What Did Alphoso Say About the First Round Before the Opponent Was Known?

So the very first time Alphonso comes out positive, Yankee fans panicked and began yelling, " you jynxed the team."

" We always count on your negative mojo to support us in gaming our Yankee wins. "

"If we lose in the first round, it's on you forever."

Since no one else has a memory, IIH, IIF,IIc sent a staffer to Madame Bovary's crystal balling clinic on west 42nd street, three floors up from a famous deli where fans go before Ranger games.

We asked for a recall of what, exactly, Alphonso said would happen. Read it and weep:

1. The Twins not the Tigers.....right on here. And the Tigers had about 5 chances to win in their extra inning playoff game for the spot vs. the Yankees.

2. Arod would have his first, explosive playoff series. Well, some anonymous bean counter pointed out that Arod did have one other occasion where he hit well in round one, but we all know that Arod has heretofore sucked in the post season.

Alph got it right. So eat it.

3. Dave Robertson will get the biggest outs of the series. " This is, of course, a judgement call in retrospect, " sayeth the hot madame.

" But as an early prediction, it is lights out. Another home run."

" How anyone could make this prediction out without a crystal ball ( and my usual $350 fee ) is beyond me. Who knew Robertson would even be on the roster?"

" Getting three outs with the bases loaded and allowing no runs is good enough for me."

4. Freddy ( the flash ) Guzman would steal no bases. This prediction was made when all the rhetoric was about the weapons the Yankees would have with both Gardiner and Guzzy on the bench.

Alph knew it was pure folly.

5. That Pettitte will give us a great start. So what that he's done it before?

In Minny? In that playpen with the hankies and the white roof?

It is still a perfect forecast that no one else dared make.

6. That the Yanks would have a walk-off win. Thanks; Arod's tying HR in the 9th and Tex's walk-off in the 11th.

" And thank you, Alph, for seeing what we could not see."

7. That the Yanks would win in five. This prediction "error" was either due to a typo or Alph's normal pessimism which would not allow him to say the word, "sweep".

Madam Bovary added this as she finished fondling that special ball; " I would not want to have this guy, Alphonso, go into business across the street from me. I'll tell you that."