AJ Burnett will be pitching the most meaningful start of his career this evening in Anaheim. The Yankees played well on Tuesday riding the flow of their big game ace and have a great opportunity to win the pennant. If Tuesday night’s game is any representation of what’s to come, the Angels are in for a long and painful night.

Considering the Yankees finally found their bats with runners in scoring position–jump-started by a 4^th inning single by Melky–it doesn’t look as if there is much of a hole in the Bombers’ game. The Yankees couldn’t buy a base hit with runners in scoring position during game 1 or 2 (wow! the Yankees not being able to buy something!), and after the heart breaking Game 3 loss, people in Yankee land were beginning to second guess. Game 4 stopped that right away.

CC was dazzling on three days rest and improved his playoff numbers as he silenced Sabathia-playoff-doubters. Judging by the 10 runs scored, I think it’s safe to say that CC’s cool confidence was contagious in the Yankee locker room. CC’s calm demeanor is almost incomprehensible. Pitching coach Dave Eiland talked to reporters before CC’s start telling them that he could have started on one day’s rest with the way his stuff looked. He was meant to do this.

CC may have started off bumpy in April but since June it’s hard to name a more dominate pitcher. Everyone around him panicked but he didn’t. He knew he was just starting the season off slow and that everything would come around. Sure enough he stayed cool, kept his peaceful, ace attitude and is rolling through the post season like Danny Almonte in a pee wees.

A-Rod also has continued on his tear, hitting yet another home run on Tuesday night. His numbers have been baffling but in true New York post-season fashion, if he doesn’t keep bashing the ball it’ll be all for nothing. He has to continue seeing the baseball like a planet and remain locked in. With sporadic hitting by the rest of the team it’s been nice to have a consistent threat each time through the line-up. A-Rod can have a big impact in tonight’s game and hopefully he does.

Derek Jeter tends to float under the media’s “A-Rod and CC’s radar” and it seems like he wants it that way. While everyone has been yapping about the two playoff studs Jeter has quietly hit .343 with 3 HR, 5 RBI’s and 7 R’s this post season. As a lead off hitter and team captain you can’t ask for more. He is leading by example and not asking for the benefits knowing that the new comer and the head case need the crowd admiration more than he ever has. Jeter is essential in any playoff series but is even more important as the competition thins out and the flagged trophy looks on.

Mathematically the Yankees do not need to win game 5 in Anaheim. I have no doubt that if the Yankees do lose this game and go back to the Bronx that Andy Pettitte will close it out. But I think they need to finish off this series tonight for two reasons:

One reason has to be momentum. The Phillies finished off the Dodgers last night and have looked impressive. The Yankees will need momentum to beat the Phils handsomely since it seems to me that’s all the Phils really have. Howard has been great but doesn’t know what facing a real pitcher looks like. But I digress. The Yankees need to win tonight keep their momentum and come back east still ready to fire it up.

Two is to keep AJ Burnett stable. He is our number 2 guy and can be a loose cannon. He obviously has let his head take over his talent at times this season and we don’t need that to happen again. He pitched well thus far this post season and despite 2 no decisions he has pitched confidently with an ERA of 2.19 and both ND’s ending up as W’s. He has only allowed 6 hits this post season over 12.1 innings and you can expect him to keep the trend tonight.

The Yankees won’t have it easy tonight as the Angels will have their Ace on the hill tonight. John Lackey a.k.a. the big ugly, pitched pretty well against the Yanks in game one and his performance isn’t reflected in the outcome. The Yankees hit him well at home (9 hits 4 runs, 2 earned) but with the season on the line and playing in Anaheim Lackey should have plenty of motivation. Like I said last time the Yankees faced him, they need to hit him early in the count and early in the game.

If the Yankees have truly returned to late 90’s playoff form then they will indubitably finish off the Angels tonight, period. There is no reason to make this any more interesting than it already has been. I have no doubt that the Yankees can and will win tonight and find themselves playing in the World Series for the first time since 2003. But as I’ve said before, that’s why they play the game.

I say the Yankees finish Lackey off tonight. Phillies article to come soon there after.