DESIGNATED HITTER ROULETTE: WHO'S IN? WHO'S OUT?

Source: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Spinning the wheel and winning is pure luck, despite what gambling folks say.  And the Yankees are gamblers any way you slice it.  They take risks, they give guys chances and they certainly try different scenarios.  But something that is going to be particularly interesting is the Yankees' ability to play the right players at the right time in the impending post season that likely awaits this team.  And one of the slots that needs to be filled with a big cannon is the designated hitter position.  Spin that wheel...and hope it does not land on Giancarlo Stanton!

Source: NY Post

“We’ll see. I don’t know yet. I do feel like he’s getting close to really start ramping it up in game situations,” Boone said about Stanton. “So I think it’s reasonable to think that he can get a decent amount of at-bats here late in the year. But we’ll just see,” reported the New York Daily News.  And Boone has also said that Stanton would not automatically be slotted as DH.  He could play the outfield, which is equally concerning considering the team we currently have on the field that includes Mike Tauchman, Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge. Backing them up are Cameron Maybin, Clint Frazier and potentially Aaron Hicks if his latest set back doesn't impede that.  Where does Stanton fit in to this mix?

Source: NY Post

"There was an encouraging sign from first baseman Luke Voit, who smashed a long double to dead center field in his fourth time up" in last night's game against the Red Sox.  "To that point, Voit was 4-for-22 with just one extra base hit in seven games since coming off the injured list, missing a month due to a sports hernia," reported NJ.com.

Source: The Seattle Times

Also encouraging was Edwin Encarnacion who absolutely crushed a two-run home run way over the Green Monster into Lansdowne Street in the 4th inning.  He walked the parrot later smashed a double to lift the Yankees to their victory against the Sox.  He is a better contender for the DH slot than anyone else on this team and will likely also platoon with Voit at first base.  Stanton certainly can't play first base.

Source: Newsday

If Gary Sanchez's bat stays hot, he would contend for DH from time to time as well. Austin Romine will likely take on some catching duties with back to back games and rough series against both AL and hopefully one NL team to decide the championship.

Source: Elite Sports

So even though Stanton is an expensive commodity with 8 years left on his on his 13-year $325 million deal, will he even be up to speed to be lethal at DH let alone defend in the outfield?  He has played a mere 9 games this season and he has less than a month left to get ready.  Let's not put the Yankees' post season hopes in jeopardy.  Right now, Stanton is really only a crap shoot.  We don't what we are going to get from him and to take him on the roster for an unknown contribution is a serious liability.  Stanton in my mind is out! Who's in and who' out of your post season roster?

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof