Yankees poised to clinch in Game 6 tonight
The Yankees are looking to celebrate their first World Series championship since 2000 tonight while the Phillies are just hoping to get to play another day as they meet in Game 6 on what will be a cold and clear night in the Bronx.
CF Shane Victorino, who was questionable after having to leave Monday's game with a bruised right index finger, is in the Phillies lineup. Ben Francisco will start in left with Raul Ibanez the DH. The Phillies stuck with struggling Ryan Howard in the cleanup spot.
The Yankees' lineup includes Nick Swisher in rightfield (he was benched the last time Pedro Martinez started) and Brett Gardner in center in place of injured Melky Cabrera.
The starting pitching matchup features old warriors Pedro Martinez and Andy Pettitte. Both teams will have full bullpens, and Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Game 5 starter A.J. Burnett will be available to pitch in relief. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said all pitchers but LHP Cliff Lee will be available. Manuel said he wouldn't name his Game 7 starter until after tonight's game.
With Pettitte going on three days rest for the first time in the postseason since 2003, Girardi said they will watch what type of swings the Phillies are taking. "If they're squaring balls up all the time, then you know he's not as sharp as he usually is,'' Girardi said. "I think you watch not so much about pitch count, but you watch the outs.''
This is the first Series extended to at least a sixth game since 2003.
Here are the lineups:
PHILLIES
Rollins ss
Victorino cf
Utley 2b
Howard 1
Werth rf
Ibanez DH
Feliz 3b
Francisco lf
Ruiz c
Martinez p
YANKEES
Jeter ss
Damon lf
Teixeira 1b
A-Rod 3b
Matsui dh
Posada c
Cano 2b
Swisher rf
Gardner cf
Pettitte p
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We really do not care. The Yankee team was assembled by huge $$$ and it is thus a meaningless series. Maybe they will give Jeeter another award tonight.
Let's see, they could give him a Pulitzer for causing sports writers to crank out accolades endlessly.
I wish the Yankees would move their Tampa field to New Jersey. Yankee adoration is tiresome, boring, and tedious.It ruins the game.
Why not just give them the trophy in April and save everyone a lot of time and money?
I am still peeved the Rays had to stay in Dover last year.
Posted by: George | November 04, 2009 at 05:00 PM