SB Nation - Alfredo Aceves

Player Development Origins for the 2009 New York Yankees

John Sickels — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:18:15 -0000

More photos » by Wilfredo Lee - AP

Derek Jeter, New York Yankees first round draft pick in 1992. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Here are the player development origins of the 2009 American League Champion New York Yankees. I'll do a comparison of the Yankees and Phillies tomorrow.

PITCHERS

Alfredo Aceves, RHP: Signed out of Mexico as a free agent in 2008.

A.J. Burnett, RHP: Drafted by the New York Mets in the eighth round out of high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1995. The Yankees signed him as a major league free agent for 2009.

Joba Chamberlain, RHP: Drafted by the Yankees in the supplemental first round in 2006 from the University of Nebraska.

Phil Coke, LHP: Drafted by the Yankees in the 26^th round in 2002, out of San Joaquin Delta Community College.

Chad Gaudin, RHP: Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 34^th round in 2001, from high school in Harahan, Louisiana. The Yankees traded for him in the summer of 2009.

Phil Hughes, RHP: Drafted by the Yankees in the first round of the 2004 draft, from high school in Santa Ana, California.

Damaso Marte, LHP: Signed by the Seattle Mariners as a free agent from the Dominican Republic in 1992. Yankees acquired him in a 2008 trade.

Andy Pettitte, LHP: Drafted by the Yankees in the 22^nd round in 1991 out of high school in Texas, signed as a draft-and-follow from San Jacinto JC in '92. Went to Houston as a free agent in 2004 but re-signed by the Yankees for 2007.

Mariano Rivera, RHP: Signed by the Yankees as a free agent from Panama in 1990.

David Robertson, RHP: Drafted by the Yankees in the 17^th round in 2006, from the University of Alabama.

C.C. Sabathia, LHP: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the first round of the 1998 draft, out of high school in Vallejo, California. Signed by the Yankees as a major league free agent for 2009.

POSITION PLAYERS

Melky Cabrera, OF: Signed by the Yankees as a free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2001.

Robinson Cano, 2B: Signed by the Yankees as a free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2001.

Francisco Cervelli, C: Signed by the Yankees as a free agent out of Venezuela in 2004.

Johnny Damon, OF: Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the supplemental first round in 1992, out of high school in Orlando, Florida. The Yankees signed him as a major league free agent in 2006.

Brett Gardner, OF: Drafted by the Yankees in the third round in 2005, from the College of Charleston.

Freddy Guzman, OF: Signed by the San Diego Padres as a free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2000. Acquired in a trade in late August 2009.

Jerry Hairston JR, INF: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 11^th round in 1997, from Southern Illinois University. Acquired by the Yankees in a trade in July 2009.

Derek Jeter, SS: Drafted by the Yankees in the first round in 1992, out of high school in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Hideki Matsui, OF: Signed by the Yankees as a free agent from Japan in 2002. I am counting him as a "major league free agent" on the list below, not as a Yankee farm system product, since he was already an established star in Japan.

Jose Molina, C: Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 14^th round in 1993, from high school in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. The Yankees acquired him in a trade from the Angels in 2007.

Jorge Posada, C: Drafted by the Yankees in the 24^th round in 1990, out of high school in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B: Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the first round in 1993, out of high school in Miami, Florida. The Yankees acquired him in a trade with the Rangers in 2004.

Nick Swisher, OF: Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 2002 draft, from Ohio State University. Acquired in a trade with the White Sox in November 2008.

Mark Teixeira, 1B: Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round in 2001, from Georgia Tech. Signed by the Yankees as a free agent in December 2008.

ACQUISITIONS

Trades or Waivers: Gaudin, Marte, Guzman, Hairston, Molina, Rodriguez, Swisher.

Yankees Farm System Products: Aceves, Chamberlain, Coke, Hughes, Rivera, Robertson, Cabrera, Cano, Cervelli, Gardner, Jeter, Posada.

Major League Free Agents: Burnett, Pettitte, Sabathia, Damon, Matsui, Teixeira.

ORIGINS

Drafted from North American high schools: Burnett (8^th), Gaudin (34^th), Hughes (1^st), Sabathia (1^st), Damon (1-S), Jeter (1^st), Molina (14^th), Posada (24^th), Rodriguez (1^st),

Drafted from junior colleges: Coke (26^th), Pettitte (22^nd).

Drafted from four-year colleges: Chamberlain (1-S), Robertson (17^th), Gardner (3^rd), Hairston (11^th), Swisher (1^st), Teixeira (1^st).

Undrafted free agents from North America: none.

Latin Free Agents: Aceves, Marte, Rivera, Cabrera, Cano, Cervelli, Guzman,

Asian Free Agents: Matsui

ALCS Game 6 Postponed

Rev Halofan — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:06:03 -0000

More photos » by Julie Jacobson - AP

about 1 month ago: New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez puts pine tar on his baseball bat before batting practice Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Yankees are scheduled to play the Los Angeles Angels in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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Is there a disturbance in the force, Sith-Rod?

The NY POST is reporting that ALCS Game 6 has been RAINED OUT and is postponed. The game will be played SUNDAY, first pitch at 5:20 PM Pacific Time. Game 7 is scheduled for Monday at 4:57 PM our time.

From all reports, the Yankees will stick with Andy Pettitte to start Game 6 as scheduled. The Angels have given no indication that it will be anyone but Joe Saunders starting Game 6. The possibility of bringing John Lackey back to start Game 7 on three days rest to face CC Sabathia will be the subject of much consideration should the Angels be victorious on Sunday.

If you are hanging out online tonight, Giguere says he is 100%, go visit ANAHEIM CALLING, the new SBN Ducks Blog!

Bronx Weather Link - Live TWITTER UPDATES from the NY Post in the Bronx Pressbox

Sunday Night Forecast: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. East winds around 5 mph.

TONIGHT'S Forecast: Rain with isolated thunderstorms in the evening...then a chance of rain after midnight. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds and heavy rainfall in the evening. Breezy with lows in the mid 50s. South winds 15 to 20 mph...becoming northwest 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

Poll

Since the Game has been Called, Where Are You Going Tonight?

I will just stay home

219 votes

Hang with friends at a bar or someone's pad

120 votes

My Hook Up is None of Your Business

137 votes

476 votes | Poll has closed

What's the word I'm looking for...oh yeah, STOMACH PUNCH. Yanks lose 7-6.

CrazyYankeeChick — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:12:56 -0000

I guess it makes sense...

7-6.

#65 gets the win.

#65 gets the loss.

In game 5.

Thanks to a 4 run 1st.

From #34.

And a 3-hit game.

From #41.

And a final out from #33.

On the 22nd.

See ya in the Bronx, kids.

Do the gory details need to be relived?

I can't decide whether I'm relieved or aggravated that I didn't decide to take tomorrow off.

Is this what the Twins felt like?? Good God. I have a newfound respect for every team that's suffered a Yankee comeback/walkoff.

This isn't exactly our wheelhouse. The Yankees make a comeback, they're making a comeback to win the game. They don't mess around. (With a few exceptions, some of which are still fresh in my mind.)

I headed up to my standard game-watching haunt, with the Yankees already in a 4-0 hole in the 1st.

When I arrived at the bar, the score hadn't changed. My sister met me outside.

"It was like the police coming to a high school party where someone drank themself unconscious."
"What the HELL are you talking about?"

"When you said you were on your way here. I told everyone, 'she's coming, she's gonna be here in minutes.' And they just got ashen. So it was like, what's worse: the fact someone's in critical condition, like the Yankees? Or the fact the scary/aggressive/OCD/unpredictable time-bomb of a cop is on his way. And you don't know if he's in a good mood and is just gonna be like, 'eh, kids'll be kids. I'll give 'em a warning or something. OR, if you're gonna get the psycho-crazed lit fuse of a cop."

And if I needed it further spelled out for me, she added: "People think you're nuts."

"Yeah, no, I got it. Thanks."

(I'm just gonna copy and paste that direct quote next time my mom asks me why I'm single.)

And that's how my night went. Unfortunately for all game-viewers within striking distance of me, they weren't just getting "Bad AJ," but they were also getting "Bad CYC."

To be fair, A.J. Burnett didn't let up much else after those 4 runs in the first. He got his requisite One Bad Inning out of the way in the first. So, don't put this all on AJ. The Yankees rallied from this deficit, as the Yankees are wont to do.

Girardi's managerial decisions will be the spotlighted subplot of this loss. And for once, I'm not jumping on this congo line of Joe-Hate.

Should he have pulled AJ earlier? Maybe. But how could he have known that? AJ had thrown 89 pitches at the time. He had been dealing for 5 innings. Girardi has him start the bottom of the 7th, and all of a sudden we got the Grady Little comparisons pouring out like a dirty-stayout's vomit on prom night.

(Maybe I wouldn't have opted for Damaso Marte as his replacement, per se. But that's beside the point.)

Phil Hughes comes in after Marte, and can anyone question this move? Phil Hughes was our gas-man. He spent the season striking out the side. How could Joe have known this decision was going to be our hamatia?

We're throwing Joe under the bus for games 3 and 5, but I think Thing 1 and Thing 2 have knocked off the damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't stigma that's been clinging to A-Rod like a piece of heavily charged cellpohane, and transferred it directly to Girardi.

In game 3, he yanked David Robertson with 2 outs and no one on in favor of Alfredo Aceves, and I don't think even the biggest Girardi apologist can justify this move. And I suspect the rampant backlash he received after that game may have engendered the decision to push AJ for another couple of batters before pulling him.

I certainly haven't been the guy's biggest advocate this year, but at this point, I'm ready to say, We're the farthest we've been since 2003. We're considered the team to beat, the best in the league. You don't do that in spite of your manager.

No, I think this game was just lost, pure and simple. The line scores for each club are nearly identical across the boards, among pitchers and batters. There were missed opportunities to score, shaky outings from the starters, blown holds by the pen, and--of course--the sprinkling of unassailably shoddy officiating.

Tim Donaghy must feel like Jose Canseco right now.

The Yankees managed to come back from 4-0 and take a 6-4 lead, but the Angels matched our 6-run 7th, with their own 3-run bottom half. Nick Swisher, with bases loaded and 2 outs, popped up to end the game, and he is now the only person on the Yankees who hasn't made a meaningful contribution in the postseason. All he had to do was get on base, and the game's tied. Talk about a stomach punch.

Speaking of things that make me sick, John Lackey, prior to all this, had an outburst that I think may give me nightmares in weeks to come. When The Most Brilliant Manager Ever in the History of Life trotted to the mound for a little chat with his starter, Lackey has a veritable shit fit and clearly barks, "This one's mine."

And 6 hours later, I'm still trying to shake the image of his psychotic expression out from my mind.

Back to the Bronx on Saturday, which gives the sports world almost 2 days to get in some solid practice hours for the "How Many References to 2004 Can We Shoehorn Into the ALCS Coverage?" Tournament.

I'm not worried. They're the Yankees. They'll make it.

That damn fifth run... Angels take game 3, 5-4

Travis G — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:02:02 -0000

More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP

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A seesaw game where the lead changed hands five times. The Yankees had a 3-0 lead until Anaheim rallied for three runs (mostly due to a Vlad Guerrero two-run HR), tying the game in the sixth. They then went ahead, 4-3, before Jorge Posada lined a 'just enough' homer over the centerfield wall.

Now to the rant: WTF was Girardi thinking taking out David Robertson in favor of Alfredo Aceves? Robertson had just recorded two outs, no one was on base, so why, Joe? Kendrick had gone 1-2 against DR. Not really enough to make a judgment either way. Aceves had never faced Kendrick, so Girardi was apparently banking on the unfamiliarity playing an integral part. That was not to be: Kendrick singled and Jeff Mathis doubled him home. Neither were lucky hits; both were hit right on the nose. No one to blame but Aceves and Girardi.

The only rational behind the move is Robertson's reverse splits: RHB actually hit him much better than LHB. Aceves also has a reverse split, but RHB have hit him worse than DR. So I guess that's the reasoning behind the move.

However, from this point forward, Aceves may be relegated to mop-up duty. His playoff ERA is 8.57 (2 ER in 2.1 ip), and he's allowed four hits and three walks (with only one K) in those 2.1 ip.

Robertson has been much better: a flawless ERA (in 3 ip), with two hits, two walks and one K. But that doesn't even do them justice: DR has just looked so much better, hitting his spots, throwing strikes - whereas Aceves is falling behind and his pitches don't have any bite.

Anyway, that fifth run is very important. Scoring four runs equates to about a .500 record. Getting that one extra run increases the chances of winning over .600! The Yanks just couldn't get that fifth run across, despite hitting four homers (because they were all solo shots).

Neither team got a hit with RISP: Yankees went 0-8, Angels went 0-5.

But, we have to give some credit to Anaheim's bullpen, which had to start early due to one of Jered Weaver's worst games of the year. They held the Bombers to one run in six innings (3 hits, 4 walks).

Mariano was an absolute magician in the bottom of the tenth, escaping a runner on third, no out situation. Unfortunately, that will be forgotten to the annals of time because it was all for naught.

What else can be said about Mark Teixeira's defense? Not only did he make several more tough pick-ups at first, but he was actually at second to take the relay throw on Abreu's would-be double, caught Morales' sinking liner in the ninth, and made several great throws that we haven't seen since the days of Constantino.

Should Brett Gardner have tried to steal? I say yes. Posada is a prime GIDP candidate, and Gardner's success rate is over 80% - Jeff Mathis just happened to make a perfect throw. It's rare but it happens.

Would Posada still have homered if Gardner had stayed on first or was successful in his steal attempt? Should Girardi have left Pettitte in the game (Joba entered and gave up a triple and a sac-fly)?

A lot of pressure on CC tomorrow. Not only will he be pitching on short rest, but every reliever but one was used today

Jeff Mathis Walk Off Double Beats Yankees in Extra Innings

Rev Halofan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:36:57 -0000

More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP

about 1 month ago: Los Angeles Angels' Howie Kendrick (47) celebrates with Erick Aybar (2) after scoring the game-winning run on a double by Jeff Mathis during the 11th inning of Game 3 of the American League Championship baseball series against the New York Yankees Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in Anaheim, Calif. The Angels won 5-4. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Final Score in 11 Innings in Los Angeles of Anaheim: Angels 5, Yankees 4

A four hour plus game of extended action and intrigue ended on a booming hit and an even quicker exit from the national broadcasters terrified of interviewing players they know nothing about. Despite being the most dramatic postseason moment yet, FOX coverage of the game quickly split because Derek Jeter's jock did not need washing.

A grueling battle of men left on base, baserunning miscues, and lost opportunities, solo power shots and clutch hits was not wasted this time. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim got a 2-out walk-off double in extra innings by their late-inning substitute catcher to drive in their platooning 2Bman who was sent to the minors mid-season.

In postgame comments, Yankee skipper Joe Girardi said he could not stretch out über-closer Mariano Rivera more than one inning and than stupidly replaced a no-name reliever (Hummerson? Roberta Smith? Fox broadcasters were so excited to go to a commercial for more money to send Rupert Murdoch's way that they barely discussed anything but the genius of the Yankee manager) in the 11th with 2 outs for Alfredo Aceves. He gave up a base hit to Howie Kendrick. that left Howie a double shy of the cycle and Jeff Mathis complied with booming walk-off double to the base of Left Field wall.

There were many moments in the game where the Angels tried to hand the Yankees the game. Call it a tightrope, call it fate, the Mathis double saved many many goats in red from being forever remembered a braying in the hay field. Kevin Jepsen let the Yankees tie the game with a solo HR to Jorge Posada on a pitch that the average little leaguer would have hit over the centerfield wall. Bobby Abreu turned a leadoff double turn into a leadoff out as he was picked off trying ot get back to 2nd after deciding not to stretch it into a triple. Even worse than the out it caused, it allowed Fox to slobber love drool over Jeter for a routine pick-off - in fact Melky Cabrera's great fielding was ignored in order for Fox to lovingly chew Jeter's sack once again.

All of the Yankee runs were solo homers. But no way this overpaid lineup invests in better living thru chemistry. No way, you can bet the Brooklyn bridge you just bought from Tooth Fairy Realty on it.

Poll

Panther of the Game

Jeff Mathis

618 votes

Howie Kendrick

227 votes

Daren Oliver

19 votes

864 votes | Poll has closed

Yanks remind critics who the real team to beat is, batter Boston 9-5 in series opener

CrazyYankeeChick — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:08:47 -0000

More photos » by Paul J. Bereswill - AP

ARod regards Alex Gonzalez quizzically, after swiping his 3rd base of the night: "Are you actually really trying to sell this tag?"

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For the last few days, all I've been hearing about is how afraid we should all be. How very afraid. Our pitching is billed, as usual, as questionable. The Red Sox are billed, as usual, as the indestructible wild card.

Talk is cheap. This year's Yankees aren't cutting corners to sneak wins in. They're where they are not because of any one player, but because they adapt their game based on the challenges they face. Our team demonstrated that tonight when they left Boston reeling with an unrelenting attack that barely gave their division rivals a chance to come up for air.

It took me about 4 innings to realize what was going on with the pitching performances. Joba Chamberlain and his unprecedented unpredictability were zipping through innings with such economic deftness that I was starting to think he either had a date waiting for him, or just really needed to use the bathroom. Conversely, Jon Lester was uncharacteristically awkward, uncomfortable, and stilted. I think it's pretty obvious what happened here...

Other game notes:

Michael Kay waited a whole 3 innings before he broke out the "perfect game" jinx. My Red Sox buddy noted this and texted me: "I almost feel bad for Yankee fans. Girardi should just pull him now."

Though I wasn't listening to the 880 broadcast, I can only imagine the rampant application of "You know, you just can't figure baseball" observations from Sterling, once Lester was literally knocked out of the game from a screaming liner off the bat of Melky Cabrera, into the knee cap of RSN's noble ace. But it was the reaction of posters on the game thread that really struck me: immediate, unqualified concern for Lester spilled out in droves. Indeed, we truly have the best fans in baseball.

Pitching lines for the night:

Joba--6 IP, 5H, 3R, 5K, 1BB

Lester--2.1 IP, 8H, 5R, 3K, 3BB

If I hadn't seen the game and read that in the next day's paper, I'd honestly think the writer accidentally flipped the names.

Bullpen lines for the night:

Yanks--2.3 IP, 3H, 2R, 3K, 2BB

Sox--5.2 IP, 6H, 4R, 5K, 6BB

You gotta give our pen credit; they've been the subject of an unfaltering dismissal of their legitimacy for what seems like forever. And like ARod's non-clutch reputation, this preconceived notion becomes less and less substantiated with every game.

Jonathan Albaladejo (still can't spell that right in one try) gave the Sox their only respite of the night, giving up 2 runs in about 45 seconds of work. Alfredo Aceves, Damaso Marte, Phil Hughes, and Phil Coke were all remarkably effective out of the pen. I guess old habits die hard. Even with Joba going 6, everyone under the kitchen sink was brought in to fill in the remaining innings. I'm not complaining--I think Girardi handled it perfectly. (Did I just actually say that?)

Boston's bullpen is like a freaking clown car at a circus. I really thought I had seen all of em during the 15-inning marathon last month. But tonight, some guy named Hunter Jones relieves Lester, then Michael Bowden after that. My sister texts me, "Who ARE these pitchers? Did they Jorge Bogey? That sounds like a name dad would make up. Like 'Yeah Frank Staboonch is coming in next.'" (Jorge Bogey=Michael Bowden)

Stat of the night: Yankee batters saw 213 PITCHES. This is one of my proudest moments of the season. Lester threw 78 pitches in less than 3 innings. Joba threw 86 in 6 innings. Unbelievable.

2nd best stat of the night: 7 STOLEN BASES. In 7 tries, off Jason Varitek. The most SBs in a game since they stole 8 in 1996. (At what point is "stolen base" no longer an automatic cue to cut to Dave Roberts reels?) They never stopped running, and the Sox were constantly left scrambling on defense.

The Sox offense was spotty, at best. Their only highlights were a solo shot from Victor Martinez (to "break up" Joba's perfecto, just like Kay wanted) and a 2-run bomb from David Ortiz (who's the king of meaningless homeruns now, RSN?)

No element of their game was underplayed. The pitching was tremendous, the running game was extraordinary, defense tight as always, and offense was overwhelming. 14 hits, only 1 of which was a long ball (the record-breaking 127th ding of the year was off the bat of Alex Rodriguez, who went 3-for-3 with 4 RBIs). The Yankees manufactured runs all. game. It was like they never stopped to look at the score, just put their heads down, hit, got on base, and kept going. The Sox never knew what hit 'em.

No one who watched that game can say that this meant nothing. I've been seeing them play all season, and this showing even took me by surprise. They chased one of the best pitchers in the league, they asphyxiated one of the best line-ups in the league. They exploited the Sox's weaknesses, and maybe tomorrow, people will be less quick to lionize Boston, and more inclined to recognize how strikingly stalwart the 2009 Yankees really are.

-CYC

October, here we come! Yankees win nail-biter (and playoff spot), 6-5

Travis G — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:13:04 -0000

More photos » by Jae C. Hong - AP

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Chad Gaudin was surprisingly good (again), and it was Alfredo Aceves who disappointed. Gaudin's shining moment came in the bottom of the third with two on and two out: he put Abreu away with a splitter.

How big was that catcher's interference call (apparently a trend with Anaheim, for it happened with Tex just a week ago) that led to Matsui reaching on a groundout? Posada followed with the second two-run homer of the inning.

The Yankee scoring was rather ironic. The first five runs were all via the longball, yet the sixth and deciding run scored via 'small-ball.'

A-Rod had a great game (outside of a K with two runners on in the first): he drove in half the Yanks runs and made a great, diving stab in the sixth (with the bases-full and two outs) that kept the Bombers ahead by one.

The defense as a whole went for a beer in the eighth inning: Robbie Cano botched a grounder, allowing Howie Kendrick to reach first. Then Posada skipped a throw past Jeter (more DJ's fault) on Kendrick's steal, allowing him to reach third with no outs. Two batters later, Posada allowed a passed ball, letting the go-ahead run to second. Fortunately, Hughes escaped further damage with consecutive strikeouts.

Speaking of relievers, there's no way in hell Marte should make the playoff roster. He came in to face one batter, fell behind 2-0, and served up a double.

1-10 with RISP. Anaheim went 4-14. We've said it countless times, but it has to improve.
The offense almost seemed to give up after getting a 5-0 lead. As if that would be enough to win by, and then when Anaheim tied it, they got to work again to take the lead.

Ballsy move to have Damon bunt with two strikes, but it worked - A-Rod hit a sac-fly to center, scoring Gardner. Torii Hunter made it a surprisingly close play at home with a strong throw. (I see from the poll on the right that almost twice the votes favor Melky in CF, but my opinion is to go with Gardner for two reasons: speed and defense. Melky has more power and a better arm, but that ain't as important as speed and D, especially in the playoffs.)

That aggressive Angel baserunning certainly hurt them in the bottom of the ninth, when Reggie Willits (GGBG's brother from another mother) was gunned down on a strike-'em-out, throw-'em-out DP. After playing horrendous D in the eighth to let Anaheim tie the game, we've got to give credit where it's due: Posada threw an absolute bullet to nail Willits. That might be the best throw he's made this season.

The postseason magic number was one, so the Yanks were ensured of playoff baseball before Mo nailed down the last out because Texas lost earlier in the evening. Let's enjoy it!

So, who is your fourth starter?

Ed Valentine — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:33:47 -0000

More photos » by Ted S. Warren - AP

New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, right, stands on the mound as Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki, left, and Franklin Gutierrez, second from left, greet Ken Griffey Jr. after Griffey hit a three-run home run in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Seattle. The Mariners beat the Yankees 7-1.

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Joba Chamberlain is a complete mess, as 'jscape' described in last night's game recap. Whatever the reasons, they aren't important right now. Question is, what do the New York Yankees do now?

Who is the fourth playoff starter? Joba? I hardly think you want to see the Yankees trust a playoff game to him the way he is throwing the ball.

So, if not Joba then who? Chad Gaudin? Sergio Mitre? Alfredo Aceves? Forget it and go with three starters?

What would you do?

Poll

If the playoffs opened today, who would be your fourth starter for the New York Yankees?

Joba Chamberlain

173 votes

Chad Gaudin

266 votes

Sergio Mitre

48 votes

Ian Kennedy

87 votes

I would use a three-man rotation

463 votes

1037 votes | Poll has closed

September 9, 2009: A night of legends and heroes, as Jeter ties Gehrig in 4-2 comeback W

CrazyYankeeChick — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:33:45 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

"O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning..." --Walt Whitman

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He did it. He tied one of the best ballplayers that ever lived. A legend, an idol, a hero. Derek Jeter is in lockstep with all of that, having broken out of the longest slump of the season (0-12) to knock in 3 hits tonight.

Those in attendance at Yankee Stadium got their money’s worth. Because even watching it on tv, I was admittedly blinking back tears. Very little else moves me quite like the feeling of pride in being a Yankee fan. The Tampa Bay dugout knew what they were in the presence of, as well as anyone. The 45,848 at the stadium standing and cheering...they all felt it, too. You could just tell by their reluctance to stop applauding.

It was humbling and inspiring and, if possible, made me that much more enraptured with this team. Every time they take the field, their fans are witnessing a genesis of heroes.

We talk about Mantle, Ruth, Dimaggio...but I've never seen them play. And I can only extrapolate from printed documentation the extent of their greatness. But now someday I'll be telling my kids about Derek Jeter. That thought is almost too big for me to wrap my head around. God, I love this team.

And so I'd be remiss in not reviewing the rest of the night...

It's official. The 8th inning is poison to the Rays.

It's also official that Joba Chamberlain is not someone I want holding the ball in any inning prior to the 6th or 7th. 3 IP, 3 hits, 3 Ks...2 runs. It's sad to think about how electric and UNHITTABLE this guy was 2 years ago. His ERA was anemic, his fastball blistering, his slider splintering. And now? Well, suffice to say I received the following text at 1:04 today: "Does it bother you at all knowing the yanks are gonna lose when joba starts now?" Later on, another text from the same guy: "They ruined this guy."

The Ray are playing like the Mets. It's pathetic, really. They have some of the best players in the AL, and they're fumbling around like someone shook them awake at 6am and said, "Hey! Yeah, wake up! It's time to play baseball." Everything's one step behind, out of focus, and stilted. Way to go, Baddon. What's with the sweater, by the way? We got it. You've checked out. Tomorrow he'll be ringing a bell and wearing his "Done with 09" sandwich-board.

Jason Bartlett homered for the second game in a row, and it's gotta be tough on him. Same goes for Carl Crawford, who scored the only other run of the game. And their entire pitching staff, actually (Nice game by rookie Jeff Niemann.) But none had a rougher night than Chris Richard, whose throwing error in the 8th allowed Alex Rodriguez to score, and whose ill-advised positioning at first allowed Jeter's record tying hit to whiz by him.

Back to Jeter. He laid down a bunt in the 1st (great move) to shake off the slump. Then a ground rule double for hit #2. And lo and behold, his record breaking shot was a "CLASSIC JETERIAN SHOT!" Suzyn Waldman may or may not have gone into cardiac arrest.

After his "CJS," his reactions were sublimely ideal, and indicative of the class he brings to the game. Regarding his 2 minute ovation: "I really didn't know what to do because we were losing at the time and I didn't want to disrespect Tampa," Jeter said. "I never dreamt about all of this." (Ok, I'm calling BS on the second part of his statement, but he gets a bit of latitude here.) I got a bit of a kick out of how awkward he looked during the ovation, trying to get all back into position as if the game was going to resume any second. Kind of like how you feel when everyone's singing Happy Birthday to you. What do you do? Sit there and try to look excited? It's a long freaking song, too.

Now's as good a time as any for me to learn how to spell Jonathan Albaladejo's name. My dad never learns the names of the guys his daughters bring home because he knows they're gone once Opening Day rolls around. I've applied the same logic to learning about our relievers. But he pitched 2 scoreless innings, and the guy is growing on me.

The rest of our relievers were just as brilliant, particularly Alfredo Aceves, who came in after Joba was either chased or strategically taken out, one can never tell with him, and proceeded to pitch 3 hitless innings. His pitches were dancing all over the plate, and in 3 innings, he demonstrated why both our pen and rotation has been as effective as it's been: Off. Speed. Pitches.

I can't say I'm thrilled about the Return to Micromanagement that Girardi seemed to be getting into last night. But tonight his pitching choices were justified and worked out perfectly. I may be done with questioning anything this guy does.

The 4-5-6 batters may have provided the numbers (ARod/Matsui/Swish were a combined 5-12), but all it took was one blast from #20 to set the Bronx into pandemondium. Christ, what a rocket, too. 1-1 on the day.

I'll wrap this up with some numbers:

#2 hits 3 to tie #4. On game 141.
#2 puts his 2,721st hit in the books almost exactly 72 years to the day since the Iron Horse set the record.
On 9-6-37, the record was set. On 9-09-09 it was tied.
9-9-9. Or 27, if you add 'em. (A backwards 72.)

And I don't think I have to remind any Yankee fans of the significance of that number.

Congratulations, Jeter. You bring new meaning to Waite Hoyt's famous words, "It's great to be young and a Yankee."

-CYC

Around the Yankee Universe: Derek, Joba, Lou Gehrig

Ed Valentine — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:53:24 -0000

by Darren Calabrese - AP

New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter, who was not in the starting lineup, watches from the Yankees' dugout Friday night.

View full size photo »

Here is a quick look around the Yankee Universe as you -- and I -- prepare for the Labor Day Weekend.

ESPN has a feature running in which you can rank your all-time Yankees. How high does Derek Jeter go on that list?
Speaking of Jeter, Bob Klapisch looks at Jeter's future with the Yankees. He comes to the obvious conclusion -- no way the Yankees can let Jeter finish his career in a different uniform.
Jeter is about to pass Lou Gehrig as the team's all-time hits leader. The New York Times has a wonderful look back at the final days of Gehrig's playing career.
Whether the Joba Rules have anything to do with it, Joba Chamberlain has not been pitching well. Mark Feinsand wonders if Chamberlain will pitch his way out of the post-season rotation. Pete Abe has the ugly numbers, and a quote from Manager Joe Girardi.

He is 1-3 with a 7.96 ERA in his last six starts. Opponents have hit .330 against him.

"I still really believe in him and I think at the end of September you’re going to see a guy throwing the ball well," Girardi said. "We have to get him back to where he was and we believe what we’re doing is going to get him back there. What we’re doing right now isn’t going to last forever."

Alfredo Aceves thankful for opportunity with Yankees.