Why Doug E. Fist's sudden second-half surge could pose more of a problem for the pinstripes than anything else in this series
It’s a safe bet that most Yankee fans rejoiced when Game 1 of the ALDS was suspended due to a furious downpour that somehow blindsided every local weatherman in the tri-state area.
‘Awesome!’ rang the collective consciousness of the Bronx faithful. ‘Now we won’t have to face Justin Verlander twice in this series! Advantage us!’
Instead, the Yankees will battle Doug Fister (11-13, 2.83 ERA in the regular season) in tonight’s continuation of the meteorological debacle that was the opening game, a game that was supposed to be Verlander’s to win or lose. The AL Cy Young frontrunner must wait until Monday’s Game 3 for a shot at a postseason ‘W’ (assuming he isn’t able to wrest the gameball away from manager Jim Leyland for Sunday’s Game 2…stay tuned).
Either way, if the series does get to a fifth game, it is likely the deciding match will be entrusted to Fister. Yet somehow, against all my better baseball judgment, I don’t feel any more comfortable about this scenario.
Why? What is it about this Fister guy that gives me this odd one-round-and-done feeling?
Fister spent the first two-thirds of the season pitching in Seattle, and, as with all Mariners, flew largely under the radar. Perhaps ‘soared’ is the better verb for that metaphorical cliché. In 21 outings, Fister submitted 13 “quality starts” and held the opposition to 2 earned runs or less 10 times while pitching to a deceiving 8-11 record.
In August, Doug was dealt to Detroit, a club with at least some semblance of an offense and a bullpen. The extra support made a profound difference: Fister went 8-1 in 10 starts with an outstanding 1.79 ERA. That’s quiet domination embodied.
On the year, Fister had only three, count ‘em three truly bad starts.
Looks like those Bronx boys have their work cut out for them this evening. Sit on the change-up, work the count, and DO NOT underestimate this guy.
Why do I have that awful, awkward, uncomfortable feeling about this? Guess I’ll be praying for more rain.
It’s a safe bet that most Yankee fans rejoiced when Game 1 of the ALDS was suspended due to a furious downpour that somehow blindsided every local weatherman in the tri-state area.
‘Awesome!’ rang the collective consciousness of the Bronx faithful. ‘Now we won’t have to face Justin Verlander twice in this series! Advantage us!’
Instead, the Yankees will battle Doug Fister (11-13, 2.83 ERA in the regular season) in tonight’s continuation of the meteorological debacle that was the opening game, a game that was supposed to be Verlander’s to win or lose. The AL Cy Young frontrunner must wait until Monday’s Game 3 for a shot at a postseason ‘W’ (assuming he isn’t able to wrest the gameball away from manager Jim Leyland for Sunday’s Game 2…stay tuned).
Either way, if the series does get to a fifth game, it is likely the deciding match will be entrusted to Fister. Yet somehow, against all my better baseball judgment, I don’t feel any more comfortable about this scenario.
Why? What is it about this Fister guy that gives me this odd one-round-and-done feeling?
Fister spent the first two-thirds of the season pitching in Seattle, and, as with all Mariners, flew largely under the radar. Perhaps ‘soared’ is the better verb for that metaphorical cliché. In 21 outings, Fister submitted 13 “quality starts” and held the opposition to 2 earned runs or less 10 times while pitching to a deceiving 8-11 record.
In August, Doug was dealt to Detroit, a club with at least some semblance of an offense and a bullpen. The extra support made a profound difference: Fister went 8-1 in 10 starts with an outstanding 1.79 ERA. That’s quiet domination embodied.
On the year, Fister had only three, count ‘em three truly bad starts.
Looks like those Bronx boys have their work cut out for them this evening. Sit on the change-up, work the count, and DO NOT underestimate this guy.
Why do I have that awful, awkward, uncomfortable feeling about this? Guess I’ll be praying for more rain.
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