Time for Game 7 -- I mean Game 6

The low-pressure system that dumped more than an inch of rain on New York and postponed Game 6 of the Yanks-Angels series gave the media an additional 24 hours to harp on the following stat.

CONSECUTIVE ALCS-CLINCHING GAMES LOST BY THE YANKEES: 5

That brings up a round of comparisons to the Yanks' 2004 collapse against Boston and questions about whether this team will suffer the same fate. But since only five of the 25 players on this year's playoff roster were on the team during that epic fail in '04, I think I'll leave that discussion to the talking heads.

That said, the Yankees have to win Game 6 tonight against the Angels. If they don't, they will not win the World Series. Oh, they could easily take home the ALCS, but that's as far as they'll go.

And there's one 6-foot-7, 290-pound reason why: C.C. Sabathia.

The Yankees' bulldog of an ace has been unbeatable in the postseason, throwing eight innings in each of his three sterling starts and giving up a total of four runs. Even short rest couldn't stop the C.C. locomotive -- Sabathia bulldozed the Halos in Game 4 and brought the Yanks within one game of their first World Series since 2003.

In Game 5, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes demonstrated why the only pitches Joe Girardi can really trust are Sabathia and Mariano Rivera. Even veteran Andy Pettitte looks beatable after allowing a 3-0 lead in Game 3 to slip away.

Pettitte takes the hill for Game 6 against the Angels' Joe Saunders, a matchup that seems to favor the Bombers, especially at home. But if Los Angeles/Anaheim/California manages to win tonight, the Yanks will have to go to Sabathia in Game 7.

Now, that seems like a good thing. Handing the ball to the best pitcher in baseball (right now, at least) in an all-or-nothing game is a recipe for mosh pits on the mound and champagne in the clubhouse (Game 7 of the 1968 World Series notwithstanding). But if Sabathia goes in Monday's Game 7, he won't be available for Games 1 or 2 of the World Series on Wednesday and Thursday.

What it boils down to is that C.C. would start Games 3 and 7 instead of Games 1,4, and 7. That's two starts instead of three against a Phillies team that promises to give New York all it can handle. In a short series, one game often makes the difference. Not having C.C. for an extra game would put the Bombers at an immediate disadvantage, since Philadelphia will have both Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels rested and ready to go come Wednesday.

The Yanks should win tonight and have a rested Sabathia ready for Game 1 against the Phils. But if they don't, a Game 7 ALCS victory may be the best they can hope for.