Who’s at DH?
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Oct 22, 2009 
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Super-secret Joe Girardi would barely acknowledge that he has a player on the team named “Jose Molina,” let alone concede that Molina will be catching A.J. Burnett today, but let’s assume that he stays with that pairing.
Who is the Yankees DH tonight?
Girardi mentioned that Hideki Matsui has more “experience” at DH and that’s certainly true, but Matsui also is coming off an ugly 0-for-5 in Game 4 (with three strikeouts) and is 6-for-23 this postseason.
Jorge Posada, who has been on the bench the past two times Molina started, is only slightly better for the postseason (8-for-24) but has terrific numbers against Angels starter John Lackey (12-for-29). Against Lackey in Game 1, Posada was 0-for-3.
If it were me, I’d go with Matsui at DH. Using Posada there commits you to having either Molina or Francisco Cervelli in the lineup the whole night, whereas using Posada off the bench means he can be a straight sub for Molina and, late in the game, the Yankees will have both Matsui AND Posada in the lineup. It’s a tough call though. I could probably be convinced either way.
I’d go with Matsui !
I would have gone with Posada, but then I read your reasoning and using Matsui at DH thus seems to make some more sense.
Honestly, they could DH Molina–as long as the Yankees win, I don’t care who the DH is!
Matsui at DH, merely for the reason you mentioned… Posada takes over the inning Burnett comes out.
If it’s nor broken… Don’t fix it. We have won both games with Molina in there, so leave him in there until it no longer works.
Hideki’s bat is looking pretty slow. I would give him this day off, let Jorge DH, and then not plan on benching Hideki any more this postseason. I know there have been days off in the playoff, but it just seems like Matsui needs a GAME off.
actually, i change my stance, forgot about the games Hideki will have to miss potentially in the World Series playing in Philly. I would keep him in again today and hope he takes some good cuts and gets himself back on track.
lets go yankees (formerly lets go twins)
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
lets go yankees (formerly lets go twins) October 22nd, 2009 at 12:56 pm
First off, when Gardner was the everyday CF at the start of the season he batted about .220 and was so bad he lost his job.
Second, if you judge players solely on AVG or even think it is close to the most important statistic, you know absolutely nothing about baseball.
—-
.220 through April. And it was more that Melky was so hot and the team was only around .500 that Melky earned the spot. Yes I admit Melky earned it then but I think there were times where he should have lost it. He never did.
AVG is not the most important stat but one I could reference easily. Swisher as a .250 hitter brings a lot to the team. Now he’s slumping and it’s clear.
As for, “you know absolutely nothing about baseball” that’s not true and not necessary, and it doesn’t help you win an argument.
————————-
The only point in the season where Gardner was an everyday player was in April! And it was not more that Melky was so hot. It was that Gardner had a .220 AVG and a .254 OBP as an everyday player. So when exactly did Gardner hit close to .300 as an everyday player?
Why should Melky have ever lost his starting job to a rookie who had a .254 OBP as an everyday player? Sure, it would have been nice for Gardner to get a start here and there, but he got injured, so tough luck. Melky has been the CF for a 109 win team.
The only stat you referenced was AVG, so there was nothing else for me to comment on. If you are going to reference that in argument it shows me you have no understanding for important baseball statistics. If you are going to make an argument for Gardner, AVG is probably the worst one you can make.
And, finally 7 games does not make a slump. 162 is much more representative of Swisher’s far superior play than Gardner’s.
I would DH Jorge. With three catchers this is one of the times you can make it work for you. With Hairston and Matsui on the bench Girardi can go to Jorge when AJ comes out late in the game and just pinch hit for the relief pitcher if/when his time comes up.
He has a better history against Lackey and Matsui’s bat looked dreadfully slow the other night. Jorge’ is more dangerous hitting behind ARod at this point in time.
Plus it’ll be good for Jorge’s mental health, and that’s not a bad thing.
posada should dh, molina cathes, matsui ph’s for molina when/if needed, and cervelli cacthes for molina
That Girardi is being ultra suave.. is he trying to throw all of the GTLU players for a loop??
Oh, heck, how about I’LL DH and put an end to this debate?
I’ll even do it for free, so as not to get the sportswriters at the Daily News all up in a wad about increasing the Yankee payroll.
Seriously, I’d go with Matsui as DH, and Posada coming in for Molina when AJ is done (unless, of course, Molina is enjoying a three for three evening).
Up 3-1 and not loving the possibility of a light hitting rookie as the backup C if you DH Posada, I go with Matsui as the DH tonight.
Once Burnett is out of the game, I put Posada in for Molina.
I would however sit Swisher tonight (lost at the plate and really lost against Lackey), put Melky in RF and Gardner in CF tonight.
I would bat Gardner 8th and Molina 9th so, if Gardner reaches base, Molina can bunt him over.
matsui
Matsui as DH
I go with Posada… two reasons… Better Numbers off Lackey… and with matsui on the bench you have some pop if Girardi needs to use both Guzman and Gardy to Run
Burnett will be fine. He just needs to give the team 6 quality innings and then we have a fresh pen to close it out.
I put Matsui at DH, even though he’s struggling. I think Girardi will stick (for the most part) with his regulars.
If I’m not mistaken, Jose’s had a grand total of 3 at bats. The game will dictate how many PA Molina will have. Not to worry, Posada will have plenty at-bats.
lol:
Eddie (Milwaukee)
What was Steve Phillips thinking? Almost trading a 19 year old David Wright for Jose Cruz Jr.? Ridiculous.
Klaw (1:43 PM)
And, by the way, actual questions about Phillips are off limits. I can’t even post them, let alone answer them, so please, stop.
Klaw (1:43 PM)
Welcome to my world.
i see some talk of gardner starting.
i think this post season is a learning experience for gardner.
he seems to take a while to adjust when he does something new.
i cringe when girardi puts him in to pinch run at this point.
now that’s totally subjective on my part, but gardner just seems tight and doesn’t seem to be much of a base running threat when he’s this tight.
his best use is probably just making the angels think he’s going to run.
if he steals three bases tonight and makes me eat my words great. that’ll be a good thing
I can’t put Gardner in for Swhisher . Cano. Melky Gardner and Molina at the bottom of the lineup scares me. I personally would rather have Swisher fight his way out of his slump than let a cold Gardner play . ( taking nothing away from Gardner).
What a luxury to be up 3 games to one and the pressure of going home early falling on the Angels this year. While we discuss the D/H they have much bigger issues. The player’s are loose and Girardi and his brain-trust will come up with a good game plan.
I’m looking for a great win tonight!!!
Normally I would say let Matsui keep his DH spot but with the numbers that Jorgie has against Lackey and the fact that you have 3 catchers on the roster, it might be the better move to DH Jorgie.
The Yanks don’t want the Angels getting on a plane coming to NY tonight. If they have to travel 5 hours on a plane then they are going to be extremely motivated. Get this over with tonight!! Also Andy vs Saunders isn’t a good matchup.
Lets GO AJ!! .. SEAL THE DEAL BABY !!
SJ44 I totally agree!!!!!
Here is my post from the earlier thread:
If Jorge is the DH and bats fifth the Yankees can always move him out of DH and put him behind the plate in the seventh when AJ is out. I know the DH would then be eliminated BUT if Molina is batting eigth or ninth (I personally want to see Gardner 9th and in cf) it would mean the pitcher hits in that spot. Girardi can then pinch hit for the pitcher the rest of the game which would probably 1 or 2 at bats for the rest of the game. Keep in mind Swisher Matsui and depends on the situation Hairston (better hitter than Molina) are still on the bench available to pinch hit. Cervelli would also be still available although I doubt Joe would want to use his 3rd catcher up. Guzman is also still available to run. GOOD JOB SJ Finally someone is thinking like me!!!
So they still go with the 3 catcher thing if (more like when) they move on?
Maybe?
But I’d make the speed duo a solo act and get the Mall Cop back in the action.
We are 6-1 in the playoffs. Why deviate from what is working? Molina catches, Matsui at DH, Posada comes in for Molina late.
I would definitely DH Posada. Matsui has looked absolutely dreadful at the plate, taking fastballs right down the middle. If he bats 5th Lackey will have no problem pitching around Arod. Matsui isn’t protection at all right now.
Obviously this is premature but through 4 games is Arod or CC ALCS MVP? Has there ever been co-MVP’s in this round?
i start molina, put in posada as soon as possible after burnett leaves the game, and hopefully burnett and molina shoten the game as they did in their last two pairings and the yankees with an offensive advantage at catcher and in the bullpen take the game in extra innings again.
posada by the way caught about 6 pitchers in both those games which were whole team efforts by the yankees.
Like I’ve said about 10 times today, stick with what’s put you at 6-1…don’t change anything! SJ, I get your point with Swisher, but you yourself have said benching a player is not the way to get them through a slump. Besides, I think Gardner is far more valuable on the bench than Swish would be.
matsui dh. gardner in for the pathetic swisher, move melky to right.
DH Posada, if there comes a point you PH for Jose. But you keep Posada at dh. Bring in Cisco to catch. You won’t have to lose your dh this way.
“Obviously this is premature but through 4 games is Arod or CC ALCS MVP? Has there ever been co-MVP’s in this round?”
If there ever deserved to be, it would be them…that’s a tough call!
I would DH Molina and catch Posada…. yeah, I’m that confident in this team.
Erica,
I don’t know if you saw this article about Damon and Abreu but if you haven’t here’s the link.
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweets.....n-vs-abreu
if he doesnt start gardner today then it was the most moronic roster move of all time to have BOTH guzman AND gardner on roster instead of having Hinske. the whole reason Guzman is on the roster is for when Gardner starts so that he still has that speedster bullet to call off the bench
I’d go with Posada.
Wish we didn’t have 2004 back in our history. Being down 3-1 they can still draw on the it’s happened before and play this one game at a time mentality.
The notion that Molina catching AJ “has been working” is interesting.
Sure, the Yanks have won both games, so in that sense it has “worked.
But, the interesting thing about both AJ starts is that they have both been low-scoring, extra inning affairs, which easily with more heads up baseball from either the Twins or the Angels could have gone the other way.
AJ pitched well in the first game, but to my mind he didn’t pitch that well in the second game – 5 walks, 2 hit batters, 2 wild pitches, getting bailed out on the ball off Molina that went into the stands.
In both games we needed more offense than we showed.
Hopefully, we’ll score early and often tonight but something tells me this will be another nailbiter.
GODZILLA
and Gardner in CF and Melky in RF!
The local papers are all reporting that the Angels are just going about business with the goal of getting the series back to NYC……They view that as a shift in pressure, which the Yankees would be under the gun to win….Right now the Bombers are loose and are ripe for the picking….Of course everyne will be pointing out 2004 if the Yanks lose today…..
MikeBoston: Yeah, in the NL, in 1990. Rob Dibble and Randy Myers were co-MVPs of that CS.
And I think, through Game 4, you gotta honor both Rod and CC.
lol. We’re not the only team that worries about the lineup.
Verducci talking about the Yankees power pitching. But check out #2. Mathis (even though he killed us in game 3) will probably catch Lackey. And will they keep slumping Rivera’s terrible defense in over GMJ?
Oh, and check out #3. Yeah, Yankee scouts.
And if we win today, I’ll have more to say about #4.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html
GARDNER has to start this one! Than we can switch during the Game! POSADA and SWish of the bench will be great! Posada will get into the Game in the 6th and swish will win it in the ninth!
HAVe FUN TONIGHT
the key is to score early .. take the crowd out of it . and immediatly put the pressure on the Angels.
sj44-
i’ll be in and out of aventura often through new years. i plan on playing some golf so we should get together when your schedule allows and go lose some golf balls.
Fortunately for the Yanks, Mathis will be starting. And aside from some solid hitting this series, he really is a dreadful hitter.
In that regard, I don’t mind seeing the Yanks losing their catcher advantage as much as I would if Napoli were starting. Molina = Mathis. Posada > Napoli.
Who knows, maybe Gardner will get the start, with maybe Swisher PHing for him late in the game should the need arise.
“the key is to score early .. take the crowd out of it . and immediatly put the pressure on the Angels.”
Brilliant! Let’s do it!
So a Yankee fan and a Red Sux fan are involved in a head on collision. Both get out of their cars to look at the damage when they realize thay are wearing rival hats. The Yankee fan bei ng the more classy of the two says hey your a sux fan Im a Yanks fan the accident was both of our faults so why dont we put our differences aside and have a drink. With that the Yankee fan pulls a b ottle of vodka from his trunk. Here he says you take the first chug. The red sux fan being an idiot agrees and starts chugging from the bottle. He then looks at the Yankee fan who is now on his cellphone and asks who are you calling. The Yankee fan responds by saying “who do you think? The police. You are piss drunk swerving all over the place and hit me head on” Lets go Yanks!!!
I put Jorge as the DH tonight.
Jorge hits Lackey well and has been hitting better in this series. Matsui has looked a little lost this series and hasn’t been hitting the ball hard.
Having Matsui to pinch hit for Molina is a nice late game option. The same could be said for Posada, but I’d rather have early game Posada at bats based on what we’ve seen in this series.
You also don’t lose Jorge as an emergency catcher after Cervelli since the team can give up the DH and allow Jorge to catch in a pinch.
Above all, I think Jorge deserves to be in the starting lineup trying to close this series out. He often senses and seizes the moment and we all know he’d love nothing more than to be a huge factor in the game offensively.
I love Matsui, but if Girardi has to go with Molina (which I disagree with), I’d rather have Jorge in the lineup than on the bench.
“The local papers are all reporting that the Angels are just going about business with the goal of getting the series back to NYC……They view that as a shift in pressure, which the Yankees would be under the gun to win”
pat m-
i look at this game as a key game in aj’s maturity as a big game pitcher. he’s come through well so far.
if he does it again tonight, he’ll be well on his way to be very valuable to the yankees for the future.
this is his biggest game in his life tonight.
it won’t be easy , but now he gets to show what he’s made of.
hopefully he’s still got it going.
Don’t mess with success. Let Matty DH, and switch Molina out for Posada when Burnett’s done.
I would DH Matsui and bring Posada in when AJ blows up in inning 6. Burnett has to show me he can pitch a good 7 innings. Right now I don’t believe it.
KF
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Erica,
I don’t know if you saw this article about Damon and Abreu but if you haven’t here’s the link.
*****
Interesting article. It does forget to mention one thing in favor of Damon. He has a shiny World Series ring. I don’t think Abreu does.
And that matters to Cooperstown. Ask Don Mattingly
Pat M-
You were going to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert week right?? Did you see the special guests that got added???
FYI…I know Posada has good career numbers against Lackey, but in game 1, Matsui was 2-3 with a double, 2 RBI and a walk. Lackey is basically the only guy he’s hit hard in this series…like I’ve said, if it isn’t broke…
If Matsui doesn’t start at DH, he can only get 1 at bat. Posada can get 2, 3, or even more at bats if he comes off the bench to replace Molina at catcher. Matsui hit Lackey well in game 1, so I think it makes sense to start him today and hopefully get him going again.
meanwhile, in game 1 against Lackey, Posada was 0-3 with a walk…
“but in game 1, Matsui was 2-3 with a double, 2 RBI and a walk.”
Well, more like 1-3 with a double and 0 RBI. Aybar and Figgins gave him the extra hit and Ribbies.
Matsui hits Lackey well. He has a home run, 7 ribs, and two doubles and 3 walks against him. Yes, Jorge has a higher OPS against Lackey-but that’s because Jorge has 4 more singles against Lackey in the same amount of at bats- their numbers are very similar: same amount of home runs, doubles and walks.
Keep Molina at catcher then bring Posada in after AJ is done and leave Swisher in RF.
“Oh, and check out #3. Yeah, Yankee scouts.”
It was reported the Yanks had 8 scouts on-site for the Phils/Dodgers series. They seem to be dotting i’s and crossing t’s this year.
5 hours and 41 minutes until Game 5!!!!
How can anyone compare Abreu to Damon? Abreu puts up nice stats but they mean nothing in the playoffs. Standing there waiting for a walk with two runners on doesn’t cut it in the playoffs. The Phillies haven’t missed him and neither have the Yankees. Damon is a proven playoff player. Abreu is a non-entity when the chips are down. Melky will never have his stats but he had more clutch hits this year than Abreu has had in his whole career.
Tom, Posada also has 7 Ks to Matsui’s 3…
They both hit him well which supports no. 27′s comments above…if you DH Matsui, then Posada will get maybe 2-3 AB’s while Matsui would be limited to 1 coming off the bench…of course, w/ Posada coming in later in the game, his AB’s will most likely not be against Lackey (maybe 1)
Well, we could go with Posada because of his numbers against Lackey (nothing personal against Matsui), but I doubt Girardi will because of the “if it ain’t broke” argument.
As for the starting Gardner argument, what makes anyone think Gardner will be any better than Swish? I’d leave him in and hope he gets out of his funk, especially if we’re advancing.
Yeah, I like leaving it alone, but if Girardi does go for the numbers game, Swish is really bad against Lackey (not just in this series)…Gardner is better but you have to throw out his numbers (1-4) because of the small sample size…
pat,
Campbell & ?? mentioned 10, 5 for the Dodgers and 5 for the Phillies. They also cracked that by that point of the game (9-4) they were all watching the Phillies.
I’d definitely go with Matsui DH, Molina C, and bring Posada in to PH when AJ comes out.
If AJ has a bad night and only goes 4-5, posada probably still gets 3 AB’s. If he is dominant the extra bat in the lineup won’t really be relevant.
I’d keep Swisher in. He needs time to get in a groove, and benching him probably won’t help. Hopefully he looks better at the plate and gets on a roll.
“Well, more like 1-3 with a double and 0 RBI. Aybar and Figgins gave him the extra hit and Ribbies.”
Actually vin, the double later in the game drove in 1 run, he only got 1 RBI on the missed pop-up.
One reason Gardner MAY start is to improve the OF defense. But I think that is really dependent on Girardi thinking that Melky is hot right now. A 7-8-9 of Melky, Gardner and Molina can be pretty putrid.
McCarver- Lackey is the Angel pitcher who can handle Alex because he can pitch inside.
Odds of Alex getting hit tonight?
We don’t need 7 or 8 innings from A.J. We really only need 6 quality innings and then we turn it over to the pen- Hughes, Rivera for extra outs. We want to seal the deal so we use Rivera to close it out.
new thread
Odds of Alex getting hit tonight?
***********
been saying it since the twins series
I’d let Matsui do his thing. The team had yesterday off, and he is professional enough to have used it trying to figure things out. I say show some faith in him, he might be due.
Posada will get play time–Molina and AJ will probably only go 6 innings or so. I AJ melts down early, Girardi will pull him and get Posada in there earlier.
Also, I don’t think the team wants to be in another situation where they might lose the DH. They have gone into extra innings twice in this series already and should not put themselves in a situation where they might be forced to burn through bench and bullpen players earlier in the game just to keep a competitive lineup on the field.
Posada-DH
Gardner-CF
Sit Swisher and Matsui. Matsui can PH if needed.
I want Jorge’s bat in the line up since the porn king has been awful at the plate… Jose is a great catcher for AJ defensively… all those balls in the dirt that keep Jorge so frustrated…
Sam,
You missed the mark by saying Posada is only slightly better than Matsui this postseason. Check out RAB. Posada – 308/.471/.615, Matsui – 286/.412/.357.
It’s no contest. We should DH Posada and PH Matsui.
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....ate-18788/
Posada at DH is ok in a regular season game, but in a playoff game you need him as a late inning option and you cannot drop the DH to hit for Molina, which means you would have to hit for Molina late and insert Cervelli, which puts you in a tight spot.
Let’s put it this way, if the Yanks are ahead, they did it without Posada and can afford to keep him on the bench. If they are behind, they have Posada there to inject some offensive ability. Just makes sense…
i just sent a friend down south a Matsui shirt, so I hope he gets the start at DH for that reason…. and the stuff you mentioned too, Sam.
I don’t understand why Posada can’t start at DH then move to catcher once Burnett is out, then you put Matsui in Molinas spot as the DH. Is there some rule against it?
DH Matsui is a no-brainer.
If you DH Posada 5th, Molina is batting 9th. There will be a time Matsui PH for Molina. If Matsui gets on base, Gardner must pinch-run. When it’s time to defend, Cervilli must catch and bat 9th if you don’t want to lose DH. Four players will be used within 1 inning. Yankees’ bench bat like NL pitchers.
If you make Posada catch for Gardner, DH is lost. Every time for the pitcher coming to bat you waste another player.
What was Girardi’s problem in game 2 and 3? Overmanaging. Sounds like overmanaging to me.
Keep it simple, just DH Matsui. Matsui just had a bad game, like Melky finally had a good game.
Senior moment for me in an earlier post – AJ pitched better in Game 2 of the ALCS than I gave him credit for. The 5 walks were in the second game of the ALDS, not the ALCS, and there was only 1 WP.