Today’s Dan Shaughnessy column isn’t worth a link. In essence he writes off these Sox losses as the team putting on the brakes, and the Yankees still going full bore. Whatever that means. Both teams know their places by this point. They’re both playing most of their regulars. The Yankees won the first two games. Deal with it, Boston.
The Yanks would reach a couple of milestones if they win. First would be clinching the AL East. That would be especially sweet in light of the Red Sox recent comments that they’d celebrate clinching a playoff spot in the Yankee Stadium visitor’s locker room. That’s now an impossibility, as Texas has won their past two. They would also even the season series with the Sox at 9-9 after losing the first eight.
If the Yankes win I’ll have just one question. Where would I go to read all the articles declaring that the Sox can’t beat the Yanks?
Paul Byrd takes the mound for the Sox today. Signed in August and called up just before rosters expanded, Byrd has been nothing besides a fill-in fifth starter — kind of like Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre. Byrd has actually done a pretty good Mitre impression, rarely finishing the sixth and usually allowing a few runs along the way. The Royals destroyed him in his last start, pushing his ERA above 6.00.
For the Yanks it will be Andy Pettitte, making his second to last start of the season. After battling shoulder fatigue earlier this month, Andy came back with a strong start against Anaheim last Monday. He’ll get two more starts, both on long rest, to stay in his rhythm. Chances are he’ll be starting on seven days’ rest in Game 3 of the ALDS.
Jorge and his neck get another day off as the Yanks trot out a B lineup. It’s raining, but the word as of 12:38 is that they’re going to start on time. Tarp is off. Feel free to comment on the two football games as well. The remote’s going to get a decent workout today.
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Brett Gardner, CF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Nick Swisher, RF
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Melky Cabrera, LF
9. Jose Molina, C
And on the mound, number forty-six, Andy Pettitte.