Considering the postseason bullpen options
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 04, 2010 
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In a lot of ways, building the Yankees bullpen begins with building the Yankees rotation. If the team goes with three starters in the Division Series, does the odd man out slide into the rotation or does he slide off the roster completely? Is that answer different if — for some reason — A.J. Burnett is the chosen third starter instead of Phil Hughes? Not that I can imagine that happening, just throwing it out there.
We can confidently assume the Yankees will carry these five relievers: Mariano Rivera, Kerry Wood, Joba Chamberlain, Dave Robertson and Boone Logan.
That leaves room for two or three relievers who can give the Yankees some depth if necessary.
Chad Gaudin
Right-handed
Pros: Made last year’s postseason roster… Mopup man earlier in the season, but essentially filled the Alfredo Aceves role down the stretch… Had a 3.97 ERA with a .239 opponents average since the end of July… Girardi seemed to gain confidence in Guadin as the season progressed… Joe Mauer is 0-for-6 against him.
Cons: Not really a long man anymore. Has not been stretched out beyond 31 pitches since the end of August. Stretched beyond 40 pitches only once since the end of July… Allowed four home runs in his last 3.2 innings… Released in spring training and spent most of the year pitching in games that were already out of control one way or the other.
Sergio Mitre
Right-handed
Pros: Has the most impressive season numbers of the bunch with a 3.33 ERA with a .223 opponents batting average… Those numbers are even better if you eliminate the early season spot starts. He had a 2.45 ERA and a .196 opponents average as a reliever… Generally a groundball pitcher… Could give the Yankees more than one inning… Has not allowed a run since September 13, a span of four outings.
Cons: Pitched 2.2 innings between August 27 and September 24. Girardi said Mitre was healthy at the time, so it seemed Girardi simply didn’t want to use him. Instead, Chad Gaudin seemed to be Girardi’s go-to one-or-two-inning reliever down the stretch…. Has thrown more than 16 pitches only once since September 5… The three Twins who have faced him more than three times have good numbers against him.
Dustin Moseley
Right-handed
Pros: Arguably the team’s fourth-best starter at this point… Could throw 100 pitches if necessary, filling that last-resort role that Gaudin filled last postseason… His last four relief appearances: 8.1 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K… Had a 3.77 season ERA as a reliever… Generally pitched well in his past two spot starts when a handful of mistakes cost him.
Cons: Those handful of mistakes were two two-run home runs on Sunday, and a three-run seventh inning in Texas… Not a big strikeout pitcher, with 33 Ks and 27 walks for the year… Threw 94 pitches on Sunday, so there’s no guarantee he would even be available in Games 1 or 2.
Ivan Nova
Right-handed
Pros: As a starter, showed a tendency to dominate through his first four or so innings, suggesting he would be a perfect fit in the bullpen… Overall numbers are only so-so, but he was generally impressive in his debut season… First time facing hitters in a game (as a starter), he held opponents to a .196 average with only two extra-base hits in 63 plate appearances.
Cons: Allowed the final three runs, one of them charged to him, in the Yankees regular season finale loss on Saturday (sorry, the weekend runs together)… Has pitched as a reliever only once since mid-May… Despite the fact he was a starter, he’s not any more stretched out than Dustin Moseley or Javier Vazquez… Still just 23 years old. Easily the least experienced of the options.
Royce Ring
Left-handed
Pros: Only option as a second left-handed reliever… Joe Mauer, Denard Span, Jim Thome and Jason Kubel are all left-handed suggesting a lot of opportunities for situational pitching changes… Faced only nine left-handers in his short time with New York, but held lefties to a .202 average in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre… In his career Ring has faced 168 lefties in the big leagues and held them to a .237 average with 41 strikeouts and two home runs.
Cons: Hardly pitched for New York this season. Only five games and 12 batters… Lefties were 3-for-8 against him this season, though one of those hits was a bunt single by David Ortiz yesterday… Limited experience against the Twins top left-handers. He’s faced Jim Thome four times, striking him out twice and walking him twice. Otherwise, he’s never seen any of the Twins lefties. Not much of a track record to go on.
Javier Vazquez
Right-handed
Pros: Most impressive career track record of the bunch… 2.70 ERA and a .170 opponents batting average in five relief appearances this season… For more than two months — May 17 to July 26 — he was 8-3 with a 3.16 ERA and looked like a postseason starter… Stretched out to more than 80 pitches.
Cons: Last appearance was a 10-hit, seven-run start in Toronto… Since July 31 he has a 6.97 ERA with a .303 opponents batting average. He’s allowed 14 home runs in 12 games… Girardi seemed hesitant to use him out of the bullpen down the stretch, either because he was saving Vazquez for a potential start or because Girardi had lost confidence… Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer and Delmon Young all have good career numbers against him, especially Cuddyer and Young.
Javy? No
Nova? Probably not
Gaudin is definitely going.
Jeers
enjoyed your pix, thanks for sharing
I could definitely see Vazquez in the pen over Gaudin, at least.
This like picking a head of lettuce from the day-old-dollar-bin. They’re all wilted to some degree and have some brown spots.
@Bronx Jeers I’d rather bring Nova over Gaudin.
upstate kate,
Thanks.
I have some more interesting photos/videos but they’ll have to wait till I get on my own computer.
People complain about Fenway being old and cramped but it’s a lot of fun. Honestly I think it’s my favorite place to see a game since they tore down the old Yankee Stadium.
AL, I think it’s everything goes with that team if the right offers comes along. I can see a Ellsbury +Scutaro for Reyes trade for example….
Has anyone ever sat or seen the Section 214B Standing Room Only seats? I mistakenly purchased these tickets on stubhub (not realizing they were SRO), and was curious what the sightlines were like. I don’t mind standing for the game and it sounds like you get your own designated ‘area’ so you don’t have to worry about not having a spot but was hoping to get some feedback from someone who has sat (stood) here or seen this area in person?
Thanks in advance.
Nova can’t pitch out of the stretch and has been a starter all year. That makes him a poor option for a post-season roster spot.
Javy has nothing left in his arm. Another poor choice.
Ring didn’t impress in his tryout.
As with the bench options, you aren’t going to re-create what you have right now and there are no “hidden gems” waiting to come to the surface.
You choose Mitre and Gaudin and be done with it.
Mitre and Moseley. Or Mitre and Gaudin. Nova has good stuff, but we can’t be dealing with deer in th headlight scenarios.
The Mets can get much more than that if they wanted to trade Reyes.
Acquiring an OF who hardly played this year and a 34 year old glorified utility player would amount to giving Reyes away and the Mets have no reason to make such a foolish trade.
Verducci’s season award selections.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html
I wish the Mets the best, feel bad for Wilpons.
Reyes could be a nice trade asset in order to retool.
I’d go with Mitre and Nova. Nova would be fine to start an inning and he has better stuff than Gaudin. Frankly, I think we’ve all seen enough of Gaudin to last a lifetime. As Marv would say, you only put him in during serious garBAGE time.
Dave K,
The SRO’s are not too bad but I believe 214-b has wheelchair seating behind it which can cut down on the sightlines if you happen to be “vertically challenged”
SJ -
Why not Moseley?
Mitre’s not stretched out, and the Yanks seem to care about things like that.
I’m guessing Gauding and Moseley for the two long men.
Ivan Nova
“Allowed the final three runs, one of them charged to him, in the Yankees regular season finale… ”
Didn’t he do that on Saturday?
2 Days, 5 Hours, and 27 Minutes until Game 1 of the ALDS
I’m still holding out hope the Yankees asked Javy to turn in his uniform yesterday and gave him a plane ticket home. His Yankee career should be over short of being a quiet cheerleader in the dugout.
Mitre’s looked the best recently of that lot.
Nova should start over AJ in the post season but we all know that won’t happen.
SJ , you seem to neglect the fact Reyes hardly played the previous two years and Ellsbury is well regard before this year’s injury woes. The point is , they both have great potentials when health.
And you 34 year glorified utility player performed just as well your 36 year captain this year and can serve as stop gap option.
But no matter, I could care less what the Mets do. Foolish or not.
Off-topic, but I watched Home Makeover last night. I never watch, but the Yankees connection was the hook. Was that family visiting during Hope Week? Was this publicized beforehand?
Kelvin October 4th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
I wish the Mets the best, feel bad for Wilpons.
Reyes could be a nice trade asset in order to retool.
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Actually, I was saying two years ago that Minaya should have traded Reyes then if he had any common sense
His value is lower now
Doesn’t Verducci have to submit a vote for one of the post season award categories. Thus isn’t he suppossed to keep his pick to himself till after the awards are given??
AJ is going to be a glorified long man.
In a five game series, you don’t need more than one longman.
Mitre has pitched better than any of the second tier guys and he’s certainly capable of pitching 2 innings if needed in a series in which there are two off days built into the schedule.
I could be wrong, but I thought you weren’t allowed to change the roster between the ALDS and the ALCS
Ask 30 GM’s who they would take right now, Scutaro or Jeter, and all 30 will take Jeter.
Jeter’s worst year equals Scutaro’s best year.
Marco Scutaro isn’t in the same league as a player than Derek Jeter.
One off year doesn’t make a guy a worthless player.
Very poor back end of bench and bullpen. If these guys matter in more than a very peripheral way the Yankees are not going far.
Erica,
They changed that rule a few years ago.
You can now change your roster between the ALDS and ALCS.
Erica,
I thought you could submit a new roster for each round. I could be wrong, though.
SJ44 October 4th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Erica,
They changed that rule a few years ago.
You can now change your roster between the ALDS and ALCS.
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All of this rule changing is far too complicated.
I still don’t understand what happens when a game is stopped cause of rain. There seems to be like, 3 possible outcomes
I’m not ok with Gaudin, unless the game is a blowout for either team. He can, with his giving up homers in bunches, let a 5 run lead vanish in a hurry.
More inclined to go with Nova over Gaudin, because he has shown he can dial up his fastball to 97 and the Twins haven’t seen him.
Definitely would go with Mitre, who for some reason Girardi didn’t use much lately.
Also think Girardi should get thrown out of game 1 or 2 early, so Pena will have a chance to manage!!
What’s wrong with the bullpen?
Rivera, Wood, Chamberlain, Robertson and Logan are fine.
The bench is what it is.
Frankly, with all the “rest days” Girardi was comsumed with the last 5 weeks, there is no reason to even worry about the bench.
The starters need to play, and perform, every day in the post-season.
If they can’t play everyday, it would beg the question of why were these guys getting all these days off the past 5 weeks.
Back end of bullpen.
I made an executive decision regarding my Yankee wall calendar-
I cannot in good conscience allow October to be Brian Bruney month.
I have actually taped over Brian Bruney with the page from the 2009 Yankee Calendar which featured Johnny Damon (September 2009). Which incidentally, I kept taped up last year from September until 2010.
Mitre
Mosely
Gaudin
Nova
Decreasing level of trust.
Nova is good…until guys get on base. He will need to conquer that.
Mitre and… hmm
Nova has the best stuff, but he looked very over-pumped up in his last relief appearance (97 mph from the stretch…), and he loses some command at times pitching out of the stretch.
I’m not impressed with Ring and would be nervous about him pitching to any of the MN lefties mentioned. Joe might go with him anyway.
It has been painful watching Vazquez pitch.
I’m sick of Gaudin.
Moseley… meh.
I think in addition to Mitre I’d go with Nova. I like him if a game goes long.
This is not the time or the place for Nova to learn how to pitch in the majors. Next season!
Erica,
You’ve made a sound decision.
Now will the Yankee powers to be take a similar route and tape over their AJ/October page ?
complete joke that Kearns will be on the postseason roster
all the guy has done is choke EVERY SINGLE TIME in a big spot
the more guys get on base the worse he is, bases loaded he is completely worthless
can’t even put the ball in play with guys on 3rd less than 2 outs, it’s a strikeout every time, it’s like clockwork
guy has done NOTHING to earn this, all he did was be a player that the GM traded for. that’s it. not only has he not produced or helped, he has actually HURT the team and sometimes in a big way. if anyone else, literally any other player they could have put out there, had played in a lot of the games Kearns did- the Yankees would have won the division. he killed the lineup so many times and it’s absurd he will be on the postseason roster. why put him on? he adds absolutely nothing. does he do any one thing well? they’re not paying him crap, didn’t give up anything, and he’s gone after this season. he hasn’t earned anything, yet it’s handed to him. great logic.
I’d go Gaudin and Mitre I think. I wish they had been able to get Nova some more time out of the bullpen because I think he could have been good in short bursts but currently he just has too much trouble out of the stretch to trust. Don’t like Ring much and they will probably go with AJ (though he doesn’t deserve it) as a long man..
Rays rotation: Price, Shields, Garza, Davis, Price
Definitely weak up the middle. Shields->Garza->Davis has the potential to lose a series for them.
Mitre obviously deserves it. he’s pitched well this season. i don’t understand why he hasn’t been used more instead of Gaudin and other guys at times. if Joe hadn’t experimented with Royce Ring, which was a joke of an experiment in the first place, Yanks would have won that 2nd game Saturday. Mitre looked very sharp retiring his first two batters, but then was immediately yanked so Ring could get another look. backfired, Ring couldn’t throw strikes, blew his tryout and the Yanks ended up losing. thanks again, Joe.
Those not worrying about our starting catcher are in for a rude wakening I believe. Ron Gardenhire isn’t stupid. Minnesota’s base running skills do not need to be special to take advantage of Jorge Posada. Last week Boston stole second and third base on back-to-back runners and yesterday, they pulled off two double steals in the same inning. Not to mention hitting in the .240′s with no speed.
“Definitely weak up the middle. Shields->Garza->Davis has the potential to lose a series for them.”
Especially with Cliff Lee going in game 1.
Bronx Jeers October 4th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Erica,
You?ve made a sound decision.
Now will the Yankee powers to be take a similar route and tape over their AJ/October page ?
*********
We can only hope.
I still think ARod should be a pal and give AJ his shrink’s number
There seems to be a lot of consideration (at least on the bench side) to players called up 9-1 or later. I understand injury replacements are possible (Ring, God forbid, for Aceves) but how would a Golson or Russo be considered? Wasn’t Nunez called up 9-1 also?
Nova was on the 25 man roster prior, but I agree he should not be included first round.
Bases were stolen more on Rivera than Posada. Much more. Rivera is notorious for not holding runners well.
“# Jerkface October 4th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Rays rotation: Price, Shields, Garza, Davis, Price
Definitely weak up the middle. Shields->Garza->Davis has the potential to lose a series for them.
”
Shields has pitched horrible for them the last month and a half for them w/ around a 7ERA. Interesting/ risky choice by Maddon by starting him in Game 2 but he is a lot better at the Trop versus the road
jacksquat October 4th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Bases were stolen more on Rivera than Posada. Much more. Rivera is notorious for not holding runners well.
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In Rivera’s defense… he doesn’t usually have a whole lot of baserunners
You can say that about any of the four pitching staffs either ALDS series.
The Yankees have CC, Andy, who has pitched twice in 2 months, and a kid starting in the post-season for the first time in Hughes.
In addition, they have to either bring CC back on 3 days rest or start the guy (AJ) who has been the worst starting pitcher in baseball since May 1.
Fact is, all 4 teams in it are flawed and nobody has a clear cut advantage over anybody.
Its why its wide open this year. No clear cut favorite in either series.
Posada is terrible. Name one thing he does well.
Francesa said Yanks going CC, petttite, Hupettite, pettite.
Huge error lol.
CC
Pettite
Hughes
CC
Pettite
i don’t understand why he hasn’t been used more instead of Gaudin ?
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the curious case of one Mr.Sergio Mitre as Joe simply stop using him as he had only accrued a total 22 inning btw Aug 2 – Oct 3.
West Coast Yankee Fan October 4th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Posada is terrible. Name one thing he does well.
***************
Irritate you
Posada hits for power
Kelvin October 4th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Huge error lol.
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LOL… I thought you were being cute. I liked it
The Yankees have CC, Andy, who has pitched twice in 2 months, and a kid starting in the post-season for the first time in Hughes.
–
But Hughes is no stranger to the postseason.
Huge error lol.
——————————————
Too bad because I was really liking the idea of “Hupettite”
I also like AJ Mosely.
West Coast Yankee Fan October 4th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Posada is terrible. Name one thing he does well.
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Posada is still a way above avg offensive cather, his OPS ranks 6th among all MLB catchers with at least 400 ABs. Joe Mauer is No. 1 @871 with Posada weighing in at 811.
Erica – he irritates many Yankee fans doesn’t he? I like the guy personally, I have always been a Jorge fan. But he’s a serious liability right now. He can’t throw, he can’t block balls in the dirt, he doesn’t seem to call a good game anymore, he can’t hit well. I’m concerned about what that could mean in the post season.
Cashmoney – I don’t care what his OPS is. I know what my eyes see after watching all 162 games this year.
Cashmoney – I don’t care what his OPS is. I know what my eyes see after watching all 162 games this year.
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Were they closed when he got on base 36% of the time and hit 50 XBH?
West Coast Yankee FanOctober 4th, 2010 at 3:42 pmCashmoney – I don’t care what his OPS is. I know what my eyes see after watching all 162 games this year.
—
By all means, don’t let the facts get in your way…
Cashmoney – I don’t care what his OPS is. I know what my eyes see after watching all 162 games this year.
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The grass is always greener on the other side , WC, IMO. try watch jason kendall for 162 games. But anywho, you are entitled to your eyes.
West Coast Yankee Fan October 4th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Erica ? he irritates many Yankee fans doesn?t he? I like the guy personally, I have always been a Jorge fan. But he?s a serious liability right now. He can?t throw, he can?t block balls in the dirt, he doesn?t seem to call a good game anymore, he can?t hit well. I?m concerned about what that could mean in the post season.
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I am sorry, but I disagree. He’s still hitting well enough. He doesn’t throw as well0 but I don’t believe you lose the ability to call games.
That would be like me forgetting how to do tax returns
Posada is a gamer. He can wreck games with his bat. He also had a lot of big hits during last year’s playoffs. This is the time of year when you are glad you have the vets like Posada on the squad that can handle play off pressure.
I hope Jorge has a great series offensively and defensively and doesn’t hurt the ball club. I’ll be the first to applaud him and admit my concern was off-base.
Starting is different than pitching out of the pen.
Plus, he was terrible in the post-season last year.
My original point still stands. The Yankees, like the other three teams, have some serious flaws.
Doesn’t mean they can’t get on a roll and do damage.
I would however, feel a lot better about their chances had Burnett and Vazquez not fallen apart and the offense showed more consistent signs, especially on the road.
Considering the matador defense Cervelli has been playing of late, I’m perfectly content with Jorge in the lineup.
Cervelli’s exaggerated theatrics behind the plate are only endearing when he’s making the plays and throws.
If Jorge is in there his bat will win a game for us in each series.
West Coast Yankee Fan October 4th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
I hope Jorge has a great series offensively and defensively and doesn?t hurt the ball club. I?ll be the first to applaud him and admit my concern was off-base.
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Sounds like a deal
Posada will very likely start every game in the ALDS.
Sergio Mitre. You can argue that he should’v been in the rotation after he came back from injury in late July. I think he would’ve been solid down the stretch instead of Mosely and Nova and AJ. He had that one start and it wasn’t that good (I was at the game) and Girardi never went back to him. Mosely relieved him that day against KC and pithced great so Girardi went with Mosely to start after that. One start for Serge after coming off the DL and then off to the bullpen. So much for letting the guy get his legs and get into a rhythm. Mitre should definitely make the postseason roster.
“I still think ARod should be a pal and give AJ his shrink’s number.”
Erica-
I think A-Rod is dating her!
AJ needs more than a shrink. A good whipping should help, but if I remember he already got that in the way of a black eye.
“complete joke that Kearns will be on the postseason roster
all the guy has done is choke EVERY SINGLE TIME in a big spot
the more guys get on base the worse he is, bases loaded he is completely worthless”
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Austin Kearns has a .417 AVG and 1.052 OPS with the bases loaded this season.
RISP: .257 and a .757 OPS
RISP and 2 OUTS: .293 AVG with an .839 OPS
Yankee Trader October 4th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
?I still think ARod should be a pal and give AJ his shrink’s number.?
Erica-
I think A-Rod is dating her!
AJ needs more than a shrink. A good whipping should help, but if I remember he already got that in the way of a black eye.
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The black eye didn’t help, he continued to stink-
Is waterboarding still allowed????????????
Like choosing between the electric chair,lethal injection,hanging, or firing squad……
Just FYI. In his last 20 games, Posada is 8 for his last 54. That’s a .148 BA.
Chad has a good point on Moseley – he won’t be available for games 1 or 2. Given that, I think you can cross him off the list of potential suspects, I mean relievers.
Is waterboarding still allowed????????????
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Not really, but fraternity houses still do it, only it’s beer, not water.
What is your point WCYF? Do you want Cervelli starting? Moeller?
Posada did have an awful September. But I’m not sure that means anything.
Nova seems to bite the bullet in pressure situations….I know he is just a kid, but now is not the time for him….
Moseley has absolutely zero margin for error. He battles, but his stuff is lousy. Mitre at least induces ground balls.
You absolutely need a fourth starter, in case of rain, injury or the like, right?
What’s wrong with this?
EASY: Sabathia, Hughes, Pettitte, Rivera, Woods, Chamberlain, Robertson, Logan
HARDER: Moseley (= long man or spot starter); Burnett (= long man or if you need to overpower 1 or 2 righthanders, but you don’t want to use Woods or Chamberlain); Ring (situational against lefties, when you don’t want to burn Logan)
(I’d absolutely leave Gaudin, Nova and Vasquez off, but could see Mitre instead of Moseley. I would not leave AJ off, as I think you may need him in the next round, and I would not want to mess with his head. I do wish we had been able to use him in relief as an experiment during the season.)
That leaves you with 14 position players:
STARTERS: Rodriguez, Jeter, Cano, Texeira, Posada, Granderson, Gardner, Swisher, Thames
BENCH: Cervelli, Berkman, Kearns, Miranda, Pena
it is kinda of sad we are saddled with 30 million dollars of garbage uncertainties in Javy and Burnett right now.
only if one of the two had given even a glimpse of mediocrity down the stretch.
My point is, that in my opinion, catching is a fairly substantial liability for the Yankees. I trust and hope that the powers that be agree, pay attention to it, and do what they can do offensively and defensively to mitigate it. That might be looking at the batting order, substituting wisely and communicating strongly to the pitchers that they have to do a better job holding runners on.
Like I said before, I hope Posada has a monster post-season.
Francesa may get the shock of his life if Hughes goes Game 2.
Cashmoney…..don’t forget all the money that was sunk into Igawa, although he was banished to Siberia…I mean Scranton…..
How bad a liability are ANY of these players?
Sorry, but sometimes it sounds like some of you are talking about some scrub team that were lucky to win any games at all.
Igawa’s talent is simply not for this world , Todd. Scrantonians need to treasure his presence .
And what do any of you care how much money “we” spent on people who had bad years?
I’ve been skimming today and frankly, it’s depressing.
What some of you are looking for doesn’t exist.
pat,
Lol. I thought Francesca was saying it because he had sources. Was that his opinion, educated guess, or news from the Yankees.
And where are the rookie pix?
This series could go either way. The team that shows up and plays the best wins. It’s that simple.
Please tell me that we are done with Igawa and he can go back to Japan?
I like our rotation for this series. I think not having home field plays in our favor. The twins will be feeling the pressure to win the first two games, while the Yankees only have to win 1 to take home field advantage away.
I wonder if Joe will take Phil’s Home/Away splits into consideration for determining the game 2 starter. On the one hand I want Pettitte pitching game 5 if it goes that far and on the other hand I really don’t want to pitch Phil in what might be a crucial game 3 at home.
Laura – I Bleed Blue -
That’s it in a very well stated nutshell.
Please tell me that we are done with Igawa and he can go back to Japan?
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one more year !
“That?s it in a very well stated nutshell.”
Doreen, that’s my claim to fame – nutshell stating.
Wow, it just hit me that Marte has been out this whole time
I kind of expected that from Aceves, but didn’t see it for Marte
Doreen,
This team played such an uninspiring lousy September it’s hard to be thrilled. Especially, after watching them give away the division to a team that clearly didn’t want to take it in Tampa.
2/5ths of our rotation failed miserably this season in AJ and Javy. It’s downright bizarre that both of them fell apart in one season like this considering their recent pedigree.
It’s hard to be confident since we’re all admitting we are just hoping they show up on Wednesday and deem it “time to play” since it’s been a long time since we’ve witnessed this team do that.
They should wipe the floor with Minnesota and get back to the WS. They are that talented.
But this season has not been the shining example of people’s talents with the exception of Cano, Swisher, Gardner and Arod.
As a fanbase we have every right to be nervous after watching the team treat September like March.
I think you have to pitch Hughes in game 2. All year long, save when Andy was healthy, he was the clear #2. If you take his splits along with with game 3 being played at YS to me it’s practically a no-brainer. I don’t believe in planning ahead for a possible game 5 (there hasn’t been a game 5 in a 5 game series in over 5 years I think).
I’m not saying I don’t trust Andy or that I trust Hughes more, but in this particular scenario you go with Hughes for the reasons stated above.
“As a fanbase we have every right to be nervous after watching the team treat September like March.”
I understand what your saying, but that nervousness can be beaten. I refuse to let my uneasiness get the best of me. Like I said above, whoever plays the best will win. If that’s not the Yankees, I’ll be sad, depressed and will probably eat an entire cheesecake. But on the bright side, there’s always next year!
G. Love -
Yup. I’m nervous, as well. And I wish that posters who felt that way could state their concerns as you just have, reasonably.
I’ve stated what you’ve stated myself in the last couple of days.
It has been a bizarre season altogether, if you ask me. Things gone wrong from the beginning.
But I’m trying to take some encouragement from the fact that they did, in fact, get to the playoffs anyway, and that no other AL playoff team is set up much better.
m
I think he’s as-suming and you know what happens when you do that.
He’s so sure of himself now I want him to be wrong to hear him combust.
Girardi will do one of the following this postseason:
- Rest A-Rod and start Pena, especially in the ALCS where he cites he doesn’t ant him going 3 days in a row.
- Start Kearns for Gardner
- Pair AJ and Cervelli
- Pinch run for all his slow players and end up with the likes of Golson and Pena hitting late in the game/extras.
- Use Logan as a LOOGY early in a game and not have a lefty late in the game
- Will use MO for 4+ outs
- Use Joba in a big spot
I don’t see why anyone is surprised by what AJ and Javy did this year.
They are not good pitchers, period. Unless you consider a .500 lifetime pitcher good.
Yes, Javy had a good year last season, but, that was the exception, not the rule.
The Yankees wanted AJ because him last lights out against Boston in his career, now he can’t find the switch to turn the light on against any team. It’s rather sad, AJ by all accounts is a great guy, but given his recent statements, he does not yet realize how bad he is, or how much he’s hurt the team.
Yank 87: No, No, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes…
Another interesting thought besides who starts Game 2 is who leads off? I’m thinking Gardner from the last few games.
I’m definitely excited for the games. I’m stoked I’m getting to go to some post season baseball over the weekend.
That said, my confidence level in this current group is floating somewhere in the middle and it changes by the hour.
They should win. I want them to win.
It’s just a question of whether what we’ve been watching (mainly since Andy went down) is what this team is for this season.
The only encouragement I can grab hold of is that the post season starts soon, we’re in it and there’s a lot of players in the Yankee locker room who have a lot of pride.
That said, if we do win it, I still don’t approve of this “let’s tank the division and take the wild card” strategy employed this year.
Rooting for this team the past month has been difficult since their agenda wasn’t to win every game and lock up the division…it was to survive the month and hopefully get to Wednesday intact.
At times it felt like we were rooting for a team who was trying to lose.
I hate that feeling.
craigcalcaterra How come no one is posing tonight’s lineups yet? Oh . . . yeah. [Sigh]
G. Love -
I never thought they were trying to lose. I think they thought they had the talent that could win in spite of trying to rest players ahead. And I think they were afraid that if they went “pedal to the metal” and tried to get it sewn up BEFORE resting people, that they would either lose people altogether or weaken them so much that they wouldn’t get far in the playoffs anyway. Basically, what good division/HFA if you can’t field a healthy team. They’d done it that way in the past and been one and done.
And they very nearly succeeded – a few close games that they should have won. And to me it came down to some individuals who didn’t get it done when they needed to. We just all have to hope that they ARE healthy now, or healthy enough.
But I think they tempted fate, perhaps. You don’t mess with the baseball gods.
GLove,
I completely agree.
This franchise prides itself on WINNING and not tanking.
Despite the pleas of the hopelessly “rah rah, everything is beautiful” crowd, if you think the Yankees prioritized winning the division, then explain to me why Chad Gaudin, Royce Ring, Ivan Nova and Dustin Moseley were pitching in important games and situations down the stretch.
Not to mention the bizarre days off patterns for some players.
The fact is, that’s not the Yankee Way.
Clearly, they chose a different path this year.
That’s their right.
However, if they don’t make the WS this year, that strategy was an abysmal failure from a baseball and business standpoint.
From a baseball standpoint, it would mean they would have never regained the edge they had coming off that 8 game win streak.
From a business standpoint, fewer home gates means fewer dollars to the bottom line.
A lot on the line for the decisionmakers this off-season.
Will be interesting to see how it shakes out.
pat -
It’s the Mets vs Red Sox in the mini golf classic in Siberia, catch it live 3 AM on TBS.
G. Love -
What games are you going to get to see? Enjoy.
The old adage of anything can happen in a short series applies to this ALDS. To increase the odds of better things happening, Vazquez and Mosely can’t be on the roster. Burnett not used except for sheer necessity.
Nova can work on his problems with runners on base next year – - – not this year.
Take Mitre and Gaudin and if the team gets by the Twins, see if Girardi would have needed Ring in an early matchup situation. If so, add Ring to the ALCS roster. He can be kept busy in Tampa during the ALDS throwing simulated innings in lieu of being added to the ALCS roster.
“From a baseball standpoint, it would mean they would have never regained the edge they had coming off that 8 game win streak.”
————————————————
Edge is just another way of saying “momentum” which has been proved time and time again to have no correlation to wins/losses in the postseason.
Repackaging it with a different name doesn’t change that.
Their record, momentum, lack of edge, etc. recently has no impact on how they play starting Wednesday.
LGY October 4th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Austin Kearns has a .417 AVG and 1.052 OPS with the bases loaded this season.
RISP: .257 and a .757 OPS
RISP and 2 OUTS: .293 AVG with an .839 OPS
—————————————————————————————
Most of that damage was done with Cleveland.
As a Yankee:
Austin Kearns has a .286 AVG and .857 OPS with the bases loaded this season. (7 plate appearances)
RISP: .133 and a .478 OPS (36 plate appearances)
RISP and 2 OUTS: .077 AVG with an .448 OPS (17 plate appearances)
In “High Leverage” situations as a Yankee, Kearns is battin .038 with a .205 OPS (30 plate appearances)
If you’re not going to use Ring against a lefty hitting Twins team, then why would you want him on the team for the ALCS?
They are under. 500 since the trading deadline (30-31). They have scored 4 runs or less in almost half of those games. They are 9-17 since early September. They are 12-18 on the road since August. They have won 2 of their last 10 road series. They have lost or split 13 series since the end of July.
They better turn it on in a hurry.
SJ44 -
“Rah, rah, everything is beautiful?”
Because though it may be flawed, some people might see the logic?
As I stated above, they have done it the other way and lost anyway. All I can think of is the state of the health of most of players had to have been worse than was ever publicly stated. And the pitching stunk and could not carry a weak offense. And, again, I say to you, that ultimately it was not being able to execute with RISP for the last 3 weeks of the season that was the ultimate culprit.
That and AJ Burnett. Well, it was him and Javy and everyone but CC not being able to go more than 5 innings in the first place.
Trying to lose is quite an accusation.
“Most of that damage was done with Cleveland.”
———————–
So it doesn’t count?
It was a response to a comment saying Kearns is worthless with runners on, especially with the bases loaded, which he clearly is not.
RiverAveBlues #goodcompanyRT @MLB_PR: Only Joe DiMaggio (1163) had more hits in 1st 6 years among @Yankees than Robinson Cano (1075)
BJK -
With the Indians, Kearns SO 28.78% – With the Yankees he SO 37.25% of his AB.
That is a real clutch batter, no.
Give me any of the rookies over Kearns, even though I still think Girardi and company will keep him, because in the “BOOK” it says he can do the job. For my money, he’s one of the worst OF I have seen.
Doreen-great post @ 4:52.
LGY -
You have to look at what he’s done as a Yankee, which is not small of a sample. He did not play under the pressure with the Indians that he faces in NY. He has simply been no good.
Finally out of here for the day-everyone have a great night.
I have plenty of concerns about this team, but I refuse to let them get in the way of appreciating this team.
I believe in them until the last out of the season. It’s much simpler that way.
before the slide to end the season (which began on 09/05 vs. the Jays), the Yanks had won seven in a row.
that’s baseball, Suzyn. you just can’t predict it.
I think getting Kearns was a mistake. I always did, but his first two weeks almost convinced me I was wrong about that. Berkman hasn’t been awful, but Cashman has done better in the past with his trade deadline acquisitions. Neither of those two has really done much to help the team, not the way you’d hope. And I believe it actually hurt the team in some way to dismiss the young guys who were contributing. I don’t blame Cash for trying to get some veteran help; just not crazy about the particulars.
New York Yankees 2010
Pre ASB: 56-32
Post ASB: 39-35
Pre ASB: #2 in MLB in RUNS SCORED
Post ASB: #1 in MLB in RUNS SCORED
Pre ASB: #7 in MLB in TEAM ERA
Post ASB: #27 in MLB in TEAM ERA
One thing is not like the others…
It is fairly obvious what happened in the second half. The Yankees didn’t forget how to win, Girardi didn’t forget how to manage, the organization did not play for the WC.
They lost their #2 SP which had a ripple affect on the rest of the rotation, increased the workload of the bullpen, and meant seeing Mitre, Moseley, and Nova starting games. Burnett was absymal. Javy Vazquez lost all ability to pitch.
Postseason starts Wednesday and you mostly cross off those issues. Andy is back, Javy is done, AJ won’t be seen until the ALCS, and the bullpen will be fully equipped on a nightly basis.
Not worried about this team. The random nature of the postseason could mean they lose, but it won’t be because they forgot how to win or they have to overcome Girardi or whatever.
That simply is not why they lost the division no matter how many narratives or panic stricken posts are created on here.
LGY -
Thanks for posting that. It makes it very clear what happened in the 2nd half of the season. It cannot be overstated what Andy Pettitte’s injury meant to this team.
I am making a simple prediction for the Twins series-I don’t see how the Yankees lose if the starting pitchers (CC, Andy, Phil) pitch to their abilities, period. I can easily see the Yankees sweeping and would be shocked to see them lose unless both CC and Andy have a clunker in their first games. The back of the bullpen and the back of the bench is a non-factor in the playoffs, particularly in a 5 game series.
LGY October 4th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
So it doesn’t count?
It was a response to a comment saying Kearns is worthless with runners on, especially with the bases loaded, which he clearly is not.
————————————————————————
To me, it kind of doesn’t.
It mattered when Cashman acquired him, which is why I liked the pick-up.
But he hasn’t proven he can do it in New York. Some players don’t play well in New York for whatever reason.
I hope Kearns turns it around and this was only a small sample size slump. But otherwise, I think he has been worthless with RISP for the Yankees, and I think his stats as a Yankee support that.
“I have plenty of concerns about this team, but I refuse to let them get in the way of appreciating this team.”
Absolutely. Or in my way of watching baseball because whether they win or lose it will all be done in a month and the 6 months already played went by so fast.
Doreen,
The bottom line is, this team stopped putting it’s best foot forward too early in the season.
So much so, had they not come from behind to win that Sunday night game at the Stadium, they would have put themselves in a position to have to go all out in the final week just to make the post-season.
You just don’t it out that way because the downside is too great.
They weren’t so banged up that they had to use September as a tryout month for second tier pitchers. Which they did.
Then, have the mixed message of wasting Mariano in a heatwave in Texas for two innings in a tie game.
This, after Girardi said he wasn’t going to use Mariano for two innings until the playoffs.
That only messed up Mariano.
The mixed messages were maddening and hurt the team.
LGY,
This is a team that has neither hit nor played well on the road the second half of the year.
Not having HFA may end up really hurting this particular team.
Perhaps, it may not be an issue. We shall see.
However, if this team crashes and burns in the post-season, I think it will be the last time a Yankee team pulls back before they have clinched anything.
Ken_Rosenthal Bowa, Duncan won’t return as #Dodgers’ coaches, but asked to stay in org. Schaefer has said he won’t be back. Honeycutt future unclear. #MLB
Bowa back at 3B coach would be good if Thomson gets Jays job.
If Kearns hit the ball, I wouldn’t be as disappointed. It’s the striking out and looking pretty bad doing it that disappoints me.
****
I’m going to enjoy the post-season. pat – I agree – I don’t know where the last 6 months went.
the Yankees essentially lost 3/5 of their starting rotation in August and September, 1 to injury and 2 to just awful pitching. Fortunately Andy is back and Burnett and Vazquez are non-factors for the ALDS and minimal factors for both the ALCS and WS (if they make it that far). That is going to be a huge change for them in terms of win percentage.
SJ44 -
I can agree that they took some things for granted and it did bite them. I can agree with that. I can agree that using Mariano for two innings in Texas was not a good move. (I’m not sure Mariano more than one inning ever again is a good move, but that’s another debate for another day.) I can agree that Gaudin was used far too often, Mitre ignored too much and working matchups ended up leaving the pen short in too many games.
But, and maybe I’m wrong, these veteran players still had some games in their control and failed, and even if “the strategy” was wrong, there were enough winnable games to have made the last 3 weeks less stressful. And why would veteran players be confused about what their job is – win games.
As far as HFA – the way I see it, the Yankees are capable of winning one in Minnesota. And then HFA switches. What they have to do is TCB at Yankee Stadium and be done with it.
Moving forward, it’s the same strategy. Win one of the first two, 2 of the next three, one of 2 on the road, preferably Game 6.
I think they can do it.
Up until the last 3 weeks of the season, the Yankees had one of the best road records in the league, even if the offensive particulars weren’t stellar.
Here’s my take. 3 man rotation.
I like Pettitte pitching second. Don’t want to have Hughes pitching a critical game 5 if there happens to be one. I do understand the other side of it though.
I take Mitre over Gaudin if that’s my choice.
Like to see Golson given a role. He can run, throw, and field. He was making good coontact towards the end of the season.
No to Ring. He hasn’t proven anything.
Thames-Berkman DH.
Jorge Catches all games.
If you think you need defense take Pena. If you think you need more offense and less glove go with Nunez.
And I was on record in saying we should have been going for HFA all the way.
“contact”. sorry. another of my famous typos.