ANAHEIM, Calif. — The patience Bobby Abreu spread through the Angels’ free-swinging batting order during the regular season was the reason the Angels went into last night’s Game 5 of the ALCS scratching for baserunners and runs.
“They were patient all season and that works for 162 games, but it doesn’t work in the postseason because every pitcher throws strikes,” an NL scout said yesterday. “Look at those teams in Oakland. They were real patient and won in the regular season and then did nothing in the postseason.”
PHOTOS: ANGELS BEAT YANKEES, FORCE GAME 6
So, what did the Angels do against A.J. Burnett?
“They made good adjustments,” said Burnett, who gave up four runs before getting an out during the Yankees’ 7-6 loss to the Angels last night. “The first game they took pitches and made me work. Tonight they came out hacking.”
Going into last night the stats proved the scout right. The Angels posted a .350 on-base percentage — third in the AL — this past season. In four ALCS games they were down to .273.
After hitting a league-high .285, the Angels started last night batting .201. The walks were off but not by much; 3.38 per game in the regular season to 3.25 in the ALCS.
Now it will be interesting to see how the Angels attack Andy Pettitte tomorrow night in Game 6.
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Twenty cases of Korbel California champagne were spotted outside the Yankees’ clubhouse after last night’s loss. Needless to say they were full.
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As expected manager Joe Girardi paired Jose Molina with Burnett last night. The pair worked well in the ALDS against the Twins and in Game 2 of the ALCS; both Yankee victories.
That wasn’t the case last night when Burnett gave up four runs in the first before getting an out. Jorge Posada, who hit for Molina in the fifth, was behind the plate in the seventh when Burnett allowed the first two runners to get on and ignite a three-run, game-winning rally,
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While Girardi could have gotten Posada’s bat in the lineup as the designated hitter, the manager stuck with Hideki Matsui as the DH even after he went 0-for-5 and fanned three times in Game 4.
Matsui went 1-for-3 with an RBI, walked twice and hit into a double play.
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Derek Jeter told Girardi he “felt great” and that was the extent of the conversation centering on Jeter’s recent battle with the flu.
Jeter led off the game with a single and went 1-for-4.
Jeter tied David Justice for second place on the all-time LCS games played list with 46. Manny Ramirez holds the LCS record with 49.
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Asked about a new wrinkle in the ALCS schedule that has a day off between Games 4 and 5, Girardi said there were plusses and minuses.
“Players like to play,” Girardi said. “It feels like we have been in California for a week and a half. There is also benefits, Mo (Rivera) got two days off and Hughesie (Phil Hughes) got a couple of days off.”
The break also allowed the Yankees to use their top three starters more than they would have been able to if not for the idle day.
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According to Girardi, CC Sabathia came through his 101-pitch outing in Game 4 on three days rest “great.” That puts him on target to start Game 7 Sunday if necessary. That would be on regular four days rest.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia intentionally walked Giants slugger Barry Bonds seven times in the 2002 World Series. So, he was asked as hot as Alex Rodriguez is would Scioscia walk him intentionally more after doing it with two outs and the bases empty in the ninth inning of Game 3.
“There is a huge difference in what we are doing right now in the lineup we are facing as opposed to the lineup we were facing in ’02 with Barry Bonds in it,” Scioscia said. “I think the Giants had a terrific club but their offensive lineup was nowhere near the depth that we are facing now with the Yankees. It’s not about controlling one guy. We have to make pitches all the way through the lineup.”
Especially, to Rodriguez who started last night’s action batting .375 (6-for-16) with three homers and five RBIs in four ALCS games and .407 (11-for-27) with five homers and 11 RBIs in seven post-season games.