Indians at Yankees
Yes, I'm an Indians fan. Have been one since I learned baseball. Yes, I am glad to see the Indians make it to the ALCS for the first time in nine years, but I would have been a little more satisfied with their win if a couple of events could have went differently.
I call Game 4 a "What if" game. I shall explain.
It was definitely some of the worse umpiring that I have seen since nearly ten years ago when Joe Brinkman called balls and strikes.
Both teams had a batter whose bat was interfered with by the catcher's mitt. Neither batter was victorious in arguing the decision. It happened first with New York. Unless the crowd was too loud, plate umpire Fieldin Cullbreth must have heard Hideki Matsui's bat hit leather. Travis Hafner's mitt smacker was just a graze and easily missed, but Matsui's swing was a no-brainer. This cost the Yankees a crucial out. Byrd pitched fearlessly, so it's hard to tell "what if," but there could have at least been a runner in scoring position, being that Matsui is fast on the basepath and could have taken second from Byrd on the next pitch. Alas, this would not happen.
Wang pitched a ball that went for Kelly Shoppach's face as he was attempting a bunt. He leaned back and might have been hit in the hand. There was a little bit of red, but he sure didn't react as if he was hit. But then again, the same thing happened to Manny Ramirez about five years ago. He was clearly hit in the hand by the pitch and he didn't even shake it off. Only with Ramirez, he wasn't awarded the base. The "what if" here is also difficult to bring to mind, because Shoppach was really seeing the ball and connecting well. Nonetheless, this outcome would not be witnessed.
I can't remember the Yankee batter who had a check-swing that went so far over the plate he could have ate dinner before the bat went back, and umpire Bruce Froemming said he didn't go over. This would have been strike three, but he got a break.
Grady Sizemore hit a frozen rope towards the gap in left-center, just barely cut off by the clutches of Doug Mientkiewicz by a sensational dive. He flipped the ball to the pitcher, who touched first base about a half-shoe before Sizemore did, but umpire Gerry Davis called him safe.
These events are why I label Game 4 a "What if" game.
Could the score have been different? Closer? The other way? Who knows. The umpires probably didn't even know what a baseball looked like until the game started.
I will give Cullbreth credit for calling throws in the strike zone pretty well. He was a little off here and there, but he was consistent. Too bad that was all he was good for. I'm glad that nobody had a close play at home. Who knows who would have been safe?
So all of that is the summary of just one of the reasons I would have enjoyed the Indians' win a little better if it could have been different.
The second reason is the career of Joe Torre as a Yankee's manager. Steinbrenner is a dickhole. Period.
Joe Torre helped to lead the Yankees to their 13th straight playoff appearance. Yeah. 13 in a fucking row. I have more respect for Torre than any other person associated with Major League Baseball. Steinbrenner said, "You no win, you no work here," and Micke Luna says, "You no deserve Joe Torre anyway."
How many Yankees players are free agents this year? Five? Six? Something like that. I have a hunch they're going to try and follow Torre wherever he gets to go next. The Yankees will not be the same without Torre and his horsemen. You can forget it. From this day forward, there will be an empty seat in the Yankees dugout that will never be filled again by a manager with the "mmph" that Torre has. I love the Yankees, but you better believe I want Steinbrenner to feel his loss. I want Steinbrenner to choke on his decision. And I want Torre to show him just what he's missing. I'm not psychic, but I can tell you that Torre's not the only person who's going to leave that ball club.
Torre's last year with the Yankees is the second reason why I would have enjoyed the Indians' win a little better if it could have been different.
Hardcore Yankees fans, you have the right to be angry, and you have the right to fuss, but take Alex Rodriguez's words to heart. He said, "I will tell you one thing about this team -- we left our hearts and souls out there, and we can't look in the mirror and say we left anything behind. We left it all out there, and I think the city of New York, for that, should be proud."
And you damned well better be proud. The Yankees were 14 games behind in the season, without a whisper of a shot at even pissing on the wildcard, and they came back nearly catching and passing the first place Red Sox. When's the last time that happened? Better start your research with some time on your hands.
To the American League champion Cleveland Indians, I tip my hat. See you in Fenway. Hope you got your bullet-proof vests on, cause Boston ain't gonna be easy.
To one of the most feared and respected managers in the MLB, Joe Torre, I bow down and wish you luck next year when you take your new team to the playoffs. You made history time and time again, and that's something that Steinbrenner can't take away from you.