Heyman: Yankees No. 2 Among Postseason Contenders

by Ed Valentine on Oct 4, 2010 3:18 PM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

Love Jon Heyman or hate him, his rankings of the postseason contenders give us something to talk about for a while.

Heyman has the Yankees ranked No. 2 behind the Phillies, and has this to say about the Bronx Bombers:

They get the benefit of the doubt for their talent and even their tradition. But their recent performance (especially their starting pitchers' bad performances) has been nothing short of worrisome. After ace CC Sabathia, there are mostly questions. Phil Hughes hasn't had a good second half but a revamped changeup has helped in recent days, and Andy Pettitte, a playoff staple, has groin/back questions. They will need big performances from one or both of them considering A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez look all but unusable. The team's 4.30 ERA since the break is 26th-best in baseball. As for the bullpen, Kerry Wood has helped, and Joba Chamberlain and Dave Robertson are having nice second halves, but even Mariano Rivera has been less than perfect lately. The bullpen's 3.42 ERA is seventh-best in baseball. Their offense could carry them, in any case, especially if Alex Rodriguez can come anywhere close to repeating last year's October performance, when he batted .365 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in 15 games. Their 855 runs is tops in the game. Mark Teixeira, who has endured thumb and toe injuries recently, is among their regulars who will go into the playoffs pretty beat up, though. Odds: 4-1

Here are Heyman's full rankings.

Phillies
Yankees
Rays
Giants
Rangers
Reds
Braves
Twins

Your thoughts?

Tweet Comment 57 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

How can an AL team be last?

I’d surely rather face the Braves than the Twins.

1. Phillies
2. Rays
3. Yankees
4. Rangers
5. Twins
6. Giants
7. Reds
8. Braves

Individuals don't win Championships, Teams do.
Chase for 28

by Jeterian 2 on Oct 4, 2010 3:23 PM EDT reply actions

They're last because their closer could be out

Joe Mauer is coming off an injury and Justin Morneau is out the rest of the postseason. I’d say the Reds are least likely to win it, but the Twins should not be higher than 6th.

"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III

by Chris McKeown on Oct 4, 2010 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Ranking playoff contenders is an exercise in futility. Ranking the Twins below the Reds and Braves is an exercise in stupidity.

Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com

by Lord Duggan on Oct 4, 2010 3:30 PM EDT reply actions

Futility

Sure it is. But, hey, we have until Wednesday night to talk about stuff other than a real game. Gotta do something.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 4, 2010 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

x

First one to upload a completed picture gets a rec!

Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com

by Lord Duggan on Oct 4, 2010 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

x

Individuals don't win Championships, Teams do.
Chase for 28

by Jeterian 2 on Oct 4, 2010 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey...wait a minute!

by tackaberry on Oct 4, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

No soup for you!

Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com

by Lord Duggan on Oct 4, 2010 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

darn!

Individuals don't win Championships, Teams do.
Chase for 28

by Jeterian 2 on Oct 4, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

x

concentrate... concentrate... I've got to concentrate... concentrate... concentrate... Hello?... hello... hello... Echo... echo... echo... Pinch hitting for Pedro Borbon... Manny Mota... Mota... Mota...

by MattF15 on Oct 4, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

x

Winning cures all...even stupid

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 4, 2010 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

LOL

Individuals don't win Championships, Teams do.
Chase for 28

by Jeterian 2 on Oct 4, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

There's no half-singing in the shower, you're either a rock star or an opera diva.

by TheMelkman on Oct 4, 2010 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

HEL YEA

Melkman is my homie. :D

by Cup Noodles on Oct 4, 2010 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Rec'd

"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III

by Chris McKeown on Oct 4, 2010 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

What the hell dude? Where is that from? I can’t write on it with Photoshop…

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

by jscape2000 on Oct 4, 2010 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

me neither

I used paint and then a third of the way through, I gave up

I don't know what to do!! My whole brain is crying!

by noonoo on Oct 4, 2010 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Opening it in Photoshop, saving it as a PDF, then opening that and CTL-C, open a new document, paste. And then create a new layer to write on.

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

by jscape2000 on Oct 4, 2010 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I sucessfully finished it in paint.

by MattF15 on Oct 4, 2010 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t see it posted, so I’m still working.

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

by jscape2000 on Oct 4, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I take it back- sometimes I forget that Free isn’t the only smartass around here.

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

by jscape2000 on Oct 4, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I resemble that remark

by MattF15 on Oct 4, 2010 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

There's no half-singing in the shower, you're either a rock star or an opera diva.

by TheMelkman on Oct 4, 2010 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

mm

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Oct 4, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha, I just google image’d “Sudoku.” No idea why it would be causing you issues.

Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com

by Lord Duggan on Oct 4, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Now it’s just the puzzle causing issues. I’m missing something…

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

by jscape2000 on Oct 4, 2010 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

go on....

Winning cures all...even stupid

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 4, 2010 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Since I can't get a COG.

I want my damn rec.

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

by jscape2000 on Oct 4, 2010 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

Rec'd

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Oct 4, 2010 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Your victory is at hand, Lord Scape. Rec awarded!

Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com

by Lord Duggan on Oct 4, 2010 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks!

Now what do I do for the next 48 hours?

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

by jscape2000 on Oct 4, 2010 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

twiddle your thumbs

I don't know what to do!! My whole brain is crying!

by noonoo on Oct 4, 2010 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

There seems to be a problem in the Middle East. I think it’s some type of religious squabble.

See what you can do!

Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com

by Lord Duggan on Oct 4, 2010 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Dammit, I solved it on the train, but didn't scan it when I got home

by Wraithpk on Oct 4, 2010 9:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I actually kind of agree with him on just about everything.

There's no half-singing in the shower, you're either a rock star or an opera diva.

by TheMelkman on Oct 4, 2010 4:03 PM EDT reply actions

There really isn't any great AL team heading into the playoffs

they all have their problems. it’s an issue of who can put those aside. But definitely the Phillies should be #1. They are my clear cut pick, even though I love the Yankees.

by GMan83201 on Oct 4, 2010 4:12 PM EDT reply actions

Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels will be tough

Not to mention their ERAs of 2.44, 2.76 and 3.06. I imagine Blanton will be their #4. Those four combined went 29-9 since the All Star.

Lidge is a more human 2.96 (for a closer) but has been stronger down the stretch, with a 2.10 ERA in the 2nd half and 21 saves in 23 opportunities.

This will be only the fourth time the Yankees have gone in as a wild card (last was 2007). I’m hoping things go a lot better this time around.

by coops2001 on Oct 4, 2010 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

Ranking playoff contenders never works

It never will. All eight have a chance. It’s a matter of who gets the timely hits and who gets the breaks. Thats who ends up winning.

I really hope Philly gets knocked out in round one.

I hate all Boston sports teams

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 4, 2010 5:48 PM EDT reply actions

+1

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Oct 4, 2010 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

by Yankees10 on Oct 4, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III

by Chris McKeown on Oct 4, 2010 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

If only Tradition could pitch a few innings

"Game's the same, just got more fierce." ~ Slim Charles

by Captain_Mick on Oct 4, 2010 6:07 PM EDT reply actions

Twins last? For real?

Bring in Bard.
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
Join the Lacrosse community The Lacrosse Blog

by bestbostonsports on Oct 4, 2010 6:19 PM EDT reply actions

I woulda put the Red S.....oh....

by MattF15 on Oct 4, 2010 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, haha

Bring in Bard.
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
Join the Lacrosse community The Lacrosse Blog

by bestbostonsports on Oct 4, 2010 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

lestahj

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Oct 4, 2010 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III

by Chris McKeown on Oct 4, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

That's confusing considering the Reds are in this year, lol

by Wraithpk on Oct 4, 2010 9:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Lets limit it to teams

who’ve won a playoff game in the last three years.

by rosebud on Oct 5, 2010 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

If you want your joke to work, you might want to limit it to 2 years.

by MattF15 on Oct 5, 2010 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I just ended a 9 game losing streak in FIFA online...

So epic, too. I was down 1-0. Score as Fabregas to tie at 1 in stoppage time. Extra time I score in the 102nd and 109th, he scores at 117th. Game over, i win 3-2!

finally….

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Oct 4, 2010 6:35 PM EDT reply actions