The New York Yankees are officially postseason-bound after yesterday’s win over the Boston Red Sox. While their opponent has not been decided yet, this current roster has a good number of players with experience in postseason baseball. Some have sizable (and very notable) appearances on the big stage while some have just a taste. With that in mind, over 10 of the likely players on the postseason roster do not have any postseason experience at the major league level.
Postseason experience: 4 years
.209/.286/.442 with one double, three home runs and nine runs batted in over 12 postseason games.
One-game playoff experience: Made one plate appearance in the 2012 Wild Card game for the Atlanta Braves and was walked.
Best postseason round: In 2010, Brian McCann batted 6-for-14 (.429) with a double and a home run with three runs batted in against the San Francisco Giants when the Atlanta Braves were eliminated in the National League Division Series.
Postseason experience: 4 years
.215/.257/.231 with one double and seven runs batted in and scoring eight times over 33 postseason games.
Best postseason round: In 2011, Brett Gardner batted 7-for-17 (.412) with five runs batted in against the Detroit Tigers when the New York Yankees were eliminated in the American League Division Series.
Yankees fans all know that Brett Gardner was on the 2009 World Series championship team.
Postseason experience: 4 years.
.301/.361/.414 with 11 doubles, two triples and 17 runs batted in, scoring 26 times over 38 postseason games.
Best postseason round: In 2013, Jacoby Ellsbury batted 9-for-18 (.500) with two doubles, two runs batted in and four stolen bases against the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series, when the Boston Red Sox advanced and successfully won the World Series by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals.
Postseason experience: 4 years
.333/.445/.683 with 13 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs, 40 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases over 51 postseason games.
One-game playoff experience: Made four plate appearances in the 2012 Wild Card game for the St. Louis Cardinals and was one for four with a run scored and a strikeout.
Best postseason round(s): The legend that is Carlos Beltran has numerous outstanding performances in the postseason, here are a couple notable ones. In 2004, Carlos Beltran batted 10-for 22 (.455) with two doubles, four home runs and nine runs batted in when the Houston Astros defeated the Altanta Braves in the National League Division Series. Then, in the National League Championship Series, Carlos Beltran hit 10-for-24 (.417) with a double, four home runs, five runs batted in and four stolen bases. But the Houston Astros were eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals. During the 2004 postseason, Beltran tied the single postseason-record for home runs with eight.
But, if you can’t beat them, join them.
In 2012, Carlos Beltran batted 8-for-18 (.444) with three doubles, two home runs, four runs batted in and a stolen base when the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Washington Nationals in the National League Division Series.
Postseason experience: 11 years
.263/.369/.464 with 16 doubles, 13 home runs and 41 runs batted in over 75 postseason games.
Best postseason round: In 2009, Alex Rodriguez attempted to shake the postseason monkey on his back that the New York fan base was frustrated with from 2005 to 2007. He started by batting 5-for-11 (.455) with two home runs and six runs batted in against the Minnesota Twins in the American League Division Series. In the American League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Angels, Alex Rodriguez was 9-for-21 with two doubles, three home runs and six runs batted in with a stolen base. Rodriguez shook the postsesason demons of his recent past and was able to stand with his teammates to raise the World Series championship.
Postseason experience: 2 years
.326/.453/.721 with two doubles, five home runs, nine runs batted in and three stolen bases over 12 psotseason games.
Best postseason round: In 2011, Chris Young batted 7-for-18 (.389) with one double, three home runs and four runs batted in for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Diamondbacks in the National League Division Series despite Young’s best efforts.
Postseason experience: 1 year
.083/.083/.167 with one double over three postseason games.
Best postseason round: Brendan Ryan, never praised for his bat, was 1-for-12 (.083) in his only experience in the postseason with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Postseason experience: 7 years
9-5 record, 4.53 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) with 107 1/3 innings, striking out 101.
Best postseason round: In the 2009 American League Championship Series, CC Sabathia made two starts against the Los Angeles Angels. He was 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA, going 16 innings, striking out 12. He went eight innings in both starts and allowed only one run in each game. He was named the MVP of the ALCS.
Notably, CC Sabathia pitched in Game 5 of the American League Division Series for the New York Yankees against the Baltimore Orioles. Sabathia won the series-clinching game with a one-run, complete game win.
Postseason experience: 1 year
1-1 record, 4.32 ERA in 2 games (1 start) with 8 1/3 innings, striking out eight.
Best postseason round: In 2011, Ivan Nova opened the American League Division Series as the Game 1 starting pitcher. He went 6 1/3 innings against the Detroit Tigers, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out five and notched the win.
Postseason experience: 2 years
3.00 ERA in 3 games with three innings, striking out four and walking two.
Best postseason round: In 2013, Justin Wilson got to pitch in 2 2/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, he allowed one run on two hits but struck out three.
Postseason experience: 1 year
0.00 ERA in 5 games with 7 1/3 innings, striking out eight and walking one.
Best postseason round: In 2014, Andrew Miller made the postseason for the first time as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. He was the seventh inning reliever for the two rounds the Baltimore Orioles played in. He struck out three over 3 1/3 innings against the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series. Against the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series, Andrew Miller struck out five over four innings of relief. His outstanding showing in the 2014 postseason is a great reason the Yankees signed him entering this year.
Players without postseason experience:
Gregory Bird, Rob Refsnyder, Chase Headley, Didi Gregorius, John Ryan Murphy, Dustin Ackley, Rico Noel, Masahiro Tanaka (without MLB postseason experience), Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi, Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, Adam Warren
Whether Carlos Beltran turns back the clock and puts together another great October, CC Sabathia puts up the big game outing in a big game or a newcomer to postseason baseball makes a name for himself on the biggest stage of the game; the New York Yankees will rely on this mix of old and new to put together their best run in the 2015 postseason.
