Alright its that time of year again and the MLB playoffs begin tomorrow. So this is the series that I definately find to be the most interesting. You have America's team the New York Yankees heading to Minnesota to take on the Minnesota Twins.
So my first thoughts are why is the series price at what it is. Currently on pinnacle Yankees -184 / Twins +166. The twins are at home and are a very good team. So my initial thought is yes, the yankees should be favoured but not by this much. All americans love the yankees unless they live in the Boston area, the yankees are the public team in baseball like the lakers are in nba and the leafs are in the nhl.
So lets take a closer look at this matchup.
The offences - Without question the yankees win this category. They have homerun hitters that bat 1-9 and are all experienced in the playoffs. But don't think the twins can't hit. The twinkies had great offensive #'s this year. Yes they dont hit the long ball, but they play small ball and they do it very well. Rod Gardenhire knows how to win games and the twins can hit 1-9 as well just not the long ball.
Starting Pitching -
The yankees have announced they are most likely going with 3 starters for the series. Game 1 ---CC Game 2 - Pettitte Game 3 - Hughes Game 4 --- CC Game 5 -- Pettitte
Yes CC is unreal and will be great im sure for the yankees. And yes Pettitte is the most winngest pitcher in the playoffs, but pettitte is now 38 and is coming off the dl and has a 6.95 era since coming off the DL. He clearly isn't pitching the same way he was all season long before the injury. Finally Phil Hughes he had a great season pitching for the yankees. He went 18-8 with a 4.19 era, but he also had the 2nd most runs per game while he had this good record of a season. A pitchers record to me is not nearly as important as their ERA and their WHIP. Let's also remember this will be hughes 1st career post season start
Hughes ERA 4.19 and WHIP was 1.35 Neither of those #'s are outstanding. He also only had a Quality start in 48% of his starts.
So there are the starters for the yankees. Keep in mind that CC pitched 237.2 Innings this year. That is alot of work and i dont care who you are, that takes a tole on you after a while.
Twins Starters
Game 1--- Lirano Game 2 --- Pavano Game 3 --- Duensing Game 4 -- Blackburn Game 5 --- Lirano
Fransico Liariano had a great year, he is back to the stud that he was a few years ago before his tommy john surgery. Liriano went 14-10 with a 3.62 era and a 1.15 whip.
Also for the past month Rod Gardenhire has had Liariano pitching only once every 7 days to keep his arm fresh for the playoffs. Franscio has struggled as of late but his arm is well rested and he will be ready to go. Also batters are hitting a awful .219 vs Liariano in Minnesota this year.
Carl Pavano - Remeber this guy, he use to be really good but over the last 3 years has been plagued by numberous injuries. Well he's injury free this year and his #'s showed it. 17-11 with a 3.75 era and a 1.19 whip. At home this year Pavano went 8-4 this year with a very good era and whip at home.
Brian Duensing - 10-3 this year with a 2.62 era and a 1.17 whip. This kid is the real deal and pitched last year in the playoffs vs this same yankees team. Duensing will be pitching in new york against hughes who will be making his first career start i like the twins in game 3 alot with this pitching matchup advantage.
Nick Blackburn - Definately the worse starter for the twins, but again its not 100% that he will start game #4 for the twins. Record of 10-12 with a 5.42 era. Blackburn would temporarily match up vs CC in game #4.
I feel that the Twins have a strong advantage in the starting pitching but here is what i think makes the difference in this series.
So many series in baseball are won in the late innings and the bullpens. The new york yankees have an awful bullpen, the twins have one of the best.
Alright its that time of year again and the MLB playoffs begin tomorrow. So this is the series that I definately find to be the most interesting. You have America's team the New York Yankees heading to Minnesota to take on the Minnesota Twins.
So my first thoughts are why is the series price at what it is. Currently on pinnacle Yankees -184 / Twins +166. The twins are at home and are a very good team. So my initial thought is yes, the yankees should be favoured but not by this much. All americans love the yankees unless they live in the Boston area, the yankees are the public team in baseball like the lakers are in nba and the leafs are in the nhl.
So lets take a closer look at this matchup.
The offences - Without question the yankees win this category. They have homerun hitters that bat 1-9 and are all experienced in the playoffs. But don't think the twins can't hit. The twinkies had great offensive #'s this year. Yes they dont hit the long ball, but they play small ball and they do it very well. Rod Gardenhire knows how to win games and the twins can hit 1-9 as well just not the long ball.
Starting Pitching -
The yankees have announced they are most likely going with 3 starters for the series. Game 1 ---CC Game 2 - Pettitte Game 3 - Hughes Game 4 --- CC Game 5 -- Pettitte
Yes CC is unreal and will be great im sure for the yankees. And yes Pettitte is the most winngest pitcher in the playoffs, but pettitte is now 38 and is coming off the dl and has a 6.95 era since coming off the DL. He clearly isn't pitching the same way he was all season long before the injury. Finally Phil Hughes he had a great season pitching for the yankees. He went 18-8 with a 4.19 era, but he also had the 2nd most runs per game while he had this good record of a season. A pitchers record to me is not nearly as important as their ERA and their WHIP. Let's also remember this will be hughes 1st career post season start
Hughes ERA 4.19 and WHIP was 1.35 Neither of those #'s are outstanding. He also only had a Quality start in 48% of his starts.
So there are the starters for the yankees. Keep in mind that CC pitched 237.2 Innings this year. That is alot of work and i dont care who you are, that takes a tole on you after a while.
Twins Starters
Game 1--- Lirano Game 2 --- Pavano Game 3 --- Duensing Game 4 -- Blackburn Game 5 --- Lirano
Fransico Liariano had a great year, he is back to the stud that he was a few years ago before his tommy john surgery. Liriano went 14-10 with a 3.62 era and a 1.15 whip.
Also for the past month Rod Gardenhire has had Liariano pitching only once every 7 days to keep his arm fresh for the playoffs. Franscio has struggled as of late but his arm is well rested and he will be ready to go. Also batters are hitting a awful .219 vs Liariano in Minnesota this year.
Carl Pavano - Remeber this guy, he use to be really good but over the last 3 years has been plagued by numberous injuries. Well he's injury free this year and his #'s showed it. 17-11 with a 3.75 era and a 1.19 whip. At home this year Pavano went 8-4 this year with a very good era and whip at home.
Brian Duensing - 10-3 this year with a 2.62 era and a 1.17 whip. This kid is the real deal and pitched last year in the playoffs vs this same yankees team. Duensing will be pitching in new york against hughes who will be making his first career start i like the twins in game 3 alot with this pitching matchup advantage.
Nick Blackburn - Definately the worse starter for the twins, but again its not 100% that he will start game #4 for the twins. Record of 10-12 with a 5.42 era. Blackburn would temporarily match up vs CC in game #4.
I feel that the Twins have a strong advantage in the starting pitching but here is what i think makes the difference in this series.
So many series in baseball are won in the late innings and the bullpens. The new york yankees have an awful bullpen, the twins have one of the best.
The only guy that
can do anything is Rivera. So my question is, when CC Pettitte and Hughes pitch
6 innings who is going to get them to the 9th with the lead? Kerry Wood or Joba
the Hut? I doubt it ??? Aren't good enough ... The twins can hit , who is the
lefty that is going to come in to face Span, hudson, mauer, thome, kubel ?????
Nobody
The yankees bullpen is weak and will be abused in this series, the twins don't
have to punish CC pettitte or hughes even though i do feel that they will get
to pettitte and hughes.
For the yankees to win this series they have to have CC win them game #1 and
game #4 . They need him to go 8IP and then turn it to Rivera and i dont see him
being able to do that 2 times in 4 or 5 days.
The Twins Bullpen is completley different. They have
John Rauch, Brian Fuentes who lead the AL
in saves last year and Matt Capps, all 3 guys no how to hold onto leads and
close out games. The twins only need 6 IP from their starters. When they need
the lefty to face Swisher, Marky Mark, Cano, Posada they have a few guys including
Brian Fuentes.
The twins are stacked in the bullpen and showed it all year long.
Have i even mentioned that the Twins get home field advantage and were 53-28 at
their new ball park in minnesota!!!
I am not saying the Twins are going to win this series but the value in them as
a home favourite with the better pitching both starting and in the bullpen is
worth a shot.
I know their track record vs the yankees is awful and i know the yankees come
alive in september, but i also remember watching the yankees last year and the
main thing that got them that title was a-rod. Their is no way he comes close
to putting up the same #'s as he did last year. Whenever they needed a big hit
he seemed to come through. He had one of those post seasons that people will
remember forever and i hate that, but i also know that he can't put up the same
#s. I'm not saying he's going to be 0/28 in the series but he aint going to do
the same thing as last year.
Pitching wins games and champions and the yankees dont have it this year. Your
offence can only take you so far. The twins have a great mixup of starters and
guys in the pen.
If this series ends up going 5 keep in mind that 38 year old andy pettite would
be pitching on 3 days rest vs the Ace of the Twins in Liariano on 4 days rest
which will be a huge difference. Pitchers i know pitch on 3 days rest in the
playoffs, but it helps when they have a pen, and that is not something the
yankees have. They had that last year, NOT THIS YEAR.
Please send me some feedback and tell me if i am way off with this.
The only guy that
can do anything is Rivera. So my question is, when CC Pettitte and Hughes pitch
6 innings who is going to get them to the 9th with the lead? Kerry Wood or Joba
the Hut? I doubt it ??? Aren't good enough ... The twins can hit , who is the
lefty that is going to come in to face Span, hudson, mauer, thome, kubel ?????
Nobody
The yankees bullpen is weak and will be abused in this series, the twins don't
have to punish CC pettitte or hughes even though i do feel that they will get
to pettitte and hughes.
For the yankees to win this series they have to have CC win them game #1 and
game #4 . They need him to go 8IP and then turn it to Rivera and i dont see him
being able to do that 2 times in 4 or 5 days.
The Twins Bullpen is completley different. They have
John Rauch, Brian Fuentes who lead the AL
in saves last year and Matt Capps, all 3 guys no how to hold onto leads and
close out games. The twins only need 6 IP from their starters. When they need
the lefty to face Swisher, Marky Mark, Cano, Posada they have a few guys including
Brian Fuentes.
The twins are stacked in the bullpen and showed it all year long.
Have i even mentioned that the Twins get home field advantage and were 53-28 at
their new ball park in minnesota!!!
I am not saying the Twins are going to win this series but the value in them as
a home favourite with the better pitching both starting and in the bullpen is
worth a shot.
I know their track record vs the yankees is awful and i know the yankees come
alive in september, but i also remember watching the yankees last year and the
main thing that got them that title was a-rod. Their is no way he comes close
to putting up the same #'s as he did last year. Whenever they needed a big hit
he seemed to come through. He had one of those post seasons that people will
remember forever and i hate that, but i also know that he can't put up the same
#s. I'm not saying he's going to be 0/28 in the series but he aint going to do
the same thing as last year.
Pitching wins games and champions and the yankees dont have it this year. Your
offence can only take you so far. The twins have a great mixup of starters and
guys in the pen.
If this series ends up going 5 keep in mind that 38 year old andy pettite would
be pitching on 3 days rest vs the Ace of the Twins in Liariano on 4 days rest
which will be a huge difference. Pitchers i know pitch on 3 days rest in the
playoffs, but it helps when they have a pen, and that is not something the
yankees have. They had that last year, NOT THIS YEAR.
Please send me some feedback and tell me if i am way off with this.
blackburn will most likely start game 4. he is at least 10x better than his performance this year. last year he was one of their best pitchers late into the season and in the playoffs. I haven't forgotten.
blackburn will most likely start game 4. he is at least 10x better than his performance this year. last year he was one of their best pitchers late into the season and in the playoffs. I haven't forgotten.
I don't believe Rauch is healthy. Mauer is also coming off injury, and only managed 2 hits in the 4 games since returning. He will not be fresh, and his power numbers are low to begin with at home. Not having Morneau in the lineup really hurts as well.
CC wins 2 games, and I don't think Duensing will be able to win in New York. You have to realize that more than anything, the Twins are mentally afraid of the Yankees. When a team has your number, it is hard to overcome that.
This might exhaust the Yanks, and I don't see them making it to the World Series. The series to catch them slipping is the next one though.
I don't believe Rauch is healthy. Mauer is also coming off injury, and only managed 2 hits in the 4 games since returning. He will not be fresh, and his power numbers are low to begin with at home. Not having Morneau in the lineup really hurts as well.
CC wins 2 games, and I don't think Duensing will be able to win in New York. You have to realize that more than anything, the Twins are mentally afraid of the Yankees. When a team has your number, it is hard to overcome that.
This might exhaust the Yanks, and I don't see them making it to the World Series. The series to catch them slipping is the next one though.
I don't believe Rauch is healthy. Mauer is also coming off injury, and only managed 2 hits in the 4 games since returning. He will not be fresh, and his power numbers are low to begin with at home. Not having Morneau in the lineup really hurts as well.
CC wins 2 games, and I don't think Duensing will be able to win in New York. You have to realize that more than anything, the Twins are mentally afraid of the Yankees. When a team has your number, it is hard to overcome that.
This might exhaust the Yanks, and I don't see them making it to the World Series. The series to catch them slipping is the next one though.
I don't believe Rauch is healthy. Mauer is also coming off injury, and only managed 2 hits in the 4 games since returning. He will not be fresh, and his power numbers are low to begin with at home. Not having Morneau in the lineup really hurts as well.
CC wins 2 games, and I don't think Duensing will be able to win in New York. You have to realize that more than anything, the Twins are mentally afraid of the Yankees. When a team has your number, it is hard to overcome that.
This might exhaust the Yanks, and I don't see them making it to the World Series. The series to catch them slipping is the next one though.
I don't believe Rauch is healthy. Mauer is also coming off injury, and only managed 2 hits in the 4 games since returning. He will not be fresh, and his power numbers are low to begin with at home. Not having Morneau in the lineup really hurts as well.
CC wins 2 games, and I don't think Duensing will be able to win in New York. You have to realize that more than anything, the Twins are mentally afraid of the Yankees. When a team has your number, it is hard to overcome that.
This might exhaust the Yanks, and I don't see them making it to the World Series. The series to catch them slipping is the next one though.
I don't believe Rauch is healthy. Mauer is also coming off injury, and only managed 2 hits in the 4 games since returning. He will not be fresh, and his power numbers are low to begin with at home. Not having Morneau in the lineup really hurts as well.
CC wins 2 games, and I don't think Duensing will be able to win in New York. You have to realize that more than anything, the Twins are mentally afraid of the Yankees. When a team has your number, it is hard to overcome that.
This might exhaust the Yanks, and I don't see them making it to the World Series. The series to catch them slipping is the next one though.
Cant wait to see Burnett pitch out of the pen. Probably a better fit anyways he seemed to have troubles making it through more than a couple innings this season ne ways... Lets Go Twinkies!
Cant wait to see Burnett pitch out of the pen. Probably a better fit anyways he seemed to have troubles making it through more than a couple innings this season ne ways... Lets Go Twinkies!
Yes im well aware the yankees have owned minnesota. but you also have to remember that every year is a different year with different players. they yankees have struggled down the stretch, they are old beat up, yes mauer is huritng, but so is
Yes im well aware the yankees have owned minnesota. but you also have to remember that every year is a different year with different players. they yankees have struggled down the stretch, they are old beat up, yes mauer is huritng, but so is
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