Although the odds may be against the Angels overcoming a 3-1 deficit and snatching the American League pennant from the New York Yankees, Los Angeles can take solace in three things:
• Just two years ago, the Boston Red Sox rallied from being down 1-3 to defeat the Cleveland Indians in the AL Championship Series in seven games;
• In 2004, the Yankees became the first team in baseball history to choke away a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series when they lost to the Red Sox. Five key members of the 2009 Yankees (Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui and Mariano Rivera) played on the infamous ’04 club; and
• Joe Girardi will manage the rest of the series for the Yankees.
Girardi (a.k.a. Captain Hook) could lose this series for the Yankees by himself. It is only because he has so much talent to work with — the best team money can buy — that a harsher light has not been shone upon his anal, wrongheaded managerial style.
In Game 3 of the ALCS, Girardi blew through relief pitchers the way a chain-smoker goes through a pack of cigarettes, allowing the Angels to win 5-4 in 11 innings.
Should the Yankees lose this series, Girardi will be remembered, if not vilified by Yankees fans, for removing David Robertson with two out and nobody on in the bottom of the 11th in Game 3 only to have Alfredo Aceves allow a single and game-winning double to the next two batters.
Never before in postseason history, which dates back to 1917, had a team lost a game in extra innings after a manager replaced a pitcher with two out and nobody on base in an inning.
As Casey Stengel, a truly great Yankees manager, used to say, "You could look it up."
Girardi made the needless decision to put Freddy Guzman on the ALCS roster instead of Eric Hinske (who played in the last two World Series with the Red Sox and Rays, respectively).
Then, as if to justify that personnel decision, Girardi took A-Rod, the most dominant player in the postseason, out of Game 5 for pinch-runner Guzman with the Yankees trailing 7-6 in the top of the ninth.
What, A-Rod, who has run the bases swiftly and superbly the entire postseason, even stealing bases against the Twins and Angels, had suddenly forgotten how to run?
Only Captain Hook would inject himself into a postseason game in this way.
If the George Steinbrenner of old were still in charge, Girardi would have been called onto the owner's carpet a long time ago.
Sons Hank and Hal Steinbrenner don't know baseball well enough to see how ridiculously bizarre many of Girardi's moves have been.
Strangely enough, it would have been fitting for the Yankees to lose Game 5 by 8-7 (instead of 7-6) with Guzman scoring the tying run on a bases loaded walk in the 9th (something A-Rod could have done) and the Angels scoring the winning run in extra innings because the Yanks got no offense and inferior defense from A-Rod's replacement at third base, Jerry Hairston.
Only Captain Hook would yank A-Rod for Guzman and Hairston.
Only Captain Hook would yank Johnny Damon from left field and insert Hairston with Angels on first and third and one out in the 10th in Game 3 because Hairston has a slightly better throwing arm.
(And it is only slightly better. Hairston’s throws do not invite comparisons to Jesse Barfield.)
If the Yankees don't win the World Series, or even get there, Girardi will be the reason.
Charlie Manuel may sound like a country bumpkin from West Virginia, which he is, but the Philadelphia Phillies manager is smart enough not to take Ryan Howard out of a game for a pinch-runner.
The Yankees remain the favorites to meet Philadelphia next week in the Fall Classic because Game 6 of the ALCS, and a possible Game 7, will be at Yankee Stadium.
But the Angels still have a prayer, whenever the guy managing the Yankees decides to lay his hands upon the series.
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