This game has four-and-a-half hours written all over it.
World Series Game Three: Yankees @ Phillies
It wouldn’t be a Yankee playoff game without crappy weather, so of course the forecast tonight calls for a chance of rain. Eh, whatever, it’ll be fine.
As for the game, the Yanks will get their second crack at 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels this year, after he held them to just two runs in six innings. Hamels has gotten rocked so far this postseason, who has put 20 runners in base in just 14.2 IP over three starts, including 6 (!!!) homers allowed. The Bombers have hit just .222-.258-.349 in the World Series so far, so hopefully they can get back on track tonight.
Andy Pettitte will get the ball on five day’s rest, working for the first time since he sent the Angels back to SoCal will their halos between their legs. Charlie Manuel says Pettitte’s stuff is dwindling, so I’m really hoping lefty makes Manuel eat his words tonight.
Here’s the starting nine(s):
Yankees
Derek Jeter, SS
Johnny Damon, LF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Jorge Posada, C
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Melky Cabrera, CF
Andy Pettitte, SP (14-8, 4.16)
Philadelphia
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Shane Victorino, CF
Chase Utley, 2B
Ryan Howard, 1B
Jayson Werth, RF
Raul Ibanez, LF
Pedro Feliz, 3B
Carlos Ruiz, C
Cole Hamels, SP (10-11, 4.32)
Once again, it’s CC in Game Four
No surprise here, but Joe Girardi officially announced the CC Sabathia will get the ball in Game Four against Joe Blanton tomorrow night. All of the beat writers tweeted it simultaneously, but Jack Curry’s popped up in Echofon first, so he gets credit. Clearly, it’s the right move.
Rosenthal: Maybe starting Gaudin isn’t such a bad idea
I don’t know when it became uncouth for a team to throw their starters on short rest in the playoffs, but everyone and their mother feels compelled to write an article about how the Yankees should start Chad Gaudin to make sure CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Andy Pettitte can finish the series on regular rest. Nevermind that Gaudin has thrown just 2.1 low leverage inning in the last 33 days, nevermind that lefties hit .296-.408-.415 off him and Philly’s lineup could have as many as six lefties in it, nevermind that for Burnett and Pettitte it would assuredly be their last start for five months, nevermind that it’s a freaking World Series. Save them for a start that might not even be necessary.
Just start CC, AJ, and Andy in Games 4, 5, and 6. One start each on three day’s rest won’t kill them (two for Sabathia if it goes to Game 7), and those guys at even 75% is still better than Gaudin at 100%. Charlie Manuel made the mistake of starting Joe Blanton in Game 4, so don’t repeat. No mercy.
Catching up
In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been slacking off lately because of the World Series. Here’s three days worth of games. Well, two and a half.
AzFL Surprise (9-0 loss to Peoria Saguaros on Wednesday)
Colin Curtis: 1 for 4, 1 K
Brandon Laird: 0 for 3, 1 BB, 2 K
Zach Kroenke: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1-0 GB/FB – 16 of 28 pitches were strikes (57.1%) … PitchFX had him at 88.85-90.2 with his fastball
Mike Dunn: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1-1 GB/FB – just 13 of 27 pitches were strikes (48.2%) … PFX had him at 94.41-95.3 with the heat
AzFL Surprise (3-0 win over Scottsdale on Thursday)
Colin Curtis: 1 for 4, 1 2B
Brandon Laird: 0 for 4, 1 K – 0 for his last 10 and 2 for his last 15
AzFL Surprise (the game is tied at five in the ninth, and I don’t feel like waiting around … here’s the box score)
Ian Kennedy: 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 Er, 0 BB, 4 K, 4-4 GB/FB – 43 of 69 pitches were strikes (62.3%) … PFX says he was sitting between 90.98-93.4, and hit the high end of that range near the end of his outing
Grant Duff: 0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K – just 11 of 23 pitches were strikes (47.8%) … PFX had him at 93.13-94.3
Mike Dunn: 1 IP, zeroes, 2 K, 1-0 GB/FB – 11 of 14 pitches were strikes (78.6%) … he came in and bailed Duff out in a big way … PFX had him at 92.98-93.7
Open Thread: The day before Halloween
Lots of us are going to be out partying it up pre-Halloween style tonight while the World Series is stuck in a travel day, so it’ll probably be a little slow around these parts. Anyway, I just wanted to point out that Matt Hagen at THT posted his Top 10 Yankees Prospects list. Here’s quick thoughts:
- Jairo Heredia is too high after missing most of last year due to injury. Even healthy he wouldn’t rank that high.
- DJ Mitchell is also too high. He’s got a massive platoon split and is probably just a reliever down the road.
- Austin Jackson is too low. I know he didn’t have a great year, but all the tools are still there, and he’s still a 22-yr old in Triple-A.
Anyway, use this as your open thread for the night. Both the Isles and Rangers in action tonight, but that’s pretty much it. Talk about that, your Halloween costume, or whatever else you want. Just follow the guidelines and be nice.
If you’re really bored, laugh at this: