Writing the Pine

Yankees have been preparing for this since the spring

After Joba Chamberlain’s forgettable start against the K.C. Royals in the Yankees regular season finale (which I attended), I think the Yankees are going to go with a 3-man rotation with 7-8 relief pitchers.  That means they’ll carry 14-15 position players with them to the ALDS against their likely opponents, the Detroit Tigers.  Who should they invite to the party?

It’s clear that the following position players will be on the roster:

C – Jorge Posada (Hip! Hip! Jor-ge!)

C – Jose Molina (Backup Catcher, Cannon for an arm)

1B – Mark Teixeria (Worth every penny?)

2B – Robinson Cano (Took a huge step towards stardom defensively and offensively)

SS – Derek Jeter (Washed up, right?)

3B – Alex Rodriguez (Incredible numbers after hip surgery and missing 23 games)

OF – Nick Swisher (Who wants Wilson Betemit back?)

OF – Melky Cabrera (I predict at least 1 walk-off for the Melk-man)

OF – Johnny Damon (CON-TRACT YEAR! CON-TRACT YEAR!  Re-sign to a 1-2 year deal please.)

OF – Brett Gardner (Pinch runner, Defensive replacement, Fourth outfielder, )

DH - Hideki Matsui (Power numbers from the DH Spot.)

UI/OF – Jerry Hairston Jr. (Mr. I-can-play-anywhere-except-Catcher.)

OF/1B – Eric Hinske (Left-Handed Power Bat off the bench, Fifth Outfielder)

That’s 13 spots out of 25 definitely going to these players.  You have Hinske playing the Matt Stairs/Darryl Strawberry role of a left-handed PH.  Hairston can be a late-inning defensive sub or god forbid, injury replacement for any of the outfielders and most of the infield spots.  Gardner can come off the bench as a late-inning defensive guy but more importantly, that guy that will pinch run for Matsui/Posada for that insurance run or to tie up a close game.  (Think Homer Bush).

Let’s move onto the pitchers that are definitely coming along for the ride:

SP – C.C. Sabathia (Staff ace and ready to exorcise playoff demons)

SP – A.J. Burnett (He’s going to be clutch in the postseason.  Our answer to Josh Beckett)

SP – Andy Pettitte (Steady and proven veteran for the post-season)

RP – Mariano Rivera (Best post-season reliever of all-time)

RP – Phil Hughes (Closer of the future? If we can get to the 7th with a lead, this game’s over.)

RP – Phil Coke (We Want Coke! We Want Coke! Just be wary of the long-balls you give up.)

RP – Brian Bruney (Seems to have regained pre-injury form.  Rock-solid as of late.)

RP – Alfredo Aceves (The glue of the bullpen.  1st half MVP)

RP – Damaso Marte (Ignore his season numbers. Will be important to have another left-handed pitcher.  Pitching well.)

Yup.  That’s 9 pitchers definitely making the roster.  You have your three top starters, Mo, all the bridge-to-Mo guys including two lefties that can pitch to righties and Aceves, our Ace in the hole.  He can middle relieve, close, and be our long guy.  The main question about the pitching will be how Joba will be used.  I haven’t included him yet because I have NO IDEA how they will use him.  4th starter in a 4-man rotation?  Long guy?  Middle relief to recapture the 2007 glory years.  Leave him off the roster?

With 22 spots taken,  there’s only 3 more players coming to the first round of the 2009 playoff party.

Let’s say Joba Chamberlain gets a spot – for either long-relief, starting, or middle relief.

Only two more to go.

Long shots to make the roster are Freddy Guzman, Ramiro Pena, and Francisco Cervelli.

Guzman was added to the 40-man roster just for the sole purpose of being a pinch runner to squeeze out those precious and hard to come by postseason runs.

Pena has proved to be a solid infielder and decent hitter, but he looks to be the odd-man out.

Odd to see three catchers in the playoffs, but if they want to pinch run for Posada, Girardi would love to have Cervelli as their third catcher.  Cervelli has the most playing time out of these three guys, has the confidence of his teammates to call a game, and can even run pretty well.  Cervelli gets the penultimate spot.

The last person drafted in the NFL Draft is Mr. Irrelevant.   Well, the last guy taken here will be relevant.  At one point in the series, may be called to either pitch in a tough spot or hit with the game on the line.

Last spot goes to:

Dave Robertson.  The extra days off in the playoff schedule the Yankees will choose afford them with the opportunity to go with a three-man rotation with Joba as a backup plan.  Dave Robertson leads the majors in K/9, a huge tool and asset in the postseason.  Called in to put out a fire or just shutdown a team’s best hitter in the middle of the game, Robertson’s ability to strike out batters will help the Yankees advance to the ALCS.

Missing the cut: Sergio Mitre, Chad Gaudin, Jonathan Albaladejo, and Ian Kennedy.

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Update: 10/2/2009 @ 1:08 PM

Great article on tiebreakers and matchup scenarios for the MLB playoffs at mlb.com by Bobie Dittmeier http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091001&content_id=7268492&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb