Can't win em all (Angels 5, Yanks 4. Yankees lead ALCS 2-1)

This kind of game Yankee fans probably don't want to remember. That is, unless the Yankees win this series. It was an extraordinary game, once again defined by the blunders made by both teams, as well as the extraordinary play of Mariano Rivera and clutch hitting from both sides. People will second-guess Girardi's handling of the bullpen, but I think much of that second-guessing will be because the results were not desirable.

To quickly summarize, the Yankees jumped out to a 3-0 lead on homers by Jeter, Damon, and A-Rod. Matsui and Posada routinely got on base but the bottom of the order could not drive them in, even in 6 straight at-bats with Matsui in scoring position. Homers by Kendrick and Guerrero tied it at 3, and the Angels later took the lead, only to lose it to Posada. At 4-4 the teams battled from the 8th to the 11th, where the Angels bullpen held the Yankees scoreless and threatless. Mo was able to prolong the game by getting 3 ground ball outs with a man on third in the 10th. But after getting two quick outs in the 11th Roberts was inexplicably replaced by Aceves, who suddenly gave up a single and a triple that ended the game and gave the Angels their first (and, judging by the way the Yankees played today, certainly not their last...in fact the Yankees don't deserve to win the pennant with the way the played and were managed today) win of the series.

As as aside, going 0 for 5 while leaving 7 men on is inexcusable, even for a 9 hitter. Melky should be replaced by Gardner for the next game, to send a message to the team that performances like THAT are UNacceptable in the postseason. I wish Swisher could also be replaced but I don't think you can take two switch hitters out of the lineup.