Postgame notes: The obvious silver lining
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes, Podcast on Sep 19, 2010 
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Before the Luke Scott home run, before the bases-loaded were loaded in the 11th and before the Orioles were storming the field, this actually seemed like a good day for the Yankees. A very good day. Yes, there were stranded base runners in the early innings, but Andy Pettitte was the most important thing about this afternoon, and Pettitte was terrific.
“As the game went on I felt like I was coming even harder and harder off the mound as far as getting through my pitchers a little better,” Pettitte said. “All and all, in that end, it was a good day.”
Joe Girardi said before the game he was hoping for six innings out of Pettitte, and the Yankees could hardly have gotten six better innings. After allowing two-out RBI bunt single in the first inning – one that seemed to catch everyone off guard — Pettitte retired 15 of the last 17 batters he faced, including the last 11 in a row.
“There’s always a little bit of question of, are you going to be able to make those little adjustments that you need to make when you’re out there?” Pettitte said. “When you’re rushing and you know you’re rushing, sometimes it’s not that easy to fix it. I was dragging the first few innings with my arm a little bit, and I was able to get my arm warm a little bit and get it all together. I feel like I’m going to be fine.”
This was Pettitte’s first big league start since July 18. He said the weather was cool in his two minor league rehab starts, but it was pretty hot today, a good test of Pettitte’s stamina and conditioning. He actually got better as the game went deeper, and said he felt like he could have thrown another inning.
As for his groin, the biggest test was that first-inning bunt, just past the mound on the third-base side of the infield.
“I wasn’t expecting a two-out bunt from their four-hole hitter with a runner on third base,” Pettitte said. “I slipped right when I broke. My left foot went right out, the dirt kind of moved on me, and that was about as good of a test as I was going to get.”
Here’s Pettitte.
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• A quick take on Pettitte from his friend Lance Berkman: “He’s the biggest winner I’ve ever played with.”
• Mariano Rivera blew a save for the fourth time this season. “Not a good pitch for a lefty,” Rivera said. “It was down, and that’s where he pretty much makes his living. Tough loss. Having the lead and going in there and not saving the game to me is unacceptable… I didn’t do my job, and everything fell after that.”
• Two of Rivera’s blown saves came on this road trip. Of course, so did two of his saves. Pettitte said it’s a reminder that Rivera is human. Joe Girardi said he has no concerns. “He gave up a couple of runs on this road trip,” Girardi said. “It happens.”
• Given a chance to finish the road trip strong, the Yankees instead finished with a game like so many others. “This whole road trip was like this for us basically,” Girardi said. “We’re going to go through tough times in the course of a season. The good thing is we won the series and we get to go home and we’ve played well at home.”
• The Orioles have 12 walk-off wins this season, six of them since Buck Showalter became their manager.
• A few more Pettitte notes: Brian Roberts’ first-inning steal was just the second stolen base Pettitte has allowed this season… Pettitte missed out on his 29th career win against the Orioles. The only pitcher with more is Whitey Ford, who has 30… A win would have moved Pettitte past Frank Tanana for 51st place on baseball’s all-time wins list.
• Berkman was hot coming into Baltimore, but he went 2-for-13 with two GIDP this series. “Pretty terrible. It’s a crazy game. I have felt great. I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball well. Yesterday, they pitched me tough. I wasn’t really that upset about it. There was one at-bat where I felt like I should have come through, but at that point the game was out of hand anyway. Today was frustrating because I felt like I had pitches to hit. Obviously when you hit third, you’re counted on to carry a little bit more of the burden. I had a great chance to put us up there. It’s probably a different ballgame if I can.”
• Derek Jeter was excited to hear Joe Torre and Don Mattingly are scheduled to be at the stadium for Monday’s pregame ceremony honoring George Steinbrenner. “I’m sure they will be well received by everyone,” Jeter said. “I’m glad they get an opportunity to come back because I know Mr. Steinbrenner has meant a great deal to both of their careers.”
• Asked if the next four games mean a little more than most, Jeter surprised every reporter in the group. “Nah, just like all the rest,” he said. Then he started laughing. “ Of course. We’re battling for our division so these are some important games and we’ll see what happens.”
Associated Press photos of Pettitte and Ramiro Pena
Andy was the best and most important thing coming out of this game……………
Mo will be fine, but get the man some rest.
I love Berk’s honesty……………
I love Andy, and I certainly hope he and Mo will hang around a while longer.
As awesome as Pettitte was, he can’t fix this woeful offense.
It’s nice to hear Berkman say he should of hit that pitch but he is hitting .188 against lefties his year and .118 as a Yankee. He never should of been hitting in that situation. We always hear the manager should put his guys in a situation to be successful and that definitely wasn’t one of them. Girardi has been really weird recently with not pinch hitting for guys when he should be. Just like against Tampa when he let Kearns and Curtis bat in the 8th inning when they were losing by a run. His brain seems fried recently.
Pettite’s performance was by far the most important thing that happened today. It would have been nice to gain a game on Tampa but things happen and the Yanks just didn’t get it done today. They can split the series with Tampa and still leave in first but with difference in schedules they really need to shoot for 3 of 4…obviously will be no cake walk but I think its definitly possible. 3 of 4 would mean a 2.5 game cushion with less than 10 to go…
Hard to complain about this Baltimore series as much as some of the pessimists here are doing. We went in there a reeling team that was banged up, got a big clutch hit on Friday to salvage the game, played well on Saturday, got Andy back today and nearly won a game minus our two biggest run producing bats for most of the game. We picked up a game on the Sux in the process who dropped two of three to the roid jays and did not give up any ground to the Rays. Yes, the failure to sweep was disappointing, but given the way the rest of weekend went, I’ll take it. That was the longest roadie of the year, and thank god it is over.
Of course I reserve the right to change my mind if they stink up the joint this week.
Girardi has has just a ton of stupid moves lately. To say I’m concerned is an understatement.
True. Today was successful even though they lost because Andy came through the game exceeding expectations. He is a an extremely big part of this teams success and having him back and doing well is very important if they want to make it to the postseason. I’m looking forward to his next start already.
Joe’s moves are a concern to me as well, but I hope and believe he will manage the postseason differently.
what Joe needs is an ejection so he could have a day off to recover lol
If the Yanks play well on this homestead then we can and will forget about this road trip. The bats usually wake up when they play at home with the short porch so hopefully that happens and they have the advantage playing at home in close games like the opposing teams did on this road trip. With Andy coming back and pitching well the rotation is much better shape and now they just need the offense to get more consistent. So hopefully we will see that in the next couple of days.
what Joe needs is an ejection so he could have a day off to recover lol
————–
Or put him on the dl for a couple of days with “fatigue” lol
Clutch-
Agreed. And don’t forget that AJ has looked better in his last two starts as well.
Repost:
West Coast Yankee Fan
September 19th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
This game today was a microcosm of many other games this season. Not putting mediocre pitchers away, a bullpen effort that just fell short, countless blown scoring opportunities and a less than stellar job of managing. That’s who this 2010 team is. We had what, fifteen walk-offs last year and the chemistry was better IMO, i.e. Matsui, Damon and Melky. Then again we hadn’t won in a long time. Maybe they don’t want it “quite as much” this year. Maybe they do, we’ll see.
I think we have a shot at wining number 28 but we will have to be clicking on all cylinders to do it – and this team hasn’t shown me that this year. Yet.
You know being realistic isn’t being pessimistic. I certainly hope and want to win the WS, but you can’t leave that many runners in scoring position time and time again and expect to win it all.
WCY-
Where did you get your sports psychology degree? I honestly think some of you guys live in fanatasy land. There are no MLB teams that put up 6-10 rinse per game. Sometimes you just have to figure out a way to win 3-2. They didn’t get it done today, but have on plenty of other occasions this year.
* runs not rinse.
SAS- it only matters after October 4th how many RISP opportunities are wasted.
Excellent comment SAS, one which gets to the heart I believe of the conflict most often seen on this blog. A Yankee fan offering up a realistic, knowledgeable and intelligent critique of the team, is no less of a fan.
Straw what does sports psychology have to do with scoring runs? And in case you haven’t noticed, this team is not put together to win 3-2 games. That is and should be the exception, not the rule. We are 18-18 in one runs games this year and 5-6 in extra innings.
The problem is, you all critique the methods but ignore the results. This team has the best record in MLB so to claim they are offensively inept is both disingenuous and pessimistic. Put another way, I don’t care if they fail to score early in a game if they manage to win it at the end. Having said that, I do believe it’s ok to be concerned about the offense. But to make the leap and maintain that it will do them in ain’t necessarily so. They could just as easily be done in by poor starting pitching, even from CC. Or by poor defense. There is just no way to predict what will happen. Or did you miss Friday night’s game.
The psychology referred to you “not want it as much” idea. At this level, I doubt that enters into the equation. My bigger point is that a team doesn’t always pay to it’s regular season identity in the playoffs. Last year’s team did. But there are plenty of teams that don’t, which falls on both sides of Wins and Losses. See the 2005 Cardinals, 2000 Yankees on the positive side, and the 2001 Mariners on the negative side. We won’t really find out what they’re made of until the playoffs start.
Thanks West Coast
===============================
Straw,
You don’t have to be a psychologist to know that the Yankees are leaving RISP at alarming numbers. I think there are 13 games left and if they want to have HFA throughout, they have to win games. If they want to get to the playoffs, they have to win games. All games are not blow outs.
I promise you I have seen more Yankee games than you have. I have seen the best and the worst of the Yankees. When Pettitte pitches his heart out, and the Yankees leave 12 men on base, you can’t expect the bullpen to save you every day. You have to score some of those runs.
What is this “you all”. I never said they were offensively inept, not even close. I said they had “countless blown scoring opportunities”. That is a fact.
Straw,
They have to make the playoffs!!!!
It’s like this team is just mentally not there.
And did you happen to notice the maybe in my post? And I said we will see later on didn’t I?
“Then again we hadn’t won in a long time. Maybe they don’t want it “quite as much” this year. Maybe they do, we’ll see”.
What an absolute lack of effort by the Giants! I cant even find a way to blame the referees for this. It’s not like our defense is even depleted with injuries like last year. There’s an odor, and it’s coming from the Giants defense.
Can I find a way to blame the referees? :thinking: :thinking: A resounding NO!
We were down 7-0 on the Colts 39 yard line on 4th and 7, and didnt bother to go for it.
The coaching staff had to know we weren’t going to stop the Colts on every possession. When you get inside the 40 of the opposition, you need to capitalize on opportunities. Bill Belichick most likely would have gone for that 4th down. It’s a shame that Tommy shows no chutzpah!
SAS-
My first Yankee memory was watching Chambliss hit the HR in 1976 on tv with my father when I was 9. Maybe you have watched more games, but I’m no piker.
I said I was concerned by the RISP problem. You’re right– to not be concerned about would mean you don’t understand much baseball. All I am saying is that we have no way of knowing what will transpire on any side during the playoffs. It may bring out the best in them or they may choke. But I don’t agree that it is beyond the realm of possibility for their offense to explode during the playoffs.
I think people forget what a grind a 162-game season is. If and when they make the postseason, it’s a new season, clean slate. I think they’ll be in a different place mentally.
Straw,
I was at that game with my husband. I almost froze to death. You are a little older than my sons.
SAS-
They have a 7 game lead on the Sox with 13 to play. Are you actually worried about making the playoffs? I was slightly concerned before this weekend, not so much now after Boston dropped 2 of 3 from the Jays.
SAS-
Hope you didn’t run on the field that night during that mass of humanity!
pat,
TB was wearing the shirt. It was very, very nice with a tie & sports coat. He wears it best.
I do agree that the playoffs are a different animal, but as I said earlier, they have to get there first because October is boring without the Yankees.
more clutch hitting today that is the bottom line.
they do not hit with RISP. period. berkman hits like a singles guy zero power. kearns sucks.
swisher is not familiar with the term off speed……………..
no clutch hitting and you have a horrible road trip. they yanks left 10 + on base today aqgain………….
I just feel that the Yanks turned a corner this weekend by taking two of three against team that has been playing well in their home park and getting Andy back. Today’s result notwithstanding. We all know that game today is a win 95% of the time with Mo, clutch hits or no clutch hits.
I didnt even mind the Giants losing this game; I didnt mind the Colts being 1-1 and tied with the Patriots, but the way this game has gone down is just a signal of the problems with this team. There is no coaching and there is no accountability. When guys cant even tackle, it’s disheartening. The only coach that won us Super Bowl XLII was Steve Spagnuolo, and only Steve Spagnuolo.
SAS-
I believe what you really have to hope for is that the Yankees can find a way to win the the Pennant.
It’s not going to be easy.
CR9-
No referee conspiracy? (:
The pitching is there, which is more than we’ve had in the past.
We’ve forever had RISP problems, nothing new.
Experience matters in the postseason. Everything is magnified.
Cliff Lee, Vlady, and Oliver have postseason experience. Let’s see how the rest react to the pressure.
TheStraw – No referee conspiracy this game. This is just utter domination at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball by the Colts. And also, the J-E-T-S got treated fairly today.
m-
I believe today was what you like to refer to as an “Etch-A-Sketch” day.
Ah, ya never know. Game is not over yet. Maybe our defense can show up. 24-7
MTU,
99 out of 100 times we win this game.
It wasn’t even a heartbreaker. Not compared to some of the tough losses this week. We’ve lost a lot if 1-run games this week alone!
CR9-
It could be worse. I’m a Bills fan.
Holy Geez! Did anyone see that woman in the stands of the Colts game near the guy who had Jacobs’ helmet???? Im pretty sure she was a pig! A pig in a Peyton Manning jersey. A variation of female/pig!
Lol. Jacobs was pretty heated. But he started it. I’m glad the security snatched the helmet out of the guy’s hands. He was being d- about it. If he had been nicer, he prolly would’ve gotten something out of it.
Straw – Hopefully, the Bills can turn it around in the near future. Always had a lot of respect for Thurman and Kelly. If the Jets and Giants cant win, it’s always good if another NY team wins.
She looked like Carrot Top’s heavier sister.
Bills will never turn it around until they get a QB that can throw the ball downfield.
Erp.
“She looked like Carrot Top’s heavier sister.”
Yes. Yes. Yes! Yes! But do you mean Carrot Top’s heavier brother
Eventually, the Bills will get a good QB. Did you know they were given a .01 % chance of winning today’s game? lol
Sibling Bowl isn’t living up to the billing.
m
Shirt, tie and pocket square are good. Not loving the grey suit jacket with it and the hair isn’t working for me.
Big Al was right, the Giants’ O looks like crap.
the Bills quarterback is not all that great, but his offensive line is even worse!
I’m inclined to give Berkman a small pass. He has been hitting better before this O’s series and he’s still learning the AL pitchers. If we make it to the WS, he’ll have the advantage of being more familiar with the pitchers we’ll be facing
Is this the real football season or are the teams still in exhibition?
disclaimer: I’m obviously not a football fan.
Bret-
Real deal.
hahahahahahah
Pats suck.
Bret,
It’s for real. 2nd week.
————————————–
Good night all
Cub’s Tyler Colvin impaled in chest by broken maple bat. He required stitches, and will be in the hospital 2-3 days, expected to be OK.
It’s just a matter of time before someone gets killed by one of these bats. MLB should ban them after this season, never to be used again.
Does anyone else notice how gaunt Girardi’s face looks? To me, it looks as if he’s lost quite a bit of weight lately, I sure hope he’s not ill. Maybe it’s just me, but, that’s what I’ve noticed.
I guess I’m all alone, so I’ll call it a night.
He looks quite exhausted. Didn’t notice the weight.
I’m about to sign out, but just wanted to say thank god Colvin will be ok…………..
Night!
Hey Big Al,
I noticed it yesterday while I was watching a Yankees Post-Game on the YES site. He looks emaciated. I know he likes to be super fit, but his face looks so gaunt that it’s downright disturbing. I hope he’s OK, but he looks ill.
I’ll forgive his ghoulish countenance if we win another title.
Oh Nick…
Gotta run back to work. Enjoy the nightowls that are still lurking.
Looking forward to these 4 games against Tampa. Hopefully the Yankees can put some distance between them and Tampa and reduce the magic number which is 7 to clinch a playoff spot.
Hi, Fran. I agree about putting our foot on their ahead since they’re below us on the proverbial rope ladder.
We are 6-8 vs Tampa. If we go 3-1, the season series is still tied. And I’m not sure we own the tiebreaker which is probably division record.
So, I hope we can take at least 4.
At some point the scale needs to tip just a little. Close, but not many cigars the last 2 weeks.
well the yanks made it back from the road trip still in first place. I said that if they did that then I would feel good about them being able to hold on to the division….though I was really hoping for a little more than a .5 game lead.
However, the Yankees still control their own fate…they just have to win. If they split or worse in the series with Tampa then its going to be difficult given the schedules…but if they win 3 or better then its very doable. The difference between a split and 3 of 4 is essentially 2 games in the standings…(would be a 2.5 game lead instead of a .5 game lead)…Yanks need their A lineups for these 4 games and need to try and win as many of them as they can because this series could decide who wins the division. Yanks leave this series up 2.5 then I like their chances….
Good morning all.
As calm as I try to remain, I am nervous about the games with Tampa. No way to guess how it turns out, just hope it turns out in the Yankees’ favor.
However, as disappointing as it would be to finish second, as long as they secure the wild card, I personally will be, if not happy, satisfied. The playoffs are a whole new season, and anything can happen then.
I just read about the incident with the bat – Colvin Tyler? And I saw a picture (screen grab) on Rebecca’s blog. What a heart-stopping moment that must have been. Thank God he will be okay, but that’s just too close for comfort. As usual, baseball will wait until dire consequences before it does something. I hope this was “dire” enough.
They are going to have to either outlaw Maple bats or have some limitation on the thinness of the handles. If it continues as is, I’m afraid one day something like this is going to happen and the result will be even worse than what happened yesterday.
Doreen, I share your feelings about this upcoming series. Its at home and a split still allows them to leave in first….but they really need 3 here….won’t be easy, but they can do it.
I wish the Monument Ceremony for Mr. Steinbrenner had been scheduled for a different series.
The games against Tampa this week should be all about the baseball being played on the field.
blake -
There is no longer any excuse for not doing something about the bats.
Is Andy the only one not pitching this series?
Doreen,
I agree, its time to do something.
Yea, they haven’t announced the matchups but I’m thinking Nova, Hughes, AJ, CC….with Pettite opening the Boston series.
“Is Andy the only one not pitching this series?”
Indeed, he is. Pettitte throws the 1st game against the Red Sox, I believe.
good morning all…
happy to see Andy pitch so well
if there had been better hitting, Mo wouldn’t have even been in the game, they really let Tillman off the hook
Thanks, guys.
I may not be able to watch this series!
I can’t bear the nervous tension. (I almost never watch Mo close out games – too tense even though 98 times out of a 100, he gets the job done. It’s less about Mo than it is about me. I think at some point it became a superstition.)
What exactly is there to do about bats? It’s not like they are going to change from wood to metal……………It sounds like just awful luck.
I’m nervous about the series for many reasons……
it is the maple bats Betsy, they shatter more easily than ash or what ever else they use…remember how many bats Johnny D shattered last year? He uses maple.
It’s very rare that Mo doesn’t save the game for Andy.
@Betsy: The bat involved in Colvin’s accident was a maple bat. Maple bats are more likely to shatter than bats made of ash, which are more likely to just crack.
Kate, I didn’t know that – thanks!
OP, thanks!
Betsy -
They can change the wood used to something less likely to shatter; they can change the diameter of the handle, making it thicker, and less likely to break. That’s what they can do about bats.
Betsy,
When Maple bats break they splinter much worse than Ashe ones do…creating those daggers that are so dangerous…its just the way the grain is and the brittleness of the wood. The problem is compinded by how thin players like the handle on the bats……
I am willing to wager it was a maple bat. That type of wood tends to shatter rather easily and also into razor sharp shards. There was some hoopla about it last year but it was always a matter of time before some player or fan got injured. We’re all very lucky that it wasn’t fatal.
Blake, thanks! Maybe maple trees should stick to making syrup………..
Kate-
Did you do any hiking in NH ?
Betsy-
Sure tastes good on Blueberry pancakes.
I love maple anything, actually; I was in my element in Montreal. They have this shop devoted to all things maple and I sort of enjoyed it. Yum -maple ice cream.
So where do you put a “Silver Lining” in your stats ? Does it go in the Win or the Loss column ? I must be stupid, because I can’t find that stat anywhere.
I saw an article about this plastic covering they can put over the handle of the bat that would help prevent the bat from shattering like that. It is a thin cover but it works kind of like safety glass, where it keeps it from totally exploding and sending shards all over the place.
Seems to me that would be the smart way to go, it wouldn’t change the bat function but would help prevent others from getting hurt by shattered bats.
“So where do you put a “Silver Lining” in your stats ?”
Have to admit that Pettitte pitching well is a good sign.
Andy holds nothing against Mariano for the loss. He remembers the many times his friend came in from the bullpen and saved games for him which is nearly 50 games.
It’s all on timely hitting and taking full advantage of scoring oppotunities that’s been the achilles heel for the team. The Yankees should never feel safe unless they’re holding (at least) a 3-run lead in the 9th inning of any game.
no MTU, I was there for the Highland games…and watching the red sox lose!
My BIL and one of their dogs did a 22 mile hike on Sat…part of it was Bond Mtn, I am not sure where else he went, I think it was a ridge hike
Betsy
we have small scale maple syrup producers up here, including our high school…my son refuses to eat the fake stuff, and he love pancakes
Super Nova has a chance to redeem himself tonite against the Rays.
Joe has to keep him on a short leash this time. First sign of big trouble and out he goes.
The bats MUST wake up tonite.
Kate, I’ve always wanted to go to Vermont during maple season -lots of maple festivals and, of course, it’s probably beautiful at that time of year. We use Log Cabin syrup – it’s fake, I’m sure, but we don’t have other options, lol.
Mgumpher -
I just heard about that “bat sleeve” or “bat glove” this morning. It sounds like a no-brainer, and at least something worth trying. The least invasive option, if you will. That way the players can still use the bats they prefer. If that option doesn’t work, then you address it and players might have to give.
Perhaps seeing one of their own get injured like that will spur some quick action.
Are the sleeves readily available?
kate-
Only 22 miles. Wimp !
Betsy,
I agree…I like Maple things. Sugar maples will be just beautiful in a few more weeks around here…I am however afraid someone may be fatally hurt one day if they continue to make bats out of that wood though….they break at the handle sending the barrel flying towards the fielders with a spear on the end….not good.
Nothing like real maple syrup, kate. It’s more expensive, but oh, so worth it!! We can find it in the grocery stores, but every Christmas my uncle gives us a bottle from Vermont. He lives upstate NY. That’s his go-to gift and it’s much appreciated.
Hey, I am very glad that Andy pitched well, but the fact remains that Baltimore is NOT the caliber of team the Yankees will face in ANY round of the playoffs. That game was a loss that needed to be a win, plain and simple.
Blake-
I agree with what you said above.
A split with TB is just not going to be good enough.
I’m sure Boston relishes it’s role as a potential spoiler.
Doreen
we usually get the lower grades, which are darker and more flavorful, but quite a bit cheaper
Colvin was fortunate that shard didn’t hit a vital organ, even so, he is out for the season. Hopefully this is a long overdue wake up call for mlb
kate -
I’m never sure about the syrup gradings. My uncle brings us the Grade A medium amber. Once I bought a sampler with about 5 grades in it (little bottles) and it explained what each grade was best used for. But I didn’t save the packaging and I forgot!
MTU,
It would obviously still be possible with a split but very unlikely given the schedules. They need 3 in this series…that extra game could decide it.
MTU – I walked 150′ taking the dogs out, does that count as a morning hike for an old man?
Game 1: Matt Garza (14-8, 3.88 ERA) v Ivan Nova (1-0, 4.30 ERA)
Garza: Garza got roughed up in his last outing vs. the Yankees, allowing six earned runs on nine hits and failed to finish the fifth inning for the second straight outing. He has a 12.00 ERA in his last two starts after going 4-0 with a 0.99 in four starts.
Nova: Handed a 6-0 lead, Nova couldn’t hold it for the Yankees on Tuesday in Tampa, exiting with two outs in the Rays’ seven-run fifth. The rookie had the worst start of his brief career, giving up six runs on six hits with three walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Game 2: James Shields (13-12, 4.86 ERA) v Phil Hughes (16-8, 4.31 ERA)
Shields: Shields gave the Rays a quality start Wednesday night against the Yankees when he allowed one run on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, but he came away with a no-decision. Shields is 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA in two starts at Yankee Stadium this season.
Hughes: Sporting a fresh black eye, Burnett limited the Orioles to three runs on six hits in seven innings on Friday, ending up with a no-decision. It was the fourth straight decent outing for the right-hander, who has a 4.50 ERA in September.
Game 3: Wade Davis (12-9, 4.19 ERA) v AJ Burnett (10-13, 5.08 ERA)
Davis: Davis allowed two earned runs on seven hits while striking out eight in six innings against the Angels on Friday, but got a no-decision. Currently he is riding a seven-game winning streak and is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA against the Yankees this season.
Burnett: Sporting a fresh black eye, Burnett limited the Orioles to three runs on six hits in seven innings on Friday, ending up with a no-decision. It was the fourth straight decent outing for the right-hander, who has a 4.50 ERA in September.
Game 4: David Price (17-6, 2.79 ERA) v CC Sabathia (20-6, 3.05 ERA)
Price: Price brought his A game in his last start Saturday night against the Angels, when he allowed just four hits in seven innings. Unfortunately for Price, one of the hits was a three-run homer by Juan Rivera that led to his receiving a no-decision.
CC: Is awesome (no comments from Yankees.com)
From my POV, a lot of these games are all up in the air. It depends a lot on whether or not the pitchers bring their best… AJ, Phil, and Nova…
Garza is wishy washy (like our AJ), so they’re no real way to call it. My guess, (assuming Girardi puts the A lineup in everyday), is the Yanks take 3 of 4. If he doesn’t and plays putz’s like Curtis and Kearns, I’m guessing the Yanks walk away in second place.