MAKE IT A HAPP-Y DAY
Boone’s gotta give ball to J.A. for Wild Card Game
Aaron Boone knows who he is going to give the ball to Wednesday night.
The Yankees manager texted one of his former colleagues at ESPN and said the decision was made, but Karl Ravech reported during the Cubs-Brewers tiebreaker game that Boone’s “lips are sealed” — that is, until the official announcement today.
The last week of denying that the Yankees had made up their mind on who would start the American League wild-card game was likely, as they say in the clubhouse, “eyewash.”
J.A. Happ has been the Yankees best pitcher for the last two months and Boone lined him up to pitch Wednesday on regular rest just last week.
Happ also beat the A’s early last month and has had success against them in his career. He also has playoff experience, even in Yankee Stadium.
Happ should be the Yankees’ wildcard starter over Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka.
That should be the easy decision the Yankees were mulling over Monday, a day of rest before working out at the Stadium. There are other decisions that will be harder.
Since they can reset their roster should they beat the A’s and advance to the American League Division Series, the Yankees will likely leave off their other starters and be able to carry extra relievers and bench players. They have some strategic decisions to make for their meeting against the A’s and then again potentially against the Red Sox.
The Yanks and A’s split the six games they played this season, with both taking the series played at home 2-1. Like the Yankees, the A’s lineup is full of heavy hitters. They hit 100 homers in the second half, while the Yankees hit 106. So, whoever will be in the bullpen to back up Happ is just as important a decision as who throws the first pitch.
With Lance Lynn moving to the role of long-man in the bullpen, the Yankees have the ability to change the look to the opposing lineup early and often. Aroldis Chapman and Zach Britton are locks for the bullpen, but you could see them in different roles. Boone has said that Britton will get a chance to close at times and with Chapman, who was on the disabled list with left knee tendinitis, still not looking right, that could happen as early as Wednesday. Dellin Betances and David Robertson also have closing experience, which makes this bullpen so hard to face.
Lynn gives them length in the bullpen while Jonathan Holder and Chad Green, along with Robertson, have been reliable middle relievers who have been able to contain damage.
Stephen Tarpley may be the surprise addition to that crew. After a disastrous major-league debut, in which Tarpley allowed three earned runs in an inning, he has been spectacular. The 25-year old lefty who began the season in Double-A has pitched nine scoreless outings since, striking out 12 of the 32 batters he’s faced and walking just four.
“He can pitch. You can tell he creates a bit of a problem for lefties. I don’t think they pick up the ball real well against him,” Boone said after Sunday’s season finale against the Red Sox. “He’s a guy that, obviously, popped on our radar this summer and we started to take notice within the organization. I’d say he’s in the conversation, but we haven’t settled on that.”
They have a few decisions to make on the bench as well.
The A’s are likely to start the wild card with right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks as an opener and then parade in their impressive corps of relievers. Hendriks hasn’t been scored upon in his last eight outings as the “opener,” and opponents are batting .188 against him in that role.
So, the Yankees need to come up with a lineup to counter the challenges Hendriks and the A’s bullpen pose.
Luke Voit and Neil Walker have quieted all the debate about Greg Bird, who has all but disappeared the last month.
But Bird could possibly still make the roster this round as a lefty with power off the bench. It’s hard to forget he did provide power last postseason under pressure.
Like Voit and Walker, backup catcher Austin Romine is a lock, but Boone has quieted the debate about him starting over Gary Sanchez. Adeiny Hechavarria will make the roster as insurance for Didi Gregorius, who is playing with a small tear in the cartilage in his right wrist. The Yankees will have to decide on depth in the infield with Ronald Torreyes or depth at catching with Kyle Higashioka.