The New York Yankees made an important first decision with Carlos Lagrange amid the talks about the postseason roster.
The powerful right was not called for the double billboard this Friday against the Baltimore Orioles. Instead, the club promoted from Triple-a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to Brendan Beck and Yerry de los Santos to reinforce the pitching corps.
The decision means that Lagrange will have to wait a little longer for a possible first chance in the Major Leagues. However, his absence from the roster for these last regular season games does not necessarily eliminate the possibility that he may enter the Yankees plans when October begins.
The Yankees opted for Beck and De Los Santos for the double billboard
New York needed additional arms for a two-game day against Baltimore and chose to use pitchers that are already part of its immediate structure.
Brendan Beck and Yerry de los Santos were called from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before the first double-header match. Both offer depth to cover tickets in a day that can demand a lot from the bullpen.
Lagrange, on the other hand, will stay out of the Major Leagues roster for now. The movement represents a first response to its situation, although the truly important decision is yet to come when the Yankees have to deliver their roster for the Wild Card series.
Carlos Lagrange still appears in the conversation for October
The possibility of using Lagrange in the postseason has gained strength in recent days due to the speed of its straight and the potential it offers as an impact reliever.
The 23-year right is considered among the organization's main pitching prospects and has a straight line that can easily exceed 100 miles per hour.
The Yankees had already started making him a reliever during the season with the intention of speeding his way to the Major Leagues. A shoulder injury altered those plans and forced him to stay out for more than two months.
Now, with the pitcher again active and showing good speed, the team has to decide if the talent is enough to justify such an aggressive bet in a short playoff series.
Lagrange came back throwing at more than 102 miles per hour
The main reason Lagrange's name regenerates interest is the way he responded after returning from the injured list.
In his first appearance with Triple-A since June, the right-hander worked one inning with no runs and struck out two hitters. His straight line reached 102.1 miles per hour and several of his launches exceeded 100 mph.
The return confirmed that the speed is still intact after the injury, something especially important for a pitcher whose main attraction is in the ability to dominate batters with an elite straight.
However, one thing is to show speed in Triple-A and quite another is to directly enter a Wild Card series without having yet launched in a Major League match.
The risk is in asking too soon
The decision that the Yankees face is not easy.
Lagrange has the type of arm capable of changing an input. A straight line close to 103 miles per hour can be a very valuable tool in October, especially against hitters who haven't previously faced it.
But there is also a risk component. The right-hander comes from a prolonged absence, has limited experience in Triple-A and has not yet debuted in the Major Leagues.
The Wild Card series does not offer room to use a player only to know how he will respond to the pressure. Each appearance can decide a match and, in a series to the best of three, a single error can completely modify the season.
The Yankees bullpen still has positions to be defined
Lagrange's situation is also related to the doubts that still exist around the New York bullpen.
The Yankees continue to evaluate which pitchers offer them more confidence to face the last outs of the matches and who can work multiple innings when a starter fails to get deep.
Clarke Schmidt's injury eliminated one of the team's chances to use as a long arm during the postseason, while other relievers continue to fight for a place.
That keeps a small door for Lagrange open. Its speed represents something different from many of the options currently available and could be attractive depending on how the Yankees build the rest of their staff.
The final decision will come with the Wild Card roster
For now, the first decision has already been made: Carlos Lagrange was not chosen to reinforce the team during the double billboard against Baltimore.
That doesn't necessarily mean that your chances for October are over.
The Yankees still have several days to assess their bullpen, their pitchers' health, and the ultimate roster composition before the start of the Wild Card series.
Lagrange will keep waiting. His 100-mile-per-hour line keeps him in a conversation that seemed practically closed when he suffered the shoulder injury during the summer.
Now the question is no longer if he has the talent to pitch in the Major Leagues, but if the Yankees consider that this is the right time to ask him to take the leap directly to the most demanding stage of the season.