YankeesRedSox.com: Who Do You Want In Game 7?

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As the Yankees talk about setting their rotation, it seems to me that Game 7 should play a big part of the discussion. We pretty much know the rotation is going to line up like this:

Game 1- CC
Game 2- Pettitte/Hughes
Game 3- Pettitte/Hughes
Game 4- AJ
Gmae 5- CC
Game 6- Pettitte/Hughes
Game 7- Pettitte/Hughes

The Yankees could bite the bullet and try and pitch Sabathia on short rest twice (Games 4+7) but I think we will only see that if they are down 2-1 or 3-0 heading into Game 4. Assuming they are ahead, they will give the ball to AJ.

That means you have a choice of Pettitte or Hughes in Game 7. It's a tough call. Pitching Hughes in Game 2 means both his starts are on the road in this series and he has a career ERA of 0 at the Ballpark in Arlington and has allowed only 3 hits in 15 innings. Pettitte has been awful in Texas, posting an 8.22ERA in 38 innings. But I still think that of the two, Pettitte is the guy I want with the ball in his hands and the season on the line. I say give Hughes the ball in Games 2+6 and let Andy take it in Games 3+7.

Comments

You've got to use Pettite in game 3. It gives you a chance to beat Cliff Lee (the old Pedro Martinez strategy: the Yankees beat Pedro at his best more than half the time because guys like Mike Mussina would keep it close until they could get to the bullpen).

Also, don't blow both your lefties in Texas. You have to pitch your lefties at Yankee Stadium. This ain't rocket science. This would give you Pettite in Game 3 and Sabathia in Game 5, to make up for (gasp) Burnett in Game 4.

Posted by: Corey | October 13, 2010 03:17 PM |

You're both right - it's CC, Hughes then Pettite.

Posted by: Mitchell | October 13, 2010 07:59 PM |