by Brian on August 4, 2008 at 1:31AM
We've come to the point of the season where we can break it down into easy-to-digest slices. This is what the season comes down to at this point:

  • 10-game road trip
  • 3-game home stand
  • 6-game road trip
  • 6-game home stand
  • 10-game road trip
  • 10-game home stand
  • 6-game road trip
That's it. That's all that's left of this season. All told, 32 on the road, 19 at home. Not exactly the type of split you'd want to see. Of those 51 games, 25 are against teams who have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs. A little less than half. They have 6 left against the Rays, so the 5.5 game deficit is still something they can take care of on their own. They have 6 left with the Sox as well.

But we've gotten ahead of ourselves a bit. The point of this post is to take a look at that first slice. The 10-game road trip the Yanks will start later tonight in Texas. Worst-case, the Yanks have to finish this road trip 5-5. Absolute worst-case. I'd like to see something like 7-3, if at all possible, but no worse than .500.

After the jump we'll take a look at the upcoming road trip, game-by-game.

Here are the pitching match-ups for the 10 games, and where I see the advantage:
  • 8/4 - Joba vs. Padilla (advantage Yanks)
  • 8/5 - Pettitte vs. Harrison (advantage Yanks)
  • 8/6 - Ponson vs. Hunter (advantage Yanks? Ponson has the hate factor on his side)
  • 8/7 - Mussina vs. Feldman (advantage Yanks)
  • 8/8 - Rasner vs. Weaver (advantage Angels)
  • 8/9 - Joba vs. Lackey (easily the best match-up, I'm calling it a wash)
  • 8/10 - Pettitte vs. Saunders (advantage Angels, considering Pettitte's last start)
  • 8/11 - Ponson vs. Baker (advantage Twins)
  • 8/12 - Mussina vs Blackburn (advantage Yanks)
  • 8/13 - Rasner vs. Slowey (advantage Twins)
Out of the 10 games, I'd say the Yanks have a clear pitching advantage in four games, two are up in the air, and they have a disadvantage in four games. Obviously, a lot can change in the next 10 days, and every single one of these games will be played on the road, possibly without Mo at the back end of the pen. Is 7-3 reaching? Should we be hoping for 5-5?

Probably, but that's not good enough. The Yanks have put themselves in a position where they can't afford to play .500 ball for 20% of their remaining games, especially when Boston plays 6 of their 10 games against the Royals and Rangers and the Rays get to beat up on Cleveland, Seattle and Oakland.

The Yanks may just have to go 7-3 on this trip to keep pace with the two teams ahead of them in the East.

In other news, the stache is dead, long live the stache.



Also on the Network:
√ Four Straight? [Depressed Fan]
√ A Little Help? [Depressed Fan]
√ The first taco [Cobra Brigade]




[August 4, 2008 10:09 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Aaron said

Endurance will be a sign of what we'll be able to do in the play-offs. Joba vs. Lackey (on 8/9)could be a preview of a game 1 scenario.

btw- from the last post: to all you FARTSworthless fans.... he gave up 2, that's right 2 home runs to the Rays in the 8th last night to screw his new team over (and us as well). Still think that trade was a bad idea?

He finally showed his true colors. We got Bruney back, not that I'm saying I have total faith in him. At least he'll fight for his spot though. Especially since there are a few guys waitin in the wings down in AAA.

Finally I'd like to say that we should all keep our fingers crossed that Mariano is OK. Get him a damn heat pad or some active on STAT!

[August 4, 2008 10:44 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian replied to Aaron

I'm really looking forward to that Joba vs. Lackey game. It's funny, Moose has 14 wins, Pettitte has 12, Wang won 38 over the past two seasons, but whenever I look at the Yanks' upcoming schedule it's always the Joba starts that I count as wins.

Is there any question that he's the ace of the staff already? If game 7 of the W.S. was tomorrow, who would you want starting for the Yanks?

[August 4, 2008 10:31 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Cam said

In your opinion, how do the advantages swing if Rasner is replaced by Kennedy (something that I think will happen given yesterday and Ponson's masterpiece on Friday)? Even though we pounded him, I think Weaver still has the advantage considering history and he's at home, but I don't know enough about Slowey.

[August 4, 2008 10:41 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian replied to Cam

I thought about that and Kennedy doesn't really change anything in either game. I'd love to say he's going to pitch like he did in '07 when he came up, but what he did for the Yanks in '08 isn't really much of an improvement over Rasner. Obviously, we're all hoping for more out of him, and expecting more, but Weaver has a track record and Slowey has pitched pretty well this season.

[August 4, 2008 12:09 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Aaron said

Brian-

What's the plan with Pavano? Are they going to actually try to get something from him this season?

Is he signed through next season? Or are we Pavano-free next year?

[August 4, 2008 12:10 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian replied to Aaron

We're Pavano free in '09, thank God.

I'm not sure what they're planning with him. I'm hoping he's an emergency option if Hughes can't come back and/or Kennedy falters when he returns to the Bronx. Nothing more.

[August 4, 2008 6:09 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Gerry said

Brian - You read my mind...not a whole lot of season left.

Tonight is big. It would be nice to see Joba assert himself.

I'm fairly confident that the Rays will wake up in September and see that they're in a race...they will soil themselves. However we need NYY to be remain close enough so that they can reel in Tampa.

AL Central runner-up bears watching too.

[August 4, 2008 11:51 PM]  |  link  |  reply
tom said

so who would want farnsworth to pitch to byrd tonight??? pudge 0-4 and called a terrible game.. did well all forget that the pen was our strong point before this ludacris trade?? jobas hurt jeter and arod cant hit in the clutch season is over im mailing it in