ARLINGTON, Texas — Although A.J. Burnett is listed as the Yankees’ starter for Game 4 of the AL Championship Series, the team has the option of using CC Sabathia on three days’ rest if they want.
Because of the way Burnett finished the regular season and the fact he wasn’t part of the AL Division Series rotation, that possibility hovers above the Yankees.
Of course, manager Joe Girardi expressed confidence in Burnett yesterday and said using Sabathia on short rest wasn’t discussed. However, what if the Yankees are down 1-2 going into Game 4?
“If they tell me that, I just go for it,” Sabathia said when asked about working on short rest. “The only thing is that he would have to tell me before I throw a bullpen [session on Sunday].”
Girardi said the workload would be too difficult on Sabathia, pointing to a possible lack of distance or sharpness.
As for Burnett, he is looking forward to a blank slate Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
“It all starts now,” Burnett said. “This season hasn’t really been much different than last season other than my last four or five [starts] last year were good going into the postseason.”
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Put Andy Pettitte on the list of people who expect the Yankees to seriously dance the free-agent tango with Cliff Lee after the World Series.
“I expect the Yankees to go after him really hard,” said Pettitte, the man Lee might replace in the rotation if the Yankees veteran decides to retire. “It’s just a matter of where he wants to be.”
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Michael Young said he is closer to Mark Teixeira than Alex Rodriguez, both of whom are former teammates of the Rangers third baseman.
“I have a different relationship with Alex, I was a rookie and Alex was already Alex,” said Young, who played with A-Rod from 2001-03.
But Young learned something very valuable from Rodriguez.
“The biggest thing about Alex is that he never missed a game,” Young said of Rodriguez, who played in all 162 games the first two years and 161 the third season.
When the Rangers beat the Rays in the ALDS, Teixeira sent Young a message. “I told him to get the guest room ready,” Teixeira said. To which Young responded that his family had taken it over.
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Gerry Davis will serve as the crew chief of the six-man umpiring crew that includes Angel Hernandez, one of the most confrontational umps in the game, and likely to draw attention.
Tony Randazzo and Jim Reynolds will be in their first LCS. Each has three ALDS assignments.
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Just like the Yankees beating the Rangers in the postseason in 1996, 1998, 1999, Teixeira doesn’t put much stock in the Yanks getting swept at Rangers Ballpark on Sept. 10-12.
“We were battling through a tough September and we have our ‘A’ team right now,” said Teixeira, who was battling a bruised right thumb and broken little toe on the right foot. “We played well [against the Twins] and we hope that continues.”