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Derek Jeter SS
Nick Johnson DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Nick Swisher RF
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF

Pitching: Javier Vazquez (0-2, 9.82 ERA)

 

Rajai Davis CF
Daric Barton 1B
Ryan Sweeney RF
Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B
Kurt Suzuki C
Eric Chavez DH
Mark Ellis 2B
Travis Buck LF
Cliff Pennington SS

Pitching: Gio Gonzalez  (1-0, 3.38 ERA)

Brett Gardner LF
Nick Johnson DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Nick Swisher RF
Ramiro Pena SS

Pitching: Andy Pettitte (1-0, 0.75 ERA)

 

Elvis Andrus SS
Michael Young 3B
Josh Hamilton CF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Nelson Cruz RF
Ryan Garko 1B
David Murphy LF
Matt Treanor C
Andres Blanco 2B

Pitching: Rich Harden  (0-0, 2.79 ERA)

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Johnson DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Nick Swisher RF
Brett Gardner LF

Pitching: A.J. Burnett

 

Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Ben Zobrist RF
Evan Longoria 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
B.J. Upton CF
Pat Burrell DH
Dioner Navarro C
Sean Rodriguez 2B

Pitching: James Shields

The Yankees and Rays are two teams that wouldn't surprise anyone if they were both playing October baseball in 2010. Both squads have great offenses and a lot of their success is reliant upon the play of their third basemen. Evan Longoria and Alex Rodriguez are not only two of the best hitters in the game, but they also rank among the best all-around players in baseball. Everyone who watches A-Rod on a daily basis knows what an amazing talent he really is. New Yorkers don't get to see Longoria all of the time, and while everyone knows how good he is, it is still amazing that this 24 year-old is still a couple of seasons away from entering his "prime."

Entering just his third season, Longoria already has participated in two All-Star games, won the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year Award and the 2009 AL Gold Glove at third base. Longoria was a popular preseason choice for the 2010 AL MVP by many of the national sportswriters and for good reason. Through the first 282 games of his career, Longoria has a .279 batting average, 62 home runs, 206 RBIs, 169 runs scored, a .355 on-base percentage and an OPS of .889. Through the same number of games to start his career (282), A-Rod had a very impressive .322 batting average, with 53 home runs, 186 RBIs, 219 runs scored, a .373 on-base percentage and an OPS of .924. Both A-Rod and Longoria have proven to be two of the best defensive third basemen in the game as well.

Longoria has played in 41 career games in March and April combined and is a fast starter. He has a .338 batting average, with 11 home runs, 39 RBIs, and a .407 on-base percentage. The Yankees have also fallen victim to Longoria's bat. In 28 career games against the Bombers, he has a .283 average, with eight home runs, 19 RBIs, .371 on-base percentage and an OPS of .958.

The rivalry of the Yankees and Rays may be in its infant stages with the ascension of the Rays as a contender in 2008, but one thing is for sure: it's going to be interesting to watch this third base matchup of Alex Rodriguez and Evan Longoria for many years to come. These two players really bring to life the term, "Clash of the Titans."

With a new season comes a whole bunch of predicitions from every media outlet in the country. So why not join them? Today, I went around and talked with some of the YES Network employees, who are all on Twitter and all have different jobs here at YES to get their opinion on who will win each division, the Wild Card and the two major AL regular season awards. I'm going to list the people by their Twitter names first, then their actual names and title here at YES. Here we go:

@BobLorenz, Bob Lorenz, YES Network In-Studio Main Anchor

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: White Sox

AL West: Mariners

Wild Card: Red Sox

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

@jaredames23, Jared Boshnack, YES Network Pregame and Postgame Producer

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: White Sox

AL West: Mariners

Wild Card: Rays

AL MVP: Evan Longoria

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

@Riggo06, Cameron White, YES Network EVS Operator

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: Tigers

AL West: Mariners

Wild Card: Red Sox

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez

AL Cy Young: Zach Greinke

@JackCurryYES, Jack Curry, YES Network On-Air Talent and YESNetwork.com Writer

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: White Sox

AL West: Mariners

Wild Card: Red Sox

AL MVP: Evan Longoria

AL Cy Young: Jon Lester

@yestoresearch, Jeff Quagliata, YES Network Research Manager

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: Tigers

AL West: Mariners

Wild Card: Red Sox

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

AL Cy Young: CC Sabathia

He also wants to make a note that he thinks his Braves will win the NL Wild Card this season.

@BPTV17, Chris Shearn, YES Network On-Air Talent and Host of Batting Practice Today 

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: Twins

AL West: Angels

Wild Card: Rays

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

@bkabak, Benjamin Kabak, Yankees Blogger on River Ave. Blues and YESNetwork.com

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: Twins

AL West: Rangers

Wild Card: Red Sox

AL MVP: Evan Longoria

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

@glenngiangrande, Glenn Giangrande, YES Network Head Writer

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: White Sox

AL West: Angels

Wild Card: Mariners

AL MVP: Mark Teixeira

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez 

@JoeAuriemmaNYY, Myself or Joe Auriemma, YESNetwork.com Producer, Digital Media

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: Tigers

AL West: Angels

Wild Card: Red Sox

AL MVP: Kendry Morales

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander

There you have it. The 2010 American League predictions from the different voices here at YES. Let's hear what you have to say! Post your predictions on MY YES.

For as long as I can remember, Major League Baseball's Opening Day is the one event I look forward to each and every year. It's the signal of a new beginning, a new season and the marathon that lies ahead. It's a day when Yankee fans begin a long journey, cheering on their favorite team and hoping that the end result will bring to the Bronx a repeat champion and force Joe Girardi to once again change his number to 29 in 2011. This day brings a joy to all fans of all teams across the country, praying that their squad will give them a chance at redemption in 2010. This is the one time all season that the 30 teams will be on a level playing field.

Tonight marks another special beginning as the two biggest rivals in sports go head-to-head, thus adding another chapter to the already long novel these two franchises have written. However, this night is the one event that is actually bigger than the rivalry. It's a night in which fans of all teams rejoice that the game is back.

I can remember going to my first Opening Day game with my father back in 1988 and taking the day off from school. The Twins were in town, and I can just remember thinking that I would rather be no place else that day than Yankee Stadium. I got to see my favorite player, Don Mattingly, hit an RBI double to put the game out of reach, making it 7-0 at the time and looked forward to the Summer ahead that already included a Yankees team with a 1-0 record. Billy Martin and the Yankees went on to win that game 8-0 but would not fair as well the rest of the season, finishing up 85-76. That didn't matter though, because on that day, the Yankees brought me back.

In 1992, the Yankees and the Red Sox started off the season at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees were coming off two of their worst seasons in 1990 and 1991 in the history of the storied franchise, but as soon as the bell rang at Oak View School in Bloomfield, NJ, my friend Gerald and I ran to his house to catch the end of that game. It didn't matter how bad the team was. The Yankees beat Roger Clemens and the Red Sox 4-3 that day and all was right in the world again. That's how thousands upon thousands of kids young and old feel throughout the country today and will feel tomorrow. Everyone wants that chance of running home to catch their favorite team pull out a victory.

It doesn't matter what's going on in the world. I couldn't even tell you what was a big story in the news at the time of these two tales, but I do remember baseball and the start of a new season. So tonight, when you are watching the game again, remember to share the experience with your friends, your family, or even a complete stranger, because maybe someday this night will have a lasting impression on someone who will remember the experience for the rest of his or her life.

Technically spring does not begin until March 20th, however, my spring in Tampa has come to an end. One thing that I have taken away from this camp, more than in previous seasons, is how mentally prepared and relaxed these players are going into the 2010 season.

This relatively tranquil camp is all thanks to an October/November postseason run that garnered a 27th world championship to the most storied franchise is sports history. Sitting here in the press box on my last day before I make my way back up to New York, I've been thinking about the interviews that Chris Shearn and I have done. Each player has made it known that they are not content with just winning the 2009 title and that the goal is the same every year.

The core four won their world championships at a relatively young age on a very veteran ballclub. Now they have assumed the role of leaders and I always got the sense that they felt they had unfinished business. They have achieved that goal and it's like the weight of the world and the biggest city in the world is off their shoulders. Each of them can now focus on winning as they always do and do it with a clear mind.

The young players that were a part of the 2009 roster and on the postseason roster all echoed that they gained years worth of experience in just one month of baseball. They all have one more year under their belt and all of them are extremely comfortable in front of the camera. I can remember interviewing Brett Gardner, David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes for my Down on the Farm features, when they were making their way through the Yankees system. Now each of them -- under the intense pressure of questions coming at them from a national press corps during the 2009 Fall Classic -- has made them professionals even at their young age.

Of the almost two weeks of coverage on YESNetwork.com, my favorite day was getting to talk to Johnny Damon and Phil Coke in Lakeland. I know many fans are very upset with Johnny, but in typical Damon fashion, he went out of his way to make sure we had a one-on-one video interview and that he answered all of my questions. It's really funny that Johnny was one of the calming factors to a clubhouse in turmoil when he arrived to New York in 2005 and now that he is gone, a lot of the other players took his lead.

I also got a chance to speak with Javy Vazquez who did say that he felt a change in the clubhouse and the atmosphere of the camp from the last time he was here in 2004.

There are quite a few things I'm really going to take away from this trip. I got to meet a lot of the younger Yankees and will possibly see them in New York sooner than later. One of those younger players that I have had the chance to interview several times over the last couple of years is Jesus Montero, who is a terrific young man that can crush the ball.

I've also learned some non-baseball related things on this trip. One is that Joe Girardi's daughter Serena is going to be in an upcoming animation produced by Ray Negron called Henry and Me. She is an aspiring young talent and a natural in front of a microphone.

All-in-all, we tried to bring you the best coverage from Tampa and now that this chapter is complete, I'll meet you all back at the bat!

It feels like the Yankees just won their 27th World Championship and now it's already time for Spring Training games. Starting on Wednesday, March 3rd, YESNetwork.com will be in Tampa to cover the Yankees as they begin the quest for another World Championship.

In the time we are in Florida, we will try and produce as much content as possible. Our coverage will include interviews with players, coaches, and writers as well as blogs, vlogs, podcasts, daily shows, behind the scenes photo galleries and some surprises.

Chris Shearn will once again join our team as on-air talent and will be reporting from his blog, Off the Wall.

Don't forget to check out @JoeAuriemmaNYY, @BPTV17 and @YESNetwork on Twitter for any breaking news and updates for new content has been added to YESNetwork.com.

This year I want to do a little something different. I would like to give everyone an opportunity to ask a question to their favorite player, coach or just a general question for one of our many broadcasts from Spring Training. Please message me via MYYES, Twitter direct message me (@JoeAuriemmaNYY) or email offthewall@yesnetwork.com to have a chance to have your voice heard and we will do our best to get these questions in.

I want to give another shout out to my colleague here at YESNetwork.com, Jon Lane. He has been providing quality coverage of the Spring Training stories thus far with his blog, Life in the Fast Lane. Be sure to check that out as well.

Another season with more stories to be told. We will do our best to bring them all to you right here at YESNetwork.com

I think the title of my blog speaks for itself. It certainly has been way too long since my last blog and I promise with the new season quickly approaching, I will fulfill my duties as a Featured Blogger here on My YES.

This offseason has been a good one, filled with doing podcasts, new video and going on some radio shows to discuss the Yankees' offseason moves. When not working on the Yankees this winter, I've had to work on the Nets, who are really having a rough time to say the least. A 4-48 season to this point is pretty awful, but with the free agent class this summer and the possibility of landing the No. 1 pick and John Wall in the draft, the Nets could greatly improve in 2010-11.

My blog entry today is not going to be about the woeful play of the Nets, nor about my three-month layoff, but about what we can expect from the 2010 Yankees. With pitchers and catchers already in Tampa preparing to report for the new season, expectations are very high for a team that won 103 games and the World Series in convincing fashion. The main question that the Yankees have coming into this season is, have the Yankees done enough this offseason to get back to the Fall Classic and win it?

My standard answer this offseason has been unequivocally YES!

Exit Johnny Damon
Johnny Damon is going to be missed in the clubhouse and at the plate, but at this point in his career, and actually for the last several years, he has become a major defensive liability. He also received his highest and best offer this offseason from the team he wanted to return too. Players have taken a hit to their pride in the past and less money than they think they're worth to return to the team that they truly want to play for. To me, Damon overvalued himself and what he can offer at team at his age, and not being able to play a premiere position like center field anymore.

The clubhouse chemistry is going to be fine without him. The one thing that winning does to everyone on a team is bring them closer together. These players went into battle together in 2009 and came out champions, and the departure of one or two players is not going to take that away from the core of players that are still with the team. All this means is that someone else is going to have to step up, like David Cone did in the mid 1990s and be the go-to guy on a daily basis to answer the brunt of reporters' questions.

Enter Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson is truly one of the more talented, young outfielders in the game today. In 2007, he pulled off the 20-20-20-20 (More than 20 2Bs, 20 3Bs, 20 HRs, and 20 SBs in a single season) feat, which has only been done a handful of times in the history of baseball. This is a five-tool star that will be just 29 on March 16th in the midst of the prime of his career. Last season, he only had a .249 average and a .327 OBP, but he did slug 30 home runs and score 91 runs. In his two previous seasons combined he hit .292 with a .363 OBP, hit 45 homers, drove in 140 runs, score 234 runs, stole 38 bases and had an OPS of .887.

In this Yankees lineup, with all of the protection that he will receive, I expect that he will return to the numbers he posted from just a couple of seasons ago while adding his power bat from last season, especially being a lefty in the new Yankee Stadium. He is an upgrade defensively from anyone that was playing in the Yankees outfield last season. 

Exit Melky Cabrera
Stop with the sentimentality people! Melky is not a big-time player and in return, the Yankees got a pitcher that gives them one of the strongest starting staffs in baseball.

Enter Javier Vazquez
The one thing I'm tired of hearing this offseason, is how Yankee fans hate this move. They received a pitcher that averages, 200+ innings, 200+ strikeouts and wins 12-15 games for a fan favorite outfielder who will amount to nothing more than a career fourth outfielder outside of this Yankees lineup. The Yankees already have a bona fide ace with CC Sabathia and two really good pitchers behind him with A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte. With Vazquez, they've added the model of a consistent pitcher as their fourth starter. Not many teams in baseball can boast that they have a Javy Vazquez type starter as their No. 2 pitcher. Just ask the Mets!

I know a lot of people are sour about the last time Vazquez donned the pinstripes and have a bad taste in their mouth from the forgettable Game 7 in the 2004 ALCS. This is a different Javy Vazquez. On that team he was asked to be the ace of that staff, replacing the likes of Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens. Also, he was hurt in the second half of the season and pitched down the stretch in pain. He still ended the season 14-10 and made the All-Star team. He would have had a much better campaign if not for the injuries.

All I ask the Yankees fan is to give him a chance. Forget the past. He knows he has something to prove and is motivated to do so. If he pitches the way he is capable of pitching, the Yankees will have a heck of a rotation. This is a team that won a championship with three very good/great starting pitchers and adding one more will just make them even more of contender to get back to the Fall Classic. 

Exit Hideki Matsui, enter Nick Johnson
When you look up clutch in the dictionary, there should be a picture of Hideki Matsui next to it. In his final game in pinstripes, Matsui showed the Yankees faithful why the team signed him seven years prior. His tenure with the team will be remembered by that wonderful November night that he had in 2009 and the World Series MVP trophy that he will take with him. Matsui will be missed, but, again, age is a factor. He is one injury away from possibly retiring. He can't play the field anymore and has bad knees. In 2006 and 2008, he was limited to 51 and 93 games. He could very well have a good year for the Angels and I hope he does, but the Yankees felt it was in their best interest to not only get younger, but add a true designated hitter who could get on base and still play in the field when asked to.

Nick Johnson will be the Yankees everyday DH and play first base to give Mark Teixeira a rest every once in a while. Johnson is still a decent first basemen, but the lure to Johnson was his .426 OBP last season and .420 OBP over the last four seasons combined. Johnson has had injury problems in the past, but the thinking is that as a DH, he will be able to stay healthy, which he basically has anyway three of the last four seasons. His power numbers went way down last season, as he hit just eight home runs, but he is capable of still hitting the long ball, especially in the middle of this lineup and in Yankee Stadium. They will expect Derek Jeter and Johnson to set the table for the rest of the potent lineup by getting on base.

Left/center field situation
The Yankees have a good problem if you ask me. They signed Randy Winn to play the outfield. Winn is a very good defensive outfielder and can play center and both corner outfield positions. His offensive numbers may have dipped last season, but he is still a professional hitter. Granderson can play both center and left as well. That may very well make him the everyday left fielder once the season begins, with Winn and Brett Gardner playing center. 

Marcus Thames will provide a power bat off the bench and is still very capable of playing in the field as well.

The old adage is that defense and pitching wins championships, well this World Series champion upgraded in both areas this offseason, while keeping their offensive prowess intact. To me, this is a team that should be the preseason favorite to win a second consecutive World Series title.

There is a lot of talk on sports radio and throughout New York discussing Andy Pettitte pitching on three days rest. The consensous out of these "experts" is that this is a bad move for the Yankees and we will be back here for a game seven. The argument has been that with his advanced age, number of years that he hasn't pitched on three days rest and cold weather will all affect Pettitte to the point that he will have a rough go at it tonight.

I say nay to all of those naysayers. It is my opinion that Andy Pettitte will be just fine. It is not like Pettitte has been overworked since the end of the regular season. This will be his fifth start tonight in the last month. He's had four starts in the postseason and that spans all the way back to October 4th. That's not exactly taxing someone's arm.

Pettitte is also not a power pitcher. A lot of time short rest effects power pitchers more than the so called finesse pitcher. At this point in his career, Pettitte does not rely on blowing anybody away to have a good game, he relies on his control, outsmarting the hitter and his defense, which has proven they are more than up to the task.

This is Pettitte's last start of the season tonight. He also knows that after tonight, he's going to have months of rest and doesn't have to pitch like this again until Spring Training. If he decides to retire, this might be his last time he ever has to pitch. With that being said, do you really think that  Andy Pettitte, who we have seen time and time again have huge Postseason moments for the Yankees will not go out there tonight and just give it everything he has? I think this gives the Yankees the best chance to win.

We've all seen that time and time again that Pettitte is a competitor and a fighter. He knows coming into this start that he and his teammates are 27 outs away from clinching their 27th World Championship. Pettitte has nothing to lose tonight, but everything to gain.

Don't forget to come back to YESNetwork.com tonight for all of the video coverage from Chris Shearn and myself and Jon Lane will have his fingers burning tonight with his blogs. Who better to get your World Series coverage from the team that has been covering the Yankees since Spring Training.

The Yankees with their 3-1 lead are now 27 outs away from their 27th World Championship. Keep it right here during the game for updates on my live blog.

8:00 P.M. First pitch here at the ballpark. I just had a little dinner with Chris Shearn. A roasted pork sandwich with Chickie's and Pete's Crab Fries...mmm mmm. Jeter just grounded out and Damon just got a base hit. How am I doing so far? I keep saying that I think the Yankees are going to win tonight, but I seem to be in the minority here among everyone here.

8:03 P.M. Does A-Rod get hit again? A smattering of boos around the ballpark.

8:05 P.M. New Yankee Postseason record with 16 RBIs now for A-Rod surpassing Scott Brosius from 1998 and Bernie Williams from 1996. Why does anyone continue to pitch to this guy? Good start for the Bombers. They get on the board early. I was saying before, Cliff Lee is due for a clunker. He was 2-4 with a 6.13 ERA in his last seven regular season starts. This guy isn't Sandy Koufax. Pitchers rarely ever have two lights out games in a row against the Yankees.

8:10 P.M. So here's the situation. The last two games we have sat and stood in the Press Box, but tonight we have assigned seats in the auxiliary Press Box, which is actually out among the fans. We are right near the left field Yankees fan group that just did roll call. That was very funny.

It's a chilly 50 degrees out here tonight and the one thing we do have is a TV right in front of us without audio, so we can examine close plays. I did however catch the first Black Taco commercial. I couldn't miss that one.

8:14 P.M. Jimmy Rollins gets a base hit. I wonder if he predicted that before the game. He's been so dead on this series.

8:15 P.M. Wow. Jimmy Rollins was going on the pitch. Shane Victorino squaring to bunt and got hit by that pitch. If he didn't square to bunt, I don't know if that would have hit him.

8:17 P.M. Chase Utley just hit his fourth home run of the World Series. Burnett has to calm down here. The positive is that Lee is not throwing his best stuff as evidenced in the first inning. He needs to stop the bleeding here. Just remember, he gave up four runs to the Angels in the first and battled the rest of the night.

8:20 P.M. That last pitch to Howard sure looked like a strike. The strike zone looks like it's the size of the toy you get in the Cracker Jack box.

8:23 P.M. A.J. Burnett records his first out of the game. A lot of game left.

8:24 P.M. Chickie's and Pete's is not agreeing with me right now! Such a hot day, milk was a bad choice.

8:26 P.M. Why does it feel like A.J. always has that one bad inning. Maybe he got it out of his system and he will be better the rest of the way out. The question is how is Cliff Lee going to respond after a shaky first inning himself?

8:35 P.M. Cliff Lee goes 1-2-3 against the bottom part of the order. Chris Shearn and I saw a couple of grown men in Clifford the Big Red Dog costumes down on Ashburn Alley. Grown men! You couldn't pay me enough to wear a Clifford costume, unless I was dressing up like Martin Short from the movie Clifford. I'll stick with my Al Bundy Halloween Costume for the next 20 years.

8:40 P.M. I'm not listening to the announcers, but someone just told me that Tim McCarver said AL hitters don't know Cliff Lee. Is he kidding me? Really? Didn't he spend the majority of his career in the AL including this season? He has to think about retirement.

8:46 P.M. There were some technically difficulties on the site, but the blog is back in a big way. Burnett, even though he walked Rollins, has calmed down a bit. This game to me has all of the makings of that A.J. game against the Angels.

8:49 P.M. sharabc123 I really do think he's settling down. How many times have we seen A.J. have that bad inning, which sometimes comes in the first and then settled down. He's going to have to if they have plans on celebrating here in Philly tonight.

8:53 P.M. Another good Damon at bat to work the walk. Mark Teixeira is currently hitting .067...67! I think that was my final grade in Spanish class in high school. I'm not bilingual...come to think of it I'm not very lingual.

8:54 P.M. The Mark Teixeira average continues to fall, but Chris Shearn just predicted home run to me....let's see if he's right.

8:55 P.M. A-Rod hit that one in the air, but just missed it. Everytime someone has an incorrect predicition I just wish I carried around a speaker that had the BOM BOM BOM BOM, WAH from the Price is Right. I would be playing that an a lot.

9:00 P.M. Of the 26 batters in the last game, Burnett had thrown first pitch strikes to 21 of them. Now I don't have the official count tonight, but his ratio is no where near that. I'll cook up that stat after this half inning.

9:02 P.M. Did Chase Utley use the grease from hair on his feet that time to make himself faster to steal that bag? I saw a shot of him in the dugout before. He looks kind of like a young Pat Riley. It's the Pat Riley School of Dippity Doo.

9:07 P.M. One thing that has been a problem with Burnett all year was control. He led the American League with 97 walks. He's showing it tonight.

9:08 P.M. Jayson Werth with the RBI single and still no outs in this inning.

9:10 P.M. A.J. Burnett's night is over after giving up another RBI single. No outs, runners on first and third and now David Robertson is in the ballgame. He'll probably pinch hit Jorge as soon as possible. Molina will stay in the game until that point. A.J. Burnett ends the season on a sour note after basically saving the Yankees bacon in game two. The Yankees wouldn't be here without him.

I had a good feeling all day about this game. Maybe it was a fever caused by more cowbell.

9:16 P.M. Cliff Lee up at the plate now. The only saving grace or silver lining is that the Yankees have worked his pitch count tonight and if they can get him out of the game, they may be able to get to the bullpen.

A 6-1 lead is very hard to come back from. We've all seen the Yankees do it, but they have to get out of this inning first. Geez!

9:22 P.M. Am I the only on Twitter right now with the mentality that there is a lot of game to be played. Again, Cliff Lee has thrown a lot of pitches. If they can get him out of this game and get to the bullpen, who knows? They are even going to have pop at the bottom of the lineup when Jorge comes in the game. Search for your inner Yogi, It ain't over till it's over.

9:27 P.M. Robinson Cano has been an automatic out in this World Series. He is now 2-for-17 with a .117 batting average. Just awful. What is that about? This is someone that hit .320 in the regular season.

9:32 P.M. Saw that Joe Girardi was talking to the announcers. Would have like to have heard what he said. I'll keep saying it till I'm blue in the face, which I am right now because it's cold out here. There is a lot of baseball to be played here.

9:38 P.M. Jorge Posada batting for Molina...It's the right move and again the Yankees have some pop at the bottom of the order the rest of this game.

9:42 P.M. Eric Hinske now up at the plate pinch hitting, ending D-Rob's night. David Robertson did his job.

9:44 P.M. Eric Hinske draws the walk and Jeter gets another postseason hit. Would you expect any less from Jeter. By the way one swing and this is a ballgame again everyone.

9:47 P.M. Looking out at the bell in centerfield and it looks like two morons have climbed up there. Security is going nuts on them right now. Kevin Sullivan, "They are so arrested when they come down."

9:48 P.M. Teixeira continues to struggle at the plate. Inning over, but the Yankees did chip away a little bit. Alfredo Acevas now in the game for the Yankees.

9:52 P.M. What a play by Brett Gardner in center. As he was going back on that ball underneath where we are, it looked like he was going to get it as soon as he stuck out his glove. Jayson Werth rounded the bases like he had hit an inside the park home run. Was probably hoping for Phil Cuzzi to call that a dropped ball.

9:55 P.M. The Phillies again fail to score. This is where the Yankees can continue to chip away, work Lee's count and try to get into that bullpen. The Philly Phanatic is driving around on his ATV...He's money. One of the best mascots in sports if you ask me. The only one I like better is the now defunct San Diego chicken, who I still think is Pete Rose underneath that mask.

10:00 P.M. Even with A-Rod's flyout, I don't know what it is. I still feel the Yankees are going to win this game. People might think I'm nuts, but I just feel like it's goling to happen.

10:01 P.M. There are three Phillies fans on the roof. It's definitely not security and the guys are still up in the bell tower so to speak. Interesting.

10:05 P.M. Not going to comeback in this game leaving the bat on your shoulders.

10:10 P.M. I'm officially freezing out here, but I just remembered the last time I wore that coat was Game one. It's officially now in my bag. I am risking hypothermia for a Yankees comeback all on a coat theory.

10:20 P.M. Posada has to know that the if you try to call timeout the ump doesn't have to grant it. Also, take your bat off your shoulders.

10:21 P.M. Jeter up...let's see if he can rustle up any more magic.

10:24 P.M. Nope.

10:30 P.M. I'm back, sorry about the delay. Chase Utley is unreal. He now has five home runs in the World Series. The most in Phillies franchise history. That guy is deadly. If the Phillies wind up coming back and winning the series, there my friends is your M-V-P.

10:34 P.M. Chase Utley is now tied with Mr. October for most home runs in one World Series with five and he's the first player since Willie Aikens in the 1980 World Series to have two multi-hr games in one World Series.

10:39 P.M. OH BOY! THAT IBANEZ HOME RUN WAS A ROCKET. In fact he hit that car sign. He wins a Chrysler! Can he at least get a steak for that?

10:43 P.M. The Phillies pep girls are on top of the dugout in shorts...are they crazy?

10:50 P.M. A-Rod is a BEAST! He's now on third after the Swisher groundout. Park on the mound applying his famous spitter.

10:59 P.M. The internet went down here, but we are back. It's now 8-5 after that sac fly.

11:04 P.M. Yolly, anything can happen. I'm not as confident as I was hours ago, but I still feel that three runs is not a huge lead against the Yankees. Posada, Matsui, and Jeter are going to hit in the ninth. If they could get something going, they go right back into the heart of the Yankees order. and against whoever the Phillies throw at them, anything can happen. 

11:13 P.M. I'm like Billy Joel right now and I'm keeping the faith.

11:28 P.M. They just sang High Hopes here. Harry Kalas' singing on the big board. The Yankees have to be pleased. They are going home up 3-2 with Andy Pettitte on the mound. Look Burnett was awful, but my god the Yankees were in this game till the end. This loss is on Burnett and Coke, but again it comes back to the Bronx. Fans have been waiting a long time for a celebration and they might get it.

Well we had a bit of a rain delay, but we are about to get things going here in Philadelphia. I'm currently sitting in the press box and the fans are ready to go for this game. Keep it locked here all night.

9:16 P.M. They are trying to pump the crowd up here by playing one of my favorite AC/DC songs of all-time, Thunderstruck. All I ever think about with this song is Varsity Blues when they have that really awful game after their big night out.

9:17 P.M. First pitch and the announcement that the rain delay was officially one hour and twenty minutes. Jeter grounds out and the first of the Yankees S**K chants start. Very original.

9:20 P.M. Johnny Damon grounds out with the crowd switching it up by saying New York S**KS. I can't wait to hear what they are going to do when A-Rod steps up to the plate.

9:22 P.M. Teixeira strikes out and once again the Yankees allow a struggling pitcher to gain confidence right off the bat. I hate to say this, but Yankee fans need to pump up the volume if there is a game six because this crowd is really loud.

9:24 P.M. Yankee fans in left field were just roll calling Derek Jeter followed by an even bigger chant from the Phillies fans saying S**KS. All you heard was DEREK JETER! S**KS! These are the same fans that booed Santa Claus haha.

9:25 P.M. That was officially called a base hit, but A-Rod did misplay the ball. All I keep thinking in my head is Lou Brown from Major League saying to Roger Dorn, "Enough of this Ole...." Well Major League fans know how that line ends.

9:28 P.M. Chase Utley comes up to Led Zepplin's Kashmere. Someone should tell Tim McCarver that's Kashmere, not Scott Kazmir.

9:38 P.M. Andy Pettitte with a nasty 3-2 pitch to Chase Utley strike him out in a big spot with Rollins on second. Now this spot to Ryan Howard an even bigger one. Let's see if Andy can get himself out of this mini-1st inning jam.

9:41 P.M. Ryan Howard is a strikeout machine. Andy gets out of the trouble, but after striking out four times in Game Two, Howard just keeps wiffing. You have to give credit to the Yankees advanced scouts, who obviously have alerted Joe Girardi and his staff that Howard has big time holes in his swing. Not downplaying how good Ryan Howard is because I'm saying this now and in his next three at bats he is more than capable of hitting a home run each time up.

9:44 P.M. The crowd reaction to A-Rod stepping up to the plate was a little disappointing. I thought they were going to rain down boos. First pitch and Hamels his him. Chris Shearn sitting next to me just says, "Interesting." LOL

Let's see how he reacts.

9:50 P.M. I can't say it enough. Cole Hamels was STRUGGLING down the stretch and in this postseason. His last quality start was September 17th against Washington when he went eight innings allowing only one run. That was against WASHINGTON. The Yankees needed to jump on this guy quick. Now confidence builds and away we go. Another pitchers duel looks like it's in the works. After a while, the explanation that it was just a great pitching performance. The bats need to wake up in this potent lineup. They are not even working the count tonight.

9:55 P.M. Jayson Werth has been a monster for the Phillies this season. That's his first home run of this World Series. Do you think the Dodgers are kicking themselves for giving up on him. Fun fact his stepfather is former Major Leaguer Dennis Werth, his uncle is **** Schofield, and his grandfather is Ducky Schofield. Good baseball genetics.

9:58 P.M. That pitch to Feliz was flat and he crushed that double. Not a good start here for the Yanks.

10:01 P.M. Just realized that my blog just censored itself. I put in **** Schofield and when I submitted the blog, it put censor astericks in the place of the man's name. That's the man's name for godsakes.

10:03 P.M. Pettitte is in a world of trouble right now. He can't find the plate. The bases are loaded after that terrific bunt that was Hamels put down.

10:05 P.M. And now Pettitte just walked in a run. 2-0 Phillies. Methinks the Yankees bullpen is about to get stirring. That's not a good thing. Pettitte needed to give them length tonight. There is no off day between these games.

10:09 P.M. Pettitte strikes out Utley to end that long half inning. The Phillies score three. Now it's about time that the Yankees bats awaken. Come right back at them. They need to deflate Hamels confidence and quick. Again, I am tired of hearing that the other guy just pitched a great game. Is it possible that everyone they are facing is pitching this well?

10:17 P.M. The Yankees come up and go down quickly. They have no answer for Hamels yet. Maybe this second time through the order they can do something. If not, this is going to be an extremely long night for the Yankees.

10:19 P.M. Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe ust sent out a tweet that said the Yankees in this series are now 14-for-72, a .194 average, 24 strikeouts, 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and four runs scored in 20 innings. Putred!

10:20 P.M. Ryan Howard is really struggling. He can not hit the ball at all right now. He has now struck out eight times in the World Series and six straight at bats with a strikeout.

10:24 P.M. Andy Pettitte really needed that inning. cc878 is back commenting on the blog. Thanks for following. I echo your sentiments about the bottom of the second.

10:28 P.M. While the Yankees continue to not work counts and not hit, I might as well put some life into the blog by giving my rundown on what I ate for dinner here at the ballpark. I had a sausage and peppers sandwich with crab fries. Let me tell you, the crab fries are a must here at Citizens Bank Ballpark. They give you a side of cheese sauce that is the bomb. You can't say bomb on an airplane.

10:30 P.M. What is this? The perfect game is over with that Mark Teixeira walk.

10:31 P.M. Speaking of bombs, A-Rod just hit one to right field...that looks like a home run....it hit the camera! The umps call it a double, but geez that was a home run. These umpires continue to struggle in October. At least they are going to replay, but they still had to have a conference on the mound about it and delay this game. On a call that close...Just go to the replay. What is so hard about that? This is the first time in World Series history that they are replaying a home run call.

10:34 P.M. The umps call that a home run and it's the right call. Alex Rodriguez conitnues his magical October. Just a little nugget...Alex Rodriguez loves the dramatic home run. He hit the first ever home run in replay history. Now he has hit the first replayed home run in World Series history.

10:37 P.M. More stats coming your way. That is the 17th home run this postseason for the Yankees setting an all-time franchise record. They hit 16 in 1996, 2001 and 2003. That's also A-Rod's sixth postseason home run in 2009. That ties the all-time franchise mark for most homers in one postseason with Bernie Williams back in 1996. Good stuff. Now we have a ballgame.

10:41 P.M. A-Rod hits a home run and then begins this inning with a throwing error. The Phillies fans started chanting A-Rod, completely forgetting that just seven minutes ago he made this a one run game.

10:43 P.M. sharabc123 with the comment, Thrilled the call for A-Rod went our way.

I agree completely. Can you imagine if they didn't have replay on home runs? That would have been another huge blown call in the postseason by these umpires and the game would still be 3-0 Phillies. I hope in the next umpire contract negotiation, they get better eye coverage. I think they should all go to Lens Crafters after the season.

10:47 P.M. sharabc123 you are burning up your keyboard right now with the comments. I love it. To answer your question, yes there are Yankees fans here. A lot more than I thoguht there were going to be. They are making their presence known. I have to say, I thought this crowd was loud to start the game. They have died down to me. I don't want to ever hear again that this is the loudest crowd in baseball or the Phillies players knock the Yankee Stadium crowd. To quote the great Chris Shearn, "I can hear a mouse break wind in this place right now."

10:54 P.M. Andy Pettitte helps his own cause with a legitimate hit. The inning started great with the Nick Swisher double, but when Melky struck out I thought this might be a lost inning with Pettitte up. Boy I was wrong. Good job by Pettitte, nice and funny slide by Swish.

10:55 P.M. Derek Jeter with the base hit now to keep this inning going.

10:56 P.M. Now this was the Cole Hamels I was expecting to see. Johnny Damon with the double. It's now 5-3 Yankees. Derek Jeter almost passed Andy Pettitte on their way to score. Hamels looks lost right now.

11:02 P.M. J. Happ or J.A. Happ or James Happ or whatever he wants to be called today now in the game. Chris Shearn remarked to me that we've come full circle. Feels like just yesterday we were watching Happ start in Clearwater in Spring Training.

Oh by the way A-Rod is up.

11:05 P.M. A-Rod flied out, but the real story is a section in left field. They have an area of just blue shirts out there representing Yankees faithful and they are loud with their chants. This ballpark is quiet, so quiet I heard a hip hip Jorge chant from underneath the press box. Happ with two very impressive outs to stop the bleeding. If I'm Charlie Manuel, I have to think about starting Happ in place of Hamels the next time around, if it gets there. Hamels has just been terrible over the last month. What a difference a year makes. This guy was the NLCS and World Series MVP in 2008.

11:12 P.M. Jimmy Rollins said to a Fox 29 reporter that he wants another crack at Mariano Rivera and that he can hit him. Tonight may be your shot....be careful what you wish for.

11:18 P.M. In between the inning, the stadium played all Halloween music and had the Philly Phanatic do the Monster Mash. That made me smile! I have to give the Phillies props for The Phanatic. He is very funny. If that didn't get the crowd going...nothing will.

11:21 P.M. SWISHALISH. Wow that was a blast. 6-3 Yankees. Yankees fans now chanting Let's go Yankees. He might be out of this funk. It would be nice if Swish could go on a hot streak and give the Yankees pop at the bottom of the order.

And now Andy Pettitte comes up which means that he's coming back out. Surprisingly he has only thrown 83 pitches. He was on a pace for 100 pitches in the fifth. He doesn't have 16 postseason wins for nothing folks. That's some good composure right there to bounce back after that terrible bottom second.

11:22 P.M. The Yankee fan section, chanting NAH NAH NAH NAH, NAH NAH NAH NAH, HEY-EY-EY, Goodbye. That might be a little premature, but still funny.

11:26 P.M. I question that tweet sharabc123 because don't you think the Phillies would have brought out the rule book and showed it to the umps. I think they would have made more of a stink about that. I'll check the ground rules later though.

11:27 P.M. Jayson Werth's second home run of the game and that was crushed. A flat four seamer right down Broad Street (my lone Philly reference tonight). This game is far from over. Coke and Robertson warming up in the bullpen.

11:32 P.M. Andy gives up the home run and bounces right back with two strike outs. That's the veteran presence and composure Pettitte brings.

11:35 P.M. Chad Durbin in the game and the revolving door of Phillies pitchers continue. By the way isn't it advantagous that the Yankees got this game in tonight. Now it's CC Sabathia tomorrow against Joe Blanton and the Yankees don't see Cliff Lee till game five.

11:46 P.M. A-Rod gets hit the second time tonight by a pitch and throws his bat down in disgust. It definitely wasn't on purpose, but A-Rod has a right to be agitated.

11:48 P.M. A hip hip Jorge chant breaks out in the stadium. A Phillies fan says shut up and the guy actually did. I have to respect the Phillies fan there. I hate that chant. Jorge responds to the chant by smacking a single to left and driving in the Yankees seventh run tonight.

11:50 P.M. Robinson Cano continues to struggle at the plate, even with the Yankees latest outburst. He's not taking any pitches.

11:51 P.M. The one time Cano takes a pitch, it's right down the middle. He's really struggling at the plate. Joba Chamberlain in the game for the Yanks. The Yankees are nine defensive outs away from a series lead. This is what has been the worrysome part of the game all of a sudden for the Yankees. The Pen was mighty during the season, but now they are struggling. Another question, does he put Mo in for six outs? I doubt it. There are two more games in consecutive days to play here in Philly. They don't want to burn him out.

12:01 P.M. A lot of Michael Jackson right now here at the park. Thriller just came on and I wanted to bust out into dance. Not enough credit is given to Vincent Price, who lent his legendary pipes for that song. Didn't he used to do some ridiculous commercials in the 80's?

12:05 P.M. Hideki Matsui coming up for Joba. By the way I want to give a shout out to Josh Isaac. He's the Yankees in-game font coordinator, which is one of the toughest jobs in television. He just shot me a text. He's enjoying the blog. Thanks Josh and I will have a cheesesteak for you.

Wow that was gone. Matsui comes off the bench cold and blasts that shot. This place is a launching pad. Yankee Stadium is a home run hitters park, but this place is ridiculous. That's the advantage of having Matsui on the bench in an NL Stadium.

12:11 P.M. Marte in the game now. If the Yankees hold this lead, my question is will Jimmy Rollins go back on national TV and change his Phillies in five predicition?

12:15 P.M. I really give Yankees advanced scouting a lot of credit on how to pitch to Ryan Howard. He just struck out for the ninth time in the World Series. Looks like they found a hole in his swing and they are exposing it.

12:20 P.M. Charlie Manuel made the comment yesterday that no Phillies crowd ever leaves early. Newsflash: They are leaving early. This place is clearing out quick. Let's go Yankees chants very audible here. Not impressed with this crowd at all.

12:34 P.M. Happy Anniversary Mr. November Derek Jeter. I spoke with Dave Eiland about Phil Hughes before the game in an exclusive interview. Check it out on YESNetwork.com.

12:39 P.M. Looks like Jimmy Rollins is gonna get his shot at Mariano. Let's see if he can back up his talk.

12:44 P.M. Yankees win. Rollins breaks his bat against Mo. Nothing doing. Yankees take the 2-1 series lead.