The news today about CC was extremely unfortunate, on both a team & personal level.
It was also just one more_HIT to an already beat-up starting rotation,
and for that reason, it’s not likely the Yankees make a strong_RUN in the 2015 playoffs,
but, to say they can’t win the A.L. Wild Card Game would be an_ERROR.
Here’s why:
Masahiro Tanaka 12-7, (3.51 ERA) will take the ball for the Yankees.
His stats this season were impressive but not Ace-like and certainly
no where near the level he started his mlb career. Last year he went
11-1, 1.99 in his first 14 starts. After that start he soon complained about forearm
pain, and an MRI revealed a partially torn UCL in his pitching elbow.
He decided not to undergo TJ surgery and has been on and off the DL
since last July.
It seems to me that he has held something back all year in an effort to
pace himself and make it through the season.
Well, here’s the good news .. he made it to the post season and now no longer
needs to hold back or pace himself. He needs to pour 100% into
every pitch.. and that is what he will do !!
Look for his FB to have more zip, 94 – maybe even 95 mph, and his splitter to
have the late life downward that makes it nearly impossible to hit .. or lay off of.
I believe that Tanaka loves the big stage, and if that elbow allows him,
he will give the Yankees exactly what they need .. 6 very solid innings and hand it over to
the Bullpen, which will have a rested Warren, Wilson, Betances & Miller.
Houston will start Dallas Keuchel 20-8, (2.48 ERA)
We all know that the Yankees have struggled against Lefty pitching all
year, and certainly have their work cut out for them against the likely 2015 AL
Cy Young Award winner.
Even though he’s pitching on 3 days rest, he dominated the Yankees this year.
In 2 outings vs. N.Y. he threw 16 shutout innings and only allowed 9 hits.
Keuchel is not overpowering. He has a good FB, throws a couple of different
curves, keeps everything down, pitches away, and features the pitch that gives
the Yankees the most trouble .. the Change Up.
For that reason the Yankee strategy MUST be to think “up the middle”.
Go with the pitch. Hit to the opposite field. Hit up the middle until he makes
a mistake inside & then turn on it.
My candidates to do some damage.. Beltran, Bird, Young (he’ll be in the line up
even though that means Ells or Gardner will sit). I would say that Ellsbury (prob will
start over Gardner) should try to lay a bunt down even though Keuchel is an excellent fielder,
because small ball is always a good way to attack a dominant pitcher.
Keuchel pitched 7 innings of shutout ball at the Stadium earlier in the season, but it is
interesting to note his home/away splits.
At Home he’s 15-0 , (1.46 ERA) !!!!!!!!
Away he is 5-8 , (3.77 ERA) hmmmmm … that’s a big difference
ONE MORE THING :
The Yankees have home field advantage & they need to take … advantage.
The Stadium needs to be loud. Did I say loud ? I mean LOUD. I mean REALLY LOUD !!
The new Stadium is beautiful. It’s a Palace, but it hasn’t provided the element of .. INTIMIDATION ,
that the Original Stadium did.
Take it from a guy who was at the game when Reggie hit the 3 Homers in 1977,
the Stadium was deafening !! It was literally shaking !! And so were the L.A. Dodgers !!
Yankee fans need to be in their seats early. No empty seats behind home plate.
Put down the garlic fries and put away the cell phones.
Yankee fans need to be … LOUD !!
The Astros are a young and extremely talented team. Notice I said young.
How young ? Keuchel is 27, Altuve is 25 , Correa is 21 with no playoff experience.
Consider this …
The veteran Yankees had a winning record at home and on the road this year
The young Astros record you ask ?
At home 53 -28
Away 33- 48 !!!
Can Houston be affected by a hostile environment ?
You bet your Asstro
The Yankee fans need to be DEAFENING ..
but can the New Stadium be DEAFENING ??
If they need help, I have an idea. I know it’s not sophisticated, I know it
hasn’t been done, I know it’s not “old school” but if this new breed of Yankee fan
needs help getting into the game & getting rowdy, the Yankees should give them …
TOWELS or THUNDERSTICKS on the way into the Stadium
Call the towel … THE YANKEE HANKEE
Call the Stick … THE YANKEE PLANKEE ( make the stick look like a 2″x4″ pc. of lumber)
WHATEVER IT TAKES !!!
LET’S GO !!!
NYY !!!
