As you might expect from managers Joe Torre and Jack McKeon, there were plenty of decisions made in advance of Game One that provided cause for discussion.
The most significant of these was McKeon’s decision to make Dontrelle Willis a reliever. This move addressed one of the Marlins’ key disadvantages in facing the Yankees: the lack of a good left-handed reliever to counter the team’s left-handed power late in the game. Michael Tejera is neither a specialist nor a safe bet in high-leverage situations. Willis’ motion makes him tough on lefties (.216/.293/.307) and he is good enough against right-handers that he can be used for multiple innings.
The move paid immediate dividends, as Willis threw 2 1/3 shutout innings last night with the Marlins protecting a one-run lead.