After going through a particularly bad break-up, a friend might tell you that the best way to get over someone is to find someone else. In a similar fashion, the Yankees will try to use the Mets to get over the Red Sox. Only problem is that this is like a blind date. The two teams have not met this season, so no one really knows what to expect.
Of course, you can talk about the aspects of the woman which you’ve seen in others. For instance, your first date post-breakup might be with a woman whose eyes remind you of a friend’s from college. The Mets’ starting pitcher might remind the Yankees of someone they’ve faced in the recent past.
The Yankees used Livan Hernandez and the Arizona Diamondbacks as a springboard back to prominence in 2007. The Yankees entered the series at 31-31, but swept the D’Backs after sweeping the Pirates. They did stumble after that, but went on to have an explosive second half, going from 43-43 at the All-Star break to finishing the season at 94-68. So, to those hitting the panic button…
Livan Hernandez did not last long in the middle game of that series, surrendering nine hits and five walks in four innings, leading to seven runs. The Yanks took the game easily, 7-2. The Yanks also faced the Yanks as a member of the Twins in 2005, and the Yanks laid it to him again, though not in as emphatic a fashion. They collected 13 hits en route to five runs in six innings. Kyle Farnsworth allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth, though, breaking a tie and giving the Twins a victory.
Joba Chamberlain has faced the Mets just once in his career, and that came before his transition to the rotation last year. It was one of his poorer relief appearances, as he allowed a run in one inning of work, a tack-on in the ninth of a 7-4 Yanks loss. So this will be Joba’s first time in the spotlight of starting a Subway Series game.
The bad news for the lineup, according to Carig, is that Johnny Damon is having vision tests done, and that the left fielder’s eyes “haven’t been normal for a couple of weeks.” His BA (.206) and OBP (.325) are down since June 1, but his SLG (.529) is plenty fine. I guess Johnny’s having some problems seeing the ball (::cough:: droppedflyball ::cough::), but when he does make contact he’s still hitting the cover off it. Of the seven hits he’s had this month, five have been for extra bases. He’s also drawn six walks and struck out seven times, so hopefully this is just a minor thing.
Lineup:
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Nick Swisher, RF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Robinson Cano, 2B
6. Jorge Posada, C
7. Hideki Matsui, DH
8. Melky Cabrera, LF
9. Brett Gardner, CF
And on the mound, number sixty-two, Joba Chamberlain
Injury Update by Ben: We’ve got pre-game word on a pair of injured Yankee pitchers. From the sound of things, Brian Bruney could be activated tomorrow without a rehab stint. I guess he was motivated by last night’s 8th inning shenanigans. Meanwhile, Joe Girardi told WFAN this afternoon that Damaso Marte will be visiting Dr. James Andrews. (Hat tip to Rebecca’s Tweeting.) That’s certainly news we don’t want to hear about a player signed through 2011.