Stormy Weather Could Favor Angels

NEW YORK -- The same nasty East Coast weather that seemed to throw the Angels off their game at the beginning of the American League Championship Series now may have worked in their favor.

The reason: John Lackey.

The Yankees already had their ace, CC Sabathia, lined up to pitch Game 7. But because Saturday's rain in New York pushed Game 6 to Sunday and Game 7 to Monday, Lackey could now pitch Game 7 on three days' rest.

"If we get Lackey going in Game 7," Scott Kazmir said, "we have a lot of confidence in that game, that's for sure."

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Jered Weaver, who seemed the most likely Game 7 starter if it had been Sunday, said he expected Lackey to now get the call.

"I would think so," Weaver said. "That's our horse, and that's a guy that loves pitching big games. We all do, but obviously he's had a little bit more experience in that regard."

The rest of the Angels were loathe to admit an advantage from the rainout. But it's there.

If.

"That's our horse, and that's a guy that loves pitching big games. We all do, but obviously he's had a little bit more experience in that regard."
-- Jered Weaver If there's a Game 7.

"Our focus is not on Game 7," general manager Tony Reagins said. "Our focus is on Game 6."

Said manager Mike Scioscia: "We'll get through Game 6. There's no sense talking about a Game 7."

Much of that rests on Joe Saunders, who actually expressed disappointment in the Sunday forecast.

"I would rather have it 20 degrees colder, no question about it," said Saunders, who grew up in Northern Virginia. "I like cold weather. I was raised in cold weather. I've played my whole life in the cold weather."

But Saunders, like everyone else, said it was the right decision to postpone the game rather than risk a stop-and-start situation, like the disaster last year when Game 5 of the World Series was started, then suspended in the sixth inning and resumed the next day.

With Saturday's rainout, the Yankees could theoretically pitch Sabathia on full rest in Game 6. But manager Joe Girardi said he would stick with Andy Pettitte and save Sabathia for a Game 7.

"Who else would you want for a Game 7 if there is a Game 7?" Pettitte said. "I never thought they would not throw me [Sunday]."

It also makes sense because the only way the Yankees can line up Sabathia for three World Series starts is if he doesn't pitch until Game 1 on Wednesday.

So the rain only changes the Angels' plans, not the Yankees'.

"Does it give one team an advantage or not?" Girardi said. "I don't know. Maybe the extra day helps us more. I'm not really sure. I'm sure there will be a lot written about it. Depending on what happens tomorrow night. But I don't know."


Reagins said the rainout "gives us more options. ... From that standpoint, I think there is some benefit. ... In theory, we could [start Lackey in Game 7]. We haven't had that discussion yet."

Lackey has pitched a Game 7 on short rest before.

And all he did as a rookie in the 2002 World Series was hold the Giants to one run in five innings.

"It feels like a pretty long time ago, honestly," Lackey said.

Lackey, who has a 3.12 ERA in 15 postseason appearances, claimed "we're getting ahead of ourselves" in discussing his Game 7 start. But he could hardly contain himself from saying, "Damn right, I want another shot at the Yankees."

He said it was the right call for the Angels to go with a four-man rotation in the ALCS, which by the original schedule would have prevented him from making three starts in a seven-game series.

But now, "If it works out that I get back in there, " he said, "I won't complain about that either."

Lackey was clearly upset at being pulled from Game 5 in the seventh inning. So the Angels would not only have their No. 1 pitcher in Game 7, but a motivated No. 1.

"I'm pretty sure he wants the ball," Torii Hunter said.

Yeah.

"You know me," Lackey said. "I want in there as often as I can get in there.

"Hopefully Joe will go ahead and post up eight zeroes, And maybe you might see me again."