You don't want to pitch CC Sabathia against Cliff Lee. So the Yankees found out in the first game of the Word Series, which they lost, 6-1 (trailing 2-1 on Sabathia's watch).
This is the reason why the strategy of pitching Sabathia (and others) on three days' rest appears to be working. This, in spite of the fact that starters on three days' rest are 12-36 in playoff games since 1999, according to Fox News.
But after the Yankees' win in game three, Sabathia pitched game four against the Phillies' fourth starter, Joe Blanton. The Yankees won (even if Sabathia didn't). Pitching on short rest in game five, A.J. Burnett was just a sacrificial lamb against the fully-rested Lee. The Yankees won two out of three. In Philadelphia.
It was PHILADELPHIA that should have gambled on another Sabathia-Le ...
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Article written by Tom Au
New York Yankees: “Strategy” Is Paying Off in World Series
Posted: 3rd November 2009 by Tom Au in MLBComments Off on New York Yankees: “Strategy” Is Paying Off in World Series