Game 1 ALDS: Yankees at Twins

Yankees lineup has been announced. They decided to go with Brett Gardner over Austin Kearns against the lefty Francisco Liriano.

Yankees
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames DH
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF

Twins
Denard Span CF
Orlando Hudson 2B
Joe Mauer CD
elmon Young RF
Jim Thome DH
Michael Cuddyer 1B
Jason Kubel RF
Danny Valencia 3B
J.J. Hardy SS

Game 1: CC Sabathia's went 2-1 in opening playoff series last year going at least six innings and giving up no more than three runs in each start. Expect a quality start from him tonight.
Twin Killers: Ron Gardenhire's career record against the Yankees is 18-54. The Twins have beaten the Yankees once in the last two years, playoffs included. They are 0-3 against the Yankees in the ALDS. But Angels fans talked about their dominance over the Yankees in last year's ALCS, so be careful now.
Bring Your Gloves: The Twins are playing outdoor baseball in October for the first time. It's actually not supposed to be that cold the next two days with highs reaching 70 degrees, but at night, lows are expected to be in the 40's, so it will be pretty chilly, but nothing crazy.

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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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Post-Game/Pre-Game

An unusual day today in Yankeeland. Last night's game was suspended due to rain after five innings and was continued earlier today before this evenings game. In the suspended game, Derek Jeter hit a solo home run to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. That's the only run scored all game and secured the Yankees victory. Only other thing worth noting is that Mariano Rivera was wild today. I think I counted eight of his 14 pitches were balls. Not a very Mo-like ratio. Anyway here's the lineups for the evening game.

Yankees
Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Thames DH
Cervelli C
Russo LF
Gardner CF

LHP Andy Pettitte

Twins
Span CF
Hudson 2B
Mauer DH
Morneau 1B
Cuddyer RF
Young LF
Hardy SS
Harris 3B
Butera C

LHP Francisco Liriano

Lefites Dueling: Andy Pettitte and Francisco Liriano are both having solid seasons and the lefties squeare off against each other today. They faced each other the last time the two teams met and Pettitte won that battle.
Gardner Sliding: Joe Girardi inserted Nick Swisher in the two-hole and moved Gardner back down into the ninth spot. It seemed as if Gardner's production had declined since moving into the two-hole.
Roster Moves: The Yankee signed Chad Gaudin and added him to the 25-man roster. To accomodate this move Boone Logan was optioned to AAA Scranton and Shane Lindsey was DFA'd.

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Game 85: Yankees at Twins

YANKEES (50-34)
Jeter SS,
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Cabrera LF
Ransom 3B
Gardner CF

Pitching: RHP Alfredo Aceves (5-1, 2.02).

TWINS (43-42)
Span CF
Tolbert 2B
Mauer DH
Morneau 1B
Kubel LF
Cuddyer RF
Buscher 3B
Redmond C
Punto SS

Pitching: LHP Francisco Liriano (4-8, 5.49).

TIME/TV: 1:10 p.m., YES

So Long: This will be the Yankees final game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, as it is closing next year. You'd know this if you watch the YES Network, because they have showed the "Countdown to Starry Nights" at least 3 times a game.

Ace in the hole: Aceves fills in for Chien-Mien Wang today as he makes his first start of the season.

Phil 'er up: Phil Hughes has been dominant since moving to the bullpen. He has pitched 15.2 innings over 11 appearances in the bullpen and has only given up 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and recorded 16 strikeouts.

Listless Liriano: Francisco Liriano has not been the same dominant pitcher since he had Tommy John Surgery.

UPDATE 1:31: Good to see A-Rod feels good enough to steal second off the lefty here. And it was a good idea that Girardi DHed him today instead of having play another day on the artificial turf.

UPDATE 2:09: That Yankees on YES computer thing is such a ripoff. So you can't watch games at the beach, ever hear of a radio?

UPDATE 2:22: It seems that every ball is hit hard against Liriano. He's not fooling anyone on the Yankees right now.

UPDATE 2:45: Uh, this isn't looking good.

UPDATE 2:52: There's something you haven't seen in almost a month, as Big Tex lets go a Big Fly.

UPDATE 3:49: The fact that David Cone even knows who the Jonas Brothers are pisses me off.

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