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“Start Spreading The News…”

By Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy on October 26, 2009 at 4:30 PM in Afghanistan, Current Affairs, Soldiers/Veterans

(Captain Derek Jeter, Mark Texiera, and Alex Rodriguez celebrate win. Photo by Nick Latham, Getty Images)

That is to say, YANKEES WIN!!!! YANKEES WIN!!!! TTTTHHHEEEEEE YANKEES WIN!!! Woohoo! Yippee! Yay! The Bronx Bombers won their 40th American League Pennant Sunday night (Oct. 25).

(Getty Image.)

The Louisiana Southpaw hurler, Andy Pettitte, was on the mound for 6 1/3 innings. Joba Chamberlain took the ball, and got 2 outs to end the 7th. Then, one of the greatest closers of all time, Mariano “Mo” Rivera, came in to get the last 2 outs. He gave up a run in the process, but no matter as the final score was 5-2. Not only did the Yanks win their 40th pennant, but Andy Pettitte now has the most postseason wins in history, and Mariano Rivera earned his 37th postseason save.

(Mariano Rivera hugs catcher, Jorge Posada. Getty Image.)

Know who else is going to be really happy about this? Secretary of State Clinton! No doubt that is why she is smiling in the photo below (okay, not really, but hey, one can dream!):

(October 20, 2009 – Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images North America)

Yes, she’s a Yankees fan, too! How nice that the Yanks clinched the Pennant the same day Secretary Clinton appeared on the cover of Parade Magazine! All in all, a great way to begin the day, with a story about a day in the life of Secretary Clinton, and to end it with the Yanks as the American League Champions. Woohoo!

Here is a glimpse of the excitement following the game:

Note the classiness of Angels Coach, Mike Scioscia. Impressive. No doubt, the Yankees will do their best to win the World Series, too, for the American League (sorry, Philly fans! I can’t help it!).

By the way, CC Sabbathia won the ALCS MVP, as he should. He pitched two incredible games during this series, as he has most of the season. What a great addition HE is to the Yankees, especially since they lost their ace, Wang, with a shoulder injury early on in the season. CC stepped right up, and took on that role admirably.

Now, to the World Series with the reigning World Series Champions, the Philadelphia Phillies, beginning Wednesday might, Oct. 26th. I have to say, I know it isn’t as much fun for the Midwest or West Coasts to not have a team in the Series, but for us East Coast folks to not have to stay up half the night watching a game is a blessed relief, I’ll tell ya! So you know what I’ll be doing come Wednesday night, wearing my Jeter jersey, and cheering on my boys in the Fall Classic!

To take a moment away from my celebrating, and believe you me, I am THRILLED about the Yankees’ success, I do want to acknowledge the largest single day loss of 14 US troops in Afghanistan. My thoughts and prayers go out to them, their families, their friends, and the companies who suffered the loss of their fellows. My deepest sympathies and condolences.

  • Carlaforhillary

    I’m from Philly! GO PHILLIES!!!!!

    • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

      Should be a good series, Carla – y’all have a great team!!

      BH, you betcha! I had to cheer quietly last night when they won since my uncle was already asleep, but oh, my, I am HAPPY! :-)

      I hear ya, Lady. I can’t play anymore, so watching gives me great joy. I love all kinds of sports, though, including football.

      Oh, and BH, absolutely – what happened in Afghanistan was just horrible. I have friends waiting to hear if any of their friends were involved (the husband, just recently out of the Army, and a West Point grad, was a Blackhawk helicopter pilot in Iraq. A bunch of his/their friends are still in…).

      • Katmoon

        With you RRRA on the Yankees, been my team for a long time. I think it will be a great series.

        I pray your friends family service member is alright.
        My prayers to the families of the soldiers lost yesterday.

        • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

          Katmoon, thank you – I still haven’t heard if our friends know abt their friends yet – hopefully soon, and hopefully, all will be well. But we know that those brave souls are SOMEONE’S family/friends, and their loss is immeasurable…

      • Peggy Sue

        My husband, father-in-law and sons are already popping corn and chilling the beer, Amy. All dedicated [but grousing] Philly fans, probably the toughest fans in the country.

        It’s going to be a game of games, for sure!

        • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

          LOL – that’s really cute, Peggy Sue!

          And Katmoon – glad to know you and Tammy will be rooting for the Pinstripes!

          Like you, I’ve been a fan for a long time (no bandwagoner here). That was one of the other great things abt going to Union, besides the education, that is, and that was going to the Yankees games. It was some of the cheapest entertainment in NY, and talk abt an education – what better place to learn all of the intricacies of baseball but Yankee Stadium?? :-)

  • Bronwyn’s Harbor

    I think you are excited, Amy. Heh. Well, I can’t wait for Wednesday night. That’ll be great fun.

    And thanks for acknowledging the terrible deaths of the U.S. soldiers — terrible it comes from crashes.

  • Ladydawnelle

    I’d rather play it than watch it (baseball)
    now Football I’ll watch! Sorry just not into most other TV sports shows. Yep I’m a gurl – so? But congrats to those that enjoy it!

  • helenk

    congratulations
    Now start practicing the Mummers Strut!!!!!!!!!!
    GO PHILLIES

    Just for you
    Years ago I met Joe DiMaggio at the Newark train station.He was in town for the ” Night of a Thousand Stars”. He received the longest ovation of all the stars at the show. He gave me an autograph for my son.I rode the train from Newark to Phila with him.
    I have never met a kinder, nicer, gentleman. He treated the fans so well and gave autographs and talked and listened to them.
    Many younger sports players could learn a lot from his example.

    WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPRERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS

    PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE

    • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

      What a lovely story, Helenk! Didn’t Joe DiMaggio thank God for making him a Yankee? I think so. Anyway, thanks so much for sharing that!

      You know, Derek is my man, but when the Yanks were in Boston a few years back, and A-ROd saved this little boy from stepping in front of a truck. Turned out, the boy and his family were season ticket holders for the Yanks, and were blown away when they realized who it was. Apparently, he was very nice after he stopped the boy. Here’s the link for anyone who’s interested: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/04/15/no_error_on_newbury_st_a_rod_saves_boy_from_truck/

      Anyway, LOVE the story abt DiMaggio. He was a class act, like their current captain is, IMHO.

  • Sandy

    GO PHILLIES, I have been a Phillies fan for 44 years, through thick and thin. I hope they win it for HK. Good luck to your Yankees RRRA.

  • Prime Obot

    Red Sox Nation decided to let y’all have this one. ;)

    I lived in NYC for a long time, and went to school in Philly, though, so I’ll enjoy seeing either team win. Enjoy.

    • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

      LOL – oh, yeah – I’m sure that’s what happened! :-)

      That’s actually nice, PO, that you’ll be happy no matter who wins. Of course, I want my Yanks to win, but even more, to see good, well played baseball, with as little interference from the umps as possible (meaning, not having a game hinge on a poor call, for instance).

      Should be fun!

      • Prime Obot

        Well, as 3rd-generation Red Sox, I’m really not supposed to root for the Yankees. But we had our moment in 2004 and I’d like to see ARod get his ring. And hey, we gotta see the Bombers win one before their new stadium collapses. ;)

        • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

          Oh, wow – you better keep that to yourself abt a ring for A-Rod, PO, especially if you’re a 3rd generation Red Sox fan!

          And yeah, I totally understand abt not really being able to root for the Bronx Bombers. You might not get invited home for Thanksgiving! :-)

          One thing abt the stadium that’s really cool, I think – they took the original facade that hung off the upper stands and put it in the new one (which they really did have to build for structural reasons. The old one would literally sway when the fans got going. I imagine it might have been cheaper to build a new one than to shore up the old one.). Anyway, just neat (to me) that they kept that old part and put it where it belonged…

  • Tammy

    Great game!
    Good luck Yankees. Can’t wait for the World Series!!!

  • candymarl

    Times like this I miss Steve Gilliard. I have a good idea what he’d have to say about the Yankees. GO Phillies!

  • babawankenobe

    Great post! They are a TEAM, Not a bunch of showboating superstars. That is how you win a championship, with TEAMWORK. Which brings me to the point of Afghanistan. Our Commander in Chief is no Derek Jeter and that is the problem at hand. He is not leading OUR team at all! We cannot prevail with this complete lack of leadership and focus from our CIC! We will only fail at great cost and human suffering without REAL LEADERSHIP! My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the Americans who perished in Afghanistan today.

    P.S. Mariano Rivera Did not get the final two outs, He got the final six outs! That is how we should close out the Taliban! Teamwork and leadership!

  • tillthen

    She’s from Chicago but she’s a Yankee fan…Oh! that’s right, a Carpet Bagging Yankee Fan. Nice one Hill.

    Now, let us see. Who will Obamawicz root for? Who’s got more Electoral votes? Who’s got more Democrats?

    Those 2 are both jokes and poor examples of Americans, cashing in on America’s used-to-be fav pastime, now polluted by the money changers, Bud Schlug chief among them.

    I hope it snows a blizzard right through Halloween weekend into NOVEMBER 1!!!

    • babawankenobe

      Tillthen, Chicago is not in the world series this year The choices are; NY Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies, If Mrs, Clinton wants the NY Yankees to win that is her perogative. She has lived in NYC long enough to appreciate what a great team they are! This is hardly carpetbagging and your comment about Bud Selig sounds like an anti-Semetic slur referencing money changers. Btw, President Obama will likely root for the Phillies IMHO.

      • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

        As I understand it, Hillary Clinton has been a Yankees fan since she was a child. Sometimes, people don’t pick the teams from their area ANYWAY. That doesn’t make them a “carpetbagger.”

        And no doubt, having been a two-term senator from NY, with a house there still, she is probably THRILLED abt the Yanks. After all, it is not a bad birthday present for her.

  • Always Learning

    RRR Amy -

    Enjoyed last night’s game and your great post. I am a longstanding Yankee fan in a mixed marriage with my Red Sox loving husband. He must have gotten to my 4 children when their minds were still impressionable, as they are all part of Red Sox Nation, too.

    Question for you: do you think Joe Girardi should have replaced Matsui with a different DH? I love Matsui, but he has definitely been flat offensively. He seems out of sync at the plate, and then even if he gets on base he really can’t run because of his knees. Might Jerry Hairston, Jr. be a better option as DH? We won’t have to worry about this as much in the World Series since the DH isn’t used in the National League stadium, but just wondering what you think.

    • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

      Oh, wow – want to come to my house to watch the games?? :-) Maybe as they get older, your kids will see the light! (JUST KIDDING to you Red Sox fans! Ahem..)

      I love Godzilla, too. But, yeah, his knees clearly are impacting his hitting ability, not to mention the running part. He did better after he got some rest, and maybe that’s what he needs again. Hairston, or even Gardner, who hit very well when he got the chance during this series, may have helped more.

      Then again, I wasn’t quite sure why Gardner didn’t replace Swisher, either. Gardner is fast, has a VERY strong arm, and can hit. Swisher is much improved, but I still hold my breath every time a ball is hit his way, or he comes to the plate (though I’m relieved he finally got a hit last night). I don’t know if Gardner still isn’t 100% after breaking his thumb, but I didn’t get it.

      But what do I know? I don’t know why Girardi hasn’t used Robertson again, or why he took him out in the first place a couple of games ago, and all of that in addition to the Swisher/Matsui conundrum…

    • obiewankenobe

      Yanks will try to sign Mouer for catcher in the off-season and Posada will then be the DH. Matsui has been a great clutch hitter all season but His mobility is an issue. Matsui is a free agent after this season is over and he probably will not be re-signed. Yanks will also try to sign BOTH Hallidays! Pitcher and outfielder!

      • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

        I’d heard that abt Mauer, and Posada. Do you think they’ll let Molina go and move Cervelli into the back-up catcher position?

        Matsui has been a good clutch hitter, but he does seem to be in more pain these days, poor guy.

        And then there’s Damon – check out this article: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/10/16/2009-10-16_johnny_damon.html

        Heaven knows, the Yanks need another good starting pitcher. It’s amazing they got this far cobbling together starts in the 4th and 5th positions. Halliday would be just fine by me! :-)

        Hey, Sandy (upthread) – good luck to your Phillies, too! That’s a long time to be a fan of a team – wow!! :-D You must be so proud of them getting back to the Series again this year, as well you should. Mighty impressive!

        Thanks, CentralMass – very kind of you!

  • CentralMass

    Congratulations. The Yamkees are formidable this year.

  • JMM

    Great game last night. Picked up my t-shirt this morning and wore it all day at work, what fun that was.

    • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

      Oh, I want one of those shirts! It took FOREVER to get my ALDS t-shirt from MLB! I have hesitated to order the ALCS shirt because I figure the World Series will be over by then.

      Good for you, JMM!

      And thanks, Portia Elizabeth!! Much appreciated. It IS exciting, right? I mean, really – if a RED SOX fan can get excited by it, that says something (I lived in Boston for 8 yrs, so believe you me, I understand there is no love lost there). You’re graciousness is lovely. Thanks!

  • Portia Elizabeth

    Congratulations, RRR Amy and all Yankees fans!
    My Red Sox husband and I watched the game last night and felt the excitement even though we’re not Yankee fans. It was a great night for New York!

  • TorchWood

    Art Museum Philly here

    GO PHILLIES!!!!!

    • hmk_me

      brewerytown or fairmount?

    • Pennsylvania Caucasian

      I lived at Parkway House when I was attending Moore.

      We have a NNJ-ite at our workplace, he’s a diehard Mets fan. But even he is rooting for the Yankees. We tried to explain to him: “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” – but it doesn’t matter. Everyone from NNJ/NYC metro hates the Phils.

      hehe

      GO FIGHTINS’!

  • obiewankenobe

    Mauer would be The Catcher most always, Posada the DH and they would certainly keep Molina who is an outstanding catcher! Cervelli would be sent down or traded. Halliday all the way!
    Imagine Sabathia, Burnett, Pettite and Halliday! if Wang came back healthy as well? Unstoppable!

  • Jackarooty

    Amy, I respect you. I always appreciate your insightful writing.

    As far as the Yankees are concerned…zzzzzzzzzzzzz!

    Red Sox Nation is in my DNA…my grandfather, father and uncles would roll over in their graves if I cheered for them.

    As I wrote to you the other day…Derek Jeter is a class act…but if it makes you happy Bubbellah…then enjoy the series!

    • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

      LOL – oh, Jackarooty, I would not ask a Died in the Wool Red Sox fan to root for the Yanks. I think the very MOST I could ask is for you not to root AGAINST them! :-D

      I do live my Derek Jeter – he’s been with the team his entire career, and no doubt, will finish his career with them. He cares abt baseball – like the movie, it’s for the love of the game, not his personal accomplishments.

      Hey, Obie – yes, if Wang can come back from his surgery and be his old self again, that would be FANTASTIC.

      I do like Cervelli, though – a good young player with a strong arm, a good bat, and energy. Molina’s struggles at the plate during the postseason were a bit difficult to take.

      I can see Jorge morphing into a player/coach type person. A-Rod has been doing a lot of that, too, mentoring the younger players. I like to see that in him – says a lot abt him that he has worked so hard with Cano and Cabrerra.

      PuppyDogMom, you are so right abt Hillary. I think of the Yanks winning as a great birthday present to her.

      I like the Cubbies – how can you not like a team that fought getting lights in their stadium and who have ivy on their wall? Your energy for the Bronx Bombers would be appreciated, of course – and since they are not in the same league as your Cubbies, you could root for them without feeling like you’re cheating on your team! :-D How’s THAT for some justification?? Teehee!

  • PuppyDogMom

    Well, not a Yankee fan, but can’t deny their talent. As always, RRRA, enjoy your post, so much so that I might root for the Yankees this year. Please pity me because I’ve been a Cubs fan off and on over the years. I am recovering, though.

    And any team that Hillary supports can’t be all that bad. As an aside: Why can’t she be president?

  • avwrobel

    Sorry Amy!! Steroids and money won’t save the Yanks from those Phantastic Phillies!!!!!! Hoo-waaahhh!

  • Thomas Sears

    New York Yankees under Steinbrenner….the sports equivalent to Chacago politics. One wins when one has more cash to spend. Appeal the the frailties of the common man and the common athlete….loyalty is inane…only money matters. I actually believe that Mantle, Ruth, Berra, Tresch, Ford, Gherig, and dozens of former Yankees would be embarrassed to see how the power of money has sustained the team and legacy they created by talent and work alone. Today’s Yankees desecrate the memory of the real Bronx Bombers. I’ll give exception to Jeter, Pettit, and Rivera…..but no one else….and Mr. Damon is one of the biggest pretenders…he’d jump in a heartbeat for an extra sawbuck.