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September 11, 2007
New ALDS Schedule Rules To Hurt Yankees?
From Larry Brooks of The Post -
Of all the years for the Yankees not to finish with the best record in the AL, this is not the one.
Because while the team has taken control of its own regular-season destiny by opening a 31/2-game wild-card lead over the Tigers, who defeated the Blue Jays 5-4 last night, much of the Yankees' postseason destiny - presupposing they reach the tournament - will be shaped by the management of the team that does finish with the league's best record.
That's because, The Post has learned, the AL regular-season champion will be given the choice of whether to play Division Series A, in which the if-necessary five games are scheduled to be played in seven days beginning on Thurs, Oct. 4; or in Division Series B, in which the five games are scheduled to be played in eight days.
The seven-day series features two sets of back-to-back games, with off-days for travel scheduled between Games 2 and 3 and between Games 4 and 5. The eight-day series features only one set of back-to-back games (Games 3 and 4), with off-days scheduled between Games 1 and 2, another between Games 2 and 3, and still another between Games 4 and 5.
Yes, of course, Theo Epstein and Terry Francona are foremost concerned with their own Boston team. But is it such a stretch to think that the Red Sox, who went into last night leading the Angels by 2½ and the Indians by 3½ for the league's best record, wouldn't jump at the chance to play the eight-day series if for no other reason than to require the Yankees to play the seven-day series so Joba Chamberlain would only be available for three games, instead of the four in which he'd be allowed to pitch in the extended version?
Do you think if the Angels catch Boston, there's a chance in the world they won't force the Yankees into the seven-day series in order to limit Chamberlain's availability to pitch against them in what would be the first-round matchup?
A directive outlining the procedure was sent to major league general managers within the last two weeks, we're told. The team with the best record is required to make its decision within an hour after the Division Series matchups are established.
In other years, TV programming directors held great sway over the scheduling of playoff games that preceded the World Series. More times than not, the Yankees were granted the prime-spot, prime-time games. In fact, a Yankees official over the weekend was under the impression that TBS, which with its sister TNT network will television the four first-round series, was empowered to decide which series would include the wild-card team.
Apparently, he did not receive the memo.
That eight day series is sweet. If the Yankees had that, they could pitch Wang in Games 1 and 4 of the series, Pettitte in Games 2 and 5 - and have Clemens go in Game 3.
In that seven day series, Wang still gets Game 1 and Pettitte still gets Game 2. Clemens would also still get Game 3. But, then Games 4 and 5 become an issue. Do you have Wang come back on short rest to pitch Game 4? (If yes, then Pettitte gets Game 5 with no issue.) But, if you don't come back with Wang on short rest, you have to start someone from Hughes/Mussina/Kennedy in Game 4 - and then you have to decide between Wang and Pettitte for Game 5.
Brooks is right - there's no way that a team doesn't force the Yankees to have to play that seven day series. It just hurts New York in so many ways.
Maybe this will give the Yankees some incentive to pass Boston in the standings?
Posted by Steve Lombardi at September 11, 2007 09:59 AM
Comments
The other alternative is for LA (or Cleveland)to end up with the best record in the AL. LA is only 2 games behind the Red Sox (84-59 vs 87-58), Cleveland is 2.5 behind. If the Angels or Cleveland end up with best record and the Yankees are the wild card you would figure that they would take the 8 day series as well. The Yankees can help their cause by beating Boston this weekend.
Posted by: bluke ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 11, 2007 10:50 AM
This has nothing to do with hurting the Yankees. All of the playoffs teams would love to have their top 2 pitchers pitch 4 out of 5 games. Let's face it, none of the fourth starters on any of these teams are that good and in fact even the third starter is a cut below the top 2.
The Angels have Lackey (16-8 3.18) and Escobar (16-7 3.04).
The Indians have Sabathia (17-7 3.15) and Carmona (16-8 3.20)
The Red Sox have Beckett (18-6 3.27) and I guess Schilling
Posted by: bluke at September 11, 2007 11:07 AM
Last year, when Phil was in the AA playoffs (wow -- was that only LAST YEAR that he was in the playoffs with Trenton?) Cashman took off his IP limit. Unfortunately for the Thunder, they lost their first series (Phil got the only win). But if Cashman was willing to bend the rules for Phil in a AA playoff, wouldn't be bend the rules for Joba in the actual playoffs? I don't think they'd pitch him three days in a row or anything, but maybe two days in a row? Maybe come in during an inning to get an important out?
With the season on the line, I expect a slight tweak to the Joba rules.
Posted by: baileywalk at September 11, 2007 11:24 AM
Another factor - it could always rain somewhere and totally screw with the LDS rotation plans for some team too.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at September 11, 2007 11:46 AM
I think they'll bend the Joba rules if it's an elimination playoff game. The scarier thing is the starting pitching. Wang and Pettite can beat any team out there if they bring their A game. If we have to throw 2 games with a combination of Clemens, Hughes, Kennedy and Mussina, it's a crapshoot for both of them (although that's still much better than Jaret Wright and Randy Johnson.) The 5 game series is really a pain in the ass for us...
Posted by: j at September 11, 2007 12:03 PM
The Yankees have to hope and pray that Hughes continues to build on his last start (where his mechanics were sound and he pitched well) and that Mussina finds a little something and can help the team out (if needed). Clemens is a gamer, we know that, but a 45 year old with already diminished velocity having elbow issues is scary.
Outside of his start in Toronto, has Clemens had one good game outside of Yankees Stadium? Hughes, on the other hand, has pitched really well on the road. As weird as it sounds, they should try to start the rookie on the road and the vet at home.
I will probably get killed for this comment, but keeping the injury in mind, and how ineffective Clemens is when not 100 percent -- would you rather have Hughes or Clemens start game three? Honestly, I'm leaning toward Hughes. If Clemens is healthy, there's no doubt. But when Clemens was ailing, as he was in Detroit and against Seattle, he stunk. Even with his inexperience and struggles, I think a healthy Hughes gives you a better chance to win than a not-quite-right Clemens.
Posted by: baileywalk at September 11, 2007 12:14 PM
Hopefully, Torre has learned his lesson from Brown, Johnson, Vazquez, etc., and will not let Clemens pitch in October if he's not sound.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at September 11, 2007 12:24 PM
Hopefully, Torre has learned his lesson from Brown, Johnson, Vazquez, etc., and will not let Clemens pitch in October if he's not sound.
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That gave me a good laugh. Torre learn a lesson? Nahhhh. I wouldn't be shocked if Mussina ended up his fourth starter.
Posted by: baileywalk at September 11, 2007 01:09 PM