The one scenario that made sense to the Yankees was a break in the weather, Game 6 of the AL Championship Series, and a champagne celebration.
Bad scenario for the Yankees: A rainout.
Which is what they got.
Game 6 of the ALCS was postponed and will be played Sunday night. Game 7, if necessary, is Monday night.
See how much easier life could have been for the Yankees if they just took care of business in Anaheim? Instead they arrived at the Stadium to a field covered by a tarp as the NL champion Phillies enjoyed a third day of relaxation following their NLCS demolition of the Dodgers.
Now, it’s another day closer to a World Series scheduled to start Wednesday, with the Angles able to use ace John Lackey if Game 7 is necessary.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia certainly didn’t mind the rainout. The Lackey scenario is why the Yankees wanted this game played (Jered Weaver or Scott Kazmir would have started a Sunday Game 7 for the Angels), even if Joe Girardi wouldn’t touch that topic when asked which team would benefit from a rainout.
“I really haven’t put much thought into that,” Girardi said. “Physically, [a rainout] allows people to get some more rest, and I don’t know if that’s always a good thing or a bad thing.”
Girardi was prepared to give Andy Pettitte the ball against Joe Saunders for what the Yankees hoped would be the night they celebrated the 40th pennant in franchise history. Pettitte likely will start Sunday, though CC Sabathia is ready to go on regular rest.
Scioscia wanted his team to take the approach it was playing with house money after surviving extermination in Game 5 on Thursday.
“I think [Thursday] we were in that mode, and hopefully moving through this weekend we’re going to be able to do that because we’re certainly capable of meeting this challenge,” Scioscia said.
“All the time you have to feel like you’re playing with house money, because if you’re afraid to fail or you’re afraid to lose, you will never achieve. You have to play with nothing in your mind except making plays and winning a game and not be afraid to go out there and play the game of baseball. I think we’re at our best when we’re in that mode.”
For the Yankees, there is a sense of urgency to finish this series and begin preparations for the Phillies, who would play Game 1 of the World Series here on Wednesday.
“But you still have to win a game,” Girardi said. “We’re playing a very tough opponent. But guys are anxious to get this on the way. The days off kind of prolong it. And you have time to think about it more. But we’re excited.”