MLB 2007 AL Division Series #1 Preview
New York Yankees vs Cleveland Indians
Season Series: 6-0 Yankees
Starting Pitching: Here is the Yankees weakness. Led by Cy Young candidate Chieng-Ming Wang, who went 19-7 with a solid 3.70 ERA in '07 will take the ball in game 1 and likely game four, if necessary. He has solid stuff and should keep the Indian hitters off-balance this series. He'll be followed by Andy Pettite, who returns to the Yankees after a 2-year hiatus in Houston. The question for the Yankees is whether the aging Pettite can win a game in the playoffs. The same can be asked of potential game 3 starter Rocket Roger Clemens. The Rocket is coming off a hamstring injury and how deep he can pitch is questionable. Mike Mussina had an off-year and it's a question mark how effective he'll be this year. As for the Indians they have a Cy Young candidtate in lefty C.C. Sabathia. He's tough on lefties and has strong movement in his pitches. Fausto Camano is equally as good but is inexperienced. Paul Byrd and Jake Westbrooke both suffer from inconsistency. Edge: Indians
Bullpen: The Indians boast a bullpen that is suspect and inconstent at best. Closer Joe Borowski tends to make things interesting in the ninth and the Yankee top hitters in Jeter and A-Rod are both solid against him. The Yankees have a one-two punch in the back end in the aging Mariano Rivera who looked very human at times this season and youngster Joba Chamberlain edge: Yankees
Hitting: In the second half, the Yankee hitters caught fire out-scoring opponents by a whopping 172 runs since the all-star break. The trick will be contuuing it into October. The Indians have a balanced line-up that can hurt you in every place in the order. Edge: Yankees
The Yankees will win if: Their young hitters like Melky Cabrera, step up and perform in the clutch. If Alex Rodriguez hits like the MVP favourite Alex Rodriguez hit since April
The Indians will win if: their starting pitchers go deep into games and the hitters build a sizable lead heading into the ninth.
Prediction: Yankees in 4
Season Series: 6-0 Yankees
Starting Pitching: Here is the Yankees weakness. Led by Cy Young candidate Chieng-Ming Wang, who went 19-7 with a solid 3.70 ERA in '07 will take the ball in game 1 and likely game four, if necessary. He has solid stuff and should keep the Indian hitters off-balance this series. He'll be followed by Andy Pettite, who returns to the Yankees after a 2-year hiatus in Houston. The question for the Yankees is whether the aging Pettite can win a game in the playoffs. The same can be asked of potential game 3 starter Rocket Roger Clemens. The Rocket is coming off a hamstring injury and how deep he can pitch is questionable. Mike Mussina had an off-year and it's a question mark how effective he'll be this year. As for the Indians they have a Cy Young candidtate in lefty C.C. Sabathia. He's tough on lefties and has strong movement in his pitches. Fausto Camano is equally as good but is inexperienced. Paul Byrd and Jake Westbrooke both suffer from inconsistency. Edge: Indians
Bullpen: The Indians boast a bullpen that is suspect and inconstent at best. Closer Joe Borowski tends to make things interesting in the ninth and the Yankee top hitters in Jeter and A-Rod are both solid against him. The Yankees have a one-two punch in the back end in the aging Mariano Rivera who looked very human at times this season and youngster Joba Chamberlain edge: Yankees
Hitting: In the second half, the Yankee hitters caught fire out-scoring opponents by a whopping 172 runs since the all-star break. The trick will be contuuing it into October. The Indians have a balanced line-up that can hurt you in every place in the order. Edge: Yankees
The Yankees will win if: Their young hitters like Melky Cabrera, step up and perform in the clutch. If Alex Rodriguez hits like the MVP favourite Alex Rodriguez hit since April
The Indians will win if: their starting pitchers go deep into games and the hitters build a sizable lead heading into the ninth.
Prediction: Yankees in 4
posted by opinionator777 at 4:46 PM
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