I'm sure many recall how anti-Swisher I was last year, especially early. I have to say, I have completely changed my opinion of him. What a great locker room guy. His play has vastly improved, but really the thing I like most about him is that he truly is loose. He seems to honestly remember that he plays a kid's game for a living. He even got Andy to laugh last night. Seeing Jeter doused by the AAA kids was great too. Great job by CC last night, but I really wish Joe would have left him in. I felt like he earned the right to be on the mound for the final out. Oh well. So Andy is getting skipped tonight in favor of Javy. CC will probably pitch some relief on Friday and Andy is possible over the weekend. Time to rest up then since they've clearly accepted giving up the division. I'm not in favor of that, but whatever. Playoffs are playoffs.
You'd think they'd want to get Pettite as much work in as possible since he's been less than spectacular since coming back. But Girardi is a slow kid at play, so who knows what that guy is doing.
The media actually seems more concerned with CC's schedule being changed around. I don't know. I figure they'll all be doing tune-ups on the side all week.
If you are being literal when you say "less than spectacular," you are correct. But if you meant that as an understatement to say he's been poor, which I assume is the case, that's not really fair. Pettitte has had two starts since coming back... one was very good, three hits in six innings (which screwed my fantasy team in the playoffs; thanks, Andy). The last one sucked. I wouldn't be worried about him, though. I wouldn't worry about Sabathia's schedule, either. He was fine on long rest last postseason. Eight innings of one run ball on eight days of rest against the Angels. Seven innings of two run ball on seven days rest against the Phillies. The media just feels a need to invent "compelling" storylines.
I was simply stating, he wasn't his usual late-season self. His last start was shit and I think if you guys are to do any damage in the playoffs, you need a solid Andy. I'm not saying since he was bad last time out that he's fucked from here on out, just that I find it funny that he is getting starts skipped when he obviously still has some kinks to work out before it really matters.
I agree that he may have some things to work out, but he will pitch at some point this weekend. It's just a matter of whether that will be a relief appearance for a couple of innings or a short start. Same for CC. I also agree that in order to do anything in October the Yankees need a solid Pettitte. Considering Burnett's as likely to get shelled as pitch a gem, it's all hands on deck with everyone else.
Rightfully fuckin so. He and Burnett have been collosal dissapointments this year, I'd rather see Moseley out there right now. On a side note: it is pretty much impossible for ARod to not hit 30/100+ in a season...
I'll be honest...unless the Yankees find an extra pile of coal to throw in the furnace...I don't see them going far this year.
If they won tonight, the night after they clinched, with Javy Vazquez on the mound, on an emotional night for the Blue Jays (Gaston's last home game as manager), it would've been a miracle.
Yup. People are freaking out about the Yankees problems because they've had a rough September, but that analysis tends to assume that the Twins, Rangers, and Rays are perfect teams without flaws. To be honest, I think that the Yankees, Rays, and Phillies are easily the best three teams in baseball. You can never really predict the MLB playoffs because of short series, but it would be a shock to me if one of those 3 teams doesn't win the title. Frankly, I think that people are a little too quick to count out the defending champions.
No one is more What Have You Done For Me Lately than the average Yankees fan. Freaking out is just par for the course. The team is fine. I think how they fare in the postseason will have more to do with how Hughes performs than anything else. Sabathia should be fine. Pettitte should be serviceable, at least. They won't need a fourth starter until the ALCS.
I think the Jays are showing improvement under Anthopolous's watch. But it will be interesting to see if that continues with the new manager he eventually hires this offseason.
Last night didn't concern me at all, except that winning could have pulled us even with Tampa Bay. That's it for the division, so it's time to rest everyone now. One positive from last night is that we'll never have to suffer Vazquez again. Nice BP session Javy! Way to earn an October roster spot! Clown. It's too bad we kept looking like we were going to come back. We really should have retaliated for Cano's HBP. ARod doing 30/100 again is just amazing. Steroids or not, he's had some career. According to Mark Feinsand Andy has a "minor" back issue. I don't want to get bent out of shape over this, but we really need him 100% in the playoffs. CC, Andy, and Phil are the keys to winning it all. I agree with henry. The Yankees, Phillies, and Rays are the best 3 teams in baseball. This is shaping up for a World Series rematch.
