It’s that time of year again. October baseball is here, and Yankees fans once again find their favorite team ready to compete for another World Series. This season even comes with a cherry on top, as the Boston Red Sucks find themselves hitting the golf course earlier than The Nation might like. Boston fans may think they got the last laugh by beating the Yankees 2/3 games which led to the Tampa Bay Rays winning the AL East. But ask Yankees fans… how upset are they really that they didn’t win the AL East? Would Yankees fans rather have won the AL East, and been left to face the Texas Rangers in a five game series? Yes, the same Texas Rangers who have ace Cliff Lee, who not only boasts a 2-0, 3.09 ERA with an 18:4 K:BB ratio in 23.1 IP this season against the Yankees, but during last years’ World Series for the Phillies went 2-0, including a CG/SHO in Game 1 of the 2009 World Series. Do Yankees fans really really want to have to deal with two games vs. Cliff Lee in a five game series? This Yankees fan likes to think not. So enjoy your final series victory against the Yanks; while the Red Sucks are out golfing this week, the Yankees will be taking on the Minnesota Twins. And not just the Minnesota Twins, but a Justin Morenau-less Twins, and a Twins squad with a banged up Joe Mauer, Jim Thome, Brian Duensing and Jon Rauch. Have the Twins been arguably the best team in baseball since the All Star break? Yes. Does that matter? No. One matchup. Up to five games. Let’s take a look at why the Yankees will handle the Twins, and move onto the ALCS.
STARTING PITCHING (Grade: B-)
Unlike last season, where the Yankees tripod rotation of Sabathia – Burnett – Pettitte was the bedrock of the Yankees 2009 playoff run, this area is by far the most troublesome for the Yankees entering the 2010 playoffs. The biggest reason? AJ Burnett. It’s debatable which stat of his is scarier, his 15 losses or 5.26 ERA, and even scarier to think that Burnett is slated to start Game 4 of this series.
When it comes to the Yankees starting rotation, there is only one thing for sure. CC Sabathia. Sabathia this season has truly established himself as the Yankees’ ace, and made his ace-presence felt moreso during these past few months while the Yankees dealt with starting pitching issues. His 21 wins and 3.18 ERA give the Yankees what they need to counter any opposition’s ace pitcher. The biggest question for the Yankees rotation is how will Hughes/Pettitte/Burnett perform this postseason.
Instead of attempting to spend paragraphs trying to spin the Yankees rotation in a positive light, I will instead focus on the hitting/bullpen, which is where this series will be won for the Yankees.
RELIEF PITCHING (Grade: A-)
Two words. Mariano Rivera. His postseason reputation precedes him, and there is no reason to think that any other Mariano will be showing up this time around. 3 blown saves, and a 4.76 ERA in September? I’ll give you that. But to think that Mariano will not rebound into his usual October self is just foolish. Yankees fan should feel confident that if and when a save opportunity arises at any point during this postseason, Mariano will close the door.
The rest of the bullpen? Solid. One of the biggest reasons the Yankees won the World Series last season was a strong bullpen, especially with the accelerated play of Damaso Marte getting out the lefty duo of Howard/Utley. This season? Marte is hurt, but insert Boone Logan as the lefty specialist. How are lefties faring against Logan this season? Not too well; struggling to the tune of a .190 avg, including 30 strikeouts in 79 at bats. Add in the strong second half of Dave Robertson (2.27 ERA, 39 strikeouts in 31.2 IP), and the exceptional play of Kerry Wood as a Yankee (0.69 ERA, 31 strikeouts in 26 IP), and the Yankees have their 7-8-9 punch of Robertson – Wood – Rivera well settled. Boone Logan will take care of the lefties, and Joba Chamberlain may even get a couple of hitters out if given the opportunity.
Bottom line, if the Yankees offense can give their starters a lead late in the game, the Yankees’ bullpen can be counted on to conserve the win.
HITTING (Grade: B+)
Not much needs to be said about the offense that scored a major league leading 859 runs this season. Led by career years from Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher, coupled by strong seasons from Alex Rodriguez, Brett Gardner and Mark Teixeira, and kept together by the leadership of Derek Jeter, this offense can score runs with anyone in the major leagues.
The problem? The adage of “good pitching beats good hitting.” This was certainly the case in the 2009 World Series when the Yankees pitching shut down the Phillies’ high flying offense. The question remains, with the troubles at starting pitching, will the Yankees have to slug their way past the Twins, or will the Twins pitching shut down the Yankees’ offense? Time will obviously tell. One thing is for sure, if the Twins can’t shut down this offense, they might be playing a lot of catch up in the next week or so.
Yankees fans might be worried a little bit with the offense, particularly at DH, and the down year that Derek Jeter had during the regular season, and even the lack of production from their offseason acquisition Curtis Granderson. Yankees fans should also be encouraged by an above average bench, which includes Curtis Thames, Austin Kearns and Francisco Cervelli.
Bottom line, Yankees can hit, and they can hit hard. Twins pitching is going to have to shut down the Yankees’ offense if they have hope to win this series.
PREDICTION
Yeah, I’m a homer on this one. Yankees vs. Twins in previous playoff series, Yankees should be given the benefit of the doubt. Yankees in 4.
I'm with you on this one Jeff. While their starting is somewhat suspect, their bullpen is great for the playoffs. The Twins will definitely give them a fight, but the Yankees will win
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