Some Decisions Made, Some Not

According to Bryan Hoch, Joe Girardi confirmed today that Johnny Damon will start game three in left, so no Matsui in the field. Didn't think that would happen anyway. Though as Hoch said "Girardi made it sound a lot like he is considering telling Matsui to dust off his glove as a potential defensive replacement on a double-switch or in an emergency." Girardi also had this quote:

"I'm going to look at some things today, watch a little bit, see how he moves around and see if we think that it's physically possible for him to do it," Girardi said. "It's something that we have to look at, and if we can't do it, we'll use him in a role to pinch hit when we feel that he can be most valuable to us. It might be a situation where you might think about a double switch at high time, but you don't want to lose his bat. As productive as he's been for us this year, you don't want to lose his bat."

You also don't want to give up a double on what should be a routine out, especially late in a game. It's not an easy decision for Girardi to make.

One thing that's still up in the air is games three's right fielder. That will either be Nick Swisher, Jerry Hairston, or Eric Hinske. The favorite would seem to be Swisher.

Joe Girardi also has not yet decided who will start game four, but he did tell the large lefty to prepare as if he was going to start. The Yankees could also go with Chad Gaudin.

Also in the pitching department, A.J. Burnett apparently loves the idea of pitching on short-rest in game five. And why not? In his career Burnett is 4-0 with a 2.33 ERA in four starts on three-days rest.

Hinske Added To WS Roster

Jack Curry reported via Twitter, that the Yankees have added Eric Hinske to the World Series roster and drop Freddy Guzman. He also said that they were considering adding Brian Bruney and going with 12 pitchers.

I thought Freddy Guzman's speed would be more valuable than it proved to be. Running when he had the chance would have helped his cause. Adding Hinske's bat, especially with games coming up under NL rules gives the Yankees some pop off the bench, which they haven't had all postseason.

It will be interesting to see who they drop if Bruney is added.

Guzman In, Hinske Out For ALCS

From Anthony Rieber at Newsday:

"Joe Girardi just announced one change to the ALCS roster: Freddy Guzman is in, Eric Hinske is out.

"No change in the pitching staff. Damaso Marte stays on the roster. Brian Bruney stays in Tampa."

Read the full article here.

Well now there's no off-the-bench power hitter in a series where the Yanks could use one but that's not a bad move, Guzman's good- but here's where it sucks. Marte is still on the roster, which is more than questionable. I'm not jumping for joy with that guy on this roster.

.....

Greg here, was actually writing a post about this myself... anyway... Here's another quote from Girardi regarding the move via Chad Jennings:

“We thought we could use another speed guy in this round. We’ve had some success doing those types of things late in the game, and in a seven-game series stuff could come up late in the game. We saw the games against Minnesota were very close and sometimes you can use a couple of pinch runners. If Gardy gets a start, then you don’t have a pinch runner (without Guzman). It just frees us up to do some more things.”

I like this move. Hinske wasn't going to get any playing time anyway and now the Yanks have even more speed on the bench. This may also mean that Girardi will start Gardner in at least one of these game, which is what I was hoping for. At this point he's probably a tougher out than Melky anyway.

Damon Works On His Hitting

After hitting an embarrassing .083 (1-for-12) in the ALDS, Johnny Damon was at Yankee Stadium today and hit in a simulated game. Along with Damon, Eric Hinske, Jerry Hairston Jr., Brett Gardner, and Francisco Cervelli also took part in the simulated game.

Five pitchers threw in a simulated game in an effort to stay sharp during the break between the first round and ALCS. Chad Gaudin threw 50 pitches, Alfredo Aceves threw 30, David Robertson threw 20, Phil Coke threw 20 and Damaso Marte threw 15.

Nick Swisher was also in the Bronx today for his normal batting practice session. And CC Sabathia threw his normal bullpen session.

Cashman's Small Moves Paying Off Big Time

We all are aware of the fine job Brian Cashman did this offseason bringing in big name free agents CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira. These moves were a key to the Yankees 2009 success, but any GM with money and a clue could have done the same. Cashman has impressed me the most with the smaller moves, the ones that took some real GM work. And those are the ones that might have put this team over the top.

First, the trade for Jose Molina back in 2007 gave the Yankees a solid backup catcher for the first time in several years. In that deal Cashman sent the Angels minor league reliever Jeff Kennard for Molina. Kennard, 28, is now in the Reds organization, and is having a solid year for Triple-A Louisville, but has yet to make the majors. At the same time Molina has been one of the better backup catchers in the game.

Then, in 2008, Cash signed a relatively unknown pitcher out of the Mexican leagues. That guy was Alfredo Aceves. He now leads all MLB relievers in wins with nine, and has become one of the more versitile relievers in the game. It's no coincidence that once the Yankees called him up their bullpen turned around.

Nick Swisher was the next solid pickup for Cashman. Trading away struggling propect Jeff Marquez, reliever Jhonny Nunez, and roster spot waster Wilson Betemit. Besides the solid offensive production Swisher has also helped chance the culture of the clubhouse. Betemit played a grand total of 20 games for the White Sox this year, hitting. 200/.280/.311. Marquez had another rough year in the minors, going 2-8, with a 9.85 ERA for the Triple-A Charllotte Knights. And Nunez, also with the Knights, is having a decent year, but nothing special.

Cashman wasn't done. Once he finally realized that the 2009 Yankees had a weak bench, he got rid of the useless Angel Berroa and sent Casey Erickson and Eric Fryer to Pittsburgh for Eric Hinske. This move paid off immediately as Hinske did more in his first week in Pinstripes than Berroa had done all year. A month later Cashman sent Single-A catcher Chase Weems to the Reds for Jerry Hairston Jr, who has turned out to be a great pickup for the Yanks. He can play everywhere (and has), played hard, and he's not as easy an out as I or many others may have thought he was.

You can also throw in the signing of Sergio Mitre and the trade for Chad Gaudin. While neither of these guys has been spectacular, they gave this team much needed pitching depth. Mitre has pitched in eight games this year (started seven) and in those games the Yankees are 6-2. And while Gaudin has struggled, he has given the Yanks the ability to alter the Joba rules to what they feel is the best method, and he could play a big role in keeping other guys fresh as the regular season comes to a close.

These moves have turned what would have still be a very good team into a complete team. A team with a solid pen, a good bench, and rotation depth. That was one of the keys to the Dynasty teams of the late-90's. They were complete teams where everyone on the 25-man roster contributed at some point. Now, thanks to the work Cashman has done, this team is complete and may be on the verge of doing something very special.

Who should the Yanks call up to replace Gardner?

With Brett Gardner sidelined for the next three weeks or so with a broken left thumb the Yankees find themselves in a pretty tough situation.

Right now the Yankees have five guys who can play the outfield; Johnny Damon, Nick Swisher, Brett Gardner, Eric Hinske, and Cody Ransom. But only one of those players is good enough defensive to play center regularly and that's Melky Cabrera. Now, I'm not so sure I want to see Melky in center every day, but as of right now he's going to have to because those other guys are just not good enough to play center, even if it's only one or two days a week.

To me this makes the idea of calling up Austin Jackson much more reasonable than it was when the Yanks had both Gardner and Melky on the roster. I see little problems with calling him up for three weeks, playing him everyday, and then sending him back down. As Chad Jennings pointed out today, the Yanks could still send Jackson back back to Triple-A and recall him on September 1 without burning an option.

In 92 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre AJax is hitting .311/.375/.429 with 4 HR, 19 doubles, 5 triples, 38 RBI, and 17 stolen bases in 19 chances. But lately he's been in one of his worst slumps of the season, going .167/.244/.194 over the past two weeks. Then again, Francisco Cervelli was hitting .190 in Double-A before coming to the Bronx out of necessity, and things worked out pretty well for him.

A few months ago when people first brought up the idea of calling up Jackson, I wanted nothing to do with the idea. Giving Jackson an early call-up at that point didn't seem like the smartest move. He was new to Triple-A, and the Yanks didn't necessarily need another center fielder. I wanted them to leave him in Triple-A all year and then call him up in September and then was hoping he'd make the team out of spring training next year. But situations have come up that have change my feelings. As long as he plays almost everyday, I don't see how three weeks of AJax in the pros now would be a bad thing. If he struggles you send him back down, if he does a decent job you keep him until Garnder comes back, and if he plays great, well, that's a problem I'm sure the Yankees would love to have.

There are other options, though. Shelley Duncan and John Rodriguez are having very good years down in Scranton, but do the Yanks really need another corner outfielder? If I was running the show I'd want someone who could play center and play it well.

Ramiro Pena has been playing some games in center field since being sent down, and though I think it's pretty unlikely, he could be another option. I asked Chad Jennings how Pena has looked in the outfield so far and here was his response:

I believe I've seen him play center twice and he looks good. He's terrific side to side and looked good the one time I remember him charging a ball. Not sure about going back on flyballs. Don't remember him having to do it. His throws have been ok. Clearly still figuring out that part of it. He can certainly play the position. He's looked better than I expected.

So far so good for Pena in the outfield, but I just don't think he's had enough experience yet.

Besides that, they could always make a trade, but right now I have no idea what the market looks like for centerfielders. And do the Yankees really want to trade for someone they might only need for three weeks? I don't think so.

Who do you think should replace Gardner?

Second Half Issue: Five Outfielders

One of the problems (I'll get into the others throughout the break) facing the Yankees, and mainly Joe Girardi in the second half is that they now have five outfielders fighting for playing time, Johnny Damon, Nick Swisher, Melky Cabrera, Brett Gardner, and Eric Hinske.

Yesterday, Girardi explained his plans:

Joe Girardi benched Johnny Damon and Nick Swisher yesterday and announced plans to use all five of the team's outfielders after the All-Star break.

"As I told all the outfielders today, we have five guys who are playing pretty good," the manager said before a 5-4 loss against the Angels. "Everyone's going to play. It's all about winning ballgames. We know everyone wants 600 at-bats, but it's probably not going to happen."

Regarding newcomer Eric Hinske Girardi had this to say:

"There are certain guys we're going to play him against," Girardi said.

Like I said all offseason having too much depth anywhere on the team is a problem I hope the Yankees continue to have.

All around the Yanks have been getting surprising good production from their outfielders. Much more than I think anyone expected coming into the year. Swisher has been solid, and a lot better than the hitter he was in Chicago last year. Melky and Gardner have both had a good first halves, and combined they've put up some very nice numbers as the Yankees center fielder, and in left Damon is having very good offensive year, and is tied for second on the team with 50 RBI and is third in homers with 16.

On the other side of the ball, everyone but Damon has been pretty good. Damon is having one of the worst defensive years of his career, and at times looks like a bad little leaguer. You know, like the kid you try really hard not to laugh at when a fly ball smashes him in the face. Swisher looks like a fool too sometimes, but he's actually been surprisingly efficient. I haven't seen enough of Hinske to come to any conclusion, but he looks like a decent corner outfielder so far. Brett Gardner has been great in center, and Melky has been just about average.

Girardi's plan is to play everyone and while making sure everyone is rested, which is no easy task in this gam but with five guys it's very doable. But if you were Girardi who would you give the bulk of the playing time to?

Yanks Acquire Hinske *UPDATED - Pena to AAA*

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsuburgh Post-Gazette via MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that the Yanks have sent Eric Fryer and Casey Erickson over to the Pirates for Eric Hinske. According to Joel Sherman the Yankees will also be getting $400K to cover about half of what Hinske is owed for the remainder of the season. He will be in uniform at the stadium tonight. No word on any corresponding moves to make room on the roster, but I have to believe Cody Ransom or Ramiro Pena will be going to make room for him, and as I said earlier today I hope it's Ransom.

The 31-year-old is hitting .255/.373/.368 with a homer and 11 RBI in 54 games this year for the Pirates, and has played first, third, and the outfield this year.

In 21 games for Single-A Charleston, the 23-year-old Erickson was 3-3 with a 2.25 ERA, and in 44 innings allowed 11 earned runs on 51 hits, walked 13 and struck out 37. Playing for High-A Tampa, Eric Fryer, 23, was hitting .250/.333/.344 with 2 homers and 24 RBI in 59 games.

I don't see the need but it's an interesting move, I guess.

UPDATE 12:37 p.m.: This just popped up on Joel Sherman's Twitter page: "Interesting that Yanks are sending R.Pena to T-A to also play OF to become Omar Infante super-utility type for later this season."

So they're adding Hinske and optioning Ramiro Pena to Triple-A so he can play everyday and get some time in the outfield.