Results tagged ‘ Pettitte ’
THRILLING NO MATTER WHAT
Though this series will do little to alter playoff itineraries, this weekend offers the two rivals one last look at each other before a potential higher-stakes meeting in October: like heavyweight boxers feeling each other out in the early rounds before the big blows are thrown.
For the Yankees, they have a chance to clinch the AL East in front of their hated rivals with a sweep of this series. If they are able to break out the brooms, it would incredibly bring the season series to a tie after the Yankees began 0-8 against Boston.
The start by Joba is huge tonight. If he throws well, maybe he is on the LCS (knock on wood) roster to start Game 4 if they match up with the Red Sox. Like Gaudin against the Angels on Tuesday, this is a chance for Chamberlain to make his case. Sabathia I’m less concerned for, as he has done well against Boston this year. Pettitte we just need to be healthy, because we know he’ll be reliable in the playoffs.
Right now, the Yankee Universe is in harmony. Aside from a few bumps and bruises that should be healed in time for the postseason, the Yankees are a healthy team that should be able to kick the tires on their postseason as prepared and as ready as you could expect. The fourth starter is a minor issue as well, but with the potential for rainouts creating extra off-days (these games are played later in the year than usual), and depending on how rested the bullpen is and how good the middle relief is pitching, you may only have to use your 4th starter in limited innings, if Girardi can play his cards right.
This series, despite the inevitability of the standings, is still a Yankees vs. Red Sox battle, and therefore demands drama and excitement no matter what the circumstances. Pride is always on the line between these two. Plus, as fans, we can always hope for a few fireworks, too. Maybe Joba buzzes Youkilis’ tower once… or twice. It’s always worth a laugh seeing that guy fall down.
WAKE ME UP, I MUST BE DREAMING!
Magic Number down to 5: A series win in Anaheim? When was the last time that happened? You have to go all the way back to May of 2004. This was a great series for the Yankees. They benefited from winning a couple of squeakers, but those are the types of games you have to win in October: close, low-scoring affairs. Now, they’ve proved to themselves they can do it and – most importantly – do it in Los Angeles.
Momentum: Last night’s game was critical to finishing off the series win today. The Yankees almost let that game slip away, and if they had blown that game, it might have sent them deeper into their despair of playing in Los Angeles. Instead, they did to the Angels what the Angels usually do to the Yankees. I believe last night was huge for their confidence, and we saw instant dividends today when they came out and won another tight ballgame, holding off more of those famous Angel rallies. You can’t underestimate just how important this series win is for the Yankees if they run into Los Angeles in the ALCS (knock on wood). This team absolutely needed to gain confidence at Angels Stadium, and today they may have done just that.
A.J. A-O.K. IN L.A.: It is so nice to see Burnett pitching well again. I was getting pretty concerned – as I’m sure the rest of you were – about A.J. heading into the playoffs while still struggling, but his last two starts have been great. He had a win stolen from him in Seattle and picked up a win today. He has also been striking out a ton of hitters lately, including 11 today. Power pitching is directly correlated with postseason success, and with Sabathia and Burnett, and even Pettitte, the Yankees have that capability. Let’s hope Burnett turns these two good outings into a streak so he can go into the postseason hot. Remember how dominant he was when he went on that streak in July? He was in the zone! You can’t deny that when A.J. has everything working and can locate the fastball, he simply can’t be touched.
Consider This: If Boston loses either tonight or tomorrow against Kansas City, the Yankees could clinch the American League East title at home, this weekend, in front of the Red Sox by taking 2 out of 3 games. What could be sweeter than that?
Conspiracy Theory: Did anyone notice if Kate Hudson was in the house? I’m telling you, when she’s there we seem to win a lot. I don’t have the capabilities to create a stat for this. Somebody get me Bill James on the line.
I BLAME MLB SCHEDULE MAKERS
Is this the Yankees fourth trip to the West Coast? Pretty sure it is. What bad timing for a trip out to the left coast.
Game Summary: Angels never strand runners in scoring position. Ever. On the other hand, Yankees have the ability to come up with untimely horrible at-bats. This would consist of hitting a tailor made double play ball at every possible opportunity.
Bright Side: For his first start in what seems like an eternity, Pettitte knocked the rust off early, and actually has pitched pretty well (and we aren’t using Joba’s definition of a good start), considering it’s a road start, the Yankees are in a funk and the Angels have a great lineup.
BOS 9, KC 12: What a stunner in KC and the Royals stage a furious rally after trailing 6-0. Would be nice to see the Yanks rally, lock up a berth and gain a game. Maybe we can get some of that 9 pm Pacific Standard Time lightnin’.
4TH PLAYOFF STARTER: JOBA OR GAUDIN?
With the mess Joba has made out of his season and the postseason fast approaching, Joe Girardi will face a critical decision soon about who he is going to name his 4th starter in the playoffs. Obviously, CC, Pettitte (my personal pick for Game 2) and AJ will start the first three, in some order. In the first round, they will probably elect to play Division Series A so they don’t have to send Joba to the bump. If they should be fortunate enough to make it out of the first round (knock on wood), who would start Game 4? The only plausible options at this point are to go with either Joba or Chad Gaudin. Since being acquired from the Padres, the righty is 1-0 with a 3.68. That’s not too bad. It seems a change of scenery and pitching for a contender has suited him well. Though it is a small sample size, Gaudin has shown flashes of pretty good stuff. If Girardi is hoping to catch lightning in a bottle, maybe he goes with Joba and hopes for a dominating start. However, he is already walking that tightrope with AJ, because it is pretty apparent AJ is either going to throw a gem or a clunker, because a lot of times with his starts it’s just about if he is on or off that night. The manager also has to worry about CC’s past playoff struggles. True, CC hasn’t faced the same workload as in previous seasons and he wont be spent down the stretch, but I have to believe this past struggles is in the back of Girardi’s mind. Therefore, perhaps Girardi should go with the Game 4 pitcher that is most likely to turn in a steady start. In my opinion, that would have to be Gaudin. Chad faces the Angels on Tuesday, and the status of the Game 4 starter could rest heavily on how he does against LAA, because that is one of two teams the Bombers are likely to run into in the LCS (knock on wood… twice). Another advantage of starting Gaudin would be that he is experienced enough to know what the Yankees expect from him in a playoff start, which is to just give them a chance to win. Joba, on the other hand, will try to go out there and throw a perfect game, end up walking the ballpark, and afterward we can listen to him tell reporters that he ‘threw the ball where he wanted to and was encouraged by his performance, despite the results.’
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