Here...We....Go!

So the Yankees disposed of the Twins rather easily in a 3 game sweep. A great win for the Yankees and the first playoff series win in 5 years, almost sad to say but it's true. Now that brings on the real tests (sorry Minn). The Yankees will face the LA Angels in a best of 7 series beginning tonight at Yankee Stadium. The game might have some showers and could be delayed or postponed but either way the series kicks off at 7:57 in the Bronx. This should be a good one, but a nerve racking one as well. The Yankees have always had problems with the Angels and it is all Mike Scioscia's fault. Scioscia has been the manager of the Angels for quite some time now and he has done an excellent job of making them more than just a competitive team for 10 straight years. Their style of play is the Yankee nemesis. First to third on singles, stealing bases on the regular, hard nosed baseball, pitchers don't walk batters, batters take pitches, and a high energy strategy.

This series may be different than the last bunch. The Angels have won the previous two playoff series and had the last regular season sweep against the Yankees (right before the all star break) but the Yankees look like a completely ready to go team. The Yankees look like a team that is ready to roll and hasn't looked this good since the good ol Torre days in the late 90s. The Yankees look to be going to a 3 man rotation which should create some interest and might work well but it hinges on the 3 starters being successful. CC has handled limited rest in the past and singlehandedly put the Brewers on his back last year, I think he will be ok. AJ won't have to do any starts on 3 days rest but he and Andy will have 2 starts a piece and must be relied upon. The bullpen looks pretty sharp and with Joba finding his way into the 7th or 8th inning along with hughes, it could be unbeatable.

The key to this series is the Yankee offense being able to hit the Angel pitching, and the ability of the Yankee starters to keep the Angels off the base paths. The Angels have only a few hitters with 20 or more home runs and so they rely heavily on 2 out singles and lots and lots of running. They also have 4 extremely reliable and proficient starters who have had lots of success in their past vs the Yankees. Kazmir has always done well as a Ray vs the Yankees and Saunders shut the Yankees down the last series they played. Lackey is their most dependable starter and Weaver has pretty good stuff and has been pretty legit lately. The Yankee offense is clearly a juggernaut but I worry sometimes that they will hit the skids and fail to be themselves especially against a good pitching staff like the Angels. At least Rivera is phenominal and Fuentes has seen better days and can't beat the Yankees to save his life. Should be an ejoyable series and I hope for the best. I expect the Yankees to win in 6 or 7 but it will be certainly a hard fought battle. The main keys to the series, Posada and Molina's % throwing out runners, CC in his 3 starts, the bullpen battle, and the middle of the Yankee order. We know Jeter brings it and there is not so much pressure on Swisher and Melky, it comes down to Damon, Tex, Arod, and Matsui in the middle of the order. Have to be able to take advantage of the limited opportunities with runners in scoring position and get those clutch singles. Can't wait for tonight, let's go NYY!!!