Burnett Ready To Go Up 2-0 Vs Twins

The New York Yankees come into tonight's game with a lot going for their lineup that has had a lot of success off Twins starter Nick Blackburn.

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They also have the momentum coming off of a 7-2 win in game one, and hitting 244 HR's as a team during the regular season.


Tonights starter for Minnesota will have a difficult lineup starting with lead off hitter #2 the captain Derek Jeter.


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Derek has a lifetime .429 average off N Blackburn with 3 hits in 7 trips blasting a home with 3 runs batted in.

D. Jeter had the clutch hit in game one sweeping the carpet right out from under the Minnesota Twins when he tied the game with a 2 run HR.

This man is always ready when October starts.

Then after Derek will come a very tough left handed hitter with surprising power Johnny Damon.

Johnny has a HR, and 3 hits in his 11 at bats off tonight's starter, but his stroke has found the right field porch at the new Yankee Stadium all year.

Then you have the possible American League Most Valuable Player Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira has 6 hits in 6 at bats off of N. Blackburn with a HR and 5 RBI.

Another tough out in tonight's ball game for N. Blackburn will be one of the biggest power threats in the game today 3B Alex Rodriguez, who has 3 hits in 9 at bats off him with a HR.

Arod is coming off a nice game one with 2 hits and 4 RBIs, and is looking to carry New York to a 2 game to nothing lead.

Jorge Posada will be crying on the bench as manager Joe Girardi decided to go with the obvious decision of making Hideki Matsui the designated hitter in the #5 slot.

Hideki has been the best DH in Baseball so moving him to prevent one players feelings from being hurt would be ridiculous especially in a playoff game.

H. Matsui has swung the bat really well down the stretch, and will look to do what he did in game one after he had hit a monstrous two run HR.

To take away the favorable lefty right match ups with Minnesota Joe Girardi elected to bump Nick Swisher up into the #6 hole while keeping 2B Robinson Cano at # 7.

N. Swisher had a huge hit in game one, when he roped an RBI double down the left field line to take an early 3-2 lead.

Nick has been a crucial part of this teams chemistry providing them with one of the best seasons in his career.

Then you get down to the last 3 slots starting with Robinson Cano.

Robby has had no success against Twins Nick Blackburn going 0 for 8 off him, but I wouldn't look to the stats when he comes to what he will do in tonight's game.

R. Cano is a big player waiting to break out into one of the games best hitters, as he has one of the best swings in the Baseball.

His good buddy CF Melky Cabrera will follow into the #8 slot, He had a solid season with a .274 average while bashing 13 home runs, and driving in 68 runs.

When the pressure is on Melky could fall onto a list of some of the more dangerous players especially with the fact he bats late in the order.

Batting 9 you have someone who is in for his defense as he is one of the best defensive catchers around Jose Molina.

Jose is a decent hitter for a guy who gets absolutely no credit at all for his bat, and could possible punch out a clutch base hit.

J. Molina is set to catch right hander A.J. Burnett who makes his first career post season start.


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Time to shut out all the news reports over Jorge Posada's hurt feelings, and look for a nice game out of the Yankees pitcher.

A.J. had some rough patches at times this year, but this will be when his pitches will really matter.

The Minnesota Twins are hitting a combined .238 off of him with 31 hits in 130 at bats with 2 HR, and 8 runs batted in.

A.J. Burnett made two starts against the Twins during the 2009 season.

The first start came on May 17th when he pitched 6 2\3 innings allowing 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out 7.

A.J. wouldn't earn a decision but pitched effectively in a game that ended on a Johnny Damon walk off home run.

The 2nd start he made against the Twins during the regular season was on July 4th when he earned the win pitching 6 1\3 innings allowing 2 runs on 7 hits.

So overall in over 12 innings this year the Twins scored a combined 4 runs of him, if they want to win game two they are going to have to find a way to figure him out.

It should be an exciting game look out for the Yankee bats that will come in swinging for the fences with a one game lead in the ALDS.