During the season every time the Yanks faced off against Texas, I felt a playoff matchup coming in the future. The last time the Yankees went to Texas it was ugly, and that series set the tone for the entire month of September. In that series, the Yanks were swept away by the Rangers losing two games in walk-off fashion, Rivera losing one, and Cliff Lee dominating the last game of that series. Now those games really did have playoff-type atmosphere, but this is a different month, and a different season. The Yankees showed they knew the difference against Minnesota.
The big thing people look into in any playoff series is pitching. This series is obviously no different, but even more important. Both of these offenses can rely on a 3-run homer, but they can also get stolen bases, and play small ball equally good. The Yanks and Texas both won games in "small ball" fashion the the first round. That's what makes this such a good matchup. Because the Rangers had to throw Cliff Lee in game 5 to survive the first round, he will not be able to pitch game 1 or game 2, (both in Texas) advantage Yankees.
The Yanks will be on the road for the first two ballgames of the series, and the matchups will be CC Sabathia for the Yanks, squaring off against C.J. Wilson. Then it becomes either Andy Pettitte versus Colby Lewis, or Phil Hughes versus Colby Lewis. It will be interesting to see which way they go, because Pettitte and Hughes both pitch well on the road, and both love the hot weather in Texas. If it were up to me, I would keep it just how they had it last series, Pettitte then Hughes, it did work out. (Game 3 the Yanks face Cliff Lee.) Now it becomes either A.J. Burnett, that's right A.J. Bumett, or Sabathia in game 4 on short rest. This all depends on how the series has gone by that point. Tommy Hunter is the Rangers fourth starter, and we're all licking our chops for him. If it is CC on short rest in game 4, A.J. moves to the 5th game, and in that case, hopefully the Yanks sweep, however I predict Yanks in 6. Here are the possible pitching matchups laid out as nice and neat as possible for ya. Another "pre-series" article will be written before the start of the series.
Game 1
Sabathia vs. Wilson (in Texas)
Game 2
Pettitte/Hughes vs. Lewis (in Texas)
Game 3
Hughes/Pettitte vs. Lee (in New York)
Game 4
*Sabathia/Burnett vs. Hunter (in New York)
Game 5
Burnett/Sabathia vs. Wilson (in New York)
Game 6
Pettitte/Hughes vs. Lewis (in Texas)
Game 7
Hughes/Pettitte/*Sabathia vs. Lee (in Texas)
Bold=my preferred method
*=short rest
This all depends on if they decide to throw Sabathia on short rest. If CC goes to work on short rest in the 4th game, he'll be available to do it again in game 7. However they likely won't pitch Sabathia three times in this series. Personally, I don't have a problem with the veteran Andy Pettitte pitching a game 7 if he needs to. The Yankees clearly have a deeper pitching staff than the Rangers, from judging the possible matchups, it's easy to tell. While the Yankees really only have one question mark, (A.J. Burnett, maybe its a double ??) Texas has at least two (Lewis and Hunter.)
The Yankees need to win this series before the 7th game so they can limit the times they see Texas', and maybe baseball's best postseason pitcher, Cliff Lee. Other than Uncle Cliff, their rotation doesn't scare me too much. Who's ready?
No comments:
Post a Comment