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Whether Watch

Here’s hoping every forecast I have read today is pessimistic.

In the mean time, if you are looking for something to do between family time/chores/college football action, read about cracks in the concrete at YS3, a cup-o-fact that is filled to the brim with metaphor and juicy innuendo. ht: YF

19 replies on “Whether Watch”

I’ve been following some of the articles about how a rain-out tonight might affect the Yankees’ rotation assuming they make it to the World Series.
Girardi seems to be saying he’ll stand pat with Petitte, even if Game 6 is pushed to Sunday, and even though that would likely mean CC would only be available for two games in a seven-game World Series.
But wouldn’t it make more sense for him to throw CC on Sunday in that scenario (reserving AP for a theoretical Monday Game 7 if necessary) so that if they win CC could pitch 1/4/7 in the WS?
IDGI. Of course this may become academic since MLB will likely try to squeeze this one in barring a full-fledged tsunami tonight. The rain tapered off here in the mid-Hudson Valley around 2 pm, so it may well be that it will have abated in Manhattan by gametime.

mean CC would >>> mean CC could
[CC only being available for 2 games of course is predicated on both a rainout tonight and a Halos win v. Andy on Sunday.]

Why would it make sense to throw CC on Sunday in case of a rainout? The Series starts on Wednesday. He won’t be pitching on two days’ rest.
Girardi’s decision is the right, and obvious, one.

Also, if Sabathia pitches at all again this series he will only be available for 2 games in the World Series – guaranteed.
But, thank god Girardi went with his ace in Game 4, and “genius” Scoscia went with Saunders in Game 2 and Kazmir in Game 4. That might be the difference in the series right there.

Andrew is 100% right: there is absolutely no reason to pitch CC until a Game 7, whether that is tomorrow or Monday. You wait to use a guy who could pitch 1/4/7 in the Series, your best pitcher, until you have to. And that is only a Game 7, not a postponed Game 6.

Andrew et al., either I’m missing something big or you really need to look at a calendar.
If there is a rainout tonight, and then the Angels win against Andy P. on Sunday, then CC would have to pitch Monday. Which would mean that Girardi would not be able to use CC in Game 1, and maybe not in Game 2 either, unless he wants to have him go yet again on 3 days rest. Either way, you risk only getting CC twice in a seven-game World Series, instead of in 1/4/7.
Moreover, pitching Sabathia on Sunday means keeping him on schedule. If the game goes forward tonight, and the Yankees lose, Sabathia pitches on Sunday.
Hence it makes some sense to say “He’s pitching Sunday if we either lose tonight or are rained out.”
Capice?

SF: Your comment makes zero sense to me.
If the priority is making sure that Sabathia can go 1/4/7 in a World Series, then there is no way on earth Girardi would want pitch him on Monday. Unless you are prepared to have CC start Game 1 on Wednesday on just two days rest.

Further reading…
Verducci:
Game 6 is especially important to the Yankees when it comes to their World Series rotation. The Yankees do not want to use a fourth starter in the World Series, which starts on Wednesday. The New York blueprint has CC Sabathia in place to start Games 1, 4 and 7. But if the Angels win ALCS Game 6, then Sabathia has to start ALCS Game 7 on Sunday — which means the earliest he could start in the World Series would be Game 2 on short rest, and he effectively would be limited to two starts. And if rain washes out Game 6 on Saturday and the Yankees need a Game 7 on Monday to win the pennant, then Sabathia wouldn’t take the ball until Game 3.
Sporting News:
Here is what the Phillies really are rooting for: an Angels win in Game 6 and a 23-inning, rain-delayed game on Sunday in Game 7. Whoever (CC Sabathia, for example) starts a potential Game 7 on Sunday would be unavailable to start Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday and would pitch on short rest if he started Game 2 on Thursday.
Girardi in the Daily News:
With rain in the forecast Saturday night, Joe Girardi was asked if he would entertain the thought of skipping Andy Pettitte in Game 6 in favor of CC Sabathia, who would be lined up to pitch on normal four days’ rest Sunday after winning Game 4 in Anaheim on three days’ rest.
Uh, no.
“We plan on Andy starting our next game for us,” Girardi said. “I’ve heard reports that we’re going to get (tonight’s) game in and I’ve heard other reports (of rain). So we’re planning on playing…and Andy is pitching. We don’t really have any plans of changing our rotation.”

Hudson, do you understand that pitching CC on Sunday GUARANTEES he won’t start Game 1 of the WS, which starts on Wednesday. Why would the Yankees choose to cripple themselves when they might not have to?
Consider the scenarios:
Game is tonight, they start Pettitte, they win, all is good. They lose, start Sabathia on Sunday.
Game is tomorrow, they start Pettitte, they win, all is good. They lose, they start Sabathia on Monday, and he can’t start 3 games in the WS. They start Sabathia, they win, Sabathia can’t start Game 1 of the WS. They lose, and win Pettitte’s start, then they have Burnett slated to start 3 games in the WS.
So, the ideal situation in BOTH cases is to start Pettitte and win. Starting Sabathia gives them absolutely no advantage when looking at the WS.
I really don’t think this is hard to understand, but maybe I am missing something as well?

I think I understand the problem.
Hudson, ‘days rest’ means days where the pitcher does not pitch. Starting Sabathia on Sunday would mean he would have to start Wednesday on two days’ rest. Monday and Tuesday would be the days he doesn’t pitch. Get it?

Bad break for the Yankees, they have to face Weaver instead of Saunders…and Lackey is likely to go Monday on short rest.

Andrew, I still think you’re missing it. If Sabathia isn’t used Sunday, then there’s a chance the Yankees don’t use him until GAME 3. Verducci’s precise point above.
I guess we just disagree on the value of rolling the dice on Pettitte winning Sunday. Lose that coin toss (and it was indeed a dead heat on the last such matchup) and the Phillies have a lot to celebrate.

Hudson, the dropoff between Sabathia pitching Game 2 and Game 3 is so, so, so much smaller than him simply not pitching Game 1.
The ONLY way Sabathia pitches Game 1 is if Pettitte starts tomorrow and wins. NO OTHER SCENARIO has him pitching Game 1.
Why on earth would the Yankees GUARANTEE themselves that Sabathia would not pitch Game 1 of the World Series? In what universe does that make any sense whatsoever?

The major difference between game 1 and game 2/3 is that CC starts 3 games instead of 2.
1-4-7
2-5 (or 6)
3-6 (or 7)
So ya. The extra day doesn’t matter, and it’s now moot anyhow.. maybe.

Wouldn’t it be more of a story if the mob wasn’t involved in pouring NYC concrete? Hell, if they couldn’t be bothered with properly fireproofing the WTC, you think they care about structural integrity of YS 2.0?
As for Hudson, isn’t it clear that he’s trolling? There’s no other explanation for how an SF can be confused about the availability of CC in Game 1 of the WS.
To break it down:
Girardi seems to be saying he’ll stand pat with Petitte, even if Game 6 is pushed to Sunday, and even though that would likely mean CC would only be available for two games in a seven-game World Series.
When the Yankees win tonight maybe you’ll figure it out. CC starts Game 1 (and 4).
But wouldn’t it make more sense for him to throw CC on Sunday in that scenario (reserving AP for a theoretical Monday Game 7 if necessary) so that if they win CC could pitch 1/4/7 in the WS?
That’s not possible. It would mean he starts Game 1 on two days rest. Try again.

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