2009 ALDS: Twins @ Yankees

[jacksonianmarch]

Goodbye twins. Thanks for knocking out the tigers and making it easy for us.

[Cocos Disciples]

Congrats Yankees.

[Optimist]

YES!!!! First post season series win since 2004!

 

This ALCS is going to be quite interesting...two teams that it seems can do no wrong right now. Should be a good show.

[Gom]

Congrats Yankees.

 

A true gentleman. Much appreciated.

[Emmz]

Jason Kubel needs to burn for this s***. And f*** Joe Nathan, he always turns into a little girly he-bitch against the Yanks, holy s***.

 

Oh well, go Angels, go everyone but the Yankees.

[yankees228]

Jason Kubel needs to burn for this s***. And f*** Joe Nathan, he always turns into a little girly he-bitch against the Yanks, holy s***.

 

Oh well, go Angels, go everyone but the Yankees.

 

I think Joe Girardi deserves a lot of credit for shutting down Kubel. I mentioned before the series that he had atrocious splits this year, and the Yankees really took advantage of that.

 

With the exception of his at bats against Burnett and Rivera, Girardi made sure that Kubel was always facing a lefty. He left Pettitte in for an extra batter last night to face Kubel. He pulled Hughes early in game one so Coke could face Kubel, and he pulled Chamberlain early in game two for the same reason. He only let Aceves pitch one inning in game two so Marte could face Kubel (even though that was his only hit). Shutting down Kubel, considering where he hits in the lineup, was a huge key coming into this series. Girardi recognized that, and took advantage of Kubel's enormous flaw.