The LoHud Yankees Blog

The Yankees clubhouse is overflowing. The team is already carrying 11 extra players, and reports are that Dellin Betances may become a 12th September call-up some time during this series in Anaheim.

Short term, these moves are mostly about depth down the stretch. Long term, they’re about getting a look at players who could play some sort of role in the future.

Andrew Brackman
Elbow surgery slowed Brackman’s progress in the minor leagues, but the former first-round draft pick is older than Phil Hughes, so it’s not unreasonable to think he should be ready to contribute at this level. He seemed on the verge after a big 2010 season, but this year has been a significant step in the wrong direction. There’s talent there — when pitchers and catchers reported this spring, most of the early buzz seemed to be on Brackman — but the Yankees need to see consistent results before they can realistically project him in some sort of big league role next season.

George Kontos
Kind of a forgotten prospect after Tommy John surgery and a Rule 5 selection, but Kontos thrived in a full-time relief role this season. He was Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s long man, and the Yankees ultimately decided they’d rather have him than Lance Pendleton on the 40-man. Kontos turned 26 this summer, and could certainly play a long relief role next year. Oddly enough, he’s one of three players on the Yankees pitching staff this season after having previously been lost in the Rule 5 draft (Pendleton and Ivan Nova were also Rule 5 picks).

Aaron Laffey
An interesting late-season addition, if only because he’s left-handed and still just 26 years old. Laffey has quite a bit of big league experience, but this is his first full season as a reliever. The Yankees seem to be trying to get a look at him this month — he’s pitched three times in the past week — and it’s conceivable that Laffey could pitch his way into at least some level of consideration beyond this season. Aside from Manny Banuelos, who’s going to remain a starter, there isn’t a lefty in the system who’s seems ready to push for a big league spot.

Hector Noesi
Technically a September call-up even though he’s spent most of the season pitching in New York. Noesi wasn’t really a discovery this season — he was fairly highly touted in the system — but he certainly emerged as a guy who could fill an immediate need and possibly play a larger role in the future. In most cases, I think it’s a waste to have a young potential starter work in the bullpen, but the Yankees system is so overpopulated with starters that it’s inevitable some will have to be converted to the pen. Noesi made that conversion successfully, and now the Yankees have to decide whether they like him in this role or want to move him back into the rotation mix for next year.

Scott Proctor
One of the few September call-ups that’s clearly not in a position to fight for any sort of long-term role. Really, Proctor seems to be in New York to give Joe Girardi another veteran arm down the stretch. If Proctor is going to play a role beyond this month, it might take a strong stretch performance and an invitation to big league camp next spring.

Raul Valdes
Along with Proctor, Valdes is the September call-up who most obviouslly seems to be short-term addition. He turns 34 this offseason, his big league experience is limited and the Yankees don’t seem to be in any hurry to use him. For now he’s giving the team a third lefty, but the Yankees went through almost the entire season with only one lefty, and right now both Boone Logan and Aaron Laffey are clearly ahead of Valdes on the depth chart. Seems like Valdes had a spot on the 40-man, so the Yankees decided, why not?

Jesus Montero
You might have heard about this kid. Of all the September call-ups, 21-years-old Montero is the only one who seems to be playing for a significant role in the postseason. Sure, someone else might win a spot as a reserve role player or a back-of-the-bullpen arm, but Montero is getting a look at designated hitter and could takeover that role by the end of the season. If the Yankees decide his development program is finished, then Montero could certainly play an everyday role beginning on Opening Day of next year.

Brandon Laird
Back in 2007, Laird was a 27th-round pick. Not only was he drafted that low, the Yankees drafted two third basemen — Brad Suttle and Braedyn Pruitt — ahead of him. Laird, though, hit his way into prospect status and he has value as a four-corners utility man who has some power from the right side. It’s silly to peg Laird as Alex Rodriguez’s future replacement at third base, but he could hit enough to play some sort of role, either as a reserve or as a guy who bounces back and forth from Triple-A to fill holes as needed.

Ramiro Pena
By my count, Pena should have one option remaining after this season. That means it’s entirely possible that he could play the same role he’s been playing this season: The backup to the backup. Clearly Eduardo Nunez has replaced Pena as the Yankees primary utility man, but there’s still some comfort and value in having Pena as a proven defensive option up the middle. The other advanced utility types in the system — Laird, Joseph, Russo — have limited shortstop experience, if any.

Chris Dickerson
As a left-handed hitter, Dickerson isn’t a great fit in this Yankees outfield, but he’s hit pretty well when given at-bats this season, and he’s a career .273/.360/.417 against right-handed pitchers. That’s pretty good, and it suggests a strong platoon fit for a team that’s not so full of left-handed-hitting outfielders. It hurts Dickerson’s long-term case that Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson are also left-handers. It helps his cause that the Yankees don’t have many upper-level outfielders knocking down the door.

Greg Golson
The Yankees know what they’re getting in Golson. He’s a strong defensive outfielder with some speed and not much of a track record with the bat. He played a role for the team down the stretch last season, and Girardi seemed comfortable with him. In some ways he seems like a right-handed version of Dickerson, but probably with less bat and possibly more speed. Like with Dickerson, the fact the Yankees don’t have a ton of upper-level outfielders makes Golson potential fourth or fifth outfielder next season.

Associated Press photo of Montero

Eduardo Nunez seemed to be making progress in the field, committing just two errors in a 30-game stretch before Wednesday. But in the series finale against the Orioles, it was the bad old days all over again.

The utilityman is most comfortable at short, but he made two fielding errors in place of Derek Jeter, one on a tough short hop in the 11th that led to the game-winning run.

“I just had a bad game today,” Nunez said. “I’m not making an excuse. I’ve got to keep working hard. … I feel bad for my teammates.”

Nunez and Alex Rodriguez also couldn’t catch a wind-blown pop at the back of the mound in the third. The runner ended up scoring on a two-run homer.

But between the wind, the rain, the mist and the mud, A-Rod was willing to exonerate Nunez for this one.

“I don’t care if it was Ozzie Smith in his prime,” Rodriguez said. “Today he didn’t have a chance.”

Still, Nunez now owns a team-high 18 errors. First, he was having trouble throwing accurately with his strong arm. Then he was having trouble fielding. Ground balls can’t be an adventure. But Nunez is confident right now.

“When the season started,” he said, “I felt so bad about my defense. My confidence, too. But right now, I feel fine. I feel good.”

Associated Press photo

Unless I’m missing something in the play-by-play, Luis Ayala had a good day today, and the rest of the Yankees bullpen did not. If Wednesday’s loss rested on an inability to execute on defense, this one rested on the inability to execute in relief.

• Boone Logan faced one lefty and gave up an RBI double that pulled the Orioles within a run.
• Aaron Laffey faced one lefty and walked him to put the potential tying run on base.
• Cory Wade gave up a near game-tying double but benefited from an out at the plate.
• Rafael Soriano faced four batters, gave up three hits, and might have allowed more than one run if not for a play at the plate and runner caught stealing.
• Scott Proctor stranded two runners in the ninth before coughing up the game in the 10th.

A few thoughts…

• Logan’s allowed six hits in his past 2.1 innings, and he’s allowed a double in each of his past three appearances. These sudden struggles are coming at the end of a long stretch during which Logan pitched well. It might be nothing but a lefty reliever going through an inevitable bump in the road, but if it’s something bigger, the Yankees don’t have anyone to replace him.
• Speaking of replacing Logan, obviously Laffey is getting more lefty looks than Raul Valdes (who still hasn’t pitched). Laffey has faced Nick Markakis three times in four days. After a fly ball outs on Monday and Wednesday, Laffey walked him today.
• Hard to get down on Wade. The guy’s been awfully good lately.
• Soriano was dominant in those first few outings off the disabled list, but he’s allowed eight base runners in his past 4.2 innings. How’s Dave Robertson looking these days? Can you imagine this bullpen without him?
• Why Proctor for a second inning? Can’t say for certain, but Robertson had pitched back-to-back games and Hector Noesi had pitched two innings the night before. Maybe it was better to give George Kontos that 10th inning, but I’m not sure there was an obvious way to go at that point. It hadn’t been pretty, but the bullpen had setup a Soriano-to-Rivera finale. When Soriano didn’t do his part, the plan became improv.

A few other quick notes…

• Joel Sherman reports that Dellin Betances will join the Yankees here in Anaheim, but there’s no guarantee he’ll actually pitch.

• Francisco Cervelli was knocked around at the plate today, but he told Peter Botte that he’s fine. He was not tested for a concussion.

• Proctor told Ian Begley that he hung a slider on the walk off.

• Mark Feinsand notes that the Angels are planning a September 11 ceremony while the Yankees are in town.

• Just a random note that I noticed while working on some notes for Sunday’s paper: The Giants gave a September call-up to former Yankees outfielder Justin Christian, who played pretty well in the Yankees minor league system last year and put himself back on the map with a strong showing this winter. He’s one of those guys who I covered in the minor leagues and have always kept track of a little bit.

Associated Press photo

Walked into my hotel room in Los Angeles just in time to see Gameday updates of the 10th inning in Baltimore. The Yankees had an early lead in this one, and they never trailed until the very end when the Orioles walked off with a 5-4 win. Scott Proctor gave up the winning run, Rafael Soriano let the Orioles tie it two innings earlier and Ivan Nova took a no decision. All of the Yankees runs came in the first two innings, including a three-run first.

Associated Press photo

YANKEES (87-54)
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Eric Chavez 3B
Francisco Cervelli C
Brett Gardner LF

RHP Ivan Nova (15-4, 3.89)
Nova vs. Orioles

ORIOLES (56-85)
J.J. Hardy SS
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Matt Wieters C
Mark Reynolds 1B
Nolan Reimold LF
Chris Davis 3B
Robert Andino 2B

RHP Alfredo Simon (4-8, 4.64)
Simon vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 1:05 p.m., YES Network

WEATHER: Thunderstorms are in the forecast. Why wouldn’t they be?

BETTER WITH SUN: The Yankees are 38-10 in day games this season. That’s a .792 winning percentage. According to Elias, the highest single-season winning percentage in day games since 1900 is .748 by the 1906 Cubs who went 116-36.

CHASING HOFFMAN: Mariano Rivera remains four saves away from passing Trevor Hoffman’s all-time saves record, but Rivera needs just one more appearance to pass Hoffman for ninth place on baseball’s all-time games pitched list.

ON THIS DATE: On September 8, 1925, Babe Ruth hit the 300th home run of his career off Buster Ross in a 7-4 Yankees win at Fenway Park. It was the second game of a doubleheader.

I remember getting an email address in high school only to have my best friend tell me it was a ridiculous thing to have because electronic mail was a fade that would quickly go away. At the time, I actually thought he might be right.

Now here I am, in an airplane, on the Internet, checking my email and Twitter for Yankees updates that come second-by-second.

This Internet thing is really taking off.

Anyway, these are some of the things going on down in Baltimore, from our various friends who are in town for the day covering the makeup game.

• The Yankees have scheduled one more doubleheader. They will play two games against the Rays on Sept. 21.

• Still no rotation update cutting from six to five. I know, I’m surprised too.

• Alex Rodriguez is just getting a half day today. Joe Girardi said playing A-Rod at DH has nothing to do with the thumb injury.

• Girardi didn’t close the door on Dellin Betances getting a call-up. Girardi said he’s “just waiting on (Brian Cashman) and the decision that he makes.”

• Girardi is optimistic that the Yankees are going to play today. The forecast isn’t great down there.

• If you’re looking for Twitter updates during the game, Peter Botte has the list of folks down there: Follow Botte, Mark Hale, Kimberley Martin, Ian Begley and Brendan Prunty. If you’re regularly getting Yankees news on Twitter, you’re probably following those five anyway.

They Yankees are pretty much going with their regulars for today’s makeup game against the Orioles.

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Eric Chavez 3B
Francisco Cervelli C
Brett Gardner LF

Today’s going to have to be a little bit different here on the blog.

I believe my travel schedule is more or less the same as every other Yankees beat writer, which means I’m flying to Los Angeles this morning. A cross-country flight on an off day was a no-brainer when it came time to book airline tickets, and it was a non-issue until last weekend. Then Hurricane Irene hit and the Yankees were forced into today’s game in Baltimore.

Long story short, I won’t be there. Problem is, the rest of our sports department is booked solid, meaning no one else from the blog is going to be there either. The game is going to start while I’m somewhere high above middle America, but we’re going to have Josh monitoring from the office, updating with lineups and such as they become available.

For you commentors, we’ll have the usual game post ready to roll, so you’ll have that thread to the focus the game conversation. Otherwise, just hang tight and I’ll have some updates from out west.

Here’s your pitching matchup for this afternoon.

RHP Ivan Nova (15-4, 3.89)
vs.
RHP Alfredo Simon (4-8, 4.64)
1:05 p.m., YES Network

Well, this was one sloppy game by the Yankees, four errors and three more plays that should have been errors if there was a way to score them as such, like A.J. Burnett missing first on a possible 3-6-1 double play in the third and not getting over to first in time on another occasion, or even Alex Rodriguez and Eduardo Nunez not getting together on a pop single to the back of the mound in the third. Nunez made two errors, including one that led to the winning run in the 11th.

“Our defense overall has been pretty good,” Joe Girardi said. “But for whatever reason, today it wasn’t. Even when are regulars aren’t in there, it’s been pretty good. I don’t know if it was the conditions. I don’t know if it was fatigue. I don’t know what it was. But it was really what cost us the game.”

A-Rod chalked it up to the conditions, although while mentioning the wind, he also said that popup “has got to be caught.” Those third-inning misadventures were crucial because A.J. Burnett gave up a tw0-run homer to Nolan Reimold with two outs in that inning, sending the Orioles ahead 4-2.

So what about Burnett? He’s now winless in his last 12 starts. He was mediocre, charged with four runs, seven hits, four walks and three wild pitches in six-plus, which went with seven strikeouts. He has tied the Yankees’ all-time single-season record with 23 wild pitches. He likes to waste pitches in the dirt. He lamented one pitch, the one to Reimold. 

As I predicted during the game, here was his postgame quote on what he did for the Yankees in this one: “I guess I kept them in as best I could.”

He now has one win in his last 12 starts. Good enough to trust in October? Good enough to stay in the rotation? It doesn’t sound like Girardi wants to cut to five at this point, but we’ll see.

“It’s worked pretty well for us,” Girardi said about the six pack of starters. “It seems to keep our guys pretty fresh, too. We’ll decide what we’re going to do. I’m not going to commit to one way or another what we’re going to do.”

So now the Yankees get to feel the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. They have a makeup this afternoon in Baltimore, the start of a four-city, 10-game, 11-day trip. Then they move on to Anaheim, Seattle and Toronto.

“We’re a team on a mission,” A-Rod said. “Whatever challenges come our way, we’re going to deal with them.”

Yankees lineup
1. Eduardo Nunez SS
2. Russell Martin C
3. Nick Swisher RF
4. Alex Rodriguez 3B
5. Andruw Jones LF
6. Jesus Montero DH
7. Brandon Laird 1B
8. Greg Golson CF
9. Ramiro Pena 2B
A.J. Burnett RHP

Orioles lineup
1. Matt Angle CF
2. Robert Andino SS
3. Nick Markakis DH
4. Mark Reynolds 1B
5. Nolan Reimold RF
6. Chris Davis 3B
7. Ryan Adams 2B
8. Kyle Hudson LF
9. Craig Tatum C
Zach Britton LHP

Time/TV: 1:08/YES
Weather: Rain, 67
Umpires: Gary Darling HP, Bruce Dreckman 1B, Paul Emmel 2B, Alan Porter 3B

Statement just released from Yankees president Randy Levine: “The decision to play Tuesday night’s game vs. Baltimore was a collaborative effort between Major League Baseball and the New York Yankees. Every possible effort was made to play the game because there were no suitable alternative dates on which to play a rescheduled game given the poor weather forecast for Wednesday. We certainly recognize the inconvenience to our fans and have invited them back to enjoy a future game at Yankee Stadium.”

Update, 1:08: The rain is starting.

Update, 1:15: It took A.J. Burnett six pitches to allow his first run, single, steal, groundout, groundout.

Update, 1:27: The prerequisite veterans in this spring training lineup get it done, Russell Martin doubles, Nick Swisher walks, A-Rod launches a long two-run double to the left-center gap. So it’s 2-1. It’s not raining at the moment.

Update, 1:40: Laird, playing first for Mark Teixeira, boots a bouncer, so it’s 2-2. But Burnett set the stage with two walks and a wild pitch.

Update, 1:51: It’s 2-2 after two.

Update, 1:56: Lousy defense by Yankees. First A-Rod and Nunez let a popup fall, then Burnett missed first while catching a relay for a double-play try.

Update, 2:03: Burnett serves up a two-run homer to Reimold, it’s 4-2. It should’ve been a 1-2-3 inning.

Update, 2:10: 1-2-3 third for Britton. Another fairly sparse crowd here with the bad weather forecasted and it being a school/work day.

Update, 2:16: Burnett somehow doesn’t get to first in time with a Laird flip, one out, one on. Yankees giving away outs today.

Update, 2:21: Burnett gets over to first this time and the side is retired — after a stolen base and wild pitch put Kyle Hudson on third.

Update, 2:30: Montero sure has power the other way, shows it again, a two-run single to the base of the fence out in right-center; it’s 4-4 in the fourth.

Update, 2:40: Robert Andino leads off with a double in the fifth, then gets doubled off.

Update, 2:46: Three wild pitches now for Burnett, two on, two out.

Update, 2:48: Fortunately for him, Chris Davis was up. Third straight strikeout of the third baseman.

Update, 2:55: 1-2-3 fifth for Britton. Still 4-4 heading for the sixth. The grounds crew is out to work on the mound and plate area.

Update, 3:07: Burnett gets through six, four runs allowed. He’s at 106 pitches. Bet he’ll say he kept his team in the game, which he did. But it was ragged work. Also, Britton is done. Brad Bergesen’s turn.

Update, 3:13: The rain is picking up, some fans are walking up for cover.

Update, 3:17: Mark Teixeira was just intentionally walked as a pinch hitter for Laird after a two-out, two-base throwing error. Now Cano will hit for Golston. First the grounds crew will try to dry the infield and Zach Phillips will come in to pitch.

Update, 3:24: Cano goes down swinging, 4-4 heading for the seventh.

Update, 3:29: Burnett gives up a leadoff single, and Girardi pulls him. Aaron Laffey’s ball.

Update, 3:35: Laffey gets Markakis to fly out. Luis Ayala will now be the pitcher.

Update, 3:43: Two up, two down for Ayala.

Update, 3:50: Granderson leads off with a double despite slipping and falling after turning first.

Update, 3:55: Granderson is stranded at third. David Robertson coming on for the eighth.

Update, 3:59: Raining again.

Update, 4:02: Robertson strikes out the side. Grounds crew back out with more drying agent for the infield, mound and plate area. Kevin Gregg coming in the pitch for the Orioles.

Update, 4:12: Soriano warming for the Yankees.

Update, 4:19: Soriano is in after a 1-2-3 inning by Gregg.

Update, 4:26: Soriano gets out of a first-and-second, two-out jam, getting Mark Reynolds looking.

Update, 4:30: Teixeira leadoff bloop single off Gregg. Clay Rapada will come on.

Update, 4:36: Cano fans. Now Granderson comes up.

Update, 4:37: Granderson fouls out. Nunez’s turn. Rapada is being pulled. Pedro Strop is the new pitcher.

Update, 4:45: Nunez grounds into a force. Going to the 10th. It’s 4-4. Hector Noesi will pitch. The Yankees have 18 pitchers right now.

Update, 4:51: Breaking news: Chris Davis goes down on strikes for the fifth straight time. Mark Reynolds is having a good day by comparison, only fanning four times.

Update, 4:59: Noesi strikes out the side and strands the potential go-ahead run at second.

Update, 5:06: Yankees waste leadoff single by Russell Martin. Headed for the 11th.

Update, 5:13: Eduardo Nunez makes his second error, now 18 on the season. Hope he’s planning to work on this in the offseason.

Update, 5:17: Costly error. Mark Reynolds gives the O’s the lead with a single.

Update, 5:32: First and third, Yankees down to the last out. Eric Chavez pinch hitting.

Update, 5:34: Diving stop by Andino at short and a flip to second. Yankees lose, 5-4, ending the six-game winning streak.