New York Yankees: Live for another day (with the best on the bench)
By Cole Hoyt, Contributing Writer and Loyal Yankees Fan
It seems like the only think that can stop the Detroit Tigers from winning is the rain. Wednesday’s night game was postponed due to rain in Detroit. But on a day that no baseball was played, a lot happened. New York Yankees Captain, Derek Jeter will have ankle surgery this Saturday. He is expected to make a full recovery in 4-5 months. Both general managers, Brian Cashman for the Yankees and Dave Dombrowski of the Tigers meet before the game and declared that the rain would eventually hit the stadium and make the playing conditions impractical. This mini-rest may be exactly what the Yankees need to prevent them from being swept in the American League Championship Series.
The big story Wednesday night was the fact the slugger, Alex Rodriguez was not in the line up again. This post season he is only 3 for 23. Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson was also benched after only going 3 for 29 this postseason. In game three, Nick Swisher was benched for going 4 for 26 in this same stretch. The Yankees really have to pull off a miracle Thursday night, when game four is rescheduled. As crazy as this sounds, the New York Yankees are going into game four with only a .200 batting average this postseason. It is obvious that the Yankees are slumping in the worst time possible. To add to the bad timing, the rain delay will force the Yankees to use another starter besides ace, CC Sabathia in game seven, if it comes to that. The good news is that it has been done before and anything is possible. The Yankees remember the 2004 Boston Red Sox who rallied against them and came back from a 3-0 deficit to move on and win the World Series.
With A-Rod on the bench there have been rumors according to an ESPN report that the Yankees President Randy Levine and Miami Marlins owner Jeffery Loria talked about star third baseman playing in Miami next season. However, the good news for Yankees fans is that Brain Cashman said that Rodriguez has not been scratched from the Yankees long term plans. With CC Sabathia starting game 4, Andy Pettitte would start on Friday’s game 5 and Hiroki Kuroda would take the hill to start game 6. If the Yankees pull off a miracle, then the Yankees could either start Phil Hughes, David Phelps, or Derek Lowe. But that means that the Yankees can’t lose. It will be interesting to see how the Yankees come out on Thursday. In order to win, they need to put the past three games behind them and be relaxed for the game. The Yankees are already beyond stressed with being down in a 3-0 deficit, there captain out for the season, and their best bats slumping. With the Yankees starts all on the bench, it is up to the rest of the crew to fill in. However, this is easily said than done. The Yankees must count on the role players to become postseason heroes Thursday night.
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