The Ticket Chest

I Hate Alex Rodriguez, Yankees Top Angels Again…

Monday, October 19th, 2009 | A.J. Burnett, Alex Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes, CC Sabathia, Joe Girardi, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Macier Izturis, Mariano Rivera, MLB, New York Yankees, Sports | 1 Comment

It’s plain and simple – I hate Alex Rodriguez.  I was so excited to watch Brian Fuentes close out the 3-2 Angels win on Saturday night.  Fuentes even had lead-off hitter Alex Rodriguez right where he wanted him – 0-2 count with a confused look on his face after he guessed wrong on the first 2 pitches.  Fuentes even had him off-balanced on the 3rd pitch, but A-Rod got just enough of the pitch to drive it a few feet over the right field wall to tie the game at 3.  I would have rather had any other Yankees player tie the game instead of A-Rod.  He annoys me show much – he is all show and he has not delivered in the clutch for the Yankees in his previous post-season at-bats.  But for whatever reason, A-Rod keeps on delivering in October 2009.  Please make it stop soon!

The rest of the game was moot.  You knew the Yankees would ultimately beat the Angels at some point to take a 2 games to none lead over the Angels in the ALCS.  The fact that it came on a Macier Izturis throwing error that allowed Jerry Hairston Jr. to score all the way from 2nd base made it even all the more frustrating.  Once again, the Angels defense allowed the game to get away from them, and they now go back to California with their backs against the wall.  Jered Weaver needs to show up big time against Andy Pettite in Game 3 this afternoon – there’s no way the Angels will be able to come back from a 3-0 deficit against the Yankees.

Two other notes – A.J. Burnett threw another solid game for the Yankees.  Burnett gave up just 2 ER on 3 hits and 2 walks in 6 1/3 innings pitched.  He struck out 4.  Sabathia and Burnett – 2 of the Yankees “Big 3″ free agent signings before the season – have really delivered in the clutch this season.

And how about Mariano Rivera – he conserved his pitches so well that he was able to give Manager Joe Girardi 2 1/3 innings from the bottom of the 8th inning through the 10th inning.  He allowed just 1 hit with 2 K’s and kept the game going for the Yankees to have a chance to pull off the win.

Game 3 starts today at 4:13PM EST in Anaheim.  The game will be televised on Fox…