Live-blogging the ALCS: Game 1

Update 9:33: Halfway through the game. 2-1 Yanks. This might be decided by the bullpens. Also, onto post #2.

Update 9:21: Going into his last at-bat, Swisher had just five hits in 44 at-bats in his career against John Lackey. His sixth was his most important.

Update 9:14: Angels get a run — now's a good time to note that they have 47 come-from-behind wins this year. Also, the Yankees can't let C.C. go too deep into this game, since they might need him three times this series.

Update 9:08: Vladimir Guerrero notches the first big hit against Sabathia. It's never good to have an opponent on second, but it's still not necessarily a bad sign. Guerrero has been known to swing at balls thrown towards the outfield.

Update 8:51: Through three innings, C.C. continues to stand Angels batters up with third strikes.

Update 8:31: Howie Kendrick continues to give Sabathia all sorts of trouble. Kendrick is now 9-13 lifetime against the Big Man.

Update 8:22: Rare infield pop-up for an RBI. Erick Aybar and Chone Figgins looked like tee-ballers up past their bedtime.

Update 8:20: A-ROD gets the first RBI of the series. His postseason woes certainly seem to be behind him. During the regular season, the Yankees were 66-20 in games in which they scored first.

Update 8:16: Damon's hitless streak snapped. Fans in right field stands, I hope you have your gloves.

Update 8:11: Jeter leads off for the Yankees, and he brings with him a .341 lifetime avg against Angels starter John Lackey.

Update 8:06: Many of the players are wearing ear-warmers, but no one is as bundled up as Robinson Cano. He looks like the younger brother from "A Christmas Story."

With just minutes to go before game one of the American League Championship Series, C.C. Sabathia is hoping to exorcise some demons.

Sabathia has poor numbers against the Angels.
He has even worse numbers in October - C.C. sports a lifetime 6.57 era in the postseason.

That said, last week's start against the Twins should provide us with some hope. Sabathia struck out eight in 6.2 innings, and walked none, while giving up just one run.

Although Johnny Damon is 0 for 10 in his last ten at-bats, and was just 1-12 in the Division Series, I wouldn't be too worried. Lifetime against John Lackey, the Angels starting pitcher, Damon sports a .333 avg and a .373 obp.

Beware, while the Yankees have the best home record in baseball (57-24), the Angels are tied for the best road record (48-33). Also, twice this year, the Angels have come back from four runs down in a game to beat the Yankees...and all six of the Angels playoff victories against the Yankees, ever, have been in come-from-behind fashion.

Check out BNN's position-by-position comparison of the two teams.