Heading into tonight’s Wild Card elimination game against division rival Boston, the Yankees made several adjustments to their roster. The Bombers designated pitchers Andrew Heaney and Brody Koerner, and added catcher Rob Brantly and outfielder Greg Allen. Gerrit Cole will be on the bump opposite Nathan Eovaldi, and here’s how the overall roster will look:
Right-handed pitchers
Left-handed pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Leaving both Heaney and Koerner off the playoff roster comes as no surprise, though for different reasons. The Yanks acquired Heaney from the Angels in a deadline deal, but he couldn’t match even his pedestrian historical output when he arrived in the Bronx. The former Halo has put up a career 4.45 FIP, but struggled to a 6.93 mark since being traded on July 30.
Drafted in 2015, the 27-year-old Koerner was a career Yankee farmhand until being called up August 3. He spent 18 days on the roster, then was recalled for Sunday’s finale. In all, he appeared in just 2 games and tossed 3 innings. Neither pitcher was likely to see action tonight, so the Yanks clearly decided to fortify their bench with additions of Brantly and Allen.
Notably absent is DJ LeMahieu, whom the Yankees placed on the 10-day injured list due to a sports hernia over the weekend. LeMahieu’s injury removes him as a possibility for both the Wild Card game and for a potential American League Division Series, but he could potentially return by the ALCS, should the Yankees advance. Other notable absences include Jordan Montgomery, Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon, but they can be added for the ALDS if the Yankees make it past the Sox.
Should be a good game. Good luck Ducky!
Yessir. Should be a really good one.
Although flawed, these clubs (Toronto too actually) are worthy playoff teams. I have never seen a better division than the ’21 AL East.
Thanks, @McGriff. Wore myself out in the great Northwoods this afternoon. Ready for some baseball & some beer.
Go Yanks.
red sox suck.
I disagree the AL east this year had 3 slightly above mediocre teams(BOS NYY TOR) and one great team TB. I could argue that NL west this year was better.
Well, I would certainly disagree with “slightly above average mediocre teams”. & not just because it’s redundant either.
I watched this division all year. The damn Ray’s look like the best team in the AL. & the Yankees, sox, & Jay’s are all as good as Houston & better than Chicago.
A 100 win team & 3 90+ win teams that all had to withstand intra- divisional cannibalism is pretty remarkable. I stand by my take. Every night was a scrum. Fun season to watch.
Slightly above mediocre teams? How on earth did 4 of them win 91 games then? Despicable when is the last year a division had 4 91 win teams please cite the example. It’s AL East > nl west and it’s not close.
G Cole spit the bit.
He does that a lot at Fenway, thankfully.
He did.
But you are not going to win many games with 2 runs. & that has been the Yanks problem all year. From 2017-20 the Yanks reached home more than any team in MLB. Those teams could win games like this. Particularly against a ‘pen like the sox.
Yet tonight almost seemed predictable.
Yanks need to add a couple bats. For the most part, our pitching has held up. It’s been the offense that let us down.
That can be fixed.
At least Giancarlo earned his money through the end of the season and tonight.
Ditch Gallo and Voit and Sanchez, sign a legit leadoff hitter and one of the F/A SS’s and their offense should be fine with DJ having a nice rebound season next year.
Why “ditch” Gallo?
Because of his batting average? Nah. He is a gold glove caliber outfielder who runs an OPS > .800. That’s a good player. Especially in today’s MLB.
Voit has always hit. But yeah. That knee is definitely a concern. I’ve liked what I have seen from Rizzo. Either way, Yanks probably want to fortify 1B. But that’s about the easiest position in MLB to buttress.
Everyone with the “jettison Gary” takes, man. Some Yankee fans will probably suggest the ole Revenge DFA. But whom – & I need an actual name here; not “a gold glove, LH, contact hitting” mythical catcher but one with an actual link to BR. Look around MLB. Gary & Higashioka are a solid tandem. In the actual Real Baseball World.
A SS & Starling Marte (as a chaos causing leadoff event) would make this a formidable offense again. Yanks won 90+ games & made the playoffs in the best division in MLB in a year where lots & lots went wrong. & that is a “down year” for us.
Cashman won’t panic.
There is no need to. Yanks could do nothing & just run it back & they’d win 90 games. But the winter is when GM’s improve their clubs. Cash’ll do that. We’ll be better in Spring than we are now.
Drag losing tonight. But we’ll be back. Bet.
I have no doubt they’ll be back. Heck, just a couple months ago I took a lot of garbage here from Jays fans when I suggested the Yanks could overtake the Jays for a playoff spot. As long as Stanton and Judge are there, along with one of the best pitching staffs in MLB, never count them out.
It’s not just Gallo’s .707 OPS that has me saying to ditch him, it’s the fact the Yanks have too many all-or-nothing sluggers on the team. They need a couple more contact hitters with higher OBP’s who can, ya know, drive in more than 2 runs with SF’s over 2,400 PA’s.
Those final three are expected, hardly notable. You need one starter, and there is a cadre of relievers…real question is what relievers are left off if they beat boston.
Most teams have multiple starters on the Wild Card roster. Nats used both Scherzer and Strasburg in 2019
Have to be prepared for anything. If you’re caught unprepared in the 16th inning with no arm that isn’t going to fly
Assuming they don’t use Cortes early, he’s their backup for a long extra inning affair.
Lineup is out too. Why not post that also? Goes into the discussion of who’s being left off for tonight.
Can’t wait for TB to destroy either of these teams
Tuberculosis
Losing JD Martinez is a big blow for Boston as is not having Iglesias available. I guess they go with Verdugo, Kiké and Renfroe in the OF, Dalbec@1st, Arroyo@2nd and Schwarber at DH. Hopefully HR Cole shows up and not Ace Cole (and vice versa for Eovaldi). All signs point to a Yankees win which makes me think Boston will find a way to steal the game. In the end, Vegas always seems to win!
Why…..Brantley?!!! Bring someone, anyone, else up. Anyone, except Heaney.
Be nice to bring up Peraza, maybe? Given he’s on the 40 and would net him some experience. And, he cannot possibly do worse than Brantley.
And play Rougned, dammit. He’s been clutch…
Go Yankees!!!! #28
YC it’s not unusual to carry a third catcher on one of these type of games.
Also Heaney has been DFA’d.
Brantly will only be there as an emergency catcher and won’t make the roster if they advance to the ALDS
Rougned is a terrible hitter. His “clutchness” is merely a result of randomness and in no way predicts future outcome or suggests the absurd idea that, in important situations, he suddenly becomes a better hitter.
One thing about having Brantly is that Le Booner (read: Cash & The Computer Guys) has the option of putting in Higashioka for late inning defense.
Lost in all of this is how important this game is to our owner. Good old Hal. If we lose, he will miss out on that straight, unfiltered playoff windfall. The real $$ is in *home* playoff games. True, he owns YES. So there will be a tidy little profit in tonight’s game. However, if we fail to reach the LDS I fear Hal’s lifestyle may become cramped.
So: go Hal’s profit margin! Fight fight fight!
Red Sox have Schwarber leading off from what I heard. @KD17, what do you think about that? You blamed Cora for having Kike Jernandez lead off with a low OBP. Well, Schwarber’s not speed but has a high OBP.
Tough game in which to have a rooting interest: As a Dodgers fan, I hate the Yankees. As a baseball fan, I find the Red Sox fanbase insufferable.
I guess I’ll just root for a good, close, 23-inning game.
Honest question: why would a fan of a large market, high payroll, west coast NL team hate the Yankees? And it’s not like they have had any recent important games against each other.
Legit question, Joe. I’ve been a Dodger fan since I was 6 years old when my dad took me to Dodger Stadium in the ’77 season to see them play the Phillies. I clearly remember the ’77 and ’78 World Series heartbreaks, as well as the joy of winning it in ’81. I also am acutely aware of the history of the two teams going back to the 1940’s, and how the Yankees have historically abused the Dodgers on the biggest stage in baseball.
These are the reasons why I still harbor a hatred of the Yankees, though I will admit to tremendous amount of respect for their history, as they have been the greatest franchise in baseball.
Man.
I’ve heard so many similar stories from lots of fan bases over the years. Yankee “hatred” is passed down through generations constantly. Similar to how you describe it, @amg. I guarantee there are fathers in MN, KC, SEA, etc who are teaching their kids to ” hate the Yankees” this very moment, this very game.
That’s a sure bet.
I can’t believe Rob Brantly is on a playoff roster in 2021.
No, JD? No, DJ? This game is unwatchable. JK. This is why the Cashman signed Cole. It’s on Cole and his millions to move the Yankees forward. Boston somewhat overachieved. Nothing to lose for them.
Not too sure how much they’ve really overachieved, @holtz.
I can see Boston winning the AL Pennant. The top of their order is as good as anyone’s. They have 4 starters all of whom can – at the very least – keep you in the game. They’ve some role players having good seasons too. Cora is a pretty good manager.
Now: their ‘pen has some issues.
But – win or lose tonight – they are going to be a tough out.
Sox postseason bullpen consists of Whitlock, Taylor, Ottavino, Robles who is on fire, Houck who is Cool Hand Luke, and Pivetta when he’s not starting. That’s an above average bullpen right now (ignoring Brazier, Davis and Barnes ATM).
So hard to define a good/bad pen come Oct
Remember the 18 Saux pen was atrocious reg season till Oct then became lights out w added help from Price and Joe Kelley becoming unhittable all of the sudden
Cole 2 innings… 3 runs. Cy Young!
Glad it makes you happy, I guess @Bob.
Enjoy the fullness of life afforded to you by “hating the Yankees”. We’ll be in the postseason next year too though. Like always.
But it’s just Real Neat how Cole’s poor start brings you so much joy. Gotta kinda suck when seeing someone struggle is the high point of your life.
Good hunting, @BobGibson”I’madimeadozen”Fan.
The gift that keeps on giving. Ottavino should have closed the game out. Rub a little salt in that wound.
Don’t worry… the Yankees will get number 28. The Marlins might get 28 before them, but they will get there. LOL
His wife posted of their toddler with a broom after last week’s sweep. That does make last night even sweeter. Enjoy the offseason Ducky!
Overachieved, a stretch perhaps. The Sox lineup is excellent. Showing that tonight early. Getting by the Rays will be tough.
yeah, just not the same calibre as some of the better teams in the playoffs, especially with DJ out.
Yankees lose tonight Boone should be fired by Friday. I would fire Cashman since he built this all or nothing roster of hitters. Sanchez should also be DFA by the weekend. I’m done with him.
Heads should for this.
You are so right about the all or nothing hitters. Either homeruns or strikeouts.
Probably best that Cole gets knocked from the playoffs. He really need to fix whatever the issue is with him.. He got Ace money and is pitching like he’s a bullpen Longman.
You know, they gave him ace money based on two or three spectacular seasons at best. I said as soon as they signed him to that ridiculous deal that it was a bad deal and an overpay.
Spider Tac
Uh.
Man, there’s a reason the Ray’s won the East/100 games/secured HFA. They’re good! But, I would take the Yanks, sox, or Jay’s over the White Sox.
Edit; congrats to the sox
Forgot to add roll. My season is over.
Yeah.
Won’t be watching much baseball myself, @Gruber. Ah well. October is the best month for grouse & mixed bag waterfowl. Can get some trout fishing in too. Fent’ll get through it.
Would have liked to see this team go on one more little run here. I am convinced they still had one left. Ah well. Didn’t go like that.
Thanks for being part of my season, man. Ever in Minneapolis, drinks are free.
Minneapolis? Thought you lived in NY. Kinda far from middle of Pacific Ocean.
Hafta admit it was kinda cool seeing Dent in Fenway, and the Zimmer story was priceless.
At the very least, the past 6 weeks should silence the Stanton bashers for a while.
I am. Came out here for college. U of M was the 2nd highest ranked architecture program I was accepted into (turns out I’m not Berkeley material) & was really inexpensive. Then I came back after the service (girl – of course) & wound up staying. I like it.
& it is definitely far from anywhere in the Pacific, @Gruber.
@FPG. Stanton would’ve had a three-homer night in YS. Thanks Green Monster! GL RS!
27!…27!…27!… LOL
It’s been fun, Yanks fans! I have no idea why Nevins sent Judge home. Hat tip to the RS! Go Rays!
I don’t think it was a bad send tbh…… A normal CF prolly has a lot harder time making that throw…being an ex-inf Kiki actually had an advantage making a cross body unorthodox side arm throw to the cut that a typical CF wouldn’t have in his bag typically
Once the ball was unplayable by the LF Ida sent him too I think
It was a weird play indeed, if the CF happened to be left handed they wouldn’t have even had a chance
Not to mention Gallo wasn’t the ideal 1 out runner on 3rd type of guy to begin with…and Nevin prolly factored that before the ball was even hit
@Cap I’ve watched the replay a bunch of times. You’re right in your assessment. The defense made a great play.
In all fairness to Nevin, it took two perfect throws and a perfect tag to nail him.
And with Gallo up next, nobody would be confident that he’d bring home Judge from 3B.
You too, @YankeeBleacherCreature.
You’ve been great on the board during one helluva crazy season.
Truth be told, I’m still not entirely sure what to make of this club. I honestly don’t recall seeing a Yankee team that could look So Good or So Bad for such prolonged stretches. & that is how I will probably always remember the ’21 Yanks: incredibly streaky. Improbably so.
Likewise @Ducky! It’s definitely an inconsistent offense. Yanks are 16-14 in Cole starts and also Monty with only 6 Wins in 30 starts. I’m ready to move on from Gleyber, Gary, Andujar, and Frazier (hope gets better) and let another team fix them. Cole, Sevy, ???, Monty, and Cortes, Jr.
The Red Sox really took care of business tonight. But the Rays are waiting. That will be a tough series to win. The Rays are the best team in the AL, with the stress on team. But for now, it was a good night.
At this point in the season, they are all kinda tough. But every team in the AL, including the Red Sox, is capable of winning.
I felt good about tonight’s game, and I feel good about the ALDS.
Been fun reading all your comments @Sir Ducky, FPG, whz, mlb, YBC & others. Perhaps I’ll be back during hot stove.
Same here. I’ll be around @gruber63!
Start spreading the news…