World Series game one, over.  Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees numbers now into the Major League Baseball records.  Cliff Lee vs. C.C. Sabathia and two power house lineups.  Final Score Phillies 6 – Yankees 1.

Game 2.  Who’s your daddy Pedro Martinez challenges A.J. Burnett.  No rain.  Just a beautiful night for a World Series game.  Prior to game time, an emotional presentation on the field of the Roberto Clemente Humanitarian Award to Yankees Captain Derek Jeter.  The Award recognized the shortstop’s  performance off the field of baseball, community involvement  with the Turn Two Foundation.

The game started with New York’s starter Burnett surrendering the first run of the game to Philadelphia.  While Pedro Martinez took over where last night’s starter Lee left off, striking out Yankees 3rd baseman Alex Rodriguez.  During 2 games, A -Rod has swung his bat for Ks six times in his 7 turns at bat.  It is back to back strike outs for Rodriguez.

We guessed it would be a show of talent of Yankees and Phillies during this 105th Major League Baseball Fall Classic and the fans are into the game.   Top of the 4th inning, 1st Base Mark Teixeira adds to the noise of the fans with a lead off,  long, centerfield home run.  It’s an inning by inning match of pitching, 4 hits for Philadelpia, 4 for New York.  Yankees 2 – Philadelphia 1.

Yankees, bottom of the 7th.  Jerry Hairston, Jr. leads off with a single to right field.  Brett Gardner pinch runner for Hairston.  Melky Cabrera hits a single, Gardner at 3rd.  Pedro Martinez exits the game  and is replaced by Chan Ho Park.  Jorge Posada who enters the game for catcher Jose Molina connects a single, scoring Gardner.  Yankees 3 – Philadelphia 1.  Derek Jeter attempts bunt and strikes out for the 3rd time, a record for the Captain during a post season game.  The inning comes to an end with a questionable 3-3-6 double play, Jorge Posado out at 2nd base.  Top  of the 8th inning, Mariano Rivera  enters the game in relief of Burnett.  Stay tuned.

Major League baseball – It’s always been a pitchers game.  Starter, middle reliever and closer.  It is playoff time 2009 and we are watching the pitchers bullpen take over the game.  What is happening to the effectiveness of the starting pitcher?  During two of the American League Division Series games at Yankee Stadium, four starting pitchers were used, while 19 pitchers came out of the bullpen to finish the games.

Flashback  to 1969, the first American League Championship Series, Baltimore Orioles vs. Minnesota Twins.  Three game series with a  Baltimore sweep.  Six starters threw the first pitch and 12 pitchers came out of the bullpen in relief.  Minnesota starters pitched two complete games while Baltimore’s starter pitched a complete game two.

Flashback to 1995,  the first American League Division Series.  New York Yankees vs. Seattle Mariners.  A five game series.  Ten starters were used while 31 pitchers came out of the bullpen.

2009, not much has changed – it is still a pitcher’s game.

Tuesday, October 6th – It was sudden death for Minnesota for a chance to play the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.  The scrappy Twins and hungry Detroit Tigers played pitch for pitch, hit for hit, miscatch by miscatch to tie the game until the bottom of the 12th inning.

Baseball, inch by inch by inch by inch and Detroit’s Brandon Inge.  Eleventh inning, Inge 9 for 17 during the season with the bases loaded was hit by pitch.  The hit by pitch count did not go his way. Then, he struck out. Turning point of the game?

It was the first tiebreaker to go extra innings.

It was Managers Jimmy Leyland for Tigers and Twins Ron Gardenhire working overtime.  13 pitchers threw for the teams.  Both teams left 12 on base.  Final score Minnesota 6 – 12 hits /Detroit 5 – 12 hits

Orlando Cabrera, veteran major league shortstop, native of Cartagena  Colombia, with seasons of playoff experience was quoted “This is the most unbelievable game I’ve ever played or seen.  Words which were also voiced by Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire.

Ex-New York Mets outfielder from the Dominican Republic Carlos Gomez got a hit in the bottom of the 12 inning, fellow Dominican, infielder Alexi Casilla singled home the winning run to rally past Detroit, completing the colossal collapse of the Tigers.

 The Twins get to play the Yankees.  New York was 7-0 vs.  Minnesota this season.

David will face Goliath.