I think the key for the Yankees this series, and probably through the whole postseason if they get further is Mike Mussina. In previous years, he pitched good, but not great, which was ok with Clemens, Pettitte and Wells on the staff. Now, he really needs to step it up and be the guy you can count on to win in a big spot. If he does, the Yankees should be ok. If not, I don't think there's anyone else on the staff you can really count on, and the Yankees could be in trouble.
Right now, the only 2 definites for the Yankees rotation are Mussina in Game 1, Leiber in game 2. Doesn't look like El Duque will be able to go, so I guess it will be up to Vazquez and Brown in games 3 and 4. Yankees offense is really going to have to do it in those games. Vazquez has pitched good enough to keep the team from being out of the game in the 2nd inning lately, and no better than that. Brown looked good against Toronto, but didn't get out of the first inning against Boston, so who knows with him.
Santana will be tough to beat. Yankees are going to need to take pitches, and get to the bullpen, and hopefully steal a game against him. After that, none of the Twins pitchers scare me. I say it will be the same as last year.
Yankees lose game 1, come back to sweep the next 3 and win the series 3-1, but I'm not all that confident with that prediction, and I wouldn't be shocked to see it go the other way.
Either way, should be a fun series!
Right now, the only 2 definites for the Yankees rotation are Mussina in Game 1, Leiber in game 2. Doesn't look like El Duque will be able to go, so I guess it will be up to Vazquez and Brown in games 3 and 4. Yankees offense is really going to have to do it in those games. Vazquez has pitched good enough to keep the team from being out of the game in the 2nd inning lately, and no better than that. Brown looked good against Toronto, but didn't get out of the first inning against Boston, so who knows with him.
Santana will be tough to beat. Yankees are going to need to take pitches, and get to the bullpen, and hopefully steal a game against him. After that, none of the Twins pitchers scare me. I say it will be the same as last year.
Yankees lose game 1, come back to sweep the next 3 and win the series 3-1, but I'm not all that confident with that prediction, and I wouldn't be shocked to see it go the other way.
Either way, should be a fun series!
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