Halladay throws 2nd no-hitter in playoff history, Don Larsen’s perfect game the 1st

When I first heard Don Larsen threw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series, I didn’t think anybody would be able to match it. Roy Halladay didn’t today, but came as close as you can possibly get by throwing a no-hitter with just one walk.

Congratulations, Doc.

You struck out ex-Phillie Scott Rolen three times and finished with eight for the game, one more than Larsen K’d.

Here’s the video of Halladay completing the no-no. That last play wasn’t easy for catcher Carlos Ruiz, by the way. Here’s the box:

 

Astros-Yankees series preview

The Yankees head back to the Bronx for three games against the worst team in the National League, the Astros, after taking two of three from the worst team in the American League, the Orioles.

Head to Head:
The Yankees have a very short history with the Astros — only six games — but they’ve had two very memorable events, both to the chagrin of Yankees fans.

First, the six-pitcher no-hitter. Roy Oswalt started it, left with an injury after an inning, and five relievers combined to allow no hits over the last eight. It was the last no-hitter at Yankee Stadium and the last time the Yankees have been no-hit. Not to mortify fans anymore of that game, but it just so happens they were no-hit on this day seven years ago.

Second, Chien-Ming Wang’s career-altering injury. While rounding the bases, Wang injured his foot and he was never the same. He went from a 38-game winner in two years to not even worth $5 million to the Yankees this past offseason. He hasn’t pitched yet this year for the Nationals.

Pitching Matchups:

Date:	Astros starters	Yankees starters
Fri., 7:05 p.m.	Brett Myers (4-3, 3.01)	Andy Pettitte (7-1, 2.47)
Sat., 1:05 p.m.	W. Rodriguez (3-8, 4.95)	J. Vazquez (5-5, 5.63)
Sun., 1:05 p.m.	Brian Moehler (0-2, 6.12)	Phil Hughes (8-1, 2.71)

Players to Watch:
Astros: Of a team with no .300-hitters, catcher Humberto Quintero is hitting .450 with a .900 slugging percentage in the last seven days. With Lance Berkman’s decline, Carlos Lee becomes the only major power threat.

Yankees: The team MVP Robinson Cano is still destroying the baseball, hitting .400 over the last week. He might have to sustain that this weekend if he’s forced into the cleanup role because of Alex Rodriguez’s groin injury.

Prediction:
The only game I’m worried about is Saturday. Wandy Rodriguez can pitch lights out sometimes and may want to show off his strikeout stuff against the Yankees. Two out of three at worst.

Ken Griffey Jr. retires; just too important to overlook

I’ve neglected to post significant outside-of-Yankeeland baseball news this year, such as the Rangers bankruptcy, Ubaldo Jimenez’s no-hitter, Roy Halladay’s prefect game and the incredible amount of sub-3 ERAs you can find in baseball these days.

But when Ken Griffey Jr. says he is hanging up his spikes, I can’t overlook it.

And that’s what he did yesterday, the Seattle Time reported.

It’s a shame he picked yesterday to retire, as first base umpire Jim Joyce missed an obvious call that cost Tigers starter Armando Galarraga a perfect game. This snapshot of Google Trends (right) was taken at 11:27 p.m. EST last night, showing the world cares more about more about a blown call than one of the game’s best players retirement.

Griffey’s list of accolades over his career goes on forever, but just to name a few…

• 13-time All-Star
• 7-time Silver Slugger winner
• 10-time Gold Glove winner
• Named to All-Century team
• MVP winner

But there’s one gaping hole on that résumé. A World Series ring. Do you think that’s going to keep him out of the Hall of Fame? Not a chance.

He is one of the few great sluggers to avoid any link to performance-enhancing drugs in the Steroid Era. If not for injuries in the prime of his career, he had a good chance to break Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record.

Griffey, “The Kid,” will be missed by baseball. His swing, his smile, and his class. Everything about him.

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For a great testament piece on Griffey, check out Tom Verducci’s latest piece on the star.

CC Sabathia no-hitter debate is ridiculous

I really didn’t think I was going to have to bother posting about whether the Yankees would’ve kept CC Sabathia in after Kelly Shoppach, but apparently I do.

Shoppach broke up Sabathia’s bid at a no-no on his 111th pitch. Manager Joe Girardi said after the game that Shoppach would’ve been the last hitter he faced.

There is no question if you’re the manager you leave the guy in to go for a no-hitter. It’s his second start of the season — not his first — and he’s CC Sabathia. You know, the guy who’s thrown more pitches than anyone in the last three years (10,981).

If it’s Phil Hughes and its his first start of the season, then yes, I might think about pulling him. But this is CC Sabathia.

If you’re really that worried about him, you could give him an extra couple days off after the outing (even though he would never go for that). The whole idea of 100 pitches is the time to take a pitcher out is ridiculous.

It’s all up to how the pitcher feels. And so many other factors go into that besides number of pitches, like the weather and the pace of the game.

It’s easy for Girardi to say that Shoppach was his last batter after the game ended, but it’s completely different than actually doing it.

Sabathia’s no-no lasts 7 2-3, Yankees romp

CC Sabathia was four outs away from no-hitting the Rays, but Kelly Shoppach broke it up with a single to left on an 0-1 count and his 111th pitch. David Robertson immediately came on in relief, as the Yankees (3-2) went on to beat the Rays (3-2) 10-0.

Quick ‘Cap:
The Yankees defense was certainly behind Sabathia, highlighted by two web gems from corner infielders. The first came in the sixth when Mark Teixeira dove to his right to snare Jason Bartlett’s liner. In the seventh, Alex Rodriguez took a double down the line away from B.J. Upton, got to his feet and made the play.

Teixeira also came through for Sabathia on offense, as he ended his hitless drought with a three-hit day. Rodriguez had two hits and Robinson Cano launched a two-run homer in the fourth to lead the offense.

Sabathia finished with five strikeouts and two walks. Full box score here.

Thoughts:
Should the Yankees have gone down quickly in the eighth instead of rallying for four runs to keep CC in rhythm? I think so. It was only 4-0, but when you have Mariano Rivera in the back of the bullpen you have that luxury.

Still, a terrific outing for the big lefty. It would’ve been extremely tough for him to complete his no-hit bid at such a high pitch count.

Line of the Night:
Sabathia: W, 7 2-3 IP, H, 2 BB, 5 K. No explanation needed.

Up Next:
The Yankees will play on Sunday at 1:40 p.m. before another off day on Monday.

Pena’s hit bigger than you think

Extreme embarrassment for the Yankees in the baseball world was inches away from happening. Roy Halladay would have had a no-hitter last night if it weren’t for Ramiro Pena’s one-our double in the sixth inning.

Yes, it’s Halladay, and he’s that good. And yes, the Yanks were playing sans Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher. But this is the New York Yankees we are talking about here. A team who leads the majors in OBP, SLG, HR, RBI, R, TB, BB and second in hits and BA. If Halladay had gotten Pena out last night, the Yankees would have had to deal with a gigantic monkey on their back the rest of the way.

The Yankees have been no-hit three times since 1950, including the 1952 team by Virgil Trucks of the Detroit Tigers. The Yanks went on to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers that year in the World Series in seven games.

Trucks’ no-hitter came on Aug. 25 of that year, which is pretty late. But I’d be willing to bet that no team has ever won the World Series after being no-hit in September. Here’s the list of all the no-hitters if you feel like checking and proving me wrong.

Nevertheless, with the media as large as it is today, I really don’t think the Yankees would have easily been able to overcome a blow like getting no-hit in September. So once again, thank you, Ramiro Pena (a September call-up, I might add).