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.

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.

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.

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…

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.

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

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.

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.