Behold The Power of Water

And they said they would be able to get this game in...

From the incredible snowfall totals from this past winter to the floods in the midwest to the widespread affects of Hurricane Irene, the destructive power of water has been felt especially harder this year than most years that I can personally remember. This destructive force has even been felt in the world of Major League Baseball. Game 1 between the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees had to be suspended and continued the next day. Both team's aces, Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia were deemed unavailable on this next day and would only be able to make full starts for game 3 (with possible appearances in game 5). With both teams having to forfeit a useful off day they would be forced to use a 4th starter and in the Yankees case that man was AJ Burnett. Burnett silenced his critics by leading his team to a 10-1 victory in Detroit forcing a game 5 tonight. Tonight's game in the Bronx will feature Doug Fister and Ivan Nova, both having never pitched in the postseason before this series. Instead of a dual of aces we are faced with an even more intriguing matchup of uncertainties, so let's take a look at both starters:

Doug Fister

If he only knew Cano was shooting for 4....

Fister resumed game 1 and in the beginning looked like he wasn't ready for the task after giving up a single to Jorge Posada and a double to Russell Martin. With two on and nobody out, Fister toughened up and get out of the inning unscathed. From my perspective Fister was getting ahead with fastballs down the middle and then finished hitters off by jamming them inside with his good sinker. The Yankees in typical fashion of trying to get a pitcher to throw a lot of pitches were letting that get me over fastball go by them and trying to work the count. This wasn't working for them until the fifth innings when they stopped letting that ball go and taking hacks early on in the count. I was getting increasingly furious every time they watched a fastball down the middle. Once they started swinging early they were able to knock Fister out of the game in the sixth, capped off by a grand slam by Robinson Cano off Fister's replacement Al Alburquerque. Fister and Alex Aviles will need to change things up a bit if they plan to shut down the Yanks potent offense.



Ivan Nova

(Reuters)

You can't say too many things bad about Ivan Nova. The kid hasn't lost a game since returning to the rotation after a brief send down to AAA and has shown the poise of a young Andy Pettitte. Nova had what seemed to be an easy time with the Tigers' lineup, getting strikeouts and groundouts when he needed only giving up 2 runs to the tune of a 9-3 victory. He began to tire in the ninth and Luis Ayala was called in to try to finish the game but had to be rescued by Mariano Rivera to end the game. As long as Nova can keep doing what he's been doing all season he should have no problem giving the Yankees a chance to advance to the ALCS.


Instead of a matchup of aces we get a matchup of unsung season heroes from both teams. I really don't have a prediction for this one seeing as I have witnessed 3 game 5 loses by the Yanks in my lifetime (I still have nightmares of Edgar Martinez). I do however feel very confident with Ivan Nova taking the bump tonight. The Yankees will have a tougher time with Doug Fister if he is able to make some adjustments to his game 1 plan but I don't see his as a shutdown kinda guy. 

Tonight's X-Factor guy.....Robinson Cano.