The Ticket Chest

ALCS Starts Tonight – Sabathia, Yankees v. Lackey, Angels

Friday, October 16th, 2009 | CC Sabathia, Joe Girardi, John Lackey, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Mike Scioscia, MLB, New York Yankees, Sports | No Comments

The New York Yankees will square off against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2009 ALCS that begins tonight at the New Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.  What a way to usher in a new era in a new stadium – with a potential October/November World Series run.

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia has decided to go with veteran starter John Lackey.  Lackey dominated the Red Sox in Game 1 of the ALDS, pitching 7 1/3 scoreless innings and leading the Angels to a convincing 5-0 victory that set the tone for the series.  In 12 career post-season games (10 starts), Lackey has gone 3-3 with a spectacular 3.02 ERA.  Lackey even won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series as a major league rookie.

Yankees Manager Joe Girardi has hinted that he might go with a 3-man rotation – CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettite.  Sabathia will start in Game 1 of the ALCS tonight.  After a rough final start to the season (9 runs on 8 hits in just 2 2/3 innings against the Rays), Sabathia looked like himself in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins.  Sabathia gave up just 1 ER on 8 hits over 6 2/3 solid innings.  He struck out 8 as well.  The Yankees are hoping to get off to a quick start with Sabathia and Burnett pitching well at home.

Catch it all tonight at 7:57PM EST on Fox.

Angels on Top of the AL West; Set Sights on Beating Red Sox

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 | Boston Red Sox, General, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Mike Scioscia, MLB, Sports | No Comments

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim clinched the AL West division crown on Monday night with an 11-0 shutout of the Texas Rangers.  Overcoming the tragic death of starting pitcher Nick Adenhart in April, the Angels rallied around each other all season long to make the playoffs for the 5th time in 6 seasons.  But now the sights are set on October baseball and beating their nemesis – the Boston Red Sox.  Since winning Game 7 of the 2002 World Series, the Angels have won just 1 playoff series.  The Red Sox have beaten the Angels in 3 playoff series during that span, including the last 2 seasons.  Not good seeing that the Angels will host the Red Sox in the ALDS next week in Anaheim.

Manager Mike Scioscia had this to say about the task at hand – “It never gets tired, and it never gets old… We overcame a lot of obstacles, a lot more than anybody expected.  I definitely feel we haven’t played our best yet, and this year is different.  But if you want to put your money on Boston, go ahead, do it.  We believe in ourselves.”  Well said, Mike, but until you can knock off the big gorilla in the room, I’m going to side with the big gorilla.  Boston in 4 at Fenway Park…