BeLEEve the hype

Cliff Lee lived up to the much-ballyhooed hype and shut down the Yanks, and the Rangers took a 2-1 lead in the ALCS via an 8-0 win. The game was actually much closer than the final score insists, but Girardi left D-Rob in too long in the ninth and the Rangers put up a six spot in that final frame.

Lee went eight innings and gave up just two hits while fanning 13 batters and walking just one, and probably would have gone the distance if the Rangers didn’t blow the game open in the ninth. Not much more can be said about Lee, he’s absolutely filthy. His numbers in two LCS starts are: 16IP, 5H, 0R, 1BB, 23K. HoLEE shit. He’ll look handsome in pinstripes next season.

Lost in the hoopla of Lee’s fantastic start was Andy Pettitte, who threw a great game as well. Making his 42nd career postseason start in his 30th postseason series (both records), Pettitte went seven innings and gave up two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Considering he was at 61 pitches through three innings (finished with 110 pitches), it’s amazing he lasted that long. After a shaky first inning he settled down and had a great game. He now has a MLB-record 263 career postseason innings pitched.

I’m not pissed at the offense for last night, as stated before, there’s not much you can do against Cliff Lee. But look at these three stats: Jeter has struck out in five of his last six at-bats; in 99 career postseason plate appearances Tex is hitting .176/.283/.318, and if you take out the IBB and HBP his OBP is .242; the Yankees’ 1-4 hitters were 0-14 last night and have combined to go 6-for-48 (.125) in the ALCS. They have got to start hitting if they want to advance this year, that’s all there is to it.

If you look at the big picture, the Yankees have really been outplayed in 26 of 27 innings this ALCS. I hate to say it, but they really got lucky with the eighth inning of Game 1. However, I do hope they come back Tuesday night for Game 4, play like the team we know they are capable of playing like and make me look like an ass for writing that. I wouldn’t mind that one bit.

The Yanks will send Allan James Burnett to the mound against Tommy Hunter in the fourth installment of this ALCS Tuesday night.

These guys don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about:

LET’S GO YANKS!!!!!