thoughts on angels series?

[Pharmcat]

anyone have thoughts on this upcoming series?

my biggest concern is them running on posada....is it worth to make posada the dh, molina the C, and have matsui on the bench?

the other thing is speed, we need it, i would start gardner at Cf and at the 9th hole, and i would drop marte from roster and add another speed guy, that guzman dude to come of the bench

pitching wise, id go 3 man rotation, CC, AJ, Andy

hitting wise, not much to say other than hopefully cano and damon get going


any thoughts on this series

[Jitpal]

This is going to be a tough series. I think everyone was confident of beating the Red Sox but the Angels are a different animal. When both teams played early in the year, they were both at half strength but late in the year when both teams were clicking the Yankees took 3 of the final 4. That's about all the Yankees have going for them because recent history suggests the Angels have the Yankee's number. Although they have a very un-Angel's like pen so that should help us a lot. The Yankees have gotten to Fuentes quite a bit too.

I think you take your chances with Posada behind the plate and Matsui at DH. The offensive drop off is huge. Let's be real, if the pitchers do their job the Angels shouldn't be on base a lot. Sabathia can keep the base runner to a minimum and Pettitte has a sick pick-off move to keep them close. It's only Burnett who will walk half that team, but Molina will catch him anyway.

Melky didn't have a great series, at least nothing really too memorable against the Twins. I could see Gardner inserted into the lineup against Weaver in game 2. Melky actually hits Lackey well and Girardi won't do lefty/lefty with Kazmir in game 3.

I think you have to go 3 starting pitchers too unless the Yanks are up 3-0, then I think you go to Gaudan hoping that you win in it in a slugfest because you can then keep Sabathia fresh to match up for game 1 of the World Series. I'm really not worried about Kazmir shutting the Yankees down and I'd be shocked if he went over 5 innings in that game anyway.

Yankees in 5 and I think Burnett goes 7 shutout in game 2. -Jitpal

[jeff1624]

I wouldn't be too concerned with the baserunning. The only guy with plus speed is figgins and even he isn't a sure thing to steal a base, he was caught 17 times this year. Posada can handle the other guys. I mean they only had 3 SB's vs the red sox all series and they had the worst combination of defensive catchers in the league.

The angels are the twins on steroids. The whole lineup can hit and annoy you with the hit & runs, bunting etc. One thing that doesn't worry me about the angels is their very hittable bullpen. Fuentes is arguably the worst Closer remaining in the playoffs and we all know how great this team is in the 7th inning or later.

Yanks in 6.

[jerseyjac]

Posada needs to start every post season game...

[jeff1624]

I disagree. Burnett's comfort level > Posada's bat.

[j4remi]

I disagree. Burnett's comfort level > Posada's bat.

+1

[Dr. Detfink]

Not every one is going to hit in a series. Plain and simple. It's unfair to criticize a guy for not hitting in a 5 or 7 game set after 162 games of productivity. Baseball doesn't translate well in the post season unlike football or basketball. Damon and Cano will have their day...hopefully it will translate into a victory.

Now, the Angels have their problems as well. Sure Abreu is a great hitter but we all know he sucks as an outfielder. How many times have we been witnesses to his fear of wall? They need to exploit that right field.

This series is going to be defined by the bottom of the order. Both teams have a lethal 1-4 and a formidable middle but the 7-9 is going to contribute to the 2 out man on, scenarios.

Yanks have the versatility to do their share of hit and run as well. They have to take chances as well. Angels are the nastiest comeback team. They have to keep scoring till they tap.

The Angels are mortal at Yankee stadium. They definitely fear the new ball park because they buy the hype that you can sneeze home runs. Therefore, the pressure that the Yankees are never out of the game is something they were never accustomed to. That's just an intangible I want every one to have in the back of their mind.

[nykgeneralmanager]

Have to start CC on three days rest in game 4, it sets him up to pitch a game 7 on regular rest (rather than 3 days rest), and you have to like the 3 headed monster in the 7th-8th-9th that we have.

[moocow007]

What killed them in the past against the Angels in the postseason was not so much not being able to keep guys from stealing 2nd but rather keeping guys from stretching singles to doubles and scoring from 2nd on bloop singles (killer during the Bernie Williams days).

Having Cabrera in CF probably helps since he has a strong and accuratish arm. Swisher also has a pretty strong arm even though it's not accurate. That really leaves Damon as the weak link out there assuming they trot out the same OF trio. Do you maybe swap out Damon for Gardner (and move Melky to LF)? Don't know.

I agree on just dropping Marte and adding Guzman. I'm pretty sure the last guy on that pitching rotation that anyone would want in a tight spot is Marte (Aceves, Gaudin and Coke should be able to take any heavy minutes if they need a lot of innings from the bullpen).

I think you keep Posada behind the plate (meaning Matsui is in the lineup) as it gives the Yanks a pretty deadly none stop 9 (with Cabrera probably the quote-unquote "easiest out"). Would put pressure on the Angels pitchers a lot more than I think having Gardner in there. Will want Jeter, Damon and Rodriguez to be aggressive on the bases though.

Ultimately it's going to be the Yankee pitching staff that determines the outcome. On paper they look better than the Angels and the last series against between the two hopefully took whatever mental blocks the Yanks seem to have had out.

And can we all have a "YEAH KATE!!!"?



Whatever you're doing to him, keep doing it!!!!

[HCYanks]

I disagree. Burnett's comfort level > Posada's bat.

Burnett is a grown man getting paid a lot of money to do what he's doing. He shouldn't need a personal catcher. And really, this is Girardi giving into media frenzy more than anything. AJ made no demands about Molina starting.

I like the 3-man move, though. Credit to Girardi for that.

[Wade2k6]

Just because he's a grown man getting paid million doesn't mean he can't be more comfortable and have better chemistry with Molina as opposed to Posada. It's going to take great pitching to win this series (as well as timely hitting), so having Burnett at the top of his game is more important then having Posada's bat in the lineup IMO.

[jeff1624]

I disagree. Burnett's comfort level > Posada's bat.

Burnett is a grown man getting paid a lot of money to do what he's doing. He shouldn't need a personal catcher. And really, this is Girardi giving into media frenzy more than anything. AJ made no demands about Molina starting.

I like the 3-man move, though. Credit to Girardi for that.

Burnett has a 3.28 ERA with Molina..

4.96 ERA with Posada..

[Rich Rane]

And can we all have a "YEAH KATE!!!"?



Whatever you're doing to him, keep doing it!!!!

Kate to A-Rod: Alex, if you help win the World Series, I'll (whispers in his ear)
A-Rod: NICE!

Shoot, I'll go out an hit a few homers just for her.

[VCRJKidd15]

molina behind the plate>>>>>>>>posada giving up passed balls and his bat

i mean its not like posada wont pinch hit late in the game anyways

[Dr. Detfink]

Kate Hudson's best role since Almost Famous...

[VinnyTheMick]

Kate Hudson will pull a Cruel Intentions & let Arod slide it in the culo if he leads the Yankees to the WS.

[Dr. Detfink]

Look if the Yankees don't lock Kate Hudson up in a contract, Dallas will just sign her to help with Tony Romo.

[CrazyKnicks]

Shoot, I'll go out an hit a few homers just for her.

I think it's going to be 7 games. We need to play the same way we did against the Twins and have someone else in the lineup get hot, like Cano..... This is gonna be a helluva series

[Pharmcat]

angels have good #s against CC and Andy....a bit worrisome there

[Pharmcat]

i think the key for us is to work the count, get the angels SP pitch count high, and take our chances against their pen