Greetings from Gate A-115
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Sep 03, 2009 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Well, almost. I’m actually at the Continental Presidents Club at Newark Airport. We’re waiting on a flight to Toronto.
I’m sure several months ago there were valid reasons for booking a flight that left Baltimore-Washington at 6:05 a.m. and connected through Newark. But I can’t really recall what they were. Wait, I remember. I was saving the paper lots of money.
(Memo to the editors: Lots of money.)
The Toronto series could be interesting. With Chad Gaudin, Joba Chamberlain and Sergio Mitre starting three of the games, I figure we’re guaranteed to see every relief pitcher (except Mo) at least once. Edwar Ramirez, Mark Melancon, Mike Dunn, come on down!
I also think it will be interesting to see how Joe Girardi handles the final 29 games in terms of resting his regulars and the key members of the rotation. The Yankees are 5-17 at Angel Stadium in the last four years and 11-12 against them at home. Home field really could matter if those two teams meet in the ALCS, far more than would be the case in a Boston-New York matchup.
What’s more important, resting the players so they’re fresh for October or pushing to gain home field? It’s a good question. Sweeny Murti and I were discussing this last night. Let’s say home field is in play during the final week of the season, do prioritize lining up your starters and tapering them off a little or plowing ahead to get home field?
I think you need to make sure you have CC for Game 1 and Andy Pettitte for Game 2 regardless of where those games might be. If you’re not a good enough team to win on the road in the ALCS, then you’re not deserving of being a champion.
OK, time to head to the gate. Check back later for more from Canada.
I wouldn’t be shocked if the Yanks lose a little ground in this series.
But that’s what’s nice about building this substantial lead they have. They can afford to lose a few and still be comfortable.
If anyone else reads online baseball content on your iPhone be sure to check out metsblog.com, they’ve got a new mobile site up that is great. Come for the latest and stay for the misery. Who does Manuel hate now that Church is gone???
Pettitte will pitch Game 3, also known as the “swing game.”
Count on it.
Not at all, I expect the Yanks to keep winning! It’ll just be more interesting/fun on how they do it. Ha ha.
Giuseppe Franco
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:12 am
Pettitte will pitch Game 3, also known as the “swing game.”
Count on it.
——————————————
Guiseppe, thank you for not making another commercial this year, it has made watching Yankees games on YES far more palatable.
IMO, if Andy continues to pitch the way he has since the ASB, he gets the game 2 start at home in the ALDS since that would mean he would pitch game 5 (assuming the choose the ALDS schedule that is extended and allows it). That would actually make AJ available in games 1 and 5 to pitch out of the pen for a batter or two, he would be untouchable in those situations just throwing heat.
Pettitte will pitch game 3. Girardi will want to split the lefties.
Also I think AJ is bound to rebound a bit and Andy cool off slightly before the playoff get here.
I am more interested to see who proves themselves to be a reliable reliever over the next month. I don’t trust Bruney and hope Melancon gets a chance to earn a playoff roster spot.
If you look at Detroit they are pretty even as a team vs LHP and RHP, but the guy who struggles against LHP is Granderson and he’s the key to their lineup — thus strategy would tend to call for Pettite in game two.
Not real smart to stack the lefties in a playoff rotation. Especially when Pettitte pitches better on the road than at home.
Unless AJ falls off a cliff, he’s starting Game 2.
As far as Melancon making the post-season roster, there is about a 1% chance of that happening, regardless of how he pitches in September.
When you have spent most of the year in Scranton, you aren’t making the post-season roster in a bullpen that’s already loaded.
They only need 3 starters for the ALDS. That means, Joba is in the bullpen and one of Gaudin and Mitre as well.
Bruney will be on the post-season roster, as will Coke. They will be used accordingly. As in, batter to batter.
For baseball players, the worst thing is inactivity and getting away from their routine. It seems that every time a team tries to rest their players and coast, they come out flat in the playoffs.
As long as nobody is getting burned out, and you have an eye towards setting up the rotation for the playoffs, let the players play as usual. The one exception, I would say, would be to pull a starting pitcher after 6 innings if there is a big lead. I don’t want to see CC or anybody else overly tired in October because they pitched a couple extra innings they didn’t need to.
For example, if the Yanks had scored 4 or more in the 7th last night instead of the 2 they got, I would have pulled CC at that point.
Andrew Brackman threw three scoreless innings last night allowing just one hit with two strikeouts and no walks. Perhaps there’s hope.
AJ is due for a rebound.
Yea the guy’s been bad but he does have 10 wins and at one point this season he was just as reliable as CC.
Once he gets out of his own head, he’ll be dominant. His stuff is just too good.
I asked Pete to post an entry for this.
http://www.denimday.com/team_page.aspx?tid=235202
It is Nick Swishers team page for national Denim day to raise money for cancer research.
First of all I think the Yankees can take home field and rest their starters. Over the last few weeks Girardi has done a great job of resting his guys but also winning almost every game. I mean just look at last night. 2 regulars were on the bench (Tex, Posada) and the Yanks still crushed the Orioles.
The lead is pretty big right now, Girardi has some wiggle room to rest his guys.
Secondly I think that A.J. has to be given game 2, even though he’s been bad lately. I’m looking for him to run off 3 or 4 great starts in September then step in as the #2 guy. He can’t be this bad for much longer. Pettitte is perfect as the third starter.
Finally, about the makeup of the playoff roster, I would go with an extra position player rather than an extra pitcher. 11 pitchers is more than enough for the ALDS and even the 7 game series. Don’t forget, in the ALDS you only need 3 starters so with 11 pitchers you have an 8 man bullpen. Then back to 7 relievers in the seven game series. That is plenty.
I’d go with a guy like Ramiro Pena rather than Mitre or Gaudin. For the ALDS you already have Joba and Ace as long relievers, if necessary. They can also pitch in the late innings in case Hughes, Coke, Marte and Mo are unavailable.
Most postseason rosters use 11 pitchers max, 12 is excessive. If Gaudin or Mitre even get to pitch your team isn’t going to win anyways. Go with the 25 best players.
“Once he gets out of his own head, he’ll be dominant. His stuff is just too good”
That’s the book on A.J.
The Yanks are pretty consistent on the road and home. I’d rather the starters be rested and in the order we need them in.
That makes sense Patrick. An extra position player would give the Yankees a lot more flexibility on the bench and 11 pitchers is more than enough for 5 and 7 game series, given the days off built into the schedule.
anybody have a take on whether or not Gardner makes post season roster?
“Once he gets out of his own head, he’ll be dominant. His stuff is just too good.”
It’s been too good for 10 years….yet he’s a slightly above .500 pitcher with around a 4.00 ERA for his career.
Francessa asked Girardi recently if he agreed with Torre about game 3 being the most important game of a playoff series and Girardi said yes. Andy will be pitching game 3.
No way, Rivera misses this four game series.
Gardner will be on the playoff roster because of his speed and defense.
“No way, Rivera misses this four game series.”
Might be the best thing for him. No need to press him and run the risk of aggravating the injury when a weekend off likely leaves him back at near 100% healthy.
“Andrew Brackman threw three scoreless innings last night allowing just one hit with two strikeouts and no walks. Perhaps there’s hope.”
Next year will be the true indicator on how much progress Brackman makes as a professional pitcher. Come 2011, the Yankees will have to make a decision as to whether he’s a starter or reliever.
Gardner definitely makes the postseason roster.
for fielding, but especially to run in late innings. think dave roberts, and thats what one stolen base late in a game can do for you.
#
# SJ44 September 3rd, 2009 at 8:51 am
Not real smart to stack the lefties in a playoff rotation. Especially when Pettitte pitches better on the road than at home.
Unless AJ falls off a cliff, he’s starting Game 2.
As far as Melancon making the post-season roster, there is about a 1% chance of that happening, regardless of how he pitches in September.
When you have spent most of the year in Scranton, you aren’t making the post-season roster in a bullpen that’s already loaded.
They only need 3 starters for the ALDS. That means, Joba is in the bullpen and one of Gaudin and Mitre as well.
Bruney will be on the post-season roster, as will Coke. They will be used accordingly. As in, batter to batter.
————————-
Very astute. I think your right on that Pettite should start game 3.
So if either one of Gaudin or Mitre is not in the pen, then their not carried on the post season? Which position player do you think takes their place and makes the post season roster, Cervelli or Pena or Gardner?
aj burnett is surrounded by players who are having great years. he’s never been around these kind of players in this kind of setting. at some point it has to kick into his head it’s him who has to step it up.
he was always in a place where just being talented set him apart. what he’s never been is a big game winner. he’s never had to be consistent and could still feel good about himself.
not on the yankees and not on this year’s team. the exasperation that teixeira showed when burnett didn’t cover first the other day when teixeira put out the effort to stop the ball says it all. aj burnett is a bit of a slacker who’s gotten by on talent in other team situations where it didn’t matter.
i think he’s going to get it because he’s saying all the right things. it just takes time to reverse a whole career of habits of getting by on mostly talent alone. if watching andy pettitte doesn’t show burnett something about pitching character, nothing will.
i’m betting eventually burnett will get it and be a much better pitcher on a more consistent basis.
There is a distinct possibility that the Rangers overtake LA for the division, meaning we could face the Angels in a 5 game series. Would that be better/worse than facing them in a 7 game LCS?
Texas took a hit with Young and Hamilton going down, but the majority of their remaining games are with Balt, Sea, Oak, and the 6 game showdown with LA. The Angels still have 4 with the Yanks and 3 with Boston in addition to the Texas games. Regrdless of how well LA plays against us, I have to think they would rather play those 4 games against the Orioles, or anybody else. Should be interesting, at any rate.
“Francessa asked Girardi recently if he agreed with Torre about game 3 being the most important game of a playoff series and Girardi said yes”
Probably true more often than not, the exception being in a best of 5 and losing Game 1, at which time Game 2 is the most important of the series.
i agree will be interesting to see if they carry carry hinske through as a big bat off the bench also
“Might be the best thing for him. No need to press him and run the risk of aggravating the injury when a weekend off likely leaves him back at near 100% healthy.”
Rivera is like Jeter, he will press to pitch sometime this weekend if the soreness is more of a inconvience than an injury that will affect his performance.
“So if either one of Gaudin or Mitre is not in the pen, then their not carried on the post season?”
They can add/subtract after the first round, so Gaudin and Mitre may very well be off the roster for the ALDS, but added for the ALCS if the team feels they need more pitching.
If I’m the Yankees, I take the short series in the ALDS against the Tigers, forcing the two teams to use 4 starters. I think a Joba vs Washburn matchup is more beneficial than a second Pettitte/Burnett vs Jackson matchup. (This, however, is only if the Tigers hold on. If the Twins make a comeback, I would take the long series. They don’t have a frontline starter, so facing their #2 twice isn’t a big deal.)
“Rivera is like Jeter, he will press to pitch sometime this weekend if the soreness is more of a inconvience than an injury that will affect his performance.”
I agree, but that doesn’t make it the best thing for him. That’s where Girardi has to earn his money. Impose the few days off. Lot more important days ahead.
Thanks Mark, got it.
“I agree, but that doesn’t make it the best thing for him. That’s where Girardi has to earn his money. Impose the few days off. Lot more important days ahead.”
How do you know if Girardi isn’t earning his money by letting him pitch since he knows the extent of the soreness and you don’t?
So if the series goes 5 we want Burnett (not Andy) going twice, including the final game? No thanks.
This month should be about Burnett and Joba fighting for the third spot.