8 Responses to “Diamond Mind: Yanks Win LDS In Four”

1. D. Baseball 23 Says:
   October 3rd, 2007 at 4:51 pm

   There’s no question about it, winning game 1 will win the series for the Yanks. I hate these 5 game series. It speeds everything up and essentially makes game 1 more like game 3…and we all know that game 3 is pivotal.

2. Steve Lombardi Says:
   October 3rd, 2007 at 5:02 pm

   In a 5-game series, I always thought that Game 2 was the key game – meaning winning that either saves you or puts you in the driver’s seat.

   If you win Game 1, and then win Game 2, you’re two up and only need to win one of three.
   If you lose Game 1, and then win Game 2, you’re tied and the series becomes the best 2-of-3.

   But, in this case, because CC is such a stud, and can only pitch one game in this series on normal rest, if you beat him, you have an advantage – that’s why I think Game 1, in this case, for the Yankees, is such a key game.

3. Andrew Says:
   October 3rd, 2007 at 7:50 pm

   Steve – CC or Carmona, like Wang or Pettitte, can all pitch Game 5 on normal rest.

4. Travis G. Says:
   October 3rd, 2007 at 8:21 pm

   game 1 is NOT the key. i can think of at least several times when the loser of game 1 of the LDS went on to win the series: 96 vs. Tex, 97 vs. Cle, 01 vs. Oak, 02 vs. Ana, 05 vs. Ana, 06 vs. Det, and thats just the Yanks.

   i agree with Steve that game 2 is the key.

5. Raf Says:
   October 3rd, 2007 at 9:35 pm

   Courtesy of “cult of basebaal” @ Bronx Banter;

   GAME 1 lineup AND ALDS Roster:

   Johnny Damon LF
   Derek Jeter SS
   Bobby Abreu RF
   Alex Rodriguez 3B
   Jorge Posada C
   Hideki Matsui DH
   Robinson Cano 2B
   Melky Cabrera CF
   Doug Mientkiewicz 1B
   Chien-Ming Wang RHP

   Other position players
   INF Wilson Betemit
   1B Jason Giambi
   OF-1B Shelley Duncan
   C Jose Molina
   OF-3B Bronson Sardinha

   Other starting pitchers
   LHP Andy Pettitte
   RHP Roger Clemens
   RHP Mike Mussina
   RHP Phil Hughes

   Bullpen
   RHP Mariano Rivera
   RHP Joba Chamberlain
   RHP Luis Vizcaino
   RHP Kyle Farnsworth
   RHP Ross Ohlendorf
   RHP Jose Veras

   Not bad, not bad at all…

6. His Thickness Says:
   October 3rd, 2007 at 11:01 pm

   I would say that it’s a LITTLE worrisome that we don’t have a lefty in the pen; maybe this’ll be good so Joe isn’t tempted to bring in a bum for the matchup implications.

   I’d also like to have seen Britton instead of Veras, but no hard feelings.

7. baileywalk Says:
   October 3rd, 2007 at 11:37 pm

   I’m really happy they’re taking Ohlendorf. It’s a good move. I’m not crazy about Veras, but both he and Ohlendorf are power arms. Don’t we see power arms (that throw strikes) come up big in the post-season all the time?

   Despite uber-negative Peter Abraham calling Edwar a non-prospect (not sure how that happened; his AAA numbers were freakish and he did much better against the same competition Ohlendorf had mediocre numbers against), I still think he has a future with this team — but he has been shaky and I don’t think it’s a big deal to leave him off. You can’t have a guy come in who walks people or gives up home runs — and he’s been doing both. As it’s been stated before, it’s better to have a good righty instead of a bad lefty. Villone isn’t bad when used correctly, but I’d rather Ohlendorf come into a close game than him.

   Congrats to Ohlendorf for his amazing rise in the organization: a bad start, an injury, a move to the bullpen, steadily average numbers, an impressive start to his big-league career, and now pitching in the post-season. The whole thing is just awesomely improbable.

8. Travis G. Says:
   October 4th, 2007 at 12:21 am

   regardless of how they do in the playoffs, the RJ trade looks quite good now. i remember ‘experts’ criticizing it (e.g. Michael Kay). we got 2 pitchers good enough to make our PS roster (power arms at that), a solid UIF and another arm that might help the ML club next year. all for a 43-year-old that missed most of the season.

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