Factoids..
The best way to control the Phillies' 3-4 duo of Chase Utley and Ryan Howard is to throw a left-hander at them. With CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte, the Yankees could do exactly that as many as five times in a seven-game series. Howard hit only six of his 45 homers against lefthanders. While Utley actually hit better off lefties in the regular season, he been totally stopped by them in the playoffs. Versus Southpaws Utley is 1-for-10 this postseason and just 3 for 35 (.086) in his playoff career. Howard is not much better: 2-for-11 with a homer in 2009, 7 for 39 in his playoff career (.179).
CC Sabathia will have had eight days since his last start in the ALCS. With so much rest, the Yankees are more likely to pitch him on short rest not once but twice if there's a seventh game. The Phillies say they are considering starting Lee on short rest, too. The difference: Sabathia has proven he can handle the load. Lee never has worked on three days' rest.
Good luck with Pedro - When Phillies right-hander Pedro Martinez starts Game 2 (or 3), he will face the team he has faced more than any other. During his career Pedro Martinez has pitched 251 innings against the Yankees including postseasons, with a 3.41 ERA and 12-13 record (many of those innings were in his prime not what we have now his last hurrah).
His last outing came in 2008 when the Yankees roughed him up for six runs in 5 2/3 innings at Shea Stadium. Free money for Yankee backers if he faces Petttitte in game two - play the over if he goes against Burnett in game 3. Same goes for Hamels vs Burnett - over the total..
The Phillies won two of three interleague games at Yankee Stadium in May. The Yankees' lone victory came at the expense of Brad Lidge (he also blew the save in game 3 but Philly won in the 11th off Brett Tomko now with The A's), who gave up a two-run homer to Alex Rodriguez and a walkoff run-scoring single to Robinson Cano while blowing a 4-2 lead. Rivera or Lidge - no contest...
Why wrapping up the ALCS in six games was crucial:
1. CC Sabathia. Instead of burning him in an ALCS Game 7, the Yankees can start their ace on more than a week's rest on Wednesday against Phillies ace Cliff Lee. If the ALCS had gone seven, Sabathia likely wouldn't have pitched until Game 3 of the World Series.
2. Confidence. Any doubt that crept in after the Game 5 loss was exterminated. "The biggest difference is we had players play big in the series," manager Joe Girardi said. "CC, Alex and Mariano were all clutch when they had to be to name a few.
Player of the post season: Yankees: Alex Rodriguez (Ryan Howard a close 2nd so far). After accomplishing almost everything else, the three-time AL MVP is in the World Series for the first time in his 16-year career. AROD has carried New York's offense at times this postseason. Thriving under late-inning pressure, he batted .438 with five homers, 12 RBIs and nine walks in the first two rounds.
Little known factor that could hurt Phillies:
Raul Ibanez was having a career-year at the time, hitting .312/.371/.656 with 22 homers and 59 RBIs in 62 games, but following a brief stint on the disabled list he finished the season by hitting just .232/.323/.448 with 12 homers and 34 RBIs in 72 games and has gone just 7-for-31 (.225) with one homer in nine playoff games. Rumor has it Raul is headed for surgery to repair a torn stomach muscle.
Pitching matchups..
<table style="padding: 3px; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 140%; font-size: 100%; width: 96%;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td>Yankees (110-61) vs. Phillies (100-71)
All times Eastern
Season Series: Philadelphia won 2-1
Game 1: Wednesday, Oct. 28 at New York: LHP Cliff Lee (Record with Phiadelphia - 7-4, 3.39 / 2-0, 0.74) v. LHP CC Sabathia (19-7, 3.21 / 3-0, 1.19)
Game 2: Thursday, Oct. 29 at New York: RHP Pedro Martinez (5-1, 3.63 / 0-0, 0.00) v. RHP A.J. Burnett (12-9, 4.10 / 0-0, 4.42)
Game 3: Saturday, Oct. 31 at Philadelphia: LHP Andy Pettitte (14-7, 4.11 / 2-0, 2.37) v. LHP Cole Hamels (10-11, 4.32 / 1-1, 6.75)
Game 4: Sunday, Nov. 1 at Philadelphia: LHP CC Sabathia (19-7, 3.21 / 3-0, 1.19) v. TBA
Game 5 (If necessary): Monday, Nov. 2 at Philadelphia: RHP A.J. Burnett (12-9, 4.10 / 0-0, 4.42) v. TBA
Game 6 (If necessary): Wednesday, Nov. 4 at New York TBA v. LHP Andy Pettitte (14-7, 4.11 / 2-0, 2.37)
Game 7 (If necessary): Thursday, Nov. 5 at New York: TBA v. LHP CC Sabathia (19-7, 3.21)
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