2012 ALDS: Roster & Rotation Info

As of now mananger Joe Girardi has not yet announced the full ALDS roster, but he has revealed that Andy Pettitte will start game 2. So the Yankees are going with CC, Pettitte, and Kuroda for the first three. Game 4 is apparently still up in the air.

There was also some rotation info from the other side of the diamond as the Orioles announced that Jason Hammel to start game 1 of the ALDS. Hammel went 8-6 with a 3.43 ERA for the O's this season, but has made just two starts since July.

Also, Andruw Jones told the media he would not be on the roster. He also agreed with the move, saying he didn't deserve to make the cut. According to the skipper, Jayson Nix is a possibility for the final spot, if he is healthy enough to play.

What Do the Yankees See In Andruw Jones?

            There is no measurable statistic that supports Andruw Jones’ spot on the 2012 New York Yankees roster. None.  There has to be something that I am missing so if somebody can explain it to me, I am all ears. More importantly though, someone needs to tell it to Girardi.  Don’t get me wrong, he was fantastic last year in his role. Against southpaws, Jones put up an OPS of .923 as well as an OBP of .384 in 126 at-bats.

             

            It is now September (almost October) 2012, and for the life of me, I cannot wrap my head around the reasoning behind him getting playing time. He should have been shown the door a long time ago but if he is still here on September 29^th, I do not expect him to be cut with only one series left in the regular season. What the Yankees can do though is not put Jones on the postseason roster. It won’t excuse the ridiculous amount of leeway that he has received from the organization, but at least he won’t be able to hurt them when it matters most.

           

            Against lefty pitching, Jones is sporting an OPS of .713 to go along with an OBP of .297. Since the All-Star Break, those numbers turn into .524 and .262. Just for kicks, check out his numbers in September. If you don’t feel like it, .593 and .259. He has walked more than he has struck out but when you are putting up numbers like that, there is not even a way someone can say “Well at least, he has drawn a couple walks.” The more you break him down, the worse he looks, and that is not even taking his lack of hustle when he does play. On the rare occasion when he has to hustle, we’ve seen him strolling down to first seemingly without a care in the world. I know that is just pseudo-psychology on my part, but I am just sick to death of watching this guy play.

           

           I just cannot understand what the Yankee brass sees in this guy. I would kind of understand if he was a lifetime guy like Jeter or Posada but if the Atlanta Braves can let him walk, I don’t see why the Yankees can’t. Let Melky Mesa get some at-bats, he is an upgrade over Jones. His base running blunder aside, he has excellent speed, can swipe a bag, and play great defense while showing some good power. I would be fine with Chris Dickerson playing, I don’t really care who it is. When you consistently do the same thing over and over again while expecting different results that is insanity.

             

           The New York Yankees need to keep him as far away from the postseason roster as possible but I doubt that will happen. For some reason, they think that being a veteran trumps inexperience even if that veteran is completely useless.

Andruw Jones Re-Signs with the Yanks

Are The Sox Trying To Steal Jones?

From Mark Feinsand:

For weeks, it has appeared to be a foregone conclusion that Andruw Jones would return to the Bronx next season, but that’s no longer the certainty it once seemed.

The Yankees have stayed in touch with Jones’ agent, Scott Boras, but a source said the two sides have not made much progress despite the mutual desire for a reunion. The source added that “several” other teams have expressed interest in the 34-year-old outfielder — one of which is believed to be the rival Red Sox.

Like the Yankees, the Red Sox are searching for a righthanded power bat to share time in the outfield, a role Jones filled admirably last season in New York.

Cashman and Co. have done very little, if anything this offseason to improve the team, the least they can do is sure up the bench. Get it done, Brian.

Heyman on Yanks: Chavez, Jones, Gonzalez

I like the idea of bringing Jones and Chavez back a lot. They were both solid bench players and there's no reason they can't do the same, or better, next year. Chavez obviously has his health issues, but even if he has to spend some time on the DL it's worth bringing him back.

As for Gonzalez, since coming to the AL he's certainly been knocked down a beg going 3-5 with just 2 saves and a 4.27 ERA in 85 appearances for the O's. Prior to his move to the AL, Gonzalez had an impressive 2.57 ERA 302 appearances for the Pirates and Braves. Clearly age is either catching up with the left-hander, or he's a pitcher better suited to face lineups where pitchers hit.

He was pretty good against lefties in 2011, holding them to a triple-slash of .214/.264/.311, so maybe there's some value there. Not sure the move is necessary, but as I've said a thousand times, extra pitching is always a good thing.

A Brief Blueprint for the Off-Season

Sign Mark Buehrle

Buehrle has started at least thirty games and tossed at least 201 IP in each of the last eleven seasons, and his ERA and FIP have been below-average exactly once in his career, way back in 2006. While he may not represent the "1B" to Sabathia's "1A" that many Yankees fans are clamoring for, such a pitcher does not exist on the market (and paying C.J. Wilson as if he is such a pitcher is foolhardy at best). Buehrle's consistency makes up for the modest upside, and I would have a great deal of faith in him as the Yankees Game 2 starter.

Sign Yu Darvish

You can find further thoughts on Darvish here. Suffice it to say that I believe in his potential, and that upside is worth the gamble, particularly when his posting fee would not count against the luxury tax. This assumes, of course, that Darvish is posted ... which is apparently fifty-fifty at this juncture.

Re-Sign Andruw Jones

Jones battered left-handed pitchers to the tune of a .286/.384/.540 slash line in 2011, good for a 151 wRC+, and he remains a solid defender in both left and right-field. In my mind, there isn't a better option on the market.

Trade A.J. Burnett

This is easier said than done, of course - but the Braves ability to unload Derek Lowe gives me the faintest glimmer of hope. Burnett has the look of a sunk cost at this juncture, and freeing up a roster spot and $6 MM or so (assuming the Yankees pick up around $10 MM per season) would be quite beneficial. If the Yankees can acquire a lottery ticket prospect along the way, that's just gravy.

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