ALCS: Detroit Tigers vs New York Yankees

[Battingly]

After giving this some consideration, I don't think Girardi will start Kuroda on short rest.

Initially I did, but I changed my mind, Kuroda threw too many innings this year and I suspect they rather have him on five days rest than three.

I think this will be our pitching alignment for whatever its worth:

G1. Andy Pettitte
G2. David Phelps
==
G3. Hiroki Kuroda
G4. CC Sabathia
G5. Andy Pettitte
==
G6. Phil Hughes
G7. CC/Kuroda

[longtimeyankeefan]

I go with Phelps in Game 2 - there is too much concern about Kuroda already being out of gas to try to get him to go on short rest.

Question - if you intend to go with Phelps in Game 2, do you change your pen (Garcia, perhaps) to give you another long-arm in the pen?

Question - what is Chamberlain's status after taking the bat off the elbow yesterday?

[yankeesrule]

What scares me about Detroit is obviously their starting pitching, but their ballpark... With the huge dimensions, Yankees will have to piece together hits like they did today, but have had problems doing in the past. One good thing is for the most part the Yanks still take their pitches, and detroits bullpen is not nearly as good as Baltimore

I just pray that Andruw Jones does not make the roster

[Battingly]

Question - if you intend to go with Phelps in Game 2, do you change your pen (Garcia, perhaps) to give you another long-arm in the pen?

I think we have too if Phelps starts G2, but I think it will be Nova and not Garcia.

I think we'll carry 12 pitchers in this round, the ones we carried in the ALDS (assuming Joba is ok) and Nova.

The bench player we eliminate is probably Nunez.

[enozlac]

Pettitte versus Fister in game one I believe. Should be a great game. Loving baseball every day this postseason

ugh..fister.

another one of those mediocre/average/slightly above average pitchers who throws a bunch of offspeed junk at the plate and dominates our lineup. GG.

[LTRAIN]

Only pitchers not available tonight were Andy and Kuroda which makes me think game 2 will be Kuroda.

[sweet_lou_14]

I just pray that Andruw Jones does not make the roster

Why would he? There are no lefty starters and Phil Coke shouldn't scare anyone.

[JSG]

for tomorrow i like ........

Jeter
Ich
Cano
Tex
Ibanez DH
Grandy
A Rod (lucky 7)
Swish
Martin

[sweet_lou_14]

for tomorrow i like ........

Jeter
Ich
Cano
Tex
Ibanez DH
Grandy
A Rod (lucky 7)
Swish
Martin

Two L/L sequences. Come on, by now you have to know Girardi can't do that.

I have no way of predicting what Girardi will do. It will be a big reset and he could do anything really. But I do agree that A-Rod will get the start.

[JSG]

Only pitchers not available tonight were Andy and Kuroda which makes me think game 2 will be Kuroda.

I'm thinking Kuroda 3 CC 4. Gotta get game 1 behind Andy, then these decisions become easier.

PS Will Eppley take Joba's spot on the roster ?? Will Dickerson take Brett's spot ??

[Chairman-of-TheBoard]

I like CC going in game 4 and 7!

Revenge is what we will get

Please, let this happen.

The Angels beating us 2 times/series in a row was something I could understand: their approach and team was constructed quite differently from our's.

Detroit seems to be constructed the same way as NY, only younger. Come on Grandy! Make Motown rue the day they traded you!

[JSG]

Two L/L sequences. Come on, by now you have to know Girardi can't do that.

I have no way of predicting what Girardi will do. It will be a big reset and he could do anything really. But I do agree that A-Rod will get the start.

[cue the beatles tune ........because i told you before, nooooooooo.........]

generally no, but the main guy to break this up is Swisher, who's scuffling big-time. plus, A Rod will have some former-prime-time company at the bottom !!

[Battingly]

for tomorrow i like ........

Jeter
Ich
Cano
Tex
Ibanez DH
Grandy
A Rod (lucky 7)
Swish
Martin

I like it, I wouldn't change a thing, although I am tempted to bench Swisher, but for now I'll give him a clean slate.

[dabomb2045]

After giving this some consideration, I don't think Girardi will start Kuroda on short rest.

Initially I did, but I changed my mind, Kuroda threw too many innings this year and I suspect they rather have him on five days rest than three.

I think this will be our pitching alignment for whatever its worth:

G1. Andy Pettitte
G2. David Phelps
==
G3. Hiroki Kuroda
G4. CC Sabathia
G5. Andy Pettitte
==
G6. Phil Hughes
G7. CC/Kuroda

I dont know if I like the fact that our two best pitchers would only make a combined 3 starts

[philleotardo]

Verlander is going to have angry sex with this lineup.

If Verlander's going to do that, I shudder to think what Fister will do.

[Battingly]

I dont know if I like the fact that our two best pitchers would only make a combined 3 starts

Me either, but thats the price we gotta pay for losing Game 4 and for Bud Selig's moronic (no off day between the ALDS & ALCS) schedule.

[Jax Teller]

If Verlander's going to do that, I shudder to think what Fister will do.

He likes to be called Mister Fister so his intentions are not pure.

[Battingly]

100% !! ...... but meanwhile, let's pad the WC game with extra travel days before and after ....... but WAIT, i thought we were trying to penalize the WC team, not the division winner w the best record in the AL ........ !!!

Thats the part that really galls me too.

Was it really necessary to sandwich the WC Game around two off days, and none between the ALDS & ALCS.

Bud Selig is a moron.

[Yankees13]

Yankees are definitely underdogs in this series on paper, but as we've seen a million times any thing can happen in October. It's going to be difficult to arrange the rotation thanks to the scheduling that disadvantages the 1 seed. We're going to have to use a 5th starter, ideally we'd do that against Verlander, but that's not possible unless Kuroda goes on 3 days rest.

[ChinMusic]

Yanks in 5.

[Battingly]

It's going to be difficult to arrange the rotation thanks to the scheduling that disadvantages the 1 seed.

Thats a disgrace. The #1 Seed should be rewarded, not punished.

As JSG said, the WC teams got two off days. That WC game was sandwiched between two off days. Yet the 1 seed doesn't get one off day between the ALDS and ALCS. That is ridiculous.

[Mr Coffee]

[Black Sabbathia]

The scheduling is what it is. We should have closed out on Saturday. No use complaining about it or using it as an excuse.

I'd go:

Pettitte
Kuroda
Hughes
CC
Pettite
Kuroda
CC

The reason I wouldn't start Phelps in game 2 is threefold. 1) Kuroda is a better pitcher at home and in day games, 2) It allows us to use Kuroda for two starts if necessary, both at home, with the second on five days rest, 3) I think we're going to need Phelps in long relief in this series, and he's really the only one I trust to do it

Not sure if it's necessary to change up the bullpen. If Phelps were starting it might be necessary to add Garcia or Nova. I expect Joba to be on the roster, and I don't think we need less bats on the bench. Nunez is the only guy you could take off. Chavez, Nix and Gardner (who isn't allowed to bat apparently) is not a bench I'm comfortable with when so many of the regulars are struggling.

I was really frustrated by Joe not using Gardner except for 2 defensive innings. I'd advocate replacing him with Dickerson if they have no faith in letting Gardner bat, but I doubt Joe would use Dickerson any differently.

[enozlac]

While the scheduling sucks and the Tigers got a day off and we didn't, keep in mind they didn't know until 8PM EST who they were going to play. They had to hop on a plane and fly here. Not a huge advantage exactly but still.

[Hitman23]

I cannot explain how happy I am that this thread exists!!