Anything you can do I can do the next inning, I can do anything better than you.  It was that theme that signified the Yankees three game ALDS sweep of the Twins.  Just when it seemed Minnesota had a firm grasp on the action, the Yankees proved in a New York minute everything can change.  One can't blame the Twins if they didn't want to score until the bottom of the ninth just so the Yankees would have no chance of coming back to score the next inning.

Such was the case Sunday evening as Andy Pettitte and Carl Pavano were rolling along in the final game baseball game ever to be played at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.  Both starters matched goose eggs through five until Pettitte blinked in the sixth.

With two gone Pettitte allowed a single and a stolen base to Denard Span.  After yielding a walk to Orlando Cabrera, Pettitte surrendered an RBI single to left to Joe Mauer scoring Span and putting Minnesota up 1-0.  Michael Cuddyer struck out swinging to retire the side but the damage had been done.

However in the top half of the seventh, just like the Yankees had done in the previous two games they scored in the frame immediately following one where Minnesota took the lead.  And for the third time in two games Alex Rodriguez came up and tied the score for the Bombers, hitting one out just above the baggie in right.

Then with two outs in the same frame, Jorge Posada decided to pay homage to the homer dome with an opposite field blow of his own to left, obviously never wanting to be benched in a playoff game again, putting the Yanks ahead 2-1. 

Pavano was done after that inning, leaving with perhaps a bruised ego to go along with his nine strikeouts.

After picking up his seventh strikeout against Jason Kubel, Pettitte gave way to Joba Chamberlain going 6 1/3 allowing just three hits and one run.  Chamberlain pitched another scoreless frame of post-season baseball, no midges in the Land of 1,000 Lakes.

Things did get interesting in the Twins half of the eighth though with Phil Hughes on for the Yankees.  Nick Punto got it going with a double to left.  Then the Twins who looked to put the pressure on, ran themselves out of another inning.

Denard Span bounced one up the middle that was snagged by Derek Jeter.  Punto took a wide turn and Jeter alertly altered his momentum firing home to Posada.  Posada gunned the ball down to A-Rod at third nailing Punto for the first out.

So instead of potentially having runners at the corners and putting the heat on the young kid Hughes who'd surrendered a run the last game, the Twins kicked themselves once again.  Cabrera flew out with Span on first and on came Mariano Rivera to face Joe Mauer.  With two outs Rivera sent Mauer's bat to the Land of 1,000 pieces as the Twins star catcher grounded to first ending the threat.

In the top half of the ninth the Yankees tacked on some insurance.  After the Twins brought on three relievers to walk the heart of the Yankees lineup (Mark Teixeira, A-Rod, Hideki Matsui), they brought on closer Joe Nathan who probably should've started the frame to begin with.

Posada came up huge again knocking in Teixeira with a single to right.  Following Posada, Robinson Cano hit one to shallow right that bounced off Kubel and plated Rodriguez to put the Bombers up 4-1.

Rivera went back out to finish the Twins in the ninth.  After allowing a single to Cuddyer, Rivera fanned Kubel and Delmon Young.  With two down Rivera who closed down the old Yankee Stadium, brought down the curtain on the Metrodome as Brendan Harris forever became the answer to a trivia question as the last player to bat in the Homer Hankie Haven, grounding out to Jeter thus ending the ALDS.

With the win the Yankees earn the 3-0 sweep (their first in the playoffs since the 1999 World Series vs. Atlanta), finalize their 5-0 playoff record at the Metrodome and pick up victory number 106 on the season.  Joe Girardi garnered his first playoff series win and sweep as a manager in one felt swoop.  Other accolades included Andy Pettitte tying John Smoltz for most career playoff wins (15) and passing Smoltz's old Atlanta Braves teammate Tom Glavine for most career playoff starts and innings pitched.  Mariano Rivera notched his 35th career post-season save and 100th career post-season strikeout as well.  Unfortunately for A-Rod there's no ALDS MVP for his spectacular play throughout the series.

Next up for the Yankees the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a match up of the best two records in baseball.  Each squad started the year with nine players remaining from the last time the teams met in 2005.  This will be the first ALCS contest between the two with the Halos beating the Yanks in the 2002 & 2005 ALDS. 

Luckily for the Yankees they can always consult YES analyst Al Leiter on how to beat the Angels in the playoffs, seeing as how he was the last one to do it for the Yanks at the old Stadium in '05. 

Festivities begin at the 'New House' Friday night!

We got 'em right where we want 'em.  Haha here they come!  I text a friend right after the third out of the top half of the ninth fell into Nick Swisher's glove in right.  Not that you'd want to be down 3-1 with your last ups and Joe Nathan staring you in the face, but again we've seen this movie play out before.  This happened in the Game Four of the  World Series eight years ago in similar fashion, but the Yankees and Twins only need go back to mid-May to know how this one would turn out.

Minnesota usually the team of solid fundamentals will look back at two things in this game aside from the homeruns, a base running gaffe by Carlos Gomez in the fourth when Gomez got tagged out rounding second on a hit to right by Matt Tolbert before Delmon Young could score and a blown call down the leftfield line on what should've been a ground-rule double for Joe Mauer in the eleventh.

Yet the Twins and Nick Blackburn still held the Yankees hitless through four and scored first once again in the sixth on an RBI triple to left by Brendan Harris which plated Young.  But the Twins only got to enjoy that lead about as long as they had to celebrate winning the AL Central crown.

Derek Jeter much like in game one following an inning the Twins scored got the Yankees back on track with a ground-rule double to the Yanks bullpen.  Johnny Damon drew a walk and Alex Rodriguez ripped a two-out game tying RBI single to left and Jeter came around to score.

In the eighth the Twins scrapped out two runs initiated by a two-out walk from Phil Hughes to Carlos Gomez.  Harris picked up another hit and with two on Nick Punto hit one to center scoring Gomez to put the Twins back on top.  Some may question why Mariano Rivera wasn't brought in a batter earlier, but the damage was done and Rivera gave up an RBI single to Denard Span scoring Harris and making the point moot.

So after Rivera held the Twins at bay in the ninth, that setup the dramatics for the bottom half of that frame.

With two outs Mark Teixeira ripped a single to right.  And that's when Joe Nathan who hadn't surrendered a HR with anyone on base all season gave it up to A-Rod who parked a bomb to deep center, evening the contest at 3-3.  Can you say bedlam in the Bronx?

Alfredo Aceves got out of the tenth stranding runners at the corners and getting Orlando Cabrera to fly out to right ending the threat.

In the bottom half, Jorge Posada sliced a broken bat single to center and was pinch run for by Brett Gardner.  Gardner made life hell for Nathan, stealing second on Mauer and consequently reaching third after a Nathan pick-off attempt went into centerfield with the best throw this post-season this side of Mark DeRosa.

After Jeter was walked intentionally to setup the double-play, the Twins got one of the very un-conventional variety.  With the lefty Jose Mijares on to match-up against Damon and one out, Gardner was off at the crack of the bat from Damon and got doubled off on the liner to short to retire the side.

Damaso Marte came on in the eleventh to face Mauer and Mauer sliced what looked like a ground-rule double to left.  But apparently having six umpires including two down the lines isn't enough.  Mauer did pick up a hit as did Jason Kubel who followed him and while one can play the fallacy of the pre-determined outcome as to how the Yankees would've pitched and played it in that spot, one would reason the Twins probably score at least one run in that situation.

David Robertson came on to relieve Marte and gave up a hit to Michael Cuddyer and the runners moved up station to station.  With the bases loaded and no outs, Robertson earned his pinstripes and what would eventually be his first post-season win, much like another un-heralded Yankee reliever from their farm system at the time Mariano Rivera in another ALDS Game 2 in 1995 where another # 13 hit a walkoff HR against Tim Belcher and the Seattle Mariners to put the Yankees up 2-0 in that series.

Robertson got some nice glove work from Teixeira at first on a liner by Young.  Then Gomez hit into a fielder's choice as Mauer was forced at home.  Finally Robertson got Harris to do what Rivera and A.J. Burnett and his six strikeouts could not, fly out to end the inning.

Moving on to the bottom half of the inning, where A-Rod played the part of Tino Martinez in the ninth, Mark Teixeira played the role of Derek Jeter in the eleventh much like that night where October turned to November in Game four of the 2001 World Series. 

Teixeira ripped a frozen rope down into the leftfield seats for the winner faster than John Sterling can say for the 15th time "this is one of the most dramatic games you will ever see!"  

Once again this team proved much like the Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Giants, they tend to thrive and excel when their backs are up against the wall.  Always believing that for all along they had 'em right where they want 'em.

Speed Skate: NHL Highlights of the Night

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Onto Washington where the New York Rangers were looking to avenge last year's 3-1 playoff collapse to the Caps.  Ovie was kept in check on the night.  It was 2-1 Rangers heading into the third when Nicklas Backstrom struck back for the Capitals with a goal from center ice past King Henrik tying the score.  Backstrom was back for more on the power play with a nifty p**** from Brooks Laich for his second on the game and on the season.  But Marian Gaborik already looking like the signing of the year if not comeback player of the year, took over for the Blueshirts.  Gaborik scored two goals of his own in the third to tie and take the lead for the Rangers, the final coming on the power play and it was New York over Washington 4-3. 

Well they broke up the Coyotes as the Buffalo Sabres beat Phoenix late in the third on a Thomas Vanek power play goal 2-1. 

In Ottawa Martin Biron got his first start for the Isles making 25 saves, but Mike Fisher and the Sens scored within the first minute of OT and Ottawa topped New York 3-2.

The battle of Pennsylvania was a high scoring affair between the Flyers and Penguins.  Pittsburgh struck in the first minute on a Evgeni Malkin goal in the first period.  Danny Briere chipped in two goals for Philadelphia as did Jeff Carter, but Marc-Andre Fleury made the saves when he needed to as Pittsburgh hung on for the 5-4 victory.

The hockey version of Anaheim and Boston didn't go any better for Beantown Thursday night.  After Marco Sturm put the B's up 1-0 in the first, it was all downhill from there.  The Ducks scored three in the second and three in the third, including two power play goals from Teemu Selanne and two goals (one short-handed) and a helper from Corey Perry as the Ducks beat the Bruins 6-1.

In Detroit three second period goals were good enough for the Red Wings to top the Chicago Blackhawks.  After his benching former Adirondack Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood was sharp for the Wings with 32 stops.  Former A-Wing forward Kris Draper scored Detroit's second goal and another former A-Wing Tomas Holmstrom picked up an ****ist one Johan Franzen's eventual game winner.  Red Wings win 3-2.

Down in Tampa it was a good night to be a former Albany River Rat.  Former Albany forward  Zach Parise who had 45 goals last year got some help from Lightning goalie Mike Smith who knocked the puck into his own net off the butt end of the stick giving the Devils a 1-0 lead.  Former River Rat Travis Zajac picked up an ****ist on Parise's first of the season on the power play, more on Zajac later.  Tampa Bay struck back in the second on a goal from standout Steven Stamkos.  New Jersey answered when ex-River Rat Jay Pandolfo scored on an ****ist from another former Rat David Clarkson.  After Stamkos netted another on the power play in the third and Todd Fedoruk put the 'Ning ahead 3-2, Zajac scored with one tick left on the clock from former Rats Brian Rolston and Parise to send the game to OT.  In the shootout Marty Brodeur who had 41 saves came up big as Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner scored and the Devils went on for the 4-3 win.

The Nashville Predators beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on the strength of two Patric Hornqvist goals.  Former Rats sniper Steve Sullivan picked up a helper on the night.

Atlanta beat St. Louis 4-2 on the strength of two Ilya Kovalchuk goals.  Former Rats goalie Chris Mason had 18 saves in the loss for the Blues.

Calgary knocked off Edmonton in a shootout 4-3 with Nigel Dawes netting the winner.

After doing it to the Sharks, the Kings put up another six spot on the Wild.  Los Angeles beat Minnesota 6-3 on the strength of two Ryan Smyth goals

Speaking of San Jose they posted a six pack of their own against the Columbus Blue Jackets.  Dany Heatley blew up the Blue Jackets for a hat trick and Joe Thornton notched four ****ists as a four goal second was the difference as the Sharks rolled 6-3.

In recent Yankee playoff past they've started out with pitchers who either had the numbers of an ace but weren't (Chein-Ming Wang) or the stuff of an ace but didn't want to be (Mike Mussina). And while they've tried to groom youngsters (Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain) bring back old friends (Andy Pettitte) and guys who suddenly became really old once October rolled around (Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson) it seems as though they have truly found that ace in one CC Sabathia.

The "CC" of course could've meant Championship Caliber as far as the Bronx faithful were concerned Wednesday night.  Sabathia hasn't looked this good in a playoff start since he was younger than those aforementioned studs in the bullpen as a 20 year old rookie for the Cleveland Indians in 2001 against the 116 win Seattle Mariners where he went six strong allowing just two runs on six hits with five strikeouts for the win.

Yet in this start CC's control was impeccable with a "David Wellsian" zero walks and eight K's over 6 2/3 against the Twins to christen the new Yankee Stadium with a playoff victory, his first since defeating his current team in 2007.

While Sabathia did get into some trouble in the third which saw Joe Mauer score on a p****ed ball, the MVP of October had something to say about that in the bottom half of the frame.

I suppose we call him Mr. .1000 now because that's what he's batting after Game One of the ALDS.  After Melky Cabrera reached on an infield hit, as if on cue Derek Jeter smacked a two-run shot down the line in left to square the game at two.  Jeter doesn't typically pull the ball to left when he homers, but that drive was historic for two reasons.  Jeter tied Reggie Jackson and Mickey Mantle for third on the all-time post-season home run list with 18, putting him only behind former teammate Bernie Williams (22) and Manny Ramirez (28).  The home run also the first post season dinger to be clocked in the new Yankee Stadium.

The very next inning Nick Swisher hit a frozen rope double to left, scoring Robinson Cano all the way from first to pump up the crowd and put the Yankees up for good.

In the bottom of the fifth after Jeter recorded a walk and moved to second on a fielder's choice, the man who hit the last post-season HR in the old Yankee Stadium Alex Rodriguez picked up a clutch two out RBI single to center, increasing the Yankees lead to 5-2. 

That chased Twins lefty starter Brian Duensing (the other left-hander wearing # 52) and brought on another young left-hander Francisco Liriano.  Perhaps someone should've told Minnesota Manager Ron Gardenhire that Hideki Matsui homers off lefties pretty well too, with nearly half (13) of his 28 coming in the regular season against such pitching. 

Hence Matsui whose first HR at the old Yankee Stadium came on a grand slam against the Twins and Joe Mays on Opening Day of 2003, oddly enough in the fifth inning, slammed a home run of the two run variety that bounced off the restaurant in center putting New York up 6-2.

From there Sabathia continued to roll before handing the ball off to Phil Hughes with two outs in the seventh.  Hughes who ended up with the last Yankee playoff win at the old Stadium in relief, was absolutely dominant.  Hughes struck out Orlando Cabrera who'd had two hits up to that point to retire the side.

In the bottom frame it was nearly the same formula as the fifth.  Jeter walked and A-Rod knocked in Jeter from third with another two out smash to rightfield to tack on another run, 7-2 Yanks.

As the game moved along to the eighth the Yanks bullpen made short work of the Twins, really short work.  After a Joe Mauer base knock, Hughes struck out Michael Cuddyer.  Then Phil Coke was brought on to face Jason Kubel and needed only one pitch to get Kubel to line out to first.  With two down Chamberlain came on and only needed two pitches himself to induce Delmon Young into an inning ending fielder's choice to short. 

By the way how much do those three relievers make Chip Caray?

Legendary closer Mariano Rivera came in to get some work in the ninth picking up two strikeouts and of course he slammed the door on the Twins, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the 2009 ALDS.

Flyers and Caps Put on Quite a Display

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If you didn't come away impressed from Tuesday night's contest between the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals, I guess I'll never convince you what a great sport this truly is.  Just an astounding amount of scoring between these two.  Mike Richards of the Flyers ended up with a hat trick, two of which came on the power play.  The first one by Richards got Philly on the board and after that Richard scored two within 58 seconds, all in the second period.  And get this Flyers defenseman Matt Carle who did well to keep the puck in the offensive zone to set up Richards' hatter, had four ****ists on the game himself all of which also came in the second.

The Alexander's also came up strong for Washington, Ovechkin with two goals and an ****ist and Semin with two goals including one on the power play that got the Caps back tied 4-4 in the third.  Former Albany River Rat Brendan Morrison scored his third of the season putting the Caps on top 5-4.  Yet late in the third Philly rallied on a PPG from Scotty Hartnell who evened things up at 5-5.  In OT it was Danny Briere hoping to have a healthy bounce back season who put away the winner for Philadelphia 6-5.

In Toronto it was Daniel Alfredsson's second period penalty shot against fellow Swede Jonas Gustavsson that turned out to be the eventual winner as the Ottawa Senators took out the Maple Leafs 2-1.

Down in Raleigh it was a former member of the 'Ning Dynasty, Jussi Jokinen lighting the lamp on the power play for Carolina in the first.  Tampa Bay countered with one of their own in the second from Ryan Malone.  This game also saw former Albany River Rats defenseman Tim Conboy get in a scrap for the Hurricanes with Zenon Konopka.  Another former Albany defenseman David Hale took a tripping penalty late in OT but it wouldn't matter.  Heading into the shootout, shockingly Jokinen who has one of the better moves in the league was kept at bay, but goals from Sergei Samsonov and Tuomo Ruttu were the difference in beating Mike Smith.  Cam Ward and the boys bounce back from two absolute clunkers against Philly and Boston and win 2-1 against the Lightning.

Out in the Midwest, that "other game" in Minnesota, the Minnesota Wild taking on the Anaheim Ducks.  This one saw the Duck charge out front early in the second.  Former Montreal captain Saku Koivu netted his first as a Duck on the power play, following tallies by Joffrey Lupul and Evgeny Artyukhin hoisting Anaheim to a 3-0 lead after two.  But Saku's little brother Mikko would have none of it in the third and the Wild made a hard charge back.  This Koivu also scored on the power play.  Then it was former Albany River Rat Petr Sykora with his first goal in a Minnesota sweater cutting it to one goal.  Eric Belanger tied things at three with a PPG late in the third and sent this one to OT.  That's where Andrew Brunette rocked home a power play goal to give the Wild a dramatic comeback over the Ducks 4-3.  Another big part of the three goal comeback was Martin Havlat who recorded three ****ists on the evening.

In the great Northwest the Edmonton Oilers faced off against the Dallas Stars.  Mr. Hilary Duff, Mike Comrie back in Edmonton, got his Oilers on the board in the first.  Brenden Morrow netted his first of two on the night for Dallas tying things at one.  After trading off goals in the latter two periods both teams went to a shootout with things stading at four all.  Ales Hemsky notched the winner for Edmonton in a 5-4 victory over the Stars.  Stars goalie Marty Turco picked up a short-handed ****ist in the loss for Dallas.

Finally in a battle of Cali, the Los Angeles Kings upended the San Jose Sharks in a 6-4 barn burner.  L.A. jumped out to a four goal edge, chasing Evgeni Nabokov midaway through the third with scoring capped off by Anze Kopitar.  The Sharks countered with four straight goals of their own however and with all coming compliments of the extra man advantage.  Devin Setoguchi notched two, former King defenseman and captain Rob Blake picked one up as well and newly acquired Dany Heatly scored his first as a Shark to knot things at 4-4 midway through the third.  But Teddy Purcell put in a quick dagger just 26 ticks later for the Kings, in essence sucking the life right out of San Jose and their valiant comeback attempt.  The Kings beat the Sharks 6-4 with a late empty netter.