…anybody’s guess at this point. There are plenty of options available, but none of them really good options. Here’s aquick rundown:
1. CC Sabathia: Yes, it would mean the big guy would be going on short rest. There’s a good chance CC needs a breather, since he certainly hasn’t looked like a 20 game winner over his three previous starts (1-2, 5.19 ERA) going into last night. But when looking at the rest of the list, he may be the Yankees best option.
2. AJ Burnett: The Yankees aren’t paying him nearly $83 million to be a long reliever. But then, I doubt they paid him that kind of cash to post a 10-15 record with an ERA north of 5 this season, either. Simply put, with AJ it’s a crapshoot. If he gets the nod in game 4, the long relief better start getting warmed up in the first inning. Or we may be treated to the second ever post-season no-hitter. Who knows?
3. Ivan Nova: Start a rookie with 7 major league starts in the playoffs, in what might be the most crucial game of the year? Yikes. If the team is up 3-0 against their opponent, maybe. But Nova has had trouble getting out of the fifth inning, making him ideally suited to a long-relief role.
4. Javier Vazquez: 2004. Dead arm. Hit three consecutive batters in his last appearance. Quite frankly, if he’s even on the post-season roster I’ll be amazed. But such is the state of the rotation that the Yankee brass has to at least consider it.
5. Dustin Moseley: Moseley has playoff experience. Ok, it was one inning in the 2007 ALDS for the Angels. But he hasn’t been awful since getting called up in July, which is saying a lot when compared to options 2 & 4.
6. Sergio Mitre: Joe Girardi seems to have a soft spot for Mitre; otherwise, how to explain his being on the team? If he gets the start in game 4 it means the Yankees are making plans to attend Oktoberfest, not the World Series.
So, what do you think? Should the game 4 starter be one of the above, or someone else?
Oh – and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for great in game commentary!
M. B. Rozell
Kevin Rozell
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