Matsui, Pettitte carry Yankees to Series title
Monti Says: Another correct Monti prediction! I’m getting good at this.
New York Post
November 5, 2009
By GEORGE A. KING III
Baseball’s penthouse is again decorated with hand-painted silk Yankees pinstripe wallpaper.
Nine years after their last World Series title, the Yankees earned No. 27 last night when they spanked the defending champion Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium before a record crowd of 50,315 that didn’t include George Steinbrenner.
Tomorrow morning the Yankees will celebrate with a ticker-tape parade up lower Broadway.
“Right where we belong,” Derek Jeter bellowed from a stage in the middle of the $1.5 billion Stadium.
And they looked very comfortable. Alex Rodriguez, who doesn’t have to answer any more questions about choking in the postseason, let loose with a river of victory tears and promised the parade will be a huge party.
Mariano Rivera held a copy of The Post’s front page with the No. 27 on the cover.
Hideki Matsui, who went 3-for-4 with a homer and six RBIs that tied the single-game Series record, was named the MVP and took the occasion to lobby for a return.
“I hope so,” when asked if he would be back. Matsui can become a free agent in 15 days. “I hope it works out. I love New York and I love the fans.”
From 1996 to 2000 the Yankees won four Series titles and three straight (1998-2000). They came within two outs of winning in 2001, were bounced from the 2003 Series in six games and didn’t make it back until this year when they spent almost a half-billion dollars of Steinbrenner’s fortune to import CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira to successfully plug gaping holes in the rotation and lineup.
When the subject of money surfaced, general manager Brian Cashman was ready with an answer.
“You can call us anything you want. You’re also going to have to call us world champions,” said Cashman, who didn’t join the Steinbrenner family on the stage to accept the World Series trophy.
Finally I can stop calling A-Rod “Mr. Choketober” and transfer the title to Teixiera and Cano, “The Choketober Boys.” And Swisher, Gardner and Cabrera didn’t do themselves any favors, either!
Matsui presents the Yanks with a real dilemma. What to do now, after he delivers THREE huge, clutch hits to secure the title???
Does Monti think he will get a good contract? I think he will get a one year deal for $7 mil or so.
Because of Matsui’s star power in Japan which the Yankees profit from greatly and being able to DH in the American League, I think he gets a minimum 2 year deal.