Game 4 ALCS: Yankees at Angels

YANKEES
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada C
Hideki Matsui DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Melky Cabrera CF

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (2-0, 1.23 ERA)

ANGELS
Chone Figgins 3B
Bobby Abreu RF
Torii Hunter CF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Juan Rivera LF
Howie Kendrick 2B
Kendry Morales 1B
Mike Napoli C
Erick Aybar SS

Pitching: LHP Scott Kazmir (0-0, 7.50 ERA)

TIME/TV: 7:57 p.m., FOX

Get one out of the way: Even the most optimistic of Yankee fans couldn't have believed that the Yanks would go undefeated in the postseason, so a loss isn't entirely unexpected. I only wish that the Angels had actually won the game, instead of the Yankees losing it.

If the spit doesn't fit, you must acquit: An Angels fan blog posted a video that made it appear that Mariano Rivera spit on the baseball during last night's game. MLB actually took the claim seriously before deciding that it was an optical illusion, and there was no evidence that he spit on the ball. Expect a lot of signs and talk from Buck and McCarver when Mo enters the game.

Girardi using up bullpen phone minutes: After using all but one of his relievers on Saturday, Girardi went to the 'pen repeatedly yesterday. There is the decision that has been dissected all day, by everyone, including us, where Girardi took David Robertson after getting 2 outs on 11 pitches to bring in Alfredo Aceves. As we all know, Aceves lost the game after giving up a hit to Kendrick and a double to Jeff Mathis.

CC on 3: I'm going to give you the numbers that you will hear Joe Buck and Tim McCarver will beat to death all night long. CC Sabathia pitched on three-days rest 4 times last season going 2-1 with a 0.83 ERA, before running out of gas and getting hit hard in the playoffs. Since 1995, a starter has started on three-days rest 85 times going 20-34 with a 4.65 ERA in 458 1/3 innings.

Get 1 in LA: If you look at the rest of the series, I believe that the Yankees only really need to win one game in Los Angeles/Anaheim. While I would obviously love for them to finish this in 5 games, if the Yankees can come home up 3-2, they'll be in great shape. With Games 6 and 7 at Yankee Stadium and CC going in Game 7, on normal rest, I would feel comfortable as a Yankee fan.

I'm setting the over/under for the amount of times the fact that Sabathia is going on three-days rest is mentioned on the FOX telecast at 25, and I'm still going to go with an over.

You know the drill by now, follow at Twitter @jgeant and @KaysSuccessors.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]">