Pregame notes: Playing and waiting
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Oct 03, 2010 
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Joe Girardi will be scoreboard watching this afternoon. On the big scoreboard in left field, the first game listed is TAM vs. KC. That game means just as much as this one, and Girardi will be paying attention.
“If Tampa is blowing a team out, then you might think about (resting) guys who played a lot yesterday,” he said.
If that Tampa Bay score goes the other way, the Yankees will have a shot at the division and home-field advantage. As you can imagine, everything beyond this afternoon hinges on what happens today, so the notes were pretty limited pregame.
Even postgame, Girardi said, the Yankees won’t be able to answer a lot of questions. He said the team literally has nothing set. They haven’t decided on a roster or a rotation. There are nothing more than ideas at this point.
“Obviously we know Derek Jeter is going to be on the roster,” Girardi said. “But we have a meeting tomorrow and we’re going to talk about everything.”
• How much power does a starting pitcher have on game day? Joba Chamberlain’s locker in Boston is between Mariano Rivera and Dustin Moseley. When Joba got to his locker this morning, Rivera’s suitcase and Moseley’s suitcase had both spilled over into his spot. Joba had to move at least one of them, and he moved the closer’s. “(Moseley) can do what he wants today,” he said.
• Girardi said Dave Robertson is the only reliever from yesterday’s first game who he’ll have to check with before using him today.
• Are there relievers he needs to see to make roster decisions? “We’re going to try to win the game, that’s the bottom line, so not necessarily,” Girardi said.
• Moseley probably won’t go much over 75 pitches.
• Despite his struggles, count on Austin Kearns making the playoff roster. “At this point (leaving him off) is not something we’ve talked about,” Girardi said. “My guess is he’s going to be there.”
• Jorge Posada took a foul ball off the mask yesterday. “He’s OK,” Girardi said. “I specifically asked him last night after the game.”
• CC Sabathia has a bullpen today. It’s his last bit of pitching before Wednesday’s playoff opener.
• The Yankees will meet about the playoff roster tomorrow, but Girardi said not to expect an announcement until Tuesday.
UPDATE, 1:05 p.m.: Boston lineup.
Eric Patterson CF
Jed Lowrie SS
J.D. Drew RF
David Ortiz DH
Bill Hall 2B
Ryan Kalish CF
Jason Varitek C
Daniel Nava LF
Lars Anderson 1B
Associated Press photo of Rivera
Kearns?
If the Yanks can get past the ALDS, I think they’ll be ok, but that’s a tough test no matter who they face.
Yes, Betsy, Kearns. Perhaps you’ve seen him wearing the pinstripes for the past few months?
Where are SJ and CB? Without them, this blog is missing something.
Boston lineup per Pete Abe
Patterson 2B
Lowire SS
Drew RF
Ortiz DH
Hall 3B
Kalish CF
Varitek C
Nava LF
Anderson 1B
Not their worst- no V-Mart but Moseley might have his hands full. Lowrie and Hall are actually pretty good hitters.
who`s broadcasting the game today? Fox? MY9? ESPN?
Good Day Betsy,
Finger crossed for a good game, that we win, and then we shall see.
Joe G just said in the pre-game he thought AJ pitched better yesterday. I like Joe G, and am not one of those on here calling for his head, but clearly he was just being kind and defending AJ in front of the media, right?
” With this payroll and talent, anyone can win.”
How many WS did we win in the last decade?
———————–
Meh, I don’t consider WS as a divine right for the Yankees.
But , I do the consider with this payroll and talent , anyone can win to be factual. btw, I suggested Bobby V, Pena, Leyland and Larussa if G does leave.
and i think the game is on YES
“Despite his struggles, count on Austin Kearns making the playoff roster. “At this point (leaving him off) is not something we’ve talked about,” Girardi said. “My guess is he’s going to be there.”
And people wonder why Girardi gets second guessed and criticized?
I rag on Girardi a lot, but I have to admit, I REALLY wanted him to be the manager. I would watch the Marlins on MLB Extra Innings and Girardi was not the same guy he is with the Yanks. He went much more on instinct/feel/momentum and not just this paint-by-numbers approach he’s taken the past few seasons. And he wasn’t afraid to criticize players if they screwed up badly, either. Now he seemingly walks on eggshells so he doesn’t hurt any feelings.
BTW, how ineffective does Kearns have to be to be left off the postseason roster?
Hi SAS
I don’t even care that much – I just want the season to be over and the post-season to start.
WCYF , I am assuming G says that about Kearns is because the roster is not set. And the he doesn’t know what Cashman and others thoughts on it in determining the 25 man roster.
Seems reasonable to me.
I simply cant believe – even though Im used to Yankees fans being losers – that anyone would throw AJ under the bus for a terrible season. To say that Ted was a hero is laughable by itself, but to then call AJ Burnett a loser is unheard of.
The guy was a key to our 2009 World Series! How can you forget that! AJ Burnett has 2 rings and Ted had ZERO!!! Given the opportunity to help his team win a World Series, AJ pitched splendid in Game 2. Ted went 2 for 10 in his only World Series.
AJ Burnett – 2 World Series titles – is a true American hero! And for any of you idiots to call AJ a loser is laughable. That guy made more money and collected more World Series rings in 2009 than any of you idiots will in your lifetimes! American Hero!
And Jeremy – go find yourself a Red Sox blog to frequent, you make an excellent sox fan!
Upstate Kate:
I’ve attended over 30 games and watched every other. He doesn’t pitch or hit, but he’s supposed to put them in the best position to win. He has not done that. Look at the Baltimore game they lost two weeks ago. Pinch hitting Thames for Pena with a 1-1 count with 1st base open. Ridiculous. Last night taking Mitre out with two outs. I could go on and on forever with examples. As I have said many times, there WAS a reason why Florida sent him packing. He was the Manager of the Year with the Marlins, and the owner couldn’t stand him.
CR9
Stop being a blind Yankee homer. Ted Williams was a great man and a real hero.
At least he played the game with class and he was a great player.
Burnett is a chump and the worst pitcher in baseball right now. And what makes it even worse is the fact that this loser is getting paid big time money to be a .500 pitcher who hurts himself all the time.
Also those 2 World Series rings he has mean nothing. He didn’t pitch with the Marlins in 2003 postseason because he was injured so he didn’t earn that ring. And in 2009 he only pitched one good game in the postseason.
His record speaks for itself and it’s a record of failure.
Cashmoney. Fair enough. What do you think? Should Kearns be on the post-season roster?
Repost:
There are legitimate reasons to question some of the moves of Giirardi.
I do not think there is any manager in all of Baseball who can not be questooned after the fact.
But some here, I am guessing many of them kids, criticise Girardi without understadning facts. And then some adult worrywarts add fuel to the fire. Like some posts above, they say Girardi did not use regular lineups in the past. When the players are hurt what should Girardi do? Grind them to ground and lose them in the playoffs.
Like one above questions why Giradi is using regular stoday. Is it that difficult to understand that today is the last day and then there are two off days, so it is better to play them five innings or so and keep them sharp?
thank you, BBFan
get em in and get em out. Both minnesota and texas are going to be challenging, but both can be beaten if the Yanks play at their best. Honestly, I’m not sure how much of a difference it makes which one they play.
This yankees team reminds me of this years Boston Celtics.
They’ll turn it on in the playoffs, don’t worry.
Jeremy
Keep dreaming! 1 good game? 3 good games, and his 1 good World Series game was better than Ted’s .200 batting average in the World Series.
His world series rings mean nothing? Players play their entire careers to attain World Series titles. Just ask every Red Sox player from 1918 to 2004. And they’d tell you they’d kill to be AJ Burnett.
Kearns will be on the PS season roster.
FYI, this game is on TBS, where I am at least.
“But , I do the consider with this payroll and talent , anyone can win to be factual. btw, I suggested Bobby V, Pena, Leyland and Larussa if G does leave.”
How do youknow they would win?
What did La Russa and Leyland do this year?
Both their teams were supposed to be in playoffs but both missed by wide margin. And they both have great players, espceically LaRussa with much better pitching as well.
That does not mean they are bad managers.
If they were to do the same as Yankee Managers, you and many others would want them to be fired on the spot…..
Cashmoney – I asked your opinion – should he be?
And I’m with Upstate, Apache and BBFan!
That’s good company.
And Ben Farber.
And anyone else who is upbeat. I only read a smattering of the recent posts.
Yesterday’s game was managed the same way every game this month was. If Girardi was actually playing to win then Mitre stays in but instead it was audition time for Ring and Nova. Girardi and Cashman can say whatever they want to the media about we are trying to win the division but we aren’t idiots and only a handful of games this month were treated like real games. What made no sense was making Arod, Tex and Cano play until 2 am and then you get to the 8th inning with a lead and you start auditioning.
Jacksquat,
Where are you that you are getting the game on TBS? Right now TBS has a pregame on. Is that what you have. It is about the Phillies at the moment?
Does anyone know what is the channel number for TBS on Verizon FIOS?
“• Despite his struggles, count on Austin Kearns making the playoff roster. “At this point (leaving him off) is not something we’ve talked about,” Girardi said. “My guess is he’s going to be there.””
Why, Joe? I don’t understand why Kearns needs to play. He stinks!
CR9
So what !
Plenty of crappy players have World Series rings. Having a World Series ring doesn’t make you a great player.
I would take Ted Williams head over A.J. Burnett anyday. A.J. Burnett’s stock is so low that he wouldn’t even qualify as a penny stock.
Like I said he is a nice guy but he can’t pitch. He should perform a job that he can actually do really well.
And I believe in the Yankees and if Joe wants to play Kearns, more power to him. I hope Austin comes through.
Joe got us this far. He’s still got my vote.
So do my Yankees. Banged, bruised, not always firing on all cylinders – but always with heart and hope – and enough panache to once again make the postseason.
I refuse to dispatch wah wah wambulances to any babies this postseason. Call you own, I’m going to continue to enjoy the ride.
NEW YORK YANKEES, YOU HAVE MY LOVE AND I HAVE YOUR BACKS!!!!
Always,
trisha
“And people wonder why Girardi gets second guessed and criticized?”
It’s an organizational decision.
If Girardi feels THAT obligated to give Burnett and Vazquez roster spots, he should at least give them no more than garbage innings or none that can be a factor.
How much more does he need to see ?
LaRussa as Yankees’ manager? Are you kidding?
LaRussa can barely get along with the docile and team friendly media in St. Louis, where Cardinals’ managers are treated as demi-gods. He routinely pisses off his players. And if you think Girardi overmanages, you have not seen anything.
Yes, thank you Jacksquat. I would never have thought to look to TBS. I can’t watch the whole game, but I can watch for a couple of hours.
Kearns is getting the nod because he’s got ML experience. It doesn’t seem to matter that it’s subpar ML experience. I wish the Yankees would for once take a chance with an unknown and hope to catch lightning in a bottle. I’d rather play Golson than Kearns. Kearns’ swing is 10 feet long. I don’t see Kevin Long being able to work his magic in 3 days.
TBS is 52 for me, but I don’t know if the channel numbers vary depending on locale.
“# CR9 October 3rd, 2010 at 1:11 pm
I simply cant believe – even though Im used to Yankees fans being losers – that anyone would throw AJ under the bus for a terrible season. To say that Ted was a hero is laughable by itself, but to then call AJ Burnett a loser is unheard of.
The guy was a key to our 2009 World Series! How can you forget that! AJ Burnett has 2 rings and Ted had ZERO!!! Given the opportunity to help his team win a World Series, AJ pitched splendid in Game 2. Ted went 2 for 10 in his only World Series.
AJ Burnett – 2 World Series titles – is a true American hero! And for any of you idiots to call AJ a loser is laughable. That guy made more money and collected more World Series rings in 2009 than any of you idiots will in your lifetimes! American Hero!!”
+++++++++++++++++++
CR9 you do realize that A.J. Burnett just concluded one of the worst seasons in the History of the New York Yankees franchise
You do realize that fact, right
10-15, 5.26 ERA, 186.2 IP, 204 H, 109 H, 78 BB, 145 K, 1.51 WHIP, .285 BAA
19 Hit batter, 16 Wild pitches
He helped single handedly along with Vazquez keep the Yankees most likely from winning the division
His season was utterly pathetic and it can’t even be argued any other way.
A.J. Burnett was signed to be a front line starter for the New York Yankees
They didn’t sign him to pitch Game 2 of the World Series only
If that was the case we wouldn’t be stuck with an absolute headcase and his contract
Look at him last night standing there like a dork arguing while the runner comes down the line to score in that D Grade Red Sox lineup
Burnett is Ineffective, Inconsistent and Unreliable
If he had held up his part of the bargain the Yankees would have clinched the division a while ago.
Yesterday’s game was managed the same way every game this month was. If Girardi was actually playing to win then Mitre stays in but instead it was audition time for Ring and Nova.
I hope you realize that many posters on this board were clamoring for Ring to be used more because apparently we need two lefties in the bullpen in the playoffs. Not calling you out specifically, but many posters on this board have a tendency to be hypocritical when things go wrong.
Ring did the job getting Ortiz out but after that fell apart- it was probably a bad idea to have him go back out for a second inning.
as for mitre, i do agree that it wasn’t the best idea to use him for two-thirds of an inning, but who else were they gonna use? they couldnt use any of the top guys, and they’re not gonna use brackman or sanchez in that spot- thank god girardi didnt go to gaudin at least.
also, they could be wanting to give nova a look as a long man in the postseason.
all im saying is take some time to think before you criticize…these guys know whats going on a lot better than we do
LaRussa is one of the my least favorite people, never mind manager.
Girardi has been playing for the WildCard for sometime now. I believe that he thinks that the Twins might be a better matchup.
Trish, you are a person after my own heart.
Let’s enjoy this ride. One thing I know for sure, it’ll be a lot more fun than the one Red Sox fans will be on after today.
How do youknow they would win?
What did La Russa and Leyland do this year?
Both their teams were supposed to be in playoffs but both missed by wide margin. And they both have great players, espceically LaRussa with much better pitching as well.
That does not mean they are bad managers.
If they were to do the same as Yankee Managers, you and many others would want them to be fired on the spot…..
——————–
How do youknow they would win?
Because they would have a extreme talent team at their disposal , and because those two have taken less talented team than the Yankees to WS in the post.
What did La Russa and Leyland do this year?
They have fall short due to injuries and other variables. But it’s irrelevant , because they haven’t nearly the talent and financial might as the Yankees at their disposal.
If they were to do the same as Yankee Managers, you and many others would want them to be fired on the spot…..
————————————————————–
huh? I have never advocated the firing of Joe G ? my point is rather clear. with overwhelming talents and financial might , an manager can manager a winning team .