The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had a shot, albeit a very slim one.
All they would have to do was score one run against Mariano Rivera. Of course, Rivera had given up just 12 runs in 83 post-season games heading into Sunday's sixth game of the American League Championship Series.
But it was just one run. A bloop, an error or a hit batsman - anything strange - could have helped the Angels score one run.
Then, the Angels, who have an extra city in their name, gave away an extra run they could not afford to give up.
Then another scored.
So they would have to score three runs against Mariano Rivera. In the ninth inning. At Yankee Stadium
That's like scaling Everest in flipflops. Or losing weight on the Arby's diet.
You get the picture.
Here are some random thoughts from the ALCS Game 6.
You had two guys who are just past the apex of their talents going at it. They're not quite on the downsides of their careers, but the Impaler's bat is a little slow and the Sandman's fastball is not quite as crisp as it once was.
But that just made them more vulnerable and, well, fun.
That's the best word for it.
That the at-bat ended in a run-scoring single and not a strike out or a home run was a bit of an anti-climax.
But the ride was good even if the destination was ho-hum.
Not only did Pettitte get a first pitch strike on every hitter in the first inning, he got ahead 0-2 on all three Angels.
In the second inning, Pettitte wasn't as successful throwing throwing ball-one to two hitters, both of whom reached base. Pettitte, thanks to a double play, was able to avoid trouble.
He went on to throw get pitch strikes on 21 of the 25 hitters he faced.
Look, nobody is ever going to be able to come up with a correct way to tell who is a great defender and what someone's weekness is because there are two many veriables. However, though it might be subjective, one test doesn't fail. If, as soon as the ball leaves the hitter's bat, your first reaction is, "That's going to be an out," and an out isn't made, something went wrong.
That happens a lot with Jeter when balls are hit up the middle.
Nobody should be arguing that an error should be charged, just that Jeter's career has proven he shouldn't be expected to make that play.
However, Troy Tulowitzki, Jimmy Rollins, Erick Aybar, Alex Rodriguez, Yuniesky Betancort, Eric Bartlett and Elvis Andrus would have most likely made the play.
His ability to turn the line-up over is such an important for the Yankees because it gives Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon a chance to bat with a runner on.
Molly: He looks so wierd.
Me: What do you mean?
Molly: Without his beard.
Me: Molly, he hasn't had a beard and long hair in five years.
Molly: I know, he still looks different though. So clean shaven.
The story ended on a good note for Damon and the Southpaw.
The choir boy slapped a two-run single to left and I got a piece of ice cream cake.
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