Well, Game Five didn’t go as planned, but luckily the Yankees have two more chances to wrap this thing up.
Andy Pettitte is taking the ball on just three days’ rest, which really isn’t that big of a deal because he’s been starting on extra rest basically for the last month and a half, plus he’ll have five months to rest after tonight. No excuses, just get it done.
What about you guys, are you nervous? I’m definitely feelin’ it, but I’m also more excited for this game than I have been for any baseball game in quite some time. Probably as far back as Game Seven in 2001. Don’t get me wrong, I was stoked for Game Five the other night, but I guess the possibility of clinching at home makes it that much better.
Scotty Brosius, MVP of the 1998 World Series, is throwing out the first pitch tonight. Here’s the lineups:
Philadelphia
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Shane Victorino, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
Ryan Howard, 1B
Jayson Werth, RF
Raul Ibanez, DH
Pedro Feliz, 3B
Ben Francisco, LF
Carlos Ruiz, C
Pedro Martinez, SP (5-1, 3.63)
Yankees
Derek Jeter, SS
Johnny Damon, LF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Hideki Matsui, DH
Jorge Posada, C
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Brett Gardner, CF
Andy Pettitte, SP (14-8, 4.16)
If you need to think about something until game time, think about this: tonight might the last time we ever see Pedro Martinez or Andy Pettitte on the mound. Crazy, huh?