Small Ball Nets Yanks Series Win

In 2004 was anyone else screaming for a bunt in the ALCS against what's his name with the bloody sock?

It wasnt the only time in the last dozen years that a bunt would have been nice, and it was certainly refreshing last night to see some small ball play a big factor in a Bombers win.

You hate to put it so bluntly, but winning series is huge.  The simple math means netting 2 out of every 3 games translates to 108 wins.  While that number is attainable, it is a bit unrealistic, but the point remains the same.  Winning series is a big deal.  You take the games one at a time, but after a loss the key is winning the series - seems to be the approach from Girardi and I love it already.  Manufacturing runs is the crux of managing, and small ball plays a huge part.

Phil Hughes looked solid through and through and the back end of the bullpen was great.  Is anyone else stumping for Joba to stay in the pen?  I like him right where he is.  Rivera to Wetland, Stanton to Rivera and now Joba to Rivera.  I like it a lot.

You wont ever hear a peep from me about the umpiring when the Yanks lose, however, Bill Miller, (last nights home plate umpire) they won so I have an earful for you.  Your strike zone is horrible.  Being bad is fine, but being inconsistently bad is unacceptable.  When your strike zone seems unidentifiable we can at least stomach it, but when it moves in addition to that it just makes for bad baseball and even worse TV.

And thats not all, Bill...On Opening Night you made two of the worst calls at second base I have ever seen.  One baserunner called out on a tag on the knee (foot clearly on the base) and another called safe when he was tagged 2 feet from the bag.  Years of umpiring on many levels has taught me this:  If umpires are remembered for any reason after a game, then their job was poorly executed.

Bring on the Rays...Go Yanks!