Game 1 ALDS: Yankees vs Twins

YANKEES
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (19-8, 3.37 regular season)

TWINS
Span CF
Cabrera SS
Mauer C
Cuddyer 1B
Kubel RF
Young LF
Harris DH
Tolbert 3B
Punto 2B

Pitching: LHP Brian Duensing (5-2, 3.64 ERA regular season)

TIME/TV: 6:07 p.m., TBS

The Hangover: The Twins enter Yankee Stadium roughly 20 hours after winning the AL Central. Their reward? CC Sabathia in the Bronx.

But Look At His Postseason Numbers: CC Sabthia is 2-3 with a 7.92 ERA in five playoff starts. He is also 9-4 with a 1.91 ERA against the Twins in his last 13 starts. So you can pretty much throw all trends out the window at this point and just expect the best pitcher in the AL since August to show up (at least that's what I'm doing).

Weather Report: No Ollie Williams today. Instead it is a blustery fall evening in the Bronx. With winds blowing out to...where else? Right Field. Expect some home runs to fly out tonight. My money is on Johnny Damon in the first inning for the first home run of the game.

Pressure Point: Alex Rodriguez arrives in October with probably the least amount of pressure than previous years. However, the moment he starts struggling he will be ridiculed and become the focus of attention. If he suceeds, he will be praised as a hero. Either way, all eyes will still be on A-Rod even if it seems like the pressure of previous years isn't there.

If you have 5 minutes to spare and want to get pumped up for the game, watch this video It's a compilation of the Yankees season that YES showed after the final game on Sunday.

I know I don't want to be by my computer and be distracted from the game, but perhaps we may do a little live blogging in between innings.

UPDATE 5:34: Jim here: I will be tweeting during the game @jgeant, because I can do that from my cell phone. So you can follow my quips and comments about the game there and we'll get on the blog a little bit, too.

Enjoy the game.

UPDATE 6:19: After giving up a leadoff double to Denard Span, CC Sabathia came back and struck out Orlando Cabrera, Joe Mauer, and got Michael Cuddyer to fly out to center. Hopefully after that first at bat he's settled down. Now for the Yankees offense to go to work.

UPDATE 6:35: Not only did I, but apparently Jim also thought that ball by A-Rod was going to be out. We both pulled a Michael Kay on that one.

UPDATE 7:10: Ok, Sabathia is not getting that outside corner. Posada can't catch. And I think the entire Yankee Universe is now panicking. Let's get those two runs back NOW!

UPDATE 7:15: And that is why he is the modern day Mr. October. The Captain strikes again with a 2-run home run to tei the game and the crowd has not stopped chanting his name.

UPDATE 8:10: Sorry I missed Swisher's go-ahead RBI, but now A-Rod is getting in on this thing called the postseason with an RBI of his own. And now Matsui just hit one into Monument Park for a 6-2 lead. Things are looking good right now for the Yankees as long as CC keeps rolling.

UPDATE 8:41: CC Sabathia leaves the game after 6 2/3 innings giving up 8 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned, and striking out 8. Phil Hughes enters the game with runners on second and third 2 outs. It'd be first and second if it weren't for Posada's awful defense. Orlando Cabrera up at the plate.