October 08, 2007

Chien-Ming Wang on the mound for Yanks in Game 4

NewYorkology contributor Scott Ross, a lifelong Red Sox fan, keeps you abreast of upcoming home games in New York City. Ross toils in anonymity for a giant online news aggregator. Here's your look at major league baseball in New York City this week:

The Yankees and manager Joe Torre have survived to live another day with an 8-4 victory over the Indians last night. Now down two games to one in the best-of-five series, Torre has selected to pass over Mike Mussina in favor of sending Chien-Ming Wang out tonight on short rest.

Warning: Because the Red Sox closed out their series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the start of tonight’s game has been pushed back to after 7:30 p.m.

Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees
Monday 7:37 p.m.
Paul Byrd (15-8, 4.59) vs. Chien-Ming Wang (15-8, 3.70)
CMW was beyond ineffective Thursday, surrendering eight runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. He was leaving his sinker up in the zone all night, and then got gun-shy and started missing the dish, walking four batters. It’s impossible to know whether this was a product of too much rest or just an off night. In any event, the script will be flipped tonight, as Wang will be starting on three days of rest, something he’s never done before. The one time he did pitch on short rest, it was in emergency relief of Mussina, when the latter took a drubbing at the hands of the Red Sox back on May 29, 2005.

Paul Byrd, a journeyman starter straight out of central casting, takes the ball for Cleveland. His career ERA is an eyelash better than the league average and he only strikes out 5/9 IP. Byrd had his worst start of the year August 11 against New York, getting touched for seven hits and seven runs in two innings. This not a dream match-up for the Tribe.

New York Yankees at Cleveland Indians
Wednesday 8:30 p.m.
Andy Pettitte (15-9, 4.05) vs. C.C. Sabathia (19-7, 3.21)
If the Yankees prevail tonight – a more than reasonable proposition – Game 2 loser Andy Pettitte will go up against Game 1 winner Sabathia, the results for each running contrary to their performance. Pettitte pitched brilliantly, with 6 1/3 scoreless innings, while Sabathia labored through five innings of 3-run ball.

Post-season Yankees tickets can be purchased online. See NewYorkology's guide to Yankee Stadium for the rundown on how to get there, where to meet, eat and eventually, sit. Also, NY Waterway will run its Yankee Clipper to and from all post-season games at Yankee Stadium.

Register (for free) by October 14 for the option to buy Yankees World Series tickets.

Image credit: Biederlack New York Yankees Woochie Pillow

October 8, 2007 11:45 AM in Kids, Out of Manhattan, Sports

®Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved