Right after the rain delay ended last night, Jack Curry tweeted the following:
Yanks expect 11 pitchers for DS. CC, AJ, Andy, Phil, Mo, Wood, Joba, Logan, Rbrtsn r locks. Nova, Vazquez, Gaudin, Mitre fight 4 2 spots
Let’s lay out the case for each guy, then, and we’ll see what you readers think.
Javier Vazquez has a few things going for him: he’s a veteran and managers always like that in the playoffs. He’s also proven himself to be a good, sometimes great starter. Granted, we haven’t seen that much this year, but he does still have the ability to pitch well. At his best, he’s waist, chest, shoulders, and head above the other guys on this list. When he’s at his worst, though, he’s just as bad as the others.
If we’re going on recent performance then I guess it’s got to be Ivan Nova. While he’s had trouble going deep into games, he’s still pitched pretty well of late and that should hold some weight with the coaching staff and front office. In the bullpen, he won’t need to go through the order more than once, if he has to even do that much.
Gaudin and Mitre are basically the same exact pitcher: sometimes good, most of the time not so much. Gaudin misses bats a little more than Mitre does, but Mitre gets more grounders.
Curry forgot to mention Dustin Moseley, who’s entering the game as I write this, but that’s for good reason. There’s really no case to make for him.
At the end of the day, I think it’s going to be Nova and Vazquez. They’ve got the best talent and are most useful. They can go multiple innings or make a start if there’s a disaster, and they’re not named “Chad Gaudin,” “Sergio Mitre,” or “Dustin Moseley.” And, honestly, the chances that they pitch meaningful innings in the playoffs are very small.
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20 Responses to Making the Case
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TIQ IQ
You forgot Royce Ring!
In all seriousness, I agree. I think Nova should be #10 and #11 is a tossup between JV and Gaudin. Given the way Chadwick has pitched lately I’m fine w/ it being JV.
Heh. Ring could be an option if the Yanks were going to face a team with a bunch of lefties, but I don’t think either Minny or Texas has enough good lefties (assuming Minnesota is without Morneau) to make it worth carrying 2 lefties. Nova and Javy are the last 2 spots for me.
This is an interesting debate. Not so much the pitchers, but who will be the 25th man selected (assuming everyone’s healthy). If I can count to 25 correctly, and if Girardi only goes with 11 pitchers, there is one spot open. The 3 most likely candidates are Moeller, Nunez & Golson. I’m really not sure who to go with here, but I’m leaning towards Golson since he can pinch run and if Swisher is hurting can fill in in right. But of the 3 Nunez is probably the best bat, yet Moeller gives Girardi the most options. Especially since Cervelli can’t hit much and we basically have two DH’s (Berkman & Thames) available to pinch hit.
Right now it has to be Nova and Javy as favorites, right?
nova should not even be a question mark….AJ should be, but he makes way too much and has 3 years left..my money nova gets game 3…AJ 4…as far as the last spot, another no brainer…we have to have two lefties…RR should have not been pulled last night for one of the three stooges…how are they still getting into games at crunch time..i am befuddled with girardi.. he should have gone to ring since sept 1..up on the big club…what does girardi miss about tamp’s line up…they throw a ton of lefty hitters at you ..if we go without two lefties ,we go no where..he will be out managed again.. joba the night before should not have pitched two innings up 5 runs..we lost him for last night..joe the genius..the rays were giggling when muttsly was brought in…crawford hurt himself fighting to get to the bat rack.. make believe javy muttslet getgone.and melt re..are all hurt with aceves
That.
Seriously? In a rain delayed game where we basically threw in the towel you still find a way to complain abuot Girardi? Give it a break for at least one day.
you threw in the towel in a one nothing game…right now every game is worth 16…Joe G…Every game is so important..it means home field through out…if we had won that game 3 up in the loss with 10 to play…you give it up?? how can you not admit it was a hugh blunder..if he threw in the towel why take ring out???? come on you know better than to take his back on this game..and then in the eighth he lets cervelli hit with a hugh bench??
In no way can we have Javy vasquez on the playoff roster. This guy has never performed well in the playoffs for either us nor Chicago. Vasquez has been nothing but a complete bum all year long. Plus Cashman would look like a hypocrit if Vasquez get put on the roster because last week he said that contracts and ego would not play into the final spot for the postseason roster or bullpen. My biggest worry is that in a close game in either the 6th or 7th Girardi bring in Vasquez just to prove why he is on the team and in typical Javy Vasquez style he blows the game for us. I would go with Nova and Mitre.
Nice job! Base a guy’s entire career of 2,600+ innings pitched on the 15.2 innings he has thrown in the playoffs.
i think we can base it on this years performance…and his failures in the past as a yankee, but it is your opinion,and i respect it. he is not going to be a yankee next year,no need to stroke this under performer..
Maybe Matt will change his mind after tonight
I go for Nova & Gaudin. Vasquez has not proven to me that he is a big game pitcher. And come the playoffs in Yankee Stadium, that’s what we need. nova could be a good long reliever if not a starter.
Paul,
What exactly is a “big game” pitcher? Is it like a clutch or gritty hitter?
andy pettitte
Vasquez has to be a lock. He can strike guys out which is what the Yankees like. I think it comes down to Nova or Gaudin. Girardi tends to love Gaudin so I think he goes with him over Nova. If Gaudin gets lit up in the ALDS I think he goes back to Nova in the ALCS if NY gets that far.
thats the point lets not gamble with the three stooges
I’d also love to see Nova in a short relief appearance or three. He’s got the stuff to be a real fireballer for a few batters at a time.
Frankly two I would take are Nova and Ring. The other 3, Vazquez, Gaudin, Mitre are worthless.
they are not worth a seat on the bus,you are correct..all should go back to the NL next year and have nice career’s..