Jesse Spector has written a 6 keys to the game for the Yankees, because, well, what else do you write when there is an off-day in the World Series.

#1 She starts with Andy Pettitte.  Of course, the starting pitcher is a key to the game.  Duh.  But I want to add two things  here- first, its Andy Pettitte.  While he has had bad post-season starts, he also has had great ones.  He knows the meaning of stepping up, and he takes pride in the Yankees, even if he did have a stint away from the team.  You don’t want anyone else to have the ball tonight but someone who seems to value that tradition this much.  It seems like the right move to end the story book.

If Andy fails, and if he does it will be early, Chad Gaudin, the alternative starter, is waiting in the wings.  Its not like Andy goes two, and then you have 7 other guys who will pitch 1 inning each, Chad Gaudin who has been pretty darn good for the Yankees can still come in and pitch several innings.  I know he hasn’t pitched in a month that we know about, but the Yankees aren’t stupid- he has thrown to live hitting somewhere and somehow.  Still, I think Andy is who you really want getting that ball…

#2 Pedro.  He is what he is.  If you can be patient and make him throw pitches you will eventually get something to hit- and then you can’t miss it.  Pedro is tough, but he isn’t throwing three pitches to strike anyone out anymore.  The Phillies will ride him as long, and as late as they can, but “Who’s your daddy” isn’t a chant because Pedro is always perfect.

#3 Teixeira- Yep he needs to hit, or at least needs to walk tonight.  But Pedro isn’t going to want to willingly walk ARod, so look for more patience here.  But, please remember, Teix’s glove is worth more than his bat in this series… 2 for 19 with no errors means a lot with this quick running Phillies team.

#4 Chase Utley has one Yankee pitching foe, and he is taking the mound tonight.  Pettitte’s style as well as his pick off move neutralizes  the threat of the Phillies second baseman.  Spector is right that keeping him off the base paths helps neutralize the one-dimensional Ryan Howard, which is also important.

#5 Spector’s number 5 is really obvious- Mo has to be Mo, and you have to get to him.  If the Yankees are ahead late, this shouldn’t be a problem.

#6 I think Spector’s #6 is dumb.  Its not about the past.  Its about tonight.  There seems to already by some tension in the Phillies clubhouse about the season being over- if the Yankees can score some big hits early, and develop a lead, get the crowd on their feat, the Phillies might just feel defeated by the 7th inning.  I know an early lead is also sort of a Duh! sort of statement, but at Yankee Stadium, (even the new one) late innings in a deciding game can feel a bit like sheep heading to the slaughter for the opposition.  Making that happen is really a key to the late innings.

Keys for the Phillies?

Well, we hit on some of them above:

#1 Pedro- is he as tough as he believes he is?  If he is, the early innings could be tense, and there won’t be many hits.  If he’s not, well the Yankees could get a nice lead, and then add on as the thin Phillies bullpen gets used.

#2 Utley and Howard.  Utley is having the post-season I had actually hoped he might.  Remember, I am a fan of the well-rounded middle infielder.   Some of that is because he is way too comfortable in the box, and some of that is because he has a big home run threat hitting behind him.  If you go easy on Utley, Howard can hurt you, especially if you have to throw fastballs to get a strike.  Pitchers have been challenging Utley so that they can keep him off the base paths and then pitch breaking stuff to Howard, who has a tough time with that. (Its a little like ARod a few years ago.)  Pettitte can handle both, because he can usually throw his breaking pitches for strikes.

#3- Speed- and Pettitte neutralizes it as much as anyone can. If the top of the order gets on, they can create chaos on the basepaths. Keeping runners off will be key.  Duh.

#4- Bullpen. With Pedro going tonight the bullpen is going to be key- and that is what is called gambling.  While I always like to remind everyone in New York that Mariano has skewed our expectations for what a good reliever is, the Phillies bullpen has several good relievers but not one no-brainer.  The Phillies will win or lose this because of their bullpen.