In preparation for Opening Night on Easter Sunday, I will be posting
results of a simulated seven-game series between the 1996
Yankees and 2009
Yankees. I am doing this for two reasons, both mentioned in the
previous post: it pits two World Series champs coming off championship
droughts in eerily similar boats against each other, and it is a great
way to break the monotony on the blog. CC Sabathia dominated in Game

1 and the 2009 squad pulled out a close Game 2
victory. While the 1996 offense came up huge in a Game 3
rout, Game 4
saw Joba Chamberlain push Joe Torre’s squad on the brink of
elimination. However Andy Pettitte would outduel Sabathia in Game 5 and Jimmy Key did the same against A.J. Burnett in Game 6.

And now without further ado, the compelling all-or-nothing Game 7:

Here we are — Game 7. Do-or-die. Win or go home. All-or-nothing. It was fitting that Joe Torre and Joe Girardi have the guys they wanted on the mound — Andy Pettitte and David Cone. Judging by the pitching matchup and the stakes, this Game 7 had the makings of a classic.

But Coney apparently didn’t get the memo. He was atrocious in his brief stint — 1 2/3 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 2 wild pitches. A four-run 1st inning helped the 2009 Yankees on their way to an 8-6 win and proverbial bragging rights. Jorge Posada (3 hits), Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon (2 hits each) helped pace the attack. Pettitte wasn’t too sharp early on (3 runs in 1st two innings), but he recovered nicely but pitching out of danger in the 3rd & 4th and breezing through the 5th to notch the win. The 1996 Yankees would not go down without a fight, getting two RBIs each from Cecil Fielder and Darryl Strawberry, and nearly came through with a walk-off win with three runs in the last two innings. However, like so many times before, Mariano Rivera came in and closed the door on any hopes of a dramatic end for the home team. It was a rather fitting end to a great series.
 
View
box score here

*****

I hope you guys enjoyed seeing the simulations on here; maybe I will do this again during the All-Star break or sometime before the playoffs. All credit goes to the talented people at WhatIf Sports — make sure to check out their website (blog roll to the right) and take advantage of all their features. I want to personally thank them for running these simulations for me, and I can’t wait to do so again.

With that out of the way, enjoy the last moments before first pitch on Sunday night vs. the hated Red Sox. Say it with me, y’all …

In preparation for Opening Night on Easter Sunday, I will be posting
results of a simulated seven-game series between the 1996
Yankees and 2009
Yankees. I am doing this for two reasons, both mentioned in the
previous post: it pits two World Series champs coming off championship
droughts in eerily similar boats against each other, and it is a great
way to break the monotony on the blog. CC Sabathia dominated in Game

1 and the 2009 squad pulled out a close Game 2
victory. While the 1996 offense came up huge in a Game 3
rout, Game 4
saw Joba Chamberlain push Joe Torre’s squad on the brink of
elimination. However Andy Pettitte would outduel Sabathia in Game 5, staving off elimination for the 1996 team. Check out what happens in Game 6:

Joe Torre is well aware of the situation at hand, and realizes that it’s never over until someone wins four games. Fresh off winning one elimination game, the 1996 Yankees did so yet again with a 5-1 victory over the 2009 Yankees in Game 6. Jimmy Key proved to be the better pitcher in this game, throwing 7 innings of one-run ball in an economical 97 pitches. The 2009 offense looked lost against Key and Mariano Rivera, stranding 15 runners on the bases (including 6 from Nick Swisher and 4 from Robinson Cano). While not overly terrible, A.J. Burnett was far from sharp in giving up all 5 runs and 10 of the 11 hits in 6 innings. Paul O’Neill and Cecil Fielder each hit a home run in the 11-hit attack. With this victory, we find ourselves with a 3-3 series headed for a potentially epic Game 7 where almost ANYTHING can happen — especially on the hollowed grounds of old Yankee Stadium.
 
View
box score here

*****

Next in Game 7: Andy Pettitte
(2009 NYY) vs. David Cone (1996 NYY) — It’s do or die for both teams. Can the 1996 Yankees complete the comeback from being down 3-1? Or will the 2009 squad finish the job on the road in a very tough ballpark — albeit one some of them are familiar with?

In preparation for Opening Night on Easter Sunday, I will be posting
results of a simulated seven-game series between the 1996
Yankees and 2009
Yankees. I am doing this for two reasons, both mentioned in the
previous post: it pits two World Series champs coming off championship
droughts in eerily similar boats against each other, and it is a great
way to break the monotony on the blog. CC Sabathia dominated in Game

1 and the 2009 squad pulled out a close Game 2
victory. While the 1996 offense came up huge in a Game 3
rout, Game 4 saw Joba Chamberlain push Joe Torre’s squad on the brink of elimination. How would Torre’s team respond in Game 5? Let’s find out:

Just like in Game 1 we find ourselves with two of the best young pitchers in their respective seasons facing off against each other with the series. Unlike the first game where CC Sabathia was far and away the better pitcher, he and Andy Pettitte turned Game 5 into a little pitcher’s duel. Together both teams managed 13 hits — all but TWO were singles. One of the two extra-base hits, a three-run 2B by Bernie Williams, provided all the offense needed for Mariano Rivera and John Wetteland to close out the 3-2 victory for the 1996 Yankees. Pettitte did not factor in the decision, going 5 2/3 IP allowing just two runs. Sabathia, on the other hand, took the loss going 6 1/3 and allowing the three runs.

View box score here

*****

Tomorrow in Game 6: A.J. Burnett
(2009 NYY) vs. Jimmy Key (1996 NYY) — The 1996 Yankees proved that they don’t go away quietly and will turn to the veteran Key to open the door for a potential Game 7. Burnett will be looking to build on his quality start in Game 2 and pull out the series win. What will happen? Find out tomorrow!

In preparation for Opening Night on Easter Sunday, I will be posting
results of a simulated seven-game series between the 1996
Yankees and 2009
Yankees. I am doing this for two reasons, both mentioned in the
previous post: it pits two World Series champs coming off championship
droughts in eerily similar boats against each other, and it is a great
way to break the monotony on the blog. CC Sabathia dominated in Game

1 and the 2009 squad pulled out a close Game 2 victory. With the 1996 offense coming up huge in a Game 3 rout, they are looking to tie the series at 2. Check out what happens in Game 4:

Coming into Game 4 it was believed that Joe Girardi would go against the grain and use CC Sabathia on short rest. But he shocked the world like the Fab Five and went with the pride of Lincoln, Nebraska — Joba Chamberlain. Joba would no doubt answer the call, giving up only two runs in seven innings and throwing a surprisingly economical 95 pitches. Fresh off his Game 3 benching, Nick Swisher helped pave the offense with a two-run HR off beleaguered lefty Kenny Rogers. Mark Teixeira and Jorge Posada added home runs of their own. The 1996 Yankees looked helpless against Chamberlain despite Bernie Williams’ three htis, squandering run-scoring chances in the 3rd, 4th and 7th innings. The 8-2 victory gives Girardi’s team a 3-1 series lead and brings them within a game of claiming bragging rights.

View box score here

*****

Tomorrow in Game 5: Andy Pettitte (1996 NYY) vs. CC Sabathia (2009 NYY) — If you remember correctly, Pettitte recovered quite nicely from a rough first start in the ’96 World Series by outdueling John Smoltz. Can he do it again against CC? Will we see a repeat of Game 1 of this series where Sabathia overmatched Joe Torre’s offense? Perhaps most importantly — will we see Tino Martinez in the lineup for Game 5?

In preparation for Opening Night on Easter Sunday, I will be posting
results of a simulated seven-game series between the 1996
Yankees and 2009
Yankees. I am doing this for two reasons, both mentioned in the
previous post: it pits two World Series champs coming off championship
droughts in eerily similar boats against each other, and it is a great
way to break the monotony on the blog. You can refresh your memory with Game
1 and Game 2 here, and here is the Game 3 recap:

Finding himself in a quick 0-2 hole with his offense struggling, Joe Torre made the bold decision to bench starting 1B Tino Martinez and insert Tim Raines into the lineup — subsequently moving Cecil Fielder to 1B and Darryl Strawberry to DH. The move proved successful as the 1996 Yankees smacked the 2009 Yankees 11-4 to put themselves back in the series. “Rock” went 1-3 with two key walks that lead to runs. Straw delivered two home runs, including a three-run shot that put the game out of reach in the 4th inning. Neither David Cone nor Andy Pettitte made it out of the 4th inning, for different reasons: Pettitte gave up 8 ER and 7 BB in 3 1/3 IP; Coney, while not allowing an ER in 3 2/3 IP, was not fully stretched out after having the aneurysm removed from his shoulder. Jorge Posada did all he could for the ’09 Bombers with a three-hit game including a HR, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

NOTE: Game 3 also saw Joe Girardi bench Nick Swisher for Brett Gardner,
moving Melky Cabrera to RF. Gardner drew two walks and scored a run, but
he and Cabrera combined to go 0-7 with 10 runners LOB.

View box score here

*****

Tomorrow in Game 4: Kenny Rogers (1996 NYY) vs. TBA (2009 NYY). Can “The Gambler” keep the momentum going and tie this series at 2 apiece? Judging by the offensive explosion in Game 3, will Torre keep Tino on the bench? Who will Joe Girardi tap to start — the clutch CC Sabathia on short rest or the young fireballer Joba Chamberlain on extended rest?

In preparation for Opening Night on Easter Sunday, I will be posting results of a simulated seven-game series between the 1996 Yankees and 2009 Yankees. I am doing this for two reasons, both mentioned in the previous post: it pits two World Series champs coming off championship droughts in eerily similar boats against each other, and it is a great way to break the monotony on the blog. You can refresh your memory with Game 1 here, and here is the Game 2 recap:

After Game 1 saw CC Sabathia easily outpitch Andy Pettitte, Game 2 saw a classic pitcher’s duel between A.J. Burnett and Jimmy Key. There wasn’t much offense to speak of on either side, but Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano provided all the offense Burnett would need. Mariano Rivera nailed down the save for the 2009 team. Paul O’Neill provided some excitement in the 4th with a rare inside-the-park HR, a solid recovery from being thrown out at home plate in Game 1 by Johnny Damon, of all people. Key, as always, pitched tough but came out the hard-luck loser. With this loss, the ’96 Yankees head out on the road (granted they’re only going across the street but still, it won’t be a home game) down 2-0 — similar to the situation in the 1996 WS vs. Atlanta.

NOTE: Game 1 saw Derek Jeter ground out to himself to lead off both halves of the first inning. Game 2 saw Mariano Rivera throw a combined three scoreless innings for both teams. Don’t you just love simulations?

View box score here

*****

Tomorrow in Game 3: David Cone (1996 NYY) vs. Andy Pettitte (2009 NYY) — can the 1996 Yankees pull the same magic they pulled in Atlanta? Or will the 2009 squad push them to the brink of a four-game sweep?