ALDS: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles

[kongull]

I'd give him 1 more chance. If he looks lost, I wouldn't move him down, I'd bench him.

[Gigi Buffon]

They are going to hammer Gonzalez tonight.

[Pasco08]

We need to be playing to win not coddling a man that makes like 33 mill this year and worry about his ego.

[NYYankeesFan92]

I predict A-Rod will go 3-4 with a grand slam.

[sweet_lou_14]

I predict A-Rod will go 3-4 with a grand slam.

I would love it if he had a big night. Let's face it, the bar isn't that high for him to shut everybody up. A 1-for-4 night with 2 RBIs would be enough. Forget about a grand slam.

[NYIndian2005]

Look at all the empty seats behind home plate. First home game of the playoffs.

And the crowd is so flat. There is no HFA

[Battingly]

Buck named Joe Saunders his Game 4 starter, no doubt in the hopes of keeping Ibanez out of the starting lineup

That said, lefty or no lefty, I don't care if he throws with his foot, Ibanez better be the DH tomorrow night or me and Girardi are throwin'

[machphantom]

Not sure where to put this but IF the Yanks pull one of the next 2 out... Really hope the A's pull out their game tonight. It makes it so Verlander can pitch at most 2 games in the ALCS if we make it.

[hellonewman]

Buck named Joe Saunders his Game 4 starter, no doubt in the hopes of keeping Ibanez out of the starting lineup

That said, lefty or no lefty, I don't care if he throws with his foot, Ibanez better be the DH tomorrow night or me and Girardi are throwin'

Totally agree. Ibanez has been unconscious for a few weeks now. No matchup strategy, play him until he cools.

One possible advantage tomorrow night: Baltimore's bullpen has got to have their tongues hanging out now. The big dogs in their pen have pitched in every game.

[Mr Coffee]

I'm thinking Jeter will DH with that bad foot. Not sure if you want to put Ibanez in the field or use him off the bench late like they have been.

[Battingly]

I'm thinking Jeter will DH with that bad foot. Not sure if you want to put Ibanez in the field or use him off the bench late like they have been.

Get that needle out for Jeter tomorrow night and make it a double dose, cause we gotta get this man (RI) in the starting lineup.

This man is coming off quite possibly the greatest single game performance in post season history.

HR to tie it in the 9th followed by a HR to win it in extras, even Babe Ruth would have been in awe of that performance.

[Young Steinbrenner]

I'm thinking Jeter will DH with that bad foot. Not sure if you want to put Ibanez in the field or use him off the bench late like they have been.

he should DH Jeter, bench Swisher & put Ibanez in RF, hitting behind Cano

[Battingly]

Ibanez is 8 for 23 off Saunders with 2 HR's

That clinches it, he has to be in the starting lineup tomorrow, If Jeter has to DH, then Ibanez has to replace Swish in RF, but we gotta get him four AB's the way he's swinging, he is in a zone.

[2JAY]

I think Ibanez is 8-23 with 2HRs off of Saunders for his career.
I was very disappointed in the YS crowd tonight as they pretty much sat on their hands until the 9th. I realize that the Yankee bats did not give them much to cheer about but at least a better effort should have been made instead of sitting there silently.

[Battingly]

he should DH Jeter, bench Swisher & put Ibanez in RF, hitting behind Cano

I was posting the same thing at the same time.

Preferably Jeter can take a shot of numbing agent and play SS tomorrow, but if he has to DH, then Swish sits this one out.

[hellonewman]

I'm thinking Jeter will DH with that bad foot. Not sure if you want to put Ibanez in the field or use him off the bench late like they have been.

Sorry but a guy on a history-making roll like this needs to bat, if he bungles up a costly play in the field that's the price of business. Especially since most of his teammates look like drunk blindfolded 4 year olds trying to hit a pinata up there.

It's heresy but if you need to clear a spot for Ibanez so that Jeter can DH, with Saunders pitching the guy I'd bench isn't Swisher but Ichiro. He's been crap against lefties all year and everyone was so excited about his dance around Wieters' tag Monday night that they fail to notice he pretty much couldn't get a Chen pitch out of the infield.

[philleotardo]

It's heresy but if you need to clear a spot for Ibanez so that Jeter can DH, with Saunders pitching the guy I'd bench isn't Swisher but Ichiro.

Agree.

[Battingly]

.

Here are the individual stats verses Saunders:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/batvsp...3/joe-saunders

[Battingly]

It's heresy but if you need to clear a spot for Ibanez so that Jeter can DH, with Saunders pitching the guy I'd bench isn't Swisher but Ichiro.

Look at the link I posted above. Ichiro is hitting .341 off Saunders for his career, Swish is hitting .208

[2JAY]

I was posting the same thing at the same time.

Preferably Jeter can take a shot of numbing agent and play SS tomorrow, but if he has to DH, then Swish sits this one out.

If Jeter has to be at DH, then it will make for an interesting decision:
Against Saunders:
Suzuki is 14/43 (.341)
Swisher is 7/37 (.250) with 1 HR
Ibanez is 8/24 with 2 HRs
Granderson is 4/19 (.250) with 1 HR
I wonder if Joe might play Suzuki in CF and sit Curtis.

[philleotardo]

Nix....3 HRs in 10 ABs

[Mr Coffee]

.

Here are the individual stats verses Saunders:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/batvsp...3/joe-saunders

On paper this guy should never get out of the second inning.

We know how that goes, though...

[Pasco08]

If Jeters foot is broken like i suspect won't they just shut him down.

[Mr Coffee]

If Jeters foot is broken like i suspect won't they just shut him down.

I'm pretty sure if it was broken he wouldn't have played after it happened.

[Battingly]

On paper this guy should never get out of the second inning.

We know how that goes, though...

Indeed, but I'm hoping the clock finally strikes midnight on Cinderella and we pound him into submission.