The Yankees can finally call themselves a playoff team, but after a week of questionable moves that made it feel as though they had a sizable deficit instead of a lead, it remains to be seen whether Joe Girardi's gambles will pay off in the end.
For most of September, Girardi had stood by his plan of resting players and making sure the Yankees were in the best possible position when October rolled around. If that meant winning the wild card instead of the American League East title, so be it.
That all changed during the past week. The manager seemingly reversed course, making several moves that reeked of panic and desperation.
Whether it was using the likes of Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre in big spots or resting banged-up regulars such as Nick Swisher, Brett Gardner and Mark Teixeira, Girardi made some curious choices for a team fighting for home-field advantage. He stuck by his plan, knowing - and seemingly not caring - that it could lead to a postseason filled with road games.
But the recent skid caused Girardi to panic, essentially forcing him to admit that taking his foot off the pedal may have been the wrong approach.
Saturday, Girardi had Dave Robertson - only days removed from back spasms - warming up in the third inning of the game against Boston.
Sunday, Girardi nixed the plan to give Phil Hughes three extra days in between starts, making a last-minute decision to start him to avoid a sweep by the Red Sox. Later that night, Girardi brought in Mariano Rivera for a four-out save, even though the 40-year-old has struggled recently.
None of the moves was as short-sighted as starting CC Sabathia Tuesday night.
The Yankees had planned to give their ace three extra days between starts, pitching him Friday night for his final tune-up of the regular season (though Girardi said that plan was never finalized). That would have lined him up to pitch on regular rest in Game 1 of the division series.
Instead, Sabathia took the ball Tuesday night. While the big lefty rewarded his manager by clinching the playoff spot, in the big picture, it was the wrong move - one that may haunt Girardi and the Yankees next week.
"We're on board with whatever Joe wants to do," one Yankee said. "I just hope it doesn't come back to bite us in the end."
In his career, Sabathia has gone on six or more days' rest a total of 39 times, posting a 4.02 ERA in those games - higher than his ERA on three, four or five days. He hasn't pitched on more than five days' rest this season.
The Yankees are now left with two options: give Sabathia an inning or two of relief work on Friday or Saturday, or have him pitch Game 1 on seven days' rest, something he hasn't done once this season.
Here's my question: Why didn't Girardi simply follow his original plan and start Sabathia on Friday? Was he that worried about his team's ability to win either of the next two games? Was he thinking ahead to a worst-case scenario in which the wild-card spot was still up for grabs on Sunday, leaving him a rested Sabathia to pitch the season finale against the Red Sox?
Whatever the reason, Girardi sent the wrong message to his team.
Had he stuck with his plan to pitch Sabathia on Friday and line him up for Game 1, Girardi would have relayed a feeling of confidence and calm to his club. Instead, by moving Sabathia up in what Girardi apparently considered a "must-win," the manager essentially told his team that he wasn't certain that it would win another game, so he had to pull out all the stops.
Before Tuesday night's game, Girardi said that he wouldn't spend much time thinking about the postseason until the Yankees had punched their ticket. They've done that now, but will his recent approach result in a short October?
For most of September, Girardi had stood by his plan of resting players and making sure the Yankees were in the best possible position when October rolled around. If that meant winning the wild card instead of the American League East title, so be it.
That all changed during the past week. The manager seemingly reversed course, making several moves that reeked of panic and desperation.
Whether it was using the likes of Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre in big spots or resting banged-up regulars such as Nick Swisher, Brett Gardner and Mark Teixeira, Girardi made some curious choices for a team fighting for home-field advantage. He stuck by his plan, knowing - and seemingly not caring - that it could lead to a postseason filled with road games.
But the recent skid caused Girardi to panic, essentially forcing him to admit that taking his foot off the pedal may have been the wrong approach.
Saturday, Girardi had Dave Robertson - only days removed from back spasms - warming up in the third inning of the game against Boston.
Sunday, Girardi nixed the plan to give Phil Hughes three extra days in between starts, making a last-minute decision to start him to avoid a sweep by the Red Sox. Later that night, Girardi brought in Mariano Rivera for a four-out save, even though the 40-year-old has struggled recently.
None of the moves was as short-sighted as starting CC Sabathia Tuesday night.
The Yankees had planned to give their ace three extra days between starts, pitching him Friday night for his final tune-up of the regular season (though Girardi said that plan was never finalized). That would have lined him up to pitch on regular rest in Game 1 of the division series.
Instead, Sabathia took the ball Tuesday night. While the big lefty rewarded his manager by clinching the playoff spot, in the big picture, it was the wrong move - one that may haunt Girardi and the Yankees next week.
"We're on board with whatever Joe wants to do," one Yankee said. "I just hope it doesn't come back to bite us in the end."
In his career, Sabathia has gone on six or more days' rest a total of 39 times, posting a 4.02 ERA in those games - higher than his ERA on three, four or five days. He hasn't pitched on more than five days' rest this season.
The Yankees are now left with two options: give Sabathia an inning or two of relief work on Friday or Saturday, or have him pitch Game 1 on seven days' rest, something he hasn't done once this season.
Here's my question: Why didn't Girardi simply follow his original plan and start Sabathia on Friday? Was he that worried about his team's ability to win either of the next two games? Was he thinking ahead to a worst-case scenario in which the wild-card spot was still up for grabs on Sunday, leaving him a rested Sabathia to pitch the season finale against the Red Sox?
Whatever the reason, Girardi sent the wrong message to his team.
Had he stuck with his plan to pitch Sabathia on Friday and line him up for Game 1, Girardi would have relayed a feeling of confidence and calm to his club. Instead, by moving Sabathia up in what Girardi apparently considered a "must-win," the manager essentially told his team that he wasn't certain that it would win another game, so he had to pull out all the stops.
Before Tuesday night's game, Girardi said that he wouldn't spend much time thinking about the postseason until the Yankees had punched their ticket. They've done that now, but will his recent approach result in a short October?
