There’s something seriously flawed with the playoffs when one reliever accounts for 40% of the bulpen innings (and it would have been more if there weren’t extra inning games).  The playoffs should at least attempt to be a reflection of who had the best “team” in the season.  CC pitching 3 games and mo pitching 40% of reliever innings does not reflect what the team did this season.

Less off days!

They’ve had the travel days forever, and those aren’t going away.  I’m doubt that CC and Mo’s usage in the LCS would have been any different with one less off day.

Well, kf, the World Series doesn’t have the stupid off-days (just 2 travel days), so we will probably see less of Mo.  Which, while I agree with your general point, is sad.

So, if we assume the same 11 pitchers, we then have the starting 9, and 5 bench players.

Gardner, and Hairston are locks.  Molina, Cervelli and Hinske make 5.
I’d love to leave Molina off and take a RH bat.  But realistically, they don’t have a RH bat to add.

Just eyeballing it, Rivera has pitched pretty close to one inning per Yankee post-season game over his career.  That’s just about double his regular season usage rate.  Until this year, those post-seasons were played with many fewer off days.

The innings probably aren’t that much different from the regular season would have been, since the starters all went into the 7th at least (if I remember correctly). 2 fewer innings from Mo, I’d guess.

I think one of the reasons Girardi refrained from using Mo for more than 4 outs during the regular season was to save his arm for getting 5 or more outs as many times as possible in the post-season.  You can argue the merits of that plan, but I don’t know if we have much data to say if there was a better/worse way to handle it.

But realistically, they don’t have a RH bat to add.

Off the top of my head the only RH power-bat they have who is eligible is Shelley Duncan.  And while I love Shelley and think he can be a productive (1+ WAR) player, I don’t know how much he would add as a PH when he hasn’t played in a game in about a month. 

I wouldn’t mind dropping Cervelli and taking Pena instead.  Really, if Jorge starts every game, the difference between Molina and Cervelli for this series is minimal.  Pena would give an extra infielder/pinch-runner/emergency OF, which could have some use in an extra-inning game/in case of injury.  But really, the 25th man on the roster doesn’t matter too much.  Sure you can point out times during the Angels series that having Hinske’s bat would have been useful.  But there could just as easily have been times having another IF or PR could have been useful.

When do they set the roster?

[8] I think tomorrow morning at 10AM?  I read that somewhere, and I *think* it was an article written today.  It could be 10AM today, however.  Hopefully I managed to not help at all

Man, can you imagine if this team had good Wang?

I think I saw Wang hanging out in the dugout during the ALCS.

You cannot replace an injured player during the WS.  Dumb, yes, but that’s the rule.  So I’d be pretty surprised if they don’t carry three catchers.

[10] Let’s not go there.

Wasn’t it “good” Wang who pitched to a 19+ ERA in the ‘07 ALDS?  Pass.

[11] Let’s definitely not go there.

[9] You didn’t.  But hopefully you tricked the foolish into (continuing) not reading the article at the top of this page.

[11] I think Wang and Nady have been traveling with the team throughout the playoffs.

[15] (blushing in shame) as I said I knew I read it somewhere for an article posted today!  For whatever reason I’m not able to read the article linked, so I don’t know if *that* article was posted today.

Is anyone here going to a WS game?

Anyone find any blurbs about Girardi’s intentions with the starting rotation?

Anyone here like movies about gladiators?

Jim never has two cups of coffee at home…

Apparently, it is official, Pedro to start game 2 at NYS.

Also, Bud Selig welcomes Mark McGwire back in baseball. While this is a commendable action on his part, I wonder where he had been when A-Rod, Manny, Sosa, Ortiz and Bonds were being skewered by the media.

But Mark McGwire is white.

Sure seemed like he was there for Ortiz (who is not white).

Yeah, he bent over backwards for Ortiz.  Of course, that was probably because Ortiz’s name being smudged was surely a mistake.  I mean, a baseball lawyer suggested as much.  Or maybe it was because Ortiz plays on the Red Sox, for his good buddy John Henry.

I am not saying Bud & Mr. Henry are snugglebunnies or anything… then again, I am not denying it either.

You cannot replace an injured player during the WS.  Dumb, yes, but that’s the rule.  So I’d be pretty surprised if they don’t carry three catchers.

They changed that rule last year.

I wonder if they’ll unveil that McGwire statue that’s sitting in some St. Louis warehouse.

Did they really?  I don’t like the change unless there’s a seriously high threshold for provable injury.  Can you declare your starters injured after their final starts and bring up more relievers or someone on the 40 who’s pitching in the AFL?

well you would rather have your starters pitch an inning or two of relief than any reliever you could find off the roster, so it only potentially matters for game 7, maybe game 6.  I think Selig would look at it closely, even if there isn’t a specific threshold.

Sure seemed like he was there for Ortiz (who is not white).

I don’t know how it seemed like that. Selig was mum during the entire time, just as he was with the other cases. If I am missing a source or something, please do correct me.

The person that was there for Ortiz was Union general counsel Michael Weiner, who is not the same person as Bud Selig.

This is the only thing Selig apparently said:

“I don’t want to hear the commissioner turned a blind eye to this or he didn’t care about it,” Selig said. “That annoys the you-know-what out of me. You bet I’m sensitive to the criticism. The reason I’m so frustrated is, if you look at our whole body of work, I think we’ve come farther than anyone ever dreamed possible.”

...

  “I’m not sure I would have done anything differently,” Selig said. “A lot of people say we should have done this or that, and I understand that. They ask me, ‘How could you not know?’ and I guess in the retrospect of history, that’s not an unfair question. But we learned and we’ve done something about it. When I look back at where we were in ‘98 and where we are today, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made.”

  Selig said he pushed for a more stringent drug policy during the labor negotiations of 2002 but ultimately settled for a watered-down version out of fear that the players association would force another work stoppage.

  “Starting in 1995, I tried to institute a steroid policy,” Selig said. “Needless to say, it was met with strong resistance. We were fought by the union every step of the way.”

I wonder if they’ll unveil that McGwire statue that’s sitting in some St. Louis warehouse.

They should probably commission a new one with a somewhat smaller upper body.

Via Rob Neyer, a NYT blogger suggests that the Yankees should start CC in Games 1 and 5 and use him in relief in other games:

The critical question for Girardi is how to make the most use of Sabathia’s apparent indestructibility. Is he more valuable as a classic rotation workhorse, starting Games 1 and then 4 and 7, if necessary, on three days’ rest, or as a swingman, taking his regular turn in Games 1 and 5 and relieving in any number of other contests?

Failing to add Hinske (say, adding Bruney instead) would be really dumb.  I like Bruney, but he should never see action.  Hinske, on the other hand, would have a clear role in 3 games, and possibly even more.

“suggests that the Yankees should start CC in Games 1 and 5”

That’s a mischaracterization:

“Given the uncertainty surrounding the choice, Girardi’s best bet is probably to be flexible. If the Yankees are, say, leading by a run or tied in the seventh inning, with two men on base and Utley coming to bat, well, it’s time to bring in the big fella. By contrast, if there is no situation that screams out for Sabathia’s usage — and if the first few games are split, making a Game 7 much more likely — Girardi will be better off keeping his ace in reserve.”

[33]  Funny you should bring this up (from the Neyer chat, bolding mine):

Justin (New York)

Will the Yankees waste a roster space on freddy guzman again?

Rob Neyer (12:46 PM)

Who would you rather they waste it on? I think having an extra fast guy on the team is perfectly reasonable, since seven positions are completely set in every game, innings one through nine.

FWIW, I agree they should take Hinske instead.  I’m just not going to get worked up about it.  I also think if they need another PR they should take Pena instead of Guzman, though.

Of course right after I post that another question Neyer answered he forgot about Hinske and the fact 3 games are in the NL…

+ Hinske, - Guzman. I think you leave Cervelli in there so you don’t have to get stuck with Molina or Posada on base in a close, late game.

[34] No, it’s a quick summary. The link is provided for people to read the whole thing.

Waiting = da suck.

“[34] No, it’s a quick summary. The link is provided for people to read the whole thing.”

“It’s a quick inaccurate summary.  The link is provided, so people can see what he actually meant.”

Jeez, just admit you miswrote in haste.

[40] /obsession

I’m just trying to figure out who ran over whom’s dog.

Girardi on FAN seems to be implying that Moloina will catch AJ at least at home. “Worked out pretty well,” except game 5, besides that first inning how did you enjoy the game Mrs Lincoln?

[42] If you find out, let me know.

Anyone see the cover of the Post today?  They’ve already removed their photoshopped picture from their site, it seems.  Should I be embarrassed to live in a city which supports a newspaper with a pre-adolescent boy’s sense of what’s humorous and insulting?

There are many fewer things to be embarrased about in this city then most of the country, that said the Post is a cross to bear.

[30] & [31] I guess I just assumed Selig was far more supportive of Ortiz than anyone else, because Bud didn’t say things like this:

“What Alex did was wrong and he will have to live with the damage he has done to his name and reputation…”

And Bud didn’t “think about” things like this:

“Baseball commissioner Bud Selig on Wednesday left open the possibility of punishing New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez for using performance-enhancing drugs. Selig also said he might consider amending the record book to acknowledge steroids use by players.

Selig told USA Today in a telephone interview he “would have to think about” taking action against Rodriguez, saying the player broke the law by using PEDs. Selig refused to be specific about possible penalties, and he indicated a decision would not be made quickly.”

Francessa putting words in Girardi’s mouth implies that Yanks might consider putting Matsui in LF, after not playing there all year, and shifting Damon and his rifle arm to RF.

[48] Playing along with the fantasy, if I was going to use Matsui in the OF, at least in NYS, it would be in less spacious RF.

(48)Francessa can be stupid at times.

So. Do you think Girardi brings in Marte or Coke to face Ryan Howard in this series?

I guess the Yanks can’t afford to cede “Worst LFer in the series” to the Phillies so easily.

[51] - I think he puts a Coke-mask on CC and sends him out there whenever Howard is up.  And if CC has already been in the game with his Coke-mask, he can use his Marte-mask.

[51] Joba.

[50] Like when he’s awake?

(51)Yep

[56] haha yeah, I was just deeply curious which one. Or maybe he’ll switch it up and bring both at different points to give different looks?

[45] What was the picture?

[43] Of course he will. AJ pitches better to Molina. Its far more important than Posada’s bat. Everyone knows that, and absolutely nothing that has or will happen can change that!

If Girardi realizes that its dumb to let Molina catch AJ in Philly, shouldn’t he realize the same for in NYC?

“I’m just trying to figure out who ran over whom’s dog.”

Read the link in question and see if, as I claim, Rich plainly mischaracterizes the writer’s position [“If X then probably A else B” is just not “A”, it’s “A under some circumstances with caveats”] and then refuses to back down when politely called on it then goes to the ad hom, or not.  Or if you [y’all] think it’s not worth pointing this stuff out, then that’s of interest to me.  I would have made the above clarifying replies to any commenter here [and I suspect anyone else who had made the mistake would have answered “True, I should have put that differently”, end of discussion].

LoHud:

Pitching coach Dave Eiland said the Yankees haven’t ruled out the idea of sticking with a three-man rotation in the World Series, a plan that would force all three starters to pitch on short rest. That said, Chad Gaudin is scheduled to throw a 70 to 80 pitch bullpen session this afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

“We’re going to stretch him out today, as best we can,” Eiland said.

The Yankees believe they can get Gaudin stretched out enough to throw 80 or 90 pitches. Eiland wouldn’t definitively say Gaudin would be the fourth starter – or that there would be a fourth starter – but he did say that Joba Chamberlain would only be able to go two or three innings at the most.

Stretching Guadin out today “probably” makes him unavailable in Games 1 and 2, Eiland said.

[60] And on and on…

[62] Nicely self-referential comment.

Given the frequency of discussions relative to NYS and the home run ball, I find it interesting that there has been no discusion (I’ve heard anyway) of the final ALCS being a homerless contest.

Not surprised that former Phillie Kruk picks Phillies are you.  Perhaps Bobby Valentine wants to manage again (maybe NYY some time), as he’s surprisingly on our side.

[63] No, just bored.

Seriously, the world will not stop if you ignore my posts.

[64] Bobby V. likes big media centers

[65] Or v-v; I get the picture of two brothers in the same basement.

Perhaps Bobby Valentine wants to manage again (maybe NYY some time), as he’s surprisingly on our side.

Or maybe he’s just being objective.  Picking the Yankees in six isn’t too crazy.

[66] My brother’s a RS fan.  My in-laws are all Orioles fans.  The only one on my side in my household is Rilkekind, who’s three and beginning to cheer the Yankees with me and ask questions like, “Daddy, did the Yankees win because the man made a mistake throwing the ball?” which I sadly am failing to videotape.

[66] Like those brothers in the Ocean’s series…

[68] We’re on your side rilke.  And we’re on Rich’s side, too.  One big happy family here…

OMG, some nameless mediot just as CC if because he is so broad-chested and broad-shouldered if he has more pinstripes on his uniform than any other Yankee ever.

The guy who asked the idiotic questiion is now being taking by ambulance to a hospital after CC punched his lights out. (if only)

(Actually, Francesa cut away before CC could reply.)

[71] Edit: just asked

Over Babe Ruth’s gut they didn’t use pinstripes, they used nail-stripes.

[71] Pete Abe talked about that *a lot* in the offseason. I’m sure that there’s where it originated.

Perhaps Bobby Valentine wants to manage again (maybe NYY some time), as he’s surprisingly on our side.

Or maybe he’s just being objective.  Picking the Yankees in six isn’t too crazy.

I just thought maybe Bobby V might have it in for us for sending his Mutts to a WS loss 9 years ago.

Playing along with the fantasy, if I was going to use Matsui in the OF, at least in NYS, it would be in less spacious RF.

But that’s not part of the fantasy.  Matsui is the DH for the home games.  RF is also less spacious at CBP, but not all that much.