Now what?
by Travis G on Sep 28, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
in New York Yankees Analysis
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PrintThe division is wrapped up, as is the best record in the league (and homefield advantage). Is there anything to play for in the last week of the season?
Let's go over the story lines:
- The bullpen: outside of a few locks, who will make it? The locks are Mo, Hughes, Aceves and Coke (Robertson if he's healthy). Gaudin has a good shot because he's versatile. Bruney made a strong case today with 1.2 perfect innings. Marte has been terrible, but don't discount the need managers feel for lefties.
- Will Joba start or a relieve? He had a solid game on Friday against Boston. If the Yanks pick the longer LDS series, Joba could be moved to the pen for it. But then, if the Yanks advance, does it screw him up if/when he goes back to starting?
- Who should start Game #2? Do you want to throw back-to-back lefties, or switch them up with Burnett?
- The long or short series? Perhaps the Yanks want the shorter series if it means having to face Justin Verlander only twice instead of thrice.
- Gardner vs. Melky: the debate will continue. Melky's got power and an arm. Gardy's got speed and defense. Perhaps Girardi will just make the easy choice and platoon them (Melky vs. LHP, Gardner vs. RHP).
- The rest of the roster: Freddy Guzman has an outside shot, and perhaps better than that if Gardy becomes the starting CFer, filling the PR/LIDR spot. Will Jerry Hairston be healthy enough to play in October? If not, who takes hit spot? Ramiro Pena, another pitcher?
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joba pitches one more time before post season comes around....
We didn’t almost send jobas season to hell to save him for a set up man. Especially if he’s back in rhythm…..hopefully robertson is healthy he can be a differnce maker if one of our startes are struggling going into the 6th or 7th…
by NYYWinsRings26 on Sep 28, 2009 7:58 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
geat game yanks
no better way than to clinch the div aganist the red sox
BIG YANKEE FAN,FROM MASS. HAVE TO PUT UP WIYH ALL THESE HOLE SOX FANS
I don’t know why everybody’s worried about facing Verlander in the postseason. If we face Verlander three times, it means the Tigers are going to face CC three times as well.
true
but Verlander can be potentially the most dominant pitcher in baseball. he leads the league in Ks.
That's all well and good,
but if Verlander is so frightening, why is Detroit having such a hard time clinching in the weakest division?
Because in the regular season
he pitches 1 out of 5 games.
See: Roy Halladay.
In a playoff series however, there tend to be extra days off, and starters can pitch on short rest, so you tend to see alot of the top guys.
Facial LaFleur, total facial.
take the longer series
I trust CC enough that I’m not worried about facing Verlander twice. Also, put Joba in the pen for the first series. Maybe he’ll be a little out of sorts for the second round if he only gets a couple of innings. But what if he’s a starter and they sweep the first round? Then he’ll have no innings. Pitch the pitchers who give you the best chance to win in the first round, and worry about the second round when/if we get there.
And for the love of god, don’t put both Bruney and Marte on the roster.
by long time listener on Sep 28, 2009 12:49 PM EDT reply actions
Yes, we just clinched the AL east
but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t play as hard as we normally would. The rest of the games don’t mean much, true. That’s why I propose to starting the rookies and the guys on the bench a little bit more, that way they’re prepared for the postseason. And one more thing. Melky should definitely be the starting CF.
"Don't let your fears of striking out keep you from playing the game."
Keep Gardner
on the bench. How valuable is it in a short series to be able to pinch run with him at any spot in the lineup? Melky’s bat is more important during the rest of the game.
Um
He’s less valuable as a pinch runner than he is as a starting player.
Brett Gardner > Jacoby Ellsbury > Melky Cabrera.
Ellsbury>>>>>Gardner
he gets on base way more
by Brian5517209 on Sep 28, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions
let's all hold on
this season, they share the EXACT SAME OBP: .350.
and RAR has Gardner actually having a better year than Ells: 19.5 vs. 18.7. and that’s despite Ells having almost thrice as many PA!
Ellsbury is certainly having a better offensive year, mainly due to his SLG and SB (due to more PT), but Gardner is having a much better defensive year. we all saw Ells misplay several balls this weekend that he should have caught.
they're SB%
is also exactly the same, so i have no doubt GGBG would have as many SB as Ells if he had as many opps.
Excuse me, Math major
Ellsbury SBs – 66 of 76 (86.8%)
Gardner SBs – 24 of 29 (82.7%)
by New York Sports Jerk on Sep 28, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions
TRAVIS G.!!! YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR FACTS & ROSTER RULES!
I’ve pointed this out several times & I hate irresponsible journalism!
The ONLY way Guzman will make the postseason roster is if another Yankee OF gets injured! He was NOT on the 25-man roster on 8/31 or on the Yanks DL, bereavement, or suspended list. Therefore, he’s only eligible to be an injury replacement since he was placed on the 40 man roster when he was brought up (which you have to be in order to be an injury replacement.)
When making an injury replacement move, you can only swap position for position (IF for IF, P for P, OF for OF). He’s only here in Sept. to provide an extra set of legs in certain situations after Gardner & Melky have been used. That’s it!
As far as your other assessments…I really don’t know why you claim there’s any doubts about anything. Here’s the roster for the ALDS:
P’s
(Starters) CC, AJ, Andy,
(Bullpen) Joba, Gaudin, Aceves, Marte, Coke, Robertson, Hughes, Bruney, Mo
If Robertson is unable to go…either Towers or Albaladejo. Towers has more MLB experience & has been great overall this year in AAA & in NY.
Hitters
Posada, Molina, Tex, Cano, Jeter, A-Rod, Hinske, Hairston, Damon, Gardner, Melky, Swisher, Matsui
If Hairston’s wrist doesn’t heal…Pena will replace him since he can as many positions in the IF, Hinske would then be more of an OF backup.
Joe has already chosen the A series which gives days off after Games 1 & 2 in order to allow CC to pitch Games 1 & 4. Which is also why he’s starting on Friday to give him his 4 days of rest before Game 1 on 10/7. That info has been POSTED everywhere! The Yanks can’t officially choose the series until the teams are confirmed which may not happen until Sunday! AJ will start Game 2, Pettite in Game 3.
Joba will be used like Aceves, 1 or 2 innings to protect a lead or just as a set-up to Hughes in the 7th. Gaudin is pitching long relief in the event of a winning blowout to preserve the starters. No sense in pitching a starter past the 6th if we’re ahead 7-0 or more.
I understand this board is opinion based…but there’s a difference between opinion based on facts & opinion based on not knowing the rules which results in posts that cause a different discussion!
relax
iirc, Guzman was added to the 40-man on Aug 31.
the rule is as such:
“The only exception is that a player on the 60-day disabled list may be replaced by another player from the team’s 40-man roster (as of August 31) who plays the same position.”
Remember Xavier Nady? That’s the 60-day DL qualifier at the same position. and if i’m wrong, then so is every other Yankee journalist, and even Joe Girardi.
by Mark Feinsand:
Guzman was acquired in a trade with the Orioles on Aug. 31, making him eligible for the postseason roster. Girardi said “it’s possible” that both Gardner and Guzman could make the roster, especially in the first round if the Yankees need only three starting pitchers.
“In the playoffs, sometimes they need somebody to steal,” Guzman said. “I’ve been doing that my whole career. That’s my game. I know how to steal.”
so calm down.
Ummm...you need to check your figures...
Ellsbury – .764 OPS
Gardner – .742 OPS
Ellbury’s SB% is also higher. By any metric, he’s also a superior defender.
I’m no Red Sox defender, but come on.
by New York Sports Jerk on Sep 28, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed
Ellsbury is a very good starting CF, Gardner is just a bench player right now. Basically, Brett is what Jacoby was two years ago.
Which is great...
…except they’re both the same age.
by New York Sports Jerk on Sep 28, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions
except Gardner wasn't in the majors 2 years ago.
What the f$%k is the internet?
by FreeBradshaw on Sep 29, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Exactly.
And his stats this year are in a smaller sample size.
by New York Sports Jerk on Sep 29, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
yup.
I don’t know if Gardner would match it in a larger sample either. He’s a nice weapon to have on the team, but his bat is not Ellsbury’s.
He’s a good platoon player, but Ellsbury is an above average legit starter.
What the f$%k is the internet?
by FreeBradshaw on Sep 29, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Bosox have trouble hitting Joba. If the Yankees face
them in the ALDS, Joba pitches game 4.
Marte awful?
I think it is unfair to call Marte awful. If you look at the totality of his numbers this year it looks bad. But since he has come back from the injury he has been in 11 games. In 8 of those games he did not give up a hit. He had 1 bad game on September 11 where he gave up 4 hits in one inning. Since that game he has settled back down and done his job. I think he has a good shot to get on the postseason roster.
Munson15
Yeah, he's not a good starter
but I trust him for two inning out of the pen.
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