"This was after Game 6 of the last American League Championship Series, in the visitors' clubhouse in Arlington, the Yankees having just been out-pitched by Colby Lewis on the night the Rangers won the pennant. Brian Cashman stood surrounded by reporters and stated the obvious, in the immediate aftermath of a six-game series win for the Rangers that felt more like a sweep.

"It's pitching," Cashman said. "It's always pitching."

The Yankees had come into the series with CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes (in a breakout year) and A.J. Burnett, who actually would end up pitching better in his shot at the Rangers than he does against anybody else right now. The Rangers still threw them down a flight of steps despite blowing Game 1 in the late innings."