You could almost hear George Steinbrenner screaming through the clouds Tuesday night, just after the Texas Rangers had thumped his beloved Yankees 10-3 to come within a single win of reaching the World Series.
George may have passed away in July, but he had to be out there somewhere looking down on Yankee Stadium and shouting, “If you can’t play better than this, we’ll find someone who can between now and spring training.”
And so they did on Wednesday. In winning, 7-2 the Pinstripers made the Rangers look as inept as their football counterpart Dallas Cowboys, which is pretty hard to do these days.
Texas made an error, wasted 13 hits and seemed tight from the outset in its attempt to reach the Series for the first time ever in its 50th season.
Never mind that Rangers manager Ron Washington said afterward, “It’s not disappointing, it’s a seven-game series.”
The very fact that Texas is seemingly placing all its marbles on seventh game starter Cliff Lee would seem to indicate they’re not the least bit sure about Game 6 on Friday night back in the Lone Star State.
And as good is Lee is, if this series goes seven, only a fool would assume that the Yankees won’t be the calmer team as they attempt to repeat as world champs. Especially when the pitcher he’ll be dueling — Andy Pettitte — is the most successful playoff pitcher ever.
Not that the Yankees are the only heavy favorite in trouble these days. Widely assumed to be the team to beat for a third straight October in the National League playoffs, the Philadelphia Phillies are learning what Atlanta found out in the division series — The San Francisco Giants can pitch.
Heading into Wednesday night’s fifth inning inside the Giants’ AT&T Park, Philly was hitting just .189 against San Fran over the first 3.5 games. Makes you wonder if the Braves were really that inept, after all.
Of course, the Phillies also collected five hits and four runs in that inning to put the Giants on the defensive, but it again shows just how little regular-season dominance can mean come the playoffs. But the Giants answered the challenge and won 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth to take a 3-1 lead in the series.
Not that all that good work of Texas and San Fran to reach this point will necessarily mean anything the rest of the way.
As Boston proved against the Yankees a few years ago when the Red Sox became the first team in major league baseball to rally from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series, nothing’s over until it’s over.
The Yankees could come back, though they’ll have to do it on enemy soil. The Phillies can still reach a third straight World Series and win a second win in three autumns.
But just in case you don’t already hate the Yankees enough, regardless of what happens the rest of these playoffs, rumors persist that Rangers ace Lee will join the Bronx Bombers next year.
Determined to avoid that scenario, Rangers CEO and managing partner Chuck Greenberg told reporters on Wednesday night, “We’re not going anywhere with a peashooter.”
Against the ghost of George Steinbrenner that’s good planning. But even in the heart of Texas, it’s tough to find a bigger wallet than the one held by the Yanks.
So if the Rangers should be fortunate enough to hang on this time around, Yankee haters should savor the moment. This time next year, the Pinstripers will be back to buying another championship and the sport will be back to being half as fun as this postseason has thus far been.