A.J. Burnett will not be in the Yankees' ALDS rotation according to some sources. They will go with the highly expected threesome of Sabathia, Pettitte, and Hughes. Game 4 would see Sabathia pitch again, on short rest. The rest of the series, if it went further, would have Pettitte pitching again on normal rest because of the off day. This is anything but ideal, and yet it worked well enough a year ago. However, last year, one of the Yankees' three in their shortened rotation was in fact A.J. Burnett. ...
Via the NY Post:
Because of A.J. Burnett‘s miserable season, the Yankees will use [CC Sabathia], Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes in the best-of-five series that opens tomorrow night against the AL Central champion Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Even though Burnett was 1-0 with 1.54 ERA in two games against the Twins this year, it would be sending the wrong message to the players to give the right-hander a start considering he went 0-2 with a 6.04 ERA in his last five starts when hitters batted ...
One of Bernie Williams' most memorable conversations with the late George Steinbrenner had nothing to do with baseball. About eight or nine years ago, the Yankees suspended their annual Family Day at the Stadium, an event during which the players were able to bring their children to play around on the field. Williams' wife, Waleska, was upset because the couple's kids always looked forward to going, so the center fielder decided to take action. First, he went to manager Joe Torre, who told him the decision came from the top. ...
Marquee pitching matchups are what playoff baseball is all about. Men like Curt Schilling and John Smoltz built their legacies in the harsh crucible of October, and now a new set of aces is ready to take center stage and make that sort of impact themselves. Some, like Texas Rangers ace Cliff Lee, have already established their postseason prowess. For others, like the Giants' Tim Lincecum and Philadelphia's Roy Halladay, 2010 will mark a long-awaited playoff debut. The intensity of duels like these put butts in seats, and draw those ...
The pressure is on Phil Hughes, not Sabathia or Pettitte, as the Yankees seek the repeat.
Last season, during the playoffs and the World Series, the Yankees relied heavily, almost entirely, on the arms of Andy Pettitte and C.C Sabathia in their quest to obtain their 27th World Series title.
Yankees Manager Joe Girardi had little choice but to overuse Pettitte and Sabathia due to the ineffectiveness of A.J Burnett, Joba Chamberlain, and Phil Hughes. It was not exactly the blueprint for success the Yankees had in mind going into the postseason last year.
The ...
By Vincent Z. Mercogliano
A lot has been made over the fact that the New York Yankees missed their chance to finish first in AL East and secure home-field advantage. But in all honesty, the Yanks' fall from first to fourth in the AL (which forces them to travel to Minnesota) is not what should have Yankee fans worried.
Yes, the Yankees are a more dangerous team at home, where their power-laden lineup can take advantage of short porches all over the field. But, aside from that, you could probably ...
You can spend all season waiting for the playoffs. You can design a roster around winning a seven-game series. You can run simulations and statistical analysis until you're blue in the face.But you still won't be ready for October.Each year, problems and uncertainties arise, and even the best teams are forced to face the unpleasant reality that things don't always go the way you plan them.Here are 15 of the biggest questions facing playoff teams as they prepare to kick off the postseason tomorrow.Begin Slideshow
The Philadelphia Phillies may be the favorite in the National League, but the four teams representing the American League aren’t separated by much. The Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins, nor New York Yankees really stand out, which adds to the excitement. However, it does please me to say the Yankees aren’t the cream of this postseason’s AL crop. They aren’t a surefire ALCS representative, as the Twins stand in their way.
NY Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
New York squares off against the Minnesota Twins starting Wednesday, a pitching matchup between ...
Breaking down the ALDS, part one I looked at pure statistical numbers of both the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins.
Part two, is what I see as the pros and cons, which both teams before heading into Game One on Wednesday evening.
What are each team’s pros and cons?
Minnesota Twins
Let’s state the obvious advantage for the Twins in having the home-field advantage, after posting 53-27 wins/losses at Target Field. Anything is better than having to start out in the Bronx for the Twins.
The Twins have been at New York’s mercy ...
Here we go again. If the Minnesota Twins are going to win their third World Series in franchise history, they are going to have to go through the New York Yankees. A task that has impossible for them to do in recent years.
Let’s take a look at the series at a glance…
Schedule
Game 1: Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 8:37 PM est. CC Sabathia vs. Francisco Liriano
Game 2: Thursday, Oct.7 at 6:07 PM est. TBD vs. Carl Pavano
Game 3: Saturday, Oct. 9 at 8:37 PM est. Brian Duensing ...