Yankees-Rangers Playoff: Rainout Favors Tigers

The New York Yankees, standing on the brink of elimination tonight at Comerica Park in Detroit, are widely seen as the team least benefiting from last night’s rain out of game four of the American League Championship Series. The Yankees have their ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia heading to the mound tonight, but because of the rain out he will be unavailable for a potential Game 7 should it be needed.

It all may become a mute point. There is only one team that has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in the ALCS and that is the Boston Red Sox. It may be poetic justice that, at the time, the team they beat in four games straight was the New York Yankees.

Detroit doesn’t just gain from not potentially having to face C.C. twice, their new closer Phil Coke, who was placed in the closer’s role to replace struggling closer Jose Valverde will be available for service tonight after Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he would rest him Wednesday night. Coke had closed two nights in a row, but now he is fully rested for the game on Thursday.

The Yankees have been playing awful baseball during the first three games of the ALCS. While their pitching has been outstanding, Yankees hitters have averaged only .182 this post-season. This has lead to Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi’s most controversial move of benching Curtis Granderson and Superstar Alex Rodriguez. Granderson, who hit more than 40 home runs this season, is back in the lineup tonight.

Alex Rodriguez, the game’s highest paid player will be sitting for the second straight night. Rodriguez has had an awful post season, batting just .130. Add that to controversy he was too busy flirting with girls to support his team on Monday night and you will see why Rodriguez may have taken his last swing of the season already.

Originally Rodriguez supported Girardi’s decision, recently he has been a little less supportive.

Rodriguez said:

“Um … I think Joe and I … The one thing I will give Joe a lot of credit, he’s been very good to me over the years. So, he has a lot of equity with me. For me, it’s tough. I’m a competitor. That’s all I’ve known since I was 5 years old. My dad played baseball as well. I love to compete. I really feel, in my heart, anytime I’m in the lineup the team is a better team. We’ll disagree there today. But I like Joe. I support Joe.”