Angels face elimination in Game 5 vs. Yankees
Down 3-1 in the ALCS, the Angels will their season on the line with John Lackey in Game 5 on Wednesday against A.J. Burnett and the Yankees. More than Lackey's right arm, the Anaheim crowd on Thursday will be watching their hitters like Bobby Abreu with just 10 runs scored in this series. The Yankees will counter with A.J. Burnett and an offense that is currently being fueled by a red-hot Alex Rodriguez.
I'm not a big believer in so-called conspiracy theories. I believe man really did walk on the moon, don't believe the US Government carried out the September 11th attacks and am convinced Elvis is dead. If he was alive, I seriously doubt he would have let his daughter marry Michael Jackson.
But let's get back to betting and baseball, specifically Game 5 of the ALCS in Anaheim that finds the Angels holding on to dear life and one loss away from their season ending with the Yankees up three games to one.
While most conspiracy theories don't move me, I do believe in traps when it comes to betting and if this game is one, then it already has me snared. The lines came out with New York +105 to +110 at most shops offshore -- +112 at Pinnacle -- and only moved a penny or so at most books in early action.
The Yankees are on a roll and coming off a 10-1 rout in Game 4 on Tuesday, a contest dominated by C.C. Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez and bad umpiring, Tim McClelland in particular. New York has won six of seven this postseason, and it too 11 innings for the Angels to beat them in the one game they lost. C.C. has been the brute on the mound and A-Rod has been the bomber in the lineup.
New York's offense has actually been quieter than I expected it to be this October, with the exception of Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. The ability to score runs late -- 14 of their 37 this postseason from the seventh inning on -- has been the key in most of the games that have come down to the wire. So maybe the 10-run outburst is a sign that A-Rod and Derek are going to get some support from the rest of the lineup. Yeah, I know. Jorge Posada is hitting well but I'm really not sure his head is really into this postseason after a fielding gaffe and two base running errors last night.
While we're on the subject of not having his head in the game and two errors, let's get back to McClelland. I know this subject has been beaten to death, but that play at third in the call in the fifth when both Posada and Robinson Cano should've been out was the biggest umpiring blunder I have ever seen in my life. Ever. Seen. In. My. Life.
McClelland seemed genuinely contrite in his comments about both missed calls (Nick Swisher's tag-up call in the fourth the other) but he used the wrong words in the press conference. An umpire can never, ever make a call and then say, "I felt in my heart he left the base too early." Your heart? That's not the organ or organs an umpire is paid to use.
On the Posada-Cano call, McClelland said he missed it, "...for whatever reason." Unacceptable to have not seen that play unfold right in front of him, and if nothing else he either has to get help on making the right call and his crew has to help him out on a call like that.
Again, back to this game. John Lackey is the reason the Angels opened as the light chalk. He's been a postseason workhorse for this franchise over the years as well given Yankees hitters fits. This is the third postseason series in which he has faced New York since 2002 with three starts and a relief outing (20 IP, 2.25 ERA), including Game 1 of this series.
Fielding hurt him and the Angels in the series opener, but the Yankees also pounded out Nine hits and coaxed three walks against Lackey who failed to get through the sixth. A.J. Burnett allowed just three hits working into the seventh of Game 2, the 13-inning 4-3 NY win. Burnett, who whiffed 16 in less than 13 innings against the Angels in two regular season starts, does scare me a little when you look at his daytime ERA (5.38 in 14 starts vs. Lackey's 2.11 in 10 under the sun). But while this one will begin in the daylight it will head into the evening.
And besides, I'm going to play the Over 8½ as well in addition to the Yankees +110. Call it a trap if you want, hedge your Yankees futures if you think that's right, but I'm betting New York and their offense in this one against what has been a very tame Angels lineup this series.
STARTING PITCHERS
ALCS Game 5, Thu, Oct 22, 7:57 p.m. (ET): A.J. Burnett (21-12, 4.04 regular season / 2-0, 2.18 postseason) vs. John Lackey (16-11, 3.83 regular season / 1-1, 1.38 postseason)
UMPIRE
Fieldin might hurt the Angels again, as in Fieldin Culbreth who is behind the plate for this one. He has a very inconsistent strike zone, and I've often wondered if he didn't make calls 'from his heart' or some other part of his anatomy over the years.
Culbreth was 20-14 Home/Visitor during the 2009 regular season with a 13-19-2 O/U record. This is his ninth postseason in a career that just completed its 13th season overall after starting part-time in 1993.
His last playoff game behind the plate was Game 3 of last year's World Series in Philadelphia, a contest that started with a 90-minute rain delay. The Phillies won it 5-4 in the ninth on a bases-loaded, 60' RBI dribbler down the third base line off the bat of Carlos Ruiz that scored Eric Bruntlett.
WEATHER
It is supposed to be a warm day in Anaheim on Thursday, with the thermometer climbing into the mid-to-upper 80s, at least low-80s is likely for the 4:57 p.m. start local time. No wind or rain to speak of at this time.
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they start games. Statistical sources for this article were Retrosheet.org, Baseball-Reference.com and ESPN.com and of course, S-BEE-R-dot-com!
Down 3-1 in the ALCS, the Angels will their season on the line with John Lackey in Game 5 on Wednesday against A.J. Burnett and the Yankees. More than Lackey's right arm, the Anaheim crowd on Thursday will be watching their hitters like Bobby Abreu with just 10 runs scored in this series. The Yankees will counter with A.J. Burnett and an offense that is currently being fueled by a red-hot Alex Rodriguez.
I'm not a big believer in so-called conspiracy theories. I believe man really did walk on the moon, don't believe the US Government carried out the September 11th attacks and am convinced Elvis is dead. If he was alive, I seriously doubt he would have let his daughter marry Michael Jackson.
But let's get back to betting and baseball, specifically Game 5 of the ALCS in Anaheim that finds the Angels holding on to dear life and one loss away from their season ending with the Yankees up three games to one.
While most conspiracy theories don't move me, I do believe in traps when it comes to betting and if this game is one, then it already has me snared. The lines came out with New York +105 to +110 at most shops offshore -- +112 at Pinnacle -- and only moved a penny or so at most books in early action.
The Yankees are on a roll and coming off a 10-1 rout in Game 4 on Tuesday, a contest dominated by C.C. Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez and bad umpiring, Tim McClelland in particular. New York has won six of seven this postseason, and it too 11 innings for the Angels to beat them in the one game they lost. C.C. has been the brute on the mound and A-Rod has been the bomber in the lineup.
New York's offense has actually been quieter than I expected it to be this October, with the exception of Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. The ability to score runs late -- 14 of their 37 this postseason from the seventh inning on -- has been the key in most of the games that have come down to the wire. So maybe the 10-run outburst is a sign that A-Rod and Derek are going to get some support from the rest of the lineup. Yeah, I know. Jorge Posada is hitting well but I'm really not sure his head is really into this postseason after a fielding gaffe and two base running errors last night.
While we're on the subject of not having his head in the game and two errors, let's get back to McClelland. I know this subject has been beaten to death, but that play at third in the call in the fifth when both Posada and Robinson Cano should've been out was the biggest umpiring blunder I have ever seen in my life. Ever. Seen. In. My. Life.
McClelland seemed genuinely contrite in his comments about both missed calls (Nick Swisher's tag-up call in the fourth the other) but he used the wrong words in the press conference. An umpire can never, ever make a call and then say, "I felt in my heart he left the base too early." Your heart? That's not the organ or organs an umpire is paid to use.
On the Posada-Cano call, McClelland said he missed it, "...for whatever reason." Unacceptable to have not seen that play unfold right in front of him, and if nothing else he either has to get help on making the right call and his crew has to help him out on a call like that.
Again, back to this game. John Lackey is the reason the Angels opened as the light chalk. He's been a postseason workhorse for this franchise over the years as well given Yankees hitters fits. This is the third postseason series in which he has faced New York since 2002 with three starts and a relief outing (20 IP, 2.25 ERA), including Game 1 of this series.
Fielding hurt him and the Angels in the series opener, but the Yankees also pounded out Nine hits and coaxed three walks against Lackey who failed to get through the sixth. A.J. Burnett allowed just three hits working into the seventh of Game 2, the 13-inning 4-3 NY win. Burnett, who whiffed 16 in less than 13 innings against the Angels in two regular season starts, does scare me a little when you look at his daytime ERA (5.38 in 14 starts vs. Lackey's 2.11 in 10 under the sun). But while this one will begin in the daylight it will head into the evening.
And besides, I'm going to play the Over 8½ as well in addition to the Yankees +110. Call it a trap if you want, hedge your Yankees futures if you think that's right, but I'm betting New York and their offense in this one against what has been a very tame Angels lineup this series.
STARTING PITCHERS
ALCS Game 5, Thu, Oct 22, 7:57 p.m. (ET): A.J. Burnett (21-12, 4.04 regular season / 2-0, 2.18 postseason) vs. John Lackey (16-11, 3.83 regular season / 1-1, 1.38 postseason)
UMPIRE
Fieldin might hurt the Angels again, as in Fieldin Culbreth who is behind the plate for this one. He has a very inconsistent strike zone, and I've often wondered if he didn't make calls 'from his heart' or some other part of his anatomy over the years.
Culbreth was 20-14 Home/Visitor during the 2009 regular season with a 13-19-2 O/U record. This is his ninth postseason in a career that just completed its 13th season overall after starting part-time in 1993.
His last playoff game behind the plate was Game 3 of last year's World Series in Philadelphia, a contest that started with a 90-minute rain delay. The Phillies won it 5-4 in the ninth on a bases-loaded, 60' RBI dribbler down the third base line off the bat of Carlos Ruiz that scored Eric Bruntlett.
WEATHER
It is supposed to be a warm day in Anaheim on Thursday, with the thermometer climbing into the mid-to-upper 80s, at least low-80s is likely for the 4:57 p.m. start local time. No wind or rain to speak of at this time.
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they start games. Statistical sources for this article were Retrosheet.org, Baseball-Reference.com and ESPN.com and of course, S-BEE-R-dot-com!