As the playoffs approach, Yankees beat writer George A. King III asks — and answers — 10 questions about their future.
1. What is the rotation behind CC Sabathia?
Sabathia will pitch Game 1 and then likely Game 4 on short rest. Who falls in behind him?
Ivan Nova, a 16-game winner, will make a start but which one? If Nova pitches Game 2 and the Yankees use Sabathia for Game 4, Nova would get a Game 5 assignment on regular rest. Do you want a rookie taking the ball in that spot?
Phil Hughes was looking like a rotation lock until his back started barking. Now, with one start next week against the Rays remaining, he has to be considered a question mark.
That leaves A.J. Burnett, Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia looking for likely one spot behind Sabathia and Nova.
Colon didn’t help himself last night when he was rocked for seven runs (five earned) and seven hits in three innings by the Rays.
If Burnett isn’t in the rotation, expect him to be in the bullpen as a long reliever like last year against the Twins in the ALDS.
2. With so many questions behind Sabathia, isn’t it almost a must that Joe Girardi use Sabathia in Game 4 on short rest?
He was set to do that a year ago against the Twins but the Yankees won it in three.
And that was with Andy Pettitte and Hughes, who won 18 regular-season games, in the rotation.
Look for Sabathia to hurl Game 4 on short rest.
3. What about Alex Rodriguez’s left thumb?
If Rodriguez’s thumb isn’t right and doesn’t allow him to drive balls consistently, he creates a huge hole in the middle of the lineup. And that begs this question: If Rodriguez can’t drive balls, will he play?
4. Is there a spot for Jorge Posada?
Girardi indicated yesterday that the 40-year-old switch hitter is likely to be on the roster.
If that’s the case, and a lot can change in a week, Posada will be used as a late-game pinch-hitter because Jesus Montero has been getting a lot of at-bats as the DH.
5. How about Ivan Nova’s chances to be the AL Rookie of the Year?
It should be between Angels first baseman Mark Trumbo and Nova. Trumbo is hitting .258 with 29 homers and 87 RBIs compared to Nova’s 16 wins. Bet on a push.
6. How much is home-field advantage worth to Girardi?
Plenty, but not at the risk of wearing out his players and pitchers in the regular season’s final days. A perfect example of that is Sabathia working a simulated game Sunday so he can work Game 1 on regular rest instead of facing the reeling Red Sox.
7. With the seventh, eighth and ninth innings in the capable hands of Rafael Soriano, David Robertson and Mariano Rivera, how many relievers does Girardi take?
Luis Ayala and Cory Wade have contributed but do you need five one-inning arms in the postseason?
8. What will the Yankees do if his recent concussion keeps Francisco Cervelli off the roster?
Thirteen days ago Austin Romine was in Kentucky looking forward to the offseason. Now, he is likely to be the backup catcher to Russell Martin in the ALDS.
That’s asking a lot of a player who played four games at Triple-A this year no matter how smooth he looks defensively.
9. Will Curtis Granderson or Robinson Cano be the AL MVP?
They will likely split the vote as will Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera in Detroit. That might allow Jacoby Ellsbury, Michael Young or Jose Bautista to win it.
10. Can any of the first nine questions be answered positively?
Of course they can. But if more are answered negatively than positively?Then the next time you see the Yankees together will be February in Tampa.