This is where the fun ends. No more playing inexperienced rookies. No more giving your scrubs a batting order spot just to make them feel good. We are no longer in September, folks. This is October.
There are no more easy games. No more "Tampa Bay Devil Rays" on the schedules. We have reached the big time. And the first stop is Cleveland. The Yankees swept the season series with Cleveland, finishing 6-0 against the Tribe. But don't fool yourselves, the Indians are a force to be reckon with. They boast a strong pitching rotation, led by one of my favorite pitchers, big C.C. Sabathia, followed up by 24 year old stud Fausto Carmona. With 19 wins and a 3.06 ERA in just his second full season, don't be surprised if this guy racks up few CY Young's before hanging up the boots. Oh, and you musn't forget veteran Jake Westbrook. When Jake is on, he is on.
Cleveland also has a few decent position players themselves. Wait a minute, decent? Grady Sizemore, Victor Martinez, and Travis Hafner are superstars. All three can deliver a big blow with one swing of the bat at any time in the game. Grady is also a gold-glove caliber defender in CF. Johnny Peralta, Franklin Gutierrez and Johnny Peralta are also solid role players.
However, the Yankees will still win this series. Why? Not only is the offense by far the best in the league, the starting pitching has the potential to dominate, they just haven't all clicked at the same time. Chien-Ming Wang can hang in neck and neck with Sabathia, plus has the monstrous Yankees offense as a cushion. Andy Pettitte is a veteran that has been there before and has pitched his ass off this season. Mike Mussina is a grizzled veteran who like Pettitte has been in the post-season before. And the Rocket, well, he's just the Rocket. I do not see the Yankees sweeping, but I see them going the distance to 5 games with a very good Cleveland Indian ball club.
Let's get ready. This will be one interesting post-season.
No comments:
Post a Comment