Pregame notes: Chasing the division
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Sep 29, 2010 
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After last night’s game, Joe Girardi made a point of saying Thursday’s off day would give him a chance to rest some guys two days in a row. Some would have tonight and tomorrow. Some would have Thursday and Friday. I’ll speak for myself and say I was expecting at least three everyday players to be out of the lineup tonight.
Instead, there was one. Curtis Granderson is getting the night off. Jorge Posada, Brett Gardner and Lance Berkman are out as well, but those three gets days off pretty regularly anyway.
“You see our lineup,” Girardi said. “We’re playing to win this division. We’ll be smart about it, but we’re still playing to win this division.”
Girardi said he asked around the clubhouse, and based on last night’s answers from players — nothing but a series of “I want to play” responses — I’m sure he heard nothing but positive reports. Girardi specifically said he talked to Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira, two guys who recently had lower body injuries and might benefit from a day off of this turf.
“These guys know their bodies better than I do for sure, and I’ll listen to them,” Girardi said. “I talked to them and they feel good. When you’re trying to win the division, you want those guys in the lineup.”
Clearly tonight’s lineup doesn’t rule out the idea of a few guys getting some rest over the weekend, but the Yankees have built-in off days on Thursday, Monday and Tuesday. It’s quite possible that I’m one of several who underestimated how badly the Yankees want home-field advantage and overestimated how much rest their position players might need.
• The Yankees rotation this weekend: Andy Pettitte on Friday, A.J. Burnett on Saturday and TBA on Sunday. “Obviously depending on what happens over the weekend, that’s part of (choosing Sunday’s starter),” Girardi said. “I think you might (also) look at do your bullpen guys need to throw that are going to be on the playoff roster.”
• Girardi didn’t rule out the idea of Phil Hughes starting Sunday, but that seems unlikely. Girardi said Hughes will pitch one of the games in Boston, but it sounds like that will be in relief. Hughes said he’s been going through his usual routine as if he’s going to make his next scheduled start. He had a bullpen session today.
• CC Sabathia will not pitch in relief in Boston.
• Girardi said Sabathia pitching Game 1 is the only piece of his postseason rotation that’s set. Whether he uses three or four starters. Whether Pettitte pitches Game 2 or 3. All of that’s up in the air. “We don’t know who our opponent is,” Girardi said. “We don’t know where we’re going to be. There are a lot of factors that come into making the rotation.”
• Girardi said he’s not opposed to having back-to-back lefties in his postseason rotation. He said the fact Pettitte is starting Friday does not indicate he’s going to start Game 2.
• It’s not coincidence that Greg Golson is getting a start tonight. Girardi said Golson is “someone you possibly look at down the road.”
• Don’t forget, tonight’s game start a half hour later than scheduled. First pitch is at 7:33 p.m. But that’s Canadian time, so I have no idea what that means in New York.
UPDATE, 6:19 p.m.: Blue Jays lineup for Cito Gaston’s final game.
Travis Snider LF
Yunel Escobar SS
Jose Bautista RF
Vernon Wells CF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Aaron Hill 2B
Adam Lind DH
John Buck C
John McDonald 3B
Associated Press photos of Rodriguez and Teixeira — possibly taken just moments after convincing Girardi to let them play tonight — and Girardi clearly considering some sort of global takeover.
I figured Phil would get some work in………….surprised that CC isn’t, though
Toronto time is still same time as NY……………
I REALLY hope that Joe is just saying that stuff to make AJ or whomever think they have a chance of pitching and isn’t seriously thinking of going with a 4 man rotation.
Chad,
Are you kidding about the Canadian time? If not then don’t worry as the time in Toronto, NYC and Boston are in the same time zone.
There are no easy answers with Burnett. If Burnett gets lit up Saturday, what then? If you hold him out of the ALDS, and that’s likely where we are headed, does he pitch in the ALCS when we need four starters? That will surely be questioned, especially after an extended rest not having pitched in almost ten days. And if Girardi does throw him, and he gets bombed which is more likely than not….well.
“Don’t forget, tonight’s game start a half hour later than scheduled. First pitch is at 7:33 p.m. But that’s Canadian time, so I have no idea what that means in New York.”
I thinks it 7:55 American, Chad…
Phil needs the work schlongette. CC doesn’t.
From the last thread: does anyone really think those 20,000 tickets went to a bunch of people who chose tickets for ONE game over going to work? Maybe there were a few and maybe they are the bandwagon types who have a secure job, not ones who are barely making it month to month.
Am I the only person to think Nick Swisher could use a few days off ,regardless of HFA ?
Should we even care? So what. Let 20000 people enjoy baseball.
No, no one should care at all. Whatever happens happens. If they stay and have no fans, whatever. If they leave, whatever. Its ridiculous to keep chasing the tail regarding the Rays attendance. People want free stuff, so what. Good for them.
Associated Press photos of Rodriguez and Teixeira — possibly taken just moments after convincing Girardi to let them play tonight —and Girardi clearly considering some sort of global takeover.
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What does a boiled rabbit taste like?
You’ll have to ask Phil’s fatal attraction.
“Are you kidding about the Canadian time? ”
Yes. Exchange rate humor.
Exchange rate humor:
What’s more valuable: A Yankee $ or a Red Sox $?
The news reporters just said “go blue jays!” And the news anchor said that maybe they should be more respectful to the fact that there are a lot of transplant new yorkers down here so she took it back and said “let new york do what they have to do up there” lol maybe only I found that funny.
No, I think Swish should be resting as well.
I’m pretty sure the game starts at 1:33 pm.
Holy geez. It’s not even 1pm in Hawaii. That must be awesome, Yankees at 1pm every day!
Seriously, nobody is going to laugh at the Red Sox in my previous question and say that $170 million doesnt buy what it used to, and the value of a Red Sox $ is less than the value of a Yankees $????
Cano and Swish both should be sitting this game out. They need the rest.
there might just be a sellout in st.pete tonight. good for them and the 20,000 free tickets!
I agree with Swish sitting out, not Cano if they’re trying to win the div.
You can sit Cano and Swish Tomorrow.
In looking at the full-year stats, I was surprised to see that Vazquez has allowed slightly less than one hit per inning. Of course, we all know he’s walked (and hit) too many batters. Perhaps it just seems as though he’s getting clocked on a regular basis.
pat September 29th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
“Are you kidding about the Canadian time? ”
Yes. Exchange rate humor.
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You beat me to the joke, pat. Only difference was my saying that Canada was on metric time.
Speaking of metric and Canadians, always loved Bob and Doug McKenzie. That was some of the funniest stuff out of SCTV Second City. Their explaination for figuring metric conversion was a classic.
Perhaps Girardi is deftly giving Burnett every chance to fail so when he’s sent to the bullpen for the postseason he uses the Bill Parcells adage of “you are what your record says you are.”
If the Division and HFA is on the line on Saturday, Girardi is a fool to let Burnett step on the mound in Boston.
BryanHoch Blue Jays setting up for ‘Thank You Cito Gaston’ night here at Rogers Centre. “Not too often you get a chance to go out this way,” he said.
The ballpark just doesn’t fit Vazquez… he has allowed 29 HRs in 150 innings, or about 1 every 5 innings. But he’s always been homer-prone
The big thing is the walks – Vazquez has allowed 63 walks this year. Vazquez has never walked more than 61 in a full season since his rookie year. And he’s walked 63 in only 150 innings. So obviously his walk rate has raised significantly, when he has always been one of the best control pitchers in the league.
CR9,
Are you on the ESPN board and go by the name BostonStillSux?
ZMANSeptember 29th, 2010 at 6:29 pmWhat does a boiled rabbit taste like?
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Probably boiled chicken.
“The big thing is the walks”
That it is. An astonishing 5.5 K/BB ratio in 2009. Not even a 1-1 K/BB ratio in 2010.
Ironically, the two worst K/BB ratios of his career (since he started throwing 200 innings in 2000) were both with the Yankees, and by a fairly significant margin. He’s always been a 3-1/4-1 type guy.
Random question to someone who knows more about buying tickets then me and my friend. My friend bought home game 3 tickets.. Was that a bad idea??
I wouldn’t blame the ballpark on Vazquez’ performance. More like the American League turning his 88 mph “stuff” into frozen ropes.
Random question to someone who knows more about buying tickets then me and my friend. My friend bought home game 3 tickets.. Was that a bad idea??
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For which series?
There may not even be a game 3 for the ALDS.
If it’s for the ALCS I’d say you got the best game possible.
Man those are some Ugly Hats the Rays players are wearing. Trying anyway to make a buck I guess. Maybe those 20,000 people who got in for free will be dumb enough to buy one of those things. So happy the Yankees never do that crap.
I’m taping the Rays game because I want to see what it’s like for them to play in front of a full Trop.
Good luck to Cito Gaston. It’s a shame more of the city didn’t show up to honor him.
I think Javy is going to pitch at least 5 shut out innings. Brett Cecil is never easy but we will manage to get to him.
GO YANKEES!!!
He said he bought game 3 tickets.. then I realized that didn’t mean game 3, it meant home game 3. So if they are ALDS tickets then the only way we go is if (when?) the Yanks take the Division and it goes 5 games right?
My gameday says the game is delayed. Anyone got a clue?
And huge credit to Cito Gaston for getting the Jays as far as he did this season. He’s left them a better team for the next manager.
“My gameday says the game is delayed. Anyone got a clue?”
Tributes to Cito.
Danka.
Trisha- I went to 2 sold out Rays games against the Yankees and 2 games that were both really packed(yankees for one and hall and oates concert for the other) they won 2 and lost 2 so I don’t really think the amount of fans makes a difference.
C’mon guys – you’ve given Girardi grief for 3 weeks about over-resting guys. This time he talks to his players – his players tell him – we went to go full out and give ourselves the chance for division and HFA – and you’re giving him grief again? I call “not fair!”
If they didn’t have tomorrow off, different story.
Du er velkommen.
So what’s the over under on how many homeruns Vazguez gives up tonight? The A lineup will probably only be in the game until Vazquez puts the game out of reach and then they can rest.
Much as I’m not a Cito fan (because of how much he dislikes the Yankees, apparently), I am happy for him. He’s right: how often does a manager go out with a fond farewell instead of being kicked out the door?
Emily,
That is correct. But you will get a refund provided it was bought via ticketmaster, stubhub etc.
Bret – I dont post on any other blogs any longer – I got banned a couple years ago by WasWatching and under my ESPN insider account for trashing Peter Gammons repeatedly on one of his insider articles . Only you guys have the honor of reading my ramblings! I do, however, read some posts occasionally on ESPN boards when it involves Yankees fans insulting Red Sox fans.
I always enjoy Yankees fans insulting Red Sox fans. That will never get old for me!
Doreen, absolutely ignore it. It’s sheer stupidity to listen to certain posters decide who should play, who shouldn’t play, who should sit, who shouldn’t sit. Girardi wants to win, Girardi doesn’t want to win.
Sorry, anyone with a modicum of fairness knows that Girardi wants the division and will do all he can, short of killing players for the postseason, to do it.
They would ALMOST want to juggle the balls he has to juggle, not to mention they’d drop the first two and never get one complete juggle in!
tyanksfans36, it wasn’t about the Rays winning or losing, it was about them being able to see a full stadium at their last home game, something a postseason clincher has the right to expect.
I’m a bit surprised the Rays haven’t looked into moving east to Orlando. Yes, there’s a lot of competition for every entertainment dollar in Orlando, but it’s heavily populated and they can probably do a whole lot better on the facility/stadium front. Also, the Magic seem to do well there.
TB cannot continue to compete if they are drawing 15K per game to that St. Petersburg atrocity.
Doreen, do you know what the story is behind the supposed dislike?
And don’t you think it would have been a lot classier for the YES network to show us some of the festivities honoring Cito? I’m disappointed.
# Bronx Jeers September 29th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Emily,
That is correct. But you will get a refund provided it was bought via ticketmaster, stubhub etc.
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He got them through ticketmaster. Thanks for the clarification.
game thread up
trisha – true pinstriped blue September 29th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Du er velkommen.
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Is this your Lili von Shtupp impression?
Why not play the regulars? They have 3 of the next 6 days off.
trisha -
As I’ve said before, those with the least amount of knowledge, shout the loudest.
This is way all the “fans” have a greater knowledge of how to manage and play the game, than the pros.
Perhaps they are frustrated wana be’s.
Oops! Should have been Bitte!!!