Sports Thread #2 For 10/11/09: Yankees And Angels Complete Sweeps To Head TO ALCS Showdown

Yankees celebrity their return to the ALCS for the first time in 5 years

First, one the Angels-Red Sox's series, which I will have more on tomorrow. Well, Torii Hunter is no question the team leader of this team now. And really, all signs point to his three run shot off of Jon Lester in Game 1 as the symbol of this series.

Until today.

The fact that the Halos got Jonathan Papelborn to give up his first runs in the postseason ever, and come back to score 3 in the 9th on two outs is a testament to how focus, determined, and calm they were to overcome their Sox bugaboo this time. More on the Red Sox side of things tomorrow, but their big names just did not come through at all. And will that lead to Daniel Bard replacing Papelborn as the club's closer now, with Papelborn possibly headed out the door in terms of some rumors? I doubt it in my mind, but that is something to watch for indeed, and more tomorrow.

To the Yankees-Twins series, just the little costly mistakes became magnetized for Minnesota in their swan song at the Metrodome, with the biggest one no question being Nick Punto's costly base running blunder in the 8th inning.

Hard times indeed for the AL Central champions, but they shouldn't be ashamed of themselves here, especially Carl Pavano, who showed the qualities of an ace that sure as hell wasn't the case with the Yankees.

But onto the ultimate stage of the American League. And the worthiest of teams have earned their place for an invaluable pennant.

Image from MLB.com