guess Joe plans on playing more small ball this series... i don't much like the move either, i woulda just carried 1 less relief pitcher... Marte sucks balls anyways, can't even get lefties out, why is he even on the roster?

^^^i think the only way the yanks win this series is if they match the small ball game that scocia plays. only our small ball needs to look like this...

jeter hit a single, then steal to 2nd or have damon bat you over. then, tex, arod matsui (either of the 3) bomb it out of the park. the rest of the recipe is just wash, rinse, repeat....

in a 7 game series, with potential for rainouts, i can see why girardi wants an extra bullpen arm.

Posted by GKFv2:

Posted by TMS:

Guzman in, Hinske out for the ALCS

That's weird and kinda stupid. He's the only power guy we had on the bench.

I'd like to carry Hinske myself but when you think about it, who's he really pinch-hitting for in this lineup? And it's not like you're gonna give him a start at 3rd or in RF this series. Plus we have Hairston as a supersub that plays all over the joint. American League baseball -- The only big move Joe really has to make with his offense is in the games started by AJ w/Molina behind the plate. Close game late with Molina up, you go Posada for Molina and if Jorgie gets on base, you pinch run Guzman then insert Cervelli behind the plate. Simple formula and it's a great option to have in those games. I like the roster move - Guzman for Hinske. It makes a ton a sense esp. in this series against this particular opponent. Guzman's a hell of a lot more valuable to us than Hinske IMO. Respect & thanks to Hinske btw - he was good for us this year and yet another decent little pick-up by Cash. This roster move definitely gives us a chance to start Gardner a game or two here, even in the Burnett/Molina games, and then still have a quality pinch runner available. Just heard Girardi on with Francesa - it looks like Melky's gonna start game one against Lackey (supposedly Melky has decent #s against Lackey). If Melky does nothing with the bat in game 1, I'd give Gardy a crack in CF, hit him 9th & see if he can get on and cause problems with his speed. Nothing to lose.

Still can't understand why he'd take Marte over Bruney. Strange. I don't see it but hopefully Marte does something this series like get Abreu out in a big spot late in a game, say in some extra inning game after they had used Coke already. That would be the only way I could see him contributing in this series. Otherwise, I can't even see how he'd make an appearance. Unless maybe there's a player or two on the Angels that doesn't hit Marte particularly well. Even so, Marte's not the same pitcher he once was. I would've taken Bruney but hopefully Marte makes Joe proud and contributes if called upon.

Posted by TMS:

Hinkse would be pinch hitting for someone like Melky or Gardner in a big spot, u can be sure of that... carrying the extra runner in Guzman is fine, but i think dropping Hinske could be a mistake... w/o him on the bench we have no real power hitting threat at all in a pinch hitting role... Hairston's value is only as a utility plug in in late game situations, he's not really a pinch hitting option for us.

I'm not sure I agree with that. Very quietly, Melky had a very clutch year for the Yanks, including several huge walk-off hits. He even hit for the cycle..Even though he's been a little quiet with the bat lately, no way would I ever pinch-hit Hinske for Melky in a big spot. Not based on what I've seen this year. And I wouldn't even go with Hinske over Gardner in a big spot either myself. Think about it this way -- what has a better chance of happening - Hinske hitting a big pinch-hit HR late in the game against one of the plus relievers coming out of the Angels bullpen or Gardner scoring a run after getting himself on any way possible and advancing into scoring position with his speed for someone like Jeter, Damon, Tex or A-Rod to knock him in. The Gardner scenario seems more probable to me. If we're tied or down a run or two late I want guys that can get on and get themselves in scoring position. Outside of the little flurry Hinske had when we first got him, he kinda faded a little bit. I just don't see him as a guy above Melky or even Gardner on the depth chart, offensively or defensively.

LET'S GET IT BOYS!!!

This team has me really excited - I really believe in them.

Rivera is so clutch. Great game.

Woooo!