What's at Stake

So this series against the Red Sox is all but meaningless in the standings, so elite players on both sides might want to be placed in hyperbaric chambers or wrapped gently in tissue paper with the care of shipping precious lladros to prevent injury.* 

But for all that has gone right for these Yanks, particularly in the second half, the specter of the starting pitcher matchups in a post-season series give me the willies.  Would you rather
have Josh Beckett's post-season resume or CC Sabathia's?
CC has clearly demonstrated his experience at turning into a pumpkin--a really BIG pumpkin, we're talking slam dunk blue ribbon at the county fair--as soon as the bunting goes up on the stands.    And while Beckett's second half troubles are encouraging, it seems a bit much to think he'll have his hat dusted off and handed to him with a cavalier "I believe you dropped this - good day sir!" when the calendar switches to Rocktober.

But beyond that, the Jon Lester and the previously highly-touted-but-temporarily-banished-for-seasoning Clay Bucholz are having one great start after another, even when the decision doesn't betray that.  And what Yankee starters can match them if they continue anything
like this current trend?  Andy Pettitte might - for about four innings. He's been so brilliant the first half of each game that the Joba rules might be more appropriate for him so he can cut out before the wheels fly off the oxcart.
And what of Joba?  Even when he's pitched well, his nibbling and pitch counts against pedestrian teams make you shudder to think how he'd do against a patient Red Sox team**. 

And then there's AJ Burnett, aka the second coming of Kenny Rogers.  The Gambler had the hotfoots, AJ does the pies.  Their relaxed attitude and penchant for monkeyshine on non-pitching days do not seem to translate to throwing strikes when they are actually on the mound in pressure games.  I guess we can just hope Burnett imitates more of the  Kenny Rogers version from the "pine tar era" of aught-6.

So the best that can come out of this weekend's series against Boston is a demonstration of the Yanks' ability to beat some of their hot starters***. Crimany, even Daisuke came back and pitched well last week, so the Yanks have to make that look like an abberation.  And facing Paul Byrd on Sunday?  Tough to find meaning in that one, whatever the outcome, though Pettitte has to look post-season ready.  Unfortunately, no tests against Beckett or Bucholz this weekend.

Either way, if the Red Sox shut down the offense in this series, the potential matchup of these
teams in the ALCS will result in a run on Maalox at your local Duane Reade.

Post script post:

*If only I could have gotten to Jon Lester before he headed out there!  Actually, a contusion on his quad sounds like he won't miss a single batter this season.  I would be tempted to make fun of him for reacting like someone dropped an anvil on his kneecaps, but the bloke beat cancer so he gets a pass on that and any other future lines drives that trampoline off him.  Plus, if it happened to me I'd probably crawl into the fetal position and wet myself.  Thankfully, this wasn't another Bryce Florie instance, aka Ryan Thompson's ticket to youtube.

**Well now that was pretty efficient last night, wasn't it.  More of that!

***Game one, mission accomplished.