Tagged: CC Sabathia
10/22 MLB Tonight – Thing’s Things
Just like I expected, the Phillies took care of the Dodgers, and are on their way to another World Series.
The Dodgers didn’t have enough starting pitching, their bullpen couldn’t clean up the mess, and it’s goodbye to the Dodgers.
Phillies hitters just pounded the ball, and pounded their way into the Fall Classic.
The Yankees are on their way to meeting up with the Phillies, although it looks like they’re going to have to settle it back in Yankee Stadium.
A-Rod and CC have been unbelievable this October. They put the Yankees on their shoulders and carried them through the best of the AL.
As hot as A-Rod is.
As hot as CC is.
The Angels can’t overcome that, it’s too lethal a combination.
Phillies and Yankees in the series, it’s going to be a battle of two monster teams.
– Mitch Williams
10/20 MLB Tonight – What I’m Looking For
There are a couple of story lines I’m looking at going into this game 4 of the ALCS.
In the playoffs, it always starts on the hill, and there are a couple of aces going at it tonight. CC Sabathia on three days rest is better than most pitchers on four days rest. My gut tells me it’s not a big deal because of his track record on three days rest, with a horse like CC, but the numbers overwhelmingly suggest that a pitcher on three days rest just doesn’t perform as up to the level of a pitcher on normal rest. There is a tendency to feel good with your ace going, but looking to the numbers reveals a different story.
This game is a huge swing game in the series. A Yankees win could very well catapult them into the World Series. A loss shifts the tide to the Angels advantage. Now they’re looking at an even series with their ace starting at home.
A Yankee loss will also reveal a small weak spot in the Yankees armor, and that is their starting pitching depth. Behind CC, A.J., and Andy, there is not a lot of confidence in the rest of the rotation.
On the flip side, the Angels need Scott Kazmir to keep his pitch count down. If he can pitch them into the 6th or even the 7th, he’ll put the Angels in a good position.
Kazmir has given the Angels a bit of a boost down the stretch, bouncing back from a rough start to the season with the Rays. Working with his former pitching coach Mike Butcher has helped him, and after a so-so outing in the division series, he needs to show his toughness.
Turning to the Angels hitters, we saw how pivotal role players like Kendrick, Aybar, and Mathis can be, but there is no doubt that getting Vladdy hot is crucial.
Vladdy’s home run was a huge knock for him and the Angels. Not only did it change the game, it turned the series around. The HR was the result of a great at-bat. He fought off some tough pitches and put a good swing on a good pitch.
When a player like that gets his confidence back, watch out, it can really get him going on a tear. Even though he’s 0-2 tonight, he had a quality at bat and put good swings on the ball.
Fight on. – Aaron Boone.
9/23 MLB Tonight – The Left Wing
Tonight we’re going to focus on teams that are postseason bound, mainly closer situations.
With the exception of Mariano Rivera, most playoff bound teams have some closer issues going into these last few games.
Ryan Franklin, Brad Lidge, and Brian Fuentes, have all been inconsistent this season, and going into the postseason, that’s never a good feeing in a managers gut.
What strikes me going into October this year is that any of the 8 teams in the mix will have as good a chance as any to win it all.
The Yankees are the best team right now, with the Cardinals right behind them.
Having a one-two punch of CC Sabathia/A.J. Burnett (who got back on track today) or Chris Carpenter/Adam Wainwright at the top of the rotation is solid, and adding those dangerous lineups into the mix is what makes them my favorites right now.
It’s important for teams like the Yankees and the Cardinals, who have their playoff births wrapped up to rest their players, but it’s usually the team playing their best at the end of the season that does the most damage. It’s time for them to turn it on.
To me, they’ve got some big targets on their backs this October; let’s see how they’ll handle that added pressure.
And how about Chad Billingsley tonight, taking a no-hitter into the 7th is a step in the right direction because the Dodgers really need him. Adding him to Randy Wolf and Clayton Kershaw will really step it up for them. – Dan Plesac
MLB Network 