It’s 5:17 am and there is no earthly reason for me to be awake.

I am lying on @bniche’s futon which is still in sofa form using a bathrobe as a blanket because it’s top cold for just the light summer throw.

It’s no different than many a game night this season, except for this:

“Get Ready for the Showdown” is playing on repeat in my head.

All I can think about is Game Six.

Today may be a very long day.

Share on Facebook

In 1996 the great Mariano Duncan summed everything up in one now-immortal sentence:

“Play today, win today, ‘das it.”

Now here, in November 2009, it has come down to this.

Play today, win today, and literally, that is it.

Romantic notions aside, few–if any–Yankee fans want this series to see any part of New York again. No one is that anxious to see Andy Pettitte pitch on three days’ rest or to see a notorious Game Seven.

Play today.

The Yankees have survived this long in the postseason because when it’s mattered, they have played the game right: no stupid mistakes, no blaming the cold weather, no forgetting to cover third base with two down in the ninth inning.

They have survived where the Twins and the Angels did not and where the Phillies came up short last night.

We’re asking for one more game of clean fundamentals, of never forgetting what you learned in Little League and playing baseball the right way.

Win today.

AJ Burnett on three days’ rest is, all things considered, the best option the Yankees have at the moment.

He came up huge in Game two, all we’re asking here is one more Good AJ performance. One more, just one more.

One more quality start.

The game plan for the bats against Cliff Lee is not complicated: Work the count, make him throw pitches, get him out of the game, get into that bullpen.

That formula hasn’t changed since the days of Mariano Duncan.

Cliff Lee is a very good pitcher. He is not immortal.

‘Das it.

Win it for yourself.
Win it for your team.
Win it for George.
Win it for your fans.
Win it for New York.

Win it, because somewhere Mariano Duncan will smile.

Play today, win today, ‘das it.

Share on Facebook