Rangers Take Stranglehold on ALCS

(BOD - Julie Michaels)

The ALCS is done. Finished. Although, I guess that is from a metaphorical perspective at the moment, until Texas completes the mercy killing of the once heralded Yankees dynasty, the Bronx Bombers theoretically still have a chance.

I think we can all agree that the chance is approximately zero percent. Even if the Yankees manage to win the next two games, what do they get as a reward? The chance to face Cliff Lee again in a Game 7 deep in the heart of Texas.

The Rangers have completely dominated every facet of this series and would have already wrapped up a league championship crown were it not for an epic bullpen meltdown in the eighth inning of Game 1. One bad inning in four games. They’ve laid the smackdown on the boys from the Bronx.

(Where are He Who Hits Bombs quotes about the greatness of the Yankees now? I don’t hear anything. He’s awfully quiet this time of year.)

Onto the game notes:

Seeing two contested home runs by the Yankees in the same inning was surreal. I completely agree that Cano’s ball was over the fence, but it was obvious that Cruz might have had a play on the ball and he was interfered with by a fan. Thus, I think the correct call should have been a ground rule double. On replay, Berkman’s was obviously foul, so it’s great to see the use of instant replay to make the correct call. That is the point of the technology in the first place.

I don’t know what has gotten into Gregg Zaun, but he’s like an old man angry at kids for walking on his grass. In every segment he does throughout the game with Jamie Campbell, he just seems continually pissed off. One, I think he’s upset, rightfully so, that he has to spend so much time with Jamie Campbell. Two, the in game segments are sponsored by Wisers and I bet Zaun, as a recovering alcoholic, wants nothing more than to let that cool, brown liquid caress his throat. I’d be edgy too.

The best line of the night came when he was watching the replay of Cano’s homer and, with much distaste, deadpanned, “Check out the fat kid on the left trying to make the catch.” Comedy gold.

AJ Burnett almost had me fooled last night. He threw decently enough through five innings and had his team in a position to win the game (personally I’d want a little more than five ok innings from a guy making $16 million a year, but I digress).

But then, of course, the real AJ showed up and he managed to self-combust in spectacular fashion. After intentionally walking a batter to get to Bengie Molina, what does Burnett do with his first pitch? He throws a fastball that drifts lazily into the inner half of the zone and Molina smoked it into the stands for a three run home run. It was a classic case of lost focus and Burnett’s career calling card.

Derek Jeter was the lone bright spot for the pinstripes as it seemed like he made it his personal mission to make me look a like fool for calling him old and washed up. In my defence, he did get those big hits off Tommy “Double Chin” Hunter who I’m surprised Nolan Ryan even let in the rotation considering the latter’s intense devotion to physical fitness.

Truthfully, I stopped watching after Burnett blew up because I knew the game was over. And there was a finale special of Teen Mom showing on MTV.