Pregame notes: Yankees look to Sabathia to set the tone
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Oct 07, 2012 
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Last time CC Sabathia started Game 1 of a division series, rain cut the start short. He came back three days later to start Game 3 and struggled. Then he pitched out of the bullpen three days after that, playing his part in the game that knocked the Yankees out of the postseason.
“It’s been a whole year,” Sabathia said. “I’ve pitched a whole season since then. I have more things to worry about than how I pitched against Detroit last year. I don’t take that into (tonight). I take the last three or four starts, five starts that I’ve had, and just try to build off that.”
Sabathia was as good as ever the last two week of the regular season. His final three starts lasted eight innings apiece, which eased some of the concern that came with the previous four bad starts. The Yankees are fully aware of just how good Sabathia can be, but his postseason record is spotty. He was awfully good in 2009, but he was a disappointment in 2010 and 2011.
Tonight, the Yankees again look for Sabathia to set the tone. Starting pitching seems magnified in the postseason, and Sabathia’s success or failure always seems to change the way people view the Yankees rotation. When Sabathia is pitching well, the rotation seems deep and strong. When Sabathia struggles, the rotation feels risky and uncertain.
“Coming here the first year and winning the World Series, then losing the ALCS, and then last year losing in the first round definitely makes you want to get back and work hard and try to get back to the World Series and win it again,” Sabathia said. “But this is the first step. It has been a little disappointing the past couple years. Hopefully we can turn it around.”
• Most roster decisions were finalized on Friday, meaning players were informed during the workout at Yankee Stadium. “No one really takes it very well,” Girardi said. “You can imagine the disappointment that would be in anyone when you’re not put on the roster.” Jayson Nix was essentially a lock for the roster if he was healthy, so the choice really came down to Derek Lowe and Eduardo Nunez. “(Cody) Eppley’s been here all year and he’s been good for us,” Girardi said. “That was a tough decision. And Andruw Jones, because we know the impact that he can put on a baseball. We decided to go with Nuney and Derek Lowe in those situations.”
• Girardi said he could use Lowe as an Eppley-type groundball pitcher against right-handers, or he could hold him back as a long man. “You’ve just got to see how the game’s going,” Girardi said.
• The Yankees are having Eppley, Freddy Garcia and Ivan Nova keep throwing regularly just in case they need them. “Long-term, we’ve got big plans for (Nova), we really do,” Girardi said. “He’s won 28 games in the last two years for us, so he’s got to keep working, keep trying to get better and be prepared if we need him here.”
• Girardi said Nova’s lack of bullpen experience kept him out of the mix for a long relief job.
• On the other hand, Lowe’s postseason experience was a factor in him making the roster. “He’s been there where it’s been elimination, tough situations and done a really nice job,” Girardi said.
• Girardi made it sound like he’ll DH Nunez against the left-hander tomorrow, but he didn’t commit to that one way or the other.
• Brett Gardner is a full player, but his lack of recent at-bats makes it unlikely he’ll start a game. Girardi said the biggest thing is that Gardner can take an at-bat now, so Girardi doesn’t have to be as careful about inserting him in a game. He no longer has to have an extra pinch hitter waiting behind Gardner just in case his turn in the lineup comes up again.
• Nick Swisher fifth and Mark Teixeira sixth: “Right now that’s what I’m going to do,” Girardi said.
• Girardi expects Mariano Rivera to be with the team for home games during the postseason. No, he won’t be active.
• Here’s the Orioles division series roster.
• Buck Showalter said today that he considers Joe Saunders and Chris Tillman available relievers for these first three games. One of those will almost certainly start Game 4, but for now, they’ll be available out of the bullpen if necessary. “Both of those guys will be in the bullpen tonight, as will (Game 3 starter) Miguel González,” Showalter said.
Associated Press photos
There’s no substitute for experience?
There’s no substitute for experience.
Joe Blanton is on the Orioles?
‘Looks like the Yanks will face the Tigers in the postseason once again / for the third time in six years (2006, 2011, and 2012) if they make it to the ALCS. I can’t see the Tigers dropping the next three.
I think the Yanks facing the Tigers will come down to the Yanks offense. If it keeps stinking with RISP, they will be watching the ALCS.
First chart casualties
A’S V TIGERS
Tyler October 7th, 2012 at 5:15 pm e
Joe Blanton is on the Orioles?
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Are Joe Blanton and Joe Saunders different people? Because if so, I might have made a mistake there.
Tarp just came on the field.
Rats. What’s the forecast, Chad? (Thx)
We are all stuffed over here, steaks were soooo good!!!!
Can’t wait for the game to start and friends bringing over all the party favors you’d find at your average college party.
http://www.weather.com/weather.....D0018:1:US
It is imperative the Yanks take the ALDS in four if not sweep the Os because that sets up Sabathia vs. Verlander in Game 1 of the ALCS and Pettitte vs. Fister in Game 2.
The last thing the Yanks want to do is go to a Game 5 with the Os cuz that would mean Pettitte vs. Verlander in Game 1, Kuroda vs. Fister Game 2, Sabathia vs. Scherzer Game 3, Hughes vs. Sanchez or Smyly Game 4 (the Yanks lose the option to start CC in Games 1, 4, and 7.) Sure, Sabathia vs. Verlander Game 7, but that’d be another max games played postseason which could wear out the Yanks come World Series time like I firmly believe the 2003 ALCS with Boston did to them.
can he set the tone?
Hey Trisha—Did you ever watch the “Baseball Show” on Csne on Saturday morning with the scribes from Boston and Lou Merloni…All those losers picked the Orioles.. Sour grapes, I expect..
Innings – there is a school of thought that not pitching sabathia against verlander is actually prudent. If verlander has good stuff, it won’t matter, he is simply more dominant than CC. If he doesn’t have his good stuff, Andy is more than capable to beat him.
Every year we have to deal with weather issues in the playoffs. It is really insane
If verlander has good stuff, it won’t matter, he is simply more dominant than CC
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He doesn’t have to be more dominant then Verlander he just has to give up less runs
So weird not to have The Sandman in the post season
We love and miss you Mo !
yankees needs at least a split in baltimore bec. it is hard to win 3 consecutive games. That is why the 2-3-2 format favors the team with the home field advantage.
Tarp still on the field a half hour before scheduled first pitch. At this point, my guess is that we won’t be starting on time.
“Hey Trisha—Did you ever watch the “Baseball Show” on Csne on Saturday morning with the scribes from Boston and Lou Merloni…All those losers picked the Orioles.. Sour grapes, I expect..”
Sour grapes for sure. And that will make it even sweeter when we kick their butts. So the Sux will have to live with the knowledge that they were eviscerated by the Buckaneers and we eviscerated the
Buckaneers. So you know where that puts the Sux on the totem pole!
Triple – I think the point was made pretty clearly. Like I said, there is a school of thought.
Doubt I need to point out that we beat verlander twice this year. Hughes and nova were the winners.
• The Yankees are having Eppley, Freddy Garcia and Ivan Nova keep throwing regularly just in case they need them.
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I guess Chad means for the ALCS.
Just ordered dinner. On its way. Ready for this game..
Hopefully not too long of a delay.
Dont want to wake up tomorrow being down 0-1, LETS GO CC!!!!
Triple – I think the point was made pretty clearly. Like I said, there is a school of thought.
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How could it be a good idea to go in with a losing mentality and basically concede the game and pitch anything but your best?
What we do not want is them to start the game then have a delay ….. We don’t want to lose CC after an inning or two….. Hopefully MLB will be smart and wai to start so that it can be played without interruption …..but this is MLB we are talking about
Carlo October 7th, 2012 at 5:33 pm
Innings – there is a school of thought that not pitching sabathia against verlander is actually prudent. If verlander has good stuff, it won’t matter, he is simply more dominant than CC. If he doesn’t have his good stuff, Andy is more than capable to beat him.
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I love Andy, but CC is better than him and has been better than him for many years thus the Yanks have a better chance of winning Game 1 vs. Verlander with CC than with Andy.
I’d rather have Andy and Kuroda follow up CC than Kuroda and CC.
The Yanks would have to start CC on the road if he started Game 3 (remember 2 at home then three at Detroit.) Game 2 wouldn’t be practical cuz then that eliminates CC for Game 7 (the only way CC pitches Game 7 is if a fifth Yankee starter pitches Game 4, 5, or 6, and why would the Yanks start Nova, Garcia, or Phelps?)
I want the Yanks to have the option to start CC vs. Verlander twice in Games 1 and 7 and the Tiger’s possibly weakest starter in Game 4 which would eliminate Hughes in the rotation (CC/Pettitte/Kuroda twice then CC) or give the Yanks the option to start Hughes in case of an injury or a rain shortened game. Also Hughes could be a mopup man, too.
Last, I don’t want CC making a possible “save the season” start i.e. Yanks down 0-2 in the ALCS.
BTW I meant to say “Sure, CC vs. Verlander Game 7 ALCS, if Verlander pitches Games 1, 4, and 7.” Verlander could theoretically start 1, 4, and 7 if the Tigers wrap up their ALDS in three or four, especially three (all that time off, maybe the Tigers jump out to such a big lead in Game 1, Verlander could be taken out after six innings or 90 pitches setting him up for a Game 4 start.)
Is the rain delay official?
WTH with the rain, the Yanks and Game 1!
Blake,
Carlos Beltran would have been a huge bargain for us. Agreed with you then, agree with you now.
NYY_Girl_Penny October 7th, 2012 at 5:40 pm
So weird not to have The Sandman in the post season
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It’s very weird. Feels strange knowing he’s not going to play at all
We faced him 3 times and beat him twice…..neither time with CC. How is that a losing mentality. If he is off, we will beat him. If he’s not, we won’t.
why can’t the A’s come back and win the next 2 to face Verlander in game 5?
anything can happen at that point.
Game officially delayed accroding to Baltimore Sun
http://twitter.com/baltimoresun
Rain delay’s official. Did they announce a prospective start time?
The new Yankee Stadium should’ve had a retractable roof and spare me “It would’ve cost too much” when the Yanks could’ve paid for it considering they didn’t pay a dime for the construction of the ballpark.
i guess they will play when the rain stops.
Why does it always freaking rain when CC has to make an important start? This happen last year… WTF!!
Like CC will wait to warm up, I will wait to put on the lucky Yankee shirt.
Totally agree they should have built a roof in new YS.
Lol, STL.
We faced him 3 times and beat him twice…..neither time with CC. How is that a losing mentality. If he is off, we will beat him. If he’s not, we won’t.
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So what?
That’s like saying if Freddy Garcia beat King Felix in the regular season then we don’t need CC pitching against him. Anyone can beat anyone else in baseball in 1 game. But you need to play the odds and give your team the best chance possible
my lucky long sleeve yankee shirt put itself on me as it got chilly here for fall baseball.
What does a retractable roof have to do with anything when the game is in Baltimore?
WSH is in business.
Why did Espinosa bunt with no outs a man on third?
Carlo October 7th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
We faced him 3 times and beat him twice…..neither time with CC. How is that a losing mentality. If he is off, we will beat him. If he’s not, we won’t.
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Besides CC > Andy you’re not daring to dispute, it’s not about beating Verlander, it’s about beating the Tigers. The Yanks could knock out Verlander in the third inning and be up 6-0 upon his departure, it means nothing if they lose 10-9.
CC in Games 1, 4 & 7 > CC in Games 3 (possible Yanks down 0-2 must win) & 7 (this is it game, Yanks lose CC for Game 1 of the World Series), Hughes Game 4.
BTW WTF is with these start times by TBS where you have to go to TNT to see the next game? Start the games four hours apart (DC @ Cards 3pm, Yanks @ Os 7pm), jeez. What’s on TBS tonight that’s sooooo important for the Yanks to start at 6pm?
Triple Short of a Cycle October 7th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
What does a retractable roof have to do with anything when the game is in Baltimore?
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Whoops LOL. But I could still post what I posted and it’d be a valid point. It was stupid for the new Yankee Stadium not to have a retractable roof. No rainouts at Yankee Stadium ever again.
This game needs to hurry up and start i can feel Arod and Cano doing some serious damage
Triple Short of a Cycle October 7th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
We faced him 3 times and beat him twice…..neither time with CC. How is that a losing mentality. If he is off, we will beat him. If he’s not, we won’t.
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So what?
That’s like saying if Freddy Garcia beat King Felix in the regular season then we don’t need CC pitching against him. Anyone can beat anyone else in baseball in 1 game. But you need to play the odds and give your team the best chance possible
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Also since when is Verlander an automatic to pitch badly enough for the Yanks to beat him again?
If I’m Girardi, I’m not tempting fate.
Ace for an ace and now I’m saying it here:
I want CC to pitch Games 1, 4, and 7 of the ALCS and World Series.
I do not want to see Hughes’s face in either series, I don’t trust him.
“School of thought”. Its comical how maniacs exist on this board.
Wow, Washington, clutch hit.
NATS! Thats clutch!
I’m going to go out on a limb and say CC won’t pitch an alcs game 7 and a world series game 1.
Rich K. October 7th, 2012 at 6:11 pm
This game needs to hurry up and start i can feel Arod and Cano doing some serious damage
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No way. Let this game start at 10pm / end around 1-1:30am if it means clear skies for CC.
The later it starts, the more subdued the Camden crowd, possibly, hopefully. It could go the other way i.e. the place is even more of a madhouse but who knows? You try getting fired up after sitting on your butt for 2 to 4 hours (assuming a 8 to 10pm start.) In theory it’s possible, but not happening with some people in practice.
Good for DC – go DC! I am SICK of seeing the Cards back in to every postseason since 2006. The 83 win 2006. Last and this year. Get lost. They are Exhibit A why I want the wildcard eliminated.
(Besides this enhances the chances of a Yanks-DC World Series and bus trips or really short flights between New York and Baltimore/DC haha.)
“School of thought”. Its comical how maniacs exist on this board.
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There are also schools of thought that dispute evolution.
Denver is just not a top tier team at all, though they have manning.
Pats are better in every category.
Carlo October 7th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
“School of thought”. Its comical how maniacs exist on this board.
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Oh, maniacs cuz they don’t agree with you?
CC > Andy. There. Argue against that and if you do, you say Andy should start Game 1 of the ALCS vs. Verlander which would make you an idiot because guess what? Verlander > Andy, too.
You wanna run how the Yanks own Verlander, well 2-1 in the last three games against the Tigers Verlander starts is hardly “owning” Verlander, it’s just a slight edge. 4-2 vs. Verlander and you have a point, 6-3 you are right, but it’s 2-1 and 2011 is over. I am not arrogant enough to think Verlander will continue to be subpar against the Yanks, you are I guess.
Ace for an ace. ‘Say the Yanks absolutely destroy the Os starter tonight and why not since the guy hasn’t pitched in an actual game since 9/11. Yanks up 8-1 after six innings, CC throws 80 pitches. Take him out so he can start Game 5 and throw 130 pitches if necessary or start Games 1, 4, and 7. If the Yanks bullpen w/ or w/o D-Rob and/or Sori can’t hold a seven-run lead in three innings, the Yanks have no business winning the ALDS.
Carlo October 7th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
I’m going to go out on a limb and say CC won’t pitch an alcs game 7 and a world series game 1.
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Ah you know what I mean.
CC starts Game 7 of an ALCS of course he starts Games 3 and 7 of the WS.
I want him to start 3 in the ALCS OR WS since he can’t do both.
CC starts Game 4 of the ALCS, I want him to stat Games 1, 4, and 7 of the WS.
There, I removed Game 7 ALCS – happy?
And schools of thought that some idiots actually thought they voted for change 4 years ago. There are many schools of thought on many issues. One fact is that this board kinda jumped the shark a few years ago.
Agree with me? Nah, maniacs because they think I said something I didn’t. Did I say, I hope we play a 5 game series so CC doesn’t face verlander in game 1 or did I provide the less doomsday scenario to attempt to explain why its not the end of the world? Give it time, the answer will come to you.
Hahah, also never said they own verlander. Said we beat him with guys not named CC.
Carlo October 7th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
And schools of thought that some idiots actually thought they voted for change 4 years ago. There are many schools of thought on many issues. One fact is that this board kinda jumped the shark a few years ago.
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Ah so now we’re turning this into a political debate or in your case a “Let’s bash Obama” thing now. LOL.
First off, you Uncle Tom version of a Latino as you have to be one to vote for Romney (since he sides with all the rightwing crazies who want to deport as many of your people as possible), I voted for change four years ago and got it to the tune of a better economy including a 7.8% unemployment rate as of this month (grin and bear it) and more salary after taxes in my paycheck. I also got no more Osama Bin Laden in my life and having to pay for the Iraq “war” since Obama ended it. And he’ll end Afghanistan, too, WHEN he’s elected again.
Second, Romney would merely be a third term of George W. Bush only with a stupider President and even more evil VP. How’d America do under GWB? Obama is merely cleaning up the mess GWB administration made 2001-2009, but you keep blaming Obama and expecting him to clean up GWB’s mess inside of four years when it will take an entire term to clean up the mess some more.
Last I know legions of Romney supporters flocked to their tv sets to vote Romney the winner of the debate last week, but you don’t win Presidential elections on one good night, all Romney had and not even as he merely showed what a liar and flip flopper he is to the entire world. I firmly believe Obama acted/looked how he did out of disdain not fright. He came off like “This guy (Romney) is a liar and a flip-flopper, let him cut off his nose to spite his face.” and over time that Romney bluster will fade. He’s losing Pennsylvania and Ohio cuz he can’t suppress the vote in the former anymore and the latter gained more jobs under Obama including ones in the automotive industry your boy Romney wanted to go bankrupt.
Carlo October 7th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
Agree with me? Nah, maniacs because they think I said something I didn’t. Did I say, I hope we play a 5 game series so CC doesn’t face verlander in game 1 or did I provide the less doomsday scenario to attempt to explain why its not the end of the world? Give it time, the answer will come to you.
Carlo October 7th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Hahah, also never said they own verlander. Said we beat him with guys not named CC.
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So you want a lesser Yankee starter to face Detroit’s ace, ok, gotcha, you’re an idiot.
Yeah, the Yanks BEAT the Tigers with guys not named CC. Beat = past tense. That was then this is now.
They also got beat by Tigers not named Verlander – it’s called 2006 and 2011 stupid.
Give it time, the answer will come to you.
I don’t communicate with people who are so dumb they believe the 7.8% unemployment #. Hahahahah. Still laughing over that. .
And yeah, that’s probably right, obama was so disgusted with romney he looked like a bumbling fool. Emperor with no clothes, holmes.