The Yankees won a big one the other night, but their work for the season isn’t done yet, and tonight they’ll face a pesky Florida Marlins team that generated some high-caliber drama of its own on the way to Yankee Stadium. I haven’t had much time to think analytically about this series at all — right now, I’m just happy to be here — but Aaron Gleeman has done his usual fine job of previewing things.
To me the real issues are as follows, but you’ll have to check elsewhere for the numbers since I’ve got one foot out the door:
* Both rotations are in disarray because their managers showed uncommon flexibility in using starters in relief, especially in Game Sevens. Game One starter Brad Penny got shelled twice in his starts, but has pitched well in relief. Another potential starter down the line, Dontrelle Willis, looks pretty much cooked at this point in the season and might be of dubious value — or hey, he could be the sleeper here.
* the Marlins KILL lefties, of which the Yanks have two, including tonight’s starter, David Wells. See Kid Gleeman’s fine work.
* the Fish don’t really have an answer for the Yanks’ lefties coming out of the bullpen.
* though he hasn’t hit much in October, the Yanks will suffer without Nick Johnson in their lineup for the middle three games, perhaps as much in the field (where Jason Giambi will play, injured knee and all) as at the plate.
* Jack McKeon can only mix and match starters in relief for so long before he leaves his rotation short-handed in a key game.
* the Yanks have a huge experience edge, but they’ve also shown their age this October, particularly in the field. They’ve got all the pressure on them, while the Fish have almost none.
This is anything but automatic for the Yanks, and I’m really doing a half-assed job with these five minutes of analysis (hey, I do have a life beyond this page), so I won’t actually make a prediction. But I think if the Yanks can shake off their hangovers, they’ve got a good shot here. I’ll be back tomorrow with my account of Game One.