Tonight's game against the Angels is creating a lot of talk about it being a test for the Yankees, who may have to get through the Angels if they want to go back to the Fall Classic. They've lost And I guess in some ways it is a test, mainly offensively. Jered Weaver, 15-5 with a 3.76, is having a fine season and it would be good to see the Yankees knock him around the yard a bit.
But winning the game might be a little bit more difficult, especially with Joba Chamberlain on the mound. If any of the other three main Yankee starters were starting tonight, the game would be more significant to me. But what kind of chance does a team have when they are only going to get at most four innings from their starter against one of the best hitting teams in baseball?
If Joba can somehow regain the form he had immediately after the all-star break it would obviously help matters, at least for those first four innings. But we're probably more likely to see another 3 or 4 innings where he can't throw strikes, has no tempo on the mound, and an inability to put hitters away. If that happens against a team like the Angels it's a recipe for disaster.
I'm not saying the Yanks have no chance tonight, but I don't think anyone should make a big deal about this game one way or another. One thing I've learned is that regular season matchups mean nothing when October rolls around. Last year's Angels owned Boston in the regular season and then lost to them in the ALDS. Back in '07 the Yankees won every regular season game against Cleveland and lost to them in the ALDS. There are other examples but those are the two that popped into my head right now. So, if you ask me, what happens tonight means very little.
Monday, September 14, 2009
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15 Comments:
I agree completely Greg.
So do I. I also wonder how many regulars will be sitting tonight.
I agree with ya Greg!
BTW, i'm back from eating fresh!
lol was it good?
YES
I like Subway, but I perfer Quiznos.
It's the full line-up tonight...if Joba does poorly again I think it may start some fire among the media and all.
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Theres no Quiznos near me. But I like Quiznos. The closest one is in Hartford, CT. (for me) About a 40 min, drive.
Oh ya, on Saturday their was some bad news. One of my ducks was taken away by a Hawk. And my mom came home about 5 hours later with duck from a Chinese place.
There's a strange logic here...a full batting lineup yet a part-time pitcher. It's time to rip up the Joba Rules and let the kid pitch. I'm making a big deal about every game we play until the division is clinched. We should "expect" to win every game we play with our talent. It pisses me off that we have to face Weaver in a one-off series, then Halladay in a two-game series. Will it be the Halladay who threw a one-hitter in Toronto or the Halladay who sucked in Boston? I think we all know the answer. Everyone tries that little bit harder against the Yankees.
I'd certainly like to see the Yanks win tonight but ultimately it isn't a "must win" game.
What I do want to see is Joba come out on the mound with an attitude.
The attitude he had as a reliever last year.
The attitude he had after the all star break.
The same type of attitude you see Pettitte have when the cap is pulled down over his eyes.
It's that look Joba had in the past that said, "Give it you best shot but prepare to come up empty!"
If I see that Joba tonight, I will be happy.
It would be nice if we got a win tonight. But Joba has to pitch good to do so.
Not neccissarily Liam. With all the walk-off wins this year, you know the Yanks are never out of it, even if joba sucks tonight.
But you're right CF, it would be great to see Joba pitch well for once.
I really thought when he started the 2nd-half the way he did, he was going to stay like that and start pitching good again. But I guess I'm very wrong.
Very True YB.
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