Comments on: Breaking down the bullpen decisions

By: Sar 515

Sar 515 — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 05:42:11 +0000

How do you spell (long) relief>
I think it starts with RO (ss)

By: JT

JT — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 02:15:34 +0000

LOL 2 years of solid performance @ AAA & MLB + a good spring and Britton still cant get noticed

By: Brian from PA

Brian from PA — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:51:29 +0000

I’m joining the Scott Patterson camp for that last bullpen spot. I mean the guy has been as good as, if not better than anyone else in that group all spring. And he’s come in multiple times and killed rallies, for instance in the rain shortened game against Toronto when Albaladejo and the errors allowed 6 runs and he came in and got out of the inning in a jiffy. And, of course, he throws strikes.

By: bw

bw — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:16:52 +0000

I would like to see the last spot go to Ohlendorf but I could also see him pitching the 8th or 9th for Scranton to start and hopefully taking over for Joba mid-season. Or sooner if Bruney still can’t throw strike 1.

By: OldYanksFan

OldYanksFan — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 21:29:11 +0000

Pete, SG and CB,
If Ross Ohlendorf has been a starter his whole career, WHY can’t he be a long man… which is usually 3-4 innings max? I think he’s better then Raz and Kar, and certainly better then Iggy.

By: AndrewYF

AndrewYF — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:30:15 +0000

I don’t understand the need for a crappy pitcher to be on the staff over superior guys. Who says Karstens can go multiple innings, when it’s clear he can’t go two without giving up a boatload of runs? Karstens provides no value to this team if his only skill is to come in for two innings and blow the door open for the other team. Then you have to take him out and use other relievers, because Karstens wasn’t able to get the job done. We saw it countless times last year when the starter was out of the game in the 3rd inning. Didn’t matter if you put a crappy guy in, because you’d have to take him out after 1.2 innings. Longmen are frankly useless unless they’re actually okay pitchers that are able to go multiple innings. I just don’t understand the philosophy.

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:29:00 +0000

Only a starting staff with 3-4 true innings eaters don’t feel the real need for a long reliever.
Once Ramiro Mendoza left for free agency, the annual bullpen burnout took place. Joe Girardi recognized this need and is addressing it. If either Karstens or Rasner don’t succeed, Girardi will not abandon the thought.

By: Reef

Reef — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:27:11 +0000

It seems that the sucking up to Girardi has worked out pretty well for Bruney… Its a long season, and if I were a betting man, I’d have to put my money on the fact that losing 30 lbs does not magically teach someone how to throw strikes. 6 innings in spring training versus a career of ineptitude, cannot by any means serve as an effective litmus test. Patterson has been by far our most impressive reliever this spring, Girardi has continuously placed him in some very tough situations and judging by his performance (0 runs, 0 walks, 1 hit, 6ks, in 6 innings), he deserves the spot. If this truly was a competition then Patterson has to get it. That said, I hope that Bruney, as well as Farnsworth, prove me wrong; I just won’t be holding my breath.

By: Stan

Stan — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:17:57 +0000

To think the Yankees actually broke camp a year ago with the likes of Pavano, Igawa, Myers, Nieves, and Phelps is hilarious.
It speaks volumes just how far this team has progressed.

By: Rick

Rick — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:12:16 +0000

I think the Yankees will be shuffling pitchers back and forth from Scranton most of the season. It really appears to me that they will be playing the hot hand which is basically what they did last year.