Yankees make ALCS roster official
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Oct 16, 2009 
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ALCS rosters were due about an hour ago and the Yankees made official what they said yesterday: Freddy Guzman is on, Eric Hinske is off. If the Yankees make it to the World Series, they will have the chance to re-do the roster again, and I’d expect Hinske to be added back because of the need for pinch-hitters in the NL park. Guzman’s addition also makes you think we might see Brett Gardner get a start at some point in the series.
Like many of you, I was surprised that Marte stayed on (as opposed to adding Bruney) but Joe Girardi has said repeatedly that he likes having two lefties in case he wants to match-up earlier in the game. The odd thing is that both Marte and Phil Coke could likely face the same hitter – Bobby Abreu – with one coming in for a 6th inning at-bat, say, and the other in the 8th (or in extra innings after Rivera has been used).
I was listening to Baseball Tonight yesterday and Buck Showalter said that while you have to have your roster in to the Commissioner’s office at 11 AM, you don’t have to actually have your roster finalized until you hand in the Game 1 lineup card. So if the Yankees get rained out tonight, Joe Girardi theoretically change it.
STUPID! There isn’t a batter in the world that I trust Marte to get out. As bad as Bruney is, I’d still put more trust in him to get ANY batter out, including Abreu.
Marte is a waste of a roster spot.
Even worse, he is a negative roster spot, since he would likely give up a hit (or worse) to Bobby Abreu and Girardi would be tempted to use him.
Marte has not once this season demonstrated consistent reliability. Girardi is going by the book on this one, and I hope the book doesn’t hit him in the face.
8 hours and 17 minutes until Game 1!!!!!!
Chris-
Agreed.
But, for some reason, I enjoyed their banter but not their rudeness. To his credit, Mike has virtually stopped hanging up without a ty.
I just have to ignore his huge ego and narcissistic mannerisms.
Besides, there’s virtually no competition in what they do in this part of the country. Certainly not Kaye.
Considering Marte is the reason the Yanks nearly lost Game 2 and all momentum in the ALDS, it baffles me that he’s on the roster instead of Bruney.
Andrew,
That’s absolutely right. If there is a rainout tonight and the Yankees wanted to re-do it, they are entitled to change their roster. Once Game 1 begins, they’re locked in; so, if Game 2 was rained out, they obviously wouldn’t be able to go back and change it.
bruney lost all command in the second half of the season. nothing would suggest that he’d come back after a two week hiatus and all of a sudden be able to spot his fastball. and there is nothing worse than having a guy come out of the ‘pen in the Postseason and walk batters. marte came in and got hit in the ALDS but at least he made them earn their way on base.
I’d prefer neither but if given the choice, I’d rather have Marte right now. he did also pitch well in the Yankees last series in LA. maybe that has something to do with it?
hey … it could have been worse, Girardi could have played a “hunch” and added Edwar Ramirez instead of Marte or Bruney.
This also speaks to the lack of confidence in Bruney. I mean, it’s the last man in the bullpen. Why not have a lefty?
we dont need another rh pitcher
Rob-I think it was mentioned yesterday that Marte actually has decent numbers against the Angels, and Bruney does not. I was surprised at first too, but I guess it does make sense.
2 lefties for Abreu yes, but also to turn Figgins around.
I would think that the second lefty is there more to turn around some of the Angel’s switch hitters, especially Kendry Morales.
Kendry has more power left-handed and the right field wall is much closer than when he bats from the right side (.309/.366/.596, with 30 home runs in 431 AB = 14.4 AB/HR batting left; .296/.319/.481 with 4 home runs in 144 AB = 36.0 AB/HR batting right). Kendry batting righty is still dangerous, but nowhere near as dangerous as lefty, particularly in NY.
I haven’t looked at the splits for the other Angel’s switch hitters. I’m sure Joe has.
That’s great insight Andrew, I’m glad we now know. We could see that happen to re-work the pitchers on the roster if the rain will force the Yankees out of the 3 man rotation.
Adding Marte to the roster does offer the advantage of having a sacrifical lamb to throw out there if someone gets knocked out of the box and they need someone to take one for the team to keep the rest of the pen fresh.
I can understand wanting two lefties, but how abou a GOOD lefty??? The last time I checked the right handers in the Yankee bullpen were capable of getting out left handers. Just cause a guy throws with his left arm doesn’t mean he should be on the roster!
Don’t have any faith in Marte or Bruney.
bruney will not pitch if he was on the roster
do u pitch him over joba,hughes,robertson,mo?
no
the way the days off are & the fact that there are basically no pitch count limits we can use every pitcher as much as needed
our pen debth allows us to take 2 lefties
Um. Looks like Ronan’s in trouble. Oops.
Erin- yeah I checked the numbers and saw that too. I thought I remembered him pitching well against them in the last game these two teams played.
I don’t see the value/upside in having Bruney on the roster at this point. I don’t trust him to come out and throw strikes and he doesn’t offer any versatility for that spot in the bullpen. He’s another power-righty that figures to be last on the depth chart. At least with Marte, you can turn a guy around or bring him in to face a lefty in a pinch. Just a different look.
Game 5 of the 1976 ALCS in on MLB network right now.
Remember when they used to drive the pitchers in from the bullpen? What was that all about?
That’s when gas was less expensive
Rob, I agree about Bruney. I do feel a little bad for him because it seemed like he was finally starting to pitch better, but I think it was a case of too little too late.
What a jackass Tynan is.
Follow the money. Cashman gave Marte $12 million. Cashman feels foolish if the people he is paying a lot of money don’t play. Cashman is, at the moment, the most important person for Girardi’s job security. If Girardi puts Marte on the mound, and he does well, everybody’s happy. If he doesn’t, well, he’s Cashman’s boy.
NYY actually have three lefties available to get a left handed batter out in the first game….Andy Pettitte would be on what should be his throw day and could and should be used to get out a lefty. He’s done it before, and he would be my choice in what could be the most important time.
“Andy Pettitte would be on what should be his throw day and could and should be used to get out a lefty. He’s done it before, and he would be my choice in what could be the most important time.”
Good call.
Jeers –
I remember the “bullpen car.” I think it was always a Toyota. I was a kid, so I thought it was awesome, but now I can’t believe they ever did it. Seems so lazy. Of course, back then the whole stadium wasn’t plastered with ads, so I guess they just thought it was a good way to make some advertising dollars.
Anybody hear about Ronan Tynan stating he doesn’t want to live in a building with Jews?
This, ultimately, led to his being relieved of God bless America duties for Yankee games.
He seemed like a nice fellow….
7 hours and 44 minutes until Game 1!!!!!
Since no one has bothered to look at the numbers:
Marte vs. lefties in 2009:
28 PA, .120/.214/.280 (.494 OPS)
Sure, pretty small sample size… but it is pretty much in-line with his career avg’s:
Marte vs. lefties in his career:
736 PA, .197/.294/.287 (.581 OPS)
Righties have murdered Damaso this year:
34 PA, .414/.485/.690 (1.175 OPS)
He won’t be used to turn around a switch hitter because even a guy like Figgins (who stinks batting right-handed) will have an advantage over the lefty throwing Marte.
He’s there to face Abreu early in games, and after Coke/Hughes/Joba/Mo have all been used.
Still more useful than Brueny, IMO.
Marte is there to keep him in play for the next round.
The positive article Pete has up is what I miss most.He always found a way to write the good stuff going into a hectic series.
After almost two years, I still do not understand Girardi’s infatuation with Marte. Nor did I understand Cashman’s zeal to acquire him.
What is the point of a lefty-lefty matchup, when the lefty sucks?
Guys, eveyone keeps talking about Abreu as the only lefty on the roster. If some of these journalists did a little more homework, they would realize that swith hitters Figgins and Morales are worse against lefties. Figgins is WAY worse against lefties and Morales has substantially less power from the right side of the plate. So Marte will have a role in the bullpen. What role would Bruney have with Chamberlain and Gaudin added to the bullpen??
If this series were to come down to Bruney OR Marte it owuld not be a good sign. If all goes well Damaso just gets a better seat from which to watch.