This Roster Is Dumb
I keep reading about how the Yankees want to become younger and more athletic with the author frequently pointing to the Rays as an example. And, with the Rays nine-games ahead of the Yankees, New York would do well to imitate some parts of Tampa's construction. Unless the Yankees figure out a way to clone Longoria and Shields or bring back Navarro (that RJ trade looks better and better) the best thing they could do is to copy Tampa and only carry 11 pitchers.
Consider the current state of the Yankees' roster. Not only do you have 13 pitchers, leaving 12 hitters, but three of those hitters are catchers. That means your bench is Molina, Moeller and if Betemit DH's, Christian. That isn't a major league bench by any stretch of the imagination.
The Yankees need to make some decisions here. Three catchers is a luxury that went out when teams started to carry 11 pitchers, with 13 it is impossible to execute. The bullpen seems to have clear roles. Rivera closes with Farnsworth and Veras setting him up. Robertson is settling in with Hawkins and Ramirez mostly mopping up. Billy Traber makes 13 as the Yankees continue their quest for a lefty in the pen. Cut Hawkins, demote Traber, let Robertson take some bigger innings, just don't keep carrying 13 pitchers. You can add Gonzalez for now and then bring back Damon (or Matsui) when healthy. The point is, don't keep wasting the spots you have, no matter the reasons.
