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July 14, 2005
Calling The July Series At Fenway
Assuming that Torre uses the proper lefties-heavy line-up tonight, and that Mussina is his usual Fenway self, the Yankees have an excellent chance to win this evening.
Assuming that Johnson and Wang take the hill on Friday and Saturday (in some order) for New York, those games could go either way. Wells and Clement should be solid for the Red Sox - they were against New York the last time they faced them, if I recall correctly. So, the Yankees pitchers will have to keep stride with, or do better than, the Sox hurlers in the middle games of this series in order for the Yanks to prevail in these games.
Assuming that Wakefield pitches for Boston on Sunday, and the Yankees start either Pavano, or May, or whoever, then there's an excellent chance that the Yankees will lose the last game of this series in Fenway.
So, what are we looking at here, a split, most likely? Looking at the possible outcome spectrum for a four-game series:
1. Sweep
2. Win
3. Split
4. Lose
5. Get Swept
...a split would be the 3rd best thing that could happen for the Yankees. That's always better than Options 4 and 5 (above). And, it's close to Option 2.
In the end, this series comes down to three names for New York: Mussina, Wang, and Johnson. If they perform well, the Yankees chances this weekend are excellent. If they tank, the Yankees have no chance and could lose this series or get swept.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at July 14, 2005 10:16 AM
Comments
I'm fine with 3 out of 4.
Does it feel like the season has been shut down for a week, or is it just me???
Posted by: Jason O. at July 14, 2005 11:32 AM
It does feel like someone hit reboot.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at July 14, 2005 11:34 AM
I'm optimistic about the Mussina and Wang starts. I really don't think RJ will give us much. He's been so inconsistent this year and besides his decent Opening Day start he hasn't been great against the Sox. (How many HR's has he given up to them? 4?).
I just hope the offense didn't lose anything during the break.
Posted by: JJay at July 14, 2005 12:44 PM
I'd be happy with a split- provided 2 of the following 3 happens:
1) three of our starters (Moose Wang, Unit) pitch well enough to keep us in the game
2) Schilling gets a rude awakening as a closer and blows one on Friday...further dividing the RSN between Camp Damon and Camp Schilling.
3) Mariano notches a nice 1-2-3 save
If this can happen and they are still 2.5 GB....that works for me
Posted by: philly phil at July 14, 2005 12:48 PM
Like Meat Loaf said: two out of three ain't bad!!
Schilling blew it (earlier than I thought)...Mo k's the side.
actually, take away Moose's first inning and he was decent.
Posted by: philly phil at July 14, 2005 10:33 PM