Yankees Diaries

Turning Point
Although Joe Girardi has done a great job handling all the egos on this ball club, there has been one aspect of his managerial style that should be analyzed closer. His use of the bullpen has been suspect. I won't question bringing in Aceves in Game 3, but I didn't like his decision to send Burnett back out to start the seventh. The Yankees had taken a 6-4 lead in the top of the seventh. Burnett clearly didn’t have his best stuff and by that point Jose Molina was out of the game after being lifted for a pinch-hitter. This was the clear turning point as the Angels jumped all over an ineffective Burnett to regain the lead and win Game 5. In that situation the ball needed to be handed to the bullpen. Let Joba and Phil Hughes get a few outs and then hand the ball over to Rivera. Rivera could have come in to get a four or five out save and it would have allowed him the rest going into the World Series.

Unsung Hero
Unfortunately for the Yankees, they didn't have one in Game 5. Mark Teixeira had the biggest hit of the night came but was unable to get on base in the ninth against Brian Fuentes. Robinson Cano had a huge two run triple in that same inning although was 1 for 4 and is hitting just .238 in the series.

Key Stat
Nick Swisher's batting average in this series: .118. He popped up to the shortstop with the bases loaded to end Game 5. Swisher has been instrumental this year for the Yankees and was the biggest surprise this season for the Yankees, but the bottom line is right now the Yankees don’t have time for him to get out of his slump. He is coming up in big situations and at this point looks really out of sync and is becoming somewhat of a liability.

Swisher is a prime candidate to be benched. At this point he is really hurting the team. Something needs to be shaken up, because the last scenario the Yankees want is for CC Sabathia to have to pitch a Game 7. Assuming they make it to the World Series, he would have to pitch on short rest again. Let's shake up the line up and allow the order to spot Andy a few runs tonight as he looks to close out the series.

--- ANDREW COHEN