2012 Post-season roster speculation

[effdamets]

Picked off on a balk.

This.
That was WAY a balk.
Once a LH pitcher moves his right foot past the pitching rubber, he must deliver the ball home.

My problem is that Gardner should have run way before that. That's what's so infuriating about Brett.

[Yankee Tripper]

Picked off on a balk.

Andy Pettitte has picked off a lot people on balks. And it didn't look like he brought his foot back Gardner just left too early and the lefty saw him going.

[ChinMusic]

Andy Pettitte has picked off a lot people on balks. And it didn't look like he brought his foot back Gardner just left too early and the lefty saw him going.

He had to run. Everyone knew he had to run. Hard to fault the guy for getting picked off in that situation on that move. And bingo with Andy. When he picks someone off, we credit him, not blame the guy who got picked off.

[Black Sabbathia]

Bench:
Chavez
Nunez
Stewart
Gardner
Dickerson

Bullpen:
Soriano
Robertson
Chamberlain
Phelps
Logan
Rapada
Eppley

My biggest worries are that they'll put Lowe on there over Eppley, or carry Jones rather than Dickerson. I'd like to give Jones the benefit of the doubt, but nothing he's done in the second half offensively or defensively says he's going to help the team. Lowe I just don't trust.

[NelsonMuntz]

Bench:
Chavez
Nunez
Stewart
Gardner
Dickerson

Bullpen:
Soriano
Robertson
Chamberlain
Phelps
Logan
Rapada
Eppley

My biggest worries are that they'll put Lowe on there over Eppley, or carry Jones rather than Dickerson. I'd like to give Jones the benefit of the doubt, but nothing he's done in the second half offensively or defensively says he's going to help the team. Lowe I just don't trust.

Jones over Dickerson is a lock to happen. I'd predict that Lowe over either Eppley or Rapada is pretty likely as well.

[NelsonMuntz]

Why isnt he ready to start? It was his job, and will be again next year. Andy was thrown right back in. Why not Gardner?

Because this is essentially still spring training for Gardner. There is no chance he starts over Swisher, Granderson or Ichiro.

[longtimeyankeefan]

OK, here are my thoughts

C Martin
1B Texiera
2B Cano
SS Jeter
3B ARod
LF Ichiro
CF Granderson
RF Swisher
DH Ibanez

Bench:
Cervelli - yes, I know Stewart has been with this team all year, but Girardi pointed out all along that Cervelli would have taken the starting role if Martin got hurt.
Nunez - is there really any alternative to back up the middle IF positions? Also, the RH DH
Chavez
Gardner
Dickerson

SP -
Sabathia
Pettitte
Kuroda
Hughes

RP -
Soriano
Robertson
Logan
Eppley
Rapada
Phelps
Chamberlain

[effdamets]

If I were making the decision, which I am not....

I would leave off the extra pitcher in the pen and put Dickerson on the roster.
Extra defense, extra PH and extra speed.
But only for the first round.

[Yankee Tripper]

Cervelli - yes, I know Stewart has been with this team all year, but Girardi pointed out all along that Cervelli would have taken the starting role if Martin got hurt.

I agree this team needs more fist pumps.

[jcarey]

OK, here are my thoughts

C Martin
1B Texiera
2B Cano
SS Jeter
3B ARod
LF Ichiro
CF Granderson
RF Swisher
DH Ibanez

Bench:
Cervelli - yes, I know Stewart has been with this team all year, but Girardi pointed out all along that Cervelli would have taken the starting role if Martin got hurt.
Nunez - is there really any alternative to back up the middle IF positions? Also, the RH DH
Chavez
Gardner
Dickerson

SP -
Sabathia
Pettitte
Kuroda
Hughes

RP -
Soriano
Robertson
Logan
Eppley
Rapada
Phelps
Chamberlain

Agree with everything, except I'd replace Cervelli with Stewart. He's handled the pitching staff all year as the backup.

[Bub]

Agree with everything, except I'd replace Cervelli with Stewart. He's handled the pitching staff all year as the backup.

Right, and Stewart isn't lame at the plate either so he deserves the spot. Also I can't see both Dickerson and Gardner making this roster. Neither will likely pinch hit and only one is ever likely to pinch run in a given game. For defense late it'll be Gardner, Suzuki and Granderson, so Dickerson really doesn't seem to be of much use. It's probably up to another arm or Jones for the last spot.

[Black Sabbathia]

If it came down to an extra arm (say Lowe) or Jones, I'd rather have Jones to pinch hit against a lefty and hope he can groove one

[rajah]

Maybe having Jones in the dugout to influence an opposing manager who thinks he will pinch hit has some minimal utility even if Joe wisely does not use him.

[NYYFAN]

Eppley has a nice era, but he scares the hell out of me every time he comes in...

[Battingly]

MY FINAL ROSTER PROJECTION

STARTERS

CC Sabathia
Andy Pettitte
Hiroki Kuroda
Hughes or Phelps (TBD)

BULLPEN

Rafael Soriano
David Robertson
Hughes or Phelps (TBD)
Joba Chamberlain
Derek Lowe
Boone Logan
Clay Rapada

LINEUP (subject to revisions)

LF Ichiro Suzuki
SS Derek Jeter
2B Robinson Cano
3B Alex Rodriguez
CF Curtis Granderson
1B Mark Teixeira
RF Nick Swisher
DH Raul Ibanez
C Russell Martin

BENCH

Brett Gardner
Eric Chavez
Eduardo Nunez
Jayson Nix
Chris Stewart

[enozlac]

I pray that Andruw Jones isn't on the roster just so Joe won't be tempted to pinch hit for guys like Ibanez vs. LHP. I'll take Ibanez vs. LHP over Andruw Jones vs. LHP at this point in time. He proved it already.

Flip flop Ichiro and Jeter btw. Jeter leadoff, Ichiro 2nd, Arod 3rd, Cano 4th.

You know, Girardistyle: Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left (etc)

[Black Sabbathia]

The lineup for the last game is what I want to see against RHP

Jeter
Ichiro
A-Rod
Cano
Swisher
Tex
Granderson
Ibanez
Martin

beastly

[enozlac]

The lineup for the last game is what I want to see against RHP

Jeter
Ichiro
A-Rod
Cano
Swisher
Tex
Granderson
Ibanez
Martin

beastly

I like that lineup. But what about swapping Swisher and Arod? Swisher hitting 3rd and Arod hitting 5th could be interesting, but I don't think it would happen.

[Black Sabbathia]

I'd rather have the protection of Cano behind A-Rod, and less pressure on Swisher

Swish has been all over the lineup this year, but I like the 5 spot for him. I def want Cano hitting cleanup, and I like Tex-Grandy 6-7 right now

[freebubba]

Just saw in another thread that Dickerson tweeted he would not be on the ALDS roster. Ugh. That means Jones most likely is. For the love of god, hopefully only PH if needed.

[JSG]

Just saw in another thread that Dickerson tweeted he would not be on the ALDS roster. Ugh. That means Jones most likely is. For the love of god, hopefully only PH if needed.

agree. I like the Battingly roster, but would prefer Dickerson (despite tweet he's off) or even an extra pitcher such as Eppley (i think you HAVE to have Lowe on there) in lieu of Jones. it would however be Girardi-like to give the last slot to Jones and hope the vet will come thru.

[LIYanks]

agree. I like the Battingly roster, but would prefer Dickerson (despite tweet he's off) or even an extra pitcher such as Eppley (i think you HAVE to have Lowe on there) in lieu of Jones. it would however be Girardi-like to give the last slot to Jones and hope the vet will come thru.

It will be Jones. Girardi is loyal to veteran players.

[Messerwhitescooter]

I know Girardi is loyal to the vets, but Jones is cooked. bad move, Girardi.

[Bub]

I know Girardi is loyal to the vets, but Jones is cooked. bad move, Girardi.

While it is likely that he's cooked, he's also more likely than Dickerson or anybody else to face a lefty in a situation where a longball is needed and come through with one. On the other hand, even if such a situation arises, I can't think of anyone who he'd hit for other than Ibanez, and I can only see that happening against a sidearm lefty who's torture on lefties.

[Messerwhitescooter]

Love Brett Gardner, but do you really take up a valuable bench spot with a guy who can't hit?