So, who is your fourth starter?

Isn’t there a day off in the middle of the ALCS somewhere anyway?

Hopefully he can give us 4-5 solid innings in game 4 of the ALCS and WS. Mitre is a less-talented Sidney Ponson. Chad Gaudin would also get murdered by the Angels or Red Sox. Ian Kennedy hasn’t pitched in the majors in a year and was a horror show in 08. Yes, 3-man rotation just means we’re never going to get our top guys at their best which doesn’t make sense. Just start Joba in the game 4’s realizing he’s going to be facing the other team’s 4th starter and hope he can give us something like 5 IP, 3 ER.

If Gaudin has a couple more decent outings I might make him my four starter. Right now Joba can’t be trusted.

I wouldn’t trust him to throw me my keys right now, let alone pitch in the playoffs. Gaudin and Mitre are mediocre, but Joba seems to give us feast or famine…and nowadays it’s mostly famine.

I don’t even know if I want him to set up at this point…I’d need to see what he’s able to do in a one-inning outing first.

If the Yanks continue to finish with league’s best record, they have the option to choose which playoff series they wish to play in.

Series A plays 10/7, 10/9, 10/11, 10/12, 10/14

Series B plays 10/8, 10/9, 10’/11, 10/12, 10/14

No question we choose A since there’s an offday after Games 1 & 2. This way Joe uses a 3 man rotation since both CC & whoever starts Game 2 gets their 4 days rest if the series goes 5 games. Plus, Hughes can be used in consecutive games on 10/7, 10/9, 10/11 since there’s a day of rest in between each game.

Plus, there’s the option of using Joba in 8th if needed since he won’t start in the ALDS.
You don’t need him to. Give the bullpen more depth & more situational availability.
Anyone who says Mitre earned himself another start after 5 scoreless yesterday is smoking dope. He pitched with no pressure in a blowout, when he’s proved to be unable to handle the pressure when he’s started everytime except for 1 start

in the ALCS, there’s no reason to change the 3 man setup since each starter would again have 4 days between starts. Only problem is less days off:

Games are on 10/16, 10/17, 10/19, 10/20, 10/22, 10/24, 10/25…more bullpen stress & less chance of using people back to back.

World Series…you still go with 3 man:

10/28, 10/29, 10/31, 11/1, 11/2, 11/4, 11/5

Game 7 starter would have only 3 days rest if they pitched Game 4.

Gaudin will pitch long relief in case of injury or blowout. Aceves will be 1st guy in if a starter doesn’t complete 6. Joba in 7th, Hughes in 8th, Mo in 9th. Ideally, Joe would like to have Robertson available to balance overuse of Hughes & Joba. Marte & Coke are really only gonna pitch to lefties in spots. Bruney & Mitre get end of game blowout duty in a big Yankee lead situation.

Were screwed if we make it to the second round!!

Yankees should’ve went out and got a cheap, reliable arm at the trade deadline. None of those guys are the answer in a playoff game. Seriously do you want Chad Gaudin or Joba starting Game 4 of the ALCS in Boston??? Mind as well forfeit that game!

Folks…

The playoff schedule makes it easy to have a 3 man rotation since each guy would have 4 days in between starts…like in the regular season?!??!?!

You don’t need a 4th starter in 1st round…regardless! Stop discussing it. In the 2nd round, maybe if you have a 3-0 lead since it would help set up CC for World Series Game 1.

If you had a 4th…I’d take Gaudin over Joba. Been more consistent & shown better control since they got him. Joba’s head right now is so messed up, they just need to let him focus on 1 inning appearances…2 max. All to build his confidence back.

Eiland is a horrible pitching coach & needs to be sent packing. He micromanages the vets, teaches the young guys to nibble all the time instead of half attacking, half nibbling. You think CC, AJ, or Andy wants him walking to the mound in a 1-1 game in the 3rd to give words of encouragement or anything else? Hell freaking no! Plus, he’s the 1st line of defense in handling issues between pitchers & Posada! He hasn’t done crap top fix the problems, since he’s intimidated by Jorge since Eiland was nothing more than a scrub in his day.

You all still haven’t remembered that Kennedy would only be eligible for the postseason in case someone else got injured!

I would try to use 3 starters in the 1st round, perhaps even giving Andy a rest if we are up 2-0 and start Gaudin in game 3. If we win, then go with CC and Andy in Yankee Stadium and its advantage for lefties. Then use AJ and either Joba or Gaudin (or conceivably both in a 2-3-2 format) on the road. My preference would be to keep Joba in the bullpen for the 6th/7th, with Hughes and Mariano to close. But flexibility may be required. We just have to trust to the Good Lord that this will work out, but that’s my best plan.