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Yankees vs White Sox Weekend Preview

By: Brian Kevin Williams
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:25:36
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Welcome back, everyone! We took a small break for the All Star Break, but we have now returned. After a few days off from baseball, what’s better than coming back to a matchup between the defending World Series Champion Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees? This is exactly what baseball fans will get this weekend as both teams will have their better pitchers going this weekend, in what could possibly be a postseason matchup. The Yankees will send their “Ace” Randy Johnson to the mound tomorrow, in a matchup against the great Jose Contreras, making a Yankee Stadium return. Let’s take a look at the matchups for this weekend, and give some predictions for the games. One quick note before we begin: the Yankees solved all of their pitching woes with one free-agent signing, Sidney Ponson. Ponson will bring his alcoholism and weight problems to New York, with his 5.24 ERA to boot. This is a guy that got optioned for assignment so that the Cardinals could make room to sign JEFF WEAVER. That in itself says a lot about Ponson.

Friday, July 14th, 2006
Time: 7:10 PM EST
TV: UPN 9
Jose Contreras, RHP (9-0, 3.38) vs. Randy Johnson, LHP (10-7, 5.13)

In Jose’s last start before the All Star break against the Boston Red Sox, he only lasted six innings while allowing three runs and walking five, not exactly the way you want to go out into the break. In Randy’s last start before the break, he pitched extremely well for the Yankees, even though his line would say otherwise. He didn’t allow a base runner until the sixth inning, and gave up one run in the seventh while the game was out of reach, and then gave up two more in the eighth, when the Yankees were way out in front. The Big Unit has won three of his last five starts, which gives him double digits in wins. R.J. has also averaged seven strikeouts per start in his last four outings.

Contreras is going to have to be able to find the strikezone against the Yankees, otherwise he may be in for a long night. It’s always an anomaly as to how well the Unit will pitch, and at this point in time of their careera, Contreras is obviously a much stronger pitcher than Randy is. Contreras has been successful against his ex-team as he has posted a 2-0 record with a 0.60 ERA. This matchup is a rematch of the game that I attended personally in Chicago last August. Randy gave up back, to back, to back homeruns and the Yankees ended up losing the game. I think the All Star break rest will do the Unit good, and the Yankees will come away with this one. Yankees 3 - White Sox 2

Saturday, July 15th, 2006
Time: 1:20 PM EST
TV: FOX
Mark Buehrle, LHP (9-6, 4.02) vs. Mike Mussina, RHP (10-3, 3.24)

It’s the Yankees’ true Ace against a pitcher that has been struggling for the White Sox, Mark Buehrle. Buehrle didn’t finish the first half of the season on a high note, as he allowed 15 earned runs and 22 hits over 11 1/3 innings in his last two starts. Mike Mussina is coming off a slight groin pull against the Mets, but after eight days off, he should be good to go against the Sox. Moose has been entirely consistent and outright dominating at times for the Yankees. He’s going to need his best stuff to beat Buehrle and the Sox, and I think he’s going to bring it. Look for the Yankees to take the first two games of this series. Yankees 6 - White Sox 4

Sunday, July 16th, 2006
Time: 1:05 PM EST
TV: YES
Freddy Garcia, RHP (10-5, 4.91) vs. Jaret Wright, RHP (5-5, 4.23)

The final game of this highly anticipated series, and hopefully the Yankees will be going for a sweep. I can’t see Ozzie Guillen getting swept by the Yankees, so expect Guillen to have the Sox ready for this game. Garcia is 4-2 with a 3.72 ERA in his career against the Yankees, and is also undefeated in three games in the Bronx. Jaret Wright has pitched pretty well as of late, sporting a 3.88 ERA in his past 10 starts and has made progress with his slider. He struck out ten Devil Rays in just six innings of work; again, another start of six innings or less. At least it was a very good start, as he managed a shutout over six innings. The White Sox will salvage one game of this series on the road, as the Yankees will then look to the Mariners for three more starting on Monday evening. Yankees 2 - White Sox 5

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