The New York Yankees will play their first playoff game since 2007 for tonight against the Minnesota Twins.This picture belongs to photos.nj.com
The Twins will send Brian Duensing to the mound to take on a lineup that had over 244 home runs this season, and won over 103 games.
Brian will make his first career post season start, and will have to do it with a tough Yankees crowd in the Bronx.
As a team this season the Bronx Bombers only had 9 at bats against B. Duensing while grabbing two hits off of him, but scored 4 runs off of him in 2 2\3 innings.
New York is the favorite to win tonight, and they certainly have the advantage going into the series.
There is so much against Minnesota right now who had to defeat the Detroit Tigers in a 12 inning game that kept them up for a late one in last night's AL tie breaking game.
Then when you look at the Yankees starter tonight left hander CC Sabathia has been outstanding during his first season with New York, and will have a chance to prove himself when the playoffs begin tonight.
Although the Yankees have the best bullpen in Baseball the Twin's focus must be on New York's starting staff which consists of the games best.
CC liked to face the Minnesota hitters as they hit .229 off of him this year going 72 for 315 as a team in their at bats against him.
One player off the bat that he will have to pitch carefully to his Twins Mike Redmond who hit .500 off of him this year with 13 hits in 26 at bats driving in 6 runs.
Believe it or not 25 year old Alexi Castilla had some of the better numbers against CC Sabathia with 9 hits in 13 at bats.
As far as the big boppers CC has handled them with much ease, and will not have to contend with the injured 1B Justin Morneau from my knowledge, I honestly didn't know he was hurt until last night's game.
For those who are nervous about Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez in this series don't be as the last time he faced Minnesota in an ALDS Series he hit .476 picking up 3 RBI 1 HR, and 8 hits in 19 at bats.Alex is coming off one of the best all around seasons of his life starting with the right frame of mind going into October.
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He looked to no longer be feeling the pressure this year, as he went back to having fun on the ball field.
With the upgrades in the Yankees roster it gave Arod feeling of comfort as he didn't have to be the man every game.
It helps a player so much when that weight off his shoulders is lifted, and Alex definitely showed that he is at the best he has ever been with his 13th straight regular season with over 30 HR, and 100 RBI.
Minnesota's rookie pitcher may have some serious problems with A. Rodriguez in game one, and has to throw every pitch with very much thought.
This is the type of game where a younger pitcher may lose sight of how good Alex is, and judge him based off his previous post season numbers with a career .258 average in the ALDS.
Overall for a player who has had some of the worst October's in any players career Alex's post season numbers are not that bad as he is 41 for 147 with 7 HR, and 17 RBI in 39 games.
For a player like A. Rodriguez that is brutal, but the numbers are not as bad as you would expect.
I have a feeling after tonight Alex will prove that he can handle the spotlight, and duplicate what he did against Minnesota in the 2004 ALDS.
Then when you look at the Yankee lineup there is not much else you can say they have it all up in every aspect of the game its time to carry it out into another championship.
Manager Joe Girardi has taken New York to a Al East Division title in his 2nd year of managing this team, and has done a great job communicating with his players.
Weather you agree with all of his decisions or not J. Girardi knows what it takes to win a game, and has already been gifted with the feeling of winning the world series when he was a player in the Yankees organization.
Game one will kick off for a 6:07 pm start tonight at the New Yankee Stadium as their sluggers will look for their place in history.
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