Jump Jerry. Jump.

It's not often I write a cuddly post about the Yankees... so listen up.

Of course I didn't like how Game 2 of the 2009 ALCS ended. The Angels are the best hope for Yankee haters who just don't want to see a 27th title this year... and they suddenly emulated the 1962 Mets' defense.

But if there was something to feel cuddly about, it was the fact that the game winning rally was sparked not by any of the big expensive stars. It wasn't A-Rod, Teixeira, Jeter, Matsui, Posada or Damon.

It was Jerry Hairston, Jr. A role player who probably was almost left off the roster (I for one thought Eric Hinske was going to be among the active 25.)

He's played 11+ seasons in the bigs... most of them nondescript for unmemorable teams.

He's only remembered for being part of a great baseball family.

He is the son of former big leaguer Jerry Hairston, former White Sox pinch hitting wiz, the grandson of former Negro League star Sammy Hairston, the nephew of former Cub Johnny Hairston and his brother Scott Hairston plays for the A's.

The only other reason he would be remembered for being traded to the Cubs for Sammy Sosa. People would bring that up to show how far Sosa's stock had fallen... he was a Chicago icon who was dumped for Jerry Hairston Jr.

Well now he got the lead off hit and scored the winning run in one of the most memorable ALCS games of the decade.

And he did it as a Yankee.

And one thing the Yankees do well is honor their past heroes. No Old Timers Day is more thorough. They bring back ALL of their living post season heroes, from Whitey Ford to Ramiro Mendoza. And if their post season heroics are obscure, the MC will remind the crowd.

I remember seeing an Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium where they brought out Luis Arroyo and Brian Doyle and recapped their clutch play in the 1961 and 1978 World Series... and the crowd that may have forgot them gave them a huge ovation.

Guess what, Jerry. Stay fit. Live long. And don't get too fat and look awkward in your Yankee uniform.

You will be given applause for Old Timer's Day for the rest of your life.

And you can brag about that at the family barbecue for years to come.

Give the wind a save

The save technically went to Jonathan Papelbon tonight.

And the win went to Tim Wakefield, giving him more wins than any pitcher in the AL (how odd is THAT?)

But please, the Red Sox won this game because of the wind.

Any Red Sox fan watching that game all thought the same thing with 2 on, nobody out and Scott Hairston at the plate... they thought he hit a three run homer to give Oakland the lead.

At the very least a game tying double.

Nope... the wind kept that SOB in the park and two batters later, the Red Sox won the game and the series.

Hey the weather conspired against us on June 18th against the Marlins so the Red Sox were owed one!

So it's time to update the board.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 11

April 17 - 10-8 win against Orioles. (Overcame 7-0 deficit.)

April 24 - 5-4 win against Yankees. (Bay homers off of Rivera in 9th to tie it.)

April 25 - 16-11 win against Yankees. (Overcame 6-0 deficit.)

April 29 - 6-5 win at Cleveland. (Overcame 5-0 deficit.)

May 12 - 4-3 win at Anaheim. (Down 3-1 in the 8th.)
June 11 - 4-3 win against Yankees. (Down 3-1 in the 8th. Rallied against Sabathia.)

June 12 - 5-2 win at Philadelphia. (Overcame Ryan Howard's 9th inning shot to win in 13)

June 21 - 6-5 win against Atlanta. (The wind turns Nick Green's fly ball into a walk off shot)

June 27 - 1-0 win at Atlanta. (Masterson and Papelbon wiggle out of late jams.)
July 1 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Sox score 4 in the 9th and Lugo wins in in the 11th)

July 8 - 5-4 win against Oakland. (Wind keeps Hairston's 9th inning go ahead homer in the ballpark)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 11

April 14 - 6-5 loss at Oakland. (Sox blow early 3-0 lead. Lose in 12)

April 28 - 9-8 loss at Cleveland. (Sox blow early 5-1 lead. Lopez drops 3rd out.)
May 14 - 5-4 loss at Anaheim. (Ortiz goes 0-7 stranding 12 runners.)
May 15 - 5-4 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox blow their second 4-0 lead in three days.)

May 17 - 3-2 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox strand two in the 9th. Lose in the bottom of the 9th.)

May 23 - 3-2 loss to the Mets. (Papelbon lets up a 2 out 2 run homer in the 9th to Omir Santos)

June 18 - 2-1 loss to the Marlins. (Rain washes out a tight game after 5+ innings.)

June 28 - 2-1 loss to the Braves. (Tying run on base in the 9th. Solid Penny outing wasted)
June 30 - 11-10 loss at Baltimore. (The Red Sox blow a late 10-1 to the lowly Orioles.)
July 3 - 7-6 loss to Seattle. (Red Sox comeback in the 8th only to lose in the 11th.)

July 4 - 3-2 loss to Seattle. (Saito walks three in the 9th as the Mariners rally to win)

Back to even.

And good job for the Sox for winning the series after losing the first game.

Four against the Royals... let's see 3 out of 4.