The Futility Infielder

Following the Script

On Saturday, the Yankees wrapped up the AL East title, thus making official what had been a foregone conclusion since vanquishing Boston one last time on September 4. With a week left in the regular season and not much in the way of competition except those pesky Devil Rays, the big suspense in the Bronx is attached to personal milestones, playoff pairings, and postseason roster and rotation decisions. Oh, and the small matter of whether or not Mariano Rivera's shoulder can hold up.

In the milestones department, Alfonso Soriano is one bomb short of his quest for 40 homers and 40 steals and nearing the ML record for homers by a second baseman. Bernie Williams is on the cusp of 200 hits, 20 homers and 100 RBI, and not quite dead in the AL batting race. Jorge Posada and Robin Ventura are within striking distance of 100 RBI, giving the Yanks as many as five with that distinction. The team itself is 2 wins shy of 100. Most of these numbers will round into shape but don't expect to hear any whining unless that last one goes unfulfilled. I had them down for 103 and I think they've got a shot.

The playoff pairings aren't set in stone, but it's virtually certain (one Anaheim win or one Boston loss) that the Wild Card will come from the Wild Wild AL West and will face the Yankees. The A's lead the Angels by three games with six to go, meaning that they'll likely win the division and place out of a third straight 5-game ALDS matchup with the Yanks. The Yanks and A's do have something going, however; they're vying for the league's best record and thus home-field advantage in the playoffs. The Beaners are one game up on the Bombers at this writing.

Joe Torre has two big decisions facing him this week, and while Michael Kay and Suzyn Waldman may feign suspense to keep viewers tuning in, anybody who watches the team knows that the answers have already been scripted.

On the leftfield situation, where Rondell White, Juan Rivera, and Shane Spencer are vying for the starting role and perhaps a roster spot, here is what Joe will say: "Obviously, with Shane's hamstring the way it is, we have to consider some other options. This Rivera kid has really shown us what he can do, and we're still hoping Rondell can get it going and help us out. Shane, well, you know he can hit lefties, so he could be a pinch-hitter for us."

On the starting rotation, where five distinguished starters are competing for four slots in the rotation: "The Posada incident wasn't a factor--that's a family matter we've already taken care of. We felt that since El Duque has had a bit of experience coming out of the bullpen, he's the most suited to the task. That may change depending upon the matchups, if we get through, but for the time being, we're going this way."

At the beginning of the season I complied this chart, showing the postseason stats of the Yankee starters:

           W-L   ERA    IP    ER

Pettitte  10-7  4.34  149.1   72

Hernandez  9-2  2.48   90.2   25

Wells      8-1  2.74   85.1   26

Clemens    6-6  3.33  127.0   47

Mussina    4-2  2.56   66.2   19

Hitchcock  4-0  1.76   30.2    6

--------------------------------

TOTALS   41-18  3.19  549.2  195

Hitchcock is unlikely to make the postseason roster, but everybody else has a legitimate case as a starter. Though he hasn't pitched particularly well in the second half, Clemens gets it on pedigree. Despite his recent controversies, Wells is in, for making Boss Steinbrenner's hamburger gambit look smart. Pettitte's been the Yanks' most consistent pitcher during the second half, 10-2 since the All-Star break. The choice for fourth starter ultimately comes down to Mussina and Hernandez.

Despite his gaudy 16-10 record, Moose has struggled the hardest of any Yankee starter this season, with his 4.33 ERA to show for it, but the Yanks are committed to him long-term. They'll push El Duque into the relief role because they can. Hernandez has spent a season on the brink of being traded, and the Yanks seem destined to exert their leverage at all times by reminding him that he's expendable. More tellingly, he's also the only one of the bunch who's made a relief appearance since 1998.

It may be stretching things to say I don't agree with a decision that hasn't even been made, but I'm bracing for this one. Other than any medical report on Rivera's shoulder (which has seemed to hold up through two non-consecutive appearances since returning from the DL) and Sori's 40-40 quest, it's the only real drama in the Bronx right now.