Hughes is HUUUGE

Yankees 8 10 0
Tigers 0 6 1

WP: Hughes (5-0)
LP: Bonderman (1-2)

Player of the Game: Once again, it's Phil Hughes. He went 6.2 IP, allowing no runs on 4 hits and one walk. Hughes is turning into the ace the Yankees project him to be.

Play of the Game: Completely forgot about this before, but I'm adding it now: Joba Chamberlain's under flip and flop. Very impressive play by the big man.

Turning Point of the Game: Brett Gardner's stolen base in the first inning. It put him in scoring position to score on A-Rod's single and give Hughes all the run support he would need.

Game notes:

• Yanks were able to pick up the split of the doubleheader, and at least give them a chance to split the series with a win tomorrow.
• Hughes has been absolutely amazing so far this season. He hasn't given up more than 2 runs in a start all year. If he keeps pitching like this, the rest of the league better watch out.
  
• Francisco Cervelli continues to step up when called upon. A 2-4 game tonight bumps his average up to .408. It's gonna be tough for Joe Girardi to not give him more playing time, especially with Johnson on the DL, which would open the DH spot for Posada.
  
• Mariano Rivera pitched for the first time since April 30, despite the fact that it was not a save situation.
  
• I started working on this post when the game was 3-0, and this game got out of hand very quickly.
  

Tomorrow:
Yankees at Tigers, 1:05 PM


SEE YA!

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Game 33: Yankees at Tigers

YANKEES (21-11)
Derek Jeter DH
Brett Gardner CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Marcus Thames LF
Francisco Cervelli C
Ramiro Pena 3B

RHP Phil Hughes (4-0, 1.69)

TIGERS (19-14)
Austin Jackson CF
Johnny Damon DH
Magglio Ordonez RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Brennan Boesch LF
Alex Avila C
Don Kelly 3B
Ramon Santiago SS
Scott Sizemore 2B

RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 5.74)

Let's Play Two: The Yanks and Tigers are gearing up for the second game of the day. Detroit took game one, but the Bombers send Hughes to the mound to try and split the day.

Sleeping bats: I guess the 1 PM start was a little early for the position players, with the two teams combining for 2 runs and 9 hits. Maybe they'll be awake for the 7 pm game.

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Tigers Get Relief in Win

Yankees 4 8 1
Tigers 5 8 0

WP: Bonine (3-0)
LP: Mitre (0-1)
S: Valverde (9)

Player(s) of the Game: The Tigers bullpen. With Dontrelle Willis unable to start, 6 Tiger pitchers were able to hold the Yankees down just enough to pull out a win.

Play of the Game: Magglio Ordonez's sliding catch in the 8th inning on a ball hit by Derek Jeter. With the bases loaded, if that gets by Ordonez, it probably scores three runs and changes the outcome of the game.

Turning Point of the Game: Brennan Boesch's 2-run single in the first that gave the Tigers pitching staff a good lead early on in the game.

Notes:

• Mitre was the best starter in Spring Training, but this is why you can't take March stats at face value. He had a chance to impress in a spot start, but gave up 5 runs in 4.1 IP.
  
• The Yankees may have lost the game, but they may have won the series by making the Tigers burn through 6 relievers, which could affect availability tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday.
  

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Why the Yankees will, and won't, win the World Series

Now that the business of clinching the AL East is taken care of, we can officially look ahead to the playoffs. I figured I'd get a quick run down on the reasons the Yanks will win, and some of the problems they're going to need to overcome.

Reasons they get trophy #27:

1. The offense: The Yankees rank first in the the league in runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and home runs, and is 2nd in batting average, and 7th in stolen bases. Also, they own the third-best stolen base conversion percentage with 81%.
2. The bullpen: The development of this bullpen from the mess it was in April and May is Girardi's most important effect on this team this season. The addition of Hughes to the mix solidified the bridge to Mo. On the year, including the part where the 'pen was largely ineffective, it has recorded a 39-16 record with a 4.01 ERA while logging 491.2 innings. The relievers also have a combined .232 batting average against, good for second in the majors.
   
3. Ability to come back: The bullpen has been a huge factor in holding opponents scoreless in later innings, allowing the offense to work it's magic to bring 49 comeback wins, including 14 pie-in-the-face-inducing walk off wins. It may be cliché, but this team is never out of a game. If you win 100 games, and 49 of them are comeback wins, even I can do that math, that's 49% or almost half of their wins.
   
4. Their first round opponent: While anything can happen in a short series, the Yankees have owned both the Tigers and the Twins this season. They swept the Twins in 7 games while going 5-1 against Detroit. Those two teams start a four-game set tonight that will decide who wins the AL Central and faces the Yankees in the ALDS.
   

Reasons they won't win:

1. The starting pitching: Behind CC, there are some question marks in the starting rotation. Burnett has been inconsistent of late, going 2-5 since August 1st, with an ERA of 5.42 over that span. The Yankees are 5-6 in his last 11 starts. While Pettitte had an amazing month of August, he is still 37 and has thrown almost 200 innings. While he put most of the concerns about his shoulder to rest during his outing against the Angels, it could still be a concern. Then, of course, there is Joba, who stepped up Friday night against the Red Sox. The main problem with him has been consistency, and the amount of rest he gets between starts. If the Yankees skip him in the first round, will he be ready to go for Game 4 should they reach the ALCS?
   
2. Girardi: While the skipper did a fantastic job this season, this will be his first postseason as manager. He obviously was part of the playoffs as a player and coach, it's going to be a completely different experience going in as the manager. Will he now which buttons to push at the right time?
   
3. The pressure: Since the Yankees haven't won a World Series since 2000, the pressure is all on this team to bring the title back to the Bronx. Will they be able to handle it?
4. Post-season performance of key players: We all know about A-Rod's struggles in the post-season, including how he has only 7 hits in his last 13 playoff games. CC Sabathia has not fared much better, with a 2-3 record and a 7.92 ERA. This will also be AJ Burnett's first playoff experience, so three of the most important pieces to the puzzle will be eyed very closely throughout the postseason.
   

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