You'll have to forgive Andy Pettitte if he "misremembered" his last two potential series clinching Game Six starts against Boston and Arizona.  Pettitte was much more focused on what he came back to New York for.  For moments like this, to pitch at the "New Stadium," to win the first clincher in this ballpark.

So Pettitte who started the last World Series game at the old Yankee Stadium (also a Game Six) was on a mission to pitch the New York Yankees into their first World Series in the new house, improving their playoff record in the new joint to 5-0.  Pettitte was also gunning for some personal milestones as well, postseason win number 16 and his fifth series clinching victory, both good enough for best all-time.

After a routine first inning, Vladimir Guerrero picked up a hit.  Then in what was a microcosm of who had the better pitching and fundamentals all series long, Nick Swisher on a shallow fly ball hit by Kendry Morales, doubled up Guerrero who looked a bit like his counterpart on that other L.A. team for a moment.

In the third the Angels struck first, as catcher Jeff Mathis remained in the zone with a soaring double off Pettitte to get things going.  With two down and Mathis moved over to third, Pettitte left a hanging breaking ball for Bobby Abreu to deposit into right putting the Halos on top, 1-0.

After getting out of some early jams Angels starter Joe Saunders got touched up in the fourth.  Robinson Cano drew a walk.  Nick Swisher who initially faked a bunt on the first pitch, which may have influenced where Chone Figgins was playing him, ended up getting a base knock to left setting up first and second with no outs.

Melky Cabrera bunted both runners into scoring position and turned the order around.  Derek Jeter coaxed a walk and Johnny Damon with the bases loaded was primed to do some damage.  Damon sliced a liner to left-center plating Cano and Swisher to put the Yanks on top 2-1.

Mark Teixeira reached on an infield hit to short and A-Rod was walked with the bases loaded scoring Jeter for what ended up being the eventual game winning RBI to give the Yanks a 3-1 edge.

In the sixth Pettitte continued to make big pitches when needed.  After getting Figgins to foul out by hitting the ball off himself in fair territory and retiring Abreu on a grounder to Cano, Pettitte got into a little jam.  Torii Hunter singled after he should've been punched out on a "check swing."  Guerrero hit a double to right and L.A. was in business with two in scoring position and Morales representing the go-ahead run at the plate.  However Pettitte induced Morales to chop back to the mound and the lefty recorded the out at first to retire the side.

After Pettitte was lifted from 6 1/3 solid innings and six strikeouts, Joba Chamberlain came on to hold down the fort.

So with Mariano Rivera on in the eighth to attempt a two inning save, things got somewhat tenuous for Rivera who hadn't pitched since Thursday.  Figgins set the table with a flare to left.  Abreu advanced Figgins on a diving fielder's choice play made by Teixeira.  Following Hunter's ground-out, Guerrero picked up another knock to right scoring Figgins and pulling the Angels to within one, 3-2.  Yet Rivera and the Yankees were able to solve Morales again, getting him to ground to second to end the threat.

In the bottom frame the Angels lack of fundamentals likely made Manager Mike Scioscia go mental.  Cano walked and Swisher trying to advance him on a sac-bunt, reached safely after Howie Kendrick covering first dropped the throw from Morales. 

So it was time once again for Cabrera to lay down a sac-bunt.  That's when Scott Kazmir showed off the new ephius pitch he'd worked on with Rick Peterson, on the throw to first and didn't even give Kendrick a chance to drop it this time.  Cano came around to score and Brett Gardner, running for Swisher, moved over to third. 

Jeter grounded out to Kazmir who this time threw a strike to the bag at first.  Damon walked to load the bases for Teixeira.  Teixeira lifted one to center deep enough to drive home Gardner on a sac-fly and expand the lead, 5-2.

Moving to the ninth, Rivera was back in his element with more breathing room.  After Mo had dispatched of Kendrick and Juan Rivera, the Angels surprisingly sent out Gary Matthews Jr. to extend their season.  Yet it was the last Yankee to pitch in a World Series game in the old yard in relief of Pettitte in 2003, who would pitch them into the World Series in the new one for the first time.  Rivera made Matthews Jr. his final victim of the 2009 ALCS with a strikeout and his postseason record 37th save for the Yankees record 40th American League Pennant, 5-2.

Hence the Yankees will take on the National League and defending World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies in the Fall Classic.  The last time the two clubs met was in 1950, when Casey's Boys took on the Whiz Kids and the Yankees swept the Phillies, 4-0. 

To give some perspective, much like Joe Girardi it was Casey Stengel's second season managing the Yankees, though Casey already had won the World Series the previous year.  The first three out of four were decided by one run.  In Game Two in Philadelphia, Joe DiMaggio hit the go-ahead game winning homer in the tenth off Robin Roberts for a 2-1 victory.  And much like these Yankees, those Yankees had a walk-off win of their own in Game Three in New York, when Jerry Coleman facing native New Yorker Tom Ferrick, knocked in Gene Woodling for the 3-2 win.  And Game Four saw New York native Whitey Ford winning the clincher at home in his rookie season for his first postseason win and Yogi Berra homered as the Yanks beat the Phils 5-2.

This marks the seventh time the Yankees will face a defending champion, going 5-1 in the prior six.  It also makes for the third straight time the Yankees will open a new carnation of Yankee Stadium, also against a defending champion.  In 1923 the Yankees beat the New York Giants for their first title in six and in 1976 they were swept by the Big Red Machine in four.  Their last World Series against a defending champion, New York beat Atlanta in six in 1996.

Between the Yankees, Phillies, Giants and A's, New York and Philadelphia have met in the World Series four times, with each city meeting winning twice.  1950: Yankees over Phillies 4-0.  1913: Athletics over Giants 4-1.  1911: Athletics over Giants 4-2.  1905: Giants over Athletics 4-1.  Interestingly enough those two transplanted teams also met exactly 20 years ago in 1989 for the Bay Area Earthquake Series, with the Oakland Athletics sweeping the San Francisco Giants 4-0.

In other sports the New York Islanders won their first Stanley Cup over the Philadelphia Flyers in 1979-80 in six games.  While the Yankees have Joba and the Phillies once had Wes, the then Philadelphia Warriors Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points on the New York Knickerbockers in a 169-147 win in 1962.  And in football the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles who play in Philly this Sunday are 2-2 against each other in the playoffs, New York winning the first two and Philadelphia the last two including last season.

Other miscellaneous facts, Eric Hinske ties Don Baylor's obscure record of being the only two players to reach the World Series three years in a row, each year with a different team.  Both "Subway pitch-men" NLCS MVP Ryan Howard and ALCS MVP CC Sabathia will face off.  As will former Cleveland Indians teammates Sabathia and Cliff Lee, the last two American League Cy Young Award Winners in Game One, much like they did in the first regular season game ever at the New Stadium with Lee picking up the first victory.  Jim Konstanty and Mariano Duncan are the only players to have ever played in a World Series with the Phillies and Yankees.

The Phillies are the first team to make it to the World Series in consecutive years since the 1998-2001 Yankees, first NL club to do it since the 1995-1996 Braves, both of those clubs lost in their last attempt.  Additionally the Phillies will try to become the first team since the 1998-2000 Yankees to win back-to-back titles and the first NL team to do so since the 1975-1976 Cincinnati Reds.

The short season series in New York went to Philadelphia 2-1.  But figure this, both Jorge Posada and Jose Molina were out for the Yankees.  Jose Veras (no longer on the Yankees) picked up their only win, while A.J. Burnett and Brett Tomko (no longer on the Yankees) lost.  For Philly Brett Myers (no longer in the rotation) and Clay Condrey won and Brad Lidge lost.

So here it is folks, Broadway meets Broad Street, the Statue of Liberty meets the Liberty Bell and the City That Never Sleeps meets the City of Brotherly Love.

Of course for New York Mets fans, there's always the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday night.

Both the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees did their absolute best to give away Game Five of the ALCS and ultimately both squads will be flying back to New York for Game Six.  And much like that guy who jumped into the puddle out by the rock pile, each bullpen was all wet.

Early on it appeared as though the Yankees would break it open in the first.  Consecutive singles from Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon had New York setup.  Then a questionable strike three call to Mark Teixeira allowed John Lackey to regain his composure to retire the side un-harmed.

In the bottom half of the frame we learned just how worth it the decision was to have Jose Molina catching A.J. Burnett despite Jorge Posada's solid numbers versus Lackey.  Burnett walked Chone Figgins and was then battered for five straight hits.  Burnett looked like the Bugs Bunny cartoon as the hitting conga line was on. 

Bobby Abreu with a single to center.  Torii Hunter another two-run blast to center, scoring Figgins and Abreu.  Vladimir Guererro doubled to center (am I sensing a theme here?) to knock in Hunter.  Kendry Morales picked up a knock of his own driving in Guerrero.  And then Burnett got Macier Izturis to fly out to Nick Swisher and Juan Rivera mercifully grounded into a double-play to end the inning, 4-0 Angels out front.

There was another "par for the postseason" poor umpiring call in the third with Damon being called out a first to end the inning. 

Both Lackey and Burnett matched each other up until the seventh when things got really wild.  Melky Cabrera doubled to right with one out.  Posada walked on a questionable ball four call and Lackey clearly rattled subsequently walked Jeter on four straight pitches.

After Damon flew out to Rivera, Mike Scoscia pulled a frustrated and adamant Lackey who wanted to finish the game. 

With Darren Oliver on to pitch, Teixeira took him deep to the gap in left, clearing the bases for a three-run double.  The Angels then issued a free pass to Alex Rodriguez with first base open to pitch to Hideki Matsui.  Matsui drove in Teixeira with a base knock to tie things at 4-4.

Following that L.A. called on Kevin Jepsen and Robinson Cano rocked him for a two-run triple giving the Yanks their first lead 6-4. 

But in the bottom frame it was New York's turn to make some questionable pitching moves.  The Yankees neglected bringing him in during the seventh inning of Game Three and I would've put David Robertson who has been their most dependable reliever outside of the great Mariano Rivera this postseason on to pitch. 

So Burnett was left in to face the Angels deceptive at least in this series, bottom of the order.  A.J. yielded a hit to Jeff "chestnuts roasting on Yankees pitching" Mathis and walked Erick Aybar, possibly the worst walk in Yankees history since David Cone walked Doug Strange in Game Five of the 1995 ALDS.

While I didn't have a problem with Burnett starting the inning, I can't buy the line of him only throwing 80 or so pitches to that point.  If that's the case why was Andy Pettitte pulled after cruising along with only 81 pitches in Game Three of the ALDS against Minnesota?

The Yankees brought on Damaso Marte who got his job done.  Figgins bunted the runners into scoring position and Marte got Abreu to ground into a fielder's choice which scored Mathis.  Phil Hughes was brought on which begs the question if you were going to bring him in regardless, why not start the inning with him? 

Hughes walked Hunter.  Then instead of throwing a curve three feet off the plate or going way up the ladder, Hughes grooves a fat one to Guerrero and Vlad deposits it to center tying the contest at 6-6.  Morales took Hughes to right and just like that L.A. was right back in the driver's seat 7-6.

After Mariano Rivera pulled off another magician act reminiscent of Game Three, the Yanks staged a little rally in the ninth.  Unfortunately unlike Game Two, A-Rod who had his first RBI-less game of the playoffs was intentionally walked.  The Yanks had the bases loaded with two outs and Swisher who has made some heads-up plays in the field continues to look lost at the plate.  After coming back from 0-2 Swisher worked the count to 3-2, but Brian Fuentes got Swisher to pop-out to Aybar and the Angels took Game Five 7-6.

So the series shifts back to New York, where both managers hope the bullpen phones are disconnected.

Good news the sky is no longer falling, though there was a giant sized tsunami at the "Big-A" Tuesday night.  The waves came crashing down on the left from "The Dude" out of Vallejo, California CC Sabathia and rising up on the right from Kate Hudson's "dude" one Alex Rodriguez.  In a 10-1 thrashing that may have all but decided the 2009 ALCS, Los Angeles Angels fans can't help but wonder if this series was decided the last two off-season's.

For the Angels were viewed as the primary alternative competition for Sabathia until offering him a 24 hour ultimatum and A-Rod after opting out of his contract two years back.  In fact had the New York Yankees listened to the NY Daily News' Bill Madden this spring and cut him outright, they could've had him for next to nothing.

Yet in another odd twist this game was decided by a player in a deal the Yankees didn't make.  Centerfielder Melky Cabrera busted out for a big four RBI night and if he is traded along with Phil Hughes for Johan Santana and incidentally the Yankees don't go after Sabathia, who knows where this club is right now?

And it was Cabrera who gave the Yanks a big cushion in the top of the fourth with a two-run single to left off Scott Kazmir, plating Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano who'd knocked in A-Rod for the Yanks first run and now the Yanks were up 3-0.

The fourth was also the beginning of the most shameful display of umpiring this side of Detective Lieutenant Frank Drebin. 

Nick Swisher who'd walked, moved to second on Cabrera's hit.  With Derek Jeter at the plate Kazmir (as the replay clearly showed with the umpire looking right at the bag) picked Swisher off second yet Swisher was ruled safe.  But it didn't end there, after Jeter walked Swisher moved to third with one out and the bases packed.  Johnny Damon came to the plate and lifted one to center and as the replay clearly tells it Swisher tagged up and scored the Yankees fourth run.  Except that umpire Tim McClelland obviously not looking at the bag blew the call by ruling Swisher had left too early on appeal from the Angels. 

As we'd see later I wonder if it was a make-up call for the blown call at second or if he really didn't see what happened at third base on that play.  In any event, no harm, no foul for either team that inning.

In the fifth Mark Teixeira finally woke up offensively with a knock to left.  A-Rod then swatted the Yanks first non-solo homer since Game Two of the ALDS off Jason Bulger putting the Yanks up 5-0.  The homer was A-Rod's fifth of the playoffs putting him one behind tying Bernie Williams for the Yanks single post-season record.

Then more of the bizarre umpiring ensued.  With Jorge Posada on third and Robinson Cano on second, Nick Swisher chopped one back to Darren Oliver.  Oliver fired home to catcher Mike Napoli.  Posada broke for home and was caught up in a run-down.  Leaving time for Cano to advance, Posada ran back past third and Cano was also at the bag but inexplicably never touched it.  Napoli applied the tag to both Posada and Cano, inning ending double-play right?  Except McClelland only called out Posada and must've assumed for some reason that both runners were occupying the bag as is the case most times but on this occasion neither were.

The Angels came away un-scathed once again but one couldn't blame Mike Scoscia for wanting to go out there like the fictional Angels Manager from "The Naked Gun" and say, "hey look even the guy running the scoreboard says there's three outs and he's way up in the mezzanine!"

Sabathia who seemed to only get stronger as the game progressed, rendered his lone blemish in the bottom frame, a one out blast to Kendry Morales making it 5-1.

In the seventh on the anniversary of his 2004 Game Seven Grand Slam, Johnny Damon smacked a two-run shot off Matt Palmer, boosting the Yankees lead to 7-1.

After Sabathia dusted off the Angels for his final frame going eight strong for the second time this series, the Yanks would tack on three more in the ninth capped off by a Cabrera two-run double.  The pitcher who some thought might be starting this contest, Chad Gaudin recorded the final three outs as the Yankees romped the Angels 10-1.

So as things stand, the Angels are eyeing elimination the Yankees eyeing their 40th World Series appearance and Tim McClelland and co. possibly eyeing an optometrist sometime in the near future.

Thankfully for the Los Angeles Angels Mike Scioscia didn't listen to Tim McCarver Monday afternoon or he and not Joe Girardi would've made the worst managerial move on the day.  Had backup catcher Jeff Mathis been pinch run for for Reggie Willits in the bottom of the tenth, we might still be playing.  In a game where the New York Yankees took a booming 3-0 lead on the verge of gaining a 3-0 lead in the ALCS, it was the little things that mattered most.

Derek Jeter jumped on Jered Weaver in the first for his 20th career post-season homer putting the Bombers on top 1-0 with the Yankees scoring first for the third straight time this series.

Both squads squandered opportunities in the second hitting into double-plays.

In the fourth Alex Rodriguez led off with a bomb to left in the vicinity of Jeter's off Weaver for his fourth of the playoffs.  Yet beyond that the Yanks once again failed to put the Angels in a world of hurt, stranding runners at the corners once again.

Andy Pettitte continued to cruise along and Johnny Damon hit a solo shot of his own off Weaver in the fifth.  A-Rod barely missed his second homer of the contest but the Yanks increased their lead to 3-0.

Then there was a **** in the armor the bottom half of the frame for Pettitte and the Yanks when Yankee killer Howie Kendrick smoked a homer to left.  Kendrick's solo shot was the first allowed by Yankees pitching all post-season.

In the sixth Bobby Abreu notched his first hit of the series and with two outs the Yankees questionably pitched to Vladimir Guerrero and got burned.  Vlad woke up and jolted one to left to tie the contest at 3-3.

Kendrick and the Angels were back for more in the seventh.  With one out Kendrick tripled off Joba Chamberlain, leaving some to question whether Pettitte with 95 pitches should've been allowed to finish the frame.  Scioscia pinch hit Macier Izturis for Mike Napoli and he lifted a sac fly to deep right scoring Kendrick and giving the Angels their first lead of the day 4-3.

Following that thing got tenuous for the Yankees.  Hideki Matsui drew a walk off reliever Kevin Jepsen in the eighth.  Brett Gardner and not Freddy Guzman was used as a pinch runner.  Which is bad, not because Guzman is faster but since that's his only role of usefulness on the team, putting Gardner out there for defense would sacrifice the DH.  I really have to question why Guzman and not Eric Hinske was added to the roster for this round, but I digress.

Gardner ended up getting caught stealing on a pitch-out and conversely Jorge Posada homered to center to tie the game at 4-4.  Perhaps Jepsen let his guard down and throws a different pitch there but it makes one wonder what could've been.  After that Robinson Cano singled and Nick Swisher walked, but with one out once again the Yanks couldn't capitalize with runners on base.

Then the over-managing of the bullpen commenced.  Damaso Marte a lefty who got Chone Figgins for the final out of the seventh was pulled in favor of another lefty Phil Coke to face the left-handed Abreu to start the eighth.  Abreu promptly doubled but rounded too far as an alert Jeter on the cut-off throw from Melky Cabrera turned to gun down Abreu who was diving back to second as an equally alert Mark Teixeira applied the tag.  Phil Hughes was brought on and kept the Angels at bay.

Moving on to the bottom of the tenth, after being lights out his first inning and two thirds, Hughes was rocked for a leadoff double by the light hitting catcher Mathis.  So with Mathis on Girardi smartly made a move his predecessor Joe Torre failed to make in Game Four of the 2003 World Series and called on Mariano Rivera. 

Erick Aybar laid down a bunt attempting to move Mathis to third when Rivera wheeled slipped and bounced the ball into left where an alert Damon was backing up the play.  Figgins grounded out to Teixeira moving Aybar to second.  With runners in scoring position and one out, Abreu was walked intentionally.  Then in a move that showed why taking up the DH spot with Gardner and pinch hitting for him with Jerry Hairston Jr. ironically came back to bite them in the field and at the plate as Hairston was placed in left removing the DH.

Rivera then induced Torii Hunter into a fielder's choice as Teixeira fired home to Posada recording the second out.  With bases still jammed and two down Rivera got Guerrero to bounce one to Teixeira in what was another brilliant effort by the great Rivera.

In the top of the eleventh the Yanks were caught short-handed.  After two quick outs and Rivera's spot due in the order, Girardi didn't want to march Rivera out for the bottom of the frame.  However his options were very limited wtih only Guzman, Jose Molina and Francisco Cervelli on the bench as opposed to say Hinske.  Cervelli was called upon and subsequently struck out against Ervin Santana.

On the game went to the bottom of the eleventh where Girardi went to David Robertson.  Robertson continued his solid playoff pitching, quickly retiring Juan Rivera and Kendry Morales.  With two down, Girardi gave all New York fans watching a head scratch-er putting in Alfredo Aceves.  Aceves who was once the Yanks eighth inning bridge to Rivera pre-Hughes this season, but hasn't been as dominant since being asked to throw a spot start in place of Chien-Ming Wang in Minnesota in July was brought on to face the ever annoying Kendrick. 

Kendrick singled up the box and the collective groan could be heard 3,000 miles away.  So with two away and Kendrick on it was up to Mathis once again.  Mathis playing the role of a light hitting Mike Scoscia playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1988 NLCS against Doc Gooden and the New York Mets, Mathis crushed another one to deep left.  If Damon had still been out there or had the Yankees been able to put Gardner in center and Cabrera in left, whether the ball would've been caught we'll never know.  Yet the ball fell in and Kendrick came around to score the winner 5-4.

Girardi who has been excellent all season in handling the pen, clearly over-managed in this spot and for the first time this post-season the Yanks got burned.  But one could also question why the Yanks couldn't win after hitting four homers and will need to start finding a way to manufacture some more runs.

Game Four will be the biggest test yet for these Yankees, who've played their best baseball with their backs up against the wall.  This feels so reminiscent of the 1998 ALCS when El Duque hurled a gem in that series' Game Four for the Yanks against the Cleveland Indians in hostile territory.  The Yanks lost a tough one and were reminded just how equally of a tough out the Angels truly are, but they have to be confident in knowing "The Dude," CC Sabathia will be toeing the rubber in his backyard Tuesday night.