It's Playoff Time

After a horrible September that showed pretty much every single weakness the Yanks have (poor starting pitching, inability to get runners in from 3rd with less than 2 out, catn't stop base stealers etc. etc. etc.). But, as they say, it's a clean slate.

Here's the pitching matchups for Series via LoHud Yankees Blog

GAME 1
Tonight, Target Field
LHP CC Sabathia (21-7, 3.18)
vs.
LHP Francisco Liriano (14-10, 3.62)
8:37 p.m., TBS

GAME 2
Thursday, Target Field
LHP Andy Pettitte (11-3, 3.28)
vs.
RHP Carl Pavano (17-11, 3.75)
6:07 p.m., TBS

GAME 3

Saturday, Yankee Stadium
RHP Phil Hughes (18-8, 4.19)
vs.
LHP Brian Duensing (10-3, 2.62)
8:37 p.m., TBS

GAME 4

Sunday, Yankee Stadium
LHP CC Sabathia (21-7, 3.18)
vs.
RHP Nick Blackburn (10-12, 5.42)
8:07 p.m., TBS

GAME 5

Tuesday, Target Field
LHP Andy Pettitte (11-3, 3.28)
vs.
LHP Francisco Liriano (14-10, 3.62)
8:07 or 8:37 p.m., TBS

We'll get up a lineup post before the game.

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ALDS Game 2: Twins at Yankees

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

Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (13-9, 4.04 ERA regular season)

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

Pitching: RHP Nick Blackburn (11-11, 4.03 ERA regular season)

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

Lineups from LoHud Yankees Blog

Catch 43: Joe Molina has been the most talked about back-up catcher in the world right now. He will behind the plate tonight for AJ Burnett because the righty has much better numbers throwing to Molina than Posada. Posada may be pissed that he's being benched, which I don't think is a bad thing, but I think the thing that bugs him the most is that he knows it's the right move. I think he might also be thinking back to when he was doing this to current manager, Joe Girardi, and that he eventually replaced Girardi as the starter. But I don't think that's an issue with Molina, he might have to be worried if they're starting Cervelli over him, but not Molina. Also, I like Posada coming off the bench as a pinch hitter in the late innings, because I can think of at least two times where he hit go-ahead pinch-hit home runs.

Make it rain: There is rain in the forecast tonight, but not until 9 PM. At least it's not the snow they're expecting in Denver on Sunday.

Keep it at home: While the Yankees are up 1-0, this game is still important. If the Twins win, it will be tied 1-1 and the Twins will have taken home-field advantage for the series. While I believe the Yankees can go into the Metro Dome and win, it will be good to know that even if you can't you can come back home for Game 5 instead of going home to play golf.

The Teixecutioner: Arriving in my mailbox just in time for Game 2, I will be rocking The Teixecutioner T-shirt from Baldvinny.com tonight.

As with Game 1, we'll only have a few updates on the blog, but follow me @jgeant and John will most likely be on the blog Twitter @KaysSuccessors.

Enjoy the game everyone.

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