Could Royce Ring Help New York Yankees in Postseason?

Last night in a 7-2 loss to Tampa Bay, Yankees manager Joe Girardi brought in relief pitcher Royce Ring, who was making his debut this season after pitching in Triple-A for most of 2010.

Ring was very effective and efficient, so should Girardi include Ring on the postseason roster?

All three of the teams the Yankees could potentially face in the playoffs—Tampa Bay, Texas, and Minnesota—have big name left-handed batters. The Yankees currently have just one lefty specialist in the bullpen, Boone Logan. In his first season on the Yankees, Logan has pitched well particularly against lefties.

Logan has given up 15 hits in 19.2 innings against lefties and sports a 1.83 ERA. He has struck out 29 batters while walking just nine. Sure that’s all fine and good, but the Yankees will need more than one pitcher to face the tough lefties late in games.

It may not matter too much, as it appears the combination of Kerry Wood, Joba Chamberlain, and Mariano Rivera will control the seventh inning on. It would be safer though to have a second lefty specialist available.

Ring had a terrific season in Triple-A. In 52 appearances, the lefty pitched 42 innings, giving up just 35 hits while walking 11 and striking out 39. He had an overall ERA of 1.93 this season for Scranton. Against left-handed batters, Ring allowed just 18 hits and struck out 26. Left-handed batters hit just .202 against him.

Some of the left-handed hitters the Yankees will face in the postseason may include Dan Johnson, Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, and Brad Hawpe from Tampa Bay, Josh Hamilton, Chris Davis, and David Murphy of Texas, and Joe Mauer, Jim Thome, and Jason Kubel from Minnesota.

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