MLB
Thursday, October 7
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Payoff Pitch: Today's Best Mound Matchups
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Andy Pettitte, New York Yankees vs. Carl Pavano, Minnesota Twins
Andy Pettitte (11-3, 3.28 ERA)
They don’t call Andy Pettitte "Mr. October," but maybe they should.
Pettitte is the winningest pitcher baseball postseason history with 18 victories. His career playoff statistics include an 18-9 record, a 3.90 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, and 164 strikeouts in 249 innings. During New York's run to last year's World Series title, Pettitte compiled a perfect 4-0 mark and a 3.52 ERA in five starts.
At 38 years old, Pettitte is going full steam ahead in 2010. En route to his 11-3 record and impressive 3.28 ERA, he faced the Twins twice, going 2-0 with a miniscule 1.26 ERA.
A significant question mark, however, is that Pettitte dealt with groin and back problems throughout the second half of the year. He is just the seventh MLB pitcher since 1952 to start a postseason game after throwing less than 20 innings as a starter following the All-Star break.
Pettitte posted an 11-10 over/under mark during the regular season, including 6-2 in his last eight starts.
Carl Pavano (17-11, 3.75 ERA)
When the Yankees look across the diamond and see Carl Pavano hurling against them, they will probably be wondering what they were missing when he was part of the team between 2005 and 2008. Crushed by injuries, Pavano made just 26 starts in for years and missed the entire 2006 season. Let's just say that in his "best" year with New York in 2005, he went 4-6 with a 4.77 ERA!
Armed with a clean bill of health, Pavano is not making the Twins regret their acquisition of him in 2009. This season, the 34-year-old has struck out 117 batters against only 37 walks in 221 innings to go along with his 17-11 record and 3.75 ERA.
"I can't tell you how good it feels to be counted on again," Pavano told the USA Today. That’s something the Yankees could never do. In fact, Pavano was dubbed "American Idle" during his tenure in the Big Apple.
Pavano finished the regular season with a 14-17 over/under clip, including 4-1 in his last five starts.
Thursday, October 7
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payoff Pitch: Today's Best Mound Matchups
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy Pettitte, New York Yankees vs. Carl Pavano, Minnesota Twins
Andy Pettitte (11-3, 3.28 ERA)
They don’t call Andy Pettitte "Mr. October," but maybe they should.
Pettitte is the winningest pitcher baseball postseason history with 18 victories. His career playoff statistics include an 18-9 record, a 3.90 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, and 164 strikeouts in 249 innings. During New York's run to last year's World Series title, Pettitte compiled a perfect 4-0 mark and a 3.52 ERA in five starts.
At 38 years old, Pettitte is going full steam ahead in 2010. En route to his 11-3 record and impressive 3.28 ERA, he faced the Twins twice, going 2-0 with a miniscule 1.26 ERA.
A significant question mark, however, is that Pettitte dealt with groin and back problems throughout the second half of the year. He is just the seventh MLB pitcher since 1952 to start a postseason game after throwing less than 20 innings as a starter following the All-Star break.
Pettitte posted an 11-10 over/under mark during the regular season, including 6-2 in his last eight starts.
Carl Pavano (17-11, 3.75 ERA)
When the Yankees look across the diamond and see Carl Pavano hurling against them, they will probably be wondering what they were missing when he was part of the team between 2005 and 2008. Crushed by injuries, Pavano made just 26 starts in for years and missed the entire 2006 season. Let's just say that in his "best" year with New York in 2005, he went 4-6 with a 4.77 ERA!
Armed with a clean bill of health, Pavano is not making the Twins regret their acquisition of him in 2009. This season, the 34-year-old has struck out 117 batters against only 37 walks in 221 innings to go along with his 17-11 record and 3.75 ERA.
"I can't tell you how good it feels to be counted on again," Pavano told the USA Today. That’s something the Yankees could never do. In fact, Pavano was dubbed "American Idle" during his tenure in the Big Apple.
Pavano finished the regular season with a 14-17 over/under clip, including 4-1 in his last five starts.