Yankee starting pitchers are writing a sequel
According to Dave Eiland, who was interviewed on Ryan Ruocco’s 1050 ESPN radio show yesterday, CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Andy Pettitte all went into the manager’s office recently and told Joe they want the ball on short rest. Eiland said that they would consider that, along with how they look in their side sessions before making a final determination. If they show any signs of fatigue, they’ll keep them on their regular 5 days schedule. But if they look good, they’ll consider starting them.
CC Sabathia’s numbers on short rest are unreal (3-1, 1.01 ERA 0.825 WHIP) AJ Burnett’s are better than his regular season numbers (4-0, 3.25 ERA and 1.074 WHIP) and Andy Pettitte’s are about the same as his normal rest numbers (4-6, 4.15 ERA, 1.43 WHIP). Eiland also said that AJ’s Home-Road splits would not deter them from starting him in Philly, which I must admit surprised me.
This changes things a bit for me. I thought Gaudin would go Game 5, since Girardi would shy away from making his 37 year old veteran lefty starter (who just got over a bad shoulder) go on short rest. But if he’s lobbying to pitch Game 6 and looks good, you go for it. Given AJ+CC’s previous success and Andy’s willingness to go, I’d take advantage of the fact that Manuel is only pitching Cliff Lee twice and get my three top guys pitching as much as possible. No reason to hand the Phillies an all-but-guaranteed win by pitching Chad Gaudin against Cliff Lee. AJ on short rest gives us a much better shot to win Game 5. While I dont think AJ will be as sharp on the road, I also think the Yanks will fare better facing Lee for a 2nd time in a week. That match up would be a toss up to me. With last night’s win, the Yanks are up 2-1 with CC Sabathia facing Joe Blanton tonight, which is a match up that heavily favors the Yanks. A win would put the Yanks in a commanding 3-1 series lead and AJ could take them home in a hard fought Game 5.
This is all contingent on rain outs. If any of the games in Philly gets canceled, that pushes everyone up a day and they would therefore lose the off day, and of course a day of rest along with it. Game 5 getting canceled wouldn’t affect things, since that’s AJs last start of the season anyway. But if Game 4 was to get canceled, CC would go on normal rest on Monday and be unavailable for Game 7 on Thursday, since he’d only have 2 days rest. Then we’d have a huge problem. According to Accuweather, the forecast in Philly looks much better for Sunday and Monday. Let’s hope so.
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6 Responses to Put me in coach, I'm ready to play
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TIQ IQ
I’d rather see see AJ go against Pedro rather that have him face Lee on short rest. If we can win tonight’s game (knock on wood) I think we’d be set up better with our guys on regular rest. Tonight is really big though.
I understand that line of thinking, but the problem is you’re handing away a World Series game by pitching Gaudin. Burnett gives us a chance, Gaudin is almost a guaranteed loss facing Lee. Manuel did us a favor pitching Lee on regular rest, you’d be handing a game right back to him.
I want the best pitcher available on the mound every game. I don’t want to extend things, the next thing you know AJ loses a 3-2 Game 6 and were looking at an ‘anything can happen’ Game 7.
Except if you start Andy on short rest and he can’t pitch 5 innings because of it you’ve lost that game anyway and you cold have already lost Burnett’s start at that point. I am fine with everyone but Pettitte and I think it gives us more of an advantage to win 1 game out of 3 if we have AJ Vs Pedro and CC Vs Hamels/Happ. If we win tonight we only need one game, so why pitch Burnett in a game he is going to lose anyway on short rest against Lee? Just let him go on regular rest and beat Pedro again to clinch the series.
One thing to consider is this–Is Lee really going to pitch another complete dominating game like he did in Game 1?
His track record so far this postseason is far beyond what he normally does.
I think that it is plausible that the Yankees figure out a way to scratch a couple of runs, maybe get a break, and just–just barely beat the hottest pitching hand of this postseason in a 1-run game.
It’s possible–we have a magical season going.
You could very well be right, he has been hot. The Yanks have better luck against pitchers after they see them once (as he pitches now). He isn’t the same pitcher he was, that made a difference, plus he was going great the other night…could he do it two, three times? Me thinks, not! Or maybe; Me hopes not!
3 times would be hard but I don’t doubt he can shut this team down again, he has real deception to his delivery and since being sent to the minors 2 years ago he really got his head on straight with pitching! He works fast, he dictates the game, he throws good strikes and he knows how to pitch in the AL league. Let’s not forget we lost to Cliff Lee when we opened up the new stadium and the Indians and Lee beat Sabathia, the guy isn’t who he was a few years ago.