Game One Will Be A Battle

The New York Yankees will have to face Angels John Lackey for game one as they will also send their ace to the hill with CC Sabathia.

John Lackey is coming off a solid season with 11 wins and 8 losses while holding batters to a 3.83 ERA.

The 30 year old veteran pitcher has had a lot of success with the Yankees in the past, but will be running into a new team centered around 3B Alex Rodriguez.

Although J. Lackey has held Arod to a .176 average off of him, Alex has 4 HR with 6 RBI in 51 at bats against him showing he can take him downtown.

This is a new Alex Rodriguez, who has a lot less pressure on him hitting behind 1B Mark Teixeira.

The two players have been the best #3 and #4 hitters around, as they have helped this team accomplish their goal of winning the ALDS to advance to Friday's game.

The Yankees get a boost from their lead off hitter the captain #2 Derek Jeter, who is one of the biggest winners I have ever seen.

D. Jeter has had very much success against Angels starter J. Lackey, and is one of the best all around shortstops to ever put on a uniform.

DJ has more heart that the body can possibly hold, and along with Arod hit one of the most clutch HR's ever in game one of the ALDS.

The bad news for New York going into the game is that Los Angeles has handled their ace lefty CC Sabathia very well hitting a combined .297 off him starting with the great CF Torii Hunter.

Torii Hunter has risen to the lights of being one of the better outfielders in the game since arriving to the big leagues, and was a vital signing for the Angels during this past off season.

T. Hunter has solved CC without an issue going 20 for 68 off him with 3 HR 17 RBI with 8 doubles.

Torii is at the point where the Boston Red Sox intentionally walked him in game 3 of the ALDS to pitch to Vladmir Guerrero, and it was a justified decision.

Who ever would have thought that T. Hunter would reach those heights?

Another thing that would have to scare Yankees skipper Joe Girardi during game one will be the name Bobby Abreu.

Bobby is a former Yankee who has one of the better swings in the game, and does have the ability to hang with lefties on the mound driving the ball the other way.

CC hasn't faced B. Abreu very much, but I have a feeling if he can get by him that the Yankees pitching staff will still have to buckle down against him.

After acknowledging the Angel offense you would have to take a look at New York's bullpen.

Now with Joba Chamberlain back in the pen you are looking at a team that can be very dangerous in the later innings.

Joba looks like a different man out of the bullpen throwing nothing but absolute smoke.

If you look at J. Chamberlain's numbers against the Angels you wouldn't have any comfort, but if you watched his demeanor in the ALDS you would change your opinion.

Phil Hughes has enjoyed his transformation to the bullpen, and has reinvented himself although I do think he can one day be a starter.

The thing is if him and Joba Chamberlain are going to be that dominant out of the pen, why even think of starting them?

Oh and lets not forget Yankee closer Mariano Rivera who has held his own against the Halos, and expect him to make an impact in the ALCS.

The man with the most career post season saves is on his way to being the greatest closer in the history of the game, and that goes for everyone.

This should be a great Series between two teams that have explosive offenses backed up by terrific pitching so it should be interesting.