Colon leaves early, but Angels 'pen shuts down Yanks

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- The Angels were down and their ace was out. In came a 22-year-old rookie with a defiant look in his eye and the season on the line.

Ervin Santana pitched 5 1-3 gutsy innings in his postseason debut, Adam Kennedy hit a go-ahead triple that sent Yankees outfielders crashing to the ground, and Los Angeles beat New York 5-3 Monday night in the decisive Game 5 of their AL playoff series.

"It was tough. We didn't have a lot of options," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We had a lot of confidence in Erv. Ervin Santana is the story for us."

Less than 24 hours after arriving in California, the Angels got ready to leave for the start of the ALCS against the White Sox in Chicago on Tuesday night.

George Steinbrenner's $203 million Yankees once again learned that money doesn't buy success. Even with Randy Johnson coming out of the bullpen for 4 1-3 shutout innings, New York was eliminated by the Angels in the first round for the second time in four seasons, scoring 20 runs in the five games with four homers -- all solo shots.

"It was a street fight," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "I'm more disappointed than last year. I felt deep down that we would get it done."

Just like last season, when the Yankees lost four straight against Boston after taking a 3-0 ALCS lead, Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield were virtually invisible when New York needed their bats most. Rodriguez, New York's $252 million man, hit into a double play after the Yankees got their leadoff runner on in the ninth.

"I left my guts on the field, I left my heart out there," Rodriguez said. "so I'm not going to hang my head. I'm just going to go out and learn from it."

With two on and two outs in the ninth as the Yankees mounted one more threat, Francisco Rodriguez retired Hideki Matsui on a sharp grounder to first.

New York staved off elimination with a 3-2 victory Sunday night at Yankee Stadium, forcing one more game across the country in Anaheim. The teams traveled all night, both landing around 3:30 a.m.

Santana, who started the season at Double-A, entered after Bartolo Colon departed in the second inning with a stiff right shoulder. Santana got the win by allowing three runs and five hits, leaving to a standing ovation with one out in the seventh after allowing a leadoff homer to Derek Jeter.

"I've heard that question the whole season," he said. "I don't have to be nervous. It's a baseball game."

Garret Anderson homered and hit a sacrifice fly, and Francisco Rodriguez got four outs for his second postseason save and second this series. He allowed Jeter's third hit of the game starting the ninth and, after K-Rod got the double play on A-Rod, Jason Giambi singled to right and Sheffield reached on an infield hit.

Matsui grounded out to first baseman Darin Erstad, who made a diving stop and slipped the ball underhand to Francisco Rodriguez, who just beat Matsui to first for the final out.

The Angels threw their arms into the air in celebration and formed a group hug near first base, fireworks going off behind them beyond the outfield and streamers coming from the upper bleachers.

Bernie Williams, in perhaps his final game of a Yankees' career that began in 1991, went 0-for-3 with a walk, flying out to left in the eighth in what could have been his final at-bat in pinstripes.

Los Angeles advanced to its first ALCS since winning the franchise's first World Series title in 2002, and the Angels became the first team to eliminate the Yankees twice during Torre's 10-year tenure.

The Yankees' best chance at a comeback against Santana was ended on a disputed call in the fifth inning. With runners on first and second and two outs, Robinson Cano swung at a third strike in the dirt. Cano ran to first and catcher Bengie Molina's throw got past first baseman Darin Erstad, apparently loading the bases for Williams. But plate umpire Joe West called Cano out for running inside the baseline, prompting an unsuccessful argument by Torre.

"The rule states that he has to stay in that running lane during the last half of the distance, which he was not," West said. "So whether the ball hit him or not, he interfered with Erstad trying to catch the ball."

Kennedy insisted the Angels would get through this one on Adrenalin after the long flight -- no need for the jumping rally monkey that shows up on the big screen at Angel Stadium in the late innings. The monkey showed up afterward to celebrate.

Anderson's second-inning home run off Game 1 winner started the comeback against Game 1 winner Mike Mussina after New York had scored twice in the top half.

Kennedy, the No. 9 hitter who was MVP of the 2002 ALCS, lined a triple to right-center with two outs in the second. Sheffield, in right, and center fielder Bubba Crosby collided hard and hit the wall trying to make a play on the ball. Both quickly jumped up to find the ball as two runs scored for a 3-2 lead, and Crosby threw back in to keep Kennedy at third.

Anderson added a sacrifice fly in the third, and Erstad's infield grounder also drove in a run. One out later, the 42-year-old Johnson relieved to face Steve Finley -- the first relief appearance for the Big Unit since beating the Yankees in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series for Arizona.

Mussina lasted only 2 2-3 innings for his shortest career postseason outing. The right-hander, who stayed in Southern California all week in case he had to pitch the decisive game, lost this one after pitching scoreless ball into the sixth in Game 1.

"It's not the three-run homer, it's the little stuff that happens," Mussina said.

Colon, who returned to California on Saturday, got out of his first-inning trouble when he struck out Matsui with two on. But he was replaced after 23 pitches by Santana, who hadn't pitched since winning 7-4 at Texas on Oct. 2, the final day of the regular season.

Santana had some control problems at the start and allowed an RBI single to Crosby and Jeter's sacrifice fly.

"I can't say that I'm surprised he pitched well," Torre said. "We had some chances. He made pitches to get us out."

New York stranded 11 in the game, continuing its yearlong problem of hitting with men on base.

A-Rod, just 2-for-17 in the final four games of last year's ALCS collapse against Boston, went 2-for-15 (.133) with no RBI. Sheffield, 1-for-17 during last year's final four games, finished the series 6-for-21 (.286) with no extra-base hits and two RBI.

Game notes The Angels are 14-5 in postseason play at home since 1982. ... Williams appeared in his record 120th postseason game. ... Doctors think LHP Jarrod Washburn, scratched from his Game 4 start because of a throat infection and a high fever, has strep throat and his status for the next round was unclear. ... Anderson's homer was the fourth of his career off Mussina.

The only reason I posted this thread was to bring back the song from 2003. I only had to change the number of years ---

MIDI - LODI - look under Creedence Clearwater

It was five years ago...New Yorkers had cast their vote
That is when bad luck started...historians will note
Your Yankees won't win again...she brought bad karma, you see
It is The Curse of Hillary

She's from the depths of hell...the FReepers were warning you
She is an evil presence...what are you gonna do
Your Yankees won't win again...she brought bad karma, you see
It is The Curse of Hillary

Cubbie fans fought the goat...it just wouldn't go away
Bronx Bombers have been reeling...they don't know what to say
Your Yankees won't win again...she brought bad karma, you see
It is The Curse of Hillary

Year after year you'll find...your team will be going down
There is but one solution...to banish her from town
Your Yankees won't win again...she brought bad karma, you see
It is The Curse of Hillary...it is The Curse of Hillary

- Baghdad Bob and Hillary – Strange Bedfellows

Baghdad Bob and Hillary – Strange Bedfellows

When former Iraqi "information" minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, better known as "Baghdad Bob," appeared on Abu Dhabi television this past week, he once again raised his profile and led us to make some remarkable observations.

"Bob" became famous for his outrageous lies and statements during the Iraqi war.

For instance, he claimed on April 7 that there were no U.S. troops in Baghdad even though tanks could clearly be seen on television in the capital. The city fell two days later.

With the recent re-emergence of Baghdad Bob, NewsMax’s inquisitive staff was struck by the many similarities between the one-time Saddam Hussein spokesman and former first lady and New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Bob's sympathetic appearance on Abu Dhabi television reminded some of Hillary Clinton's similarly sympathetic appearance on ABC with Barbara Walters.

And like Hillary, Bob has stood by his statements and insisted that he was always convinced of what he said.

It may surprise people how two individuals, Bob and Hillary – who have come from such diverse backgrounds – could share so much in common. What a small world it is.

Many of the similarities were taken from the known record of Baghdad Bob's press conferences and the known statements of Hillary Rodham Clinton, many of them compiled by researcher Tom Kuiper and now made into NewsMax's hilarious "Deck of Hillary" playing cards. [In case you missed the Deck, Click Here Now.]

Here's what our top-notch staff gleaned from the known record in drawing the strange coincidences between Baghdad Bob and Hillary Rodham.

Baghdad Bob said he loved Iraq; Hillary Rodham said she loved Arkansas.

Bob fled Iraq; Hillary fled Arkansas.

Bob called Saddam a "great human being"; Hillary called James Carville a "great human being."

Bob said Saddam was telling the truth; Hillary said Bill was telling the truth.

Though Saddam was caught lying, Bob stuck with him; though Bill admitted lying, Hillary stuck with him.

Bob said he prefers Democratic presidents; Hillary definitely prefers Democratic presidents.

Bob left Iraq with $8 million stuffed in a mattress; Hillary left the White House with $8 million concealed as a book deal.

Bob must continue to answer for Saddam's legacy; Hillary must continue to answer for Bill's legacy.

Bob believes President Bush is a villain; Hillary believes President Bush is a villain.

Bob is a favorite target for late-night hosts; Hillary is a favorite target for late-night hosts.

Bob said he has always been a Yankees fan; Hillary said she has always been a Yankees fan.

Bob received favorable treatment from the New York Times; Hillary receives favorable treatment from the New York Times

Bob said Jimmy Carter is a friend of his and Iraq; Hillary says Jimmy Carter is her friend too.

Bob vowed to torture Saddam's accusers; Hillary vowed to "crucify" Gennifer Flowers.

Bob says he was briefly interrogated by American troops and let go; Hillary was briefly interrogated by Ken Starr and let go.

Bob claimed the museum pieces were removed on the night of Saddam's disappearance; Hillary had Vince Foster's papers removed on the night of his disappearance.

Bob said he turned over all of his documents to the Coalition; Hillary said she turned over all of her Whitewater documents to Ken Starr.

Bob said nasty things about Jews; Hillary said demeaning things about Jews.

Bob praised Arafat; Hillary praised Arafat's wife.

Bob was interviewed by propaganda organ Al-Jazeera; Hillary was interviewed by propaganda organ ABC in a program hosted by Barbara Walters.

Bob said he was the victim of a vast American conspiracy; Hillary said she was the victim of a vast right-wing conspiracy.

Bob called American GIs "snakes"; Hillary called the Secret Service "pigs."

Bob says he was convinced he was telling the truth; Hillary is convinced she is telling the truth when she says she won't run for president.

Of course, there are many other similarities between the former first lady and the former Iraqi information minister, too many to detail for this article.

But there are some notable differences as well.

Bob told Abu Dhabi TV he was happy he did not make the Pentagon's Most Wanted Iraqi cards. But Hillary must be thrilled that a whole deck has been named after her.

Bob is at a loss for what he will do next; Hillary has definite plans as to her next career move.

The New York Post recently reported on Bob's unemployment situation, and quoted top experts in the PR world as to what he can do next. Guess what? They said he should move to New York and cash in – just as Hillary did.

Citing Bob's media background, the Post suggested Bob might join the venerable New York Times as a replacement for former Timesman Jayson Blair.

That might work. NewsMax has a suggestion: Bob as Hillary's press secretary. She needs someone with a sense of humor on her staff, and Bob has experience battling George Bush.

Submiyyed by Ralphie

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