After Delay, Yankees Favored in Game Six

NFL News - October 25th, 2009 - Written by John

Saturday was supposed to be the day of redemption for the New York Yankees. The day they finally end the comparison between this ALCS and their last one in 2004. With the comfort of home, Andy Pettitte was supposed to carry the Yankees past collapse and finally punch their ticket to the World Series for the first time since 2003.

That game never happened, though. At around five o' clock the game was deemed unplayable after the field was battered by rain and rescheduled for Sunday. Pettitte has been anxious to get the ball and will be on the mound for Game Six.

“The worst part of it is just the wait. This was the longest day ever. And I was just about to start getting in my routine and they come walking in there and tell me it got canceled,” Pettitte said. “You realize it’s a rainout. Get ready to do it tomorrow. But it’s just frustrating from the standpoint it’s just such a long day, when you’re so ready and so anxious to get the game going.”

New York leads 3-2 over the Los Angeles Angels after falling twice in the late-innings. The Angels have avoided elimination once in Game Five when they scored three runs in the seventh inning to push the series back to the Bronx. John Lackey was nearly flawless in that game, only allowing runs when reliever Darren Oliver inherited a bases-loaded jam and allowed all three runs to score. Those runs went on Lackey's record but didn't overshadow what the righty had done all day through six innings. If the series goes to Game Seven, with the rainout, he might be able to go again on three-days' rest.

Game Six, however, will be a battle between lefties. Facing Pettitte will be south paw Joe Saunders, who is 2-1 lifetime against the Yankees. New York is hitting .302 against Saunders.

If you are doing a bit of MLB Betting, the Yankees are favored in the game by 1 1/2 runs with a +115 payout with the Yankees. The over/under is 9 1/2 accordin to BetUS sportsbook.

The rainout has cause a lot of different scenarios by both teams. The Yankees, more to keep their eye on the World Series. The Angels, for simply surviving another day.

If the Angels win, they will consider going to Lackey, but it is Jered Weaver's spot in the rotation. If he is skipped, he will likely pitch in the first game of the World Series and the rotation will shift from there.

The Yankees, however, are looking further into the future. There was a consideration that the postponement would afford C.C. Sabathia the possibility of pitching in Game Six. He is 3-0 in these playoff with a microscopic 1.19 ERA. But manager Joe Girardi said there is no chance he would skip over Pettitte for Game Six and will hope he can use Sabathia against Cliff Lee in the World Series.

“Andy has pitched in a ton of big, big games in his career. We just like him in this spot. We’re not looking ahead. I don’t think you can afford to look ahead,” Girardi said on Yahoo! Sports. “We’re going to stick with Andy and give CC an extra day...The extra day we think could physically help him.”

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