I’m trying to find ways to cope, but I ain’t f’ing round wit the gauge or a rope

In case you haven’t heard, the Yankees lost last night and were eliminated from the playoffs. They managed just three hits off Cy Young Colby Lewis and weren’t hitting for the majority of the series. The pitching was there, the bats just went limp. But anyone who considers the Yankees’ 2010 season a failure is a spoiled idiot. Ask a fan of another team what they would give for a trip the LCS. It was a great ride while it lasted and you can’t win ’em all.

ALCS Offense:

• Yanks: .201/.300/.370
• Rangers: .303/.378/.512

ALCS Pitching:

• Yanks: 7.44 K/9; 1.79 K/BB; 4.15 BB/9; 1.56 HR/9; 6.58 ERA; 8 IBB
• Rangers: 8.83 K/9; 2.08 K/BB; 4.24 BB/9; 1.02 HR/9; 3.06 ERA; 1 IBB

Obviously it could have gone much better, but, in my opinion, they were lucky to get to Game 6. The team was outplayed in pretty much every game except Game 5.

Now I’m not one to point blame, but Swish Dog went 2-for-22 (.091) in the ALCS, A-Rod was 4-for-21 (.190) in the ALCS and 7-for-32 (.219) in the playoffs, Gardy was 5-for-27 (.185) in the playoffs, Thames was 4-for-23 (.174) in the playoffs, and Tex was 0-for-the-first-four-games of the ALCS. You’re not going to win too many series with your hitters not hitting.

Plus, Phil was anything but Philthy. I know he’s young, had a great season and was lights out in the ALDS, but he came apart in the ALCS. After throwing a seven-inning, four-hit gem against the Twins he was shelled for 11 runs on 14 hits with six strikeouts to seven walks in 8 2/3 innings in two ALCS starts. I’ve got a feeling that the long rest in the playoffs played a role in his less-than-stellar showing. Of course he still has a bright future and I’m glad to have him on the Yanks. I still love you Phil.

What’s really surprising is that Grandy and Berkman, two players that served as punching bags for Yankee fans for much of the season, hit 10-for-28 (.357) and 5-for-16 (.313), respectively, in the 2010 postseason. That just goes to prove the old proverb correct: regular season zero, playoff hero…or vice versa in some cases.

For what it’s worth I wouldn’t make any changes in the outfield, I like it the way it is. I don’t want the Yanks to get Crawford or Werth. I hope they re-sign Jeet, try to keep Kerry Wood and go after Cliff Lee. However, I think he stays with the Rangers…unfortunately.

Also, and this has nothing to do with the outcome of the ALCS, I hope Girardi doesn’t return. I hate him and his binder, and I think some of his pitching decisions this year were mind boggling. Some of the moves he made in September and throughout the season were absurd. He also left AJ in too long in Game 4 and didn’t have a short enough leash for Hughes in the playoffs, among other things. I’m not a fan of his, to say the least.

Oh well. Only 113 days until pitchers and catchers report, 129 days until all players report and 159 days until Opening Day! Go get ’em next year. I’m still proud to be a fan of the New York Yankees and am glad I don’t root for the Mets.

LET’S GO YANKS!!!