10/03: ALDS Preview: Yankees vs. Angels
Posted by: Seamus
As if this season wasn't difficult enough, the Yankees will open up the postseason against the team that's given them more problems than anyone else during the Joe Torre era. The Yankees will be at Angel Stadium Tuesday night to begin the ALDS against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (second time I've used that phrase). This will be the second time the Yankees have faced the Angels in the postseason. The first was in 2002 when the Angels defeated the Yankees 3 games to 1 in the ALDS en route to their first World Series championship. Here's a look at some of the matchups:
SP: Joe Torre has still not yet decided 100% on his rotation for this series, but Mike Mussina will start Game 1 Tuesday night and will likely be followed by Shawn Chacon and Randy Johnson. Game 4 will probably be started by either Chien-Ming Wang or Aaron Small (my guess is Wang), but if he wanted to do so, Torre could go with Mussina as Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday which would give him normal rest. The Angels will throw out Bartolo Colon Tuesday night and will likely follow that up with Paul Byrd, Jarod Washburn, and John Lackey (not necessarily in that order), with Ervin Santana probably coming out of the bullpen. The dilemma Joe Torre has in choosing his rotation is not a bad one; it's not to say that we have the most dominant staff, but it shows how much depth we've picked up over the course of the season. If two of our guys end up in some freak accident, we could even go with Al Leiter or Jaret Wright (if Wright is on the roster) if we have to. Bartolo Colon is probably the best starter in either rotation, but I'll make a bold statement and say that Mussina, Johnson and Chacon are all better than all of the other starters in the Angels' rotation. That's not to take away from Lackey, Byrd, and Wasburn. They all have good numbers, but Johnson and Chacon are on their game now and a healthy Mussina is as good as just about anybody.
Edge: Yankees
IF: Fortunately for the Angels, they have a solid all around player at second base in Adam Kennedy, a player in Chone Figgins who can run, hit and play just about every position on the field and two of the best defensive catchers in baseball in Ben and Jose Molina. Unfortunately for the Angels, they don't have A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, or Jason Giambi.
Edge: Yankees
OF: Steve Finley has had an awful season for the Angels this year, but who even knows he's out there when he's on the field with Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson? Former Yankee Juan Rivera's had a decent season, batting .271 with 15 home runs in 350 at-bats. The Yankees counter that with two of the best hitters in baseball in Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield, guys who can hit for both average and power. Bernie Williams is on the downside of his career, but he still gets the job done in clutch situations. When you look at the teams from an offensive standpoint they're about even, but the Angels are far superior defensively in the outfield.
Edge: Angels
Bench: Jose Molina is perhaps the best backup catcher in baseball despite his rather poor offensive numbers. Other than that, the Angels' bench consists of mostly .230 hitters or less with the exception of Casey Kotchman, who hit .278 with seven homers in 126 at-bats. The Yankees have a great clutch switch-hitter in Ruben Sierra although he has struggled as of late. Bubba Crosby had a great September at the plate and at worst he can give the Yankees a solid glove in the outfield. Same goes for Tino at first base. The Yankees also have a player in Matt Lawton, who although he has been cold in his time here, was on the All-Star team just last season.
Edge: Yankees
RP: The Yankees have the best relief pitcher in baseball. Ever. They also have one of the premier setup men in Tom Gordon. Other than that they're a little shaky. Leiter can get some lefties out, but I'd be putting it nicely if I said he's had control problems this season. Tanyon Sturtze started the season great, but he's been overworked and has lost his edge. Felix Rodriguez can be great at times, but he is inconsistent. Alan Embree and Wayne Franklin will in all likelihood be left off the roster. The Angels have one of the best bullpens in the A.L. with Kelvim Escobar, Scott Shields, and Brendon Donnally setting up the great young dominant closer Francisco Rodriguez. The Yankees are going to want to score early.
Edge: Angels
Overall the matchups are really pretty close. Both teams have among the best lineups in baseball and capable but not always reliable starting pitching. This series features the best closer in the history of baseball against perhaps the best closer of the future. The Angels are more solid defensively, but the Yankees' bats have more firepower. Both teams finished with identical records, but the Angels have a 6-4 record head-to-head and hence home field advantage. The Yankees have always had a rough time with this team going back to 1996 when Joe Torre began his run with the Yankees, but I believe the Yankees are a bit more talented and in the end I think the more talented team will prevail.
My Prediction: Yankees in 5
SP: Joe Torre has still not yet decided 100% on his rotation for this series, but Mike Mussina will start Game 1 Tuesday night and will likely be followed by Shawn Chacon and Randy Johnson. Game 4 will probably be started by either Chien-Ming Wang or Aaron Small (my guess is Wang), but if he wanted to do so, Torre could go with Mussina as Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday which would give him normal rest. The Angels will throw out Bartolo Colon Tuesday night and will likely follow that up with Paul Byrd, Jarod Washburn, and John Lackey (not necessarily in that order), with Ervin Santana probably coming out of the bullpen. The dilemma Joe Torre has in choosing his rotation is not a bad one; it's not to say that we have the most dominant staff, but it shows how much depth we've picked up over the course of the season. If two of our guys end up in some freak accident, we could even go with Al Leiter or Jaret Wright (if Wright is on the roster) if we have to. Bartolo Colon is probably the best starter in either rotation, but I'll make a bold statement and say that Mussina, Johnson and Chacon are all better than all of the other starters in the Angels' rotation. That's not to take away from Lackey, Byrd, and Wasburn. They all have good numbers, but Johnson and Chacon are on their game now and a healthy Mussina is as good as just about anybody.
Edge: Yankees
IF: Fortunately for the Angels, they have a solid all around player at second base in Adam Kennedy, a player in Chone Figgins who can run, hit and play just about every position on the field and two of the best defensive catchers in baseball in Ben and Jose Molina. Unfortunately for the Angels, they don't have A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, or Jason Giambi.
Edge: Yankees
OF: Steve Finley has had an awful season for the Angels this year, but who even knows he's out there when he's on the field with Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson? Former Yankee Juan Rivera's had a decent season, batting .271 with 15 home runs in 350 at-bats. The Yankees counter that with two of the best hitters in baseball in Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield, guys who can hit for both average and power. Bernie Williams is on the downside of his career, but he still gets the job done in clutch situations. When you look at the teams from an offensive standpoint they're about even, but the Angels are far superior defensively in the outfield.
Edge: Angels
Bench: Jose Molina is perhaps the best backup catcher in baseball despite his rather poor offensive numbers. Other than that, the Angels' bench consists of mostly .230 hitters or less with the exception of Casey Kotchman, who hit .278 with seven homers in 126 at-bats. The Yankees have a great clutch switch-hitter in Ruben Sierra although he has struggled as of late. Bubba Crosby had a great September at the plate and at worst he can give the Yankees a solid glove in the outfield. Same goes for Tino at first base. The Yankees also have a player in Matt Lawton, who although he has been cold in his time here, was on the All-Star team just last season.
Edge: Yankees
RP: The Yankees have the best relief pitcher in baseball. Ever. They also have one of the premier setup men in Tom Gordon. Other than that they're a little shaky. Leiter can get some lefties out, but I'd be putting it nicely if I said he's had control problems this season. Tanyon Sturtze started the season great, but he's been overworked and has lost his edge. Felix Rodriguez can be great at times, but he is inconsistent. Alan Embree and Wayne Franklin will in all likelihood be left off the roster. The Angels have one of the best bullpens in the A.L. with Kelvim Escobar, Scott Shields, and Brendon Donnally setting up the great young dominant closer Francisco Rodriguez. The Yankees are going to want to score early.
Edge: Angels
Overall the matchups are really pretty close. Both teams have among the best lineups in baseball and capable but not always reliable starting pitching. This series features the best closer in the history of baseball against perhaps the best closer of the future. The Angels are more solid defensively, but the Yankees' bats have more firepower. Both teams finished with identical records, but the Angels have a 6-4 record head-to-head and hence home field advantage. The Yankees have always had a rough time with this team going back to 1996 when Joe Torre began his run with the Yankees, but I believe the Yankees are a bit more talented and in the end I think the more talented team will prevail.
My Prediction: Yankees in 5
Patrick wrote: