09/27: The Chosen 25
Posted by: Patrick
If the Yankees end up making the playoffs, here is what I would like the postseason roster (25 man) to consist of.
Lineup
C - Jorge Posada
1B - Tino Martinez
2B - Robinson Cano
3B - Alex Rodriguez
SS - Derek Jeter
LF - Hideki Matsui
CF - Bernie Williams
RF - Gary Sheffield
DH - Jason Giambi
Bench
C - John Flaherty
IF - Mark Bellhorn
LF/RF - Matt Lawton
OF - Bubba Crosby
RF/DH - Ruben Sierra
Rotation
1. Randy Johnson
2. Mike Mussina
3. Chien-Ming Wang
4. Shawn Chacon
Bullpen
Closer - Mariano Rivera
Setup - Tom Gordon
RP - Tanyon Sturtze
RP - Al Leiter
RP - Felix Rodriguez
RP - Jaret Wright
RP/SP - Aaron Small
Honorable Mention
2B/OF - Tony Womack
RP - Ramiro Mendoza
RP - Scott Proctor
Now, with that said, let me explain some of my choices. Mark Bellhorn is the luckiest guy in the whole freaking world. Why? Well, let's think about it. We need a backup for Cano, A-Rod and Jeter should the unmentionable happen. In my eyes, Bellhorn edges out Escalona and has no real competition, so he has to make this team. I like Sierra, just do. He has come up big in the past and he has proven that he can come in cold and get a hit. That's valuable.
Lawton over Womack was an interesting one. I look at Womack as having 2 advantages there. Speed and the fact that he has played 2B. Not that he plays it really well or anything, but he can play it. But, in the end, throw out Lawton's time in NY so far and you see he's simply a better run producer than Womack. Higher BA, higher OBA (by far) and he is not slow himself. He can pinch run. He actually can hit home runs. He hit 20 last year and made the all star team. If you need a hit, would you rather have Womack or Lawton?
A rotation of Johnson, Mussina, Wang and Chacon seems like a no brainer for me. In the pen, we'll be going with one lefty - Al Leiter, which is all that we should be going with, really. Wayne Franklin and Alan Embree aren't going to make this team because they can't get anyone out. Forget lefty specialists, our righties get lefties out more than our lefty specialists. So, our righties will face lefties. F-Rod makes the team over Proctor because he's pitched better this year and I believe he is a good end of the bullpen guy. Plus, he's pitched reasonably well in the playoffs previously.
Wright on the other hand, has been rocked in the postseason. In 51 innings, he has a 7.24 ERA. But, I'm willing to take a shot on him over Proctor and Mendoza. However, if we need a start from someone other than the top 4 I mentioned before, I want it to be Small. Mendoza has been a rock in the postseason. In 28 and 2/3 innings, he has a 2.51 ERA. I'd love to have been able to pick him. Unfortunately, he has only pitched once this year and we have no idea what to expect from him.
Thoughts?
Lineup
C - Jorge Posada
1B - Tino Martinez
2B - Robinson Cano
3B - Alex Rodriguez
SS - Derek Jeter
LF - Hideki Matsui
CF - Bernie Williams
RF - Gary Sheffield
DH - Jason Giambi
Bench
C - John Flaherty
IF - Mark Bellhorn
LF/RF - Matt Lawton
OF - Bubba Crosby
RF/DH - Ruben Sierra
Rotation
1. Randy Johnson
2. Mike Mussina
3. Chien-Ming Wang
4. Shawn Chacon
Bullpen
Closer - Mariano Rivera
Setup - Tom Gordon
RP - Tanyon Sturtze
RP - Al Leiter
RP - Felix Rodriguez
RP - Jaret Wright
RP/SP - Aaron Small
Honorable Mention
2B/OF - Tony Womack
RP - Ramiro Mendoza
RP - Scott Proctor
Now, with that said, let me explain some of my choices. Mark Bellhorn is the luckiest guy in the whole freaking world. Why? Well, let's think about it. We need a backup for Cano, A-Rod and Jeter should the unmentionable happen. In my eyes, Bellhorn edges out Escalona and has no real competition, so he has to make this team. I like Sierra, just do. He has come up big in the past and he has proven that he can come in cold and get a hit. That's valuable.
Lawton over Womack was an interesting one. I look at Womack as having 2 advantages there. Speed and the fact that he has played 2B. Not that he plays it really well or anything, but he can play it. But, in the end, throw out Lawton's time in NY so far and you see he's simply a better run producer than Womack. Higher BA, higher OBA (by far) and he is not slow himself. He can pinch run. He actually can hit home runs. He hit 20 last year and made the all star team. If you need a hit, would you rather have Womack or Lawton?
A rotation of Johnson, Mussina, Wang and Chacon seems like a no brainer for me. In the pen, we'll be going with one lefty - Al Leiter, which is all that we should be going with, really. Wayne Franklin and Alan Embree aren't going to make this team because they can't get anyone out. Forget lefty specialists, our righties get lefties out more than our lefty specialists. So, our righties will face lefties. F-Rod makes the team over Proctor because he's pitched better this year and I believe he is a good end of the bullpen guy. Plus, he's pitched reasonably well in the playoffs previously.
Wright on the other hand, has been rocked in the postseason. In 51 innings, he has a 7.24 ERA. But, I'm willing to take a shot on him over Proctor and Mendoza. However, if we need a start from someone other than the top 4 I mentioned before, I want it to be Small. Mendoza has been a rock in the postseason. In 28 and 2/3 innings, he has a 2.51 ERA. I'd love to have been able to pick him. Unfortunately, he has only pitched once this year and we have no idea what to expect from him.
Thoughts?
Michael wrote: