X-Factors For The Playoffs
by Brandon C. on Sep 29, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
in New York Yankees Analysis
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PrintDidn't want to post this until it was official, but the New York Yankees are going to be in the 2010 MLB playoffs! CC Sabathia delivered a great performance last night, which put the Yankees in once again. The questions about playoff roster spots, rotation, and line-ups are coming soon Joe G!
Many players end up mattering a whole lot on the playoff roster, but here are some extra important players.
Top X-Factor: Phil Hughes- As of this second, Phil Hughes sports a 17-8 record and a 4.21 ERA. (.245 BAA) I'd like to think Girardi realizes that he should pitch Hughes on the road, so assuming so, Hughes will pitch either game two or game three. (Assuming Girardi also knows that Hughes deserves a spot ahead of Burnett) If either Sabathia or Pettitte put in a shaky performance, the Yankees' playoff hopes will depend on a solid start from Hughes. This year against the Rangers, Hughes pitched one scoreless inning in relief. Hughes has not pitched against the Twins.
Second Biggest X-Factor: Joba Chamberlain. Sure, the Yankees have Dave Robertson, Kerry Wood, and Boone Logan, but with Joe Girardi's "book" who knows how much Chamberlain will be needed? Joe trusts Joba, and Joba will find himself in a big situation. This year against the Rangers, Joba has pitched two innings, giving up one hit and one earned run. Facing the Twins, Chamberlain has pitched three innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs.
Third Biggest X-Factor: Curtis Granderson. Yes, the journeyman. He has to get on base and be productive. This season in games Granderson scores a run the Yankees are 50-12. Granderson did not face the Twins this year and hit .200 with an RBI against the Rangers.
Other Lefty X-Factors: Like Granderson, the last two X-Factors are lefties. Lefty pitcher Boone Logan, who will be counted on to get top lefty hitters, such as Joe Mauer, or Josh Hamilton out in pressure situations. The other is Brett Gardner, as if he gets on base the Yankees' will score runs. Enough said.
Everyone matters, but these are the players that need to step up. Granderson has so far, Hughes pitched well on Sunday, the rest are up next.
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not this year
pitching will bite this team in the butt—just remember Cashman and LEE and HALLIDAY—-then you understand defeat…….
Between Lee and Halladay
I’m more afraid of Lee. We’ve hit Halladay in the past so he’s not invincible, but so far this year Lee has been a beast against us. Thankfully he’s only one man. In the long run though I’m not sure if thew Phillies can be beat, I mean you might be able to get to one guy but then you have two others that are pretty tough for the rest of the series. Scary really.
Who is Halliday?
Does he play the outfield or pitch?
"So they laughed at me...and I laughed at them a little." -Alex Rodriguez
by WhatwouldJeterdo on Sep 29, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I know who Lee is
but who is Halliday? Is that some sort of Roy Halladay and Matt Holliday love child? Cuz pause if it is, pause it if ain’t.
Winning cures all...even stupid
by FreeBradshaw on Sep 29, 2010 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I see what you did there... twice!
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Sep 29, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
The Old Guys
they need to step up. Jeter needs to continue his recent success, Arod needs to stay on this pace at the least, Pettitte needs to step up in a BIG way and Rivera hopefully has fixed his mechanical flaws.
Tex needs to stay healthy and Gardner NEEDS TO STEAL BASES also if Burnett or Vasquez can figure it out for at least one or two starts we may be able to do this
Lee won the 2 WS games that the Yankees lost last year. Halliday usually, but not always shuts them down as well.
The “X factors” are Pettitte and Hughes, who are going to have win their starts.
Barndon, why are you so sure that Chamberlain will get the big innings? he’s not even the 8th inning set- up guy right now?
by designatedquitter on Sep 29, 2010 11:43 AM EDT reply actions
Mark Teixeira as an X-factor over Granderson
If I’m not mistaken.. Tex went 3 for 20 in the world series last year. Yes, he had two huge hits in Game 2 and the walkoff in the ALDS but this production will definitely need to be better this time around.
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Sep 29, 2010 12:43 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
The Yankees
are a different team come October. I’d say the Pinstripes are their “X-factor.” Like always, I’ll be rooting for the Yanks. (Yeah I’m a Cubbies fan but I have liked the Yankees since I was a wee lad just as much as the Lovable Losers). Go Yanks!
"I don't know what the big deal about Crackerjack is"
by theGraceyslumpbuster on Sep 29, 2010 1:03 PM EDT reply actions
I didn't realize
that Hughes has basically not faced either the Twins or the Rangers this year. If you follow basic beliefs about exposure, then that should work in his favor. I completely agree he has to start on the road.
I think Jeter is a bigger factor than Granderson, just because Jeter will be hitting either 1 or 2 in front of Tex and Arod.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
I think
you guys may want to be the wild card and face Minnesota.
Bring in Bard.
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
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by bestbostonsports on Sep 29, 2010 1:16 PM EDT reply actions
Only because we have historically owned Minnesota in playoffs.
"I don't want one of those guys who'll drive in two but let in three every game." Casey Stengel
by tnredneckyankeesfan on Sep 29, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes
and Texas matches up pretty good aganest you
Bring in Bard.
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
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by bestbostonsports on Sep 29, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd rather face Texas.
Cliff Lee is one thing, the rest of their rotation is not better then the Yankees rest of rotation. And it doesn’t matter what Josh Hamilton does, he won’t be the same.
Winning cures all...even stupid
by FreeBradshaw on Sep 29, 2010 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I argue that it matters what he does.
If he bats .600 with 5 homers…it doesn’t matter if he is the same. Hamilton is coming back on Saturday, I wouldn’t count on him not being a factor.
I meant it doesn't matter if Hamilton sits or plays
he’s not hitting .600 with 5HR.s
Winning cures all...even stupid
by FreeBradshaw on Sep 29, 2010 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Why couldn't he?
Bring in Bard.
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
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by bestbostonsports on Sep 29, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Why do they call him the bullet dodger?
Winning cures all...even stupid
by FreeBradshaw on Sep 29, 2010 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Because he dodges bullets, Avi
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by Jedi Master A-Rod on Sep 29, 2010 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Um...
I’ll take Lewis and Wilson over Burnett and Pettitte
Bring in Bard.
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
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by bestbostonsports on Sep 29, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
you can have em both
at the same time.
Winning cures all...even stupid
by FreeBradshaw on Sep 29, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I am serious
would you rather have Lewis or Burentt pitching?
Bring in Bard.
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
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by bestbostonsports on Sep 29, 2010 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
probably AJ
Winning cures all...even stupid
by FreeBradshaw on Sep 29, 2010 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
then
you are very biased
Bring in Bard.
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
Join the Lacrosse community The Lacrosse Blog
by bestbostonsports on Sep 29, 2010 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions
or I know Colby Lewis sucks
and AJ’s done this before.
Winning cures all...even stupid
by FreeBradshaw on Sep 29, 2010 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Colby Lewis doesn’t suck, bro.
But don’t worry, BBS is still wrong.
Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com
explain
Bring in Bard.
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
Join the Lacrosse community The Lacrosse Blog
by bestbostonsports on Sep 29, 2010 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I did. It seemed wasteful to do it twice.
Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com
and since you're a Red Sox can
it doesn’t MATTER what you think!
Winning cures all...even stupid
by FreeBradshaw on Sep 29, 2010 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m going to do something you should try some time. I’m going to use facts to back something up and flesh out an opinion, not say
I’ll take Lewis and Wilson over Burnett and Pettittewhich means absolutely nothing.
First of all, how come we compare Texas’ #2 and #3 starters to our #3 and #4 starters? Instead, let’s compare Lewis and Wilson to Pettitte and Hughes, because that’s actually fair.
Lewis: 3.72 ERA, 3.52 FIP, 8.82 K/9, 2.89 BB/9, 1.20 WHIP
Pettitte: 3.17 ERA, 3.96 FIP, 6.70 K/9, 2.81 BB/9, 1.22 WHIP
Wilson: 3.35 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 7.51 K/9, 4.12 BB/9, 1.25 WHIP
Hughes: 4.21 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 7.39 K/9, 2.98 BB/9, 1.25 WHIP
Our starting pitching matches up fine in both of those games. But yeah, we’re doomed.
Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com
Oh, ok
thanks for explaining.
Bring in Bard.
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
Join the Lacrosse community The Lacrosse Blog
by bestbostonsports on Sep 29, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
ya know, I’m not feeling too confident with the starting pitching, but our offense is such that we could survive bad starts. If two of Ardo, Tex, or Cano get hot in the playoffs, they can carry the team.
by Wraithpk on Sep 29, 2010 1:22 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
This was the same mindset in 2006
“Murderer’s Row” started off excellent against Detroit and then choked hardcore. The offense COULD POSSIBLY carry the team. The pitching could also possibly become amazing. Anything goes.
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Sep 29, 2010 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Definitely start Hughes game 2 if it's in Minnesota
He’s been prone to the long ball and Target Field gives more room for error. Maybe less pressure pitching on the road too. The key to the postseason is that that line up needs to score runs. They can’t count on getting great pitching except CC. The offense has been wildly inconsistent the last month, even killing AJ when he decides not to implode in the first.
by upstateNYYFan1984 on Sep 29, 2010 1:22 PM EDT reply actions
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