Before we move to Game 6, we need to dig deep into the Angels victory last night.

People want a formula that works with regards to keeping your ace in a close game, because last night was a mess.

Aaron Boone said to me, as we were watching Lackey getting pulled, that pitchers usually plead their case with managers on the mound, but yesterday,  because of the Fox production staff, you really got to see an extreme closeup of John Lackey just pleading, begging Mike Scioscia not to come to the mound.  He was screaming, “Come on Sciosch, This is Mine, This Is Mine,” because he knows that once his skipper makes up his mind, there’s no two ways about it, his decision is made.

I think Joe Magrane said it best, “If you’re going to take out your ace, you’ve got to get better.”  Darren Oliver has come up big for the Angels, but he is not better than John Lackey, and that move almost cost them their season. Flipping Teixeira around to the right side was not a big enough reason to take Lackey out of the game.  Taking Lackey out was huge, that one move could have ended the Angels season.

But Joe Girardi bailed him out by sending A.J. out for the 7th.  OK, I get the rationale; 80 pitches, cruising after a rocky 1st, and pitching with a lead, but is a tiring A.J. really the best option?  He needed to showcase right there why the Yankees have been the best team during the regular season, and ride Joba, Hughes, and Rivera into the World Series. Instead, A.J. was sent out there to face finely tuned hitters seeing him for the 3rd time.  His stuff was shaky and inconstant all night, and he couldn’t get the job done when he finally got a lead.  By keeping A.J. in, Girardi turned the back end of the bullpen into a convoluted mess, and bailed out Mike Scioscia.

But we’re not done yet, because Fuentes almost stepped in and bailed out Girardi.  There was some high drama in that 9th inning with Fuentes going up against the meat of the Yankee order, and looking at that inning, luck was in the air at the Big A.  

Damon smashed a liner, Tex just missed a moon shot, and then A-Rod got the Barry Bonds treatment. Wildness loads the bases, but Swisher popped up a 3-2 pitch, and we have a Game 6.

At this point we’re not looking at a crisp October night; there is some heavy rain on the way to the Bronx.   If a rain-out becomes reality, advantage Angels because of the pitching.

If Saturday doesn’t happen, the way Jered Weaver looked last night I won’t be surprised if he steps in for Game 6.  John Lackey is gonna pitch on 3-days rest, and a Game 7 is not what the Yankees want.

There’s so much to talk about, so join us at 6 for MLB Tonight. – Greg Amsinger