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One of the Yes Network's most aired shows are
their Yankee Classics. Generally, during the
regular season on off days and mornings before a game
when there was none the day before, you can catch the
Yankees Classics. Then they fill up a lot of the
schedule with them during the off-season. As a
Yankee fan, I think it's a great idea, although the
ranking of some games as "Classics" can sometimes be
questions.
Well, this is an attempt to log as many of the
Yankee Classics that have been shown including some
commentary and rankings on whether they really are
classics or...not so much.
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| AL Division Series vs. Minnesota Twins |
| Game Two : Yanks Stage Late Comeback Win vs. Twins |
| Friday, October 9, 2009 |
| Final Score: 4-3, 11 inn. |
| Yankee Classic Rating (1 low to 10 high):
10 |
This is a game that clearly ranks among the best of Yankee post-season games and was a Classic the second Mark Teixeira's line drive home run barely cleared the left field fence.
Of course, there was also Alex Rodriguez' dramatic two-run home run to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth off all-star closer Joe Nathan. Some argue that this is the moment that Alex truly became a "made" Yankee. One thing for sure...it seemed to lift the weight off Alex's shoulders and he went on fire for most of the post-season, contributing big hit after big hit, straight through the World Series.
It also represented the first really big moment the Yankees had in the post-season for a long time. Since 2005, the Yankees were plagued with disappointing play and weak performances, often being ushered out early by mostly inferior teams. Alex's home run coupled with Tex's walk-off seemed to serve as the stamp that this year was different and in a year of dramatic walk-off victories, they weren't about to stop because the post-season had arrived.
The game wasn't simply about late dramatics though. There were a lot of twists and turns in this game, including another brilliant defensive play from Derek Jeter in the top of the fourth. When a two-out Matt Tolbert single to right with Delmon Young on second seemed destined to score the first run of the Game, Jeter deked out Carlos Gomez, rounding second with an eye toward taking third. Jeter received the throw from RF Nick Swisher, behind Gomez who felt there would be no play and quickly rushed to apply the tag and the final out, before Young could touch home. It was another Championship type play that has defined Jeter's career.
There was also controversy in extra innings. Leading off the top of the 11th for Minnesota, Joe Mauer lofted a ball down the left field line that Melky Cabrera was not able to corral. No big deal, it was ruled a foul ball anyway. A closer look at the replay showed the ball was indeed fair and instead of a lead-off double, Mauer would later only reach on a single. At first glance, it seemed no damage was done until Jason Kubel and Mark Cuddyer also followed with singles...one of which would have scored Mauer.
Mauer, slowed by injury, was unable to score on either single and instead the Twins had to settle for loading the bases with no out. It seemed they were destined to plate at least one or two, maybe break the game open and banish Alex Rodriguez' ninth inning game tying blast to the footnote bin. That was until David Robertson stepped up to become the unlikely hero. With the infield in, he coerced a line drive out to first base by Delmon Young that made all Yankee fan's hearts skip a beat. This was followed by a Carlos Gomez ground ball to first which Teixeira easily flipped home for the forceout. After a Brendan Harris soft fly to center was gloved by Brett Gardner, the Yankees escaped a huge jam, David Robertson earned a spot in the annals of Yankee history, the stadium went crazy and everyone knew with Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez due up next...something special was on the way.
Hey, don't forget the bottom of the 10th though, when the Yankees seemed poise to close out the game. After a one out Jorge Posada single, Brett Gardner came in to pinch run in what would prove to be a very eventful time on the bases. He wasted little time stealing second. However, he was nearly picked off until the throw trickled into center field. When Gardner tried to advance to third on the error...he was barely safe.
Jeter was then intentionally walked and the Yankees were set with runners on the corners, one out and Johnny Damon up. With the infield in, Damon appeared to line a game winning single...but he didn't hit it as hard as it seemed and it was gloved easily by SS Orlando Cabrera. Perhaps excited or fooled, Gardner immediately took off on the crack of the bat and was easily doubled up. A bad mistake as Gardner could have walked home had the ball gotten through the infield.
There was a lot more to this game, but those are the highlights. It's not just about the A-Rod HR or the Teixeira walk-off...unless that's your bag. Instead, this is a highly entertaining, back and forth battle with plenty of twists that was extremely gut-wrenching at the time. An easy 10.
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