Yankees Post-Season Roster

by coochorama on Sep 20, 2007 2:13 PM EDT Comment 11 comments

I hope I'm not going too far out on a limb here, but with the demise of the Tigers, I feel pretty safe looking at this, and interested in your thoughts.

The rotation (assuming four starters) will have Pettitte and Wang in it (I'd put them in that order) and Clemens is pretty much a certainty as well. That leaves a fourth starter, and Kennedy and Hughes are not likely to take Mussina's place given Torre's previous inclination toward veterans over starters. Hughes definitely will make the postseason roster and Kennedy should based upon performance. Joba, Vizcaino, Farnsworth, and Mariano are no-brainers (ok, Farnsworth isn't a no-brainer, but he'll make the postseason roster). They don't really have a LOOGY, so Bruney and Enwar Ramirez are candidates for the bullpen as is Villone. I'll assume that Villone makes the squad and they carry 11 pitchers (they could carry 12).

That makes the list of pitchers (11):
Pettitte
Wang
Clemens
Mussina
Villone
Hughes
Kennedy
Farnsworth
Chamberlain
Vizcaino
Rivera

For hitters, Posada, Molina, Giambi, Mientkiewicz, Cano, Jeter, Rodriguez, Betemit, Damon, Matsui, Cabrera, and Abreu are pretty much locks. This is 12 hitters and 11 pitchers so far so there are 2 spots left available.

This leaves Shelley Duncan, Alberto Gonzalez, or another pitcher (or two if Kennedy doesn't make the post-season roster). I assume Torre brings Duncan as the team mascot (he's well liked and has an energy for the game and is a power bat off the bench), but who else would he bring? Your thoughts?

Poll

Which pitcher should the Yankees leave off their postseason roster?

Ian Kennedy

5 votes

Enwar Ramirez

10 votes

Brian Bruney

14 votes

Ron Villone

23 votes

52 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 11 comments

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Comments

My Thoughts

Torre and Cashman definitely have more to choose from this year as a result of all the young kids showing that they deserve a spot on the team. I agree with you that Kennedy deserves to be on the team, but I am not sold that he will be, based on his innings this year and his October 6th wedding (this impacts the 1st round). I also agree that the 4 starters should be Pettitte, Wang, Clemens and Mussina, in that order.

Bullpen is a bit trickier. Edwar Ramirez will make the team, I believe, and Villone will as well, though I don't think he belongs. Assuming that Kennedy is replaced by Ramirez, we still have 2 openings. I believe one will be either Brian Bruney or Jose Veras (Torre likes him alot and he would have made the team out of ST had he not gotten hurt - performances last week help him alot). The other will be between Duncan and Gonzalez. If Gonzalez is a very fast runner (I have no idea) then he may make the team as a pinch runner option. Duncan is more than a mascot though, and is a decent runner himself. He plays hard and comes thru in the clutch. Good option as a power bat off the bench, though I am not really sure who he would hit for.

VTYankeesFan

by VTYankeesFan on Sep 20, 2007 2:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mussina

Dont trust him against a good team. I would go with Hughes instead.

by wildcatrosco on Sep 20, 2007 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ian Kennedy

I don't think Kennedy is eligible. He wasn't on the roster on August 31st and I don't think they have any DL spots to fill.

by kschellenger on Sep 20, 2007 2:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They Do

Carl Pavano and Andy Phillips

by Kanst42 on Sep 20, 2007 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kennedy is near his IP limit

So I'll go with Villone, who can't get anyone out. Use Igawa or Wright as loogy.

Todd Frazier for President

by FrazierFan on Sep 20, 2007 3:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Scott Patterson

I'd love for the Yankees to call him up to finish the regular season and see if he'd be able to help them in the playoffs. I think he'd be better than most of their current relievers.

I'm no commie, but the Reds shall be the best again!

by RedHopeful on Sep 20, 2007 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

except...

You have to be on the roster before Sept. 1 to be on the playoff roster.

by doublestix on Sep 23, 2007 2:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not Exactly

Teams play games with that rule every year. You can sneak someone on the roster using the DL. Mahalo

Matt

I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.

by WayneCampbell05 on Sep 24, 2007 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

honestly

its hard to choose btwn. bruney and villnone

allow multiple selections please!!!

Predictions:

Kennedy doesn't make it b/c of IP limit
Mussina blows a game and Hughes starts at game 4
Edwar (not Enwar) Ramirez makes it
Ross Ohlendorf is substituted for Carl Pavano on the playoff roster b/c Pavano spent time on the 60-day DL (per the rules)

--http://yankeesfuture.blogspot.com Bobby Mcnally (alias)

by bobbymcnally on Sep 20, 2007 7:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Forgotten of

I have completely overlooked Olendorf in this. Even though he doesn't have much experience, he does bring a sort of mystery to the Yankees bullpen. The only time I saw him pitch was against Toronto and he looked pretty damn good with a fastball that hit the mid 90's and a good biting slider. I'll say Kennedy is left off the 1st round roster due to IP limit, Edwar makes it, Moose puts everything into place and makes the postseason rotation. Villone gets left off because he just sucks, and Bruney is the 25th man, who will probably be used just in mop up situations or only in dire cases

by T for Jose Tabatha on Sep 20, 2007 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs