Thank you for touching on the Rivera piece. I had that argument twice in the last two weeks.

Joe, speaking of the interminable 7th inning stretch... Knowing you re-watched the game on video after you returned from the Stadium, I'm sure you agree: DVR's rule!

It seemed like the Yankee's hitters knew they were going to be in for a long night very early in the game. The look on Jeter, Texiera, and Rodriguez's faces after they struck out was of utter bewilderment. It was like they were saying "this is going to be a looooong night."

I don't think the Phillies were going to use Lee on three days rest anyway, I think it was a ruse. Lee is going in Game 5. I think the goal was to win Game 1, which they did. The goal now is to win 2 of 3 with Pedro, Hamels and Blanton/Happ on the mound. If you do that, you're up 3-1 with Lee on regular rest against either Burnett on short rest in Game 5 or Chad Gaudin. That's a pretty big edge for the Phillies. If the Phillies only win 1 of the next 3, then its 2-2 heading into Game 5, with your best starter on the mound. Of course, the Yankees could win the next 3, and then Lee on normal rest to make it 2-3 heading back to NY

Thats a long way of saying that I don't think Lee was coming back on short rest anyway. If he was, he would have pitched 7 last night and been done. Dubee and Manuel aren't dumb, they knew how many pitches he'd thrown, and I think they had this planned the whole time with regard to his pitch count

Good write up, Joe. I agree completely about half time. I don't expect the Yankees to can it, but I wouldn't mind if they did.

At least it ain't Ronan Tynan anymore.

I was glad to see Lee get the CG.

Part of the fun for me as a baseball fan is to be a witness to the great performances, and I believe a CG 10-strikeout performance against the Yankees in the World Series is a great performance.

It's just one inning, but if he comes out after 8 it's not the same great performance. Not only do I believe that, but I'll bet Cliff Lee believes that, too.

Winning the series is obviously the goal, but style points are fun, too, if you can get them. Let it all hang out, man.

On the money Joe. I think Girardi did the Yanks and Phil Hughes a huge disservice in how they managed him in the ALCS. He has lost all confidence and needs a few big outs to stem that tide.

I've been pretty tough on Joe all postseason about his moves, but the one that got all Yankees' fans squirming in their seats last night (Marte) was not only the right call call---but it worked out.

I thought Davis' strike zone was fairly consistent; but when it wavered, there just didn't seem to be any rationale to it whatever. Utley's AB in the 8th is a prime example - the 3d and 4th pitches were unquestionably balls, and Davis had called them that way all night, yet in that situation he inexplicably called them strikes. Why?

If Manuel doesn't think his bullpen can protect a 5-run lead for 2 innings, he's gonna ride his starters straight into the ground. That includes sending Lee to the mound for Game 4.

The curve Lee struck out Posada with to end the game was absolutely filthy.

I've been "out of (college) baseball" for more than six years now, so excuse me if I say something dumb here. This is about the controversy around the double-play call in the fifth inning.

Why was there any controversy between the umps or the commentators? Does it really matter if Jimmy Rollins caught the ball? Everything he did after that makes it a double-play, right. No one had to "tag" Matsui.

If I'm right, maybe I should get "back in baseball." Who makes more money, an ump or broadcaster?

Adidas, fat laces, Lee Jeans...the 80s were great. Bring back Jordache jeans.

Joe, I'm surprised you weren't miffed at Girardi's decision to stick with Robertson against Ibanez in the 8th. In a spot where he desperately needs an out, he lets Ibanez -- who had looked hopeless against the left-handed Sabathia all night -- take his hacks against a righty. I buy that you're not going to use Mo there, but you can't possibly be saving Coke for later -- if Ryan Howard is getting another at bat, the game's likely long gone anyway.

It's just ironic that a guy who's been hammered for overmanaging at times in the playoffs actually undermanaged at a crucial spot in the game.

Aren't there an awful lot of home-grown players on both teams? I thought the Phillies had the advantage here, but almost all the Yankees' bullpen came up from the Yankees' farm system, not to mention Jeter, Posada, Cano, Cabrera and Pettitte.

I know small market teams can't compete in keeping great players, but the fact that both these teams have also is pretty sweet.

Meant to say "the fact that both these teams have also developed several great players is pretty sweet."

I think you mistake the deke intended by Rollins. He said after the game that he in fact did mean for the ball to short hop into his glove. He didn't realize the ump was calling it a catch until he was already making the DP turn at 2b, which is why he was so good at selling it as such (i.e., he wasn't "selling" anything). It all worked out for the Phillies anyway, but it was a fortunate fluke more than a well-played deke.

I too thought Manuel needlessly let Lee pitch the 9th, though I suppose it doesn't matter much. But it's 6-0 so unless you don't think your bullpen can pitch one inning with better than a 54.00 ERA you really need to let them finish it.

The 2B ump called the catch immediately so Hideki really has nowhere to go but back to the bag at that point.

The Yankees losing, beyond giving the Phillies the series lead, was significant. The Yanks lost their CC advantage plus their home field advantage.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Lee is not the only pither who can dominate. I like Sabathia on 3 days rest more than Lee on 3 days rest. If Sabathia takes the next 2 matchups between them, the Yankees win the Series.

I can't make my reply button work, so I will just say this. ElAngelo, I think what you are saying is that I have an intuitive grasp of the obvious. Thank you. a5ehren and Stevis, the point I am making is that Matsui was deked by the umpire, not Rollins. Do you think Matsui walks off the field if he knows it was called a catch and there was no force out at second? It wasn't clear to me at all that the ump was ruling on the catch rather than the force, and I think Matsui's actions say the same thing. I mean, if it was so obvious, why did the umps spend 5 minutes chatting with each other after the play?

Did anyone else notice that while the names of the Phillies players were announced before the game, the Yankee's facilities people played Darth Vader's Theme/Imperial March (i.e., the "Evil Empire song") over the broadcast system, but while the Yankees players were announced, they played the Main Theme from Star Wars (i.e., "the Good Guys song")?

What does that say about the Yankees organization? At least it shows they might have a sense of irony....

Why didn't they just have Marte pitch around Werth and let him face Ibanez? Marte looked quite good last night, and if Werth doesn't want to swing at balls in the dirt a foot outside (which is as close as I'd let Marte throw to Werth), no harm. Ibanez couldn't have hit Marte's stuff with a boat oar.

We've seen studies that show hitters do not have a "clutchness" skill for hitting in the late innings. I'd like to see a study on the umpires from the 7th inning on. It seems from all the games I've watched this postseason (including Det/Min) that the strike zone is pretty good for the first 6 innings and then completely falls apart.

Surely we'll have a rainout, thus leaving no question for Lee taking 3 turns right? Maybe thats what Charlie's waiting for before making it official.

Heard on NY radio this AM: Complaints about the conference, because they hadn't done that yet in the playoffs. The host is saying, "But they got it right!" and the caller is wingeing that it's not fair to get the call right....It reminded me why I find it so easy to hate the Yankees-so many of their fans feel entitled.

I know psychology doesn't count for much here, but I do think there is a significant confidence boost for a team when their starter throws a CG. I wonder if that's a split that is available ... what is the record the game after a CG?