I understand not wanting to overuse the bullpen, but the team has capable pitchers that aren't being overused.
Maybe it's the rotation's fault for not going deep enough into games, maybe it's Girardi's fault for mixing and matching too much, maybe it's neither, maybe it's both, I don't know.
Either way, between Mariano Rivera, Hector Noesi, David Robertson, Rafael Soriano, and Cory Wade there should be someone to pitch other than freaking Luis Ayala and/or Aaron Laffey.
If Girardi can't manage the bullpen where that is a possibility, he can't manage this team to a division title. I know Robertson pitched an inning, but I'm sure he could have gone two without his arm falling off.
I want the division. I don't care who the Yankees play in the playoffs, they should be able to beat anyone if they're a World Series winning team. I want the Yankees to win the division, and get the choice of the longer series, as well as home field advantage for the AL portion of the playoffs.
I don't think Girardi should be fired, but if he can't figure out a way to have any of those pitchers available for the 9th inning of a September game, it isn't good.
Another thing, you play to win now, not to win in the 10th, or the 11th, or the 12th, or anything. Rivera should have been in in the 9th, then if the Yankees get a save opportunity let someone else take that. At least you have the lead at that point, maybe the adrenaline will help the reliever that is in not implode.
If Luis Ayala and/or Aaron Laffey make the playoff roster, and especially if they pitch any important innings in the playoffs, I will be the one imploding.
Finally, and this is a minor complaint, I would like to see Dellin Betances and Andrew Brackman get in some games. They both could help now, more so than Laffey/Ayala, possibly, and I think Betances could even be a wild card for a reliever for the playoff roster if he gets an opportunity to show his stuff now. The Yankees would never do that though, sadly.