Nightengale: Party is over for Yankees in ALCS

• The Tigers' four right-handed starters won't make life easier for the Yankees
• Alex Rodriguez's situation figures to be a distraction for the Yankees
• If CC Sabathia gets two starts in the ALCS, the second would be in Game 7, on short rest

NEW YORK - It is 8:40 Friday night in the middle of the New York Yankees clubhouse.

The Yankees just won the American League Division Series title, a 3-1 victory against the Baltimore Orioles in Game 5, a dramatic back-and-forth series in which the Yankees never scored multiple runs in an inning since Game 1.

Yet, just 42 minutes after the last out is recorded, the clubhouse is virtually silent.

There is no music. Reliever Derek Lowe is talking to reporters on one side of the clubhouse. Pitcher Ivan Nova, who was not even active, is having a private conversation with a reporter. Raul Ibanez, the hero of the series, is quietly doing interviews in front of his locker.

There is no other player in the room. The champagne bottles and corks have already been cleared from the floor.

The clubhouse attendants are taking the plastic lining down from the lockers.

There have been wilder celebrations in spring-training games than this tepid party.

"This is no different than May,'' Lowe says. "What are you going to do? We win, you go home. You play again in 24 hours.''

That's it?

"Hey, we won the East, and there was no big celebration,'' Lowe says. "This is what is expected.

"I'm not saying you don't celebrate. It's not something you're not proud of. But this isn't your ultimate goal. Your ultimate goal is to get a World Series ring.''

Well, I hate to be second-guessing the Yankees' party-planning committee, but they should have had a raucous celebration. Going deep into the night. Lasting into the wee hours of the morning.

Sure, they'll be playing again at 8:07 tonight at Yankee Stadium against the Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship Series, but come on, it's not like ballplayers have never played a game without a hangover.

This was a mistake not to party.

You see, this will be their final celebration of the year.

They have to beat the Tigers four times in seven games to advance to the World Series.

It ain't happening.

It won't even be close.

The Tigers will win this series, and may even dominate it.

Sure, everyone knows that Cy Young candidate Justin Verlander, who pitched a complete-game shutout Thursday night against Oakland, won't be able to pitch again until Game 3. Of course, he'll also be rested for Game 7, if needed.

The Yankees, who got a Verlander-esque performance from CC Sabathia with his complete game, won't have Sabathia again until Game 4. If there is a Game 7, he'll have to pitch on short rest.

This is a problem. A huge problem. The Tigers have Doug Fister and Anibal Sanchez for Games 1-2, Verlander in Game 3, and Max Scherzer in Game 4.

The Yankees simply can't match up with this rotation, no matter if Andy Pettitte discovers the Fountain of Youth or not. He'll be followed by Hiroki Kuroda and Phil Hughes before Sabathia even sees the mound again.

And, oh yeah, the Yankee staff will be facing the greatest 3-4 punch in baseball: Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder.

If that's not enough to cause a few sleepless nights, let's not forget about the unrest that will be engulfing the Yankees' clubhouse daily.

The Tigers do not have a single left-handed starter. Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is right-handed.

If Yankees manager Joe Girardi benched Rodriguez against Orioles right-handed starter Jason Hammel on Friday, why would he play Rodriguez against any of the Tigers' vaunted starters?

"I have to look in the mirror and do what I can,'' Rodriguez said before the game, "to do the best I can. Don't assume that you've heard the last from us or me.''

Well, judging from the uproar in New York over Rodriguez's benching on Friday, why would the controversy suddenly disappear as the stakes go higher?

"I usually say I am going to worry about one day at a time,'' Girardi said. "I am going to worry about tonight. And I'll have a lineup for you tomorrow.''

The conventional thinking is that Rodriguez will be back in the lineup in Game 1. The thinking is also that if A-Rod goes hitless again, he won't be back in the next day. Or the day after.

And certainly not against Verlander.

You don't think the tabloids will have a little fun with that, with the highest-paid player in baseball sitting on the bench as if he's gathering sunflower seeds for the fellas?

"All I know is that it's going to be a tough series,'' says Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira. "They have one of the toughest pitching staffs in baseball. Their 3-4 combo is the best in all of baseball. And they've got Verlander.

"They get your attention.''

Yes, indeed, that's why it would have made a whole lot more sense if Lowe's teammates had hung around, and didn't turn their party into a church social.

Well, if nothing else, a Detroit writer suggested to Lowe, the Yankees were at least dashing the Tigers' hopes that they'd show up Saturday night hung-over and bleary eyed.

"Yep, look around, there's me, and that's it,'' Lowe said. "Write about me. Write that the long reliever had a drink.

"Yeah, [write that] they're screwed. Call Vegas. They're done.''

That's precisely the point.

They are done. So why not enjoy this moment. This will be their last party of the year.

Tigers in five. No more than six.