Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
October 15, 2003
Playoffs Today

The Red Sox face off against the Yankees this afternoon with John Burkett opposing lefty Andy Pettitte. Here's what I wrote about Burkett before the rainout on Sunday:


John Burkett is 0-6 vs. the Yankees in the regular season, but 1-0 in the playoffs. The first time he ever faced the Yankees was in the 1996 Division Series when he was a starter for the Texas Rangers. He pitched a complete game, allowing only two runs. (It's the only post-season game the Rangers have ever won; they are 1-9 vs. the Yankees.) Interestingly, his only other good start against the Yankees was his last, on July 26th of this year. He went 5 2/3 shutout innings in that one.

Looking at the matchups vs. Burkett, it's hard to find a Yankee who doesn't hit him well. Posada is one who's had the most trouble; he's 0 for 10 with 1 walk. Giambi doesn't have much of an average against Burkett (8 for 35), but four of his hits have been home runs.


The last time Burkett pitched, he was in a similar situation, trying to turn the ultimate game of the series into the penultimate game. He was mediocre, but the Red Sox bullpen and offense bailed him out. If he pitches that way again today, I don't think the Red Sox will survive.

Boston is in a bad situation, facing a lefty on the road, two things they have not been good at this year. Red Sox fans have to hope that Pettitte has his annual "bad playoff outing" today. In every year from 1996 on, there seems to be one game during the post season in which Andy gets hammered. It happened in the Division Series last year; it happened in game 6 vs. Arizona; it happened in the last game of the Division Series against Oakland in 2000; it happend in the World Series sweep of Atlanta in 1999; it happened in the LCS vs. Cleveland in 1998; it happened in game 5 of the Division Series vs. Cleveland in 1997; and it happened in his first World Series start vs. Atlanta in 1996. Will Pettitte have his blow up today, or will he wait for the World Series?

The night cap should be lots of fun. Game 7, Wrigley field, two good pitchers on the mound. Mark Redman faces Kerry Wood in a rematch of game three. Remember, Redman pitched Wood pretty even. Both went 6 2/3, with Redman giving up one more hit and one more walk, but Wood giving up one more run. Like the Red Sox, the Cubs are weak when a lefty starts against them. It's a real toss-up. Everyone except Prior and Pavano will be in the bullpen. Will Dusty have someone up in time? Will both managers waste outs with one-run strategies? Will the wind be blowing out? Will the fans hands be kept in? And the question I'm sure all Cubs fans are asking, "What bone-headed thing will the Cubs do to lose again?"

We'll know the answers tonight. Enjoy!


Posted by David Pinto at 11:45 AM | League Championship Series | TrackBack (0)