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So, who is your fourth starter?

New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, right, stands on the mound as Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki, left, and Franklin Gutierrez, second from left, greet Ken Griffey Jr. after Griffey hit a three-run home run in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Seattle. The Mariners beat the Yankees 7-1.

More photos » by Ted S. Warren - AP

New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, right, stands on the mound as Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki, left, and Franklin Gutierrez, second from left, greet Ken Griffey Jr. after Griffey hit a three-run home run in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Seattle. The Mariners beat the Yankees 7-1.

Joba Chamberlain is a complete mess, as 'jscape' described in last night's game recap. Whatever the reasons, they aren't important right now. Question is, what do the New York Yankees do now?

Who is the fourth playoff starter? Joba? I hardly think you want to see the Yankees trust a playoff game to him the way he is throwing the ball.

So, if not Joba then who? Chad Gaudin? Sergio Mitre? Alfredo Aceves? Forget it and go with three starters?

What would you do?

Poll
If the playoffs opened today, who would be your fourth starter for the New York Yankees?
Joba Chamberlain
173 votes
Chad Gaudin
266 votes
Sergio Mitre
48 votes
Ian Kennedy
87 votes
I would use a three-man rotation
463 votes

1037 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 27 comments |

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le’ts see what ian has got!

rip nicky a!

by Static Shock on Sep 21, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Problem with that

is that he hasn’t pitched more than three innings at all. I put him in here, but I really think it’s unfair to look for help from him now.

by Ed Valentine on Sep 21, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

another problem with that...

…he’s Ian Kennedy.

The guy hasn’t proven he can pitch consistent innings at the big league level. And you want to throw him in as a starter in the playoffs??? Triple AAA playoffs, sure — but not here, not now.

by NumberSeven on Sep 21, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

CC on short rest

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

by sangreal on Sep 21, 2009 10:22 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

do we really wanna go that route

I don’t want to go the Brewers route and abuse CC like that even if it is the playoffs, if we do that and he has a bad game we will never hear the end of it.

by Danielle I on Sep 21, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

i would rather go as light as possible...

…on CC down the stretch and then “abuse” the hell out him in the post-season. he’ll have 3+ months to rest.

by NumberSeven on Sep 21, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sleep in November.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Sep 21, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Just Saying

Watched many teams little league there way thru with 3 and usually only 2 of them were any good.

by cashman bashman on Sep 21, 2009 10:51 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Gotta say...

Chad Gaudin is the best option out of these guys.

Aceves would be equal, but I think you need him prepared in the pen in case AJ explodes or Andy remember’s he’s old.

But in all honesty, I can’t see them shutting down Joba. I think that he’s the 4th starter, but the 4th starter looks more like JobaMitreGaudin.

Either way, I think whoever starts a game 4, even CC on “short rest”, the bats are gonna have to be the difference. If the starters give up 5-6 runs, we need to be able to match and better that.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Sep 21, 2009 10:59 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Just a thought

Why can’t Andy do it?

by Mr. h on Sep 21, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Andy's been nursing a sore shoulder

We’ll see how he reacts to skipped started tonight.

by BigSlim on Sep 21, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

he said he could have made that start....

so maybe this extra rest would allow him to go on short rest.

THe thing about short rest isn’t that these guys can’t do it, its can they be as effective?

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Sep 21, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's gotta be Joba

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.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Sep 21, 2009 2:12 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I voted Gaudin because

he’s simply looked better. What more can you say? I don’t see how you roll the dice with Mr. Chamberlain at this point. What do you do,hope he figures it out in October? You gotta be kiddin’ me,they gave him the green light to go 5 innings yesterday= 3IP with 7ER!!!!……7 decisions= no wins…….playoffs=100X more the presure….September is when the momentum is supposed to build, I see no momentum from Joba. He might get the middle game vs Boston Saturday, that is a good measuring stick for what he is going to be going forward.——But I’ve personally seen enough. I don’t see that much progress. Do you?

-I'm the straw that stirs the drink.........Then I drink the drink too.------You're Welcome.

by ReggieARodJeter on Sep 21, 2009 2:27 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Gaudin has a shot

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

by JScar17 on Sep 21, 2009 2:46 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I vote Gaudin

I’d vote Gaudin and throw Joba in that setup/relief role.

by nygmp42 on Sep 21, 2009 3:57 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It can't be Joba

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.

by PortlandYankee on Sep 21, 2009 4:41 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I can't believe no one reads before they create stories here!

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.

by JustinS1 on Sep 21, 2009 5:13 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Whos the fourth starter?

Well, Joba Chamberlain has 2 more starts. I’d watch how he does in those outings. If he pitches well, then obviously he would be my pick. But if he doesn’t? Like you said, he’s a complete mess right now. And if he can’t figure it out, then I would NOT trust him with the season on the line in the playoffs. Who the hell would be crazy enough to? So, if he doesn’t pitch well, then I would go with……….

A three man rotation. I’ll tell you what. The loss of Wang was terrible for us. Think of how good we would be off if he was still here? But he isn’t. And I would go with a three man rotation. With a three man rotation in the playoffs, I believe that the Ace is the only guy that has to pitch on short rest. Nobody else does because of the off days. Not sure about that, but I think I’m right. Why? Well, who do you want out there? Your ace, or Chad Gaudin/Sergio Mitre? I’ll take my chances with Sabathia on short rest. He has proven that he can pitch well on short rest. He’s the ace. He’s a horse. This is the kind of thing he should be able to do. We haven’t abused him this season like the Brewers did last year. His arm should be much more fresh for the playoffs than it has in recent years. I think he can handle 6-8 extra starts at most on short rest. We’ll need him to do that. I just can’t trust anyone else in that spot.

This is a route that I’d really hope they don’t have to take. Chamberlain’s innings limit should be over. He should be able to go 100 pitches now (if now now, when? If they want him pitching in the playoffs then he has to be able to do it). And it would make life for the Yankees a whole lot easier if he could pitch well.

by nyyrocks29 on Sep 21, 2009 5:37 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

How about a sixth option....

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!

by pedro316 on Sep 21, 2009 5:55 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

you sound like my mom

shes the worst Yankees fan on the planet. They lose one game, and she says, “the Yankees suck!” They’re going to get swept by the Angels and Red Sox and lose the division, and then get swept by Detroit in the first round! Say good bye to another season"! Crazy right? Well, it’s true. Don’t sound like that. Please. Anything happens in the postseason. And who knows how this season will end? Maybe Joba will turn it around. But don’t give up on a postseason game because of a bad game by Joba Chamberlain.

by nyyrocks29 on Sep 21, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

You guys missed the point of my 1st post...

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.

by JustinS1 on Sep 21, 2009 11:46 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

PS...

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

by JustinS1 on Sep 22, 2009 5:27 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

4th starter

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.

by logiet on Sep 23, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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