Jane Heller

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

Tonight It Begins

Fenway

Question: How many seconds will it take for Red Sox fans to chant “Yankees suck?”

I don’t like Fenway Park. It’s cramped and weird. And whenever the Yankees play there, I have flashbacks to the tragic losses instead of the triumphant wins. I need an attitude adjustment.

For this important series – still excited that we made it through the WC to the ALDS – I vow to think positively, to remind myself of our power hitters and our superlative (when “on”) starters and relievers, to remember that Chris Sale hasn’t been lights out lately and might be more vulnerable than in past outings, to note that Boston’s bullpen isn’t as good as ours, to tell myself that while the Sox have had a layoff waiting for the WC to be resolved, they might be a bit rusty and the Yankees are on a roll with true momentum. And finally I will tell myself that Happ has a great record against the Sox.

I will also breathe deeply throughout the day to prepare myself for tonight’s game. I fervently wish it wasn’t TBS that was televising the series – they’re really, profoundly awful – but I’m grateful the Yankees are in it.

Let’s get this!

ALDS Game 1: CC Gets The Job Done

I was very grouchy after the loooong wait for this game. I got even grouchier as the scored remained deadlocked and the Yankees had me flashing back to their RISP failures of the regular season. Between the stranded runners, the baserunning blunders and Jeter’s uncharacteristic bobble, I couldn’t stop growling. I even grumbled that Cano must have been reading all the articles about his “sweet swing” because instead of carrying the offense he couldn’t seem to stop swinging at balls. There was only one happy note: CC. He kept getting routine outs from the Orioles and kept my hopes alive.

And then along came the Russ Bus.

Martin’s homer against Johnson in the ninth was worth waiting for. Suddenly, I could breathe. Whew. And then the floodgates opened and the game became fun with a 7-2 score.

CC. Wow. Maybe his time-out with the injury gave him a second wind because he’s been great ever since he came back. He sure earned his money tonight.

It’s always a relief to win the first one in a short series (at the away ballpark, no less), so this was big. What to make of the packed house of orange wearing, “Yankees suck” chanting people? I’d only ask: Where were they all season long and couldn’t they have come up with a more creative way to disparage the opponent?

And then there was TBS’ coverage. Ripken and Smoltz were exceptional players, obviously, but didn’t they sound depressed when the Yanks scored in the ninth? I thought somebody had died.

 

 

 

ALDS Game 2: Max Scherzer? Really?

Photo: Nick Laham/Getty Images North America

According to Friend of the Blog Nadine, “Scherzer” means “joke” in German. (See what you learn on twitter?)

Unfortunately, I wasn’t laughing at the way the Tigers’ starter was no-hitting the Yankees for much of today’s game. In  fact, it made me downright mental. I reverted back to my old superstitious ways – from changing positions on the couch to yelling “No-Hitter! No-Hitter! No Hitter!” in an attempt to lay a jinx on the guy.

Nothing worked until Cano’s bloop single. And our offense couldn’t really get anything going after that, homers by Grandy and Swisher and Jorge’s triple aside.

Some in the crowd at the Stadium booed A-Rod. And while I was frustrated with his at-bats too, I wanted to strangle every person in the Bronx who calls himself/herself a fan. My God. He’s playing hurt, plus he had plenty of company in the rally killing department.

I didn’t have huge expectations for Garcia and actually thought he pitched pretty well after the first inning, although I didn’t understand the wisdom of pitching to Cabrera. It was Jeter’s error that opened the door for the later runs and perhaps Girardi left Sweaty Freddy in too long.

What I don’t get was the use of Ayala. I’ve made no secret of my lack of faith in him so I wasn’t happy to see him – even though the Yankees did have a hill to climb (which they almost did climb against Valverde). Girardi defended his choice of reliever by saying, “We have to play back to back games.” Or something like that. So the skipper was, what, saving the good relievers? Isn’t this the postseason when every game is do-or-die? When you worry about tomorrow tomorrow? When you really, truly try to win now? They can all rest in November.

Having Chavez pinch-hit for Gardner was also a headscratcher, but Joe said he was going by the numbers. *Shrug*

Oh, and one other thing. I won’t do a full-on rant about the TBS/TNT broadcasters; they’re inept but they’re not as obnoxious as the guys on FOX/ESPN. My issue is with the network’s camera choices. Did we really need a shot of Leyland in the dugout every six seconds? Was I watching a Tigers telecast instead of the ALDS? What was all that about?

Yes, I’m grouchy. And I felt sorry for the Yanks that they had to play in the rain yet again. I don’t exactly think of Detroit as Sunnyville, USA, but maybe the weather will be better there. We can hope.

Follow Me!

  • Jane Heller on Goodreads
  • Jane Heller on Pinterest
  • Jane Heller on Facebook
  • Jane Heller on Twitter

Get in touch!

I’d love to hear from you! Contact me!

About Jane Heller

Jane Heller is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her fourteen breezy, witty novels of romantic comedy and suspense are now entertaining millions of readers around the world, along with her two books of nonfiction.