He’s got a filthy change, I just wish he can get that fastball up to par and he’ll be a legit arm in the bullpen.

Patterson? I really don’t think so…I mean, doesn’t he basically have a fastball and also another fastball? He’s big and has kind of an odd delivery, which is what gets him out. His FB isn’t even really overpowering, it’s “sneaky fast” because his delivery is kinda weird.

I think he should go north, but could very well wind up being exposed with too much use.

In Torre’s defense, he managed every game as if it was the 7th game of the World Series. That what the media, (some) fans and the Steinbrenner’s demanded. Its not the best way to run a bullpen, which is why it go burned out each of the last 5 seasons, and not the way to insure post-season success.

Now, if that has changed, and the Yankees are going to be more patient, then you run the ‘pen differently and it will be more effective in the long run, IMO.

Personally, I didn’t think Britton threw the ball that well in ST last year. There were times during the season, when the pitching was a mess, I could have seen them calling him up.

I believe though, they weren’t happy with his conditioning and it did affect his stamina.

This year? Hard to say. Personally, Patterson has outpitched all of the contenders for that spot thus far.

Question is, can he be a long guy? Not sure.

If you look at the staff, you have 9 locks: Wang, Pettitte, Moose, Kennedy, Hughes, Chamberlain, Farnsworth, Hawkins and Rivera.

I think they will carry a lefty in the ‘pen and I think that guy will be Traber. That leaves two spots.

One long guy and one more arm. Those two spots seem fluid to me right now.

You make a good point. Even if Torre had some options, we knew he was going to put Proctor in, and after Proctor left it was Vizcaino. Britton would have suffered.

At that point you’re actually damaging an asset. Joe was letting Britton rot on the bench. He wasn’t going to give him regular work. So, you do send the guy back down so he can actually pitch and stay sharp, or try and make a statement to your manager?

I dunno. Thing was, Joe would sit him for a week, use him once, and wind up reinforcing his poor opinion of the guy because he’d stink. Unsurprising, given that he hadn’t worked in six days, but that’s how Joe works. If he doesn’t feel “comfortable” with you out there, he won’t use you. Trouble is, he starts out uncomfortable with you.