Around the Yankees Galaxy 9/2/10

by 3460kuri on Sep 2, 2010 8:00 AM EDT

No Ted Lilly and no Hiroki Kuroda make the Yankees a nervous, nervous team. I thought I'd try to put that in proverb form, so enjoy it. However, looking around at the other AL playoff contenders, the Yankees aren't alone in their rotation woes. By no means does that make me comfortable, but it does make me a little less uneasy.

If the season ended today, the Yankees would square off against - guess who? - the Twins in the ALDS, and would probably face Francisco Liriano and Carl Pavano in the first two games. I'm not worried about that, not with CC and (hopefully) Andy (not AJ) starting Games 1 and 2. Yeah, I know: back to back lefties are bad, Andy's a gamer and should be lined up to start Game 7, etc. I don't care. Let's focus on not needing a Game 7. From there, the Twins would be likely to start Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey in some order, who are both decent/solid-average pitchers, but don't really scare me. With AJ and (hopefully) Phil (not Javy) starting Games 3 and 4, I can live with that. If a few games have to be decided by the bats, I like the Yankees chances.

The same situation seems to play out against the Rays and Rangers. Both teams have two solid, above-average starters followed by two decent/serviceable ones. If the Yankees play their cards right, meaning getting Andy Pettitte back to full strength and including Phil Hughes in the postseason rotation, I'm actually not as worried as I thought I'd be.

On that note, Pettitte had a "great: bullpen session today. Expect a simulated game in a few days, followed by a minor league rehab start, and then he should be back in the majors in about 10 days.

Anybody else notice Curtis Granderson lately? He's posted a .793 OPS since the All-Star break (pretty good in a down year for offense) even though his BABIP is probably still a tad low considering his line drive rate and speed.
Here's a less than encouraging, but not unrealistic, spin on the upcoming Derek Jeter contract issue. I hate to admit it, but:

(The Yankees) can’t expect to pay Derek Jeter $18 million and A-Rod north of $25 million in 2013 and 2014 and compete at a high level (emphasis added). Even the Yankees’ resources are limited, and poor investments at such high levels are tough to overcome.

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Isn’t the ALDS still going to be best-of-5 this year? I don’t think there’s going to be any need for concern about a Game 7 in that series.

Other news: Javy’s back in the rotation and will start this Saturday:

Javy replaces Moseley in NY rotation

by Yankee Frankee on Sep 2, 2010 8:54 AM EDT reply actions

Andy will start game 3, not game 2

You always split up the lefties. If the Yankees ace was right handed, it would be a no brainer. But you always have to split up the left handed pitching.

Another thing. I think the playoff rotation should be determined on whether the Yankees are home or away- which is to say whether they win the division or not. If the Yankees are home, they also finish with the best record in baseball and can pick the longer series to only use three starters. That could put Phil Hughes and Javy Vazquez to the bullpen, which adds more depth and strength to that area.

If the Yanks are home, then A.J. pitching in Game 2 would be an advantage. He’s always done better at home. The Yankees made sure he pitched at Yankee Stadium as much as possible last year. They should try and do it again this year. I’d rather have Andy in a possible swing game or elimination game, on the road, rather than Burnett.

If the Rays win the division, then it’s all determined whether they choose the shorter series or the longer one. I would assume they would choose the longer one (most teams do), which means the Yanks against Rangers/Twins would get the shorter series. If thats the case then the Yanks will need four starters. I would start Hughes in game 2 on the road (where he doesn’t give up home runs) and push Burnett back to Game 4 at Yankee Stadium.

There’s other possibilities but those are the most likely I think. As far as Derek Jeter’s contract situation. It may be bad for the team to give Jeter a contract based on his name only. We’ll see how that plays out. I hope he’s brought back to something reasonable.

I hate all Boston sports teams

by nyyrocks29 on Sep 2, 2010 9:12 AM EDT reply actions

If your best two starters are left handed

it doesn’t matter, AJ has been too inconsistent to give 2 games of a series to.

by andrew21 on Sep 2, 2010 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Exactly

Saying “you have to split up your lefties” is kind of like saying “you have to sac bunt with a runner on first and no outs” or “you have to put a fast runner as your leadoff hitter regardless of his OBP”.

It’s one of those baseball axioms just is, and too many people accept it without question.

by 3460kuri on Sep 2, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

And just to add to that

what if we sign Cliff Lee in the offseason, are you really going to split up him and CC? I don’t think so.

by andrew21 on Sep 2, 2010 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

alright you have a point

there still remains the home-away point though. In the playoffs, do you want A.J. Burnett pitching at home or away? One look at his splits and last years postseason should answer that for you. The Yanks need to keep Burnett at home as often as possible.

Game three is a crucial game. It’s an elimination game for somebody, or it’s a swing game that sends the momentum in a 5 game series one way. I want Andy pitching a game like that.

I hate all Boston sports teams

by nyyrocks29 on Sep 2, 2010 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Throw your best pitchers first, period.

Forget about lining up Game 7. You want to do everything you can to avoid Game 7 entirely.

CC, Andy, AJ, Phil. That’s the only rotation that makes sense.

by 3460kuri on Sep 2, 2010 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not sold on Phil Hughes in the playoff rotation yet

Only because we have a month of baseball to play, and this will be uncharted IP territory for Hughes. To me its up to whoever has a better month between Javy and Hughes.

"I am a man of great mental power." ~Alfonso Soriano

by Captain_Mick on Sep 2, 2010 9:23 AM EDT reply actions

If the season ended today.....

people holding tickets to the Yankees remaining home games would be demanding refunds.

The World Series would be played in decent weather.

I would miss out on hearing the agonized death kvetch of Red Sox Nation as their beloved nine goes down the drain.

Andy Pettitte would be unavailable for the playoffs.

But seriously, the 4th starter would be the hotter of Hughes/ Vazquez.

by designatedquitter on Sep 2, 2010 9:53 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t like that AJ is wearing his away uniform. If he’s going to flirt with a postseason no-no, I want him to do it at the Stadium so I’ll have a shot (longshot, but still) of seeing it.

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

by jscape2000 on Sep 2, 2010 9:56 AM EDT reply actions