FWIW, Burnett’s velocity was fine, his command wasn’t. That has been a problem for him his entire career.

So you’re saying you’re afraid of 6 innings at 90something pitches? I’d take that everytime.

As I wrote in another thread, I don’t see the relevance of Pettitte’s post-game comments in the context of tonight’s game. He HAD nothing in Game 3 (emphasis on past-tense). That doesn’t mean he will HAVE nothing in Game 6. The “nothing” in this case refers to “stuff”, and isn’t necessarily indicative of fatigue as much as feel for pitches. Having “nothing” can happen to a pitcher at any point in a season, even on full rest, and even on warm summer nights. In fact, having “nothing” is very common for pitchers. It simply means they were having mechanical issues and/or couldn’t “feel” their pitches and had to rely on guile and luck alone.

Is it possible that Pettitte throws a stinker tonight? Given his history and his age, yes, it’s imminently possible. But it’ll have nothing to do with Game 3. For the record, CC Sabathia had “nothing” in Games 1 and 4 and only one of those starts was on short rest.

Sounds like some “insiders” are playing CYA, and preparing to put Girardi on the chopping block for blowing the series.

With any tactical decision comes the possibility of failure. What if Girardi had started Gaudin in game 4, and he had gotten his boobies knocked off, and Blanton had given up his 4 runs and won the game anyway, and then if Lee had beaten Sabathia, and the Phils went on to win the series, 4-3? Or if he had started him in Game 5, the Phils had won easily, and the Yanks bypassed Petttitte altogether, and the Phils then went on to outfight Burnett and Sabahia in game 6 and 7 anyway?

Why, then, these same brave insiders would be “measuring Cashman for the pine box”, for not picking Lee up in mid-season in a trade.