World Series Game 6 Questions and Answers

Tonight either the New York Yankees win a 27th World Series or are pushed to a deciding Game 7. The beauty of a series is it evolves and takes on a life of its own, which is particularly true in baseball since every game involves two new starting pitchers that alter the dynamics from game to game. For the baseball bettor that means breaking the contest down into components in order to pick the right side or total. Here are Game 6’s most pressing questions.

Can Andy Pettitte pitch effectively on three days’ rest?

This is the leading mystery coming into this confrontation and even Pettitte admits he has no idea how his arm will react. When asked what it’s like to throw on short rest, Pettitte responded, “Man, I don't even remember the last time I went on three days' rest,"

In fact, it was September 30, 2006, when still a member of the Houston Astros. The left-hander is not an excitable type and will likely focus his attention on breaking pitches and off-speed stuff if the fastball isn’t up to typical standards. Pettitte is 4-6 with a 4.15 ERA in 14 career starts on three days' rest. With more adrenaline pumping in the playoffs, he is 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA on short rest. Sportsbook.com has New York as -200 money line favorites. With Pettitte on the mound, his record is 36-8 as a home favorite of -175 to -200 since 1997. (Team's Record)

Manager Joe Girardi better hope this works tonight, otherwise he will be facing the critics before tomorrow’s Game 7 with Burnett and Pettitte both failing in using this pitching strategy.

What’s that cool breeze?

Every year different player’s end up having struggles in the playoffs or World Series and right now two guys are in the heart of each team’s lineup. Mark Teixeira is batting below .200 in the Fall Classic and has been fanned 16 times since postseason action commenced. His body language suggests he’s pressing, swinging harder after each strike. New York could use his normally potent bat to wrap up this series, since he contributed to Yankees 60-23 record as a home favorite of -110 or higher this season.

Ryan Howard’s timing couldn’t be more off. His swing mechanics are a mess and he’s tied the World Series record for strikeouts with 13, with at least one more game to go. What makes hitting so intriguing is Howard could come up in the first inning and hit a soft liner the other way, just over Derek Jeter’s head and suddenly start sending rockets all around Yankee Stadium. Given Philadelphia is such a large underdog; his big bat could take the Phillies to 12-3 in road games after three or more consecutive home games this season.

How does manager Charley Manuel use Pedro Martinez?

Give Martinez credit, in two playoff starts he’s allowed three runs in 13 innings, striking out 11 and walking just two. Though the radar gun seldom sees 90 anymore, Pedro still struts around the mound like a peacock, acting like he owns the place. Look for Yankees hitters to be more patient this time and not be as inclined to swing at off-speed pitches out of the strike zone. It would be in Manuel’s best interest to start getting a pitcher ready once Martinez goes thru the batting order once, since he doesn’t have enough heat to keep New York batters honest and not sitting on off-speed tosses.

How cool is it right now to be Alex Rodriguez or Chase Utley?

For both these hitters, they are as ESPN’s Stewart Scott would say, “cool as the other side of the pillow”. They are working pitchers until they make the slightest mistake and rocketing shots like they are seeing batting practice speed beach balls. Each is capable of winning a game single-handily with the way they are swinging. Will Utley raise the Phillies playoff record to 21-8 the last two years and force a Game 7 or does A-Rod drop an “A-Bomb” (Yankees radio announcer John Sterling call) and New York is champion yet again and finishes the year 39-11 as a favorite of -175 to -250 this season.

What was learned from Game 5 that could determine winner for tonight?

The most important factor for the sports bettor is the OVER could well hit a fourth straight game. The first two contests of the World Series saw rested starting pitchers going deep in games, for a pair of Under’s. Since then, the two most power-laden team in the big leagues have hit homers in smallish parks against relief pitchers who have resembled an interleague matchup of the Orioles and Nationals.

If you take Mariano Rivera out of the equation, if either team trails buy almost any margin, they have to feel they can comeback against two bullpens short on getting outs quickly.

Yankees favored in Cleveland Monday

The New York Yankees go for the series win in game number four against Cleveland, trying to maintain lead over Boston for first place in the American League East. New York came back from a four run deficit Sunday, thanks to Mark Teixeira’s four runs batted in. Teixeira now has a 13-game hitting streak, off a bad start and is hitting .400 (22 for 55) with eight homers and 20 RBIs during his streak.

However, a lead off walk by reliever Phil Coke ended up setting the table for Cleveland’s Jhonny Peralta, who drove in the winning run with his third hit of the day giving the Indians a 5-4 walk-off win.

The Yankees (29-21, -0.5 units) will turn to Joba Chamberlain (2-1, 3.97 ERA) looking for the series win, after winning first two contests. The young right-hander had another shaky start in his last outing Tuesday at Texas, allowing three runs over four innings with four walks. Chamberlain has ERA of 10.00 in the first inning this season in his nine starts. “Plain and simple, I was terrible,” he said. “I’ve got to do a better job of keeping the team in the game.”

New York has won the last six times they have played in Game 4 of a series and they have captured 14 of last 18 tilts during this run. With Chamberlain on the mound, the Yanks are 8-2 against teams with losing records and 13-4 when favored.

Cleveland (22-30, -8.8) will counter Jeremy Sowers (1-2, 7.71) who returns to the starting rotation. Sowers was dreadful with 0-2 record and 12.00 ERA, in two spot starts in May. He redeemed himself in part last Monday, tossing five scoreless innings in relief, in unfathomable 11-10 win against Tampa Bay. That was the left-hander’s first career stint out of the bullpen.

Sowers and the Tribe are 1-6 when he starts the game versus a team with winning record.
The early line from DiamondSportsbook.com has New York as -160 money line favorites with the total Un10. The Bronx Bombers are 7-1 against lefty starters, with matching record on the road if total is between 9 and 10.5 runs. Cleveland, despite their troubles this campaign, is 10-4 as home underdogs, though 6-15 in that role if Sowers is pitcher.

The Yankees are 7-3-1 OVER when Chamberlain toes the rubber and the Indians are 20-7 OVER as underdogs. It should be noted, nine of last dozen at Progressive Field between these teams have gone UNDER.

This is ESPN contest, which starts at 7:05 Eastern and if you follow baseball on the days of the week, New York is 5-13 in last 18 Monday affairs and the Tribe are 11-4 on the first day of the work week.