2010 MLB Playoffs

Add another momentum-shifting RBI to Cody Ross' stellar postseason résumé.

A fourth inning single by the Giants right fielder opened up the scoring in Game 3 of the NLCS, giving Matt Cain (7 IP, 0 R) the only run support he would need in the Giants' 3-0 home victory.

San Francisco has found lightning in a bottle with Ross, who was only claimed off waivers by the Giants to block the Padres from acquiring him.

The score was 3-2 in favor of the Yankees. There were two on and two out for one of the most feared hitters in the game today, Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers led the series two games to one, so this was a critical at-bat for the Yankees and their underachieving pitcher A.J. Burnett.

Hamilton hit a pop foul down the left field line—and then it happened.

Where to begin?

Last night at Yankee Stadium, Bengie Molina and Josh Hamilton propelled the Texas Rangers to a 10-3 drubbing of the New York Yankees to take a three games to one lead in the ALCS.

With New York now on the brink of elimination, Game 4 could mark the final nail in the coffin for the Yankees.

There is so much to break down from this game. So many things that could've gone the Yankees' way didn't, and there were so many missed opportunities and questionable decisions.

The Texas Rangers have dominated the New York Yankees in this series. They have outscored them 30-11, outhit .307 to .198, and the Yankees are only hitting .154 with runners in scoring position. Aside from the top half of the eighth inning in Game 1, the Rangers have dominated the Yankees in every way. C.J. Wilson dominated Yankee ace CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee dominated Andy Pettitte and Colby Lewis dominated Phil Hughes.

The New York Yankees are all but out of their ALCS match-up with the Texas Rangers. 

With the exception of just a few innings, they have been dominated throughout and should have been swept.  Their dramatic comeback in Game 1 is the only reason that they're still in this series.  Now they will need more of that comeback magic to survive.

Many factors have gone into the Rangers' dominance in this series. Lots of ideas have been kicked around, but one that never gets mentioned is the fact that the Rangers are better than the almighty Yankees. 

Do I really need to say anything or can I just SMILE!

I'll touch on a couple things:

Yankee “Home Runs”

The Texas Rangers are—can you believe it?—but one win away from their first-ever trip to the World Series. They are one win away from sitting down the Mighty Yankees, the Bronx Bombers, Baseball’s Bullies. One win away. Just one.

“It’s time.”

This has been the slogan, the mantra, the battle-cry all season long from this club.

“It’s about time.”

When Texas Rangers catcher and eighth-place hitter Bengie Molina turned on an inside pitch from New York Yankees starting pitcher A.J Burnett in the sixth inning, all Alex Rodriguez could do was hang his head.

Catcher Francisco Cervelli was similarly dismayed, and Burnett was also in disbelief, with a "What have I done?" reaction.

"You forget about it whether it was 15-2 or 3-2. It's still a loss. It doesn't matter what the score was if we win tomorrow." - Derek Jeter

The Yankees, down two games to one in the ALCS to the AL West champion Texas Rangers, are in unfamiliar territory.

Cruising through the playoffs for the most part in 2009, Yankees face a must win situation after dropping two games in a row to fall behind in the series.

The good news?  

Tonight is a very big game for the Yankees. It is not a must-win, but it is pretty much as close to it gets to one.

Unfortunately they have A.J. Burnett on the mound too, which makes things so much harder, but they don’t really have much of a choice.

Here are some notes: