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A second lefty seems likely

Chad Jennings
October
6

The New York Yankees emailed some Joe Girardi quotes after tonight’s Twins win. It’s all pretty standard stuff, but this seems to tip the Yankees’ hand about their roster construction.

“The Twins have more left-handers (in their lineup),” Girardi said. “A second left-hander would possibly get more work against them. The one thing we talk about is, we want to make sure that when we use our bullpen, w’e're covered if the game goes extra innings.”

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 10:41 pm by Chad Jennings.
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91 Responses to “A second lefty seems likely”

  1. big dog

    Get Marte ready

  2. big dog

    Chad are you a Yankees Fan????????

  3. 100 pitches of fun...

    I don’t think I will be able to watch the Coke vs. Mauer at bat late in the game. Coke please keep him in the ballpark.

  4. Wave Your Hat

    The Yanks look like they’ll carry three catchers, 11 pitchers and start Molina once or twice. I want to throw up.

  5. Vader

    Marte and Cervelli will be the last two spots.

    Let’s get this thing going!

  6. Vin

    call me crazy..but i like marte over phil “dumbo” coke..i just feel marte has a much better chance of gettin a left hander out for sure then coke cause hes got more of a side arm delivery giving him more deception over coke

  7. Seven

    Sounds like the Freddy Guzman era will be ending very soon.

  8. 100 pitches of fun...

    “w’e’re covered if the game goes extra innings”
    ————————————–

    That obviously means Gaudin is on the roster. With Marte because of Mauer and Kubel.

  9. H.E.PennyPacker

    I’d rather put a good right-handed pitcher against their lefties than use a lousy guy like Coke or Marte just because they are left-handed.

    Marte is completely unpredictable and Coke is a home run waiting to happen.

  10. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    Molina so far has only been announced as starting one game. This is the biggest freaking overblown controversy to come along since…oh wait, the last time everyone was up in arms about Molina or Posada for AJ.

    Honestly, this discussion of a 2nd lefthanded reliever has left me wanting more opportunities to rip AJ Burnett as a diva and a fraud. I don’t think there are enough opportunities to do that with this topic.

  11. Erica - always OPPC

    It’s okay Betsy, I know you don’t mean to sound snippy. You are very passionate about the Yankees and thats okay

  12. Bronx Jeers

    I’m all for Marte getting the call against Mauer given the history with Coke.

    Then again, maybe Coke is due?

  13. MikeBoston

    When did Jorgie hit a walkoff this year, I don’t remember it if it happened?

  14. Betsy

    Thanks, Erica! I do disagree with you, though. Joe made this decision and I have to think it’s because he got either an earful from AJ or, more likely, just got the vibe that AJ would much rather pitch to Molina. The point is, this team is a thousand times better with AJ/Posada and Matsui in the lineup thatn AJ/Molina and Matsui/no Posada in the lineup.

  15. m

    Erica,

    I think JD has a future as a stand-up comic:

    Asked Tuesday if he had a preference regarding which team he would prefer to play, Damon had a unique take.

    “No,” he said, “just whatever team that’s wanting to lose to us, I’ll be happy.”

    http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/.....heir-date/

  16. Seven

    Vin
    October 6th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
    call me crazy..but i like marte over phil “dumbo” coke..i just feel marte has a much better chance of gettin a left hander out for sure then coke cause hes got more of a side arm delivery giving him more deception over coke

    —————————————-

    Coke has been very good against left handed hitters. They are only hitting 195 off him. Coke also throws strike he is much more reliable than Marte.

    But Mauer is 3-4 against Coke with two homeruns and 2 rbi’s. You might want to use Marte to face Mauer. Mauer is only hitting 222 in 9 at bats against Marte.

  17. djsunyc

    that’s why we have swisher…

  18. Betsy

    I know Jorge had the game winning hit vs. the Angels, but that was earlier in the season. I wish I could remember who is GW HR was against……

  19. Vader

    MikeBoston…it was against the Angels, when Fuente punched the wall on the way out of the dugout.

  20. 100 pitches of fun...

    Posada’s hit was a walk off single against the Blue Jays.

  21. Vin

    fo sho..but its not how u start its how u finish, and coke definitely had a bad last couple of games and didnt instill too much courage into me when i c him out and most of the twins power is left handed(kubel and mauer)..iono i guess we ll c. Long live the empire!!

  22. Erica - always OPPC

    Betsy-
    No problem. We can agree to disagree :-)

  23. NYY626

    Posada’s walk off was on the 4th of July right?

  24. Bronx Jeers

    Come and play with us Minny.

    Forever…and ever….and ever……

    http://verdoux.files.wordpress.....-twins.jpg

    The Twins are coming!

  25. Betsy

    Absolutely, Erica…we agree on the most important things, though: 1) that the Yankees rule and 2) Johnny Damon rocks.

  26. PittsburghYankeeFan

    It’s been 8 long years MLB, but welcome to a potential Yankee ass-kicking. It’s been a long time, with the Red Sox “team of the decade” nonsense.

    The Yankee team you saw in the week of games against the Angels and Boston two weeks ago, that’s who I expect to see.

    I know I’m supposed to be worried and fret like some bloggers above, but I really like this team in a way that I haven’t since 1998.

    Let’s hope we exorcism those demons of the last 9 years. Pavano’s team is playing us for a reason–it is a sign. The The demons of the AL await.

    Yankees are back–and as Cashman said:

    God help the rest of baseball.

  27. 100 pitches of fun...

    Coke would be better against Mauer maybe in the earlier innings and Marte in the late innings.

  28. Bo Knows

    Just a comment. This is now for the marbles.

    Time for the sniping to end. Just think – Molina might bat 300 and all those pontificating posters would look foolish. Last playoffs, Posada didn’t exactly tear the cover off the ball. It doesn’t matter how they get there. It’s your team and no, Girardi isn’t an idiot.

    You cheer for the team and “that’s all they is”.

  29. S.A.--Serenity Now

    MikeBoston
    October 6th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
    When did Jorgie hit a walkoff this year, I don’t remember it if it happened?

    ===================

    4th of July vs. the Blue Jays

  30. ed

    wow Chad…does your picture look different than on your old blog.

  31. brian1

    “The Yanks look like they’ll carry three catchers, 11 pitchers and start Molina once or twice. I want to throw up.”

    Agree. Also, can they take a pitcher who can actually get outs instead of the requisite lefty or two?

  32. Erica - always OPPC

    S.A.–Serenity Now
    October 6th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
    MikeBoston
    October 6th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
    When did Jorgie hit a walkoff this year, I don’t remember it if it happened?

    ===================

    4th of July vs. the Blue Jays
    *****

    The day CMW was facing Halladay. Bridgejumpers were pretty much saying the Yanks should just forfeit. LOL. I told everyone to believe in baseball miracles :-)

  33. Vader

    Posada had two walk offs this year

  34. Scared of the Wall

    brian1
    October 6th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
    “The Yanks look like they’ll carry three catchers, 11 pitchers and start Molina once or twice. I want to throw up.”

    Agree. Also, can they take a pitcher who can actually get outs instead of the requisite lefty or two?

    ———————————————–
    Like who? Bruney? Mitre?

  35. Buddy Biancalana

    So who starts for Minny tomorrow? Duensing?

  36. pssst

    Betsy let Joe manage the team,he’s done it before,and quite well!

    If the Twins are so hot,why did it take 163 games for them to win their division,by 1,winning only 87 games,and 11 over 500?

    Yankees 103 in regulation play,hot since the ALL Star break.

  37. S.A.--Serenity Now

    Erica – always OPPC
    October 6th, 2009 at 11:02 pm

    The day CMW was facing Halladay. Bridgejumpers were pretty much saying the Yanks should just forfeit. LOL. I told everyone to believe in baseball miracles

    ===========================

    Last game CMW pitched this year. :cry:

  38. yanksince57-was last year 1959 or was it 1965?

    congrats chad on finally showing up! did you jog here from swb? :)

  39. Pat M.

    As much as I’m not thrilled with Giradi’s decision, the perception that this is or was Burnett’s doing is not known and with all probability he had no call in this…..So let’s back up on the ragging on Burnett, for now at least until the Yanks make a statement on this….

  40. MikeBoston

    Ahh 4th of July, one of the few times I was unable to see/read any highlights (must have missed that Angels one too). I assume AJ creamed him after both times, how did he take it?

  41. JJ

    It’s the time to stop enterring into endless arguments about AJ,Posoda and Molina.
    Right now,We just need to concentrate our attention on thinking about how to beat Twins,Angel or Redsox whatever.
    To be fans,We love Yankees and need hang together to give total support and faith in Yankees’ all coaches and players.

    “This year just has one goal is win the world’s championship.”
    “Believe we will win crown and no teams can prevent from it.”

    I really don’t want Yankees’ destiny resemble Tiger at all.
    Please Stop helpless argument.
    I would rather pray for Yankees or look for opponent’ weakness than unmeaningful debate.

  42. m

    MikeBoston,

    AJ didn’t want to do it, but Mo gave the nod. Just like the Godfather. I think AJ fears Mo more than Jorge. ;)

    Jorge didn’t look thrilled, but he was a good sport about it on camera.

  43. 100 pitches of fun...

    From the Twins website: “Gardenhire said it would be Brian Duensing in Game 1 and Nick Blackburn in Game 2 of the ALDS”

    The Yanks have very good #’s against him. Tex is 6-6, and Posada never faced him.

  44. Wolf In Pinstripes

    Here’s a compilation video of the walk-offs from this year, courtesy of my bud Anthony:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qtB_XSbWw0

  45. 100 pitches of fun...

    The Twins are lucky and the Idle will probably pitch game 4 at home.

  46. GreenBeret7

    Pat M.
    October 6th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
    As much as I’m not thrilled with Giradi’s decision, the perception that this is or was Burnett’s doing is not known and with all probability he had no call in this…..So let’s back up on the ragging on Burnett, for now at least until the Yanks make a statement on this….

    ————————————————————

    Completely agree, though, if the truth is ever told, it’ll have to come from Burnett. That shouldn’t be laid on Girardi to say anything. Nothing could disrupt the clubhouse more than having the manager push one his players in front of the train.

  47. MikeBoston

    Haa, that’s awesome m, thanks for the info, I can totall see Mo making that look…us “out of market” people sometimes miss that stuff when they cut the broadcast 5 seconds after it’s over. At least no more of that for the rest of the season ;-)

  48. trisha - OPPC lifetime member and a believer in baseball karma

    “As much as I’m not thrilled with Giradi’s decision, the perception that this is or was Burnett’s doing is not known and with all probability he had no call in this…..So let’s back up on the ragging on Burnett, for now at least until the Yanks make a statement on this….”

    Extremely mature perspective Pat M. I only hope that those who appreciate your positions here take your advice and just stop pretending they know something about which they obviously know nothing, and that is exactly what happened. Frankly it’s getting pretty weird.

  49. Erica - always OPPC

    18 hours and 40 minutes until Game 1 :-)

  50. Bo Knows

    These people are professionals which means “You take the man’s dollar, you do the man a job.

    Burnett pitches for the Yankees. The team is trying to win. I’m a Yankee fan. Even after the 2004 disaster.

    That’s it, that’s all.

  51. Christina- Here come the bandwagoners...

    Whoo hooo Erica! Thanks for the countdown! I can not wait

  52. Erica - always OPPC

    Christina- Here come the bandwagoners…
    October 6th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
    Whoo hooo Erica! Thanks for the countdown! I can not wait
    ***

    Me neither!!!

    It’s time for that team in Minnesota to cool off quickly :-)

  53. Rose

    If AJ cannot locate his pitches, it doesn’t matter who is catching. He is basically a .500 pitcher, but when he is “on” he is great.

  54. Betsy

    Rose, you’re right…….and he can’t locate his pitches most of the time. If he could, he’d be a better pitcher. We’ll see, though – it’s nice that he doesn’t have to go against Verlander.

  55. Erica - always OPPC

    Good Night Yankee People!!!!

  56. NYYanksFan

    Does Trisha ever not have to have the last word? And that’s a rhetorical question. No need to respond.

  57. Betsy

    http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....-1.1505623

    On a more positive note……

    “I don’t think I’ll see anything new,” he said. “I believe I’m ready for everything.”

    **I remember Phil’s quote about how fun it was – that was when he was being removed from the game. He actually said “this is so much bleeping fun”, lol.

  58. 100 pitches of fun...

    Is this AJ talk ever going to stop? He could out pitch CC this post season, who knows what is going to happen.

  59. Jeremy

    Well A.J. has fine tuned his mechanics of late which is why he has been better. Can we have confidence in our team and stop talking trash about certain players. I swear that ever since 2004 some Yankee fans have gone crazy.

  60. Lauren

    Expecting to see Coke and Marte in the bullpen as their lineup is lefty dominate. This is the second time Pavano is playing in postseason baseball. Lets hope Yankees are successful the 2nd time around. Pavano will be amped to do well as he’s seeking a contract. These Twins are on fire, lets hopes Yankees won’t take them for granted. One things for sure Nathan will not be available after pitching two innings tonight.

  61. disco stu

    I know there are people who are nervous because the Twins are the hot team, the Cinderella team with all the karma.

    But if you think about it, the Yankees matchup so much better against the Twins then they would have against the Tigers for the simple fact that the Tigers would be pitching 3 hard throwing pitchers against us in a 5 game series … the spector of possibly having to face Verlander twice, which would have meant beating him in a Game 5, was very scary.

    To me, that is what takes down a team like the Yankees in a short series … hard throwing, dominant pitching where the Yankee bats cant square up enough pitches and put them in play consistently. You dont get that with the Twins … their pitching is good, but it is very hittable … especially their starting pitching. Yes, they have some good hitters, especially Mauer and yes, they have Nathan at the end of the game.

    But their lineup is enormously top-heavy and their pitching pitches to contact way too much.

    If the Yankees had played the Tigers, they may very well have had to won at least 2 games in that series scoring 3 runs or less. Against the Twins, I dont see how their lineup is going to be shut down. Which means that in order for the Twins to win, they will have to outslug them and I dont see that happening either.

  62. Bo Knows

    The thing is post season is fun. There are great plays and bad plays. There is an immediacy, a heightened sense on every play. And I’m going to kick back and enjoy the entire experience. Good, bad or indifferent. It’s baseball at it’s best and the Yankees are in it. It doesn’t get better than this.

  63. lets go yankees (formerly lets go twins)

    well I got what I hoped for 3 weeks ago and I do not see any reason why it would not pay off. The Tigers really gave away this game several times tonight. With the Yankee bullpen and offense that kind of stuff is just not going to happen. Again, I will say it all comes down to pitching and the Twins simply do have the type of pitching that can shut down this offense. So as I sign off as “lets go twins,” I will say now lets go yankees

  64. GreenBeret7

    With the Twins, having an extra left hander only works with Kubel. Mauer may just as well be a switch hitter. He hits lefties and righties the same way….hard.

  65. Nick in SF

    Is everybody over it?

  66. m

    All kinds of goodies at the espn NYY/MIN page:

    http://espn.go.com/mlb/playoff.....ns-yankees

  67. GreenBeret7

    Add Span to left handed batters that don’t care what.

  68. GreenBeret7

    Add Span to left handed batters that don’t care ***what side the pitchers throw from***..

  69. m

    This is the year….

    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4537035

  70. Zach in Port Jeff

    After a 1 month LoHud hiatus/vacation, I’m back for the playoffs.

    What’d I miss?

    I got so much work done these last few weeks in anticipation of doing absolutely nothing this month.

  71. Peepee Hands

    Whats the weather outlook for tomorrow?

  72. pat

    ESPN saying Gardenhire is going with 12 pitchers because of the length of tonights game.

  73. Nick in SF

    Zach, you haven’t missed much. Pete Abe has left LoHud for the Boston Globe and Joba Chamberlain has left some fans unconvinced of his postseason worth. That’s about it.

  74. Ed - 2009 will be the year of the Yanks

    “ESPN saying Gardenhire is going with 12 pitchers because of the length of tonights game.”

    but but but, the Twins will not have a bullpen tomorrow night. unless Gardenhire decides to give his pitches TJS after tomorrow.

  75. Ed - 2009 will be the year of the Yanks

    pitchers*

  76. Pat M.

    Nick in SF…..You missed nothing here today, yet you missed alot……The whole AJ / Molina issue dominated the the board, even as a Classic baseball game was being played

  77. Nick in SF

    Pat M, that’s too bad, though I contributed on the periphery of the margins of the discussion for a short time in the early California afternoon.

    I see on pinny that the Yanks are -305 on the money line tomorrow. That bites.

  78. Pat M.

    That’s an obscene line…..In fact I’ve never seen a line like that before…..And this is a playoff game……

  79. Buddy Biancalana

    Go this via RAB:

    New book called NY Yankees 365, here’s sampling of photos included in the book.

    http://www.ap.org/NYY365/index.html

  80. Buddy Biancalana

    *Got*

  81. Zach in Port Jeff

    A Burnett/Molina/Posada issue???

    I never knew one existed.

    Pete Abe blogging for the Sox?

    Surely this is bizarro world.

    ps. Nick, I did get to experience the goodness that is Hodori during my west-coast swing last month. The Spicy Tofu soup was divine.

  82. rb

    My favorite lines from the Stark article m linked to above -

    “They can bludgeon you early (.828 OPS in the first inning). They can mug you late (15 walkoff wins — second-most in franchise history).”

  83. dennis-Costanza

    Molina is catching game 2? Had no idea…

    Oh mercy.

    -dennis

  84. Darrin

    Can you believe the last time the NY Yankees won a postseason series was 2004? Against the Twins in the ALDS.

    Let’s bookend this sucker and put our long national nightmare to rest.

  85. Pat M.

    Nick in SF / Dennis Costanza…Do either of you know what the # is on the Yanks winning the World Series ????

  86. Nick in SF

    Buddy, thanks for posting that. Those are some great pictures. I’m glad we got to see it tonight, before Jose Molina is airbrushed over that Posada picture. ;)

    Zach, I totally forgot about talking about Hodori. Glad you made it. I hope you got a cool Asian hipster crowd to check out while you were there.

    Pat M, I have seen -300’s lines before, very rarely, but I don’t think for a postseason game. Truly grotesque.

  87. dennis-Costanza

    Pat M

    My book has it at 8-5.

    Pretty good bet IMO.

    -dennis

  88. Nick in SF

    new thread :arrow:

  89. pssst

    Whine ,Whine,Whine stop it all of you.Joe got the team to this point trust him!

  90. Bo Knows

    Actually I think Girardi had a great year. One miff all season, considering the high priced egos.

    You know what they say, “A miff is as good as a mile”.

  91. dan

    Clearly if they’re concerned about length, they’re looking at Marte and Gaudin for that last spot. Let joba or aceves fill in in long relief, they don’t need 3 guys who can all go 3 innings if needed. There are so many days off the pen will always be fresh.

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About the authors
Chad JenningsChad Jennings joined the The Journal News in October 2009, having spent the better part of seven years covering baseball in Scranton, PA. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and an award-winning beat reporter and features writer. E-mail me at cjennings@lohud.com
READ MORE ABOUT CHAD

Sam BordenSam Borden is an award-winning journalist who joined The Journal News and LoHud.com in January 2008. He covered the Yankees for the New York Daily News from 2004-06, and has also worked as a columnist for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. E-mail me at sborden@lohud.com
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