Postseason roster

[cmaff051]

We haven't clinched a spot in the postseason yet, but it's still interesting to think about it 2 weeks in advance.

Our pitching staff:
1. Wang
2. Pettitte
3. Clemens
4. Mussina (you would think he has the inside track on #4 with the way he has been pitching lately)

Bullpen:
5. Mo
6. Viz
7. Joba
8. Edwar
9. Farns
10. ????
11. ????
(do Kennedy and Hughes get postseason spots in the bullpen?)

12. Posada
13. Giambi
14. Cano
15. Jeter
16. Arod
17. Matsui
18. Melky
19. Abreu
20. Damon
21. Betemit
22. Duncan
23. Eyechart
24. Molina

Who takes the 25th spot? Do we bring an extra positional player? A lefty in the bullpen (Villone)???

Does Moose get the #4 spot? Or do you go with Kennedy or Hughes? Do Kennedy and Hughes work out of the bullpen in the playoffs?

Thoughts?

[Jitpal]

I was thinking of making a similar thread myself. Here is my roster and explanations where needed.

Starting Rotation for me depends where we play in the ALDS. So for the first 3 starts I go with these guys:
1. Pettitte
2. Clemens
3. Wang
You could move Wang to the #1 slot if we start at home, or I put him in 3rd slot if we start on the road.

Vs. Cleveland: Hughes
Vs. Anaheim: Moose
Mostly because of success they had with each of those teams. I'd put the other one in the bullpen just in case.

Bullpen:
5. Mo
6. Viz
7. Joba
8. Edwar
9. Farnsworth(cringe)
10. Kennedy - If a starter implodes or leaves in 4th, we need someone to shut it down from there or just eat innings to save the rest of the pen
11. Hughes/Moose - See Kennedy

Lineup:
12/LF. Damon
13/SS. Jeter
14/RF. Abreu
15/3B. Arod
16/C. Posada
17/DH. Matsui/Giambi - depends on matchup
18/2B. Cano
19/1B. Betemit
20/CF. Melky

Bench:
21. Giambi/Matsui
22. Duncan
23. Molina
24. Doug
25. Gonzalez(Is he eligible?) - pinch runner/defensive replacement in case of injury

That's what I go with. -Jitpal

[suns32]

^^take out gonzalez so we can have both hughes and mussina.

[Jitpal]

^^take out gonzalez so we can have both hughes and mussina.

You do get both. One starts and one is in the pen. Depending on who we play, that's who starts. -Jitpal

[Abraham Lincoln]

Farnsworth? I'd really take anyone over him. Throw in Bruney or Ohlendorf over him any day.

As for the last spot, I guess Gonzalez sounds good for that role.

[Jitpal]

Farnsworth? I'd really take anyone over him. Throw in Bruney or Ohlendorf over him any day.

As for the last spot, I guess Gonzalez sounds good for that role.

We need a pinch runner, he has some stolen bases in the minors but nothing major. Even though Joe is pinch runner happy, it is a very important role. I really wish we had called up Gardner because he could have filled that role and then some. It's funny that we talk about the bench, the only two guys getting pinch run for are Giambi and maybe Posada. The only person who would get pinch hit for is Betemit. The only reason you start him over Doug is so when he does inevitably does give up his spot to Giambi to bat, you have Doug to come in after so we don't lose the defense.

I'd be willing to swap Farnsworth for Veras but I'm not so sure about Oheldorf. Ohlendorf has like two major league innings under his belt and has never come close to pitching a pressure situation. I know Veras hasn't been in high pressure situations either but he has more major league experience, he can eat up some innings and he pitched pretty well against the Red Sux the other day. In the end Farnsworth is still decent, and when he is right, he is damn near un-hitable. He was fantastic for a few weeks in the middle right after the trade deadline. Maybe he turned a corner? -Jitpal

[cmaff051]

Farnsworth will definitely be on the roster. Fortunately, unlike last year he won't be Mo's setup man. He'll be dug deep in the depth chart.

#1: Mo
#2: Joba
#3: Viz
#4: Edwar
#5: Farnsworth

It's always nice to have somebody who can throw in the mid 90s as number #5 on your depth chart.

As for that 25th roster spot, maybe a 5th outfielder???

[Jitpal]

Farnsworth will definitely be on the roster. Fortunately, unlike last year he won't be Mo's setup man. He'll be dug deep in the depth chart.

#1: Mo
#2: Joba
#3: Viz
#4: Edwar
#5: Farnsworth

It's always nice to have somebody who can throw in the mid 90s as number #5 on your depth chart.

As for that 25th roster spot, maybe a 5th outfielder???

We have 5. Shelley Duncan can play RF. Damon can do CF and LF. Melky can go anywhere. Matsui can do LF. Shelley has a hell of an arm too. The only other OF we have on the roster is Bronson Sardinha who has a grand total of 2 ABs in the major leagues and to what I know defense is not his strong suit. Plus, he is a AA callup I believe. I'd rather go with Alberto Gonzalez, at least he has a great glove and can play anywhere in the infield. -Jitpal

[34Celtic]

Jitpal....you must forget what Moose did that last start in Anaheim, I know Garrett Anderson didn't forget.

Also, Eyechart will be our starting 1B...mark it down. Betemit is pitiful defensively

[Jitpal]

Jitpal....you must forget what Moose did that last start in Anaheim, I know Garrett Anderson didn't forget.

Also, Eyechart will be our starting 1B...mark it down. Betemit is pitiful defensively

You really only have 3 options for the start at Anaheim. Start Moose, Kennedy or Hughes. Kennedy is unproven, we don't know how he does against a good running game and he has yet to get hit, who knows how he handles it. Hughes was pretty bad there already and considering he would be the 4th starter at home, he hasn't excelled in the Bronx either. That leaves Moose and I know he got rocked last time, but he was getting rocked by everyone then and he has had pretty good numbers against them in the past 3 years. I'll take the experience in this situation. Who would you put in for the 4th game against Anaheim?

I see the point of starting Doug at 1B but what happens when he gets pinch hit for in the 7th or 8th? Leave Giambi or bring in Betemit? Keep in mind if Giambi does pinch hit and get on, Joe is not going to let him run the bases, he will sub him out for someone else to pinch run. Betemit is a switch hitter with power, and his defense at first was no where near as bad as Giambi's. Shelley Duncan isn't an option there either. If we had a healthy Andy Phillips (who thought anyone would be saying that in the beginning of the year) we could start Andy, pinch hit with Giambi and bring in Doug to be the defensive replacement. We don't have that option so how would you handle it? -Jitpal

[LaCosaNostra]

Villone is a must. You need at least one lefty out of the bullpen.

[Abraham Lincoln]

Villone isn't a must because Villone sucks large amounts of ass.

[cmaff051]

Villone isn't a must because Villone sucks large amounts of ass.

Agreed. I'd rather have quality right handers than having a lefty just for the sake of having a lefty even though he sucks.

[jeff1624]

Wang
Petitte
Clemens
Mussina

Mo
Chamberlain
Vizcaino
Bruney
Edwar
Villone
Hughes
kennedy

Damon
Jeter
Abreu
A-Rod
Posada
Matsui
Cano
Doug
Cabrera

Giambi
Duncan
Betemit
Molina

farnsowrth is also a possibilty...

[JohnnyK]

With the way the postseason is structured, you need 11 pitchers max. So I really don't see how, for example, Bruney makes the roster.

The way I see it:
SP Wang
SP Petitte
SP Clemens
SP Mussina

RP Mo
RP Joba
RP Viz
RP/SP Hughes
RP Farnsworth
RP Edwar
RP Villone (there is no way they go without a single lefty in the bp, even if he sucks)

C Posada, Molina
1B Eyechart, Giambi
2B Cano
3B A-Rod
SS Jeter
INF Betemit
LF Matsui, Damon
CF Melky
RF Abreu, Shelley

That leaves one spot open, and I'd guess this would go to an outfielder (for defensive purposes), but there really isn't anyone worth taking IMHO.
So it will either be another pitcher (Kennedy? But is it worth carrying to starters as relievers?) or Gonzalez (who would be used as a PR, basically).

[34Celtic]

I'd start Mientkiewicz....hit him 9th, and go from there. Who says we don't jump out to an early lead? Who says we need the bat later in the game? I say you throw your best defense out there with a lineup like this. I've seen Giambi belly flop too much out there in the field and Betemit just scares me out there. Mientkiewicz is one of the top 3 defensive first baseman in the league and when you have a lineup like ours you don't need to upgrade to a switch hitter who hits .220 or a guy who has good power and a high OBP but only hits .220. Go with the superior glove who hits .220.

[JohnnyK]

I'd start Mientkiewicz....hit him 9th, and go from there.

I agree with starting Dougie, but Melky is batting 9th and should stay there (apart from when Damon sits).