Morning Bits: Mo, Damon, Rain, Torre, Saunders
October 15, 2009, 8:30 am by iYankees · 3 Comments
These bits are better than a cup of coffee, right?
WHO NEEDS A CY YOUNG?
Yesterday, it was announced that Mariano Rivera had won the DHL Delivery Man of the Year Award for the third time in his career. Immediately after the announcement, Mariano Rivera asked, “What is DHL?”
DAMON NOT WORRIED ABOUT SLUMP
Johnny Damon doesn’t seem too worried about his recent slump — 1-for-12 in the ALDS — though that didn’t stop him from taking a few extra AB’s on Tuesday’s off-day. Let’s hope that Friday’s return to Yankee Stadium will help spark Damon’s offensive output. If that doesn’t work, I’m sure there’s a gold thong lying around somewhere.
WEATHER COULD IMPACT ROTATION
There’s rain in the weekend forecast, which certainly doesn’t bode well for Games 1 and 2 of the ALCS. If the schedule is altered due to unfavorable weather conditions, then the Yankees could lose the opportunity to start CC Sabathia for Game 4 (Joba or Gaudin would start, instead).
FOR TORRE, NEW TOWN, SAME STORY
According to Peter Gammons, who spoke with Michael Kay on his radio show, Joe Torre’s time in LA has been “a living hell.” Greener pastures are often illusory fantasies, Joe.
WHY SAUNDERS IN GAME 2?
That’s the question Joe asked and tried to answer over at RAB. While there are a few factors at play in Scioscia’s decision, it would appear that Scioscia was swayed by Saunders’ strong regular season finish while Jered Weaver’s home-away splits are too significant too ignore (he’ll start at home, where he has a 2.90 ERA this season). I also think that Scioscia is taking into account the absence of Jorge Posada for Game 2, as A.J. Burnett will be pitching. That alone removes a big-time switch-hitter from the team’s lineup and helps Joe Saunders.
