I know what you’re thinking, damn Daniel you’re getting a
little bit ahead of yourself aren’t you? To be frank, yes I am. It’s a slow
news day, the Yankees have little to nothing to play for and when I have time
on my hands I think and overanalyze almost everything in my life. It’s a fault
and I can’t see me changing that, it’s just something I have learned to deal
with. Anyway the Yankees have a plan for if the team gets past the AL Wild Card
round so why shouldn’t I, right?
Luis Severino took his regular turn on Friday in the first
game of the three game set with the Baltimore Orioles and that is not a
coincidence that he did. Masahiro Tanaka is perfectly lined up to pitch the
Wild Card Game on October, 6 on five days rest where the Yankees feel he
pitches his best baseball and Luis Severino is perfectly lined up to pitch on
October, 8 in Game One of the ALDS on five days of rest as well. Following
Severino in a hypothetical ALDS would be Michael Pineda would could pitch Game
Two of the series on October, 9 after last pitching in Game 162 on October, 4. Giving Pineda regular rest, and not regular rest like CC Sabathia, Tanaka and Severino benefit from, is uber-important to the success of the Yankees this postseason.
Tanaka, assuming he would pitch on just four days rest this
time around, would be available again on October, 11 for Game Three of the
series. CC Sabathia would have a ton of rest heading into Game Four, 11 days
rest to be exact, while Severino would be available for a do-or-die Game Five.
Looking at it this way and assuming the bats show up and the
pitching pitches the way they are capable of pitching you have to think the
Yankees at least have a shot to reach the ALCS. In a five game series anything
can happen, a team can get hot, lucky or a combination of both and win three
games. While the better team usually tends to win a best-of-seven series you
face a lot of uncertainty in a five-game series. The Toronto Blue Jays, or the
Kansas City Royals if they make a move, would have much more to lose in a
potential ALDS than the Yankees giving them more of a relaxed atmosphere and
vibe heading into the series. I’m not saying the Yankees are going to win the
ALDS, and I am far from guaranteeing a victory in the AL Wild Card playoff
game, I’m just saying I am more confident than most and I am hoping this post
makes you more confident too.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)