Game 1 - Friday, Oct. 15 – at Texas, 8:07 PM Game 2 - Saturday, Oct. 16 – at Texas, 4:07 PM Game 3 - Monday, Oct. 18 – at New York, 8:07 PM Game 4 - Tuesday, Oct. 19 – at New York, 8:07 PM Game 5 (if nec.) - Wednesday, Oct. 20 – at New York, 4:07 PM Game 6 (if nec.) - Friday, Oct. 22 - at Texas, 8:07 PM Game 7 (if nec.) - Saturday, Oct. 23 - at Texas, 8:07 PM Yankees in 6.
The Yankees NEED the first two with Lee going 3 and Burnett going 4. I heard Olney talking about Burnett's practice session today which was horrible. His first pitch hit the back stop, no bounce...he hit Olsen in the back and Kearns in the head.
Burnett is just mind-boggling. WTF is wrong with this guy?! If he lasts 5 innings it will be considered a huge success..... No reason why the NYY can't win this series, though. Cliff Lee is nasty, but they can handle the rest of them. Yanks in 6.
Yankees have seen Lee 5 times since last year and beat him once. Yeah he is good but I wouldn't be counting the Yankees out against him just yet.
No game is willingly conceded in baseball. The longest odds you'll usually see in a baseball game is somewhere around 3:1, and that's when it's something like Felix Hernandez facing his own team's lineup. Having Burnett pitch in game three would just turn it from likely being underdogs in two games (anyone against Lee in Game 3, and Burnett vs. anyone in Game 4), to underdogs in just one (Game 3, Lee vs. Burnett), with the Yankees being favored in Game 4 (Pettitte vs. Wilson?). And Burnett - for all his struggles - is perfectly capable of pitching a gem; we all know that.
If the series went the full 7 games, then that means Pettitte might only pitch one time. This is who will start the games if you and Cappy get your Game 3 wish and then the series goes the full 7 games- Game 1- Sabathia Game 2- Hughes Game 3- Burnett Game 4- Pettitte Game 5- Sabathia Game 6- Hughes Game 7- Burnett or Pettitte on 3 days rest Pettitte on 3 days rest? Can he handle that at his age? I think Pettitte should start Game 3. That way he could also pitch Game 7 on 4 days rest. He could beat Lee. Why the hell not? Since when do the Yankees put their tail between their legs?
A fair point, but I think Pettitte can handle it fine. It's one start. Incidentally, I never said that it was my wish; I was merely refuting the idea that to do so would be to "willingly concede a game." It's not likely to happen, regardless. The other option is to have Sabathia go in games 4 and 7, with Pettitte and Hughes in games 5 and 6.
If I was the Yankees manager, I would want the pitchers to be on regular rest in the ALCS. I would feel confident about this series. Three days rest stuff, Sabathia getting 3 starts- that's for the World Series.
I hate to agree with Francesa, but I don't see Burnett starting a game this series if we are down 2-1.