Sunday Night Baseball in the Bronx

Game 6 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Angels was postponed yesterday because of rain that poured all over the Big Apple.

Tonight, Joe Saunders and Andy Pettitte square off on the rubber, trying to lead their respective teams to a win. Pettitte, who is looking to not only advance his Yankees to the World Series for a date against the repeating NL champions, Philadelphia Phillies, but to also move to first on the all-time list with 16 wins in his post-season career, where he is currently tied with John Smoltz.

Joe Saunders, who is carrying a huge load on his back with his team being down 3-2 heading to the big NYC, will look to get a win this time against the Yankees, where he pitched an outstanding game, going 7 innings, giving up 6 hits and only 2 runs to a team that has beat teams up like a punching bag this season.

The rainout last night actually does the Angels a lot more favour than you would think.

Joe Saunders is 11-3 with an ERA of 3.29 lifetime, when he has 6 or more days off, the same situation that is presented to him tonight when he steps on the mound.

Yes, it also gives Yankees all-star and future hall-of-famer Mariano Rivera some much needed rest, but when you look at it even more in depth, this gets more interesting and everything leans towards the Angels.

Why? Well, given the numbers that are presented you when Joe Saunders has a long rest of at least 6 days, this gives the Angels a boost to force this ALCS to a 7th game. Not only that, but the rainout causes a potential start from Angels number one starter, John Lackey in game 7, assuming that the Angels win tonight.

Not to mention, Lackey carried out a 7 inning shut-out against the Yankees in Game 5, and after seeing what CC Sabathia did on 3 days rest for the Yankees, giving up 5 hits in 8 innings, everything just seems to look brighter and brighter for the Angels.

Yes, that would mean that CC Sabathia, who has been a monster in the post-season so far, would start on regular rest, while Lackey sits on 3 days rest, a huge momentum shift would sit on the lap of the Angels if they win tonight, and the Angels offense has proved to be clutch to date.

Looking forward to the World Series, if the Angels push it to 7 games, but lose in the 7th game, that would do the Phillies a lot of favour because, that would mean that Sabathia would most likely have the potential to pitch only 2 World Series games rather than 3, and having your best pitcher pitch 3 games does nothing but help you.

However, my pick is still with the Angels. I sill have faith in the team I picked from the start, simply because numbers don't lie. Yes, Alex Rodriguez has tore the cover off the ball thise year, finally coming through in the post-season, yes Mark Teixeira has made a lot of pretty plays on defense, stretching out numerous times on bad throws to get the runner out, and yes, the Yankees seem to have everyone's number this year, but, the Angels are way too used to this.

They have got to be motivated because they have lost time and time again to an often hot team in the Red Sox, who they've swept. They've always made the play-offs it seems, but luck never has their side.

So, for that, and for the fact that Angels skipper Mike Scioscia is one of the best, if not best managers in all of baseball, I have my eyes set on the Angels to win it all.