The Most Dynamic Yankee Postseason Roster of the Decade
by jscape2000 on Sep 15, 2009 9:00 AM EDT
in Analysis
30 comments
Whom would you take?
1. SP CC Sabathia (should pitch every 4th day unless the Yanks are up 2-0 or 3-0
2. SP AJ Burnett
3. SP Andy Pettitte (I'd be ok with starting him second, but I think Girardi will split the lefties and righties)
4. SP Joba Chamberlain (will his performance last night finally end the talk of Mitre starting?)
5. RP Mariano Rivera
6. RP Phil Hughes
7. RP Phil Coke
8. RP David Robertson
9. RP Alfredo Aceves
10. RP Sergio Mitre (long man)
11. RP Damaso Marte (or whomever, I'm not picky cause this guy only pitches if something goes wrong)
12. C Jorge Posada
13. 1B Mark Teixeira (best hitter acquisition since Paul O'Neill?)
14. 2B Robinson Cano
15. 3B Alex Rodriguez
16. SS Derek Jeter (MVP)
17. LF Johnny Damon
18. CF Brett Gardner (I love GGBG's speed, but I can't reduce him to pinch running)
19. RF Nick Swisher
20. DH Hideki Matsui (it's awesome that AL managers haven't figured out that he kills lefties)
21. Bench Jose Molina
22. Bench Melky Cabrera
23. Bench Jerry Hairston Jr
24. Bench Eric Hinske (I can hardly believe I wrote that; you could put on Cervelli in place of Xavier Nady)
25. Bench Freddy Guzman (in place of Chien Ming Wang)
4 starters I like better than Randy Johnson or Jaret Wright or the 44 year old Roger Clemens.
A bullpen as good as any since the 3-peat, possibly better.
A lineup with a blend of speed and power (and featuring some pretty savvy though slow runners in Tex and Matsui).
A bench with some guys who can pinch run and some guys who can play defense.
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I like it
how much do you think Melky plays in the post season?
by ryanwk628 on Sep 15, 2009 9:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think the title of this post sums it up best
On paper, when is the last time the Yankees had a team this good, this well-rounded?
1998? 1996? I really don’t know.
by 3460kuri on Sep 15, 2009 9:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Believe it or not the
2002 Yanks, who lost in 4 to Anaheim in the ALDS, were well-rounded. The problem was that no one could have anticipated the Yanks losing the last 3 games in spite of scoring at least five runs in each game. Pettite got knocked out early in Game 2 and then El Duque coughed up a one-run lead in the 8th and we lost 8-6. In Game 3 Mussina could not hold a 6-1 lead and we lose 8-6, and in Game 4 Wells gave up 7 two-out runs in the fifth inning and we lost 9-5. A starting rotation of Clemens, Pettite, Mussina and Wells with a lineup that led the AL in runs scored was indeed a well-rounded team. My point is that at times odd things occur in spite of talent. I like this year’s team but I can’t say I’d be shocked if we lost in Round One because strange things do happen. This rotation, 1 through 4, is not even as good as that one. But I am optimistic we’ll do well.
by chambliss76 on Sep 15, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
True
The ‘02 was probably a better team than any of the 90s teams except the ’98 squad. The postseason involves a huge amount of luck. That’s why we have to enjoy getting there.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Sep 15, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"13. 1B Mark Teixeira (best hitter acquisition since Paul O'Neill?) "
wasn’t a-rod an acquisition?
by tombradylikesdudes on Sep 15, 2009 9:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Considering price, defense, and chemistry. I think it’s close.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Sep 15, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well
Teixeira’s better for chemistry (although A-Rod is not nearly as much of a headache now than he was back then). Price? Well, believe it or not, when we first got A-Rod he cost less than Teixeira does now, because Texas paid for most of his contract. And A-Rod is a better hitter. So I’d give that one to A-Rod.
by nyyrocks29 on Sep 15, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fair enough. It’s also still only year 1 for Tex, so I’ll bow to anyone who wants me to hold off on that claim until we see his 4th or 5th year.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Sep 15, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are
right about Gaudin over Mitre. Gaudin can be very tough to hit and can start or relieve. Speaking of Mitre, tonight’s pitching matchup has Roy Halladay against Mitre at the Stadium. Is there anyone other than me that feels the stars have to be really be aligned right for us to have a chance to win this game?
by chambliss76 on Sep 15, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Neither
10 P’s is enough. Room for Cervelli.
by Peter Lacock on Sep 15, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
One of the best teams in recent memory.......BUT:
I am still concerned about the clutch hitting come playoff time. I know we have been clutch all year, but how will A-Rod handle the big at bats in Boston in the ALCS? How will Hughes and Joba handle the pressure of October? Our past teams had some proven veterens in the bullpen (like Mike Stanton) and at the plate (Paul O’Neil) who may not have had great regular season stats but were money in the clutch. A-Rod on the other hand has historically had the reverse effect in Oct.
This is just a thought and I certainly hope my fears are unfounded…….
by The Yankee's Voice of Reason on Sep 15, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i hope so too...
but what I will say about A-Rod is recently he has not been trying to swing for the fences in big spots, and just getting the job done. That is something I hope he takes into the post season.
by NumberSeven on Sep 15, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
25 man roster--
so in this scenario, the Yanks DFA Wang?
by NumberSeven on Sep 15, 2009 12:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No (though I think they will eventually)
By placing Wang on the post-season roster they can then replace him with any player on the 40-man. That’s how K-Rod got into the Angel’s 2002 postseason despite being a September call up.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Sep 15, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
interesting
thanks for pointing that out.
by justinxyankeesfan on Sep 15, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe we can blame A-Rod's past chokes on ...
the stress his bad marriage had on his psych. Now that he’s divorced, hit some home runs with Madonna, and now Kate Hudson, the stress is over and he is enjoying some clutch “hitting” in the sack. He certainly seems more relaxed at the plate this year!
by The Yankee's Voice of Reason on Sep 15, 2009 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I thinks hes more relaxed because whenever he has an off night everyone says “well hes still not 100% from hip surgery”
by ryanwk628 on Sep 15, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd rather Melky start
Other than speed, what does Gardner bring to the table? He’s not a great hitter, and has no power. Melky is a pretty good fielder, so Gardner’s value there is negligible.
Melky has been clutch all year. He deserves to be in the lineup.
by qtopplings on Sep 15, 2009 1:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I am sorry but it is silly to have Gardner start ahead of Melky.
by Jtmc on Sep 15, 2009 1:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Gaudin, Melky, Gardner
Why is Mitre suddenly starting tonight? Yesterday mlb.com said Gaudin. I thought Gaudin had pitched well enough his last couple of starts to end the Mitre misery for good. Ugh.
Anyway, the playoff bullpen should be Mariano, Hughes, Coke, Robertson, Marte, Aceves and Gaudin. I see no point in carrying a 12th pitcher (Bruney) when we have 2 guys who can go multiple innings in Aceves and Gaudin. Mitre shouldn’t even be allowed in the building in the playoffs for fear that his festering awfulness will infect the rest of the team.
Melky should start and Gardner should pinch run. Gardner’s more valuable in that role and Melky’s much more of a threat with men on. With only 11 pitchers we can have a 5-man bench – Molina, Hairston, Hinske, Gardner and…Cervelli. Here’s why: Posada gets pinch run for. Game goes into extra innings. Now we can pinch hit for Molina whereas we couldn’t if we had no 3rd catcher to replace him. Sure this is an unlikely scenario but I can’t imagine any scenario that would result in Ramiro Pena or worse, Cody Ransom getting in a game.
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Sep 15, 2009 2:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Dynamics revealed last night
Was Brett Gardner lucky, last night? Yes. Does speed kill—especially late in the game? Yes. Did Joe reveal another dynamic facet to this Yankees juggernaut last night? Yes. In a word, speed. Having both Brett Gardner and no-hitting Freddy Guzman on the basepaths with the game hanging in the balance creates stress for the opposition, and opportunities for the offense.
Up until last night, we had power, pitching, defense and situational speed. Adding speed off the bench is devastating… especially on a team with no apparent holes.
"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will
by Ronster22 on Sep 15, 2009 4:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Looks good
except NO MITRE! Put Gaudin in that spot. But otherwise very good.
by nyyrocks29 on Sep 15, 2009 4:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Melky/Gaudin
I like it except replace Gardner/Mitre with those two.
by PinstripedinMN on Sep 15, 2009 4:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well I guess after tonight we can all agree
on having Gaudin over Mitre. And I like Melky starting and Gardy as a late game defensive replacement.
Very ugly 2nite. No likey the straky stuff with BAL and now TOR. Tale of two different Yankee teams between Monday and 2nite 4sure.
-I'm the straw that stirs the drink.........Then I drink the drink too.------You're Welcome.
by ReggieARodJeter on Sep 15, 2009 11:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Some big mistakes in this article...
Jscape2000…
You’ve missed some obvious rules problems with your idea of the postseason roster along with some obvious managerial strategy.
First of all, the Yanks will carry 12 pitchers…since that’s what they had on 8/31 which is when the playoff rosters were set. Only way a player is postseason eligible is being on the 25-man or one of the 3 MLB lists (disabled, suspended, or bereavement).
After that, you can only use the 40-man roster to substitute for an injured player on a position by position basis. You can’t add an extra bat & carry one less pitcher. If Robertson stays hurt for the 1st round, Girardi can only replace him with another arm. It’ll most likely be Towers since he’s not adding Albaladejo or one of the other AAA kids.
The only way Guzman can get on the playoff roster is due to injury to another OF’er. He was not on the 25 man when he was acquired on 8/31 (since he was sent to AAA & was just added to the 40 man on Monday when he was called up because he has to be in order to be eligible for the postseason if he’s an injury replacement.
Google the postseason roster rules if you don’t believe me…
Now onto the fact that all 12 pitchers will be on the roster. The Yanks will choose Series A which has off days after Games 1, 2, 4, 5, & 6. Joe’s gonna go with a 3 man rotation of CC, AJ, & Andy (Joba if Pettitte’s shoulder stays sour). The hope is that CC, Hughes, & Mo can do Game 1. Then AJ, Aceves, Joba, & Mo in Game 2. This way Hughes is rested in the event that he’s needed for 3 & 4 since those games are back to back. Yanks win the ALDS in 5 worst case.
The bench with Molina, Hairston, Hinske, & Gardner is good except there’s not a whole lot of power there. Joe can’t yank out Tex with a 1 run lead in the 8th, if he’s on 2nd with less than 2 out. Yes…they wanna have Gardner run for him to secure an insurance run, but you have to think for later in the game in case the bullpen implodes.
We’ll see…
by JustinS1 on Sep 16, 2009 3:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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