Getting the Rally Monkey Off Your Back!
Monday, October 26, 2009 at 09:02AM 
The Yankees have been to the playoffs every year (with the exception of last year) since 1995. But this victory--the 40th pennant--was especially sweet.
This is one of my favorite Yankees teams. This is the best baseball the team's played since 2001. The power is there but this team also bunts well, hits the cut-off man, takes the extra base, etc. Proof that the best team money can buy doesn't win unless it plays fundamentally sound baseball. They did and they won the pennant.
It was especially nice to finally beat the pesky Angels who have owned the Yankees the past decade.
My favorite line . . . quoted in the context of the Dos Equis commercial ("the most interesting man in the world"). "Mariano Rivera gave up a run in the eighth just to see how it feels." Rivera hadn't given up a run in the playoffs at Yankee Stadium since 2001.
Reader Comments (39)
Prayer for another in a long line of smitings
Heavenly Father,
Help our brothers on the Phillies the entire team, but especially the ones who profess to know You before an unbelieving world like Mo and Petite. Help these brothers show the Yanks who their Daddy really is.
Smite the Phillies through Your Servants Lord,
Amen
Besides the Phillies couldn't even finish off the Dodgers who were not playing very well. It took them 6 games to finish off a on again off again pitching staff that allowed way to many hits. Not to name manny who did not hit well. Not impressed with how the Phillies took care of the Dodgers. The Yankees on the other hand brought there A game both in piching and batting. Closing out there series in five games.
Go Yankees! Destroy those Phillies.
When you get the best teams in baseball together it sure makes for entertaining games.
No real affiliation here... I am a lifelong Rangers fan.
The series is going to be an all out war. Great for all baseball fans!
Yes, Cliff Lee was outstanding--especially in light of the fact that his career ERA against the Yankees was something like 5.00 prior to this game. Good pitching always trumps good hitting in these short series.
But you seem way too into this . . . Certainly more so than I am. Once we beat the Angels--since if we didn't, I'd never hear the end of it--I am well satisfied, regardless of what happens in the series with the Phillies.
You're not as fun as my other friends who are die-hard Bronx Bomber fans. But come on--it was kind of nice seeing Arod swing through those pitches; I mean, just a little?
Hold on just a minute, A-Rod may of Stroke out several times, ok I well give you the Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee was outstanding but can they keep that up? One game but tree to win if they sweep if not five, six or even a seven game series can they keep up this pace without making mistake?
I agree with Pastor Kim, I was delighted that the Yankees made it through a usually difficult Angel’s team. Rather they win or not let the games begin.
I no longer pray for my teams to win. It's just a game! I pray more for the salvation of the players.
You guys took my comments too seriously- I was making the comment about divine intervention in jest. I do not really believe that God plays favorites in sporting events. I find it odd when players point to the sky or even make the sign of the cross when they enter the batters box in order to gain the favor of the Almighty. When we "do" things to gain God's favor we are always on shaky ground- I always remember the book of Joshua when he saw the commander of the Lord and Joshua asked him whose side He was on- we all know the answer He gave Joshua. If that does not make you shake and tremble nothing will.
Your Bulls take on a healthy, hungry Celtics team tonight. Two years ago, when the Celts won #17, many commented that it was the best defensive team in at least 15 years.
This team (with Sheed) aims to be the best defensive team of all time. (Defense wins championships!)
KG talks an awful lot of smack and the borderline militant Islam Sheed may bring a lot of baggage with him. KG's work ethic may keep Sheed in line but I forsee some internal problems with the Celtics. The Lakers are going to be hard to beat again.
The Bulls are trying to bulid around Derek Rose and still are missing some key elements- like a good power forward and aggressive and scrapy defense. They will be better than last year though.
You bring up the supposed baggage of Sheed. You can ask any NBA experts and players about how great of a locker room guy Sheed is. The players that he has played with love him.
His baggage is mostly with the referees (and his constant arguing, ala my favorite, Kevin McHale), and some of the fans. He is a great locker room guy and a great defensive player and shooter -- including three's.
Regarding KG talking smack -- he has always done so. The players don't really get too bothered by it, because they realize the incredible intensity that he has. Did you know that the greatest smack talker was Larry Bird? They said at the all star three point shooting contest, he use to ask the other players which one of them was ready to go against him and lose.
With the two yound studs, Perkins and especially Rondo, they should actually improve as the season goes on. Not only do the Celts have the best defense (KG, Perkins, Sheed, Pierce and Rondo), now look at the three point shooters (Ray Allen, Eddie House, Pierce and now Sheed).
I don't want to sound too vocal about it, because injuries play a big role in it, and also getting the breaks. But, -- since you brought them up, the last team the Lakers want to see coming out of the tunnel for a Championship game, is the green and white. (Believe me, the Celtics want the Lakers, but the Lakers want no part of the C's in a championship situation.) They have lost nine out of eleven to the Celts in the finals, and they cringe inwardly when they see the leprechan's, and the trick bounces that take place on the famed parquet floor. (Ask Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, and Elgin Baylor.)
Always geat to hear from you brother John!
Jordan spoke more smack than Bird and KG combined. I still do not like it though and it speaks more of the degradation of sport than anything else. Players do it because it works- it gets inside others heads but is that what sports is all about? Look at the fool Jordan made of himself in his speech at the Hall of Fame. There is more to life than competition and humiliating your opponents. I still love sports and I think you should play to win the game but there are certain behaviors that degrade sports and make it a playground for all sorts of foolishness. Some, like Mariano Rivera, rise above all that nonsense and perform their duties with class and dignity and do not seem to have to revert to smack to win. I doubt if many NBA coaches are telling their players not to use smack- it seems that players dictate to coach's what they can and cannot do. That is my rant for the day.
I don't say that I agree with the smack talking, especially after the game. But, most of the great players in sports do it. It all takes place in the heat of the battle.
I do frown on the huge ego of Michael Jordon off of the court though. Again, on the field or court, its all a part of the game. (The sin nature!)
Actually, if you had a mike on the field, even in baseball, you'd be surprised at what some of our nice guys would say -- even a great Kurt Warner with the Cards. Look at a great Christian example in sports -- Mike Singletary. Mike is a great guy, but he literally eats glass before a game. I used to love watching his little white eyes dart back and forth during a game! And, I guarantee you this, he wasn't asking his opponents for thier addresses so that they might exchange Christmas cards, at least not during a game.
We have a sports talk show host here in Phoenix, a five time all star with the Arizona Cards -- Ron Wolfley. He often talks about some of the smack that the players say during an NFL game -- including himself. Mr. Wolfley (whom I got to meet once) is a great Christian man. He often talks about Christ on his radio show and loves and quotes C.S. Lewis on it.
We all know how great of a person Kurt Warner is. But, believe me on this, he is not a nice guy on the field. I wonder how nice King David was in the heat of the battle.
What's funny, some of us (especially me sometimes) will talk more smack with our theology, than what you might even hear between the lines!
Some day, when you come to Phoenix, we'll have to get together for dinner. Have a great day!
This is an interesting debate- I think there is a warrior and aggressive nature in us that does need to find an outlet in our lives. Sports is one of those avenues of outlet. I have heard the arguments on sports radio for smack and realize it is part of the game but in all my years that I played competitive sports I very rarely used it. It was not used that much in the 70's (I graduated from high school in 1975) but came to be a part of sports with Bird, Magic, Jordan, Isaiah Thomas et al. Ali is probably the one who used it most effectively. You do have to be able to deal with it or the people who utilize it will pursue it all the more with you. The best way to deal with it is perform better when others use it against you and then they will stop. It only works if you let it bother you. I still do not think it is necessary and it has left a lot of debrise in its use. I think of Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier. Ali was actually sorry he used it against Frazier and it had a psychological effect on Frazier for many years. Both he and Ali were able to deal with it later in life and became good friends. Sometimes smack crosses over the line and can lead to some serious adverse consequences- like violence breaking out and doing harm to someone's reputation etc. It is mostly an accepted practice in sports these days and usually done in a proper manner. However, it can easily be abused and I still think it is unnecessary and kind of a bush league tactic. It definitely is not considered bush league these days though and is an accepted practice used by most everyone. I still have my reservations about it but that may be from a view of reality I have built up in my mind that has nothing to do with reality at all. My mind is still a work in process. Like I said earlier- it is an interesting debate.
Now you got me thinking about this smack talk way too deeply. Too apply this to theological debate- I think we need more of it. Luther was the master smack talker in regards to theology. I have less of a problem with this theologically than talking smack in sports. Theology is a life and death issue and much more important than sporting events. Perhaps a lot of our warrior mentality needs an outlet in theological debate and we would be a much healthier society if we engaged in it more often. We would then learn how to handle aggressive debate and hopefully grow from it. Of course, there are always lines to be drawn and boundaries set in what constitutes appropriate smack talk in theological debate. But in the heat of battle, you are right, boundaries often get crossed.
In regards to having dinner with you sometime- I may take you up on that one day. If I ever have to go to Phoenix I will definintely look you up.
Great response on talking smack regarding theology. My pastor reminds us --at least those that know Lutheran theology, to be careful with it. He says that it is so easy to smash people with our theology. (When we smash them, do it in love!)
By the way, I have often drooled in anticipation of discussing theology with a Baptist.
Your comments on Luther were fantastic -- and true!
One last smack talker in sports. The classy Roger Staubach. After the Rams beat the Cowboys in a regular season game, he told them that he would see those chokers again in the playoffs. Roger was a humble Christian man off of the field, but he breathed fire on it.