Gary Sheffield smiled at the question. "What will it be like if you and Hideki Matsui come back?"
His answer, spoken with a confident laugh in the Yankees' clubhouse Friday night: "That's a plus. We'll be a lot more dangerous."
As well as the Yankees are playing, and given how well Melky Cabrera and Bobby Abreu have done at the corner outfield spots, another question for Joe Torre might be, "How can you fit them all in?"
Torre wouldn't bite Friday, saying he's concerned with winning another division title and doesn't have a plan for his postseason roster. But rest assured Matsui and Sheffield will have a place, if they get medical clearance.
How does Matsui at DH sound? How about Sheffield as the righthanded half of a first-base platoon with Jason Giambi? Sheffield has been working out at first base and laughed when asked if he can play the position. "I came up as the shortstop and played third base. First base is simple."
And how about having either Giambi or Sheffield on the bench for a late-inning pinch-hitting spot, as well as Bernie Williams? Now THAT'S dangerous.
Offense clearly will not be a major concern of the Yankees in October.
But can all the hitting in the world make up for a shaky starting rotation if Mike Mussina's groin doesn't heal completely and a fourth starter doesn't emerge? And can a deep lineup compensate for a bullpen that is dealing with ongoing health issues for Mariano Rivera (unavailable Friday night with soreness below his elbow and officially on the "Kid Glove Treatment List" the rest of the regular season), Kyle Fansworth (balky back, checkered past) and Octavio Dotel (post-traumatic rotator cuff surgery syndrome)?
Those questions will be tackled in future stories, columns and blogs.
Comments (16)
It's the bullpen you guys should worry about.
You read it here first.
This is their weak spot. Their starters will keep them in the game until the Villones and Farnsworths come in...
It's funny that noone ever mentions when Tanyon Sturtz will be back Ha Ha. I have to believe that with that much firepower the bullpen and starters would have to lay a total egg. Yeah we will give up runs but not enough to lose if we do what we can do offensively. It is pretty awesome to have either Melky, Craig Wilson, Jorge or even Cano relegated to the 8-9 holes because of the better hitters in front of them. I like the new kid Brunley's stuff. He throws strikes. Dotel looked much stronger last night and with the schedule and Sept call ups Proctor and Farnsworth should get plenty of rest as will MO. If we move Lidle or Jarret to long relief for the playoffs(both in the first round) I think we have a well stocked pen for the first time in years. I think Dotel will be in mid season form on about October 1st and watch out. Farnsworth will have some competition for the eighth inning and may perform better, yet even if he struggles he will get yanked right away. Proctor is very dependable in the sixth or seventh, he just doesn't have the head for closing out.
Pitching is everything in the post season.
if we have a subway series, you can forgot about seeing good pitching until the ninth inning.
Good pitching always wins and I believe that for the first 5 innings or so in these playoffs that will hurt the Yankees, but adding Abreu into the middle of the line-up with possibly Matsui and/or Sheffield and having Derek and Johnny 1-2 almost guarantees that no starter who faces us will be able to keep themselves under 100 pitches through 5. The line-up destroyed Boston that way(not that they have great starters) yet even the best arms are going to get way up there in throws. The middle relief corp better be ready to go if anyone is to beat us. Chicago and/or Minnesota in a 5 game series could be very tight. Obviously the same can be said for our pitching. If we can bolster the 5-6-7 inning guys by working Lidle, Proctor, Brunley, Wright and Dotel into some kind of groove, we go in as the favorite in my eyes. In the Series, the Muts have big guns yet they haven't faced a challenge since June. They may well get through the rest of the NL but come showtime I dont think they have enough. Just my opinion so dont waste alot of time bashing my opinion. I still think Girardi would rather bench coach in NY than take on the ghosts in Chitown but how would I know. I think anyone with a brain would go in that direction, but Cub fans are rabidly loyal. I respect that everywhere but the Northeast.
Nine game lead. 5 taters in three days. 4 of 6 against the AL Central's best. Two rookie starters go deep innings and look GOOD. I think we can sit back and see who's coming to town in October! YESSSSS!!!!! It is so nice to have the balance back in the universe and the Red Sox blowing themselves up in August like the old days. Bring em on Willie. This will be a subway series year to remember forever. Then the Giants win the bowl and I can smile for six months.
Check out Mike Lupica's column in the Daily Snooze.He's either delusional or is playing with his yo-yo. The weasel will have you believe that the reason the Red Sox fell out of the race is because of injuries. No wonder they can't give that rag away.Hey dip get a grip that BS won't even work in Boston.
We've had injuries too, so that shouldn't be any excuse for anyone.
You people finally realize that rookies can be just as good if not better than your overpaid Jaret Wrights and Ron Villones.
Too bad the Yankees still don't trust their young players to let them play in more important games.
Is "post-traumatic rotator cuff surgery syndrome" a synonym for not being one of Torre's guys?
Going off on a tangent a little...
I'll be going to my first Yankees game on the 13th of this month against the Devil Rays (yes, I'm a cheapstake, it's a $5 bleachers seat ticket, hehe).
I would like to see the Yankee players up close (and hopefully get an autograph or two) but don't know where to go.
Should I wait outside the stadium and wait for them to arrive and if so where and when is the best time?
I've seen fans in the stands during batting practice, so is that also another chance to see them?
I would also like to go see Monument Park, too.
Any advice will be appreciated.
Thanks.
all u yankee ans almost killed the season with the arod bashing. harangued to the point of torture u all have no right whatsoever to enjoy what he is doing now and what he will do to lead us to the world series.
u guys almost destroyed him!
u dont deserve him!!!!!!
eric -- monument pk closes an hour before gametime -- go early!
evan -- K-Rod knocks in 5 RBIs... when we score 10 runs ONLY. E-Rod homers.. when we're down by 5 and there's no one on base. He's a STAT-PADDER!
OK lets set the asinine people streight. What was the score when A-Rod hit his first homer? Ah 4-1 with a rookie starter on the mound. Not only that but of A-Rods 31 homers to date, 15 have given the yankees the lead. In other words, a little under 50%. Want to guess the % of David "Clutch" Ortiz, 32$. Now shut up
What does this guy have to do to catch a break? He won the AL MVP last year, he switched positions even though he could have destroyed every SS hitting record ever amassed. He has 31 homers and 104 RBI's the first week of September and he went hitless for three weeks! Just because David Wright shows up at Shea suddenly everybody hates A-Rod? He is an integral part of a winning ballclub who has contributed a ton, been out there everyday, taken enormous pounding from the media, been booed at home and he still loves being a Yankee and everything that stands for. You aren't a fan, you are just another idiot who thinks because ball players make so much money they have the right to boo and cuss and yell"steroids" and "K-rod" at the top of their lungs AT HOME! I wouldn't blame A-Rod if he didn't want to stay here but he does. Compare his stats to EVERY third baseman in the National or American League. Ask every ball player, GM, Manager and 90% would love to play with or be involved with his team. The others are just like you, angry pathetic and not worthy of a seat at the stadium you say you love. Boston is a great town for folks like you. They bail on their team every year and it's close by. If you need a hand moving your stuff let me know.
oh no doubt the guys got stats. that's my point. what do they do for the team? nothing.
15 HR gave the yanks the lead?!? impossible. i've watched nearly every game. and isn't the guy league leading in gidp? i used to root for him to K just so he wouldn't gidp.
look, yankee fan here. but call a spade a spade. a-rod's stats are VERY deceptive. he looks much better in rotisserie than he does on grass.
Thanks j for the advice.
I'll try to sneak into Monument Park early because I read somewhere that my bleachers ticket won't get me into that part of the park.
As for A-Rod. What is there to say?
The guy just doesn't do well under pressure, so since clutch means pressure, he just isn't very clutch.
What are you going to do? That's how the man is, so just deal with it.