Yanks add Hinske, Bruney for WS
ByUpdate by Mike (6:17pm): Bruney’s on, Cervelli’s off.
The Yankees have until 10 a.m. tomorrow to announce their World Series roster, but early indications are that the team plans to change things up from the ALCS. Jack Curry reported earlier today via Twitter that the team has added Eric Hinske to the World Series roster in lieu of Freddy Guzman. Clearly, with action heading to the NL parks, Hinske had to be activated. The Yankees don’t need Freddy Guzman around, and it’s debatable if they even did in the first place. With pitchers hitting this weekend, the Yankees will use Hinske’s bat off the bench. He can pinch hit as needed and could even spell Nick Swisher in right field. This move was a no-brainer.
Meanwhile, according to a report in The Post this morning, Yankee brass are considering adding Brian Bruney to the World Series roster. I’m a bit bearish on Bruney right now. He hasn’t pitched in a game since Oct. 2, and throwing simulated appearances in Tampa pales in comparison to pitching in games. If the Yanks want to add him, however, they easily could do so by dropping a third catcher. After A.J. Burnett’s showing in Anaheim last week, the Yanks probably don’t need to have Jose Molina caddy for their number two starter. Additionally, Burnett may have to start in Philadelphia, and the Yanks cannot afford to have a pitcher and Jose Molina in the same lineup. Therefore, the Yanks could drop either Molina or Francisco Cervelli and add Brian Bruney. We’ll know for sure by the morning.
hopefully it is molina that gets dumped no? cause cervelli cant be worse than him with the bat and could be better and cervelli could be not only used as the backup catcher but then can pinch run for jroge too since he doesnt yet have old people knees….
Well, he’s still not all that fast either. He’s fast for a catcher.
jose molina makes cervelli look like freddy guzman
Wayne Brady makes Bryant Gumbel look like Malcolm X.
Is wayne brady gonna have to choke a bitch?
Eh, I’d rather have Guzman over Bruney. If K-Rob can’t get any work, Bruney even more useless. Having 2 pinch-runners is somewhat better I think. But whatever, it doesn’t matter much either way.
Meh. Gardner and Jerry Jr are fine pinch runners. We’re going to need some mop up innings there anyway
Jerry’s a obove-average runner I guess. Gardy has struggled so far in the postseason but I think he’ll be OK. Like I said, it shouldn’t really matter so I’m OK either way.
Good point on the mop-up innings.
In my perfect world Molina is dropped in favor of Miranda. I like the big lefty vs Madsen and Lidge.
But he’s down in the DR playing winterball so that is not likely.
Cervelli has to go. We need another arm in the pen and can’t waste a spot on a 3rd catcher. This wasn’t an issue in AL parks, it is now an issue since we’ll play in Philly.
Just imagine an extra inning game in Philly, every extra arm is needed imo.
This is assuming we, without a doubt, side with the backup catcher with experience.
if a catcher goes it should be molina because the only time the backup catcher sees any playing time is pinchrunning for jorge in the 8th/9th when trailing and he is on 2nd and then catching the last inning or coming in to catch after gardner pinch runs for jorge.
There’s something to be said about experience. Molina has it and in fact he has it at the highest level. Cervelli will have his time. As a matter of fact his time will be 2010.
experience will play no role in the inning or two at most the backup catcher plays in the game the yankees are trailing.
ok maybe pr for jorge, tie the game, boom extra innings. even then id rather have cervelli. i don’t see how molina’s “experience” plays any role.
this experience argument is what people use when they have no other basis to explain why an older guy with diminished skills shouldn’t be replaced by a younger guy who is equal to or better
I agree.
Experience is an invaluable commodity. This is true both in sports and in life.
Jose has caught 3,896 innings in his Major League career. Cisco has caught 255. If you feel that nothing has been learned in that difference of 3,641 innings that may be fruitful in “one or two innings,” well then I just disagree, a lot.
Then we’ll disagree.
All those exrtra innings may perhaps make a difference for two players who are both talented. But for backup catchers who will be seeing one or two innings, I’d go w/even the slight edge in talent for such a small sample size.
Now Molina is not talented? He’s an extremely talented defensive player.
…Whuch is more than made up for because of his utter and incredeible futility in hitting.
No compared to brobably a good 65-70% of all major leaguers, and pretty much every player in this world series, he is not talented.
Compared to anyone, at any level, in any series, Molina is an extremely talented defensive catcher.
We all know that at some points we feel he’d be better off going to the plate with no bat just so he’ll make the other pitcher throw at least 3 pitches.
That’s not the point though.
Dude is very talented, just not with the stick.
DEFENSIVE. Overall talent, combined offense and defense, he’s far worse than any player on the field, and defensively he’s not miles and miles ahead of everybody.
This whole thing is in Strawman territory. Molina is not in the major leagues for his bat.
My original point was that he’s the better choice because of his experience.
It seems the Yanks tend to have similar thinking.
And my rebuttal was that his experience does not overcome the better, even marginally better, talent of Cervelli, especially over perhaps 1 or 2 innings.
Molina is a good defensive catcher who can’t hit.
Cervelli is also a good defensive catcher who can’t hit.
Cervelli’s bat, while bad, is slightly better than Molina’s. This difference is small.
Molina’s experience, while beneficial, is substantially greater than Cervelli’s. This difference is large and sizeable.
Molina >>>>>>>>> Cervelli, for these next
sevenfour games.Lets remember one thing please, Posada did not hit .380 in the playoffs and did commit several errors… He’s not Maur or Pujols, so let’s stop thinking he’s that good. Molina is the better caller/defensive catcher we have. He should be used and kept in all games.
Also, the last time I checked… The teams that have won the World Series, didn’t have a Catcher like Maur, Martin or someone hitting .380… Posada barely broke the Mendoza line and people are not always comfortable with him either!!!
come on, seriously?
Are you kidding me? Posada won 4 world series with the yanks! He’s NOT a terrible defensive catcher and the threat of the long ball from him is always present. He takes waaaay more pitches than molina and hits the ball harder and with more authority than most Molina by a long shot! Molina’s defense is great for being a back-up but he’s an automatic out!
Also the reason Mauer isn’t winning the WS is cuz he’s on a team that doesn’t have the resources to win beyond him and a handful of others, not to mention that he catches a crap load of games down the stretch to try to force his way into the playoffs so he’s exhausted by the time he gets there. And you may wanna check your facts, cuz Ruiz was one of the main reasons the Phils won last year because of his BAT!
nah buddy, check your stats… when Posada won the 4 World Series, it was great! Now? he’s an old player that doesn’t like to hustle or understand the mechanics of taking a pitch.
Look at his stats for the last 2 playoff series and then tell me you want a catcher barely hitting .200, no defense, and who cares if Posada can hit the ball harder??? he’s hitting under .200!!!! that’s an automatic out, last time I checked!!
Get with the times, I’m a big Yankees fan and will always be, but egos have to go and old personal bests, are in the past!!!
I rather have a catcher that’s a better game caller, better defensively in every single category and not selfish like Posada… what did he say when he wasn’t going to play the first series??? ” I hope we win, that’s all I have to say” That’s not a captain or someone I want in my team!! IF this is a TEAM, than act like a grown man and let someone else, who’s better at almost everything, except for hitting of course and STFU!! HOW did Japan win the WBC?? by benching the hitters and putting in DEFENSE!!! where did the US end up at???? anyone???
Welcome to the 2009 edition of Yankee fans say the dumbest things. Are you seriously advocating for starting Jose Molina in the playoffs over Jorge Posada? I can’t really take that seriously. Sorry.
Jorge Posada doesn’t know how to take pitches? LOL!!
This is the sort of comment that kills braincells. It needs some type of warning label.
Sorry, but if Molina’s such a team player, why doesn’t he drag his fat butt into the gym, so he
could return to being the great defensive catcher
he used to be…not this overweight over the hill
defensive specialist that is too heavy to block
balls in the dirt, or sprint after the ball when
he fails to block it. When he got the chance to
play the last two years, he got hurt both times
because he was out of shape. Give me Jorge any
day…a guy who still cares enought to be upset if he isn’t playing and who cares enough to work out to be the best he can be. Give me a break.
In a 7-game-series, a pinch-runner has more value than a third catcher. Therefor, I’d rather drop one of Cervelli or Molina than Guzman. Especially if the Jose-Molina-is-A.J.’s-personal-catcher experiment is over.
In a 7-game-series, a pinch-runner has more value than a third catcher.
Agreed. However, Guzman is not a pinchrunner, he’s the SECOND pinchrunner. And, a 12th pitcher probably has more value than both a second pinch runner and a third catcher, especially since that second pinch runner doesn’t steal bases (as Guzman has yet to demonstrate a willingness to do).
Would never happen but Id dump Molina for the extra pitcher if thats what theyre thinking right now. Molina is the most useless player on that roster, as evidence by Burnett’s performance in Game 5.
The whole point of carrying him on the roster was proven ineffective.
Are you allowed to replace injured players in the middle of a series? Imagine if Molina gets hurt. The Yankees would be playing Russian Roulette with Posada and the emergency catcher, which is Hairston.
Yes, Cliff Floyd was replaced by Hinske in last year’s WS.
Joe G also said on the FAN that it wouldn’t be crazy if Swisher keeps slumping to put Matsui in left and Damon right at the NL park. And that a 3 men rotation is not a given.
I would be really, really shocked if they go to a 4 man rotation. I would not be shocked, but definitely surprised, if Matsui plays in Philly.
i didnt even think about putting matsui in lf…would that be a safe bet after a yr plus of not being in the field??
That’s why I don’t think he’ll do it.
Damon and Matsui in the outfield at the same time? Maybe if Sandy Koufax or Bob Gibson was pitching. Not against the Phillies and our pitchers. Too painful to ponder..
Matsui in left will never happen again. Ever.
If Swisher slumps mightily, Gardner will play the OF. Not HazMat.
Hopefully Swisher gets hot and they never have to go there.
Damn saying something negative about Swisher has become equal to saying something negative about the “Big 3″ ( hughes, IPK and Joba) here at RAB.
LOL
I’m just terrified of what would happen in a Matsui-Cabrera-Damon outfield. Anything that Melky doesn’t get to is a free XBH.
yeah,that’s kinda frightening lol. I’d rather see Gardner in center and Melky in right than matsui out there… Plus, then you can still can Matsui off the bench for a late game pinch-hit
I agree, but I think if they spit in NY or worst and Swisher is 0 for whatever he would make the change.
talk about a panic move if he did that. I really don’t think you take Swisher out under any circumstances. He is, and has been our leftfielder all year. Crazy.
He has?!
rightfielder?
Why shocked? Doesn’t sticking with a 3-man rotation imply that everyone goes on 3 days’ rest starting in game 4?
Is giving Gaudin a start a worse move than that?
yes.
Girardi said that if Swisher kept slumping that Matsui may see time if leftfield? What is the point of even saying that. Even if that is the plan, why say it before it happens. You can cross that bridge when you come to it.
Damon should never even look at right field. You can hide his arm in left, but the Phils would go crazy on first to thrid situations if Damon was allowed in right field.
Molina will not be on the team next year so let’s get rid of him now and give Cervelli a taste of the good life. It is painful watching Molina hit/run/and catch. Other than that and that super-confident 4 run first with AJ……how did you like the play Mrs. Lincoln????
Why not play Matsui. Just as easy to put in for defense. Think about it. Id rather having chasing fly balls in 3rd inning then in 9th after coming into pinch hit. He will get likely 2 more at bats.
The thing is, he’s played NO defense. All year. Matsui and Damon in the same outfield is like holding race around the bases. I’d rather just start Swishy and pinch hit Godzilla when we need a hit.
” I’d rather just start Swishy and pinch hit Godzilla when we need a hit.”
I agree.
Dear God could you imagine Damon in RF, every runner would go first to third while walking. And Matsui in LF, means you have to start gardner just so they could try and cover the outfield.
I want Molina off and no more pitchers added, so it takes decisions away from Girardi.. more pitchers equals more match ups. No molina equals jorge catching all games.
I want Molina off and no more pitchers added, so it takes decisions away from Girardi.. more pitchers equals more match ups.
99% of Joe Girardi’s “matchups” have both
A) been the correct move and
B) worked brilliantly
Stop fearing Girardi overmanaging. He’s not overmanaging, he’s just managing correctly and people are freaking out over nothing because they’re dumb and don’t understand strategy.
Way to generalize. The authors of this site have quibbled with some of girardi’s playoff moves, and I don’t think you’d say they’re dumb or don’t understand strategy.
I hear your point but exaggeration doesn’t always help your cause. And for the record, 99% of the literary tools you use DO help your cause(I’m a constant observer, rare commenter). Just don’t think it was necessary here to flat out insult people.
Is Keith Law an idiot? Or Joe Posnanski? Stephen Goldman? They all seem to think Girardi has made too many/poor calls this postseason.
My only concern is that since he is already going to need the lefties for a large portion of the Phillies lineup, he is going to start going 1 and 1 and 1 and 1. Thus creating a bullpen of LOOGYs
I’ve read their criticisms as the arose. They were wrong.
For Swisher? Who plays right?
I guess Damon.
Oh man, lol we’d have guys like Pedro running 1st to 3rd on any single hit to right.
Read above
Gotta stick with Swish. He had a hit and a nice bunt in game 6 ALCS and withstood all the negativity after game 5. Like the righty bat against Lee. Can you imagine Damon doubling up Vlad at first base? I don’t think so. Swish not perfect but best option….
No way Matsui sees the field unless it is desperation extra innings or dire circumstances. If all goes to plan, he should not see the field. I can see an instance where you pinch hit for Melky, maybe, but even then, Gardner would probably come in as a defensive replacement.
Here’s an idea…
Have Sheffield play 1st! Who cares about defense?
Gotta get rid of one of the catchers. Either one really, who cares.
After Cervelli hits the big homer in Atlanta to get us going-he gets dumped from the roster? Now he won’t even get a full share. Gotta wait till next year
So will Molina catch AJ again???? Please no. I hope we never see Bruney in this series. It can only mean bad things…. I feel better now..
He will get a full share I am sure. I don’t think they should start Matsui. My point only was…
If you pinch hit him, he may stay in for defense anyway.
Id rather have him flopping around outfield early in games rather then late. Maybe his 1st 3 at bats provide enough runs, where you can put in Defensive replacement.
Losing Matsui’s bat would be a major blow to the starting lineup. Though Matsui’s last 50 at-bats aint anything to brag over, you can’t lose a .500 slugger WS time.
Yes, losing Matsui’s bat would suck.
Having Matsui and Damon in the corners defensively would probably suck even worse, though.
That’s ONE homer. Molina has experience; he’s staying.
Good shit with Bruney, definitely the right move imo.
Molina will get the nod over Cervelli because he brings TEH VETERAN PRESENCE.
Matsui will not spend an inning in the field. No chance in hell the Yankees have Matsui make his defensive debut in the World Series when he didn’t even field in interleague games.
This tells me two things:
1) They are at least considering starting Gaudin, and felt the need for another reliever.
2) They are at least considering letting Posada catch AJ, thereby making the 3rd catcher superfluous.
Agreed, on both points.
Thirded.
Can’t say I disagree with either concept, either. I’m wary of giving Gaudin a start, but it may be unavoidable.
I’m praying for either A) a four game sweep bookended with CC starts or B) rain delaying Game 5.
Chad Gaudin in a pivitol game 5, on the road, against that lineup, in that ballpark? YIKES!!!
Maybe Gaudin is a really really really really good hitter and nobody realizes it.
It may not be a pivotal Game 5. It’ll probably be a Game 5 with a 3-1 lead and two home games still in our pocket.
Why is nobody talking about Posada’s awful CAREER stats in the postseason? As bad as Molina is offensively, he’s no worse than Posada.
Correction- He’s a HELLUVA lot worse than Posada. In fact, every catcher in the majors not named Joe Mauer is worse offensively than Posada.
Did you not see the word postseason?
Dude, Jorge has certainly struggled in the postseason in his career. And yet, Jorge’s postseason stats are STILL better than Molina has EVER done in his life under any circumstances whatsoever. You can’t find a single aspect of Molina’s offensive game that is better than Jorge on his worst day.
I would say Victor Martinez and perhaps Brian McCann are better offensively.
McCann, yes. Martinez, no frickin way.
Hhttp://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/posadjo01.shtml#batting_postseason
He’s had freakishly good, he’s had “awful” and he’s had average/run of the mill postseason series.
.771 OPS is awful for a power hitter, sorry. My point is, we don’t lose that much with Molina in for 3 ABs. Everyone used to say how awful Arod was in the postseason, well Posada has had a much longer postseason career to prove his offense goes down in October.
Okay, seriously. DId you check how many doubles, triples and home runs Molina has had in the postseason? Try zero. Heck, the guy only has 20 home runs in his career! Jorge’s had 2 HRs and a double just this postseason. It’s not remotely a contest. Molina is the dirt in Jorge’s cleats, offensively.
Why is nobody talking about Posada’s awful CAREER stats in the postseason?
Because we’re not going to let a small sample size foolishly convince us that Posada’s bad. He’s not.
350 AB is small?
That’s about half a season’s worth of plate appearances.
Yes, it’s small. Much smaller than Jorge’s 6312 career regular season PAs.
So ARod has always been a postseason stud using your reasoning.
He certainly was a ‘postseason stud’ up until Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS.
Actually, here’s A-Rod’s career postseason numbers:
.307/.408/.570
Well gosh, those are better than his career numbers. Guess he really has always been a postseason stud.
Stud? No. But that’s not the point.
Should ARod have EVER have been benched for a drastically inferior player, like what you’re proposing with your Posada/Molina comment? Hells no.
Benching ARod, even if he struggled, would have been one of the 5 dumbest things in the history of sports.
And your idea, Chad, to bench Posada for Molina because Posada hasn’t yet hit well in the postseason would be historically, monumentally stupid. Your idea is historically, monumentally stupid, Chad.
Go to the corner and think about what you just said now.
Wow, I compliment a backup player for playing as well as a starter, and I get chastised. I guess you can’t reason with people with their head in their… well you know.
Chad, you have your head up your ass. Not us. You.
So are we going to see CC pinch-hit in late inning if no ones left ?
Here’s a thought: Why not let Nick Swisher pitch Game 4 or 5? His stats suggest he’s better than Gaudin (the guy’s an innings-eater), and he’s a much better hitter, so we then have an extreme lineup advantage. Swisher can totally out-pitch Joe Blanton.
Hello? Anybody out there? Helloooooooo…
So this means Jorge catches A.J., right?
please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney please dont add bruney
I get the feeling that your against bruney being on the roster.
Reading fail.
Looks to me like he’s saying “add Bruney please” with some weird word buffered in between.
All work and no play makes killcam a dull boy.
Update by Mike (6:17pm): Bruney’s on, Cervelli’s off.
I”m sorry
Walking home tonight I thought about the WS roster and this is exactly what I wanted the Yanks to do. We definitely need a bat like Hinske’s off the bench and I like the security of an extra pitcher–especially one that Girardi is wary of using.
Unless the pages in his book changed.
Bruney won’t be used much but probably more than Guzman was in the ALDS/ALCS. However, I think extra innings are likely in this series so having another arm in the pen is appealing, especially as it doesn’t take away an important piece.
Girardi said on the fan today that jose molina will catch Burnett… so it’s deff going to be him on the roster
Girardi said on the fan today that jose molina will catch Burnett… so it’s deff going to be him on the roster
Damn.
Confidence Level falls from 27.49 to 26.51
Thanks to rounding, still 27, I suppose.
Very disappointing. AJ must be one fragile guy. Jorge plays 1/2 of the game that Molina catches anyway. Watching Molina run down the line makes me yearn for Jorge’s speed. Sad….
Hey, anything that keeps Girardi from pinch-running for A-Rod is good in my book. Here’s to dropping Guzman!
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