Ok ok ok, you can say what you want about Yankee fans after a loss, but as a Yankees fan and a baseball fan period, I just can't take this anymore. Joe Girardi needs to get a clue on how to manage this team and what to do in key situations. I have heard different takes from different people about the debacle that played out last night in Anaheim, and there are some that say Girardi is not to blame for this loss and there are some that say he isn't, but I side with the people that say Girardi is to be blamed for this loss. Here are the reasons why.

1.) AJ gave up 4 runs on 21 pitches to start the bottom of the 1st inning, in the second inning, he starts off by giving up a single to Jeff Mathis before getting Aybar to hit into a double play and then get Figgins to fly out to center, whew, he escaped there. 2nd inning wasn't quite that bad, but the 3rd inning came and more trouble for AJ. He looked good striking out Abreu, but then proceeded to be the wild AJ again by walking Tori Hunter, allowing Hunter to steal second and then Hunter went to 3rd on a wild pitch before settling down to escape even more damage. By the 4th inning, AJ seemed to have recaptured his composure but the damage had been done, but during this whole time, you see that AJ has been struggling, why didn't Dave Eiland come and talk with him and why didn't Joe come out and have a talk with him to calm him down? I mean, if Joe can go out and visit with a combined 30 years of experience in Pettite and Posada on a 2-2 pitch to Vlad Guerrero in Game 3, why can he not try and stop the bleeding when AJ is getting rocked? Also, in my opinion, the Yankees have a good 5th starter in their bullpen in Chad Gaudin who can give at least 3 to 4 good innings of emergency relief if need be, why wasn't he warming up?

2.) After the Yankees finally pulled off a classic 6 run rally in the top of the 7th, Joe decides to bring in AJ again to pitch the top of the 7th. As Posada was sent up as a pinch hitter, I surely thought, as well as probably many others that AJ was gone and that Jumpin Joe would go to the bullpen, but using who I don't believe anyone could answer that because who knows how Joe was going to mishandle his bullpen in this game, but we soon found out. AJ gives up a base hit to Mathis who at that point was already 2 for 2 in the game which brings up Aybar, which walks on a full count. After the game, Joe says that the decision to stay with AJ was because "he was throwing the ball so well. He put up five shutout innings. He had only thrown 80 pitches. And we just liked what we saw from him and we stuck with him." Honestly Joe, I wouldn't go with this pitch count nonsense because what matters isn't the pitch count in the postseason, what counts is a win and quality is still better than quantity in the baseball postseason, especially when it comes to pitching.

Then to the surprise of everyone, well not really because we really never know what Joe is thinking, he brings in Damaso Marte one of two lefties in their pen to face Figgins who places a good sac bunt to advance the runners into scoring position. Abreu grounds out to Texiera, but Matthis scores and it's now 6-5 Yankees. Phil Hughes enters the game with 2 outs and Aybar on 3rd. Hughes once again in this postseason could not close the door for the Yankees as he walks Hunter and then facing Vladimir Guerrero, he shakes off Posada 4 TIMES, which proved to be a costly mistake as with a 1-2 pitch with 2 out and a 6-5 lead, Guerrero lines a single past a diving Jeter to tie the game. At this point, you would think that Joe would at least go with Robertson or Gaudin, both of which has pitched really well in what little postseason action they have seen, but he sticks with Hughes who has struggled this postseason and who would NOT have been my choice to enter into this crucial game in such a crucial inning. The next batter up was Kendry Morales who then with 2 outs brings home Hunter from 2nd with what proved to be the winning run. Hughes eventually got Izturis to strike out to end the inning but the damage had been done.

3.) Top of the 9th with 2 outs, A-Rod was intentionally walked and Matsui walks. What does Clueless Joe do, he gets Guzman to pinch run for A-Rod and Gardner to pinch run for Matsui. This would be a great move if you were planning to use that speed to force the issue and hopefully make the Angels pitcher or infielders to make a mistake trying to hold them on base, but there was not one sign of a steal, a double steal, nothing. If that is the case, then why didn't he just leave A-Rod and Matsui in the game? If this game would have been tied and went to extra innings, he lost the bats of Matsui AND A-Rod, which was utterly ignorant and stupid. Then we have the bases loaded, 2 outs and we have the chance to take the lead again. Instead of pinch hitting maybe Cervelli or Hairston for Swisher who has struggled with RISP, he lets him hit. To Swisher's credit, he battled Fuentes, but here is my thing, with the bases loaded, why not be aggressive with the speed they had on the bases and have both Gardner and Guzman attempt a double steal, a potential steal of home with two outs to force the issue. Maybe Fuentes throws the ball away, possibly create a balk, moving a runner over and tying the game, and you have a force at every base which is strangely enough to your advantage because the Angels fielders would not know which base to go to. Why not go for the hit and run because that can get Swisher to shorten his swing and make contact. With three guys who are relatively fast on base, maybe you force the defense into a weird position as well. If you were going to have speed on the bases, and knowing you just lost A-Rod and Matsui why not use it to your advantage and go for the lead and bring Mo in for the 9th to finish it off?

Honestly, Game 5 was a must win, not for the Angels, but for the Yankees. Why? Because now there is a potential for a Game 7, and there is almost a 100% chance of rain Saturday night, which could postpone Game 6 till Sunday and game 7 on Monday. Game 1 of the World Series starts Wednesday and if you are the Yankees, you want CC to pitch Game 1 in Yankee Stadium because the first game of the World Series is crucial the way the Yankees have been playing so far. Now, Andy Pettite faces the challenge he has been so great at through his career as a Yankee, crucial Game 6 win needed and he is on the mound. If the Yankees lose Game 6 and win Game 7, this could come back to hurt them against the Phillies because the Game 1 starter could then be AJ Burnett, who has pitched better at home than on the road, but still has been streaky and such a mystery until he pitches and was also rocked by the Phillies earlier this year at Yankee Stadium. Here would be my lineup for Game 6

1. Jeter SS
2. Damon LF
3. Teixeira 1B
4. Rodríguez 3B
5. Posada C
6. Matsui DH
7. Cabrera RF
8. Cano 2B
9. Gardner CF

Will he go with this lineup, probably not. Will he finally use Robertson out of the pen in a key situation, probably not. But I do place all the confidence I have that Andy will keep the Angels in check and the Yankee bats will pull out a Game 6 win. So tune in Saturday night (if there is no rain) and watch for Girardi to star in the new Fox series "The New Adventures of Clueless Joe" followed by CBS' new series "The Overmanagerist"