TORONTO (AP) - Jason Giambi's struggles might have cost him a spot on the New York Yankees' postseason roster.
Before the Yankees ended the regular season Sunday with a 3-2 win over Toronto, Yankees manager Joe Torre outlined some of his decisions heading into the first-round series against Minnesota.
Mike Mussina (12-9) will pitch the opener Tuesday night against Johan Santana (20-6), and Jon Lieber (14-8) will pitch the following night against Brad Radke (11-8).
Torre hinted he might keep 11 pitchers on his roster against the Twins, including Kevin Brown and Orlando Hernandez, both candidates to start Game 3 next Saturday at the Metrodome. El Duque has been bothered by a tired arm in his last two starts.
That decision could mean Giambi won't be included. He was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Sunday - fanning with the bases loaded and two outs in the first. Giambi dropped to 4-for-33 (.121) since he was activated from the disabled list.
"He looked like he was more frustrated today than any other day," Torre said. "It's just not happening for him."
Torre said he'll announce a decision after Monday's workout. He's thought about using Giambi as a pinch hitter.
"I'm going to do whatever is best for this team. I've done my best," said Giambi, who has fought to overcome a benign tumor and a variety of other ailments. "It was pretty tough coming back, but I tried it."
New York, which clinched the AL East on Thursday, finished the regular season 101-61, joining Atlanta (1997-99), Baltimore (1969-71) and the Philadelphia Athletics (1929-31) as the only teams with three straight 100-win seasons. The Yankees went 103-58 in 2002 and 101-61 last year.
"We'll be ready to play. These three days off did us some good after playing such an intense month," Torre said. We're ready to get back to competition."
With the Yankees having assured of their seventh straight division title, Torre again selected a veteran player to manage the final game of the regular season, picking Ruben Sierra. In 1996, Sierra called Torre "a liar" when they clashed over Sierra's playing time but Sierra has gotten along well with teammates and management during his second stint with the Yankees, which began last year.
Sierra jokingly imitated Torre's walk when making a pitching change in the eighth inning.
"He milked it. I thought he went overboard," Torre joked.
Sierra said he was proud that Torre selected him. He kept the lineup card.
"I'm very happy," Sierra said.
Blue Jays fans gave Carlos Delgado a standing ovation before his fourth plate appearance. Delgado, the franchise leader in home runs and RBIs, is expected to become a free agent and sign elsewhere, leaving an organization he joined when he was 16.
Delgado was 2-for-2 and with a sacrifice fly and a double in his last at-bat, finishing with 99 RBIs.
Toronto finished 67-94, the most losses for the Blue Jays since 1980 (67-95).
"I'm 32 years old. I've played the game for 10 years. I want to have the opportunity to win, to contend and not finish last," Delgado said. "That will play a big role in my decision."
Scott Proctor (2-1) pitched the seventh inning for the win in relief of Brad Halsey, who allowed one run and five hits in five innings.
Bernie Williams put the Yankees ahead with his 22nd homer, a tiebreaking drive in the eighth inning off Josh Towers (9-9), who allowed three runs and seven hits in eight innings. Towers failed in six attempts to reach 10 wins.
Derek Jeter's RBI double and Alex Rodriguez's run-scoring groundout gave New York a 2-0 lead in the second.
Delgado hit his sacrifice fly in the fourth, and Chris Gomez hit a tying single in the sixth off Paul Quantrill.
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Before the Yankees ended the regular season Sunday with a 3-2 win over Toronto, Yankees manager Joe Torre outlined some of his decisions heading into the first-round series against Minnesota.
Mike Mussina (12-9) will pitch the opener Tuesday night against Johan Santana (20-6), and Jon Lieber (14-8) will pitch the following night against Brad Radke (11-8).
Torre hinted he might keep 11 pitchers on his roster against the Twins, including Kevin Brown and Orlando Hernandez, both candidates to start Game 3 next Saturday at the Metrodome. El Duque has been bothered by a tired arm in his last two starts.
That decision could mean Giambi won't be included. He was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Sunday - fanning with the bases loaded and two outs in the first. Giambi dropped to 4-for-33 (.121) since he was activated from the disabled list.
"He looked like he was more frustrated today than any other day," Torre said. "It's just not happening for him."
Torre said he'll announce a decision after Monday's workout. He's thought about using Giambi as a pinch hitter.
"I'm going to do whatever is best for this team. I've done my best," said Giambi, who has fought to overcome a benign tumor and a variety of other ailments. "It was pretty tough coming back, but I tried it."
New York, which clinched the AL East on Thursday, finished the regular season 101-61, joining Atlanta (1997-99), Baltimore (1969-71) and the Philadelphia Athletics (1929-31) as the only teams with three straight 100-win seasons. The Yankees went 103-58 in 2002 and 101-61 last year.
"We'll be ready to play. These three days off did us some good after playing such an intense month," Torre said. We're ready to get back to competition."
With the Yankees having assured of their seventh straight division title, Torre again selected a veteran player to manage the final game of the regular season, picking Ruben Sierra. In 1996, Sierra called Torre "a liar" when they clashed over Sierra's playing time but Sierra has gotten along well with teammates and management during his second stint with the Yankees, which began last year.
Sierra jokingly imitated Torre's walk when making a pitching change in the eighth inning.
"He milked it. I thought he went overboard," Torre joked.
Sierra said he was proud that Torre selected him. He kept the lineup card.
"I'm very happy," Sierra said.
Blue Jays fans gave Carlos Delgado a standing ovation before his fourth plate appearance. Delgado, the franchise leader in home runs and RBIs, is expected to become a free agent and sign elsewhere, leaving an organization he joined when he was 16.
Delgado was 2-for-2 and with a sacrifice fly and a double in his last at-bat, finishing with 99 RBIs.
Toronto finished 67-94, the most losses for the Blue Jays since 1980 (67-95).
"I'm 32 years old. I've played the game for 10 years. I want to have the opportunity to win, to contend and not finish last," Delgado said. "That will play a big role in my decision."
Scott Proctor (2-1) pitched the seventh inning for the win in relief of Brad Halsey, who allowed one run and five hits in five innings.
Bernie Williams put the Yankees ahead with his 22nd homer, a tiebreaking drive in the eighth inning off Josh Towers (9-9), who allowed three runs and seven hits in eight innings. Towers failed in six attempts to reach 10 wins.
Derek Jeter's RBI double and Alex Rodriguez's run-scoring groundout gave New York a 2-0 lead in the second.
Delgado hit his sacrifice fly in the fourth, and Chris Gomez hit a tying single in the sixth off Paul Quantrill.
Fox Sports
