Game 2

The Yankees won game 1 in Angels fashion...huh? Yea that's right, the Yankees won game 1 playing a Mike Scioscia type baseball. 0 HRs, great defense, first to third on hits, and good pitching. The Angels on the other hand did not look like themselves. Nobody got on the bases and nobody was running. There were 3 errors in the field and the team looked lost. Maybe it was the cold or maybe it was CC Sabathia, either way the Yankees looked like a vastly superior team in Game 1 and look to continue that success tonight in game 2. Joe Torre always said game 2 was the important game and it's hard to argue with his logic. Tonight either AJ Burnett brings it and we cut off breathing circulation to the Angels or the Angels retake momentum and tie the series and head back to LA.

Burnett has been great lately and he is working with Jose Molina, his best catcher friend. Saunders will go for Anaheim and he has been pretty good his last 2 seasons and vs the Yankees. He however, has not pitched in 2 weeks. AJ has been great lately but also lead the MLB in walks. The Angels work walks and love to run the bases, something that ought to be troublesome for Burnett. Chone Figgins has struggled for the Angels lately and he is their tablesetter and without him they are not the same. We'll see how Burnett handles him, Figgins is 412 vs him in his career and led the MLB in walks, so that is something to keep an eye on, will they stop Figgins.

I suspect Burnett will have some struggles but will work innings and keep us in the game. maybe 5 hits and 3 walks through 6 giving up 4 ER. I say the pen shuts down the Angels and the Yankees will not quite hit Saunders but knock him out early. A 7th or 8th inning rally will get the Yankees back into it and we'll see another pie in the face game. 2nd in the playoffs, 2nd in game 2 of the playoffs and 16th for the season.

By The Numbers

4- straight playoff wins for the Yankees and the combined amount of earned runs from Yankee Starters in the playoffs.

2- Wins for CC in this postseason

7- RBIs for Alex Rodriguez in 4 postseason games.

0- HRs allowed by the Yankees in the playoffs

36- Mariano Rivera's postseason saves (most all time).