Joe Torre said Hideki Matsui’s right knee will allow him to play in the upcoming ALDS but it will likely limit the left-handed hitter to DH duties.
However, Indians stud lefty C.C. Sabathia might put Matsui’s balky hinge, which was drained of fluid Sunday, on the bench in Thursday night’s Game 1 at Jacobs Field.
Talking yesterday morning at a Safe At Home Foundation event in Union City, Torre said Shelley Duncan could get the call at DH against Sabathia, who hasn’t faced the Yankees since Sept. 1, 2004.
“We might include Duncan,” Torre said of the right-handed hitting outfielder, who batted .257 (19-for-74) with seven homers and 17 RBIs in 34 games.
Since Matsui is 0-for-9 against Sabathia, it might make sense for Torre to use Duncan over Jason Giambi as the DH because Giambi is 2-for-11 (.182) versus Sabathia.
In fact, Doug Mientkiewicz (5-for-22; .227), Johnny Damon (3-for-14; .214), Bobby Abreu (1-for-3; .333), Giambi and Matsui are a combined 11-for-59 (.186) against Sabathia.
Those paltry numbers coincide with how tough Sabathia has been on left-handed hitters this year. They hit .203 (41-for-202) and right-handed batters hit .275 (197-716). The Yankees right-handed hitters who handle Sabathia are Derek Jeter (12-for-22; .545) and Alex Rodriguez (7-for-17; .412). Sabathia has never faced lefty-swinging Robinson Cano or switch-hitter Melky Cabrera.
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Bronson Sardinha, an outfielder who was sent from Triple-A to Double-A to find his stroke this summer, is likely to be part of the 25-man roster and serve as a pinch-runner. Sardinha batted .333 (3-for-9) in 10 games.
The lack of experience with Duncan and Sardinha doesn’t concern GM Brian Cashman, who also will have rookies Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes on the pitching staff and could have a third rookie hurler, Edwar Ramirez, if he beats out Jose Veras for the final spot.
“It is what it is,” Cashman said. “If you go through every playoff roster you will find guys with limited experience.”
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Right-hander Ian Kennedy will work out in Tampa this week, fly to California to get married and then return to Tampa to say sharp in case the Yankees need him should they advance to the ALCS.
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Having watched the Yankees flush a 3-0 lead to the Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS, Joe Torre knows what Willie Randolph, his bench coach that year, is going through in the wake of his Mets’ meltdown.
“It’s something that’s tough to get through, but Willie is strong and he will get through it,” said Torre, who phoned Randolph Sunday night but hadn’t heard back as of yesterday morning.
“There really is no advice. You get through it the best you can.
“I would tell him to take [his wife] Gretchen on vacation, probably to a foreign country.”
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The Yankees will work out today at Yankee Stadium and fly to Cleveland tonight. They will work out at Jacobs Field tomorrow.