Greetings from Gate D-5
-
- March
- 30
The Delta self-service line at the Fort Lauderdale Airport this morning was like the fall of Saigon in 1975. Long lines of angry people desperate to leave and willing to do whatever it took.
There were roughly 275,000 people in line and six people working behind the counter. It has to be miserable working for an airline. They all seem to have given up on the idea of customer service and the poor people working with the public pay the price.
Meanwhile it’s 39 degrees in New York and I have a windbreaker on after spending seven weeks in sunshine. It’s going to be a rude awakening.
——————
Little story for you. Scott Patterson was crushed on Friday night when he didn’t make the team. He’s a 28-year-old indy ball guy who has pitched his tail off for the last few years and he thought this was his shot.
Understand that for such players, making the team out of spring training is a real accomplishment. That means you earned it, you didn’t get called up because another player got hurt or failed.
I watched from across the clubhouse as Patterson sat slumped in his chair. The first teammate to come over and speak to him was LaTroy Hawkins. A few other players then joined in to console Patterson.
George King wrote in the Post today that Hawkins told Patterson to charge whatever he wanted to his account at the hotel.
Pretty classy move, especially for a player new to the team. Hawkins pitched well this spring and he could prove to be a find for the Yankees. But we’ve learned already that he’s a good teammate.
Hopefully Patterson gets called up and the next time Hawkins buys him a beer it will be to celebrate.
I’ll check back in later once I get home. Meanwhile make sure you read the Brian Cashman Q&A that was posted earlier today.
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on Sunday, March 30th, 2008 at 7:23 am by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
I have no idea how Hawkins will pitch this year. For me he was always sort of like Arthur rhodes for the Yanks whenever he came in the game you knew the Yanks were going to come back on him.
However as a person he seems like a great guy and the kind of guy you want to have in the clubhouse be it his jokes, how early in the spring he wore a JOba Rules shirt having no clue what exactly it meant or the kind of thing he did with Patterson.
I can only hope he does well and his pitching equals the kind of guy he seems to be.
I hope to see Scott Patterson on Tuesday Nite in Trenton and Congratulate him on an excellent job this spring.I agree with Chad Jennings,that perhaps they should have taken him over Albaladejo,for a few days,then sent him down when Pettitte returns.
A nice reward,as Pete said making the team out of ST.And then ya tell him to keep up the great job,and we will see ya again real soon!!
So there isnt any confusion——Scott Patterson should be in Trenton,Tuesday Nite as a visiting player.
Scranton versus Trenton 705PM Waterfront Park Trenton
as i posted before, LaTroy will be very easy to pull for, this year.
as i posted before, LaTroy will be very easy to pull for, this year.
I would definitely have given Patterson that extra confidence boost by taking him over Albaladejo. It would also show players that performance really does count, and not just experience/salary. Besides, he’d have to go down soon enough when Pettite returned. But at least, he’d have been able to say he was on the opening day roster.
I think the Yankees mishandled this opportunity. Now, let’s see how Patterson handles THIS. It could be a harbinger of his strength of character.
Gotta say I’m liking the sounds of Hawkins as a teammate.
LaTroy is gaining points… but snatching 21 is not helping.
Good for LaTroy. I liked that signing (vs. signing a veteran to a multiple year deal) from the get go. Patterson will be back, it’s just a matter of time.
Fans are funny, you have a journeyman pitcher like Patterson and everybody is up in arms because he didn’t make the roster for five days due to his outstanding spring. He’s going to face a lot more adversity than that if he makes it to the Big Show and pitches for the Yankees. I’m not completely sold on this guy or even the guy they kept for those few games. Both pitchers will have ample opportunity to show their wares and I just hope they’re up to the task because the Yankees will need such help in their bullpen.
Patterson v. Abaldejo?
While Patterson may have been a pleasant surprise, it’s hard to trust his impressive results in ST if only because of his pedigree as a 28 year old indy ball player. It’s hard not to wonder whether you are looking at Aaron Small again, in a miniature sample. So let him go to the minors and prove he can be consistent over more outings and maybe you’ve got something. He wasn’t released with a one-way bus ticket, just sent to the minors. He can pitch his way back.
Abaladejo? Don’t get used to seeing him in the Bronx. For the couple of days he will be with the big team, this may result in him seeing an inning of regular season MLB action and then he’s going to the minors.
Patterson is the real deal.
“Their guards are solid and Tyler Hansbrough is the best player in the country.”
Pete,
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but you are wrong my friend. Beasley is the best player in the country. I guarantee that when the two of them are in the NBA Beasley will provide a far greater impact than Hansbrough.
It’s a shame Patterson gets cut because Cashman and Girardi operate under the delusion that Farnsworth is a major league pitcher.
Maybe Pete should give Patterson some Red Bull. That’ll pick up his spirits.
Hawkins is going to be a little miffed when he discovers Patterson charged a massage from the Emperor’s Club VIP
Pete safe flight back and once again, thanks for the excellent job over the past seven weeks.
To put things in perspective, in both 2006 and 2007, the yanks roughly used about 15-20 or so relief pitchers during each year.
I’m pretty sure that trend will continue and we’ll see a lot more that than 8 relievers that made the opening day roster.
In other words, Patterson should cheer up. His opportunity is right around the corner.
I think that in very short order, a four year veteran of the independent leagues, along with several of the recently demoted borderline players with a little ML experience (veras, britton, ramirez, rasner, igawa(ugh!)) and raw rookies (mccutchen, horne, JB cox, sanchez) will have a chance to pitch at the ML level this year.
It’s pretty clear that Girardi thinks he’s the first guy in line to come up. A very exciting prospect for Scott Patterson.
“I think the Yankees mishandled this opportunity.”
I think Patterson is great. However, if he didn’t make the team obviously the Yankees thought there was someone better.
If the Yankees are wrong, a very understandable mistake. But what Joe Girardi has to do is play the best players, and npt worry about emotions. If Patterson isn’t mentally tough enough to not make the team out of Spring Training, he is certainly not mentally tough enough to pitch for the Yankees.
Could the Patterson decision have anything to do with ML service time?
Both Alba and Ohlendorf already have ML time logged.
Would 5 days do something that would cause Patterson to be paid on a different scale when he would return to Scranton next weekend?
If somebody is going down in a few days anyhow, then it made complete sense to keep Patterson after he legitimately won the job in spring traning. Abaldejo simply wasn’t as good, ane it doesn’t set a good tone that performance doesn’t count for anything.
I wouldn’t be surprised if that was it for Patterson…this was his shot, he deserved it, and things will never be the same for the guy. Too bad. There was nothing more he could have done to make the team.
LaTroy Hawkins seems like he is a really good guy in the clubhouse. I hope he pitches well because he seems like a good guy to root for.
Pete – thanks for your phenominal coverage of spring training. Know it will continue during the season. Welcome home.
greg: Patterson pitched great in Spring Training, and arguably deserves to make the team. They thought Albaladejo would pitch better, probably because of more experience.
But it isn’t as if Patterson accomplished nothing. He should be the first reliever called up. The Yankees just wanted to see if Patterson could be consistent. He pitched well, but he was probably facing AAA/AA guys anyway and only pitched 7.2 innings. That doesn’t prove you are Major League ready.
albadeloalajo’s performance last year in the majors counts for something.
A couple clarifications…
Scott Patterson spent over four years in INDY ball, he doesn’t need a “test of strength” or a “character check”. He has faced more adversity than anyone on their roster.
He DID face big league hitters, especially late in ST. See his outing against the Indians, see him mow down the Reds Griffey and Dunn (on a strikeout) in succession…just to name a couple.
Also, don’t just “trust his results in ST”...trust his results in AA the last two years, where he outperformed ANYONE the Yankees have in the bullpen. This is NOT a small sample size for a pitcher, especially a relief pitcher. Since he starting throwing in relief exclusively in 2006, he has over 90 outings and 140 plus innings. If we can trust the young Yankee pitchers to do well this year based on the draft slot, minor league stats, and hype surrounding them, I think we should also trust Patterson’s credentials in AA and ST as well.
I love it how we are obsessing over the 25th guy on the roster, the last guy on the bench or the 7th or 8th best reliever on the team.
Lets hope Pettitte is healthy, Wang can keep doing what he’s done already, Mussina pitches better than last year, that Hughes and Kennedy can pitch better than most rookies do in their first year, that Chamberlain can be as good as he was last year and Mariano can stay healthy. I these things happen and we get some average innings from Kyle and LaTroy, the pitching will be pretty darned good.
Relying on guys like Scott Patterson and Albaledejo (previously Tanyone Sturtze, Scott Proctor, & Co.) and other marginal players is not going to get the yanks to the playoffs.
Pete – thanks for all that you do. Stay warm (because it sure is cold here in NJ, I’m sure Westchester is a tick colder).
hawkins is showing his value not in sabermetrics, but what he does for teammates.
I’m glad he’s here.
its funny if hawkins gets released and is swapped with patterson!
“Could the Patterson decision have anything to do with ML service time?
Both Alba and Ohlendorf already have ML time logged.
Would 5 days do something that would cause Patterson to be paid on a different scale when he would return to Scranton next weekend?”
I do not think so. It makes difference only if he sticks to the ML team for the whole seasson, as he will not be a Super-2 guy. Probalby, he would have been sent back when Pettitte comes of DL.
The support for Patterson reminds me of the debate on this board for Ramirez last year. Ramirez was lights out at AAA and then he fizzled out at ML level, inspite of the fact that some believe he was not used properly by the manager.
Let Patterson continue with his success at AAA and he will get his chance. If he does not succeed at AAA, then he does not deserve to be called. I do hope he will continue his impressive performance.
this sinks
weather still forecasting rain for the opener.
it’s 11:15 and it’s 31 degrees outside
so when it’s not pouring, we’ll be freezing.
It’s very possible this all got hashed out yesterday on some other thread, but…I went out to dinner at around 7 last night and didn’t come back to my computer this morning. When I left, the blog was filled with people lamenting how awful Hughes looked, how he had no FB command, and how if THIS was the Yankee #3 pitcher, the team is screwed. Today, I get back and see that he threw 60-70 pitches in 5 innings (40-something for strikes) and gave up one earned run, one walk and three hits to four strikeouts. The stories are all about how sharp he looked and how he had a great final tuneup for the season.
What the hell was wrong with all those whiners? Are they all eating crow now, or just waiting for someone else to have a bad inning before they come back and start complaining again?
Anyone know what time the minor league with Pettitte was supposed to start? Usually the minor league start time is 10:00. If so any update?
Peter,
Regarding your predictions in the last thread:
A-Rod will win the record fourth AL MVP instead of Manny. Now A-Rod is well settled, is slowly appreciated by the fans (see Sherman article in NY Post) and he will have fit Damon and Abrue in front of him. Also, he may get better protection from Giambi than last year.
Regarding the AL manager of the year, Girardi will win it. Almost every one outside Yankee Universe is ignoring Yanks and they are not even considering them to make the playoffs. With a few breaks, Yanks may win the division.
Angels placed Escobar, Lackey and Sheilds on DL and their injuries do not seem to be minor. They will be slow out of the gate and may be looking at wildcard inspite of the predictions that they will win AL West.
I’m guessing it came down to Bruney vs. Patterson and the Yankee braintrust probably figured Bruney had better stuff and throws harder.
At the AA level, most batters are hacking at everything as opposed to the majors where most hitters lay off the close pitches out of the zone early in the count and then murder the mediocre fastball when the pitcher has to come in with it.
Having said that, certainly hope Patterson gets his shot at some point soon and makes the most of it.
They might be eating crow, whozat.
i never saw a report on how andy did yesterday, does anyone know
There are times a young player is in camp and has no chance of making the starting roster, regardless of how he performs. This just means the team wants some maturation on the Farm before he is brought up. This is quite common.
This was the case with Patterson. And for that matter, Gardner too. You do not need to ‘keep Patterson up’ for his confidence. Having success in AAA as opposed to maybe struggling in MLB is ultimately better for his development.
Verbally, there are things Girardi/the FO can say to Patterson to make sure he leaves with a positive attitude. This is about player development, not a race to the show.
While young players think it is about MAKING it to the Show, the reality is, it is about STAYING in MLB once you do make it. Andy Phillips, Nick Green, and many, many others, ‘made it up’.... but where are they now?
The best thing the Yanks can say to Patterson is ‘Congratulations…. 2008 will be your Rookie year. Go to Tranton, keep your mind clear, your body in shape and your arm strong, and MAKE SURE YOUR ARE READY when we need you”.
V
March 30th, 2008 at 1:26 am
http://www.artnet.com/artwork/425009352/424079904/neil-leifer-yankee-stadium-aerial-at-dusk-new-york-september-6-2005-yankees-vs-yankee-stadium-aerial-at-dusk-new-york-september-6-2005-yankees-vs-boston-red-sox.html
Gorgeous print – the gallery was pricy (that was probably $750-1000), but absolutely beautiful in person.
——————————————————
V, thanks for the input!
I feel for Patterson but I guarantee he will see time in the majors this season.
what kind of wine goes with crow?
Pete, what’s the link to that George King article?
I worry about JD. He is in better shape, but I don’t expect much better then last year from him. My issue is: If his OBP is lower then .360, will Girardi have the balls to bat JD 9th, with Jetes leading off, and Cano batting 2nd?
“They might be eating crow, whozat.”
I hope so. I also noticed that I got my very own impersonator last night!
I left around 7. There were some posts in the Solid Tune-Up thread that weren’t me. Awesome.
Also, someone accused me of talking smack about Hughes. Not sure where that came from.
“Jetes leading off, and Cano batting 2nd?”
Does Cano really profile well as a #2? He’s lefty and goes opposite field a lot, and doesn’t have good on-base skills.
“what kind of wine goes with crow?”
The kind that comes from sour grapes!
Zing!
speaking of sour grapes—ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters” spent 7 minutes bashing ARod this morning. It’s as if they feel Torre is gone cause of ARod’s postseasons. Hell, the wouldn’t even made the postseason without ARod.
Countdowm,
You mean Little Mikey Lupica bashed A Rod and the Yankees? I find that sooo surprising LOL
People are already counting on Farnsy & Hawk to have bad years. Some are even mentioning them being released. Count on both guys being on the Yanks all season long and being huge contibutors. I expect both to have very good seasons. Farnsworth has always had great stuff and Hawkins has always been a decent reliever and as his velocity has dropped over the years he’s added a sinker. Watch and be pleasantly surprised this season.
Loopyica, as well as the knucklehead, Mitch Albom.
They were really angry.
Funny, of course, because they love to criticize fans for not being “level headed.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if that was it for Patterson…this was his shot, he deserved it, and things will never be the same for the guy. Too bad. There was nothing more he could have done to make the team.”
wow, what drama.
if Patterson can’t handle this, he shouldn’t be pitching in the major leagues.
some of these posts on Patterson have gotten beyond absurd.
Josh—Andy pitches today vs Ian in an intra-squad minor league game.
BBfan: Escobar AND Lackey on the DL? Isn’t that like the entirety of their pitching staff?
What can you say about Lupica, who’s been bashing the Yanks for so long it surprising some passionate Yankee fans haven’t tracked him down and beaten the crap out of him, just on a matter of principle, not that I would condone that. LOL.
http://www.enoughlupica.com/
As for Mitch Albom, he’s a guy out of Detroit who since he’s had a couple of bestsellers thinks he’s God’s gift to the world and btw, sucks up to Gary Sheffield (who’s proven himself one of the finest human beings on the face of the earth), now that he’s on the Tigers, but chooses to bash ARod. Go figure.
More Mitch Albom laughter – the guy wears a toupee!
His rhetoric is so high and mighty, yet his ego is so fragile and vain.
thanks rebecca, somehow i thought it already happened
it’s like the fans on this board hate prosperity because it gives them nothing to complain about.
think about it this way:
Patterson didn’t make the team out of camp because the Yankees had NINE relievers who had outstanding springs (10 when we count Joba).
think about that and be HAPPY instead of bitching and moaning all the time.
look at these numbers:
Ohlendorf – 10.2 IP, 1.69 ERA, 12K
Albadalejo – 9.1 IP, 3.86 ERA, 10K
Traber – 9.0 IP, 1.00 ERA, 9 K
Farnsworth – 8.2 IP, 2.08 ERA, 6K, 3BB
Hawkins – 8.2 IP. 0.00 ERA, 7 H, 3 BB
Rivera – 6.1 IP, 1.42 ERA, 7 K
Bruney – 9.2 IP, 1.86 ERA, 14 K
Britton – 5.0 IP, 1.80 ERA, 3 K
Patterson – 7.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 7 K
isn’t this the absolute BEST CAST scenario that could have happened this spring?
all winter, all anyone bitched about here was the bullpen. now it looks like the Yankee had TOO MANY quality arms, so someone we liked had to get sent down. Albadalejo is going to be sent down in 3 days.
isn’t this a GREAT result?
put it this way, if Patterson DOESN’T get called up this year, it means everyone in the bullpen is performing. and if that happens, the Yankees will be on their way to 100+ wins.
On ESPN everything centers around Alex. And actually if they got their facts right, Torre was offered a contract and turned it down.
I also think that the Yanks souring on Torre had a lot to do with his bullpen management and his “killing” pitchers. The Joba rules were put in to harness Torre and protect Joba from being overused by Torre.
And as this camp evidenced, the Yanks maybe were becoming a little too complacent under Torre. This spring everyone came into camp in shape and really worked hard.
I really like Joe Torre and appreciate all that he did for the Yanks, but I do think it was time for him to go. I look forward to the “new” Yankees under Joe Girardi and can’t wait for the season to start.
The Delta self-service line at the Fort Lauderdale Airport this morning was like the fall of Saigon in 1975. Long lines of angry people desperate to leave and willing to do whatever it took.
Could you whine anymore?
Be grateful you have one of the enjoyable jobs in the world… Do you have to pick up trash ?
Mornin’ guys.
A few things.
-Mitch Albom has weird ears. Nothing more needs to be said.
-hmm is right. Patterson didn’t get beat out by scrubs. If Ramirez, Igawa, or Heath Philips made it over Patterson you’ve got a legitimate gripe.
-When, not if, Patterson’s called up I hope he pitches with a chip on his shoulder. To prove he belongs here after all.
-Making the team out of ST as a rookie would make a great story. But no one’s here to write a story. They’re here to win games. They went with experience and MLB contract over a guy who’s pitched a couple of innings at AAA. There was definitely potential for deer in the headlight reaction by Patterson to go into a game in the stadium in its last year with emotions riding so high.
-We all love Patterson. He’ll be here soon enough.
Pettitte, Kennedy update:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-yankees-pettitte&prov=ap&type=lgns
Oh whoops. Look like that’s already covered
I think I just heard that Andy pitched 6 innings, no runs, one hit in the minor league game this morning. More importantly, if his back feels okay after that, then that’s good news.
I don’t read Loopy Lupica’s column anymore. Too much lazy, self indulgent, irrelevant crap. Now I’ve taken to reading his one liners after the main dreck becasue I find them so revealing.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/03/30/2008-03-30_jose_canseco_get_me_rewrite.html?page=0
Like this from Mikey: “Looking at Eliot Spitzer’s pretty busy schedule now, you wonder how the guy ever had the time to fight white-collar crime.” Or this one: “The Yankees are probably pretty clear on the fact that drama seems to find A-Rod the way the new governor of New York used to find female companions.”
Mikey, political jokes have to be timely. Funny doesn’t hurt either.
Or this gem: “I’ll tell you what I’m going to do the first chance I get: I’m going to see Patti LuPone as Mama Rose in ‘Gypsy.’ ”
I’m sorry, but WTF… Patty LuPone? Gypsy?
And this: “Hillary Clinton persists in saying she “misspoke” about Bosnia. If she did, then here’s a question: What did she mean to say? You misspeak when you say “North” Dakota instead of “South” Dakota. Not when you make up a fish story.”
Mikey, we get it. You like Obama. Keep it up and maybe he’ll make you Secretary of Short.
Just noticed I screwed up that enoughlupica link I posted earlier. Sorry. Try this…
http://www.enough-lupica.com/
People are taking the demotion of Patterson so personally – I just don’t get it. Frankly, I’m tired of reading about how upset Patterson is. I sympathize with him, but only to an extent. If he’s angry and discouraged and he pitches terribly in AAA because of it, then he is no major league pitcher. Eventually he will find a way to the Yankees IF he pitches well…....the roster is not set in stone, it’s fluid and will be throughout the year. It almost seems as if Scott feels sorry for himself and I have no sympathy for him if that’s the case.
“It almost seems as if Scott feels sorry for himself and I have no sympathy for him if that’s the case.”
So, you’re getting mad at Patterson because many sites are all reporting on the same one conversation that they had with the guy? And fans are rehashing it over and over?
You can be annoyed that it’s being over-covered, but to be mad at Patterson about it?
“People are taking the demotion of Patterson so personally – I just don’t get it.”
Then you don’t get baseball. Fans are attracted to and identify with the players. That’s been a big part of the game’s appeal going back to the 19th century. Patterson’s is a heartbreaker of a story, so people are going to get worked up about it. Of course, you can always look at the situation from a different angle or perspective, and see it as a trivial development, essentially a non-story. That doesn’t make that perspective better or more right than the human angle (which is very real), just different.
It does kind of annoy me that Albaladejo made the team over Patterson. I know Girardi wants him to pitch some AAA ball, but the guy is 28 years old already! Hopefully he doesn’t let this affect his performance there, or else he’ll never make it up.
I mean, would it have been the worst thing for Joe to make this guy’s life by rewarding his performance and allowing him to make the team out of Spring Training for at least the 4 games that Pettitte won’t be on the roster? I feel that would have done a lot for the guy’s psyche and perhaps he would have gone down to AAA with a better feeling of having tasted the big league atmosphere and wanting to earn a quick call up.
Mistake number 1 by Girardi, if you ask me.
Let me just clarify that last comment by stating that I have nothing against Albaladejo, but he is younger and has plenty more time to make an impact. Patterson’s clock is ticking on his prime.
“I mean, would it have been the worst thing for Joe to make this guy’s life by rewarding his performance and allowing him to make the team out of Spring Training for at least the 4 games that Pettitte won’t be on the roster? ”
this argument doesn’t really make sense. i don’t see how it is BETTER to put Patterson on the team just to send him down in 4 days.
Patterson wasn’t upset because he didn’t get the 8th spot in the bullpen. he was upset because he didn’t get the SEVENTH spot in the bullpen.
he wants to MAKE the team, and make the team to stay. which is good. i am GLAD he is had that competitive streak.
but let’s clear this up: Albadalejo did NOT make the team. it’s a technicality that will keep him on the roster until Pettitte is scheduled to make his start.
“Mistake number 1 by Girardi, if you ask me.”
i pray these are the only kind of “mistakes” that Girardi makes this year, b/c as far as mistakes go, it’s pretty minor and very correctable. if Bruney isn’t getting the job done, he goes down, Patterson comes up. done.
if his “psyche” is too damaged to recover from this, i don’t think we want him on the mound in a playoff game.
This is a discussion…...there is no bitchin and moanin…or anything else…..its forum to express your feelings/thoughts….if you dont want to read it…then dont no one is twisting your arm!
Lets also clear this up…...Last time I checked Albaladejo DID make the team…if he is part of 25 guys….then he DID make the team!!Agh “”“”“””
“Last time I checked Albaladejo DID make the team”
yes, for 3 games. then he will be sent down.
Suspect Mechanics, I understand baseball as much as anyone that posts here. I get why people involve themselves emotionally with players because I do that as well. I wouldn’t watch the sport if it was played by robots, but fortunately it’s not. Some people say to root for the uniform, not the players, to save themselves heartbreak when a player doesn’t re-sign or is traded. I can’t do that – I have to personalize the sport.
The thing is, I just can’t qualify Patterson’s story as heartbreaking…..that’s overstating the case. It’s not like I don’t understand why people sympathize with him, but I think we’re just making a mountain over a molehill. All Patterson has to do is pitch well in AAA and he will definitely be headed for NY.
whozat, I’m not annoyed at Scott because the story is being over-played; that is most definitely not his fault. I’m not mad at him at all….but if he’s still bemoaning his fate, I would be. If the media comes crawling back to him, I would hope Patterson would say that he’s going to do everything in his power to get to NY, like he told Girardi, and leave it at that. This is going to be a non-story starting tomorrow once the regular season starts, but I will be following him in Scranton. When/If he makes it to NY, it will be a heartwarming story and we could always use some of those.
I feel for Patterson because it seems like he’s been told all along he was in a race for a bullpen spot (or at least he was allowed to think that), and we can now see that simply wasn’t true. I mean, he didn’t just pitch well. Had he pitched well and not made it you could make a case he was in the race but they wanted him to get some seasoning. He pitched very, very close to as good as anyone can possibly pitch. Short of giving up one single hit, he was essentially perfect, in many different situations, and had more strikeouts than IP too. If they wanted him to be in AAA first to give him a little more time in the minors, that’s fine and I get that argument, but tell him that straight out. Don’t let him think he’s in a race when he’s not.
Good story about Hawkins, though. And I’m sure we’ll see Patterson soon unless he does awful.
I do think some may be overdoing it a little about “damaging his psyche”. As others have said, if this damaged him that badly, then I wouldn’t want him anywhere near the team anyway.
Slight correction, Patterson had 7 strikeouts in 7.2 IP, not more than a strikeout per inning.
I wanted to post and say that the tidbit about Patterson and Hawkins was very enjoyable to read. Even though everyone involved is playing a game for a living and making a lot more than I do, I still felt sorry for Patterson (especially because I am also 28 and I know how thrilled I’d be to make a baseball team).
Pete, is there a way for Patterson to find out how many fans appreciated his excellent spring? Maybe that will help lift his spirits as well.