Yanks One Win Away

Will tonight be the night? I still say, "no", the Yanks WONT beat Cliff Lee this series, but they are on track to win #27 in the Bronx. Nice and tidy in front of their home fans.

By the way, I still say Charlie Manuel threw away this series by NOT pitching Lee in Game 4. Huge mistake. Manuel couldn't let this series get to 3-1, and Lee was the only way to stop that from happening (plus he'd have him for a potential appearance in Game 7...probably not going to happen now).

Great game tonight that featured what some are calling the biggest hit of Alex Rodriguez's career. I guess you could argue his two-out double off Brad Lidge was his biggest hit ever.

But my favorite play of the game came a couple minutes earlier when Johnny Damon stole second base, then, realizing nobody was covering third swiped that bag, too.

I loved that play. It's old school smart baseball like that that I'd rather see than a phony Yankee Stadium/Citizen's Bank Park short-porch home run any day. When watching the replay it seemed like Damon knew he was going to take 3rd the whole time....it wasn't just a reaction play. So heads-up.

Also was a little bit disturbed by Joba's outing. With all the debate over starter/reliever, I think the only thing the Yankees have done is take away his intimidation and edge.

Remember when he broke in in 2007 and it seemed like batters literally feared him? That's so not the case anymore. When Joba comes in I feel anything but confident. I think that's where the Yankees have gone horribly wrong with him.

I hate to use the most over-used word of 2009, but I'll do it here....that guy has lost his "swagger." And you can blame the Yankees brass for that.

But he did manage to scavenge a World Series win. So he'll always have that story in his back pocket. Though 50 years down the road from now he'll probably be telling people he struck out the side on nine pitches.

So to recap, A-Rod awesome, Damon old school, I worry for Joba and the Yankees will lose tonight.

But that'll just make Wednesday's bash in the Bronx that much sweeter (in case you didn't follow me there, Yankees win it in 6).

Matt Estreich for The Huddle