The Whole Delivery

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 magneti...

After the Twins three consecutive singles in the top half of the 3rd inning gave them the 2-0 lead, the pressure could have gotten to a heavily favored Yankee team. But when Derek Jeter is your captain, and your offense is stacked, there should be no rush to panic at all, let alone in the third inning. Oh, and having CC Sabathia still maintain his composure doesn't hurt too. Jeter settled down any chances of trepidation creeping up on Yankees fans with a two run homer off of Brian Duensing in the bottom of that inning, and it was all Yankees there, in a 7-2 comfortable win . The Twins had a chance to get back into the game in the top of the 7th, as Orlando Cabrera was challenging Phil Hughes with runners on 2nd and 3rd and two outs. But the hybrid starter, who has been terrific in the pen all season for the Yankees, struck him out to end the AL Central's champs chances at coming back. The series has an off day now in order to align with the other ALDS (Red Sox vs Angels) schedu...

So what if the Yankees may destroy them like they did in the regular season, the Twins may of had the most satisfying win for this entire 2009 season of any team , and that may even include the postseason results all the way to he final out of the World Series. Considering the fact that Justin Morneau went down for the season, and how they were seven games behind the Tigers with over a month left, it is a testament to Ron Gardenhire's superb managing and how this organization is just one of baseball's best. Jim Leyland, despite his own positive managing credentials, may take heat for leaving Fernando Rodney in for a 4th inning. To my knowledge, I have never seen Rodney pitch for more than 6 outs in the majors, and that maybe was the case for his entire professional career. I will check on that, but I am sure that he never has done a "Mo Rivera" type performance before, the Yankees' closer is just know for his two innings escapades. This was certainly, without a do...

Reuters' Rebecca Cook Now the Twins have to win the final two games of this series , or the Tigers will be the Yankees' opponent for the second time in four post seasons in the Divisional round. The Tigers are a stunning 71-0 when leading after 8th innings, and no question Fernando Rodney has made himself an elite closer in the absence of Joel Zumaya. Even with the Yankees playing well, the Tigers do have the arms that can easily compete and give them trouble if Sabathia, Petite, and Burnett aren't up to par.

Well, it all comes down to this in the American League Central, as the Twins and the tigers began their four games series to see who will be the winner of the division, and the Yankees Division Series opponent next week. The series was suppose to commence last night, but rain postponed this. For the Twins, at least taking 3 out of a 4 is the only option for them. A sweep of course would be unbelievable, and a split would be terrible. With the highlighted struggles of Francisco Liriano this year, all ace mantle for the Twins falls on Nick Blackburn, as he will duel with Rick Porcello in Game 1 going on right now, while Brian Duensing has the inevitable task of trying to outduel Justin Verlander in the crucial night cap today. Defense, as always, maybe crucial in this games, as while the Tigers aren't bad in that department (only 86 errors commented this season, the best in making sure not to beat themselves in Major League Basketball is Minnesota (a Major Leagues leading low of 70 e...