Saw this subject in a forum and decided to blog it. Now that the Yankees have made it to the playoffs, I can first exhale and now look at all the intriguing scenarios I'm looking forward to that may present themselves during these next few weeks. Here they are in no particular order...
Phil Hughes vs. Brian Duensing - Depending on how Girardi and Gardenhire set their respective starting rotations, we may get a "futures game" pitching matchup between 17-game winner Phil Hughes versus Minnesota's Brian Duensing (10-3, 2.44 ERA). Called on to take on the BoSox in a "must win" game at the Stadium on Sunday, Hughes went pitch for pitch with an almost unhittable Dice-K. That was a pressurized game, albeit in the regular season, and Hughes stepped it up big time. This is the playoffs, and when his turn comes up in this series, it may be to win a pivotal Game 3, complete a sweep, or God forbid, avoid a sweep. Duensing took the loss in his last start, a 5-1 loss to Detroit where he gave up five runs, seven hits, and four walks over 6.2 innings. Prior to that game, he was 8-2 with a 2.80 ERA since the All-Star break. He's an up-and-comer the casual baseball fan has yet to hear about. Next week may change that.
Aroldis Chapman busting a radar gun - This guy can bring it. Period. Never has there been an eighth inning more exciting, even in the history of the playoffs, than when Chapman takes the mound for the Reds in this coming postseason. If Cincinnati winds up facing the Phillies, it would be great to see him take on the likes of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jayson Werth. After clocking 105mph on the gun last Friday night, can he rear back for even more when his adrenaline goes up?
A.J. Burnett pitching a gem - This may be more wishful thinking than anything else but he has the stuff. He showed it in Game 2 of last year's World Series after Cliff Lee and Chase Utley beat C.C. in Game 1. It's true that he also turned to Mr. Hyde in Game 5 but that's what we unfortunately have to endure with him. Look past his last start, which was undeniably horrible, and you'll see two previous starts where he pitched decently. A rain delay shortened one outing and may have saved him from one of his vintage meltdown innings but who knows, maybe he would have gotten better as the game had gone along. Again, it's the two sides of A.J. that's always up in the air. We may not get to see either in this series, even if it goes more than three as the prevailing thought is Girardi will have C.C. go in Game 4 if necessary. But I don't figure Burnett to be the odd man out in a best of seven. The good news is, if we do see Burnett make a start, it means the Yanks have advanced!
Texas winning the World Series - Alright, don't get your panties all up in a bunch Yankee fans. I'd want to see the Rangers win it all if...and only if...the Yanks are out of the playoffs. And that's even if they were eliminated by those same Rangers. I believe baseball needs to inject it's passion into other areas of this country besides the Northeast. Texas is definitely one of them. Yes, there is Houston, but even with a trip to the World Series no more than five years ago, the fans in the Lone Star state just don't seem to get their mojo up for baseball the way they do for football. There are so many guys of interest on this team: Josh Hamilton, on a remarkable career comeback from substance abuse, is still a candidate for MVP; future Hall of Famer Vlad Guerrero needs a World Series ring to round out his stellar career; long-time Ranger Michael Young, who epitomizes what it means to be a team player, would be deserving of a championship; Cliff Lee will have stock go up even further this offseason if he adds World Series winner to his resume; manager Ron Washington...from addiction to drugs to winning the World Series...what more can the media ask for?
Yankees vs. Phillies Part Deux - Okay, back to a scenario we Yankee fans can all like! Yankees beating the Phillies? Yeah, been there done that. But it wasn't done against old American League nemesis Roy Halladay followed by Roy Oswalt then Cole Hamels. When Jeter and company take the field, they have to deal with an offense that is dangerous eight deep. If the Yankees are to be crowned "the best" after all is said and done then they have to beat the best. And frankly, the Phillies right now are the best team in the majors.
Playoffs at Target Field - It ain't the Metrodome anymore Yankee fans. The dynamics of this new stadium may come into play...and maybe not in favor of the Bombers. A new twist in an otherwise overdone matchup.
