The Yanks have recently kicked around the idea of carrying 10 pitchers for the ALDS. Just to see what that would look like, I’ll make up a 25 man postseason roster. 10 pitchers, 15 position players.
Pitchers:
CC Sabathia
AJ Burnett
Andy Pettitte
Mariano Rivera
Phil Hughes
Alfredo Aceves
Damaso Marte
Phil Coke
David Robertson
Joba Chamberlain/Chad Gaudin/Alby/Bruney
Position Players:
Jorge Posada
Jose Molina
Mark Tiexiera
Robinson Cano
Derek Jeter
Alex Rodriguez
Johnny Damon
Nick Swisher
Gritt Gardner
Melky Cabrera
Hideki Matsui
Eric Hinske
Jerry Hairston
Ramiro Pena
Freddy Guzman
I don’t know about you, but I’d drop Freddy Guzman and take an extra pitcher, myself. Rather have Gaudin+Joba than Guzman. Its not like Ramiro Pena or Jerry Hairston can’t pinch run for you. I understand that Guzman is crazy fast, 80 on a scouts 20-80 scale. But is the marginal speed difference between him and Pena or Hairston worth carrying one less pitcher? I don’t think so.
I think Joba likely gets taken over Chad Gaudin, since we know Joba has the ability to utterly dominate out of the bullpen. But Gaudin could eat up 3 innings somewhere in a game where the starter gets knocked out early and save Ace/D-Rob from having to do so, leaving them strong to perform in a win rather than waste them doing mop-up work in a game which will likely end in a loss. We need a long man, and Gaudin would be perfect. He could hold down the fort and even give you a chance to win that game. I just don’t want Ace or D-Rob wasting their arms (and being unavailable/less effective the next game) what in all likelihood will be a losing cause.
Another thing to consider is that there is some overlap as to where these guys play. Pena plays 2B/SS/3B, Guzman plays LF/CF/RF and Hairston plays just about everywhere. If they drop Pena and go Hairston as the backup infielder, Guzman as the 5th outfielder and an 11th pitcher, I’m on board.
But this decision may wind up being made for them. LoHud reported yesterday that Hairston’s wrist injury could be serious, and if that’s the case that would finish him for the season.
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0 Responses to Looking at Post Season Roster Decisions
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Steve, i couldnt agree with you more in saying that I hope the yanks would carry more than 10 pitchers. I would like them to have joba and gaudin as well. Gaudin can come out of the pen as a long man, and could be valuable in saving us runs. I dont think Guzman should occupy a spot if it means giving up Gaudin for the postseason. Gaudin’s been pretty effective for roughly 5 innings a game, and that could be invaluable come the playoffs.
I think you have two longmen with Ace and Joba and with the off days guys will get their rest even if some innings have to be pieced together. Plus the hope is the starters are not getting shelled every night. If they do the BP will probably have little to save anyways.
I’d like to see us take Guzman so we can have him in scoring position late in games.
I definitely want to see Guzman in there. He’s supposedly a very good defender and his speed is an obvious plus.
It’s a crap shoot with Guzman because it basically gives you two pinch runners who are 90% going to get second on a steal but Guzzy (yeah he already has shortened name for me) can’t hit and carrying a player on the roster who can’t hit and takes away a pitcher is a big decision, not saying I wouldn’t do it but it is a hard decision to make. I think it come down to how important you think speed is Vs a middle reliever like Bruney.
Exactly! That is why I’d rather have a pitcher than guzman who can’t hit.
I think I would too but which pitcher would you rather have? I think that goes along way in deciding which is done, if Alby or Bruney is the pick I think I go with Guzman because those two won’t see much time in big situation in the playoffs.
10 pitchers only makes sense if they are taking the 8 game series and only need 3 starters plus they have off days to recharge if a starter gets bombed and they burn through the pen. When it comes to the ALCS (please let us get there) the Yanks should carry Joba and Gaudin.
I’m not sure I see the need to carry 11 pitchers in the ALDS. With the days off, 10 should be plenty.
If Hairston is out, though, I don’t see a suitable replacement for him in the organization so I think they’d just go with Joba and Gaudin.
“I’m not sure I see the need to carry 11 pitchers in the ALDS. With the days off, 10 should be plenty. ”
That’s the counter argument, and I’m surprised nobody brought it up sooner. I still want a long man, if you use Ace for 3 innings and/or D-Rob for 2 even with that schedule they will either be less available or possibly less effective in the following game. A long man solves that for you. A mop-up pitcher is more valuable to me than a pinch runner, which we really have already with Pena/Hairston.
You think Robertson can pitch two innings after his elbow problems? I know he could but would they let him?
Who is Gritt Gardener??
Also, I say go with Gaudin and maybe even Ian.
Kennedy is interesting, but can he preform a high level all the time in the playoffs or will he be too rusty to shake it off in time.
I would rather have Guzzy over Pena just because Hairston can play all the positions that Ramiro can but Ramiro doesn’t have the raw speed to change the game that Guzzman does.
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