The Yankees live for another day not due to their oldest pitcher, but their youngest.

Three-and-out for three-fourths of the first round series – that certainly cannot please either Major League Baseball or TBS, who paid a king’s ransom to get the ALDS, NLDS, and NLCS from FOX and ESPN. At least a couple of series going beyond the minimum would have made TBS happy, but they might be looking at three ending in the minimum and a fourth ending in four. Of course, if not for Phil Hughes, TBS could have been looking at four sweeps…

Hughes of course was the hero last night for the Yankees, taking over for Roger Clemens when he could go no further due to a strained hamstring. It is not a glamorous way for arguably the greatest pitcher in the history of the game, very different from how he ended his career with the Yankees the last time, leaving with his team losing, but still in it, in Game Six of the World Series in 2003. If the Yankees do not advance, this was likely the last time that Roger Clemens will have ever pitched for the Yankees, and possibly forever. With the injury issues that he has faced this season, one has to presume that Clemens realizes the end truly is finally here.

Speaking of endings, Joe Torre might be at his end, although last night might have bought him a stay of execution. Word came down from on high – read: George Steinbrenner – that Torre was out if the Yankees lost last night or did not win the series. I must admit that I have never been a fan of Torre. After all, his record before coming to the Yankees as a manager was atrocious and he was inheriting a team from Buck Showalter, who should have never been fired, that was quite good. When the team was finally Torre’s, with more Torre-era players than Showalter era, the team was unable to win in the postseason. To me, far too often it appeared as if Torre received plenty of credit for managing a team gifted with money and talent and never had to take any of the blame. However, this season Torre received a team that was old, broken down, and desperately in need of a manager to pull it all together, and he did. From his handling of youngsters that were thrust into the rotation, bullpen, and lineup to his easing of veteran egos that were bumped by them, Torre has easily done his best coaching job yet this season. Now though is when Torre is on the hook. Is it fair? No, but at the same time most of the early praise really was not either – baseball, like life, is not fair.

Thanks to the Red Sox’ sweep, the Yankees/Indians game tonight is moved to prime time, with a 7:30 start. Paul Byrd is the start tonight for the Indians, and he was 15-8 with a 4.59 ERA in 31 starts during the regular season. Over 192 1/3 innings, Byrd struck out on 88, but was successful due to how few walks he allowed, with just 28 free bags. Byrd did struggle as the season went on though, and he was 5-4 with a 5.65 ERA in his last ten starts. Byrd faced the Yankees only once this season, in Cleveland, and the Bronx Bombers pounded him, picking up seven hits, one walk, and seven earned runs in just two innings. Byrd has very little postseason experience, with only two relief outings for the Braves in 2004 and three starts for the Angels in 2005, with a career postseason record of 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA. The Yankees, having had used Hughes last night and having no faith in Mike Mussina, thrust Chien-Ming Wang back out there for Game Four, and the Indians have to be happy to see him after beating him up in Game One. Wang throughout the season though was a much better pitcher at home than on the road, with a record of 10-4 with a 2.75 ERA in Yankee Stadium and 9-3 with a 4.91 ERA away.

Touching on the Red Sox’ sweep a little here, it is hard not to be impressed with how the Sox just rolled through this series and how impressive Curt Schilling looked yesterday as he continues his evolution from a power pitcher into more of a crafty one. Schilling looked great at times during the season, such as his one-hitter in Oakland, but he also had some mediocre outings this year and time lost to injury. None of that matters though, as Schilling throughout his career has been one of the best, if not the best, when in the postseason, with the best all-time ERA for any pitcher with at least 15 postseason starts. With plenty of rest until the next series kicks off, look for the Sox to move Schilling up to No. 2, with Beckett getting the Friday start and Schilling on Saturday. Then, the Sox just pray for rain…

The Rockies had counted Aaron Cook and Jason Hirsh out for the season due to their injuries. Of course, they also did not count on the season still going. Now, both look like they could be potentially back for the NLCS, with either or both being available out of the pen. Cook, a sinkerball specialist, was 8-7 with a 4.12 ERA in 25 starts this year, and he was 1-0 in his four starts against the Diamondbacks this year, albeit with a 5.63 ERA. Hirsh, who came over from the Astros in the brilliant Jason Jennings trade, which got one team into the playoffs, just not team expecting the trade to put them there, was 5-7 with a 4.81 ERA in 19 starts. Hirsh faced the Diamondbacks just once, a loss, but it was a very solid start, where he went eight innings, holding the Diamondbacks to seven hits, no walks, and three earned runs, and he struck out four.

That wraps up your Playoff Grumblings today. Tomorrow, we look back at Game Four for the Yankees – will there be a Game Five? Plus, we begin previewing Game One of the NLCS kicking off Thursday, with Jeff Francis getting the ball for the Rockies and Brandon Webb for the Diamondbacks – ace versus ace.

Questions and comments may be sent to markhaverty@sportsgrumblings.com