Oldschool Subway, Best of 5, Cut Fastball, and Happy Thames

A few quick bullet points before I head out for the day and make my way down to the Stadium for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series:

Photo from the NY Transit Museum

Nostalgia Train

I saw this tweet from the New York City Transit: "@NYCTSubwayScoop: The Nostalgia Playoff Special departs 42nd St-Grand Central at approx 7:00pm, via express to 161st St. http://ow.ly/i/4G1g #YankeesSubway." As Ben Kabak of 2nd Ave. Sagas writes, this is a train you'll see for each of the ALCS home playoff games as you did for the ALDS.

I got a chance to ride this train to the last game at the Old Yankee Stadium and I have to say, it was an experience. I had no clue it was happening and when it showed up on the track, my jaw dropped. Definitely make sure to catch this train if you can. It's not only express the whole way, but it's really, really awesome inside and will take you back to a by-gone era.

Best of 5 Series

As Mike Axisa of River Ave Blues correctly points out, the Yankees basically have a 5-game series with home-field advantage the rest of the way out in the series. Three big games at home followed by (possibly) two more in Texas. The big issue? Cliff Lee goes twice for Texas while the Yankees only get CC Sabathia once. But, as the New York Post's Joel Sherman points out in his article stating why A.J. Burnett has to pitch tomorrow (and I agree with him), he also points this out that in a worst case scenario where the Yankees would lose the next two games: "then at least the Yanks would have Sabathia, Hughes and Pettitte on normal rest to try to go on a three-game winning streak to save their season. And, you know, there is not an actual law that states the Yanks can’t beat Lee or win when Burnett starts."

Sherman, in some of his best work of the season continues: "This really comes down to the Yanks trying to win one game with Burnett starting as opposed to hoping to get as many as four strong starts in a row on short rest. And, remember, Burnett is starting against Tommy Hunter, not Walter Johnson. How is this for a concept: If you want to be a champion then figure out how to win a Hunter-Burnett matchup at home." Spot on, Joel.

The Yankees Looking for Happy Thames Again

I think one of the key players the rest of the series will be Marcus Thames. If this series goes 7 games, the Yankees will face lefties in 3 of the remaining 5 games (two by Lee and one by C.J. Wilson). Thames, who will be DH'ing all of those games, will be expected to provide some power from the right side. Many big wins this season have occurred when Thames has gone deep and the postseason has been no exception. George Vescey of the New York Times wrote last week about how Thames, a former Yankee prospect, has played his role in the Bronx this season.

Cutters Galore

Lastly, as Dave Cameron writes for the Wall Street Journal, look out for a lot of cut fastballs tonight from both starting pitchers. Hopefully we'll see some from the Yankees' closer as well...

Heading down to the Stadium as the quest for 28 continues tonight...