The Krazy Kyle Conundrum
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- July
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Kyle Farnsworth did his best to give the game away on Sunday before Andy Phillips bailed him out with that dive and double play. I was writing about Farnsworth being untrustworthy back in March on this blog. Why the Yankees continue to use him late in games, I have no idea.
Torre was asked about using Farnsworth on Saturday and again Sunday. Here is what he said on Sunday:
“I may have pushed it a little too much, the fact we had a night game (followed by a) day game,” he said. “Early in the year we weren’t repeating with him. We asked how he felt and he said fine. He did spent a lot of time warming up, so I may rethink doing that turnaround quickly.”
That didn’t really answer the question. On Saturday, Torre said he thought Farnsworth was being aggressive with his pitches.
Two theories:
Theory 1: They’re desperately trying to trade him and Torre was not going to say something to the media that could hurt those chances. This seems like the case to me and several people around baseball have told me Farnsworth is readily available.
Theory 2: If not Farnsworth, who do you want out there? Scott Proctor is just as inconsistent. Brian Bruney can’t throw strikes and whether you agree with this or not, they’re simply not going to use Edwar Ramirez as the set-up man two weeks into his career. Mike Myers is a mess mechically. You saw what happened to Ron Villone.
Outside of Mariano Rivera, Torre does not have a reliable reliever. Brian Cashman gave Farnsworth three years and $17 million to be the set-up man and that is what his job is.
There is no easy fix here. But Proctor or Luis Vizcaino certainly seem like better choices at this point. Krazy Kyle has put 60 men on base in 37.1 innings.
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on Monday, July 16th, 2007 at 1:19 am by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
OK, everybody. I guess it’s time to fess up.
(tears face off)
I’m actually Kevin Brown. And I would’ve gotten away with it if it weren’t for you meddling writers!
We have this guy… toiling in AAA with superb stats, and he managed to prove himself useful in 06 and in his one appearance in the big leagues this year.
What was his name?
oh yea Chris Britton(2.55 era, 48/11 K/BB in 42 ip)
They can always shuffle Krazy Kyle off to the Phillies. The Phils are in worse bullpen shape than even the Yanks.
Peter,,,you are SO right…there is no easy fix here…BUT, it would be nice if the Yankees traded Farnsworth, if possible, then in either the SAME or a different trade, picked up someone to take his place. We all know that NY is a very tough place to play. Some players can take it, and some can not. It is obvious that Farnsworth can not. You always take the chance that the person you bring to replace him can also NOT take the pressure. BUT, how much worse off are you then ? I would rather TRY to run someone out there that we think can hack it, than just keep sending Farnsworth out there and KNOW he is gonna continually give us ulcers….right ???
Did Chris Britton shoot Joe Torre’s dog or something?
Peter,
Do you think they keep trotting Farnsworth out there hoping that he’ll put together a string of good starts so that he’ll build some trade value for himself? I mean, that’s the only reason I can think of. They want a body of work to point at so that they can say, “See, he’s got the potential.”
That being said, Vizcaino should be our set-up man.
Proctor has been totally inconsistent BUT I think Torre has to give him a chance to pitch the 8th inning and see how he does. If Proctor didnt pitch in so many 7-2, 10-0 games and only in close save situations I think he would be better and his arm would be rested. At this point they have to try Proctor because they can not keep sending Farnsworthless out there especially in a game with less then a 2 run lead. You have to leave the room when he pitches because he is impossible to watch. He does not how to pitch and he just tries to throw 120 mph on the corners. Is it possible that he is hurt or something? I just cant imagine that he can be this bad and never even get lucky with a 1,2,3 inning. Torre has to stop babying him…It is not like he is even good when he is rested…so why rest him??!!!
Chris Britton DID NOT shoot Joe Torre’s dog….but he HAS been messing with him :
http://members.aol.com/howards.....ghorn_.gif
In other news, the Yankees have won 3 straight series ( 3 out of 4 from Minn, 2 out of 3 from the Angels and 3 out of 4 from the DRays ) That is 7-3, while the BoSox have gone 5-5..and if this keeps up…the DIVISION CROWN is IN THE BAG !!!
Chris Britton DID NOT shoot Joe Torre’s dog….but he HAS been messing with him :
http://members.aol.com/howards.....ghorn_.gif
LMFO!!!
Ok, it’s late… I forgot the A in LMFAO!!!
why not trade Farns for a bag of chips!
Then trade for Gagne, im sure Gagne can hack it alot better then a 98mph BP pitcher!!
Pete any updates on a Gagne trade
?????????????????????????????????
Chris *”GREAT”* Britton needs to be called up.
Farnsworth or Meyers or heck both. One of them needs to be moved for the king though.
It is absolutely outrageous that *”GREAT”* Britton is still in AAA.
Shame on you Cashmoney.
Really, I can’t understand the rationale of keeping Britton down there. I mean it’s not like he hasn’t already proven successful in the bigs & in the AL East, no less… His 2006 with Baltimore should be enough to go on, let alone his current performance in AAA combined with state of the Yankee bullpen… What does the guy have to do to prove himself worthy of a callup?
“Krazy Kyle has put 60 men on base in 37.1 innings.”
I Know i’ve watched him do it but the flat out numbers make me even more horrified.
And with no real alternatives, its a scary prospect in close games with SPs who, for the most part, dont go that far.
Get rid of Farnsy and Myers. Bring up Britton & trade for another bullpen guy. If need be, I’ll even forgo the bag of balls for Farnsworth…
The Yankees will trade Farns to the Phillies for Rod Barajas. Joel Sherman from New York Post brought up that scenario and it sounds reasonable. Although I would try to sell Farns as high as possible. I like Villone. When given a chance, he produces. Yeah, he had a hiccup. Up to that point, he’s been consistent with getting out of innings with little to no damage when given a chance. Villone ate up some innings for us when Oakland was giving us a whoopin’ and kept us in that game. So if Barajas comes here then Nieves will be gone which would create a need for a position player or bullpen person. We should see a trade this week, I think. Cash has been quiet lately.
THANK GOD FOR ANDY PHILLIPS!!!!! The guy deserves something positive to happen to him. Also, he is keeping that clown Shea Hillenbrand on the outside.
We have Britton and Brower in AAA and they more than deserve a chance in the pen.
I wanna say I agree with the sentiment toward Andy Phillips. Couldnt have happened to a nicer guy. I hope he can keep the bat swinging well because I really like him on the time.
Krazy Kyle has to go. I can’t take much more of this. I don’t care who Torre uses, though I agree with the sentiment that Proctor could do the job if he wasn’t required to pitch so often.
http://valentinesviews.blogspo.....-kyle.html
I’m not one for magical thinking when it comes to baseball, at least not since 2000. But, Andy Phillips is the kind of player with the kind of story that always seems to come with a playoff team. There’s always some kid facing some extraordinary challenge (Remember, for example, Eckstein’s transplant story?) So, maybe in a strange way, Andy Phillips taking over at 1st base and doing well is a sign we will be getting to the promised land after all.
murphydog –
I guess the story has to be “just right.” Aaron Small had a great story, but it was merely baseball adversity. Phillips’ adversity is more personal, so maybe….
I think Joe forgot about Edwar, maybe he sits at the end of the bench.
By the way, does Damon’s contract say that he has to lead off? He is at 2.44 now. Melky seems like a better choice. Maybe Damon can (gasp) move down to the bottom of the order?!!!
Yum… Farnsworth contract yummy. chomp chomp.
Eat contract. Get mid-level prospect or bag of chips. Either way, it’s an upgrade.
I’m with Pete 100% on Farnsworth having to go. I just hope Krazy Kyle doesn’t catch him alone in the runway and break his writing hand.
Why is everyone trying to come up with convoluted theories about Torre using Farnsworth?
I honestly don’t think Joe sees that all *that* much of a problem with Farnsworth’s pitching. Given that the Yankees’ backs are to the wall, you’d think that if he did he’d give a few other guys a try since Farnsworth, by just about every, if not every measure, is the worst non-LOOGY reliever on the team.
It would certainly fit the pattern of Torre’s poor managing so far this season. I really think he just doesn’t see it.
I’ve been watching and rooting for Phillips since he was in AA. He is truly one of the most unlucky baseball players I’ve ever followed. He’s a lucky human being because everyone in his family is healthy and he gets to play baseball for a living, but professionally, there has always been something in his way.
The thing I’ve noticed about him this year is that he is a lot more patient. This is something he seemed to have worked on in AAA. Last season, he tried to jump on the first strike that he saw. He still likes to swing early, but he’s not swinging at bad pitches and he’s not trying to pull the outside pitch. I’ve always said that he is about an .800 OPS guy. The only thing left to see is if he can hit lefties. Lefties have killed him in his ML career. If he can turn that around he might be an .850 OPS man.
98% of the baseball people who have watched Farnsworth struggle through 8th inning appearances have agreed since 2006 that he was not the answer to a setup man.
Why wasn’t he replaced before the beginning of 2007?
Why does Torre continue to use him now?
Granted ,Proctor is a poor setup man too, but a better alternative. Bruney has the stuff, but cannot consistently throw strikes (the reason he became available from the D-Backs). Torre needs to start working in guys like Ramirez, Britton, and even Brower to audtion them for future roles in September.
Ship Farnsworth to Tampa Bay for Wigginton – They’d jump at the deal!
i would rather have louie v , scott “get your hands off my ass ” protor or my dead granny outhere over farnsworthless .
Doreen:
While the tragic elements are different, family illness versus professional doubt, the similarities between Small’s story and Phillips’ story are clear. Each man is a self-described practicing Christian who credits their faith for getting them through tough times, who no doubt see personal challenges as tests of that faith.
On second thought, maybe these kinds of stories are not the ones made for playoff spotlights on ESPN or FOX. Considering the fear of offending a diverse general public, people on TV are understandably a little squeamish talking about faith in God as opposed to a purely non-secular mental toughness.
Can you imagine Joe Buck intoning: “Andy says it was his faith in Christ’s Death and Resurrection that got him through. That’s outside for a ball.” McCarver: “I remember going to church before Sunday games when I was with the Cardinals….” Buck: “The runner’s going….”
bruhney was great in the beginning of the year till we all saw that and had some confidence in him then he couldnt throw a strike . now villone had our confidence untill he gave it up like a cheap whore yesterday in tampa . the funny thing is for the past 2 years i dont think anybody has had any sort of confidence in farnworthless . he’s gotta go . for a ” bag of chips ” or whatever the yanks can get .
This kind of thinking that because you get paid to do something you keep trying to let them do it is the exact kind of stubborn thinking that has the Yankees in this mess. If Farnsworth isn’t doing the job YOU DON’T LET HIM TRY. He has failed WAY too many times to justify letting him hurt the team AND get paid to do it. Johnny Damon gets paid 13 million to be our centerfielder and Jason Giambi more than that to play first base, are they doing that? No. So the whole salary crap is just that. Wang is our ace and gets paid less than a million, you give the chances to those that are suceeding and right now Proctor and Bruney are doing that more often than Farnsworth and Ramirez and Britton deserve a chance if Farnsy isn’t going to get traded.
Ok Peter we get it. You hate Farnsworth. Its been very clear since March. What did he do to you back then? Because this is just not off performance since he pitched well last year and you threw him under the bus in spring training.
murphydog -
That would be rich.
But I think they would just ignore that detail. They’d focus, ad nauseum, on Andy’s wife’s illness and his mom’s accident. They’d focus on how his teammates like him and credit them with giving him the necessary support.
I agree that the majority of Americans are not comfortable with “close personal relationships with Jesus Christ.” They barely tolerate mentioning that you go to church regularly. Religion is supposed to be a private matter. Except if you’re Madonna, and practice an ancient mystical exotic-sounding faith, while at the same time crucifying Christianity (more specifically, Catholicism) in your concerts.
The Yankees would like to add another position player, but Torre said they are waiting to see if general manager Brian Cashman might swing a trade in the next few days.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....orts-print
I think it’s safe to say that something will be going down this week.
Peter -
Since you have to deal with people like Farnsworth on a somewhat regular basis, how does writing for this blog and calling him “Krazy Kyle” impact your other job?
Doreen:
Madonna and Religion. Like Bonds and the Truth ; )
While general manager Brian Cashman tries to swing a deal for a first baseman or utility infielder the Yankees continue to carry 13 pitchers which is one over par for Torre’s liking. “Cash is talking to a few clubs,” Torre said. “We will probably go (with 13) a couple of more days.”
NY Post
(1) How can Torre defend Farnsworth with the old “back-to-back” pitching days line is beyond me. He pitches half his bullpen day after day, and Mariano pitched yesterday after throwing Saturday as well.
(2) If our setup guy to whom we pay millions of dollars is not physically able to pitch back-to-back days, his lack of control isn’t his only problem.
(3) “Why the Yankees continue to use him late in games, I have no idea.” Let’s place some blame where it’s due: “Why JOE TORRE continues to use him late in games…”
(4) Although the alternatives aren’t great, you can’t say that they are worse or any different than Farnsworth. He clearly has not worked out, and confidence is everything in baseball. You put that confidence in Proctor, Vizcaino, or even Ramirez (though it’s doubtful) by giving them the 8th inning spot, they may just give you a little bit more than you thought they had.
Marc,
Melky is not a better option than Damon at the leadoff spot. Eventhough Melky is hitting 30 points higher, he still doesn’t get on base more than Damon. Melky is no where near a lead off guy or at least yet.
I am so happy for Andy. He is a guy you pull and root for. I hope he can keep this up. That play he made yesterday was outstanding. He saved the game!!
DC Yank,
You may be right about Melky, but the only Yankee regulars with a WORSE OBP than Damon are Melky and Cano. And Melky is only 12 points behind Damon. I’m not sure who could fill the spot, but Damon is clearly not getting it done, and he’s the only Yankee yet to get shuffled around in the lineup when he’s not performing as he should. We’re wasting ABs with him at the top of the order.
everyone says to trade this guy, or trade that guy.
Why would any team want to take on Farnsworth? He is just awful.
I wonder if the Yankees are waiting on Otsuka to get healthy. He hasn’t pitched in 2 weeks but Texas has yet to use him since a minor injury. I bet the Yankees are just waiting to see him pitch once or twice and then they get him.
Of course it could be the Yankees are targetting Gagne and Texas won’t do it until Otsuka pitches.
That doesn’t get the 13 number down in the bullpen, so other moves would have to go down.
I like the Farnsy for Barajas or any improvement at backup catcher.
I don’t like that Shea is still out there, he’s got to be tempting for Cash, although I bet Cash insists Shea starts in Scranton, which might be a sticking point.
with the relief pitching being so low, a lot of NL teams would take a chance on Farns.
Wheels–A team would take him because the talent is there and that team thinks they can fix him. Let them think that. LOL. I bet the Cardinals and Phillies would kill for Farns.
I do think Cabrera would have been a better option before the start of the Devil Rays series, but not anymore. Damon looks fresh and has his legs under him, so it seems. He has been stealing bases.
Speaking of trades, whats the over/under on Melky Caberera being the future Center Fielder of the Yankees?
I’d wager he eventually gets traded. Whether thats this year(doubtful), next year, or 2009.
Love Melkmans hustle but he I really doubt he’s going to hold the CF spot for the next 5-10+ years.
Look for that man to be Brett Gardner in 2008/2009.
Chiming in from Bull Durham, where I recently saw a couple of SWB games vs. the local AAA 9. In re: relievers (etc.) — Torre seems to use his personnel decisions to do two things: 1) let the front office know that he’s still nominally in charge and isn’t going to play Art Howe to Cashman’s Billy Beane; 2) let the world know what he thinks a ballplayer should look like. It is bewildering at times to witness the decisions Torre makes, like leaving Rivera on the bench in a tie game late — on workload grounds that are basically indefensible — then bringing him in to mop up a win against Baltimore the next night. Or like letting Edwar Ramirez prune tomato plants in the bullpen while trusted relievers like Myers and Farnsworth throw gasoline all over the field, even in blowouts. (Sure, we’d all like Farns gone, but who would take him, even if Cash pays all $5+ mil? And I appreciated Pete Abe’s assessment: it’s not like we have guys who are orders of magnitude better rusting out there.) Guys get called up and Torre doesn’t use them. He just isn’t interested. (Remarkable that he finally gave Phillips a chance at 1B.) He seems to enjoy being contrary & perverse. He sits a red-hot hitter because there’s a lefty pitching, ostensibly as a confidence builder. He persists in his love for Ron Villone, maybe because of the Italian connection? Fact: a team using Ron Villone as a go-to late-inning setup man is going to regret it later, a few good spells notwithstanding. Torre was a great mamager for the Yankees at the right moment, but he makes bad decisions now, as the atrocious record in one- and two-run games suggests.
Ramirez is so thin you can swipe him through a credit card reader, and Britton & Colter Bean look respectively like the Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man & a soft-boiled egg. Only Boomer Wells, who actually looked like he diligently cultivated his belly, got an exemption from the look-like-a-ballplayer rule — to some degree because he was awesome for a while. Britton & Bean aren’t awesome; they’re good AAA relievers, although I saw both of them get smacked around here in Durham. Do they deserve another shot in NY? Sure. Do they look like “ballplayers”? Nope. At least Farnsworth’s jaw is chiseled and stubbled.
And as for Matt DeSalvo, when he pitched in Durham he picked and nibbled around the plate like a man eating only the soda crackers at the buffet because he was afraid of what the meat & vegetables would do to his digestion. The gun showed him topping out at 88 mph and he threw lots of slow balls away from the plate and put guys on base and gave up a bunch of runs and had crumbs all over his jersey by the time he was pulled in the 4th or 5th inning. Why it has been decided that he can start major league games is beyond me.
I await the Girardi Era.
Pete,
I think you’re looking at it backwards. It’s not a matter of who you replace Farnsworth with, is a question of why stick with a guy who has PROVEN he cannot get it done in the 8th inning.
Putting Edwar in the 8th isn’t a great idea – especially since Torre has decided that the kid is not on the team for all intents. Give him the 6th or 7th for two weeks. If he can hold it together, why not put him in the 8th? That changeup is filthy, he seems to have good command of the strike zone, and didn’t a kid named Fransisco Rodriguez take over closing with two weeks to go for the World Champion Angles in 2002? I’m just saying, players have stepped up before, but they have to be given the chance to do it. Kyle has had more than a fair chance. He cannot do it.
The thing about Farnsy is that after watching game after game in the 8th inning when he comes in, i get a little heart burn. But I have come to expect that he will get men on base. Unfortunately that’s the way it is going. Do I like it… not at all.We as Yankees fans though have started concentrating so hard on what he is doing wrong though to see that while he does put people on base and he does give our hearts a little trouble, he isn’t a bad pitcher. Is he right for NY? No, probably not. But the guy features a high 90’s fastball, a mid-high 90’s slider, and a decent off speed. There was a reason NY got him in the first place. he is a very good hard thrower. NY just isn’t working out for him. They will be able to trade him somewhere and he will probably pitch very well there. I probably have a little more patience for Farnsy then most because honestly one of my favorite pitchers was Al Leiter and if any of you remembering watching him pitch you remember that the guy almost always had tons of runners on base. But he always got out of it. Sometimes allowing runs, sometimes not. I guess it’s just mixed feeling about our Krazy Kyle.
I can’t see Gardner. Absolutely no power. Gardner reminds me of a Bubba Crosby-like backup OF, which is all I think he would be. Melky has a better chance of being the CF than Gardner, unless the Yanks make a free-agent splash this offseason with the CFs available. Austin Jackson could surpass Gardner on the depth chart in two years.
Quit screwing around with Farnsworth(less) and give Edwar a chance. Quit using the “rookie” excuse and look at other teams that gave someone a chance. Look at the Cardinals with Wainwright last year. How about the White Sox with Bobby Jenks in 2005?
That is one problem Torre and Cashman have. Unlike the Cards and White Sox, they don’t think outside of the box and won’t give Edwar a chance. You don’t know what you got until you USE it.
Pete,
Wise choice not to continue the “K” theme and entitle this post “Krazy Kyle Konundrum.” Had you done that, I’m sure Gary Sheffield would be talking in his next televised interview about how, not only do the Yankees have a racist manager, but racist beat writers as well.
You look within first. THEN you make a deal. Which is why the Yanks should have brought Edwar up earlier than they did and used him. If he proves he could do the job, then you don’t have to make a deal. You get to hold onto your chips instead of dealing them for whomever.
History is full of guys like the Wainwrights, Jenks, etc. who helped their teams win when just given a chance. The Yanks never would have won in 1950 or 1964, for instance, if they wouldn’t have brought up Ford and Stottlemyre in those midseasons.
We don’t know how good or bad Edwar will perform. But unless he is thrown into the fire, we will never know.
Some thoughts –
1. Peter – I agree with your first theory about why Joe uses Farnsy. They are trying to make a deal, and need to showcase him. Unfortunately, Kyle keeps sabotaging any possible deal by his pitching. I don’t expect Joe to say anything else, as he usually doesn’t criticize his players in public, and is trying to help keep Kyle’s trade value up. If Cash actually makes that trade with Philly for Rod Barajas, it would be tremendous. The trade deadline is only two weeks away.
2. As they keep talking about going to “only” 12 pitchers, I would think that Meyers is next to go. Then, perhaps, Chris Britton gets his chance.
3. I’ve been hearing on the airwaves that one of the things that Texas has found in using Eric Gagne is that he needs to go only one inning, and never two consecutive games. Sound familiar? I don’t think we need to repeat the same mistake.
4. I couldn’t be happier for Andy Phillips.
This whole post is predicated on the belief that guys in the pen absolutely have to have roles, which is getting ridiculous. It’s bad enough that Torre never uses Mo in high leverage situations unless a save is in the offing (demonstrated most recently during Proctor’s Camden Yards meltdown), and now the theory that you have to use Fransworth in the 8th because he’s a “setup man.” Is Proctor the setup setup man, to only be used in the 7th, regardless of the situation? The Yankees should borrow a page from the Padres and use cheap strikeout guys like Linebrek, Bell, and Meredith.
Global Warming–I think Melky will be centerfielder this year and next. I like Brett Gardener. He has speed to burn and good plate discipline, but I don’t think he’ll overtake Melky. I’m not saying Melky is the greatest thing with a bat and glove but he has proved his worth and is only 23, I think. I think Garndener will be the fourth outfielder next year. We’ll probably sign an outfielder this winter.
Durham–I think Britton and Brower can be an upgrade over Farns. Britton already proved that he can pitch in the AL, let alone the AL East. One of them should be given a chance. Sean Henn will probably take Villone’s spot, if Villone decides to go through the “motions”.
“I can’t see Gardner. Absolutely no power. Gardner reminds me of a Bubba Crosby-like backup OF, which is all I think he would be. Melky has a better chance of being the CF than Gardner, unless the Yanks make a free-agent splash this offseason with the CFs available. Austin Jackson could surpass Gardner on the depth chart in two years.”
The once highly touted Bubba Crosby huh? C’mon man that’s rough. Gardner indeed has no power but then again, Melky doesn’t either.
The only thing Melky has on Gardner is throwing power. Gardner has him on speed, baserunning, defense, patience, and hitting. Built for leadoff.
Hitting will probably be contested in a matchup against Melky but thats fair. Of course one is proven and the other is fresh in AAA(promoted on the 12th or 13th of this month). I see them both maybe fighting for CF in mid-late 2008/ 2009.
Time will tell though!
Let’s remember that the Torre era BEGAN when he gave two youngsters a chance. Jeter and Rivera.
No one knew then EXACTLY what they had. Some (when Tony Fernandez went down) wanted the Yanks to go out and get a SS.
“That is one problem Torre and Cashman have. Unlike the Cards and White Sox, they don’t think outside of the box and won’t give Edwar a chance. ”
i don’t disagree, but what more can Cashman do but put him on the team?
i know you said they should have brought him up earlier, but i don’t see what difference it would have made.
Britton was up earlier in the year and rotted in the pen. Edwar has been up for since July 1st, and has been used *twice*. Bruney has been used twice since July 1st.
the problem is that Joe has his “trusted” circle, and if you aren’t in that circle, you don’t pitch. right now, Villone is in the circle and Bruney is out. Edwar won’t make the circle until 2009.
Farnsworth will be gone in 2 weeks, i am sure of it. but we should set our expectations low, they won’t get much for him.
Sometimes we get caught up with power being a “want” instead of need like Brett Gardener. Just because a player that doesn’t have power doesn’t mean he won’t be a starter in the Majors. Brett Gardener can be a great table setter. I wouldn’t mind having him at the top of the order. There is a player Michael Bourn who has world class speed that took Burrell spot in the lineup. I’m not saying Burrell is someone to be reckoned with but not too many $13 million baseball players ride the bench. Nobody would be comfortable having Melky and Gardener in the same outfield with Matsui next year except for myself of course.
Why would anyone think about replacing Melky in CF? He’s young cheap, and comparable to Bernie at this stage in his career. And his defense is outstanding. I don’t think they win the game without Melky in CF yesterday. If you want to make the case that we sign a CF and he moves to RF next year if we let Bobby go, then yeah I could see that, but at this point I would just as soon exercise Abreu’s option for next year and keep the OF as is. Next year Jackson or Tabata will begin to push the major leaguers anyway.
NYY get Josh Bard
PHI get Farnsworth
SD gets Chris Coste and the prospect SD wants to make the deal happen.
I hear you
I’d rather we go within to fill the Outfield for next year. Let’s hope we don’t go out there this off season and shoot ourselves in the foot. Go for say Torii Hunter who will no doubt require a 4/5 year deal. Yeah that deal might benefit us in Year 1 and 2 but what about the rest of it when he’s 35,36,37 in the back end of it. It’s not the money, it’s the length of the contracts and the blocking of our younger talent down the road.
Damon all over again.
Hopefully Cashman has truly turned the corner.
Jeff NJ–It would be Brett Gardener next that’ll be competing for an outfield spot instead of Action Jackson and Tabata. They are a couple of years away. Maybe they’ll be up in ‘09.
hmmmm….that’s the problem and why I’m not a Torre supporter. The fact that he has that circle, and when given different options (like Britton or Edwar) that he doesn’t use them but continues to bang his head against a brick wall by going to the same, dry well. The only thing Cash can do then is to force Torre’s hand by ridding Joe of the comfortable and leaving Joe with just the new options so that Joe won’t continue to use the same old same old.
As for someone on Gardner, I like him. Have seen him a few times. Shows spunk, great speed but has the power of a Wayne Tolleson. I’m not talking HRs here, but just some gap power for doubles and triples. Singles only. Which would be ok if he hits .320 or so. If he only hits .260-270, then it doesn’t help, esp. if he will have a .320 OBP combined with a .350 SA. .670 OPS won’t work. As a backup OF, he’s ok. I can’t see him starting. Reminds me of a Bubba Crosby. Gardner can compete in 2008, but he will be passed on the depth chart by the other two in 2009.
I’m not a big fan of Buddy Groom, but if you recall, that “trusted circle” is just what Groom b****ed about when he was shown the door. Granted Groom didn’t do well and deserved to be shown the door, but there was some truth to what he had to say.
We’re organizing a group (of 4?) together to beat some sense into that Krazy head. anyone interested in joining?
Farnsworth thorws hard but his fastball is straight as a string. His other pitch is a slider that is too slow. An effective slider looks to the hitter like the fastball but dives late (see Lyle, Sparky or Guidry, Ron). Kyle’s slider tends lately to hang high in the zone. However, yesterday give credit to a good job by Wiggington. The pitch he hit was a good fastball, up and in, and he turned on it and just roped it.
Farnsworth is what he was before he came to NY. A 2 pitch pitcher who throws a straight fastball. The Yanks had to have read the reports on him so none of this should come as a surprise.
“The fact that he has that circle, and when given different options (like Britton or Edwar) that he doesn’t use them but continues to bang his head against a brick wall by going to the same, dry well.”
i couldn’t agree more.
it’ll be interesting to see what happens at the deadline. hopefully Farnsworth is gone.
“It’s not the money, it’s the length of the contracts and the blocking of our younger talent down the road.
Damon all over again.”
i agree with your point about Hunter, but Damon wasn’t blocking anyone when he was signed. Tabata was what, 17, when they signed Damon? Jackson has really only turned it on recently.
Damon is hurting the team b/c he has fallen apart, but it wasn’t crazy to give an OFer 4 years in late 2005. he was supposed to be the final bridge to the homegrown talent, but has fallen short a bit.
things are a little different now, and i agree, the Yanks should try to avoid any more long contracts to older players (excluding truly elite players like A-Rod).
I am all for trading Farnsworth for Barajas(who is decent at best). I call it addition by subtraction.
the 7th and 8th inning guys given a chance in no particular order are; proctor, viz., bruney, ramirez and britton… Yeah does that pen stink? ABsolutely but they are not getting scot shields so dream on… It has happened more then once where young guys(ramirez and britton) prove themselves… I think bruney, proctor, and viz. are not old especially bruney but are just not very consisitent.
It is a pity Proctor cannot throw more strikes because he would have the chance to really produce.
Look at the sux Delcarmen(young) has really picked it up in the 7th inning….SHocking a young guy improves and produces a novel idea………….
BTW I get rid of myers also(he is atotal waste) and possibly try rasner, karstens, or Brower also.. The problem is the Yanks have options internally but never ever try them… They never try anything different just use hasbins like Villone(38 over 4.30 career ERA and other bums)………
hmmm – Thank you for pointing out the facts.
“The fact that he has that circle, and when given different options (like Britton or Edwar) that he doesn’t use them but continues to bang his head against a brick wall by going to the same, dry well.�
i cant wait for girardi this is insanity
Peter-60 in 37.1 is a scary stat. Its time to move Farnsworth and Meyers. I’ve heard whispers about maybe trading one or both for Rod Barajas (catcher/Phillies). I’d love that trade. Addition by subtraction Shoot, I’d even take Leiber back if they wanted to dump him. We have Britton and Henn just chillin’ waiting for their shot in the pen. I’d be happier with both over Meyers or Farnsworth.
By the way, side note for tonight’s game. This is the first time the Yankees will be playing the Blue Jays since A Rod yelled “Ha” and the Blue Jays cried like girly men. Expect A Rod to be plunked. Igawa should retatliate when the time is right, preferably near the end of his night when Torre is itching to pull him anyway. Farnsworth is also free to retaliate, Proctor, don’t do it, we need your rubber arm.
Maybe Joe Torre knows that he is getting canned at the end of the year regardless of the outcome this season so he has finally decided to partner up with Boras and get paid. Boras is currently in negotiation with pepto, gas-ex, mylanta, and other unnamed but “credible” bidders to have Joe Torre as the company’s spokesperson. Having insider information on that deal, Torre continues to run Farnsworth up there everyday so that by the time the trade deadline passes, our acid filled ulcer prone stomachs will be burning for relief. This is all Boras attempting to control the market yet once again.
“Igawa should retatliate when the time is right, preferably near the end of his night when Torre is itching to pull him anyway.”
I’m expecting a bench clearing brawl, ala Pedro.
Igawa should retaliate IMMEDIATELY, then we can put someone MORE usable on the mound, like the guy who sells programs outside Yankee Stadium !
“gawa should retatliate when the time is right, preferably near the end of his night when Torre is itching to pull him anyway.”
so, sometime around the 4th inning.
at this point, there’s no defense of torre’s use of farnsworth. none. proctor and vizcaino may be great, but they’re better options. tough to know what ramirez can do for you when he’s seen action twice in two weeks. i’m not ready to climb aboard the britton bandwagon yet but, really, could he be any worse than bruney, myers, et al? why not give him a shot.
i think we’re all happy for andy phillips. unfortunately, he’s probably got about a week left as the yankees everyday first baseman before cashman brings somebody in, completely ignoring the team’s far more glaring needs.
proctor and vizcaino may *not* be great. sorry.
Peter,
I mean Krazy Kyle does have to go. I mean he’s useless in the 8th inning; I mean we did sign him to be the setup man for Mo, right? You pointed the stats out, 60 men on base in 37.1 innings, not great stats for a set up man. I mean I would rather have Vizcaino pitch in the 8th at this point considering he’s doing better as of late. If we can get Jim Brower or Chris Britton, and Sean Henn as addition and take away Myers, Farnsworth and Nieves as subtractions. It would help.
After only three innings of work, 6′9′’ teenager fireballer Dellin Betances exited last night’s Staten Island home game due to stiffness in his pitching elbow. Betances allowed three runs on three hits and his velocity was reportedly lower (89-91 mph) than is expected from the youngster – he’s been known to sit in the 93-95 range and touch 98 in the past.
“We took him out because he was complaining of stiffness in his elbow. We wanted to error on the side of caution,� said Staten Island manager Mike Gillespie of Betances, a highly-touted 6-foot-9 prospect out of Grand Street Campus HS in Brooklyn, who received a $1 million signing bonus in June of 2006.
“He’ll be seeing the doctor (today),� said Gillespie of Betances, who was making his sixth start of the season for Staten Island yesterday after pitching last year for the Gulf Coast Yankees. “The good news was that he wasn’t complaining of pain. We’ll just keep our fingers crossed. There’s no real reason to think he’s done (for the season), but we’re a little bit worried.�
http://mvn.com/mlb-yankees/
That’s not good.
Peter, I’m sorry, but you are missing a few things. First, to call Proctor as inconsistent as Farnsworth is a serious and unwarranted insult. Proctor had a few rough patches, but has been very good since setting that cathatic blaze outside the dugout. Coincidence? I think not. Regardless, during his Yankee tenure, since he found his curveball, Proctor has been durable and pretty reliable. He’s more than deserving of the 8th inning job.
Vizcaino has found himself. He didn’t look this good even during his good run early. His fastball has good velocity (90-94) and his slider actually has some tilt. He can be an effective weapon, and I see no reason why he can’t be entrusted with the 7th inning. Villone has bounced back well from the abuse last year, Pena’s homer notwithstanding, and is a fine option if relievers are required in the 6th. Myers remains the situational lefty, although I’m not convinced the Yankees need one. None of the Yankee righthanders have major platoon issues to begin with. Edwar Ramirez is another guy that ought to be given some innings, maybe in games where the Yankees are trailing by a run or two. Torre tends to use Proctor in those spots, which in my opinion is unnecessary.
Chris Britton can do nothing more to prove himself at the minor league level. He’s not some middle relief prospect that has no major league experience. He was a critical cog in Baltimore’s 2006 bullpen, and his acquisition for soon-to-be bought out Jaret Wright was nothing short of robbery by Cashman. He’s been outstanding in the minors, and posted a sub 4 ERA in 50 innings in Baltimore. I certainly trust him more than Farnsworth. His weight issues aren’t as concerning since he’ll be used in short stints.
Joe Torre is a push-button manager. That’s why he can’t manage a bullpen. He finds a guy he likes and then rides him into the ground, regardless of previous innings pitched. The ruin of Steve Karsay and Paul Quantrill lies directly on the shoulders of Torre. It’s somewhat miraculous that Proctor hasn’t joined the ranks after throwing a ridiculous 100 innings last year.
Farnsworth is garbage. He’s a million dollar arm with a two cent head. Cashman thought he could harness his ability, but all of the peripherals (K/9, OBA, etc.) that made him so attractive have taken a nosedive in pinstripes. But his arm is one that other teams will trade for. At this point, I’d give him away for free. But regardless of whether he’s on the team or not, Torre has got to stop using him in the 8th inning. Torre defines roles and sticks to them, rather than riding the hot hand. What is needed is a balance: define roles, but change them if pitchers prove unable to handle them. Replace them with guys that are throwing well, and see what happens. Let struggling guys find themselves in low-pressure situations, saving the quality arms for high-leverage spots. Somehow, this nuance of bullpen management has entirely escape Joe Torre since his dream ‘pen of Stanton, Mendoza, and Nelson was dismembered.
That isn’t good news for Betances. He’s the defintion of high-risk, high-reward. His stuff is incredible, but his height is both an advantage (see Chris Young) and a liability (see: Randy Johnson). Height gives a pitcher better downward movement, and makes it harder for batters to get a good read on a ball. However, tall pitchers often have back problems and troubling maintaining their mechanics. A stiff elbow is often a prelude to TJ surgery. Hopefully that isn’t the case. If it is, the kid was still drafted at 18, and he’s got a lot of time to fulfull his potential.
Send Kyle anywhere
Kay filling in for the Dan Patrick Show. Of course he’s talking about the Yankees & Sheffield.
Melky is a year younger than Gardner, and far more likely to develop pop. Gardner is lefty only, and a combined .301-0-18 so far this year. Totals last year, .298-0-35. I know he leads off and has played on some teams with no offense, but 0 hr and the lack of rbi is alarming. The speed is excellent. He might challenge Melky next year, but I do worry about him. I’m not high on Juan Pierre type players. Gardner’s key will be hitting at LEAST .280 (because the SA won’t be there) and utilizing his speed by drawing walks. If he goes .260 and isn’t getting the walks, then he is worthless as an everyday player.
Melky is starting to come on though. On May 28th, he was at .215 with a .578 OPS. In less than 2 months, he has raised it to .274, .709. He has hit in 11 in a row, and starting with the June 17 game, 20 of the last 22 where he has had an AB (and not been a late game def. replacement).
I mean, Vizcaino and Proctor are much better options and I don’t think there’s even room to debate this.
But even if it was a debate, it’s ludicrous for Torre to keep throwing the same guy out there in the same situations when the same bad things keep on happening. If it happens 30 times out of 40, it’s not “bad luck” or “overworking.”
I’d rather see the rookie get a shot, because God forbid we do something that goes against Joe’s circular logic of “You can’t pitch until I trust you, but I won’t trust you until you pitch.”
Strawberry & Boras are coming up. You can hear it from the horse’s mouth and it’s @$$.
Farnsworth will be moved as soon as Cashman can get another guy in here who can throw strikes. Whoever that reliver is. It can’t come fast enough. I think I’ll die if Farny ever has a shutdown, 1-2-3 inning.
How was height a liability for Randy Johnson????
He’s only one of the best 5 pitchers of the last 50 years.
If Betances is half the pitcher RJ is/was it’ll be ok.
The Yanks are on fire. They won 3 straight series Vs some very good teams Twinkies & Halos and also beat-up on DevilRays. The Yanks will win atleast 3 out of 4 Vs BlueJays. There is a good chance that Yanks will sweep the bluejays. Bluejays are relly stuggling right and yankees will sweep them. Igawa will be lights out today. Watch out sweep of the bluejays.
Bret Gardner is a solid 4th OF. He is not a starting OF for a team like the Yankees.
If I were a GM for a NL team I’d be all over the phones trying to get Farnsworth. A guy who throws upper 90’s and is healthy and you can get him for cheap??? Maybe a change of scenery helps him. But you have to take the chance.
You’re all going to be shocked when the Yankees trade him and they get something very good in return. Every team needs pen help.
Mike S.
You get points for even remembering that Buddy Groom exists. Sometimes it seems that making it into Torre’s bullpen club is as much a matter of luck as it is a matter of skill or performance. Villone could easily be Groom.
It might be fun to make rules for Torre’s bullpen club…
Rule #1 If you’re in the club, you must pitch every day until you’re no longer effective(don’t worry, you’ll have lots of chances to suck before you lose your membership in the club…which leads us to the next rule). This rule does not apply if you’re the closer and it’s a tie game on the road; in that case you’ll be saved for mop-up duty.
Rule #2 If you’re in the club and you have a bad outing, it’s just an aberration. If you’re not in the club every bad outing is proof that you’re a bad pitcher and justification for not allowing you in club.
Can anyone think of any other rules?
“There is a good chance that Yanks will sweep the bluejays. Bluejays are relly stuggling right and yankees will sweep them. Igawa will be lights out today. Watch out sweep of the bluejays.”
What kind of happy pills are you on?
Trade Farnsworth ASAP. DFA Myers.
Give Edwar more chances to pitch.
13 pitchers up, but Torre keeps going to the same ones. Why have 13 pitchers if you aren’t going to use them.
With Phillips doing what he is doing, don’t expect Shea to join the Yankees, unless Cashman still has no trust. But with Mienty coming back in August it would make little sense to sign Hillenbrand. You have to competent 1st baseman, one with a little more kick at the plate.
I don’t know what the Yankees are going to trade for. Their only need are relievers. I don’t see the Rangers trading away Gagne.
I don’t expect much to happen before the trade deadline. The Yankees have relievers they can use sitting in the minors. Why trade and give away when you have what you need.
A backup catcher they need, but who is out there?
> “That didn’t really answer the question.”
No it didn’t, Pete. So would you please ask him again tonight when he again goes to Krazy Kyle in the 8th? (Of course, at this point, it would be just downright cruel and sad to ask Torre such a question, suffering from the dementia as he is….)
> “they’re simply not going to use Edwar Ramirez as the set-up man two weeks into his career.”
And why is that? I take it it’s a move (or non-move) that you agree with. Could you please explain? Edwar might just be the set-up man we’ve been looking for, as well as Mo’s eventual replacement.
Sal Fasano
an interesting article on the future of the Yankees
“Bob Klapisch”:http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=klapisch_bob&id=2936617
“13 pitchers up, but Torre keeps going to the same ones. Why have 13 pitchers if you aren’t going to use them.”
good point, but it kind of goes both ways. he never uses his bench unless he has no choice. may just as well be a 20 man roster with 5 players in a glass case “In Case of Emergency”
Anbody who hears anything on Betances, let us know. This is devastating news, what with Cox, Melancon and Sanchez all having unergone TJ surgery. How can this keep happening to our prospects? Hopefully, Hughes, Chamberlain and Kennedy will avoid the elbow bug. Never seen such injuries at every level of a team. Amazing this team has a pulse, even if it is barely detectable.
I included Randy Johnson because he’s the most familiar example I could think off. Johnson’s struggle’s were mostly due to his back, which in turn threw off his mechnaics. His slider was flat, his fastball flew up and away to righties, and he was ineffective. Johnson is one of the few tall lefthanders to ever reach that level of dominance. But my point was that height caused problems even for him.
I do understand why you were confused, though.
“You’re all going to be shocked when the Yankees trade him and they get something very good in return. Every team needs pen help.”
I couldn’t agree more, Tony. We may be sick of Krappy Kyle on the NY roster, but he is far from being a giveaway because of the demand for relief arms out there. Now is the time to pull the trigger.
The reason Joe Torre is using Krazy Karl instead of Vizcaino is obvious. Joe Torre doesn’t respect blacks and Latin players so the white guy gets the 8th inning. Just ask Mr Krazy himself, Gary Sheffield.
And oh yeah.. according to Mr Krazy himself, Mariano Rivera doesn’t count cuz he has a restaurant in “White” Plains.
Gardner has compiled a line of .299/.392/.422 this year at AAA. The on-base percentage, especially for a guy with his type of game-changing speed, is outstanding. The SLG, while heavily average-dependent, represents a step forward.
I don’t know if Gardner will ever be an everyday player. He’s a decent outfielder with the speed to outrun his mistakes, and has a decent arm. Essential, the key question is whether he’s capable of hitting gap-to-gap. His ability to draw walks gives him a margin for error, but I’m not sure I’m comfortable with a slap hitter getting the most ABs of anyone on the team.
Cabrera’s development is at a crucial stage. He bounced back well from a brutal April. Now, if he can sustain above-average production for the rest of the year, his chances of being an everyday centerfielder are pretty good. Melky looks too bulky to be as fine an outfielder as he is. He takes good routes and has just enough speed. I think that he’ll be able to stay in center. I also think he’ll hit for 15-20 homers a year. His patience is very good for a young player, so he doesn’t have the same concerns as Cano.
The news on Betances is very concerning. However, we shouldn’t start jumping to the idea that he’ll need surgery. Tendinitis is just very common and this is the first health problem he’s ever had.
This may explain the poor command he’s shown this season. He’s walked a lot of hitters. His velocity has also been down all season in Staten Island as well – right from opening day. Who knows when this problem first started. Given how cautious the yankees are with young pitchers that I’d guess they probably grilled him about how his arm felt.
Hopefully with rest this gets better. Unfortunately Staten Island’s season ends in two months so this year might be a wash for him.
This speaks to how important it is to have depth in young pitching and why the yankees need to continue drafting young arms every year. For most organizations losing a Betances would be devastating. For the yankees they can absorb an injury because they have so many guys ahead of him in their maturity.
We may need to get used to these injuries with young yankee pitching as long as they keep winning at the major league level they are going to get low draft picks. The only talented guys who are going to fall to them (or who will be available in trades) are ones with some kind of question. They are all going to have risk attached to them. Some of those will work out but many won’t.
Look at last years draft – the only reason they got Joba was because of concerns about his weight and the triceps tendinitis. Some draft experts compared him to Sidney Ponson! But that was a risk that seems to have worked out. This year they took Andrew Brackman who has an enormous ceiling but had arm soreness that shut him down. He may need surgery – who knows. But the only reason they even had a shot at him was because of the health problems and signability issues. He was projected as a possible top 3 pick at the start of the college season. The yankees will hopefully never have a top 3 pick so the only way they’ll get top end arms is to take significant risks and draft them in quantity. If they do that though, we’ll always have a lot of young arms who are on the DL or who need surgery while they’re in the minors.
Guys that break 98 mph are always going to have a line of GMs, managers, and pitching coaches saying “just wait ’til I get my hands on him! I’ll make him into something.” Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t. Farnsworth, halfway through his contract, has a lot of trade value. They can at least bring back a backup catcher that can send Wil Nieves back to the minors. Permanently.
Ron – I agree that teams look at a guy who can throw 96+ mph and think the can work with them. But Farnsworth is owed $2.5 mil for the rest of this year and over $5.5 mil next year. That’s the main reason why teams aren’t interested.
CB is absolutely right. It’s tough for a team that wins as consistently as the Yankees do to develop top-flight prospects, because they are the ones signing free agents (and losing draft choices) and they pick near the end of the 1st round at best. The Yankees have to take gambles, especially on pitchers, or they will be forced back into picking dudes like John Parrish. They can’t afford to take “sure things,” because the only thing they are sure to become is minimum-impact players. So they pick signability guys like Betances, injury guys like Joba and Brackman, lesser stuff guys like Kennedy and Clippard. Some fail, like Steven White. Many get injured, like Sanchez, Garcia, Melancon, and Cox. Others stall out, like Brett Smith. All of the guys I just named were drafted or acquired since 2003.
But eventually, something has to work out. When the Yankees draft these pitchers, talented but with questions, they aim to fill five rotation spots and a few bullpen positions. If they have more than enough, then they can absorb injuries. Some will fail, but some will make it. Looking into the future, this team will almost certainly have a rotation with at least 3 or 4 homegrown starters. Wang is a rock. Hughes is going to be one. Joba is on his way. Kennedy is coming. Clippard is an option. Hell, Jeff Marquez might be ready in a year or two. When you have that many prospects, it doesn’t matter when an Olendorf or a Brett Smith flames out. Others are ready to take their place.
Carl Pavano, Javier Vazquez, Jaret Wright, and Kei Igawa represent attempts to bring in free agent pitchers from outside the organization. All appear to be expensive failures. So why the hell don’t the Yankees focus on developing a crop of pitchers, saving money, and having much better roster flexibility. If Mike Mussina struggles, the Yankees can’t send him to AAA. If Joba struggles, they can.
Just because they are the Yankees doesn’t mean they can’t be fiscally efficient. Cashman understands that. It’s his greatest strength. Because big name free agent pitchers have proven to be no more reliable than the best prospects. And they cost a hell of a lot more money, and because of their contracts, the Yankees have no choice but to keep trying to get a return on the investment.
Drive 4-5, I seriously doubt any deal would happen without the Yankees paying money to make him go away. And the Yankees probably don’t have many reservations when it comes to that. The deal is already a failure. It remains to be seen what return they can get on it. It’s better to get something of lesser value than to get nothing at all.
If I were Torre I’d demote Krazy Kyle as a pitcher but I’d keep him in the staff for bench clearing situations…you know, like Myers is suposed to be a left specialist, he’d be my brawl specialist!
The Yankees are the gold standard in baseball. You can take the word ” gold” many ways. Not only are they the symbol of excellence, but they make money for every team in the industry.Here’s what Oakland GM Billy Beane has to say about them:
“The Yankees are great for baseball, especially when they’re good,” said A’s general manager Billy Beane. “Anyone who doesn’t believe that is incredibly short-sighted. Me, personally, I never viewed the Yankees as some hated, evil rival, because I have so much respect for the way they play the game. If they’re having a down period, it’s only temporary, and their down period is going to be a lot shorter than most teams’.”
The Yankees suffer from a higher level of expectation from not only their fans, but from the entire baseball industry. Fiscal conservatism can only go so far.
Signing free agent pitchers is far riskier than signing position players. Cashman is doing a great job stockpiling young arms and minimizing the risk.
However, the Yankees need to be aggressive in procuring position players. They don’t have the same stockpile in their system as they do with pitchers. Due to their high position in the standings they have had to make a choice with their draft picks and chose to invest heavily on pitching.
What may utimately define Cashman’s success is how he handles the trading of some of his pitching prospects for position players.The bottom line is that these are the New York Yankees and he needs to be aggressive in order to maintain the standard.
Speaking of CRAZY…Check out this List of Baseball’s ALL-TIME INTIMIDATORS…Clemens is on the list…
peace~
http://maximonline.com/slidesh.....;src=tst11
As I said before and over and over again, the Yankees need to get rid of Proctor & Farnsworth. We lose everytime they go out to pitch as releivers for Mariano Rivera. Poor Mariano. He has absolutely no releivers to help him at all.
“Krazy Kyle has put 60 men on base in 37.1 innings.�
Quick, trade him to Boston for prospects so he can be one of the set up men for the Papelboner. Offer to pay the rest of his contract too. Think about it … the Yanks signed him to pitch for the Yanks, right? If we need to put him in a Boston uniform to do it, then so be it.
Up in Boston they’re still not onto the fact that Mike Timlin is one of NY’s favorite batting practice pitchers. The fans have been onto him for a while, but from Terry Francona on up the Sox haven’t figured it out yet.
Hopefully NY won’t sign Timlin like they did our last favorite Fenway BP pitcher … Mike Myers.
If they gave him to Boston, with a suitcase full of money, he’d do more good for the rest of the American League than he is for the Yankees at this moment.
Meanwhile, Four Rings has issued a decree that Kyle has not lost the 8th inning job, and that he will continue to torment us and allow other teams to chip away at leads until he shows “real inconsistency.” Has Joe been sleeping the last few games? What the **** does he call allow more than two baserunners per inning and allowing runs in two consecutive games?
This team will be so much better off without him, especially considering the youth movement that is coming. I don’t intend for JB Cox to be burnt out by age 29 by our high and mightly idiot.
Theory #1 seems to be the more likely one. I sensed that after his comments about Clemens were printed that he was attempting to hasten his way out the door. Unfortunately, his pitching has not helped his case – and that’s outside of what the Yanks would be willing to pay of his salary to any taker.
We’ve got Jim Brower in AAA, 34 years of age (and perhaps in realization that his big-league career may be over if he doesn’t make it now), who may have finally found his game; it’s time to bring him up. Scott Patterson deserves a bump up, if not a legit shot. And where is Edwar? How can we find out anything about the guy in two innings?