As was discussed in recent game threads, the Yanks struggle against unfamiliar pitchers.  The collapse of the batting order against the young arms of The Marlins in '03 is the most glaring example.  But other examples are out there, some more relevant than others: E. Santana '05 game five.  This year's version of the syndrome is lurking in the form of C.C. Sabathia.

Most posters here are savvy enough to know the kind of pitcher C.C. has become.  He's gotten better every year to the point he's a top contender for this years' CY Young.  He might even be the only legitimate 300 win candidate of his generation.  But the most important fact is that C.C Sabathia hasn't faced the Yankees since 2004.

This year C.C. has faced Johan Santana and Justin Verlander three times each.  Sabathia outpitched Verlander twice and Santana all three times.  He's spent the last three years improving to the point that he's the best pitcher head to head in his division, and the Yanks haven't seen him once.  Oh yeah, he also beat the Angels both times he faced them this year and in his only appearance against Boston lost 1-0 to Dice -K.

On the bright side, the Yanks have seemingly been in the Indians head.  We beat Carmona, an unfamiliar pitcher, the only time we faced him this year.  The way the Yanks lineup is churning since all the left-handed bats have come alive it looks like nothing short of a rotation of Seaver, Koufax, Gibson, and Jack Morris could shut them down.

That being said, The new playoff set-up favoring the team with the best record could allow a situation where C.C. could face the Yanks in a divisional series twice as a starter and once in relief ala Randy in 1995, or in a league series three times as a starter ala Schilling in 2000.  Either prospect could be grim for the Yanks.  On top of that the Indians have picked up Kenney Lofton since we played them this year.  As evidenced from his pilling on Torre during Sheff-gate earlier this year, Lofton would LOVE to stick it to the Yanks.

In the euphoria of taking 5 of 6 from the Sux, I hate to be a downer.  But before we start cheering for the Indians to overtake the Angels, we might want to reexamine what that really means.