We've got no Revis, We've got no Holmes, REX RYAN'S BELLY IS FALLING OFF!!!!! But like Craig Carton of Boomer and Carton says, "Thank God for the Yankees!!"Since 1995 the Bombers have only missed the playoffs once, winning the AL Pennant seven times, and winning the World Series 5 times. The Yankees playing games in October is almost a guarantee, like saying the Jersey Shore will always be crowded on Memorial Day Weekend.
This season was different for the Yankees. They lost the great Mariano Rivera early on in the season, they blew a 10 game lead to the Baltimore Orioles that forced them to win games in September. All that matters now is on Sunday the Yankees start the AL Divsional Series against the very same Orioles. Welcome to Yanktober!
Infield and Catcher
The Yankees bring back the same four infielders that won the 2009 World Series (Mark Teixeira. Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez). Mark Teixeira struggled most of the season dealing with a variety of injuries, but is still a great defensive player. Cano had an up and down season, but has been red hot lately (.410, 17 RBI in the last 18 games). Jeter had a career resurrection leading the majors with 216 hits. The Captain proved a lot of critics wrong who wrote him off at the beginning of the season. Like Tex, A-Rod had a forgettable season, where he missed almost 40 games due to injury. If the aging corner infielders can step up their game than the Yankees could have the most dangerous infield in the game. The Yanks have Russell Martin behind the plate. Martin is a good defensive catcher, and his hitting started to come on in the second half.
The Orioles infield has two veterans with decent power, and two rookies who are looking to prove something. First basemen Mark Reynolds has cut down on his strikeouts, but is still a boom or bust type hitter. Second basemen Ryan Flaherty is a huge step down from the injured Brian Roberts, who missed most of the season with a hip injury. Shortstop JJ Hardy is probably their best all-around infielder, but has seen his average dip this year. Finally, third basemen Manny Machado is another young guy trying to make a name for himself. Catcher Matt Wieters is in the discussion with Buster Posey as one of the best young catchers in the game.
Advantage: Yankees
The Orioles infield has two veterans with decent power, and two rookies who are looking to prove something. First basemen Mark Reynolds has cut down on his strikeouts, but is still a boom or bust type hitter. Second basemen Ryan Flaherty is a huge step down from the injured Brian Roberts, who missed most of the season with a hip injury. Shortstop JJ Hardy is probably their best all-around infielder, but has seen his average dip this year. Finally, third basemen Manny Machado is another young guy trying to make a name for himself. Catcher Matt Wieters is in the discussion with Buster Posey as one of the best young catchers in the game.
Advantage: Yankees
Outfield
The Yankees outfield got a major late season boost, and in turn a baseball superstar was rejuvenated. Since joining the Yankees on July 23rd Ichiro hit .322 with 27 RBI (he was hitting only .261 in Seattle). Suzuki joins an outfield that consists of a combination of Nick Swisher, Curtis Granderson, and Raul Ibanez. The Grandy-Man finished second in the majors with 43 homers, but was also second in a more infamous category, strikeouts (195). Ibanez has had some clutch hits for the Bombers, including his ninth inning, game tying two-run homer Tuesday night against Boston. Fact of the matter for Swisher is that he may be playing his last games as a Yankee, because he really hasn't turned it on in October (.160 average as a Yankee in the playoffs).
I feel like the Orioles outfield can compete with the Yankees. After being cut by the Pirates, Nate McLouth has stepped into his role in Baltimore hitting .268 with a .342 OBP. Centerfielder Adam Jones is one of the more exciting younger players in the league. He's been the one constant in the Orioles lineup, playing all 162 games, while hitting 32 long balls and batting .287. Finally, in right is power hitter Chris Davis, who hit a career-high 33 homers.
I feel like the Orioles outfield can compete with the Yankees. After being cut by the Pirates, Nate McLouth has stepped into his role in Baltimore hitting .268 with a .342 OBP. Centerfielder Adam Jones is one of the more exciting younger players in the league. He's been the one constant in the Orioles lineup, playing all 162 games, while hitting 32 long balls and batting .287. Finally, in right is power hitter Chris Davis, who hit a career-high 33 homers.
Advantage: Push
Starting Pitchers
The Yankees pitching staff looks healthy for the first time this season, and that could provide a huge boost in this series. Game 1 starter CC Sabathia has been clutch down the stretch pitching three straight eight inning gems. Andy Pettitte's return to New York has been disappointing due to a broken ankle that cost him almost 3 months. Pettitte has an MLB postseason high 19 wins, and his experience in big games is unmatched. Hiroki Kuroda has been the most consistant starter for the Yankees, with a lack of run support hurting him earlier this season. Phil Hughes will be our fourth starter. Hughes is very inconsistent, but at this point he's a better option than Ivan Nova.
The one game playoff with Texas kills Baltimore's pitching rotation. Jason Hammel will start Game 1. He has pitched better for the O's than he did in Colorado, but he hasn't played since injuring his knee on September 11th. Wei-Yin Chen will be the O's Game 2 starter. The rookie from Taiwan pitched well against the Yankees in his first 3 starts, but was lit up for 7 runs in their September 7th meeting. Rookie Miguel Gonzalez pitches Game 3. He's gone 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA in his last four starts. Joe Saunders will pitch in Game 4. Saunders was acquired from the Diamondbacks in September, and aside from his Oriole debut where he gave up 6 earned runs, he has looked good.
Advantage: Yankees
Bullpen
For the first time since taking the job from John Wetteland in 1997, Mariano Rivera will not be closing a playoff game for the Yankees. Mo hasn't played since tearing his ACL in April. Rivera has a career low 0.70 ERA in the postseason, and made opposing teams feel like they only had 8 innings to win games against the Yankees. Taking the place of The Sandman has been Rafael Soriano. Soriano has stepped into the role nicely, saving 42 games this year with a 2.26 ERA. Setup man David Robertson has struggled a little this season after looking almost un-hittable last season. Lefty specialist Boone Logan is one of Joe Girardi's secret weapon.
The Orioles 3.00 bullpen ERA was 5th in the majors this season. Jim Johnson has been one of the biggest surprises in baseball saving 51 games this year with a 2.49 ERA. Veteran Luis Ayala has pitched well in his role as setup man. Brian Matusz has been a pleasant surprise since switching from starter to reliever.
Advantage: Push
The Orioles 3.00 bullpen ERA was 5th in the majors this season. Jim Johnson has been one of the biggest surprises in baseball saving 51 games this year with a 2.49 ERA. Veteran Luis Ayala has pitched well in his role as setup man. Brian Matusz has been a pleasant surprise since switching from starter to reliever.
Advantage: Push
Prediction
The Yankees and Orioles have been neck and all season. They split their 18 game regular season series, with six games decided by 2 runs or less. The Yankees led the majors with 245 homers, but the Orioles were second with 214 long balls. The Yankees starting staff is more established, but despite how well Soriano pitched in the regular season you don't have the safety that Mariano Rivera gave you in the 9th inning. This series will come down to the Yankees experience in the postseason against the younger and hungrier Orioles. Unfortunately for the Orioles I think the Yankees take both games in Baltimore with their huge starting pitching edge before closing it out in 4 at Yankee Stadium.
Yankees in 4 Games
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