Yanks lose game 4, Teixeira, all hope?

Going into last night's game, the Yankees were clinging onto hope and a prayer. Now, it looks like they may very well need a hope in a prayer to win this series. With Mark Teixeira ruled out for the rest of the playoffs and Cliff Lee looming, their chances may be slim to none and slim just left the building.

All of the madness that jam-packed last night's game began in the bottom of the second inning when it appeared that the second coming of Jeffrey Maier made an appearance.

Robby Cano sent this Tommy Hunter delivery over the right field wall, but this Arte Lange reject literally took his hand and pushed Nelson Cruz's glove down. Why wasn't this play reviewed?! Isn't this why we have instant replay? Two batters later, Lance Berkman sent a blast about a half an inch to the right of the foul pole that was called a HR. The umps got this one right, however, and the call was reversed. The Yanks were absolutely pounding Tommy Hunter pitches last night. End of 2, 1-0 Yanks.

Not enough madness for you? Good, because were just getting started.

The top of the 3rd inning I cannot blame on A.J Burnett, the only big mistake he made came in the top of the 6th, but we'll get to that one later. The Rangers tied it up after Andrus grounded out to Tex; who saved another run from scoring with a nice play at first. With 2 outs now, Michael Young hits a weak grounder to short that A-Rod couldn't get out of his glove. Instead of getting out of the inning, the Rangers take a 2-1 lead and A-Rod runs to watch a Tom Emansky video. Fortunately for him, this blunder wouldn't cost them the game.

Then the real insanity began...

The Yanks ran Tommy Hunter out of the game and regained the lead going into the top of the 5th. It was at that time that Grim LeRogue thought it was a great idea to personally let A-Rod know that he's not happy about A-Rod doing the deed with Cameron Diaz. Later top 5, we almost had a New York version of Steve Bartman as a fan interfered with was would have been the 3rd out of the inning. Young walks and the fan is seeing his life flash before his eyes Luckily for his life, Hamilton flew out and the inning was over. Did we really just re-live two of baseball's most infamous moments within 5 innings of this game?

Then the beginning of the end occurred.

Tex is a true gamer and gives it his all on every play. Trying to beat out a groundball, Tex felt a pop in his hammy and now the Yanks will have to play the rest of the way without him. Fortunately for them, they can bring Berkman off the bench to play 1st. For all you Berkman haters, my apologies that he's only 5th all-time in Home Runs for a switch hitter with 327. Cry me a river.

Then the big blow happened.

A.J Burnett threw one pitch that summed up his entire season. Cervelli was set up on the outside corner and A.J left a fat slider over the plate that Bengie Molina turned on and put over the wall for a 3-run shot. Goodbye baseball and goodbye game 4. The place was silent after that.

The Yanks sent Robertson out there in the 7th, he promptly got 2 outs and then Girardi pulled him for the lefty, Logan who proceded to serve up a bomb special to Josh Hamilton. Good god he's good. Good call, Joe

Time to stretch, Roman Tynan couldn't have helped them at this point.

Bottom 7. Derek Holland comes out and completes a solid 3 2/3 innings pitched. Yankee fans may think he was all over the place, but he only allowed one hit. Sounds like a good outing to me.

Top 9. 7-3 Rangers. At this point, Joe Girardi is devastated after realizing that he won't get the Cubs managing job so he throws out Sergio Mitre for the 9th; essentially waving the white flag.

Cue the Natural.

Hamilton blasts his 2nd HR of the game (4th of the ALCS). Vlady hits a single and then Nelson Cruz hits a 2-run bomb to deep left. 10-3 Rangers. Nolan Ryan is beyond giddy in the front row as Yankee fans couldn't get to the subway fast enough.

In today's afternoon matinee, C.C gets the nod.

C.C is by far the perfect man to get the ball for

today's game and perhaps he can give them a much needed shot in the arm. Although I hardly see the Yankees going down in 5 games, the team that won last night's game was going to win this series.

There will be a new champion this year.

kudos to nydailynews.com for the great photos!

A message for Philly fans..Beware the Hurri-CAIN!

Matt Cain looked like a stud today throwing 7 shutout innings. Javier Lopez and Brian Wilson, who looks like the dude from 300, came in and capped off the 3-0 victory over the Filthies.

Barry Bonds put the needles aside for today to make it out to the ballpark and throw out the ceremonial first pitch. He looked "jacked" up to be there as AT&T Park may be the only place on the planet that accepts Barry Bonds as anything other than a crybaby steroid freak.

I digress.

Chase Utley had one of the tougher games i've ever seen him have as he went 0-4 and misplayed two balls hit his way. Cole Hamels looked solid through the first 3 2/3 innings of the game until he ran into this man....

Cody F'n Ross! The Giants have 8 RBI's in this series and 4 of them are from this man. Ross knocked in an RBI single and Aubrey Huff followed him with another ribeye. The Filthies have got to find a way to get this man out!

This is another series where the lack of an off day between games 4 and 5 hurts a team's rotation; in this case, Philly's.

Do you send Roy Halladay out on 3 days rest and, hence, send Oswalt and Hamels on three days rest? Or do you put the ball in Joe Blanton's hands? Blanton hasn't lost since July, but hasn't pitched since the 29th of September. Regardless of who throws, San Fran has gained back the momentum in this series and Philly unexpectedly has their backs against the wall.

How good is Cliff Lee?

Good enough to get $200 million next year in free agency and have nobody doubt how crazy it is.

Lee's 13 K's last night made it 3 consecutive postseason starts that he's had 10+ strikeouts in a game. The only other person to accomplish that? Bob Gibson.

It took him 19 2/3 innings to allow a walk this postseason. Lee punched out 30 batters before he walked a batter! These are both postseason records!

He's now 7-0 with a 1.26 E.R.A in the postseason. Who has a lower E.R.A? Christy Matthewson (5-5 0.97) and Sandy "The Left Arm of God" Koufax (4-3 0.95). Even these pitching legends have lost postseason games. Lee has yet to do so.

The New York Yankees have played in over 360 postseason games and had never been held to a measly 3 baserunners in any one of those games.

That's how good Cliff Lee is.

Filthies nod up series, time to head to the bay!

O.K, so the pitching matchup of the century wasn't the 1-0 classic we anticipated. No worries. We'll see it again in game 5!

Just so you know, there is a guy making a name for himself in this postseason that doesn't pitch, Cody Ross.

This guy is a stud who plays the game the way it should be; hard. I watched him kill the Mets, while in a Marlins uniform. He had 90 RBI's last year, and he has already hit 3 HR's in the NLCS!

Don't expect Cole Hamels to shut him down, Cody's 9-30 with 4 HR's and 6 RBI's against him all-time.

Cole Hamels had a very impressive CG shutout to cap the NLDS for the Filthies and Roy Oswalt was absolutely filthy with an 8 inning, 1 run and 9 strikeout preformance. We get it Filthadelphia, your rotation is pretty damn good.

Jimmy Rollins, as much as I hate his guts, had a clutch 3-run double to seal game 2. He had a rough year, but he's always ready for October baseball.

The baseball Giants decided to switch up the lineup today and have turned to experience; wily vets Aaron Rowand and Edgar Renteria. Pablo Sandoval and Andres Torres get to enjoy the view from the bench for this one. I expect contributions from the two aforementioned postseason warriors of old, as well as a pitcher's duel between Hamels and Cain. I'm taking the Giants for game 3 and a regaining of the series momentum.

It's all on you A.J!

Andy Pettitte was solid last night, Cliff Lee was dominant! A 3rd straight 10 k preformance and an 8th inning blowup has the defending World Champions in a 2-1 hole.

The hopeful savior has not pitched in 17 days, an $83 million dollar contract, 15 losses and an E.R.A over 5.

I hope you know what your doing Joe, because you clearly made a bad call not going with Mariano last night. The more I thought about it, the more you needed to keep that lead to just 2 runs in such a pivotal game. Connor Robertson just didn't have it and the Yankees were held to just 3 baserunners all game; the lowest total they've ever had in a postseason game.

To Joe's credit, however, you can't throw the rest of your rotation out there on 3 days rest for the rest of the series. But c'mon man! A.J Burnett?!

Because of Burnett, Cervelli will get the catching duties tonight instead of Jorge Posada. I would have told A.J to find a way to deal with it for the sake of a W. Experience is key, and now Girardi has just pissed off a member of the core 4.

The silver lining? Tommy Hunter gives up the long ball (21 HR in 128 IP) The Yankees hit home runs. Tonight will not be a pitcher's duel, it will be an offensive explosion. The only question is whether or not A.J will cough up the runs more than Hunter. Yanks tie up the series tonight.

Sporcle: Can you name the players from the original NBA Jam game?

How addicting is sporcle? How ungodly good is NBA JAM? Combine the two and you have absolute madness

Can you name the players from the game NBA Jam (Arcade Edition - 1993)? - sporcle

Callin You Out Sports Week 6

I know it's a bit late, but check out this week's episode and see how well...or not so well Marty and I made out with our picks!