Two weeks ago, I projected the Yankees' playoff rotation to show how the team could get by with 3 starters until the World Series.
| ALDS A | ALDS B | |||||||
| Game | Starter | Date | Days Rest | Game | Starter | Date | Days Rest | |
| 1 | CC | 7 | 4+ | 1 | CC | 8 | 4+ | |
| 2 | AJ | 9 | 4+ | 2 | AJ | 9 | 4+ | |
| 3 | Andy | 11 | 4+ | 3 | Andy | 11 | 4+ | |
| 4 | CC | 12 | 4 | 4 | CC | 12 | 3 | |
| 5 | AJ | 14 | 4 | 5 | AJ | 14 | 4 |
| ALCS | |||
| Game | Starter | Date | Days Rest |
| 1 | CC | 16 | 3 |
| 2 | Andy | 17 | 5 |
| 3 | AJ | 19 | 4 |
| 4 | CC | 20 | 3 |
| 5 | Andy | 22 | 4 |
| 6 | AJ | 24 | 4 |
| 7 | CC | 25 | 4 |
With the Yanks reshuffling the rotation to give CC and Andy an extra day of rest between their starts, I have to think that they're thinking what I'm thinking. We can rely on the big man, so long as we treat him right.
Last year, CC through 5 consecutive starts on short rest. He was brilliant, but then he was gassed for the Division Series. In 2007, the Indians rode him hard to the end of the season, so he had little left to throw at the Yankees and Red Sox.
So how do you feel, Yankee fans? Which series leads more clearly to the Championship Series? In the longer series, do you accept the risk of Verlander twice in exchange for throwing your own ace?