The LoHud Yankees Blog

Brian Cashman was made an expensive – but effective – overhaul of the Yankees pitching staff last offseason, and the Yankees starters carried them through the first-round of the playoffs. Chad Jennings looks back at the construction of the 2009 rotation.

If you read the story, there’s a graphic alongside it that lays out some interesting stats and numbers from the first round. My favorite? It’s the one that’s “99,470.”

That’s the combined attendance at Yankee Stadium in the ALDS. Man, it’s going to be loud there this weekend.

While watching Huston Street fall apart in the ninth inning of the Rockies-Phillies game, it got me thinking about what an awful postseason this has so far been for some of the top closers in the game.

Street saved 35 games this year and had a 0.91 WHIP. He then got knocked around badly and failed to hold a two-run lead in Game 4 as his team’s season got washed away tonight at Coors Field.

Ryan Franklin? He struggled (albeit with some help from Matt Holiday). Joe Nathan? Downright awful. Brad Lidge didn’t blow a game for the Phillies but his back-up/replacement, Ryan Madson, nearly did. And of course no one had a bigger meltdown than Jonathan Papelbon, who had the Red Sox one strike away from extending their series numerous times before ultimately giving it up.

All of this is just a long way of saying that Mariano Rivera is pretty fantastic. And that, especially this year, his presence is going to be absolutely critical. That sheared bat he engineered against Joe Mauer in the eighth inning last night is just the beginning of a stretch where he’ll continue to face the opposing team’s best hitters with everything on the line. And there isn’t a game situation that makes the Yankees feel any more comfortable.

“It was a great feeling as a catcher when he came in, and it’s a great feeling as a manager when you have him doing this,” Joe Girardi said. “You feel really good about when you put him in the game, that you are going to win that game, and that he is going to shut down the other clubs. We all know there is no one perfect, but Mo is really, really good.”

It doesn’t fit exactly with the previous post, but I got an email about it and it seems worth discussing.

Are you still comfortable with Phil Hughes in the eighth inning, or should the Yankees consider moving Joba Chamberlain into that role?

Here’s Girardi on why he pulled Hughes last night, giving the ball to Mariano Rivera for the final four outs: “Mo is more experienced this time of year,” Girardi said. “I know Joe Mauer is a great hitter, but Mo is more experienced in that situation and that’s why we did it and he has been doing it since 1996. When I saw him burst on the secne, I was behind home plate and I just thought it was time to go to Mo.”

Of course Girardi isn’t going to knock Hughes — and I’m not sure Hughes deserves negative comments at this point — but his numbers weren’t great in the ALDS (five hits and a walk in two innings). Who would you want on the mound in the eighth inning of a one-run game? I think I’d stick with Hughes, but that’s just me.

Before Friday’s opener of the American League Championship Series, the Yankees have four significant decisions to make.

1. Should the Yankees change their roster?
The Angels have six switch hitters, but only one lefty. Bobby Abreu. It might make sense to dump the extra left-handed reliever — and frankly, Damaso Marte didn’t do much to earn innings in his one ALDS appearance — replacing him with either an extra right-hander (Brian Bruney) or a second pinch runner (Freddy Guzman). Having Francisco Cervelli has already paid dividends, so I would expect him to stick around.

2. How many starting pitchers do they need?
Because there is an offday between Games 2 and 3, and another between Games 4 and 5, the Yankees could keep a three-game rotation and use a pitcher on short rest only once. That would be C.C. Sabathia in Game 4. Sabathia has pitched, and pitched well, on short rest in the past. He basically made a living doing that with Milwaukee last year. Keeping a three-man rotation would leave Joba Chamberlain at the back of the bullpen and Chad Gaudin in a long relief role.

3. If there is a fourth starter, who should it be?
Chad Gaudin was the better starter down the stretch. Joba Chamberlain is the guy with the bigger, more overpowering stuff. Either would bring some concerns as a Game 4 starter and neither choice would be particularly shocking. Joe Girardi did seem to like Chamberlain in the seventh inning during the ALDS.

4. Will Jose Molina once again catch A.J. Burnett?
Aside from Alex Rodriguez, only two Yankees hit better than .222 in the ALDS. One was Derek Jeter, the other was Jorge Posada. That said, it’s hard to argue with the results of Burnett’s start in Game 2. He worked well with Molina, and Posada’s extra-inning base hit proved he could have an offensive impact in a game he doesn’t start.

Anyone that has spent any time around the Yankees over the past half-century or so has a story about talking with Bob Sheppard. I spoke with him several times – for a story or two, of course, but also in the elevator at the Stadium or around the press box – and enjoyed it every time. I just marveled at his deliberation – he seemed to savor every moment, every word, every thought. At a time in my life when things often felt like they were speeding by (shoot, I still feel that way) I was envious of his ability to slow life down to a most elegant pace.

Mostly, I just liked listening to him. In the media dining room at the old Yankee Stadium there used to be a table in the corner that had a paper sign on it that let everyone know it was reserved for Mr. Sheppard. Sitting at one of the tables nearby was a treat because it meant you got to hear “The Voice of God” say things like, “The … carving board …. is … delicious … today. … Thank you.”

Mr. Sheppard doesn’t like to talk about exactly how old he is – and yes, I know there are people out there who have reported it – so out of respect to him, let’s just say: “Happy …. Birthday …. Mr. Sheppard … From … the LoHud … blog. … LoHud Blog.”

UPDATE, 5:48 p.m.: Your attention please … ladies and gentlemen. I am told by a close family friend of the Sheppards that despite numerous reports and web pages which list Mr. Sheppard’s birthday as Oct. 12, it is in fact Oct. 20.

To show my contrition, I am posting the audio of what is believed to be one of Sheppard’s finest moments at the microphone. Have a listen.

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Sorry for the back-to-back posts, but this e-mail popped in about 30 seconds after I hit send on the last post.

Here’s a statement from George Steinbrenner – via spokesman Howard Rubenstein – on the Yankees advancing to the ALCS:

“As we move on to the ALCS, our team’s focus remains the same. With the support of the greatest fans in the world, we will continue to march forward as we have done all year.”

It’s possible that The Boss will make a NY appearance during the ALCS, though I think it’s more likely we’ll see him if the Yankees make the World Series. Jennifer Steinbrenner was among the officials watching the clubhouse celebration in Minneapolis last night.

UPDATE, 1:20 p.m.: I’ve heard from a number of people who have said they’ve heard/seen reports about a game at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. That sounds about right to me – maybe first pitch itself is closer to 8 – but I want to hold off posting a schedule until MLB makes it official. You never know what Selig and his crew are going to come up with (like, say, a World Series that doesn’t end until November …)

So here I am on an Amtrak train headed home to Connecticut. Why would I be on an Amtrak coming from Minneapolis, you ask? Well let me tell you.

When Detroit and Minnesota took forever to figure out who won the AL Central, it meant that sports writers had to wait until the last minute to book tickets for the away part of the ALDS. Minneapolis isn’t a cheap city to fly into on a regular day, and when you’re talking 40-some members of the media looking for tickets at the last minute, reasonable fares were hard to come by.

I ended up on a connecting flight through Detroit that left at 6 a.m. Saturday and came back tomorrow. Once the Yankees swept, trying to change my original flight became expensive and virtually impossible, so the best (and cheapest) I could do to get home today was book a new ticket which went to Philadelphia. A quick ride on SEPTA and a short stop at 30th Street Station later, I’m saving the company money on a car service from LaGuardia by hopping a train that stops right near my house. Chad, I believe, connected in Cheyenne (or maybe it was Chicago – I was pretty tired when he told me) and will be arriving back in NY shortly as well.

The Yankees? They decided not to check out of their hotel yesterday – playing the superstitious card – so they will be chartering home today. It may take awhile, as there was an inch or two of snow falling in Minneapolis when I left at 7 a.m.

To all those who e-mailed about start times for the ALCS: I’m with you. I’m not sure why they haven’t been released yet. My guess is we’re done with the 6 p.m.-ish starts and will be in the regular 7:30-8 range, but I’ll let you know as soon as I do.

And to all those who e-mailed about our coverage of the first-round: Thanks so much. You guys are the best and the reason we’re doing this, so feel free to send along comments, criticisms and suggestions. We’re planning to go similarly nuts on the Yanks-Angels series this week and look forward to having all of you (and more) along for the ride.

The Yankees advanced to the ALCS for the first time in five seasons after completing a sweep of the Twins last night in the final baseball game at the Metrodome. Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada hit big home runs, and Andy Pettitte got his 15th career playoff win to send the Yankees into a match-up with the Angels. Chad Jennings was in and amongst the clubhouse bubbly.

Posada’s go-ahead blast was a fitting climax, as the catcher capped off an emotional week with a stirring performance. There’s more on him and the “old guard” Yankees in my column. For those who are interested (or looking to waste a little more time at work), you can also check out a piece I did for SNY.tv on the key to the Yankees’ success in this series (and beyond): pitching.

A-Rod’s second game-tying homer in as many games was the capper to a great three-game run, and his six RBI set a career high for a postseason series. Chad’s notebook also has details on the Yankees’ next opponent and yet another costly baserunning blunder for the Twins.

If you haven’t already, check out some of the clubhouse audio posted last night. We put up a ton of stuff and it’s pretty compelling to hear the celebrating going on as guys are talking about what the Yankees accomplished. Imagine the whole place smelling of Champagne and you’ll get a good idea of the general ambiance.

Chad and I are headed back to New York today, as are the Yankees. Look for the team to take a day or two off, then have a couple of workouts ahead of Friday’s Game 1. Be sure to stay with us all week as we have loads of coverage – and even more blogging – about the Yankees-Angels showdown.

The phrase I kept hearing the clubhouse was “second step.” Advancing to the playoffs was step one, and it eased a lot of the disappointment from last season. Winning the Division Series was the second step, and it was necessary for a team like the Yankees.

“Our goal isn’t to get to the playoffs and then whatever happens, happens,” Derek Jeter said. “Our goal is to always try to win a championship. It’s very difficult to do, but this is the second step for us and hopefully there are two more.”

Pitching carried the Yankees. It obviously helps to have Mariano Rivera at the back of the bullpen, and Alex Rodriguez was terrific, but it was the free agent signings of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte that really seemed worth all the money and effort it took to sign them.

Pettitte was outstanding tonight. Can’t say enough about him, and it’s certainly easy to see how he became the all-time leader in postseason wins with 15. It was either tied or a one-run game the entire time Pettitte was pitching, and he could hardly have been any better. Jeter seemed to have a big hit every game, Jorge Posada hit the go-ahead home run in Game 3 and Rivera was Rivera in the ninth.

“These guys are used to playing at this time of hte year and they seemed to relish the moments,” Joe Girardi said. “They seem to enjoy the moments together and what they have been through coming up together in a sense. And they know how to play this time of year. The situation is not going to phase them.”

Here’s some audio from the clubhouse and postgame, starting with the manager. I think, near the end, you may be able to hear the cavalry of players that went looking for Jorge Posada in a back room and soaked him with Champagne. Keep checking the post for updates as I add more.

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UPDATE, 12:10 a.m.: Here’s CC. As you listen, try to imagine him with blue goggles sitting on top of his head.

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UPDATE, 12:14 a.m.: Here’s Posada, standing with a crowd of reporters around him right in the middle of the tiny hallway that leads into the clubhouse. His shirt was still soaked.

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UPDATE, 12:17 a.m.: And finally, here’s the Captain. He starts by talking about that crazy play in the eighth where the Yanks caught Nick Punto too far off third base.

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