Saturday, May 30, 2009

CC Returns to His Old Stomping Grounds

Tonight's storyline is CC Sabathia's return to Progressive Field after his trade to the Brewers and subsequent free agent signing with the Yanks. As a Yankee fan I feel like it's a bit over blown since CC went to the Brewers before he became a Yankee. You would think that would ease the blow to Indians fans, but of course that's easy for me to say being a Yankee fan.

Sabathia will be facing the man who was his compatriot during the Indians run to the ALCS in 2007, Fausto Carmona. Carmona has yet to regain any of his 2007 magic, going 10-11 in 32 starts since the start of the 2008 season. Walks have been his achilles heal this season, as Carmona as a BB:K ratio of 35:32. Those 35 walks are good enough for a share of the major league lead in free passes.

Carmona wasn't awful when he faced the Yanks earlier this season, but he wasn't good. He got the win but mostly because his opposing starter was the imploding Chien-Ming Wang who started a game that saw Yankee pitchers allow 22 runs.

Sabathia wasn't great either, but he has found his stride now, so look for the Yankees to work the count on Carmona and try to work a lot of walks.

Here's tonight's lineup via Pete Abraham:

Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Swisher RF
Gardner CF

It is the same lineup as last night which is a bit of a surprise when you take into consideration the fact that Sabathia's best numbers have come with Fransisco Cervelli behind the plate.

Enjoy the game tonight. Hopefully the Yankees put some distance between them, the Sox and the Jays.

1 comment:

Dennis said...

Well, the Brewers never played the Indians, and, as you pointed out, this is his first appearance in Cleveland for another club.

I don't think it is overblown. It is not as if the Indians were his fifth team either, he came up through the system and was the face of the club for 8 seasons.

Just imagine the coverage in two years when Jeter returns to Yankee Stadium as a Texas Ranger.