The Twins entered the ALDS with a lifetime 0-3 record in playoff series against the Yankees and their hopes of turning things around died a quick, painful death. The Rangers are in a similar position. They have the same lifetime record, the same home field advantage and the same belief that they have a team that is talented enough to change their fortunes.
The dominant theme of the discussion of this series this week has been Cliff Lee, but we aren't going to see him until Monday. So we've come up with some more immediate issues that demand your attention as the Yankees attempt to make it a clean sweep of franchises that used to be called the Washington Senators.
Did CC Sabathia Get Too Much Time Off?
There's so much attention paid to the times when starting pitchers go on short rest that it obscures the times when there are long layoffs. It makes sense that there would be similar issues as the disappearance of the routine they've been following for six months gets disrupted. Sabathia has been off for more than a week, far longer than usual, and you have to worry that there will be an effect in his sharpness when he takes the mound in the bottom of the first. Sabathia has kept his team in games without being at his best -- see last Wednesday in Minnesota -- but the Yankees would certainly prefer to see the elite Sabathia to set the tone.
What's the Deal With C.J. Wilson?
Wilson is one of the better, if underexposed, stories of the 2010 season. A former closer who had six career starts entering the season, Wilson was a revelation for the Rangers with 15 wins, a 3.35 ERA and 204 innings to give them a bona fide number two behind Lee in the rotation. He was terrific against the Rays in the Division Series, quieting some doubters who thought he'd wilt under such an expanded workload, and the Yankees have had their problems with lefties in the past.
The key to beating him comes out of the Axl Rose playbook: Patience. Wilson's 93 walks led the American League and it is a nightly question about whether or not he'll be able to throw his breaking pitches for strikes with consistency. The Yankees are going to make him prove that he can and the best guide to gauging his effectiveness is watching the counts. Even if he gets through the first few innings unscathed, if Wilson is piling up a lot of three-ball counts then you'll know that the Yankee approach is working and is likely to bear fruit down the road.
Is Joba Chamberlain Still On the Yankees?
He is, although you're forgiven for thinking otherwise. Joe Girardi didn't use him at all against the Twins, not even with a 6-0 lead in the final game. That shows you how far down the pecking order the erstwhile phenom has fallen, and his lack of success against the Rangers in the past makes you wonder if things will change this time around. It probably should, if only because the Rangers have a lot of righty swingers and the law of averages says that David Robertson and/or Kerry Wood will struggle at some point. If you recall how fluid things were in the 2009 playoffs when it came to the bullpen, it's a lot harder to think Joba will remain missing in action.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com. You can follow him on Twitter.
