Series Countdown: Yankees @ Angels

VS.

Counting down to the Angels’ series against the Yankees who now make me very nervous.

New York Yankees (11-4) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (8-9)

Game 1: LAA – AJ Burnett (2-0, 2.37 ERA)  NYY – Ervin Santana (1-2, 4.35 ERA)

Game 1 Info: 7:05 PM PT TV-Fox Sports Prime; Radio-ESPN Radio, KLAA 830 AM, KWKW 1330 AM

Game 2: LAA – Andy Pettitte (2-0, 1.35 ERA)  NYY – Joel Pineiro (2-1, 1.77 ERA)

Game 2 Info: 1:10 PM PT TV-FOX; Radio-ESPN Radio, KLAA 830 AM, KWKW 1330 AM

Game 3: LAA – Javier Vazquez (1-2, 8.27 ERA)  NYY – Scott Kazmir (1-1, 7.45 ERA)

Game 3 Info: 12:35 PM PT TV-Fox Sports West; Radio-ESPN Radio, KLAA 830 AM, KWKW 1330 AM

5. The Angels caught fire in Toronto but seem to have gone cold again. I could certainly think of better opponents for them to face as they look to heat back up.  The Angels used to own the Bronx Bombers but after the ALCS last year, seeing them makes me very nervous now.

4. I’d sure love to know which Ervin Santana and Scott Kazmir intend to show up for this series.  Both of them got shelled when they faced the Yankees last week but looked much better in their most recent starts.  I’m especially worried about Kazmir since he was once billed as a Yankee killer but has received several beatdowns at their expense every since he joined the Halos.

3. Is it possible that we might finally get to see Bobby Wilson make a start?  He’s been on the roster all season long but has barely seen the field.  With two day games this weekend, I think there is a good chance that he’ll finally get to actually play.

2. After getting pranked in the ring ceremony when the Angels visited the Yankees earlier this year, I think Hideki Matsui and the rest of the boys owe it the Yanks to prank them back.  Might I suggest a series sweep?  That would be downright hysterical.

1. So there is no way to do a preview anymore without mentioning the Angel bullpen.  This will be a huge weekend for the relief corps because they are more or less out of excuses.  Everyone is healthy and rested now (save Matt Palmer who threw 4+ innings on Thursday).  We should now get a real feel for how Mike Scioscia intends to deploy his bullpen, especially in regards to the closer situation.  I am sure that Fuentes will get to close, but I am not sure that Sosh won’t smartly save him until the dangerous righties have been retired by Fernando Rodney first.