yankees228

The Yankees starting rotation is a bigger concern than their bullpen. The two guys at the end of the bullpen (Rivera and Hughes) are excellent, and third guy out of the pen (Robertson) is quite good as well. Also, Coke or Marte might be able to get out a lefty here and there.

If they win the division (and maybe even if they don't) they'll use a three man rotation in the first round. The bad play does not concern me at all. This is the first time they've played poorly over the course of more than one series in the entire second half. That's saying something, and it was bound to happen eventually. With that being said, I am concerned about the rotation, but I think you're really harping on the negatives. Pettitte, as I mentioned in another thread, has been great in the second half (and he's actually striking out people). Tonight is very important, if only to see what Pettitte has coming off his should fatigue. Everyone who has read my posts knows that I don't think too highly of Burnett, but his last start was at least encouraging, albeit against a really bad offensive team. He has a nice test coming up in his next start against the Angels. As for Sabathia, do you honestly think he is going to struggle in the playoffs this year because of his past performances in the playoffs (which is an incredibly small sample size by the way)? He might get hit, but it will have nothing to do with what has happened the previous two years.

It's also worth noting that, in almost any plausible scenario, if the Red Sox tie the Yankees, they win the division.

Pettitte, for the most part, has been excellent in the second half. Lets at least see what he looks like tonight, coming off his injury, before we make those kinds of proclamations about him.

I've expressed a lot of concern about the Yankees blowing the division lead here. However, unlike most of the teams who have blown huge leads (1951 Dodgers, 1964 Phillies, 1978 Red Sox, 2007 Mets, etc.) the Yankees would still be in the postseason. I really don't buy into the whole momentum factor heading into the postseason. The 2006 Tigers were not very good down the stretch, blowing the division on the final day of the season, but still got in as the wild card. After losing their first playoff game they reeled off seven straight wins. The 2007 Phillies played really well down the stretch, winning the division on the final day of the season. They got swept in the first round. If the Yankees get in as the wild card, due to the fact that they're still a really good team (and the crapshoot element of the posteason), they can still win the World Series. If that happens Yankee fans wouldn't care about the blown division. However, with that being said, I will be very disappointed if the Yankees don't win the division.

Makes sense, but I really don't think the "Do you really need me to explain that to you" is justified. You contradicted yourself, and such a small sample size shouldn't be enough to change your opinion. As for the Yankees, all things considered, I would feel pretty fortunate if the lead was 3.5 games going into the weekend. Considering who both teams play, and how both teams are playing, only losing one game in the loss column wouldn't be that bad. If that happens, then it comes down to what happens over the weekend. If the Yankees take two of three they would basically seal the division. If the Yankees take one of three I would still feel good about things with a 2.5 game lead going into the final week, and the Yankees playing the Royals at home (and missing Greinke). Obviously, if the Red Sox swept, we'd be in for a very interesting final week.

In one post you justify the Tigers beating the Yankees in a short series because "Verlander and Jackson>Sabathia and Burnett". In another post you say that you don't see the Tigers matching the Yankees. I didn't get much sleep last night, and if I'm missing something I apologize, but I don't see it.

You picked the Tigers to beat the Yankees in the playoff predictions thread...

And guys, this whole me becoming a Sox fan, I'm not so sure how that'd work...lol

Jackson doesn't concern me as much because, as example said, he has struggled lately. Although he lack of experience in big games isn't a big factor for me.

Lol, no, I'm very in tuned to the Sox games each day.

Yeah, my fault. I knew that, just typed it wrong.

I'd rather play the Tigers than the Angels.

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2009/09/20/the-trials-and-tribulations-of-joba/ It'd be nice if he showed a little bit of accountability. EDIT: Meant to post that in the Yankees game thread. So be it.

If it's all about the schedule how do you not respect the Red Sox chances to make this a race?

Yup, I've said numerous times that I expected September to play out very similar to 2003 and 2004.

So assuming the Yankees lose today, the lead will be 5 games (6 in the win column, 5 in the loss column). The Yankees have three games with the Angels with this week, and the pitching match-ups are: Pettitte vs. Saunders Gaudin vs. Santana Burnett vs. Kazmir The Red Sox have four games with the Royals this week, and the pitching match-ups are: Wakefield vs. DiNardo Byrd vs. Greinke Beckett vs. Hochevar Buchholz vs. Hughes I see the Yankees taking one of three, and the Red Sox taking three of four. That would put the lead at 3.5 games (4 in the win column, 3 in the loss column) heading into the weekend series. What does everyone else think?