before knowing the future of his manager. The question of whether Torre, whose contract has expired, will be invited back is based on comments made last week by owner George Steinbrenner and the Yankees' playoff loss to Cleveland, their third consecutive Division Series defeat. Rivera just completed one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, posting a 3.15 ERA -- his highest mark since his rookie season in 1995 -- and allowing nearly a hit per inning. He'll turn 38 years old next month. And while his best seasons are likely behind him, he still remains among the most feared closers in the game. With the Yankees expecting a relatively young pitching staff to return next season, Rivera's value remains quite high. "The way he goes about his business is pretty simple," reliever Ron Villone said. "Everything he does is pretty simple. But it's also kind of magnificent when you look at the outcome. I don't think you'll probably ever see that again." Nor would the Yankees want to see him in anything other than pinstripes. They certainly hold some sort of advantage, as Rivera has played all 13 years of his career in the Bronx and would love to finish it there as well. He said he wants his next contract to be his last. But the hometown lure doesn't seem to hold as much weight as the Torre lure. And that's an important offshoot the Yankees have to consider. "I've been with Joe for so many years, and the kind of person that he has been for me and for my teammates, it's been great," Rivera said. "The thing is, I don't see why they had to put him in this position." That's precisely why Rivera also said he's content to wait, and see precisely what direction the Yankees take. For now, he'll proceed as if this were a normal offseason, even joking with reporters to come visit his suburban New Rochelle, N.Y., restaurant. One reporter shot back, asking if he really needed the money. Rivera smiled. "I don't have a job," he laughed.

Yanks are out!

Game 4 loss ends Yankees' season

Finished after one-plus, Wang sets tone in eliminating defeat

The Yankees machine was assembled eight months ago with this stage and opportunity in mind, from the very minute Legends Field welcomed its first guest of the spring. More than ever, with a title drought running up against seven seasons, the Yankees gathered intent on playing deep into October, stumbling out of the gate but developing into baseball's best team leading into the playoffs. Yet, against a hungry Indians club, the Yankees finally ran out of steam, outplayed in a four-game American League Division Series that will surely bring edits to the mission plan. The Yankees' season concluded on Monday with a 6-4 loss in ALDS Game 4. "I didn't expect it to be like this," said closer Mariano Rivera, who may have pitched his final game for the Yankees. "I have to give a lot of credit to the Cleveland Indians. They did a terrific job -- their pitching was tremendous. We had a lot of opportunities, and we couldn't come through." From those early days of the campaign, change has been an imminent factor of life in the Yankees' universe. The early months were marked by substitutions of necessity, as injuries forced the organization to test its depth and promote young prospects. Catching fire after their low point of 21-29 on May 29, the Yankees made midseason shuffles near the trade deadline to bolster what had been one of the weaker benches in recent memory, molding it into a stronger assemblage primed for October. "We felt like we had a team that could win a championship this year," Johnny Damon said. "I thought our pitching was better, our bench was deeper. It's definitely frustrating." But now, with Chien-Ming Wang recording just three outs in an ill-fated, hurried start, the Yankees prepare for even more sweeping alterations. Manager Joe Torre's job security is in serious doubt as the club was unsuccessful, for a third consecutive season, in moving past the first round of the playoffs. Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez -- the probable American League Most Valuable Player -- leads a cavalcade of recognizable names and faces who may find themselves in new uniforms by the time the Yankees reconvene in February, with organizational meetings planned for the near future. "I will tell you one thing about this team," Rodriguez said. "We left our hearts and souls out there. We can't look in the mirror and say we left anything behind. We left it all out there, and I think the city of New York, for that, should be proud." Cleveland starter Paul Byrd kept the team from digging out of the resulting hole of Wang's poor start. New York was down after three pitches, as Grady Sizemore led off the game with a home run for Cleveland. They were never really able to get up. Jhonny Peralta dunked a run-scoring single to center field with two outs in the first, and Wang -- struggling to find command of his trademark sinker while pitching on three days' rest for the first time in his career -- loaded the bases in the second without retiring a batter. "I wasn't comfortable watching him," Torre said. "It just looked like his stuff was good -- just from the velocity, he looked like he was throwing the ball hard -- but he got hurt with balls up." "He was trying to get the ball to sink, and they just laid off the one that was low enough," catcher Jorge Posada said. "When he tried to throw strikes, they were all over it." Mike Mussina came on and got a double play, allowing Cleveland's third run to score, but he then surrendered a single to Asdrubal Cabrera that gave the Indians a 4-0 lead. Mussina -- who was passed over to start Game 4 in favor of Wang, a 19-game winner -- worked to try to keep the game close. Cleveland touched the right-hander for two runs in the fourth inning as Victor Martinez stroked a two-run double to left, giving Cleveland a 6-1 lead. The sellout crowd of 56,315 was out of the game early, reduced to a hush through most of the late innings. At one point, as Ron Villone worked to Travis Hafner in the sixth inning, a chant for former Yankees right fielder Paul O'Neill -- reminiscent of the final home game of 2001 -- broke out behind home plate. Cheers erupted when Robinson Cano connected with Byrd's 77th and final pitch of the evening, slugging a solo home run to right, but crowd reaction was otherwise sparse. Byrd limited New York to two runs and eight hits in five-plus innings, walking two and striking out two. The Yankees had another shot in the sixth against reliever Rafael Perez, as Jeter came up with runners on first and third, but the captain grounded into a 4-6-3 double play that ended with the first baseman Martinez pumping his fist, running off the field. "We had some chances," Jeter said. "Sometimes you're going to come through, and sometimes you're not. You like those situations, but it didn't happen." Rodriguez, in perhaps his second-to-last at-bat in a Yankees uniform, connected for a solo home run with one out in the seventh inning off Perez. Rodriguez has an opt-out clause in his contract that permits him to forfeit the final three years of his $252 million deal and become a free agent after the World Series. Bobby Abreu hit a solo homer into the upper deck in right field -- his first career postseason homer -- with one out in the ninth inning off Indians closer Joe Borowski to make it a 6-4 game, reinvigorating the sellout crowd to don their rally caps and try to will the club back. Alas, that was as close as they would get. In his final at-bat of a remarkable season that fizzled out -- again -- under October's bright lights, Rodriguez popped out to right field for the second out of the ninth inning. Posada, another potential free agent, struck out swinging to end New York's season as several Yankees stood at the top step of the dugout, watching the Indians celebrate on their field. "I think you have to give the Indians a lot of credit," Posada said. "They executed and did a lot of things well. Everybody's in the same boat. It's not one person. We all lost." The results are unacceptable to principal owner George Steinbrenner, who said in a published report that Torre was not likely to return for a 13th season as manager if the Yankees could not advance. That decision has not yet been made official, but one thing is -- the Yankees' 2007 season is complete. "We have to accept it," Rivera said. "I don't like it at all, but we have to accept it. There's nothing we can do now. It's definitely over."

10/8 Cleavland Indians at New York Yankees

Game Preview: Game 4: Indians lead series 2-1
Game Time: 7:37 p.m E.T

Next Game: Mon., October 8 @ 7:30 p.m. ET TV: TBS | Radio: WCBS
Byrd 0-0, -.--		@		Wang 0-1, 15.43

Chien-Ming Wang has a classic shot at redemption. Teetering on the bring of elimination, the Yankees are turning to their ace on short notice, sending Wang to the mound at Yankee Stadium for Game 4 of the American League Division Series on Monday. Just four days earlier, Cleveland torched Wang for eight runs in the first of two series-opening losses for the Yankees. It was a rare pummeling for the Taiwanese right-hander, so New York is giving Wang a chance to save the club's season. A win on Monday would send the series back to Ohio, and the Yankees believe Wang is the man to get them there. "We get a chance to come back and win a ballgame and build more momentum," said Yankees manager Joe Torre, whose club picked up an 8-4 win in Game 3 on Sunday. "We understand if we win [on Monday], we have to go back over to Cleveland, and we didn't have a good memory over there. "We're going to rely, as we always do, on Wanger out there." The alternative for the Yankees was to turn to veteran right-hander Mike Mussina, but a few factors convinced New York that Wang would be fine on three days' rest. The most obvious reason is that Wang is the staff's ace, having captured 19 victories in each of the past two seasons. "Well, he's a 19-game winner, he's pitched well at the Stadium, and we relied on him so much," Torre said of Wang. "Taking nothing away from [Mike Mussina] -- Moose hasn't pitched in a while. Certainly, I made him aware before the game that we'll decide later who is going to pitch, and he was comfortable with that. I just told him afterward that it was going to be Wanger, and he said, 'Fine.'" Wang has also historically been dominant at Yankee Stadium, where he has gone 26-9 with a 3.04 ERA in his career. This season, the 27-year-old right-hander has a 10-4 record with a tidy 2.75 ERA in 16 starts at home. Pitching on such short rest is also sometimes easier for a pitcher like Wang, who relies heavily on a sinker. "A lot of times, it can work to your advantage," Yankees pitching coach Ron Guidry said. "If you get tired, that's when your sinker really works. So maybe on one less day, he might not be able to throw as hard, but maybe his sinker will move more. But it's a tossup. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. You just hope it works [on Monday]." Wang has pitched after just three days of rest only once in his big league career -- in 2005 -- and he allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings. Still, naming Wang the starter for Game 4 hardly came as a surprise. The right-hander was on the winning end of New York's lone playoff victory last season, and he went 6-1 with a 3.15 ERA over his final nine regular-season starts this year. "We're always confident in Wang," New York third baseman Alex Rodriguez said. "He's been our horse for a long time. I know he's very comfortable at home. We're looking forward to a big game." The loss that Wang took during Game 1 in Cleveland on Thursday was one of the worst outings of his career, but he said he wasn't worrying too much about that performance. Wang struggled to keep his sinker down in the strike zone during the outing at Jacobs Field -- an issue he'll look to reverse when he takes the hill in the Bronx. "I don't worry about that," said Wang, who allowed eight runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings last time out. "I'm pitching in the next game, and I'll try to keep the team winning. ... The last time I faced Cleveland, the ball was up, and [on Monday], I'll try to get the ball down. "I feel fine. I'm not sore, and my arm feels good, so it's no problem."

GAME 4

Yanks stay alive and win Game 3

Indians lead ALDS 2-1
Final Score: Yankees win 8-4

Damon helps Yankees force Game 4

Three-run homer changes lead; Hughes replaces hurt Clemens

Backs against the wall and a manager under the gun, Johnny Damon and the Yankees came out swinging in Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Sunday night, not ready to call it a season just yet. Damon connected for a game-changing three-run homer and rookies Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain bailed out an injured Roger Clemens on Sunday, forcing Monday's ALDS Game 4 with an 8-4 victory over the Indians. "We know we have to come out and play well," Damon said. "There's a lot on the line. We're playing for our manager that we love. We're playing for fans that we love. So we'd like to prolong the season as long as we can." With manager Joe Torre's job security on thin ice after principal owner George Steinbrenner mandated a playoff advance or else, chances looked bleak when Clemens was forced out after just 2 1/3 innings, aggravating a strained left hamstring and putting the rest of his postseason -- potentially his career -- in doubt. But Hughes, who saw his debut season interrupted by a strained hamstring of his own, rose to the occasion. Making his second relief appearance of the series, Hughes scattered two hits and struck out four in 3 2/3 scoreless innings, providing the Yankees with valuable time to catch up against Indians starter Jake Westbrook. "My job was really just to keep the damage to a minimum and try to keep us where we were at," Hughes said. "Hopefully we'd score a few runs, and we definitely did that tonight." New York chipped away with a run in the third as Damon poked a run-scoring single to right, then opened up a pivotal frame to chase Westbrook, including the biggest blast -- Damon's three-run homer to right field, his second deep drive of the series and a shot that provided the Yankees with their first lead of the evening. Summoned for a curtain call by the sellout crowd of 56,538, Damon made sure to savor the moment, moving a few steps in front of the Yankees dugout and saluting the fans. This, he said, was the kind of night that could rewrite the script to what already seemed -- after 2 1/2 games, pretty much -- finalized as an October flop. "I think one win can really do a lot for us," Damon said. "We couldn't play tomorrow unless we won today, and it seemed like other guys started feeling a little more comfortable today. I think we're moving in the right direction." After the game, Damon's teammates also lauded him in this, the final chapters of what has been an ultimately trying campaign for the 33-year-old, with a variety of injuries and early struggles that cost him his beloved center-field position. Melky Cabrera may have the better legs and arm roaming the great expanses of the Bronx outfield. But Damon is still the guy the Yankees turn to for a spark. "I've been saying for a long time that he's the best leadoff hitter in the last 10 years, in my opinion," said Alex Rodriguez. "He's amazing. The name is Johnny Damon, and he's very special. I'm glad he's on my team." "He's an igniter on every team he's ever been on," said Doug Mientkiewicz. "He comes up with big hits because he doesn't let the situation he's in overwhelm him. That's why I've always said I'll live and die with Johnny Damon." The support helped wipe clean any residual damage left by Cleveland's three runs off Clemens, who was pitching for the first time since Sept. 16 due to a variety of injuries. He may have thrown his final Major League fastball when he zipped a 92-mph offering past Victor Martinez, striking out the Cleveland catcher for the first out of the third inning. In obvious discomfort and lacking sharpness, Clemens allowed a run in each of the first three frames, with Nixon homering for the second consecutive postseason game when facing Clemens, dating back to Game 7 of the 2003 AL Championship Series. "With my stuff, I had every intention of getting out there for six, seven innings and just trying to keep them at bay and giving our guys a chance to score," Clemens said. "So that was disappointing." Ryan Garko connected for an RBI single to center in the first and Jhonny Peralta touched Hughes to score Travis Hafner with a run charged to the 45-year-old Clemens, who was lifted after a pair of mound visits from Torre and head trainer Gene Monahan. His status for the remainder of the postseason is unknown, but Torre said that he and general manager Brian Cashman have already started discussing how they could remove him from their roster for future games. "He said he felt fine during the game," catcher Jorge Posada said. "Kenny Lofton tried to bunt, and [Clemens] pushed off and felt it grab. His hamstring wasn't 100 percent. It's just a matter of that it got worse." A big error by Nixon in right field opened the door for the Yankees to run away with the game. With the bases loaded, Cano punched a single through the right side off Aaron Fultz that skipped past Nixon and rolled toward the wall as three Yankees runs scored easily. That created a five-run cushion to be protected by rookie Joba Chamberlain -- who went two innings and allowed one run -- and Mariano Rivera, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to cement at least one more home date on the Yankees' schedule. New York would never be happier to see Cleveland -- Lake Erie midges and all -- on its travel itinerary, something one more win could secure. "Any club that's in the postseason certainly is capable of winning three games in a row," Torre said, "but we have to make sure that we still stay focused on what we need to do tomorrow."

Rockies and Diamondbacks to meet in NLCS

Rockies sweep Phils for NLCS trip

Baker's RBI single in eighth the difference at delirious Coors

Once upon a time, long before 50,724 at Coors Field waved their white towels and celebrated an improbable trip to the National League Championship Series, the Rockies lost games like Saturday night's. Now they almost never lose. The Rockies used three soft, two-out, eighth-inning hits -- the last an RBI single by pinch-hitter Jeff Baker -- for a 2-1 victory over the Phillies that completed a three-game sweep of the NL Division Series. It was the Rockies' 17th victory in 18 games, the first home playoff triumph in their 15-year history -- the only other postseason trip was 1995 -- and their first series victory. It was their first home win when scoring two or fewer runs since July 9, 2005, 1-0 over the Padres. "There used to be stats like that, that we didn't do well in that type of game -- but all those stats don't matter," said Garrett Atkins, who started the rally with a soft liner to left field against Phillies lefty J.C. Romero, who had not given up a run since Aug. 30. "It's symbolic of the club we have, and it's a versatile club," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "We've been able to slug, pitch ..." The Rockies' Brad Hawpe, whose single off the glove of diving second baseman Chase Utley set up Baker's floater to right off Romero, said the Rockies don't have the interest in analysis, statistical or otherwise. "It may be a long time before we look back and really understand what's happened," Hawpe said. Said Baker, "Day in and day out, guys grind, and that's what this team is all about." Now all that matters is their best-of-seven NLCS starting Thursday against the Diamondbacks, who finished a sweep of the Cubs in the other NLDS on Saturday. The first two games, 4-2 and 10-5 wins at Citizens Bank Park, Matt Holliday hit two home runs and the Rockies did their share of slugging. Saturday was different. The announced game-time temperature was 73 degrees. It was down to a windy 56 by the end of the second. That included a delay of 14 minutes in the top of the second by a computer malfunction that turned off the stadium lights. Kazuo Matsui knocked his second RBI triple of the series, which was aided by an ill-timed dive by left fielder Pat Burrell in the fifth. Shane Victorino's homered to right with one out in the seventh against otherwise dominant Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez, who held the Phillies to three hits and fanned five against four walks in 6 1/3 innings. Otherwise, the power was off for this game. A perfect example came in the second, when Atkins crushed a pitch from Phillies starter Jamie Moyer, who held the Rockies to one run and five hits in six innings, but saw the arc headed toward the seats turn into a drop into the glove of Burrell on the warning track. "I hit it all right, probably enough to get it out on a normal day, but that wind was blowing in pretty good," Atkins said. "It was a tough night to hit." Jimenez, 23, called up in August because of injuries to the rotation, escaped a one-out, two-on sixth by forcing a Burrell fly ball and a Ryan Howard grounder. It was similar to Sunday in the scheduled regular-season finale against the Diamondbacks, a 4-3 Rockies victory that set up a Wild Card tiebreaker victory over the Padres the next night. Jimenez held the D-backs to one run and fanned 10 in 6 1/3 innings. The calm Jimenez was thrown only by the blackout, but he found it more humorous. "I was like, 'What? What is happening right now? C'mon,'" he said. "I felt great. I didn't want the game to stop." Reliever Matt Herges finished off the seventh after Carlos Ruiz singled off Jimenez. Winning pitcher Brian Fuentes fanned Jimmy Rollins to start his perfect eighth, before retiring Chase Utley on a flyout to left. Burrell would then narrowly miss a homer when his blast blew just foul to left. He would eventually strike out to end the inning. "As soon as he hit it, I thought was gone," Fuentes said. "As soon as he hit it, I thought that somebody upstairs, a grandfather or something, blew that thing up. They're up there. Thank you for doing that." Manny Corpas, who earned saves in all three games, struck out leadoff man Howard and worked grounders from Aaron Rowand and Victorino.

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D-backs stun Cubs, head to NLCS

Trio of home runs back veteran Hernandez in win

The secret is out: The Arizona Diamondbacks are a darn good baseball team. The D-backs seemed to fly under the radar heading into the postseason, but after they completed a three-game National League Division Series sweep of the Cubs with a 5-1 win Saturday night, they can no longer hide. Certainly, their opponent in the NL Championship Series, the Colorado Rockies, will know that the NL-best 90 wins the D-backs compiled were no fluke. "If it stays like that, that's OK, we're comfortable with that," catcher Chris Snyder said of the D-backs' anonymity. "But after these three games, I think we turned some heads." No doubt about that, as they held the Cubs to just six runs over the three games, while scoring 16 against the team that had the second-best ERA in the NL during the regular season. Not bad for a team that finished the regular season near the bottom of the league in batting average and was actually outscored overall by its opponents. "I think it's out now on a national level," outfielder Eric Byrnes said. "I think the people that watched us play all year realized how good of a team we were. Look, we kind of got it done with smoke and mirrors all year, but that's fine. I don't think there's anything wrong with it. That's one of the ways to win ballgames." The D-backs won Saturday's game in front of a raucous sellout crowd at Wrigley Field the way they did so many times throughout the season. They got a solid outing from their starting pitcher and enough timely hits to turn a lead over to the bullpen, which in turn shut the door. Chris Young, one of four rookies in the starting lineup, got things started when he hit Rich Hill's first pitch of the game into the left-field bleachers. "I never swing at the first pitch," said Young, who hit nine leadoff homers during the regular season. "But tonight I actually decided ahead of time I was going to go ahead and try to see if he leaves one over the middle on the first pitch, and he did." It was just one run, but it seemed to lift the D-backs while deflating the home crowd. "Chris Young's first-pitch homer gave us a lot of momentum," D-backs manager Bob Melvin said. Arizona starter Livan Hernandez then went out and did what he has done all year long. The veteran right-hander pitched his way into and then out of trouble. Hernandez allowed 11 baserunners in his six innings, but he lived up to the Houdini nickname that Melvin gave him by finding a way to allow just one run. "Livo, I've said before, you've got to be patient with him," Melvin said. "And even though you're in a different situation in the postseason, you still have to be patient with a guy that you've treated a certain way all year. At times, you're going to get burned." The flames certainly crept high in the fifth, when Hernandez walked the bases loaded with just one out, with Mark DeRosa at the plate and the D-backs clinging to a 3-1 lead. Even by Hernandez's standards, this was a major jam. "If there's a guy on first, or first and second, we don't really worry about it," third baseman Mark Reynolds said. "But with the bases loaded and DeRosa up there, we were like, 'Oh no.'" But just as soon as some were ready to take away the NL Manager of the Year Award -- which Melvin almost certainly has coming to him -- for leaving Hernandez in, the hurler got DeRosa to hit into an inning-ending double play. "When we got the double play from DeRosa there, we kind of sensed something good was going to happen," Melvin said. A lot of good things happened on the night for the D-backs. Shortstop Stephen Drew, who struggled offensively throughout the regular season, put together another dynamite playoff performance, going 3-for-5 with a double and a home run. Meanwhile, Byrnes, who was 1-for-10 heading into his sixth-inning at-bat, hit a home run off Carlos Marmol. And when Alfonso Soriano's fly ball landed in right fielder Jeff Salazar's glove with two outs in the ninth, the celebration began. Showing the wisdom of their champagne-popping experience in Colorado less than a week ago, several D-backs sported swimmer's goggles courtesy of a quick trip to a local sporting goods store. The D-backs seemed unfazed by the increased pressure and scrutiny that the postseason brings, even though their everyday lineup is made up almost entirely of rookies or second-year players. "Like I said, we've already exceeded expectations," Byrnes said. "Even this series, I think that's why everyone was so relaxed heading into it, because we didn't have a whole lot to lose." Except, of course, for their anonymity. "I think people are starting to see this is how we play baseball," Snyder said. "We're going to go after it, we're going to be intense and we're going to push the envelope, and that's what we did all three games and that's how we won."

10/6 Cleavland Indians vs. New York Yankees

Game Preview: Yankees one game away from elimination!
Game Time: 6:37 p.m E.T

Next Game: Sun., October 7 @ 6:30 p.m. ET TV: TBS, TNT | Radio: WCBS
Westbrook 0-0, -.--		@		Clemens 0-0, -.--

It's no secret what's at stake for the Yankees. While driving to Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Roger Clemens glanced toward the upper rim of his home ballpark, where each year of New York's World Series championships is inscribed. The most recent crown came in 2000, which would be an acceptable gap for most teams -- just not for the one that resides in the Bronx. Now, after dropping the first two games of the American League Division Series to the Indians, the Yankees are one defeat away from adding another lost season to their recent drought. "It's been a long seven years," said Clemens, who will take the mound for New York during a critical Game 3 clash with Cleveland on Sunday night. "You know, that's what the goal is here -- very high expectations. You either like that or you don't." With 34 postseason appearances over 24 seasons, the 45-year-old Clemens is more than familiar with the kind of pressure-packed assignment he's about to embark on. This time around, Clemens is going to be pushing his aging body to the limit for the Yankees -- potentially for the last time in his storied career. Clemens hasn't started for New York since Sept. 16 due to blister, elbow and hamstring woes, which forced the Yankees to shut the right-hander down at the end of the season. Since that last outing, he's worked religiously to prepare himself for a playoff outing, and New York needs Clemens more than ever at this critical turn. "The only thing you have to concentrate on now is winning," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "I mean, we need to win one game just to get the momentum switched around a little bit. And Roger, of course, is certainly capable. He feels good, and we feel good about him. "Clemens has already shown this season that he's able to bounce back successfully after an extended layoff. He sat out for nearly two weeks between his final two outings of the regular season, but he spun a gem in his last start. In that Sept. 16 game against Boston, Clemens allowed just one run on two hits over six innings. Tuesday, Clemens threw 69 pitches in a simulated game against Minor League hitters at New York's Spring Training complex in Tampa, Fla. He also took fielding practice to test his ailing left hamstring, showing no ill effects from the issue that sidelined him at the end of the season. The work Clemens has put in has the Yankees convinced he'll be able to handle Sunday's start. "I think anybody else besides him, you'd be kind of concerned, because he hasn't pitched much," Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte said. "But he showed in Boston that he could take a pretty significant layoff and come back and throw extremely well. That's extremely difficult to do. "You wouldn't want anybody else throwing for us," he added. "I expect he'll get locked in, and I expect he'll throw a good game for us. It's going to be exciting. He's going to feed off the crowd, I think, and this place is going to be exciting." With elimination only one loss away, though, Torre isn't going to take any chances. If Clemens shows any early signs of rust, New York's manager said that "everybody's on deck" out of the Yankees bullpen. New York hasn't decided on a probable Game 4 starter, but pitchers Phil Hughes and Mike Mussina could follow Clemens on Sunday. Then again, Clemens doesn't want it to get to that point. His goal is to last into the later innings to avoid putting any added strain on New York's pitching staff. Clemens understands that he may not boast his most impressive stuff when he takes the hill at Yankee Stadium, but he knows he can turn to the competitiveness that has carried him through many playoff games in the past. "I trust that I've done enough work to stay sharp," Clemens said. "If I'm not, it really doesn't matter. I've got to go out and be aggressive. What I lack in stuff, I'll throw my heart out there, like I always have. "I've got a lot of will and desire -- doesn't matter my age. I draw on a lot of energy. You know, if my body feels good or bad, I don't worry about it. I expect to have aches and pains -- over the last 10 years I've had it." In between innings on Sunday, Clemens said he would probably have some treatment done on his faulty hamstring, but he chose not to go into specifics. "I'm going to be doing some things, but I'm not going to talk about it in here," Clemens said. "I don't think it's anything I want to put out there for anybody to know." Over Clemens' career, the 354-game winner has posted a 27-8 mark with a 3.13 ERA against the Indians, though he didn't face Cleveland this season. In 25 of his 33 postseason starts, Clemens has limited the opposition to three runs or fewer. Clemens owns two World Series rings -- the most recent coming with the Yankees' last title in 2000. Adding a third appears to be a tall task, but one that Clemens is up for. "The games that you've got to battle a little bit," Clemens said, "and you come out on top and win those games, whether you get the win or not -- those are gratifying. That's how you win a lot of ballgames. That's how you stay around in this league for a long time."

Yanks in big hole

They Yankees, for the third straight year are in danger in losing in the ALDS First Round of the Playoffs. Why are the baseball gods blocking the Yankees entrance to # 27 since 2005? First in game 1 Chein Ming Wang struggled, so you say, okay lets come out and win Game 2. Well you know the Yankees couldn't go back to New York down 0-2. They came so close to going home 1-1, but it didn't happen. Bottom of the 8th, Siezmore on 3rd, Yankees nursing a 1 run lead, when swarming gnats stick to Joba's neck and he throws a wild pitch and the game is tied. In the bottom of the 11th the Indians sealed the deal and beat the Yankees on a walk-off single by Travis Hafner? Can the Yankees win this series? it will be awfully tough, especially since they are in 0-2 funk. Listen Game 3 Sunday at the stadium, Clemens and Westbrook. I really think the Yankees will win that game, they have beaten Westbrook up pretty bad this year. His ERA against them is 12.00. Then Monday you would think it would be Moose, or Hughes against Byrd, but I see it as Joe using Wang.
1) because he pitches better at home
2) He only threw 94 on Thursday!

Also the Yankees have beaten Byrd bad too. Then you gotta go with Pettitte against Sabathia in Game 5 at the Jake. If the Yankees lose then you tip your cap to C.C. They have a chance of winning though. But if A-rod doesn't have a hell of a Game 3 and hopefully a Game 4 then, the media will be on him. I guarantee there will be more controversy if they lose 3-0, than 3-2~! __________________

Digging a bigger hole

Yanks lose in 11, in 0-2 ALDS hole

Pettitte solid, but offensive struggles continue in Cleveland

All the insect repellent in the world can't chase away this reality. If the Yankees don't start winning soon, their season is over. Travis Hafner slashed a bases-loaded hit through a bug-infested infield in the 11th inning on Friday, lifting the Indians to a 2-1 victory on Friday. Cleveland now owns a commanding 2-0 lead as the best-of-five American League Division Series returns to New York. Since the three-tiered playoff system began 12 years ago, 27 teams have fallen behind, 0-2, in a best-of-five Division Series. Only four have come back to win a series, including the Yankees in 2001 against the Athletics. "We've been in a hole all year, and we know it's not going to be easy," Alex Rodriguez said. "Now we get to go home and take it one game at a time." After Mariano Rivera weaved through two innings, spitting bugs from his mouth and clearing them from his nostrils, the Yankees thought they might be able to hold off the Tribe long enough to push one more run across and even the series. But the winning hit came off Luis Vizcaino, and instead, the Yankees can do little but cross their fingers for better results in the Bronx, their backs against the wall and looking to Roger Clemens to stave off what could very well be a third consecutive ALDS exit. As if facing Fausto Carmona in the middle of an electric nine-inning performance wasn't enough, Andy Pettitte's gritty effort was followed by an undoing that began with the help of -- of all things -- thick swarms of midges, an insect that resembles a flying ant. "Just when you think you've seen it all," Derek Jeter said. "I guess that's home-field advantage for them -- just let the bugs out. It worked. It was annoying. They were all flying around, and I think it was worse on the pitcher's mound." Rookie Joba Chamberlain needed just five pitches to clean up Pettitte's two-on, one-out jam in the seventh, but fighting off distractions in the eighth, Chamberlain threw two wild pitches that allowed Grady Sizemore to slide home with the tying run, toppling Chamberlain and allowing a sellout Jacobs Field crowd of 44,732 to erupt into a fit of towel-waving glee. "They bugged me, but you've got to deal with it," Chamberlain said. "I'll never make an excuse for myself. I let my guys down and that's the bottom line." The blown save reduced Pettitte's no-run, seven-hit performance to a no-decision. He clearly deserved better, offering the Yankees precisely the strength they coveted -- and lacked -- out of Chien-Ming Wang in the series opener. Pettitte walked a tightrope in every inning and continually escaped, providing the kind of quality 6 1/3-inning effort that prompted New York to pursue him for a second go-round in pinstripes. "There's no doubt it hurts," said Pettitte. "We're going home and we need to win two games at home to come back here. We need to win three ballgames. That's the way I look at it. We've done it before and we'll need to do it again if we want to move on here." The leadoff batter reached base in four of the first five frames against Pettitte, who walked two and struck out five. Yet Pettitte survived perhaps his toughest test in the sixth inning, spotting Sizemore at third base after a leadoff triple shot past Doug Mientkiewicz and rattled in the right-field corner.Unrattled, Pettitte got Asdrubal Cabrera to tap back to the mound weakly, then struck out both Hafner and Martinez swinging to end the inning. After Martinez waved at the final offering, Pettitte spun around on the mound and pumped his left fist twice, yelling "Yeah! Yeah!" toward Clemens and the Yankees' bench. "I'll be damned if it almost wasn't good enough," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. They needed every crucial out, with Carmona holding New York to three hits, two walks and striking out five. Rivera came on to hold the Indians scoreless in the ninth and 10th innings, including striking out Peralta to leave the bases loaded in the 10th, before Vizcaino got in quick trouble with a hit and a walk to open the pivotal 11th. "It was one of those games where it seemed like it would never end," Jeter said. Melky Cabrera put the Yankees on the board in the third inning when he reached Carmona for his first postseason home run, a 386-foot shot to right. The solo shot came one half inning after Cabrera came up firing on a Kenny Lofton single to center, cutting down Jhonny Peralta on a one-hop story with plenty of time to spare on a strong throw to home plate, ending the bottom of the Cleveland second. "He's not fun to face," Jeter said of Carmona. "'Leche' hit that big home run and that's pretty much it. He pitched well. When he's pitching like that, I don't see too many teams hitting him." The Yankees had one late chance to regain the lead as Carmona put the finishing touches on his masterpiece. Bobby Abreu legged out an infield single and stole second while Rodriguez worked a nine-pitch at-bat, fouling off four, before striking out. "It's a combination of being a little impatient and Carmona having pretty good stuff," Rodriguez said. "I thought that, if I stuck around long enough in that ninth-inning at-bat, he would make a mistake." Instead, Rodriguez completed a 0-for-4, three-strikeout night that dropped the probable AL MVP to 1-for-20 (.050) in postseason play since the beginning of last year's ALDS. Then again, few other Yankees have been hitting -- New York has just eight hits in 20 innings over Games 1 and 2 -- a major reason why the flight home figures to be a glum one. "With three hits tonight, you can't really put it on A-Rod," Torre said. "We just really didn't get anything going. Normally we're very good at manufacturing stuff. We just were shut down."

10/4 New York Yankees vs. Clevland Indians

Game Preview: ALDS Game 1
Game Time: 6:37 p.m

Next Game: Thu., October 4 @ 6:30 p.m. ET TV: TBS | Radio: WCBS
Wang 0-0, -.--		@		Sabathia 0-0, -.--

Chien-Ming Wang exudes confidence through his calm demeanor. That's one reason the Yankees have turned to him to take the mound in what is sure to be a raucous atmosphere at Jacobs Field on Thursday night. For the second year in a row, Wang will start for New York in the opener of the American League Division Series -- this time against a potent Indians offense. For the Yankees, Wang is the type of pitcher who appears to be immune to the kind of jitters that can arise in such a critical situation. "He doesn't seem to get fazed by too much," Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter said. "You can never tell by his expression." On Wednesday, Wang wore a slight smile as he sat bright-eyed before a large crowd of media during a press conference at the ballpark. After an assortment of short responses to a variety of questions, one reporter asked if, similar to last October in Detroit, Wang was more nervous for the meeting with the press than he was for his actual start. "Same," said Wang, who smiled as the room erupted in laughter. "I think I'm calm a lot, and I don't get nervous to pitch in the postseason." If the height of Wang's anxiety exists in the interview room, that's a great sign for the Yankees, who went a perfect 6-0 against the Indians in the regular season this year. A year ago, Wang picked up a victory in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Tigers, who then dealt three straight losses to the Yankees en route to the AL pennant. Now, the Yankees are paired up against the Indians, who are making their first postseason appearance since 2001. Wang will square off against Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia, who is one of the leading candidates for this year's AL Cy Young Award. New York hasn't faced Sabathia since 2004, while Wang hasn't pitched against the Tribe since last year. "We're going to have to go out there and, like we've done so often in the past, go out there and try to match him," said Yankees manager Joe Torre, referring to Sabathia. "That's what Wang's job is -- to try to keep things close and, hopefully, win the ballgame." Wang will aim for another Game 1 win behind a style that is as subdued as his personality. The 27-year-old native of Taiwan won't overpower Cleveland, but Wang will rely heavily on his sharp sinker and attempt to induce early contact. This season, Wang tied for the Major League lead by forcing hitters to ground into 32 double plays, and he created 381 groundouts, which was the third-highest total in the AL. Wang's approach isn't flashy, but it has helped him notch 19 victories in each of the past two seasons. Cleveland will make an interesting opponent, though. Granted, they haven't faced Wang since last July, but the Indians grounded into the fewest double plays (114) in the league this season and ranked 12th in the AL in ground-ball outs. Then again, the fact that Cleveland hasn't stepped into the batter's box against Wang in so long might work in the pitcher's favor. "Or, it could hurt him -- we'll see," Yankees catcher Jorge Posada said. "He's been through this before and knows what it's all about. I just think with the stuff that he's got, he's so good that I've got great confidence in him." His stuff aside, the Yankees believe the composure that Wang -- 2-1 with a 3.72 ERA in three career starts against the Indians -- has shown over the past few years is enough to trust him with such a daunting assignment. "His personality is great -- period," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "He's as professional as they come. He's not excitable and, obviously, in our market, usually that's very helpful, because there's a lot that goes on around you. "He's even-keeled always and very consistent in his performance. So, we've grown to have a great deal of confidence every time he takes the mound -- for good reason." Wang said that his parents, along with some friends, were making the trip from Taiwan to Cleveland for Thursday's opener. That would seem to add another element that could spawn some game-time nerves for the right-hander, but Wang said he doesn't think the game will feel any different than a regular-season contest. "He's been able to put everything aside and really focus on what his job is," Posada said, "and really be focused on what pitches he needs to throw. He's worked really hard and prepared really hard to face a team like the Indians."

Boston vs. Anaheim:

Red Sox lead series 1-0

Complete feat: Ace, offense click

Beckett twirls gem as bats come out swinging in opener

The stage was brighter and the atmosphere was more tense, yet Josh Beckett and the Red Sox never so much as blinked at the added pressure. Dominant all season long, Beckett managed to take his game to another level on Wednesday night, and the Angels never seemed to have a chance. The ace right-hander -- backed by a solo homer by Kevin Youkilis and a two-run shot by David Ortiz -- lifted the Red Sox to a 4-0 victory over the Angels in Game 1 of this best-of-five American League Division Series at Fenway Park. Beckett did so by firing one of the best games any Boston pitcher has had during the month of October. Beckett's complete-game shutout was the first for the Red Sox in the postseason since Luis Tiant stymied the Reds in Game 1 of the 1975 World Series. "He went out there and executed pitches, in my opinion, probably better than he has at any point of the season," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He attacked the strike zone with all of his pitches -- cut his fastball. He pounded the strike zone with three great pitches." Beckett (four hits, no walks and eight strikeouts) was so good that the packed Fenway house stood up and applauded for the mere fact he came back out for the ninth inning. Not that there seemed to be a doubt. "It's a really cool thing to be able to go out there and be the only pitcher that pitches for your team that day," said Beckett. "After eight innings, I don't think they ever really thought about taking me out. It was just one of those deals that it was kind of known throughout the dugout that I was going back out there." Beckett, who went 20-7 during his breakout season, picked up right where he left off in his first postseason outing since Game 6 of the 2003 World Series, when he willed the Marlins past the Yankees. In fact, with his latest batch of goose eggs, Beckett became the seventh pitcher in postseason history to produce shutouts in back-to-back starts. Four years later, Beckett is more polished and even more confident. On this night, the Angels were left to pay the price. After allowing a leadoff single in the first, Beckett retired 19 batters in a row, which tied him for the third-longest streak in postseason history. "He was able to do exactly what everyone expected and pitch a dominant game against a good team," noted Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp. The Angels had a top-notch pitcher of their own on the hill in John Lackey, but the Red Sox set an early tone. Youkilis belted Lackey's 92-mph offering over the Green Monster for a solo homer to make it 1-0 in the bottom of the first. "I was just trying to look for the sinker and react to the curveball," said Youkilis. "I didn't try to do too much, and luckily I got a good result out of it and was very happy that it got out." It was the first homer for Youkilis since Sept. 4, and a sign that the bruised right wrist that troubled him late in the season is starting to come around. "It felt a lot better as the days have progressed," said Youkilis. "I think the best thing about it is that it's playoff time and adrenaline helps the most." With Beckett all but untouchable, the Red Sox had plenty of time to stretch out their lead. Ortiz did just that in the third, unloading on a hanging breaking ball by Lackey for a two-run homer into the box seats in right. It was Ortiz's ninth career homer in postseason play, tying him with Jason Varitek for the club record. Ortiz's sizzling September seemed to carry right into this one. "I know this team counts on me a lot," said Ortiz. "A lot of guys count on me and watch how I do things. I take a lot of responsibility for whatever is happening around here." If Ortiz wants to have another October where he just carries the Red Sox on his back, he'll get few complaints from the clubhouse. "He loves the big stage and loves to go out there and perform at that level, and it's fun to watch," said Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew. Manny Ramirez kept the pressure on by following Ortiz with a walk. He moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single up the middle by Mike Lowell. "I think going up, especially at home, Game 1, the momentum is on your side. There's no doubt about that," said Lowell. "I think David's blast was huge. From a one-run game to a three-run game is a little different. It's a good feeling. I don't think there's ever a bad feeling when one of your teammates goes deep." But pardon the Angels for getting a sinking feeling at that point. The last thing they wanted to do against Beckett was dig any kind of hole. And a 4-0 deficit felt much larger with Beckett taking a one-hitter into the sixth. "The guy pitched an incredible ballgame," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "We didn't have many good looks at him." The Angels didn't have so much as a legitimate rally against Beckett. They didn't have an extra-base hit. They never had a runner at third with less than two outs. Beckett was in utter control. "I didn't want to get wrapped up in trying to strike a lot of guys out, because those are the at-bats that will end up killing your pitch count," Beckett said. "I just stuck with pitch to pitch, trying to get outs as quick as possible." The simplistic approach led to a two-hour, 27-minute contest. But the Red Sox knew not to get overly giddy about one game. "I think we've got to pretend the first game didn't happen as soon as the second game starts," said Lowell. "We have a chance to put a lot of pressure on them by wining Game 2." Daisuke Matsuzaka takes the ball for Boston in Friday's Game 2; he'll be opposed by Kelvim Escobar. But in Game 1, Beckett produced a performance that will be difficult for anyone to duplicate for the rest of the series. "He was terrific," said Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo. "You couldn't ask for anything better than that. He was throwing his pitches for strikes -- his cutter. His breaking ball was awesome throughout the game. He was perfect." Without question, the series got off to a perfect start for the Red Sox.

Roster Set

Yankees set roster, Game 1 lineup
Giambi to be used off bench; Ohlendorf, Veras among pitchers


Yankees manager Joe Torre set his club's American League Division Series roster and finalized the starting lineup for Thursday's Game 1 on Wednesday afternoon.

Game 1 Lineup:
1. Johnny Damon LF
2. Derek Jeter SS
3. Bobby Abreu RF
4. Alex Rodriguez 3B
5. Jorge Posada C
6. Hideki Matsui DH
7. Robinson Cano 2B
8. Melky Cabrera CF
9. Doug Mientkiewicz 1B

Reserves
Jason Giambi
Jose Molina
Wilson Betemit
Shelley Duncan
Bronson Sardinha

Pitchers (11)
Andy Pettitte
Chien-Ming Wang
Phil Hughes
Ross Ohlendorf
Jose Veras
Joba Chamberlain
Luis Vizcaino
Kyle Farnsworth
Mariano Rivera
Mike Mussina
Roger Clemens

ALDS breakdown: Indians

The only good news for the Indians about their recent head-to-head play against the Yankees is that those six games (all losses) came earlier in the season, before the Tribe's play skyrocketed it toward the American League Central title. During those pair of three-game sets (April 17-19 in New York and Aug. 10-12 at Cleveland) the Indians were dominated in all facets of the game. The offense hit an anemic .228 with only 15 extra-base hits -- 11 doubles and four homers. The Yankees had 14 homers alone in the series. Travis Hafner missed the August series, but fared well in April, smacking out eight hits and a walk in 13 plate appearances, including a homer and a pair of RBIs. Victor Martinez, (6-for-18) with a homer and seven RBIs, also was a major offensive cog in the season series. But other Cleveland mainstays were shut down by a Yankees staff that logged a 2.67 ERA despite its own woes. Sean Henn, Kei Igawa and Chase Wright, all pitchers who won't get a sniff for the Yankees in the ALDS, logged wins. But to beat the Bombers, guys like Grady Sizemore (4-for-22), Ryan Garko (3-for-20) and Casey Blake (5-fro-25) all must significantly improve their in-season numbers against the Yanks. The Indians can take heart in the fact that they were the sixth-best hitting team overall in the AL this season with a .268 batting average. Their 179 homers, 804 runs scored, 777 RBIs, .343 on-base percentage and .429 slugging percentage were all in the upper echelon of the league.

Key late-game matchups
• When it comes to big late-game at-bats against the Yankees, you're usually talking Mariano Rivera, and Hafner has never had a hit off him (0-for-4).

• Ditto Sizemore, who has gone 0-for-4 against Rivera. But there is hope because Martinez is 2-for-7 with an RBI.

Indians Secret Weapon

Perez

The left-handed Rafael Perez might be a key to beating the Yankees. He's the only one on the staff who hasn't allowed at least one earned run against the Yankees.

Indians Achilles' heel
Closer Joe Borowski blew back-to-back saves against Seattle during the last week of the season, and though he's saved 44 this season, he's also blown eight.

Indians manager: Eric Wedge
This will be the first time in the playoffs for Wedge in his fifth managerial season, all with the Tribe. He must mix and match his bullpen well to stop the Yankees' potent offense, which can be done.

Indians intangibles
They don't have a lot of big names or a high payroll (compare their $61.6 million to the Yankees' $200 million, for instance). But big money doesn't always buy big heart, which the Indians have.

Three reasons Indians will win
• CC Sabathia, who hasn't faced the Yankees since 2004, is a different pitcher these days -- a much, much better one.

• Sizemore (.280, 24 homers, 78 RBIs) will emerge as the big-time superstar he already promises to be on a national stage.

• Paul Byrd, a 15-game winner, will come up with a big Game 4 start at Yankee Stadium.

ALDS Breakdown: Yankees

The Yankees have the most potent lineup in baseball and had little trouble this year with the Indians, sweeping the season series 6-0, although they didn't face 19-game winner C.C. Sabathia. Those games were all early on in the season (April 17-19 in New York and Aug. 10-12 at Cleveland) before the Indians made their big late-season move to topple Detroit and Minnesota atop the American League Central. In typical Yankees fashion, their offense pummeled Tribe pitching to a tune of 49-17 in the six games. But that's not really uncommon. The Yankees finished the season with the AL's top batting average (.290), most home runs (201), most total bases (2,649), most runs scored (968), most RBIs (929), top slugging percentage (.463), top on-base percentage (.366) and most hits (1,656). It may come as no surprise that Alex Rodriguez had six homers against the Indians in six games. But Jason Giambi was also a major factor, as those two series came in between slumps and a long stint on the disabled list. Giambi was 8-for-16 with four homers and six RBIs in five of those games.

Key late-game matchups

• The question here is whether you want A-Rod up in the ninth inning against Tribe closer Joe Borowski, and the answer is a resounding, yes. He's a .500 hitter vs. Borowski (2-for-4) in four plate appearances with a homer and three RBIs.

• And what of Derek Jeter against Borowski? Mr. November is a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk, a homer and five RBIs.

Yankees Secret Weapon

Matsui

The Yankees have all those big boppers in the lineup, but let's not forget about Hideki Matsui, who's a .417 hitter against the Tribe (5-for-12) with a walk in his 13 plate appearances.

Yankees Achilles' heel
Games 3-4 starters Roger Clemens, who will go at Yankee Stadium with a sore elbow and/or hamstring, and Mike Mussina, who's had a sore ERA of late.

Yankees manager: Joe Torre
Torre has led the Yankees to 12 consecutive playoff appearances that include six AL pennants and four World Series titles. What more can you ask?

Yankees intangibles
Pure guts. This was the Yankees team that everybody counted out in May, but that stormed back into the playoffs with a great second-half run.

Three Reasons Yankees will win
• A-Rod will finally have a postseason series in New York to remember. He's heir apparent now to Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson. Time to play like it.

• Andy Pettitte is back in a Yankees uniform after three years in Houston. The Yanks haven't been back to the World Series since he left. See the connection?

• Oh, those kids. Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano and Joba Chamberlain will have something to say about all this before the series is concluded.