Major League Baseball

LEFT BEHIND - YANKEES: SOUTHPAW PROBLEMS IN THE PAST

Published Oct. 15, 2010 10:10 p.m. ET

foxsports

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Yankees stumbled in many areas during the final month of the regular season, but one of the most interesting numbers was 0-9. That was their record against lefthanded starting pitchers to end the season.

Those numbers looked meaningless in the ALDS when the Yankees beat both Twins lefties they saw, Francisco Liriano and Brian Duensing. Now, the Yankees head to the ALCS, when the Rangers will throw C.J. Wilson and Cliff Lee.

Nick Swisher said the numbers from September should just be thrown out because of what health issues did to the Yankees lineup.

"There was a lot of [stuff] going on," Swisher said. "We had a lot of guys banged-up.

We had a lot of guys who weren't even in the lineup.

This is a different team. I think we're all, for the most part, healthy." During that stretch, the Yankees saw some tough lefties, as well. David Price and Lee were in that group.

It was also during that time when the Yankees' own starting pitching went south.

Over the course of the season, the Yankees' average against left-handers (.268) was nearly identical to the average against righties (.266). Their power numbers were significantly less against lefties. In 64 fewer at-bats, the Yankees had 61 home runs vs. lefties compared with 140 against righties and 252 RBIs vs. 571.

Before the stretch of nine losses in a row, the Yankees had won nine out of 10 games against southpaws.

"It's part of baseball," said Curtis Granderson, who batted .234 against lefties. "I remember seeing earlier in the season where our numbers were pretty good. It's just one of those crazy things in baseball. Sometimes the numbers go in your favor.

Sometimes they go against you. But then, sure enough, when the postseason started we picked up two victories against two lefties." The Yankees have all said they buried the problems that plagued them to end the regular season once the playoffs started. When presented with the 0-9 record, they treated it the same way.

"I didn't know that," Brett Gardner said. "I don't make anything of it. The season is over and done with. The last two games we had against lefties we won. It's kind of baffling really. I don't know why that's the case."

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Lining up

A look at some of the odds surrounding the ALCS, courtesy of bodog.com

ALCS-SERIES PRICE

Yankees -170 Rangers +150

ODDS TO WIN THE ALCS MVP

CC Sabathia 15/2 Cliff Lee 19/2 Derek Jeter 10/1 Alex Rodriguez 10/1 Mark Teixeira 10/1 Josh Hamilton 10/1 Michael Young 12/1 Vladimir Guerrero 12/1 Ian Kinsler 12/1 Robinson Cano 12/1 Nelson Cruz 14/1 Mariano Rivera 15/1 C.J. Wilson 15/1 Nick Swisher 16/1 Jorge Posada 16/1 Brett Gardner 18/1 Elvis Andrus 20/1 Neftali Feliz 20/1 Lance Berkman 20/1 Curtis Granderson 20/1 Andy Pettitte 25/1 Field 10/1

EXACT SERIES RESULT

Yankees 4-0 9/1 (+900) Yankees 4-1 4/1 (+400) Yankees 4-2 15/4 (+375) Yankees 4-3 9/2 (+450) Rangers 4-0 15/1 (+1500) Rangers 4-1 9/1 (+900) Rangers 4-2 6/1 (+600) Rangers 4-3 5/1 (+500)

TOTAL GAMES IN SERIES

4 6/1 (+600) 5 5/2 (+250) 6 2/1 (+200) 7 2/1 (+200)

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Over Games 51/2 -175 Under Games 51/2 +145

SERIES GAME SPREAD

Yankees -11/2 +120 Rangers +11/2 -150

WHERE WILL THE SERIES BE DECIDED?

Yankee Stadium +145 Rangers Ballpark -175

TOTAL RUNS IN SERIES

Over/Under 47.5

TOTAL HOME RUNS IN SERIES

Over/Under 14.5