During the past week I embarked on a baseball playoff journey as a fan of the visiting team in Anaheim, CA => The New York Yankees. Yes, the Yankees played three games out in Anaheim, going the distance for the American League Division Series. And yes, they lost 3 games to 2 in the best of 5. I was lucky to have the opportunity to see the Yanks outside of NYC so soon after moving west, but unlucky in the outcome. Game 1 was fantastic. They won 4-2 and I was all smiles. Robinson Cano came through in the clutch, and Mike Mussina was lights out. I also met some hospitable Angel fans in the stadium that helped me fit in, even with a Hideki Matsui t-shirt on.
However, as the series wore on, my patience wore thin with the lost opportunities against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. I’m not kidding. That’s their name. Anaheim is in Orange County, not Los Angeles County. And the city is Anaheim, not Los Angeles. That’s just number one on the list of lame things about the Angels organization. Are they the Angels or the Rally Monkeys? Anyway, Game 2 was a loss mainly fumbled away by the Yanks with errors and lack of timely hitting. A-Rod, where are you?
The ALDS then headed into NYC for two games. Game 3 had Randy Johnson throwing batting practice to Angel hitters, who got out to a quick 5-run lead. Then, after gaining the lead at 6-5, the Yankees bullpen served up some meatballs to the Angels, who seemed to always take advantage of runners on base by getting them home, a rarity for New York throughout the series. LAAA won Game 3; Game 4 went to NY in a nerve wracking 1-run victory (thank you Jorge Posada). That meant the stage was set for Game 5 back here in California. I promptly acquired my third playoff ticket through wonderful eBay.
Game 5 felt different to me than games 1 and 2. One reason is that there seemed to be less Yankee fans around, which means more Rally Monkeys and more Bam-Bams. The inflatable Bam-Bam noisemaker bat things are the most annoying products introduced to sports since Tim McCarver decided to be a color commentator. During the game and between innings I’d watch these dopes, fully grown men, sit in a daze randomly striking the inflated bats together, with a facial expression worthy of a pile of Rally Monkey turds. Back to the game . . . things started off well for the Bronx Bombers. They got up to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. The Angels’ starting pitcher, Bartolo Colon, came out of the game with a shoulder problem, and the rookie Santana filled in. He was shakey at first, and the Yanks got two runs, but they didn’t put the game away and left several men on base. My man, Hideki Matsui, was especially bad in leaving a total of 8 men on base in Game 5 alone! The Angels took the lead in the bottom half of the second and never looked back. Bubba Crosby and Gary Sheffield collided on a fly ball in allowing the go-ahead run. Randy Johnson relieved Mussina early and shut down the Angels for over 4 innings. Where was that in Game 3 Randy? Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi were the most reliable in delivering at the plate, but it just wasn’t enough. In the top of the 9th the table was set for A-Rod. With Jeter on first he grounded into a double play. Matsui made the final out, fittingly with 2 men on base. Was this Bernie Williams’ last game for the Yankees? I hope not. Nevertheless, something must be done during the off season, and I’m sure Steinbrenner is already working on it.
Overall the ALDS was a great experience. Not having to listen to Joe Buck and Tim McCarver was worth the price of admission (I’m still waiting for commentary-free TV). However, I would recommend that managers of "The A" allow visiting fans to cheer in all directions, not just foward as was enforced by the barbershop quartet usher in Game 1. I was threatened to be ejected in the first inning if I turned around to cheer. I was only looking for fellow Yankee fans to high-five! The LAAA are not owned by Disney anymore, but the influence is there. I’m a diehard Yankee fan and take the good with the bad. In the end the regular season might have taken too much out of them to go far in the playoffs. There’s always 2006 => GO YANKEES! Angel fans know where they can stick those Bam-Bams!
