Not Our Problem
There seems to be some hand-wringing over the way Joe Girardi managed last night's game. The thinking is that the Yankees could have knocked the Red Sox out of the playoffs with a win last night and therefore, Girardi should have gone to some of his better players in key spots. For example, pinch hitting for Romine or not using Scott Proctor. My question is, what happens if Girardi uses A-Rod as a pinch hitter last night and he hurts himself? The answer is that everyone would be killing him.
The fact is, the Yankees have only one thing to play for right now and that is having a healthy roster when the playoffs start Friday. Barring a miracle, the AL Wild Card is going to come out of the AL East which means the Yankees won't even face the winner unless they advance to the second round of the playoffs. That means it is simply not worth worrying about at this point. They have wrapped up the AL East and homefield in the ALCS (if they make it) now it is time to focus on health.
So, I would fully expect Girardi to dial it way back for the regular lineup. Tonight's lineup is a combo of regulars and bench players and I would expect Girardi to make it all bench players by the end of the game. I would expect someone like Brackman to start the game Wednesday and I wouldn't expect to see any of the key bullpen guys more than once this series.
Some will argue that it is unfair to the game for Girardi to play less than his best at this point. I would argue the opposite. The Yankees have earned the chance to throttle back before the playoffs. They earned it by being the best team in the AL over 159 games. What happens in the wild card is up to Tampa and Boston, it's time for the Yankees to focus on Friday.
Comments
Peter,
Completely agree. I have to laugh when I see these articles explaining why the Yankees do or don't want to face the Rangers or the Tigers in the LDS, and do or don't want to face the Red Sox or the Rays in the LCS. As if this stuff can be so easily planned. A case can be made for wanting to play or avoid any of those 4 teams, and they have no control over any of it. The Yankees just need to focus on getting themselves rested and ready for the LDS.
Posted by: Greg | September 26, 2011 06:02 PM |
Greg
Excellent point! As scary as Verlander is right now, I seem to remember the Rangers beating the Yankees in the playoffs recently.
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 26, 2011 09:02 PM
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Soooo, another question to ask is this: do you want to see the Rays or the Sox make it to the post-season?
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 27, 2011 10:39 AM
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Mitchell
I suppose right now the Rays are more dangerous than the Red Sox, but I keep thinking that Boston would put it together if they made the playoffs. I was rooting for the three-way tie!
How about you?
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 27, 2011 10:58 AM
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A tie between the Red Sox and Rays would be great. With an exhausting 27-inning affair to decide it!
Posted by: Greg | September 27, 2011 11:14 AM |
Peter/Greg,
I could certainly go for a 27 inning tie-breaker between the Sox and Rays, but in my heart, I'd really like to see the Rays get in ...
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 27, 2011 07:02 PM
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Mitchell
Looks like Soriano agrees with you.
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 27, 2011 10:01 PM
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Uh, go Orioles?
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 27, 2011 10:47 PM
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Much as I dislike the Red Sox, I have to ask this: what really is the difference between these two teams? Don't they spend the same kind of money on the same kind of players?
Go through the lineup and you see mirror images -- Martin/Salt.; Tex/Gonz; Cano/Pedroia; Jeter/Scutaro; A Rod/Youk; Gardner/Crawford; Granderson/Ellsbury. These are all the same players.
And each team has the same kinds of pitchers. I'd have to say that the Yanks seem to have a much better bullpen, but that could change during playoffs.
So much as I delight in the Red Sox problems, it's not hard to imagine the same thing happening to the Yankees. Remember that last year, the Yanks played like dogs against Texas. Joe Morgan said he did not recognize the Yankee team that was playing on the field.
So, I'm rooting against the Red Sox because they could easily turn the tables on the Yankees in the playoffs. Go Rays.
Posted by: Corey | September 28, 2011 04:46 PM |