Major League Baseball

FIVE OBSERVATIONS - WITH A DAY OFF IN THE ALCS, POST WRITERS BRIAN COSTELLO, WHO HAS FOLLOWED THE

Published Oct. 18, 2010 10:12 p.m. ET

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3. Francisco who?

Remember when Francisco Cervelli was everyone's favorite replacement for Jorge Posada earlier this season?

Well, those days are a distant memory. Cervelli has not played in the postseason at all, even though Posada has looked awful (seven Ks, no extra-base hits).

4. Slow starters

The Yankees have fallen behind in four of their first five playoff games. The starting pitching put the team in a hole in both of the first two games of the ALCS. The Yankees were able to climb out in Game 1, but not in Game 2.

They can't keep playing from behind.

5. Pinpoint pen

The Yankees have had one area that has created no worries - the bullpen. They've allowed only one run in the playoffs so far. You expected Mariano Rivera and Kerry Wood to perform at a high level, but even secondary pitchers such as Dustin Moseley and Sergio Mitre have pitched well. If the starting pitching continues to stumble, the Yankees are going to need their relievers to keep it close. - Brian Costello

1. Lineup lost

Robinson Cano is the only Yankee who has hit consistently through the first two games. Mark Teixeira is 0-for-8 in the series. Nick Swisher is 1-for-7. Alex Rodriguez is 2-for-10, although he, at least, has two RBIs. Last week's long layoff seems to have zapped Yankees hitters of their timing.

2. No panic

I ended up in an elevator after Game 2 with the Yankees brass, and it struck me how different things are now with George Steinbrenner no longer around. If I were on that elevator 30 years ago after a loss like that, I probably would have had myself a good story, with The Boss ripping everyone from the batboy to Brian Cashman.

Instead, team vice chairperson Jessica Steinbrenner, executive vice president Felix Lopez, president Randy Levine and COO Lonn Trost made conversation with the elevator operator before getting out and walking past the clubhouse without even stopping to talk to Joe Girardi. The calmness around the Yankees these days comes from the top.

1. The clubhouse

It's among the best around. And it's apparently a reason why they're in the ALCS.

"I would imagine that's the one common denominator with all winning teams," Michael Young said. "They always talk about how great it is to play with the guys sitting next to them. That's the way it is with this group."

Examples? Jeff Francoeur, C.J. Wilson, Elvis Andrus and Ron Washington are among the Rangers who stand out for their intelligence, humor, gregariousness and insight.

2. The mastery of Nick Swisher

He's 1-for-7 with three strikeouts in the ALCS, and including the regular season, he's 4-for-36 with 15 strikeouts against Texas this year.

3. C.J. Wilson out of the pen

Wilson, who's slated to start Game 5, told me yesterday he could pitch in relief in a potential Game 6 or 7 as well.

He warmed up in Game 4 and Game 5 of the ALDS after starting Game 2.

That would afford the Rangers not only a fifth lefty reliever but allow one of their best starters to affect three ALCS games.

4. Josh Hamilton's bat speed

Said GM Jon Daniels, "I don't know if he's the most physically talented guy in the game, but he's certainly in the discussion." And Lance Berkman, who called Hamilton "a freak of nature," added, "I've played a lot of first base. Very rarely am I uncomfortable when I have a glove. But he makes me uncomfortable."

5. Elvis and Jose

Joe Girardi compares Andrus to Omar Vizquel, but I see similarities between Andrus and Reyes. Not just in terms of their positions, speed and lineup spot but even in their media interaction.

"Obviously Josie's done it for a long time and got more power," said Francoeur, who's played with both, "but I'll tell you, Elvis can wreak havoc on the basepaths and keep those guys guessing." - Mark Hale

ON NYPOST.COM

Go inside the ALCS with in-depth coverage of the Yankees and Rangers, only on nypost.com. We'll have you covered from the first pitch until the final out with the Post's baseball writers live on Twitter. Pitch-by-pitch coverage of every game, a live box score, and complete inning-by-inning recaps. After the final out, reactions from the press box and clubhouse. Photo galleries capturing all the big moments from every game. Vote daily on the biggest and most controversial issues from every game.

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