Ah, smushed, Alex. One of the great underused verbs. I broke it out this weekend smushing Playdoh with my sons. Mr. Smushface cracked them up repeatedly. Please understand my sons are little guys, not teenagers.

Man, I hope Giambi is ready to mash.

Man, I hope the rest of 'em wake up. Sleepwalkin' is dangerous, especially this time of year.

Wake up and smell the toast, Mr. Torre. Villone's arm is burnt, and ain't no jelly gonna make that appealing. Send that tired horse home.

Say yes to Bruney, and Rasner.
Say yes to Guiel.

Over at the Replacement Level Yankess Weblog, SG posts the following postseason roster. I like it. Joe won't do it.

Pitchers (10)
Wang
Mussina
Johnson
Rivera
Proctor
Farnsworth
Myers
Wright
Bruney
Rasner

Catchers (2)
Posada
Fasano

Infielders (6)
Cano
Jeter
Giambi
Rodriguez
Cairo
Phillips

Outfielders (7)
Damon
Abreu
Melky
Matsui
Bernie
Sheffield
Guiel

Too bad we have to have so many first basemen. Too bad Wilson and Phillips haven't been better. Too bad we don't have a reliable long man. Too bad Lidle and Villone will be on the roster. I don't like to envision the situation that would make them necessary.

2 Is Jose Veras eligible?

I'd take Veras over Phillips. I also think the old catcher in Torre will tempt him to take Wilson over Guiel. I prefer Guiel on the roster because I think he's made more contributions this season than Wilson. Wilson is basically an insurance policy that was never needed. I think Guiel is more one of Torre's guys so he ultimately squeaks on ahead of C. Wilson.

Notes: The Yanks would be 3 deep at every infield position even if they leave Phillips off the roster. Sheffield could serve as an emergency 3B option if you lost A-Rod and Cano to injuries in one series. Guiel played 2B in A ball for 3+ years. If Jeter and Cairo are hurt I hear A-Rod used to play a fair SS.

I also think Damon would field any position adequately in an emergency so I'd take the 11 pitchers.

3I think Veras is eligible, but Joe hasn't seen enough of him to bring him to the postseason.

If the Yanks go with 11 pitchers, I'd bring the 10 pitchers SG posted above 2, plus Karstens.

I trust Karstens more than Villone and Lidle at this point, but I doubt Joe does.

Unfortunately, I think Joe is going to bring both Villone and Lidle, and I don't trust either of them.

If Arod had "quit" on his team after all the adversity he went through this year, how bad would he have been hammered in the media, especially ESPN? How come this is the first I have heard from any media outlet about Manny "quiting" on his team? As soon as the Yankees beat them 5 in a row and it was obvious that the Sox were done, he has quit. I just think it is horrible how big the double standard is in the media in regards to the Yankees and all the rest of the teams.

You have to take 11 pitchers -- Phillips doesn't belong on the roster...no way, no how.

What a fugly weekend of baseball. I think I saw maybe 3 innings total between family stuff and yard work, and I'm a better person for it.

Not being a Giants fan, my sports experience these past two days was only half as bad as some of you.

Not overly concerned about the 'sluggishness', though - Tampa's lineup is a bunch of hackers, and of course they always manage to trot out some Double-A noob that nearly no-hits us at least once or twice a series. They play us hard every single game, and I attribute that to the lingering Piniella influence.

6 Phillips is the Yanks' best defensive option at first. That's why I'd bring him if they only go with 10 pitchers.

If you're going to go with 11 pitchers, bring the right ones.

The problem is, Joe is probably going to bring 11, but two of them are the same unreliable reliever: Villone and Lidle.

Tarheel,

As much as I hate defending the Boston media (especially when they are wrong), Globe writers have been all over Manny all year long. There are many articles exasperated with Manny being Manny. And I saw at least one article wonder about Manny's heart when he pulled himself out of that game. Mind you up to that point, Manny was batting .700 and had an OBP of .850 against the Yankees. He was absolutely murdering them and pulled himself out of Game 5 of the sweep.

In classic mode, there were whispers about Manny not really being injured the very next day without the medical results being available. Of course he really was hurt. Now whether he could have helped out despite the injury is questionable. Maybe someone like Damon plays thru that injury.

But the hypercritical Boston media has been all over Manny.

Now the double standard may be from the national media. But even there I don't agree. Arod tries to do the right thing and play thru injuries. Arod quitting is a "man bites dog" story. Manny being Manny is hardly news and outside of Boston, it is a "dog bites man" story.

I second the no way no how for Andy P. The guy doens't add enough value to sacrifice a pitcher.

10 What if the sacrifical pitcher is Villone?

It seems pretty clear to me the way Joe has been using Guiel and Cairo that they'll be on the roster. In the same respect, the way he has barely used Wilson and Phillips should give every indication they won't make the roster. Pitching wise, I just don't know. Joe kind of scares me there.

Who's this Rivera guy? Do we really need him for the playoffs?

A few more dreadful appearances and Villone should be left off the roster - seems like he's going to get every chance Torre gives him to try and prove himself.

Let's just hope he doesn't throw a couple of scoreless innings against the Jays on Sunday and Joe actually takes that into consideration...

4 Francisco Rodriguez had 5 2/3 IP in 2002 and got added to the Angels postseason roster. Jose Veras isn't in the same class but he's got solid stuff and could catch fire. Veras had 10/K per 9IP two years running in AAA. That's worth adding as the 11th pitcher. I like Jeff Karstens but he's been mostly a starter and Veras has 50 relief appearances this year at Columbus.

15 Good points. Veras would probably be my 12th pitcher, but there's very little chance Joe is going to bring him.

I think Karstens is a better #11 choice because (on my roster) he and Rasner would replace Villone and Lidle as the longmen/ emergency starters. Yanks have enough short relievers in Proctor, Farnswacker, Bruney, Mo.

12 I think you're right re: Wilson and Phillips.

11 My reasons for dumping Phillips have more to do with him than Villone or any 11th pitcher.

You've made a decision to carry Sheffield as a 1B/DH. You already have Giambi as a 1B/DH. Now you want to carry yet another 1B because neither of the other two can play D? Unreasonable use of a roster spot. On the other hand, if you're saying you're going to play Sheff in the OF, then you have to dump Guiel to keep Wilson or Phillips -- and I would marginally favor Wilson -- or you are keeping Guiel as your defensive replacement at 1B.

Postseason with 10 pitchers is just too risky. One long extra inning game with a game the next day and you're screwed. Villone sucks, but at least he can eat up a few innings in a blowout loss. I agree I'd rather have Veras, but I want an 11th regardless.

18 "Now you want to carry yet another 1B because neither of the other two can play D?"

Yes. One blown defensive play can make a huge difference in a game or series (see Bubba-Sheff crash)

Giambi is hurt, and has said he wants to DH to rest his wrist.

Sheff makes me nervous. He's a little jittery,, and overaggressive. Let's hope he can avoid crashing into Cano, or one of our pitchers.

Late in a close game I think Phillips defense is a plus, especially as Giambi and Sheffield have not been crushing the ball lately to make up for their shaky defense.

Need I remind you of how terrible Villone has been lately? If the game is a blow out, Villone isn't going to help end any game. He's burnt toast.

Again, I'd go with 11 pitchers if you're tallking about the right ones. Villone should not go, but he will.

Wilson over Phillips is debatable, but I doubt either is going to the postseason, so we're probably wasting our time discussing them. I lean towards Phillips because he's the better 1B defender, and Bernie replaces whatever's left of Wilson's bat.

19 Sliced, if the post season comes down to one defensive play at 1B, they don't deserve to win anything. Ask Bill Buckner.

The big questions are probably:
1. Can Sheffield's bat come alive enough to make up for any defensive shortcomings?
2. How much of an upgrade is Phillips over Cairo and Guiel at first?
3. What will Giambi be able to bring to the table with his sore wrist?

19 You know the funny thing is I actually agree with you about 1B, but in a roundabout way.

If you ask me, the guy I would leave off is Sheff. He'll be a defensive liability no matter where he plays, and I doubt his bat will be anywhere near 100%. But since that's totally unrealistic...

If you're saying we must have a late inning defensive replacement at 1B, then I would probably agree and I would keep either Wilson or Phillips. But then I can't justify keeping another 1B...so that means Sheff is an OFer. Which means one of the OFers has to go. That has to be Guiel because Bernie has that lucky rabbit's foot feel to him like he's destined to play an important part at some key moment. So now we have no real pinch runner, and Melky is our backup CF, and Sheff is our DH.

We can't carry two mashers (Sheff and Giambi) who both play the same position badly, unless you're thinking platoon. Otherwise, Matsui is a pinch hitter, correct? I don't see him playing LF...

Would Joe go with Matsui in left and Giambi at first, using Melky and Andy as defensive replacements? This would also help offset the tough lefty that comes in to face Matsui or Giambi since Sheff would pinch hit and the defensive replacement could take over.

20 By the same token, if the season comes down to a decision between Andy Phillips and Fungible Eleventh Pitcher, they don't deserve to win.

If that is the choice, I'd lean slightly towards Phillips. If he has any use, it's to help preserve a win; F.E.P. will only be used in a meaningless situation. In a 5-game series, they shouldn't need the extra pitcher. (Remember, they can change the roster before the ALCS.)

Not that it matters much, but the F-Rod dodge won't work for Veras. He was allowed on the postseason roster only as a replacement for a player who was injured. And I'm pretty sure the injury was after 8/31, so you couldn't use him as a replacement for, say, Pavano.

Just because Torre thinks Phillips is the best defensive 1B on the team doesn't make it so. The stats say:

At 1B in 2006
Phillips: 90 Chances 27 A 6 E 56 DP .989 FP
Wilson: 90 Chances 26 A 2 E 62 DP .997 FP

So in the same number of chances, Wilson has made many fewer errors and turned more double plays. How exactly is Phillips better? Field percentage is Yet, this feeling is pervasive - just goes to show how the way Torre plays guys filters all the way down, even to more knowledgeable fans as yourselves.

Even still I agree wholeheartedly with 12 - that portends the roster especially when we see Cairo playing late innings at 1B. It's a shame - Nick Green is still the better choice. But Torre hass his thing for underperforming Latin utility guys (see also Mariano Duncan, Jose Vizcaino, Luis Sojo, and Enrique Wilson) even when better options were available. It's like they're his lucky post-season charm or something.

Wowzers, what a craptacular weekend. Well, I felt somewhat better when the Jets handed Buffalo their behinds on a platter yesterday, plus take a look at this...

http://www.angelfire.com/art/ozzark/ozzark_company/melkyandbobby_copy.jpg

(Sorry, tinyurl wouldn't work on this one...)

9 I guess since I live in NC all I hear (or read) is ESPN and the online version of the Daily News and haven't seen or heard much, if any, criticism of Manny. This article just made me wonder why the Steve Phillips of the world are giving him a pass. Why aren't they suggesting that Boston trade Manny because his teammates don't like him and the fans are turning on him? Arod has some struggles this year and they treat him like he had something to do with the JFK assassination. Manny just gets the "Manny being Manny" deal. I guess I am just too focused on the Yankees and don't "get out much" to keep up with the Sox, or other MLB teams.

19 Good thinking, Sliced, but the problem is we never know when that "blown defensive play" will happen. Correct my memory if I'm wrong, but I think the defensive lapse that killed the Yankees vs the Angels during Wang's start last Fall was pretty early in the game and was a real killer. 4th inning?

Sheff's bat better heat up soon, 'cause if the Yankees are going to risk first base defense, they better get something in return. At least Giambi hit last October.

This ain't an easy call - Sheff vs Giambino - vs Defensive Expert. For all we know - neither Giambino nor Sheff will be able to hit a lick in a few weeks. Sheff at least is healthy and it seems his deal is just to get his timing back. Giambi? Does anyone really know? It doesn't sound good - tendenitis vs ligament tear.

But heck. What do I know.

By the way, after hearing all this about Arod to the Angels, does anyone here actually think that he won't be with the Yankees next year? I always felt that he would, but after Cashman's "no comment" about this possibility, I am beginning to get a little nervous about this. I think it would be a HUGE mistake. Not to mention, it would give all these media guys the feeling that they have to power to decide who playes where.

I posted this a while back, but here it is again:
I'm not sure how this year's ALDS roster will shake out but compared to last year's roster it looks like an upgrade:
Wilson or Phillips instead of Tino as backup 1B
Guiel or Sheff instead of Bubba as backup OF
Damon instead of Bernie as starting CF
Bernie instead of Ruben as pinch hitting OF
Abreu instead of Sheff as starting RF
Melky instead of Womack as backup OF/pinch runner
Cairo instead of Bellhorn as backup IF
Fasano instead of Flaherty as backup C

21 Great questions:

1. Can Sheffield's bat come alive enough to make up for any defensive shortcomings?

Probably not, but hopefully he's worth bringing along as a DH/PH option. If he doesn't start smacking the ball this week, I won't be surprised if he sits out the ALDS.

2. How much of an upgrade is Phillips over Cairo and Guiel at first?
Probably not much. Phillips is going... going...

3. What will Giambi be able to bring to the table with his sore wrist?

That's the biggie.

Assuming Giambi can play, and Sheff starts showing signs of life at the plate; here, for what it's worth (not much), is my 25 man roster:

10 pitchers: Wang, Unit, Mussina, Wright, Rasner, Myers (strictly LOOGY), Bruney, Proctor, Farnswacker, Mo

(note: No Villone. No Lidle. But they will be on Joe's roster) I could be convinced that Karstens should replace somebody above (Myers?), but Joe would never go there, so why think about it?

Catchers: Posada, Fasano

Starting fielders/DH:

1B Giambi, 2B Cano, SS Jeter, 3B A-Rod, LF Melky, CF Damon, RF Abreu, DH Matsui

Reserve OF/1B: Guiel
Pinch Hitters/reserve OF: Sheffield
Pinch Hitter (strictly): Bernie
Reserve IF (emergency only): Green & Phillips

(note: no Cairo. but you know he's going to be on Joe's roster)

27 To me, there's a vested interest in critcizing the Yanks due to their overwhelming success in their history; many of those tearing down the team in the Daily Rues or E$%@ are not, repeat not hometown folks. One in particular lives in the dead of New England and thrives on knocking the Yankees, probably for the safety of his family. And several who are hometown products (not that you would know it or anything until New York wins; check them out at the front of the parade) have grown bitter with failing to live up to their own expectations and take out that frustration on a subject that wouldn't otherwise care. It's like people who hate Jeter for no reason, or people who like to pick on A-Rod because it affects him. Some people just feel that it's easier and more economical to attack and hurt, mainly because it makes them feel better. Pitiful and unprofessional, but not illegal. Trust your own judgement is all I say.

31 Good roster Sliced. I agree with you mostly (I would go with Cairo instead of Green).

I do have one question: Has that balky back reverted Farnstantinople back to Farnswacker in your scorebook? ;-)

33 Yeah, Cairo-Green is a toss up. I prefer Green's D. But Cairo's bat is better and that says how bad a hitter Green is. Either should only be used in case of an emergency, and in an emergency I prefer the better glove.

After the way he froze Ortiz with the bases loaded back in May, Farnswacker will always be Farnstantinople to me, and by "always" I mean until he comes up lame in the postseason. I maintain unjustified confidence in Lord Farnstleroy at this point.

I prefer the online edition:

http://tinyurl.com/kyb5z

30 Good stuff. Upgrades all around.

32The person you speak of that lives in New England wouldn't be Lupica would it? He really tries to make it seem as if he is a New Yorker through and through on that crappy show Sports Reporters.

35 Can't argue with that >;)

37 He probably is(was), but if you take a gander at 35 or 26 you might begin to understand why he is the way he is.

...crappy show Sports Reporters. Isn't that like a double-post or something?

As I heard a caller on XM say the other day: The Daily News has been picking the wrong side since they went against Lincoln in the Civil War.

No way Ca$hman moves A-Rod. Not gonna happen.

35 See that? In the print issues he's more "street"... online, he has to cater to a different demograph. He cleans up well, doesn't he?

40 Is that right about the Civil War, or was that simply a joke made to prove a point?

42 I think he's right, man. If Shaun hasn't looked it up yet, I will...

Don't forget that {knock on wood} the Yankees will need some extra pinch hitters late in the month. Mainly for that reason I'm siding with the ten-pitcher roster. The other reason is that for these critical games you can burn your best arms for a few extra outs -- I'd expect to see some five-out saves from Mo, for example.

40 & 42 You guys talking about the "War of Northern Aggression"? ;-)

42 I think it is correct:
http://www.mrlincolnandnewyork.org/inside.asp?ID=42&subjectID=3

ARod isn't going anywhere. The Yankees aren't going to trade h