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I don't like doing the same thing as other writers, but I can't resist sharing my thoughts on the postseason roster. I already went over the pitching staff, so now it's time for the positional players.
The first nine are clear...
Colonel Jessup: Are we clear?
Me: Yes sir.
Colonel Jessup: Are we clear!?
Me: Crystal.
That would leave five spots on the bench, assuming the Yankees do what I said yesterday and only carry 11 pitchers on the postseason roster. And actually, that's what they've done recently anyway, so I think that too is clear.
Colonel Jessup: ARE WE CLEAR!?!?
Me: YES!
Chris Stewart and Francisco Cervelli are the only real options for backup catcher, and it's not a contest between the two. Stewart is hardly a big threat with the bat, but he's a good defensive catcher, and you can't ask for much more out of that spot.
Eduardo Nunez gets the nod as the primary infielder off the bench, and he's hit the ball well this season (.292/.330/.393, with 11 SB). The only other option for this spot would have been Jayson Nix, but due to Jayson's hip injury that won't happen. Not that it really mattered in my mind, as Nix hasn't exactly wowed anybody (.243/.306/.384).
Finally, the other clear (shut up, Colonel!) player for the bench is Eric Chavez. Chavez has played mostly at 3B, thanks to ARod missing a chunk of time, and has done a good job. He can field well, and has hit .281/.348/.496 with 16 home runs on the season.
And look at those moves!
That leaves two more spots on the roster. One of those, I believe, will be Brett Gardner. Girardi likes having a speedy pinch-runner available, and for good reason, and you can hardly ask for better than Brett. Now that he's also been cleared for all baseball activities, including hitting, then I wouldn't bet against Gardner at all.
We come to the 25th man, and to be honest I don't think it matters, because there is not a good choice left. I originally penciled in Chris Dickerson on the bench, as the kid (I know his age, but he's still a kid in my mind) has done a great job with his less-than-should-have-been playing time. However that would leave the bench with only two right-handed bats on the bench (Stewart and Nunez) against a right-handed starter, and only one against a left-handed starter (I see Nunez starting at DH over Ibanez versus left-handed starters). So we're left choosing between Casey McGehee (*cough* crap *cough*) and Andruw Jones (*cough* crappier *cough*). I'm not even going to dignify that question with a response. Pick a name out of a hat, flip a coin, play Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock... I don't care. I just don't want to see either of those guys take one step out of the dugout, unless it's to celebrate a victory.
Where do you think you're going?
To wrap it up, here are the 25 men I'd like to see the Yankees bring to the postseason...
Pitchers
CC Sabathia
Andy Pettitte
Hiroki Kuroda
Phil Hughes
Rafael Soriano
David Robertson
Joba Chamberlain
Boone Logan
Clay Rapada
David Phelps
Derek Lowe
Hitters
Russell Martin
Mark Teixeira
Robinson Cano
Alex Rodriguez
Derek Jeter
Ichiro Suzuki
Curtis Granderson
Nick Swisher
Raul Ibanez
Chris Stewart
Eric Chavez
Eduardo Nunez
Brett Gardner
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ReplyDeleteThe lack of replies tells me that everybody agrees with me, which is good. I like to think that our readers are intelligent. :D
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