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Friday a pivot point for Tribe |
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Friday, 05 October 2007 |
By BRIAN SMITH
Sports Editor
The Indians have to win tonight.
Yeah, so they won Game 1 of their American League Division Series against the Yankees handily.
They still need to win on Friday night, with Fausto Carmona twirling on the mound in Jacobs Field.
The house of horrors for the Indians known as Yankee Stadium isn't very promising this year. A nostalgic Roger Clemens on his last run will be pitching game three against Jake Westbrook — who has a penchant for imploding when he sees pinstripes.
Must not be a Godfather fan.
Westbrook's numbers are horrifying: 12.46 ERA against the Bronx Bombers this season with an 0-2 record.
In 2006 he did go seven shutout innings against the Yankees in one start, which would be comforting until you look at his six inning-five run performance against the Yankees in 2005.
Westbrook is a sinkerballer who goes right at hitters. Against the Yankees, that means throwing right into the wheelhouse of a group of great low ball hitters like A-Rod, Giambi, Matsui, and Cano.
And Game 4? Paul Byrd inspires about as much confidence in Tribe fans as Michael Vick does PETA members..
Byrd is a gutsy, lollipop throwing veteran whose stuff equals long drives into left-center field by one Alex Rodriguez.
Byrd gave up seven runs in two innings work against the Yankees this season. For those scoring at home, that's a 31.50 earned run average.
Eek.
So Fausto Carmona must win to assure the Indians that they will at least get back to Cleveland for a Game 5 with CC Sabathia and anyone else with a pulse available for a deciding game.
Carmona carries the burden of young ace.... even if he's the second-best pitcher in Cleveland's rotation.
His stuff should be dominant in a ballpark that is shrouded in shadows around 5 p.m., when the game starts on Friday night.
Carmona can put the Indians in the driver's seat on Friday night with a great performance, sending the Yankees home to face the New York media — who would be howling about A-Rod's unclutchness in the postseason and his impending opt-out of his contract.
Rumors have it he could be crowned Mayor of Chicago as part of a new contract with the Cubbies.
The media would also be swarming over Joe Torre, who in all likelihood is in his last stint with the Yankees.
Things would be very bad for New York if the off-the-field issues overtake the on-the-field ones.
And Fausto Carmona holds that detonation box in his hands.
The start of the implosion of the Yankees and the end of the A-Rod and Torre era in New York. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 November 2007 )
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