With the Yankees inching ever closer to clinching a playoff spot, the attention of fans will soon turn to the makeup of the postseason roster. This was my first take on the roster:
Everyday Players
C Russell Martin
1B Mark Teixeira
2B Robinson Cano
3B Alex Rodriguez
SS Derek Jeter
RF Nick Swisher
CF Curtis Granderson
LF Brett Gardner
DH v. LHP: Andruw JonesBench
Utility: Eduardo Nunez
BUC: Francisco Cervelli
Eric Chavez
Chris Dickerson
Jorge PosadaStarters
CC Sabathia
Ivan Nova
Freddy Garcia
Bartolo ColonRelievers
Mariano Rivera
David Robertson
Rafael Soriano
Boone Logan
Corey Wade
Phil Hughes
Hector Noesi
I think there are a few changes to be made at this point. Due to Luis Ayala‘s increased workload in important spots and his relative success at handling those opportunities, he is likely to make the team, possibly at the expense of Hector Noesi. I would prefer to carry Noesi and leave Hughes off the roster, but I have a feeling Hughes is going to make the team.
On the offensive side of things, Francisco Cervelli may miss the postseason due to a concussion. Furthermore, Jesus Montero has shown that he definitely belongs and will probably get some DH starts against lefties. As such, the Yankees can carry both Montero and Posada, with Posada serving as the emergency catcher and a pinch hitter while Montero soaks up some DH at-bats and acts as another catching option.
To summarize, I would remove Noesi and Cervelli and add Montero and Ayala to the roster listed above. What would your roster look like?
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8 Responses to Predicting The Postseason Roster, Take 2
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Cervelli has been free of concussion symptoms for 3 days. He may be back and I would expect to see him on the post season roster if that’s the case. If Montero gets enough ABs to show he’s the real deal (looks like it) I’d be in favor of carrying him instead of Andruw Jones since they fill the same role. Dickerson is the defensive replacement. While Jones is OK in the outfield, I’d still rather see Dickerson there.
Barring injury there’s about a zero chance that Dickerson makes the post season roster over Jones. You don’t sign a guy like Jones to be a bench guy, have him meet or exceed expectations, and then not include him on the postseason roster. At least not if you ever want to be able to sign decent bench players as free agents.
Jones has crushed lefties all year, there is no way he isnt on the roster, and I think he belongs there. Against lefties, they will probably play both him and Montero, and bench Gardner.
I’d probably replace Cervelli with Montero and replace Dickerson with a pitcher, either Ayala or maybe even Burnett. I don’t have a lot of faith in Garcia and Colon thus I think they probably need at least one guy who can serve as a long reliever. I see Noesi in that role more than Hughes (so he makes the team on that basis) and could even see Burnett in that role too.
With Posada seeing very limited playing time, I don’t think there is a lot of need for a pinch runner. Dickerson would only really have a role as a late inning defensive replacement for Swisher, and that is only important if Swisher can’t throw which I’m assuming won’t be the case by playoff time. To the extent that they need a backup OF, it can be Andrew Jones especially if you’d give Montero DH starts over him.
leave posada and cevelli off, noesi ,montero, ayala.. stay first round
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I would take Austin Romine as the back-up catcher over Cervelli. He is a better defensive catcher and doesn’t have a continuency of injury problems. Plus, I am bias against Cervelli because I really can’t stand his attitude anymore. Cervelli, your a back-up/AAA catcher at best. Get over yourself.
As for the pitching my starting rotation is CC, Nova, Colon and Garcia/Hughes. The other of Garcia/Hughes would be in the pen with Mo, D-Rob, Soriano, Logan, Wade and Noesi. I went with Noesi as the last guy so that we have more than one long guy to go with Garcia/Hughes.
Leave both A.J. and Ayala off the postseason roster. A.J. has pitch like crap this year. How can anyone argue for him at this point? The only thing that saved A.J. last year is that we had guy havung a much worst year in Vasquez. Plus, the inly reason A.J. is still in our rotation is because Girardi doesn”t have the guts to pull him out. As for Ayala, there is really no reason to bring him on the postseason roster. He is at the bottom of the pecking order of 1 inning relievers on the team and isn’t capable of pitching multiple innings. Plus, Ayala has been very overated this year. His era may be under 2 but thats only because he never gives up any of the base runners he allows on, just the ones he in inherits. The guys is nothing more than a mop-up guy or in other words another Sergio Mitre. As I said there is no real reason to put either A.J. or Ayala on the roster because they would just be taking a spot away from someone who can actually be useful in the playoffs.
[...] was my last stab at the postseason roster, compiled about a week ago: Everyday [...]