After last night's disappointing (though NOT necessarily damning...) blow-out in Indians-ville, Yanks players, fans, and detractors alike all had something to say about the state of affairs. Some think their season is dunzo, a few aren't ready to judge just yet, and a bunch just hope that last night will fire the team up for a win tonight! Since you're here (why?), you know by now which category I fall into, but let's see what how others are reacting:
Peter Abraham: "Don’t give up on your squad yet. I detected not an ounce of panic in the clubhouse. This is why you want Andy Pettitte in pinstripes."
Alex at Bronx Banter: "An ass-whipping for the Yanks. Andy will pitch the biggest game of the year tomorrow."
Dave and Aziz at Pride of the Pinstripes: "Silver lining time... At least most of the kids were able to get their feet wet in this game. Duncan got to play a bit, and Ohlendorf, Veras and Hughes all pitched and were able to get any potential postseason jitters out of the way. And the Yankee hitters were extremely patient, working six walks out of Sabathia in his five innings of work (though two were intentional). This is a pitcher that walked only 37 batters all year, and didn't walk more than three in any of his 34 starts. As Mike Vaccaro notes, the team's game plan against Sabathia worked. If they keep up that approach, and keep getting that many people on base, the timely hits will follow. A-Rod, Jeter, Matsui, and Posada combined to go 0-for-14. We don't expect that to keep up."
The Star-Ledger: "The winner of Game 1 of every ALDS series involving the Yankees since 2000 ... has eventually lost the series.
Year;Game 1; Series
2006;Yanks, 8-4;Tigers, 3-1
2005;Yanks, 4-2;Angels, 3-2
2004;Twins, 2-0;Yanks, 3-1
2003;Twins, 3-1;Yanks, 3-1
2002;Yanks, 8-5;Angels, 3-1
2001;A's 5-3;Yanks, 3-2
2000;A's 5-3;Yanks, 3-2"
K Obrien at Newsday: "If this series goes to a Game 5, after seeing Wang give up eight runs in 4 2/3 innings last night, I just don't think you can start Wang. Maybe you start him on three days' rest in a Game 4 Monday, but I don't think you can send him back out there in Cleveland if there is a Game 5."
Larry at Replacement Level: "They say that pitching wins championships, that great pitching beats great hitting, etc., etc. During the broadcast, the commentators kept saying how the Yankees couldn’t win without good pitching. Uh… they would have won without good pitching tonight if they’d gotten OKAY pitching. If Wang had given up 4 runs over 6 innings, we’d probably be recapping a Yankees win right now."
SG at Replacement Level: "A split in Cleveland would be a good scenario for the Yankees. If they can win tomorrow they’ll get to go home for two games against Jake Westbrook and Paul Byrd, who are possibly even bigger question marks than Roger Clemens or Mike Mussina. It’ll be up to Andy Pettitte to keep them in the game tomorrow. Let’s hope he’s up to it."
Johnny Damon (not "Demon" today since he at least had an RBI last night): "We need to get a win back for it. Three losses and we're heading home. It would be too tough to overcome a deficit of 2-0 against this team."
The Wangster himself: "I feel today wasn't good. Maybe I worked too quick."
And finally, Mr Torre: "With what we had to deal with pretty much all year, especially since early on when we dug a hole for ourselves, we understood that we certainly can't feel sorry for ourselves."
Your turn now, friends and foes: hit me with your feelings going into game 2!
I say Pettitte fudges himself on the mound enroute to a humiliating 15-2 pounding.