The weather in Arlington for tomorrow night’s Game 6 of the ALCS doesn’t look promising:

High temperatures will be in the low to mid-80s throughout the weekend. The wet weather is expected to arrive Friday morning, when there’s a 40 to 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. It could become severe by the afternoon, with a chance of hail and high winds.

If the game is rained out then Game 6 would be Saturday, the same day Cliff Lee is scheduled to pitch. If you are Ron Washington do you pitch Lee on his turn and try to put the hammer down on the Yankees?

I say yes. Why mess around and push Lee back a day? He is in the zone this postseason and has probably been preparing for a Saturday start since Monday night. Don’t let the Yankees get momentum because, even though Lee is waiting in Game 7, the more wins they roll off, the more they start to remember they are the Yankees.

This could backfire. Back in 1973, Yogi Berra started Tom Seaver in Game 6 up 3-2. Seaver was beaten, and the Mets went to Jon Matlack in Game 7 and would lose the World Series to Oakland. Seaver was on three days rest, however Lee would be pitching on his day. Of course, if Lee is defeated, you would put all the marbles in the hands of Colby Lewis in a Game 7. Beating Lee in Game 6 surely will give the Yankees a feeling of inevitability towards their comeback. I don’t know if Colby Lewis could respond to that situation.

Another question would be if Girardi would counter Lee with Andy Pettitte. I would assume so, and keep Phil Hughes for Game 7.

Anyway, this makes for interesting dialogue on an off day.

If Mother Nature decides to give the Rangers a gift I wouldn’t pass it up. Start Lee on Saturday, regardless of what game it is, and put the hammer down on the Yankees.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com

Mike Silva

View all posts by Mike Silva
Mikes website

Tags: Andy Pettitte, Cliff Lee, Joe Girardi, New York Yankees, Phil Hughes, Ron Washington, Texas Rangers