Pitching matchups for the Cleveland series
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 25, 2008 
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Tonight: LHP Andy Pettitte (3-1, 2.45) vs. RHP Paul Byrd (0-2, 4.43), 7:05, Channel 9. First 25,000 fans get a vial of HGH.
Tomorrow: RHP Ian Kennedy (0-2, 9.64) vs. LHP Jeremy Sowers (0-0, 0.00), 3:55, FOX. Two young guys with talent and something to prove.
Sunday: RHP Chien-Ming Wang (4-0, 3.94) vs. LHP C.C. Sabathia (1-3, 10.13), 1:05, YES, TBS. Playoff rematch. They’ve gone different directions this season.
Monday: RHP Mike Mussina (2-3, 4.94) vs. LHP Aaron Laffey (0-0, 0.00), 7:05, YES, ESPN. Two in a row for the Moose?
First post! Just kidding
I’d hate to think it’s intentional that Cleveland planned for 3/4 of their pitchers to be Lefty.
Come on Pete…Let’s give Moose his rightful dues…his record is 2-3 with a 4.94 ERA!
A split here would be good, although the Yankees (in the regular season) usually kick butt at the Jake.
Too bad about last night, only critiques I would have of Girardi is pinch hitting Posada for Ensberg.
The other critique falls on Cash for not having a real long man on the team. Ohlendorf should be sent down to AAA and Rasner brought up. No one cares if Rasner is overused anyone, Ohlendorf has great potential and is being abused.
Actually, the way the team is playing, they really need two long men, if that’s the case, then maybe you bring up Igawa and send down Traber. I guess I’m asking for the next wave of pitchers to come on up, but that won’t happen on one day.
I think Yanks can take two out of three. if A-Rod is back in the line-up with a power right hand bat that would be great! The bull pen is a little bit of a mess right now with both Bruni and Farnsworth hurt. At least this year they have guys they can brign up to fill in!
I see no reason to send down Ohlendorf. If Bruney is being put on the DL and Moeller DFA’d just call Rasner up and shift Ohlendorf to a role he was prepared for all ST. He’ll need two days off probably but after that Ohlendorf should be good to pitch an inning in relief. I’d like to see him get a chance in a more traditional relief role before we send him down.
Moller dfa Shelley Duncan brought back
Bruney brevement leave Rasner brought up
??
Oh and Henn DFA to bring Rasner up.
Curiously what time did the Cleveland game end? I’m betting before the Yankee game. Amazing they can play 2 plus games in the time it took the Yankees to play one! I woke up at 1am to see what happened in the game only to find out that it just ended!!
Oh wait actually we don’t even have to dfa Henn since Moellar will be gone.
For me this is like christmas morning. They should be DL Farnsworth and Bruney and DFA Moeller. Can’t say i’m sorry to be without farns or bruno, but i can’t say i wish injury upon them either. just a release. rasner has to come up, he has a 0.75 era. i’d also promote veras, not ramerez. lastly, welcome back shelley. i enjoyed watching him in scranton on sunday, but we could use the rt bat at first this weekend.
It’s too bad that they won’t DFA Pavano. No chance he helps us this year. They have to eat the money anyway, so why not take him off the roster and clear up space for a person who actually deserves it and wants to play?
New entry by Phil
Okay so why is he called “the blowfish”.
steph he is on the 60 day dl so he is already off the roster.
DFA Moeller, call up Rasner.
DL Bruney, call up Patterson (or name your short relief bullpen arm here).
DL Farnsworth, recall Shelley.
seem like the obvious moves here to me. you need at least 2 arms for that BP, and Shelley should get some serious playing time with the 3 lefties in Cleveland this weekend (unless Girardi is set on giving Ensberg more time at 1B once ARod gets back in the lineup).
id like to see Alberto go back down to Scranton to get some regular ABs, but with no other real option to backup Jeter/Cano, i guess he stays…
perhaps Girardi sits Cano a couple games this weekend against lefties, too, like Giambi?
True. I guess I’m just dying to see his name gone from the Yankees, period.
Pavano is on the 60 day DL. He’s not holding up a spot on the 40 man roster, so basically he is DFA’d for now.
I can see Cano maybe sitting a game and then coming in late as a pinch hitter (if needed) or something against lefties. He’s hitting them even worse than righties and AG could use a bit more playing time.
I wouldn’t worry about trying to get Gonzalez more ABs in Scranton. He isn’t much of a prospect. Utility infielder is what he should be.
Oh me too!! But I dont think they can outright release him due to insurance reasons. I sure am glad I never bought a Pavano shirt. I probably would have used it to dust my house. I would have been one expensive rag.
turn two you are probably right, given that most of the pen pitched last night we need some fresh arms. This is where the lack of off days and poor weather kills you. Phil looked like he could go 6 innings last night. It is a real shame.
great, i get to watch the crypt keeper pitch again on ESPN Monday. This guy could break a hip if he farts too hard.
- All the right reasons exist to sit Giambi and call up Shelley Duncan.
– Rasner is scheduled for a Saturday start with SWB. Slot him in the long relief role for the 1st time his services are needed.
– Albaladejo or Edwar if Bruney, Farnsworth, or both are put on DL.
Cashman has the options to be creative.
What?
Yeah, the Yanks wouldn’t collect insurance, which is the only reason he’s still on the roster. I’m still dying to smack him for not accepting a minor league assignment because that bites into his wishes. I remember laughing at that article about him “laying down the foundation for his future.” He said something like “I’m not rushing this.” Hey, no kiddin’! He hasn’t rushed anything since he got here.
The Yankees need, first and foremost, a long man after yesterday. The choice is Rasner or Igawa…and since Igawa is scary and Rasner is absolutely lighting up AAA, he’s the obvious choice.
I wrote this last night, it’s easy:
DFA Moeller
DL Bruney
AAA Ohlendorf
Bring up Duncan, Rasner and Albaledejo (or Edwar). We need a real long man, Rasner is made for that role, Ohlendorf is spent.
I wouldnt be opposed to sending down Ohlendorf to allow him to take a breather and reestablish himself… get him back into a grove of pitching for 1 inning stints again, and get him back up in a week or two.
Steph,
I agree with your sentiment re ex Boy Toy of A. Milano. He’s bad karma for us, 60 day DL, or whatever. Get him and his ice cream *** (behind) outta there.
STEPH agreed!! He has been selfish his entire time here. So it should come as no surpise that he wouldn’t accept a minor league assignment. It is all about ME ME ME. Never mind that someone else couldn’t be protected and stay with the Yankees.
I just hope we are in good enough position that if some how he is ready to pitch in August we can tell him to go fly a kite.
I agree with everything TurnTwo has said except I would keep Ohlendorf with the major league team and put him into a set-up role. Bullpen of Mo, Joba, Hawkins, Ohlendorf, Traber, Albaladejo, Rasner would be nice. DFA or trade Farns when he’s off the DL.
Call up Shelley, DFA or trade Betemit, DFA Moeller, keep Gonzalez. I would also cut into Giambi’s playtime and give Ensberg starts at first against lefty pitchers. Shelley would get the occasional start at DH vs a lefty (although I’d rather not take too many AB’s away from Matsui). I’d also give Shelley spot starts in RF since it seems like Abreu struggles against some lefties.
Some thoughts…..
If you guys get a chance, take a weekend trip to Charleston, SC this summer. Its not only a very clean and nice town, with great restaurants and a lot to do, the Charleston River Dogs are a special team this year.
They are already 18-3, and there are at least a half dozen bonafide major league prospects. Including Jesus Montero who, IMO, will be considered one of the Top Ten Prospects in baseball by the end of the season. He’s a manchild.
Onto the Yankees……
Last night was an unlucky night for them. Hughes finally looked like Hughes and the rain delay changed the entire game. They still won the series. No small achievement given their injury situation.
Girardi was correct in not bringing back Hughes. To me, that’s a no brainer decision.
Ohlendorf? Its simple. He’s not a longman. Not what he is trained to do and truth be told, they are doing damage to him right now. Its not the way to develop pitchers.
He needs to go to AAA. Not as punishment. Its because they need the roster space and he is not going to be able to pitch for the next 3 days.
The smart move is to send him to AAA and get him back to being a short inning guy.
Its time to DFA Moeller and end having 3 catchers on the roster. If you lose him, you lose him. Once again, their disjointed roster cost them a game last night.
There really isn’t any logical explanation why they were a pitcher short last night. Bruney is in a walking boot and Scranton, PA is not exactly Mars. I’d love for Pete, or somebody on the beat, to try and get an answer as to why they decided to go a pitcher short with a rookie on the mound and rain in the forecast. Yet, another roster blunder.
Gotta DL both Farnsworth and Bruney. If they can’t pitch over the next few days, it makes no sense carrying them on the roster. I’m sure Bruney will be DL’ed. Farnsworth? Can’t mess around with an elbow and you can’t afford working a pitcher short on the roster for 3-4 more days.
First base? What can I say. The thought of 4 games, 3 against lefties, of Jasont Giambi at first base certainly isn’t advisable. As we have seen so far this year, this is a stubborn braintrust. One hopes the stubborness ends soon because its cost them games they will look back and like to have had in the win column come August and September.
So, to review, here’s what I hope happens today:
1. DFA Moeller. This opens up the roster space to callup Rasner. I think its time for a real longman/swing starter to be on the roster, don’t you?
2. DL Bruney and callup Shelley Duncan. Its time and they need his bat and energy. They also need to get Giambi off first base. At least against lefties for now.
3. DL Farnsworth and callup Edwar Ramirez. He’s throwing the ball better than Patterson right now and his changeup can neutralize lefties.
4. Send Ohlendorf down and callup Jose Veras. Veras is throwing the ball better than anybody in AAA. He has been dominant so far this year. They could use another power arm in short relief work and its time to give Veras that shot for the job.
“This opens up the roster space to callup Rasner. I think its time for a real longman/swing starter to be on the roster, don’t you?”
I don’t think you were one of these people, SJ, but where are all the folks who pooh-poohed the idea of a long man during ST? Doesn’t look like it’d have been a bad idea now, does it?
When was the last time this team played with a 25 man roster? While I understand not wanting to DL Posada, Jeter or Rodriguez, even if it means them being able to come back only a few extra games, the Yanks have been playing short handed since almost week 1.
The 3 lefties this weekend poses a unique challenge. If A-Rod can only DH, the combination of 1B, 3B and Matsui in the line-up could take some interesting permutations.
It would be a real shame to Proctorize Ross Ohlendorf’s arm. The times when I saw him on TV (I don’t see all the games) his stuff looked exceptional. If he’s good when he’s out there for just an inning at time, why wear him out as a ‘long man’?
If it’s because Bruney and Farnsworth aren’t reliable enough, bring someone else up who’s at least got a shot at being more reliable than them. Now’s a good (and necessary) time to do so because they’re hurt, but its not a good thing that it’s scary to see them come in with just a 2 or 3 run lead.
Agreed, give Ohlendorf a rest in the meantime. If his arm’s good for about 50 or close to 60 innings a season, then preserve that puppy. Just 3 innings a week adds up to more than that by the end of the year. He’s already up to 16 innings after 3 1/2 weeks. Do the math … its going to be way too much. He’ll be toast by August.
An HGH crack from Pete at our beloved Andy Pettitte? Ouch!
CC Sabathia is going in a different direction (toward the buffet?)
I agree with most everything folks have said above except I would throw Traber on the same SWB-DL-DFA bus along with Bruney, Farnsy, Moeller. I’d keep Ohly here but convert him to a one-inning guy and have Rasner take over long-man duties.
I also like the idea of bring Veras up for a test drive. Seems like a power arm that could be helpful.
It is a lot to ask but if Pettitte can give us 7 innings again tonight that would be great. The weather forecast for the mistake by the lake doesn’t look very good – Any chance Franchise gives us some work on his throw day?
From NJ.COM, looks like JB Cox will be promoted to Trenton shortly and David Robertson, who has been lights out at Trenton, could get promoted to Scranton. Pretty fast riser for a 17th round pick.
L.A. fans are beginning to understand what having joe torre as manager can mean to a team. his lineup last night had a.jones batting 2nd and nomar 3rd with matt kemp batting 8th. putting torre in charge of a team that already had a veteran/young guys split was not the best idea but the dodgers needed a leading man and he fell into thier laps. i think torre’s going to fade into retirement while bringing the dodgers down with him.
Don’t worry, Girardi will put together yet another lineup, probably go with having all his lefties in order.
Sorry, I wasn’t all that hot on Girardi when he first got the job, and that opinion isn’t improving.
I don’t think he is handling the bullpen all that well. He is ruining Ohlendorf, he trusts Farnsworth and Bruney beyond what they show they can do. Giambi still being put in games at first when he just doesn’t have the skills for it.
Girardi doesn’t play on the field, but it is his job to get his players to. I don’t think he is doing that all that well. He keeps playing with the lineup. Why? What has that done to get production going? Where is any small ball being played?
He comes off poorly when the team loses, gives lies as answers to questions on injuries. How long till he starts pointing fingers to pass the blame?
TKinDC –
Since both Pettitte and Byrd were connected to HGH use, it was a no-brainer comment by Pete.
not sure if this was brought up already, but wouldn’t now be a good time for Farnsworth to drop his appeal?
then DL him if he’s still hurt
“An HGH crack from Pete at our beloved Andy Pettitte? Ouch!”
I’m choosing to believe it was a shot at Paul Byrd even though it could work either way.
pat me too.
Boston Dave –
I think if Farnsworth dropped his appeal and took the suspension, the Yankees would not be able to replace him on the roster. The only way they’re not short a guy is if they DL him. Anyone?
let me get this straight. farnsworth slips on a wet mound and falls and hurts his arm and so girardi thinks this is a good spot for joba for about his 4th appearance in 6 games?
i think girardi is channeling billy martin again. i love billy ,but if girardi is going to try to win every battle he better get some disposable veterans instead of frangible rookies.
Boston Dave –
Unless you’re saying if they’re not going to DL him, why not let him serve his suspension in which case, I’m with you – six of one a half dozen of the other, either way he can’t pitch and won’t be replaced.
Why is everyone so sure that Farnsworth needs to be DL’ed? I know many would like him gone but it is a little bit of a stretch to go from banging your elbow on your knee to landing on the DL.
“where are all the folks who pooh-poohed the idea of a long man during ST?”
right on whozat. I also got yelled at for saying the Yanks would need a longman (especially during the gruelling first month).
Randy l -
I had never, ever heard the word “frangible” before. Nice word! (I did look it up.
)
“1. DFA Moeller. This opens up the roster space to callup Rasner. I think its time for a real longman/swing starter to be on the roster, don’t you?
2. DL Bruney and callup Shelley Duncan. Its time and they need his bat and energy. They also need to get Giambi off first base. At least against lefties for now.
3. DL Farnsworth and callup Edwar Ramirez. He’s throwing the ball better than Patterson right now and his changeup can neutralize lefties.
4. Send Ohlendorf down and callup Jose Veras. Veras is throwing the ball better than anybody in AAA. He has been dominant so far this year. They could use another power arm in short relief work and its time to give Veras that shot for the job.”
Agreed with all except #4. I would keep Ohlendorf with the team and let him work in as a setup man after he gets a few days rest. Calling up Edwar and Rasner would spell the bullpen enough, I’d rather stick with Ross then waste him in AAA. Also you are implying (but not outright saying) that you would put Duncan at Giambi against the lefties this weekend. I do want Duncan but I’d rather see Ensberg be the 1B against lefties. I think his defense will be better than Duncan’s and he’s a more established hitter.
Doreen,
that is correct. If they know for sure they’ll DL him, then do it. If not, let him serve his suspension now.
I know the bloggers want this guy off the team, but if the Yankees disagree, then the smart move is to serve the suspension now.
Assuming they make a couple moves to bring up two new arms, they can afford to do that.
boston dave
the yanks were high on having a long man, but nobody stepped up to take the job. rasner was crappy, so was karstens (is he still injured?) and i dont think anyone thinks igawa is mlb material, so who exactly was going to be the long man? not a good place to put a developing SP who needs regular minor league work.
pat,
agreed. if the yankees still feel Farnsworth is valuable to the team (which i realize most here don’t), then the smart move is to give him a 3 day rest by serving the suspension now.
the only caveat to that is that the yanks do need some fresh arms asap. if they absolutely need to DL Kyle in order to bring some up, then do it. However, they can get by with putting Bruney on the DL, sending Ohlendorf down, and DFA Moeller.
Andruw Jones is horrible. Absolutely horrible. He has been for years now. His last few seasons are a bigger disappointment than Giambi. The guy didn’t even hit .250 one year.
I’m not just putting him 2nd, I’m batting him 8th until he learns to hit the ball again. Having an automatic out batting 4th or 3rd does you no good.
I
not all that,
It really didn’t matter. Longmen are not great pitchers. Their role is to eat innings to save the rest of the bullpen.
We need to get over the fact that longmen are going to give up a few runs here and there.
We are seeing the effects of not having one.
Curious, what is the Yankees record in games where Ohlendorf has had to pitch 2+ innings? Anybody know?
Go figure!
the Yankees are 0-4 in games Ross Ohlendorf has had to pitch 2 or more innings.
How could the Yankees have done worse if it were Karstens or Rasner?
Good Morning.
I would rather have a loss in the wee hours of the night than losing by 430 in the afternoon. The wait period until the next game is brutal after a day game loss.
SJ44. As I mentioned before my wife and I lived in downtown Charleston for two years. If you have a chance take a ride (10)miles out to Sullivan’s Island. There is a great spot near the beach called Dunleavy’s Pub. It was one of our favorite places to visit when we go back. Owned and operated by a family that is from CT. Food is great and the character is tremendous. Just a suggestion but either way, safe travels.
Happy Friday to all.
-dennis
a jones is done. he is totally out of shape and clueless in the batters box. normar has almost nothing left and cant go a month w/o being on the dl. the dodgers have good young talent, kemp, martin, and ethier and torre uses every chance he gets to put nomar, jones, juan pierre and jeff kent in the lineup and sitting the dodgers young talent. this was a huge problem with grady little last season and torre is was worse at it than little was. i dont see this ending well. you gotta know Mr. Dodger Blue (lasorda) will put the backstabbing machine in motion soon, nobody is allowed around the dodgers who takes any limelight away from tommy.
The yankees should try and make a deal with Washington for Nick the Dick. The Nats desperately need pitching and the yankees have a ton of it, Id include Shelley Duncan in the deal if they want a first baseman in return as well as pitching.
not all that,
i think the same thing every time i look at that lineup (you forgot Loney)
“I would rather have a loss in the wee hours of the night than losing by 430 in the afternoon. The wait period until the next game is brutal after a day game loss. ”
True but it sucks staying up late only to see your team lose then being tired the rest of the next day.
sure, the yanks have plenty of room for mr. dl. having nick on the roster would be fun for the 5 weeks he would actually play, but what do you want to give up to get him?
Hugh,
not a bad idea (if Nick can stay healthy), though I’d love to add a right handed hitter to the lineup instead of another lefty.
I think they should give Shelley a legitimate shot to win the job. If he can’t hack it, then look to make a move at the break.
Boston Dave – Good point about the Yanks not having a long man and using Ohlendorf. I think that Rasner should come up. He can eat inning and has been lights out in Scranton.
Rasner has been working with the AAA pitching coach (Chaves) and says that he helped him develop a cutter to go along with his curveball. He has been able to throw it to both sides of the plate and keep hitters off his curveball
Patrick.
Point well taken. It is also hard to fall asleep right after a tough loss after midnight.
The best news of the day is that it is Friday.
I am eager to see the roster moves the Yanks make today and the thread/posts that will follow them.
-dennis
Not all that -
While I agree that his lineups are suspect, I don’t think Nomar is done for.
The guy was so talented in Boston and seems to always be in such great shape. He’s got a great talent for hitting that we haven’t seen since Tony Gwynn.
The guy hit .372 one year. It’s just ridiculous. 30HR ~100 RBI.
If he can hit .300 w/ 18 HR and 70RBI, He’s still a good major leaguer. I think he can be better than that, but he’s certainly not done.
6th would be a better spot in the order for him. 6th or 2nd. But you’ve gotta keep him in the lineup.
Fran,
I like that idea. All they need is someone to eat innings (and not get completely clobbered). If Rasner can do that AND pitch well, all the better.
Rasner could have left to pitch for any other team. He chose to take his chances with the Yankees despite their apparent pitching depth in the minors.
Maybe he takes pride in it and wants to be a Yankee. Gotta give him credit there and root for him to do well.
What are the chances Henn gets called up? He’s been pitching in the minors, so he’s healthy. He’s also out of options, which means the Yanks probably have to make a decison on him soon. Its either DFA him or give him one more chance to prove himself. I’m guessing (not hoping) they will give another chance before losing him.
Oh, and he never strikes out. Ever.
Making a deal with Jim Bowden for Nick Johnson is a non-starter. Bowden is a clown who got nothing for Soriano (except for compensatory picks). He tried to hold up a bunch of teams and was left holding the bag.
The time of look & see what we’ve got is over. It’s nearly the end of April and roster adjustments are necessary.
For all that’s happened, the team has played the month with a 22-man roster and yet are in good shape to move on with the season provided Cashman pulls the trigger on the right moves within the organization.
If Dennis is still in the blog – could you let me know if there are innings limits on Buckholz and Lester this year?
Thanks for being a rational voice for your Nation!
dorreen-
i was looking for a word to call all the fragile, delicate, easily broken( because their arms haven’t fully developed yet) young pitchers on the yankees.
from this moment on they are the “frangibles” as in you can only have so many frangibles on a playoff bound team because they make managing too difficult.
as a general rule for frangibles , a playoff bound team should have no more than two on the team and only one in their starting rotation.
a corollary is if you have too many frangibles you deem a frangible to be not your primary frangible, then you can deem him to be an expendable frangible like lester going on three days rest in boston the other day. lester is no longer a frangible. it makes it a much easier job for francona to have just one frangible in the rotation in lester.
the yankees will have to make similar decisions about ranking their frangibles.
that is if they are interested on making the playoffs this year.
The situation with the Major League roster is far from simple. Farnsworth and Bruney, in Joe’s eyes, are talented and key parts of the bullpen.
They are both hurt and he’d hate to lose them because, even though we’ve got people in the minor, callups are not always great.
Look at K-Ram. He was absolutely horrendous last season when we called him up. T.J. Beam.
Can the callups work out well? Yes, but if you can choose to have pitchers that are horrible 25% of the time or someone that you have no idea on how bad they can be, most will take the 25%.
Because let’s face it. It’s not that Bruney and Farnsworth mess up every time out there. It’s the one in 3 or one in 4 times that they really blow it that gets us upset.
One thing I do know is that Traber is a WASTE of a roster spot. When we need roster space badly, we have a lefty specialist that can’t get lefties out taking up a space! He’s got no stuff – At least Brian and Kyle have stuff.
Get him out of here now! Having a lefty to have a lefty is STUPID. If he’s good enough to make the team, fine. But just to have one is unacceptable.
the guys at nomaas seem to shine light on Hughes fastball…turns out me and a few others were dead on about his loss of velocity.
hugh-
don’t take any kind of intelligence test today. you’re a few neuron connection short.
the yes gun was off.
hughes swing and miss ability on his fast ball is really good.
he may have other problems, but that isn’t one of them.
TK-
No problem.
Bucholtz 180
No limit has been reported on Lester.
-dennis
as you all can see, they have three lefties pitching in a row. it’s a no brainer to call up shelly! we own the pitching matchups, lets go beat those indians!!!
Happy Friday all!
I’d take a ride down to Charleston if I could, but it’s a long ride and, well, a lot of gas money!
Still, I’m excited–going to see Rochester/Lehigh Valley tonight, and then Syracuse/Scranton tomorrow.
I’m a little conflicted, I want the Yankees to bring up Shelley, but then I want to see Shelley play so I can get his autograph. Hmmm.
Last night was unfortunate; we had a chance to win it in the ninth and we didn’t, but winning tie games on the road is no small task.
Better Joba loses now, than everyone expecting him to go undefeated as a starter.
Dennis – Thank you! Pretty gutsy of Lester yesterday – he’s a great story.
Wow, Randy just invented his own word. You really do learn something new every day by reading this blog.
Going to all four games, was there last year for the sweep too. I hope they call up Alba, I want to see him pitch. CC-Wang should be fun to watch.
Interesting comments from Posada a couple of years ago about Hughes throwing 95,96.
Heh, everything Ii’ve ever learned about baseball came from this blog.
Well, okay, almost everything.
“the guys at nomaas seem to shine light on Hughes fastball…turns out me and a few others were dead on about his loss of velocity.”
Maybe earlier in the season his velocity was down but last night he was sitting at 94 and touching 95 which is exactly where he was in the minors. Seems like a lot of people around here defend certain players tooth and nail no matter how wrong they are. Whoever got the idea that Hughes’ regular velocity is 90-92 is flat wrong. Hughes looked really good last night, too bad he got washed out.
If there are any drought problems around the country, the Yankees are the answer. 5 rain delays and 1 rain out in 23 games and that doesn’t even include the mess that they played through in KC.
The coming forecast doesn’t look all that great in Cleveland, chance of showers or thunderstorms 3 out of 4 days. On their return home to NY, showers in the forecast for most of the week here too.
Anyone know an anti-rain dance?
Kudos to the fellow who used the word “frangible.” Nice word.
Countdown until a sabermetric stat is developed which quantifies how much the weather and schedule plays into a team’s wins and losses….
Pat, LMAO.
In summer camp they used to make us do the macarena as a sundance. Problem was, everytime we did it, it’d start to rain!
Maybe if we play all of our games in domed stadiums…
randy, Im not sure what you mean….so youre sayting that Hughes was actually throwing 93-95 in his first starts this season and not the 88-90 that the yes gun was showing? Joba seems to hit 97-100 on the yes gun during that same time span. Im not sure what youre getting at? Was Joba really throwing 104?
The lesson of the clusterf*** that has been the Yankees first base situation for the last 4 years is that outrageously long and expensive contracts can cost you more than money. They’ve been unable to get a real first baseman because of the prohibitive cost of Giambi’s contract.
They had a similar situation at the end of Bernie’s deal when they should have pursued Beltran but still had Bernie on the books for huge money long after he was an all-star caliber player.
Unfortunately they went and made the same mistake with Posada whose contract will become an albatross.
“The day is coming when I just go to the airport and sleep in a chair.”
.
don’t EVER do that, Pete….was forced into that once at the St. Louis airport…..NOT a good idea, friend ! ( we need you too bad over here, buddy ! )
SJ44, CB, where are you? I need your expertise? Out of what black hole did Dan Giese emerge and why is he dominating in AAA right now?
Dan Giese 6 games, 3 games started, 21.0 innings, 0.86 ERA (YES, 0.86), a 0.91 WHIP, 1-0, 4 BBs and 22 SO (Yes, 22 SOs, 1 per inning on average)
Who the heck is this guy and why haven’t I heard more– nay, anything– about him before?
“No limit has been reported on Lester.”
Dennis,
Being that Lester missed a considerable amount of time from cancer I would think there is some sort of limit on his innings this year, no?
Lester’s limit is 100 pitches thru 5 innings.
YES ! JB Cox to AA, Robertson to AAA …it begins
“Being that Lester missed a considerable amount of time from cancer I would think there is some sort of limit on his innings this year, no?”
He’s thrown around 150 in-season the last couple years. Added some in the post-season last year. So, I figure he’d be at 190 or so, which is pretty much a full season. Especially since he only goes 5-6 per start.
Pete, gotta say I’m not too fond of the HGH jab at Andy…maybe you should tell that joke to his face ?….anyHOO….a sweep of the Indians is coming our way, then home to sweep out Detroit as well…..7 game winning streak….COMING RIGHT UP !
raymanetic.
You would think so but I have not seen anything reported.
-dennis
Girardi had no choice but to use Joba last night.
What were his other options? Bruney was out (again, why they played a pitcher short last night escapes me), Ohlendorf, Hawkins and Farnsworth (who got hurt) were already used.
Who was left? Traber and Rivera, who worked 2 innings the night before. He didn’t have enough pitchers to work with last night.
That’s on the GM, not the manager.
For whatever reason (I wish the beat guys would ask Cashman about it), this team plays shorthanded on its roster every night. To me, that’s inexcusable.
It may only be April but, its clear there are no great teams in the AL this year. There is one awful team (Texas).
Everybody else is bunched together in a way that makes roster spaces like gold. The Yankees, for reasons known only to them, seem to play shorthanded by 2-4 players every night. Given the tightness of the AL this year, that makes no sense.
Fortunately, it hasn’t lead to a 6-17 start, which would have really put them behind the 8 ball. That said, its time they clean up the roster now. They can’t wait any longer.
This team is showing signs of being very good this season. Jeter, Arod, and Posada have all missed time with injuries. The roster has been a mess all season. Cano is only hitting .160. They are playing probably the worst everyday player in baseball at first base. Let’s be honest, aside from Joba and Mo, for whatever reason, the bullpen has been awful. It really has. Add to it 3 shaky starters, 2 of them rookies, and its a miracle they are 12-11 right now.
Take advantage of it and get the roster cleaned up. If they do, perhaps they find ways of winning ugly, unlucky games like last night.
KS, Giese is a journey man, he use to pitch for the SF Giants had three pitches but the 3rd one which is the change up screwed up his career, they finally convinced him to drop the pitch, he is fastball, slider, sinker pitcher now, he is a long relief option from what I see, don’t fall for the SP stats he said yesterday was his best starting performance because he never was a SP. He has experience and could shore up long relief.
But forget about that the news today is JB Cox to AA, David Robertson to AAA
Pete- I hate to beat 21-gate to death, but a significant part of the reason the fans booed Hawkins is because of his reputation for blowing leads. There is a reason he has been on 7 TEAMS IN 6 YEARS! Nice guy or not, he stinks! His ERA is +10 through 11 innings now. Which brings me to my next point- If Joba becomes a starter, who will pitch the 7th and 8th in must-win games in September? Farnsworth? Hawkins? Cashman’s record on signing relivers is atrocious. How come this is rarely addressed in the media?
Giese was a career minor league relief pitcher who has pitched well in a few starts for Scranton.
He isn’t a prospect. I wouldn’t get too excited about him.
Both Lester and Buchholz have innings limits this year. The Red Sox are in the same boat as the Yankees re: their young guns.
If you want to approximate what the limits are, add 30-40 innings to their total amount of innings pitched (at all levels) last year and it will give you an idea of what they are working with this year.
If Robertson and Cox get promoted, the message is pretty clear. The Yankees are looking at them as possible solutions to their bullpen issues. Perhaps as soon as June if both guys continue to perform well.
When you start promoting guys to AA and AAA in April, its not for them to finish the year in the minors.
SJ this made me today
For those of you interested in the weather scenario:
If you consider baseball weather to be 64 F or above and clear or partly cloudy at game time, with no delays due to rain or games played indoors, we have the following–
The Yankees record, which I can’t make out from my tally marks (bad pen), is not substantially different in baseball weather vs. non-baseball weather. However, they have played about ten more games in NBW than they have in BW.
What I find more interesting, though I guess more obvious is thus:
The Yankees are SUBSTANTIALLY better in games they score five runs or more than in games they don’t. I have something like 9-3 when they do and 4-8 when they don’t but I’m not sure that’s accurate seeing as they have 12 wins and 9+4 =/= 12, probably more like 8-3 and 4-8.
SJ44 – great point about the Yankees playing short handed. This ABSOLUETLY is on Cashman. What irks me the most is that we have probably the most depth in pitching this year than I can remember in recent history and we are not taking advantage of that. I realize it is only April, but there is no exuse to not keep moving pieces around to keep us above water. That loss last night is more on Cash than on Joba who is our “hold ‘em” guy. Should be interesting to see what roster changes happen…and please get Olie out of this sudo long man role. It does not suit him.
Pete – thanks so much for the post about TBS carrying the game this weekend. Being an out of market fan (in the south), I am relegated to purchasing expensive packages without many options. So as a result I lean on ESPN and FOX for national telecasts and a LOT of reading/gamecast online. Nice to have another network broadcasting national games. Thanks again!!
Let’s not give reasons for booing Hawkins. Its as dumb as booing the guy for wearing the number in the first place.
Why is it so hard for some Yankees fans to realize what the Hawkins signing was all about?
There was NOBODY worth anything on the FA relief market.
Scott Linebrink got 19 million from the White Sox. Octavio Dotel got 10 million. Did you see those guys pitch the last two games? Do you think they are worth 29 million dollars?
Vizcaino wanted a multi-year deal. The Yankees were willing to give him a one year deal. He has been on the DL for most of the season to date. Seems to me that’s worked out well for the Yankees.
Hawkins was signed to be a bridge for a half or full season, until their younger relief pitchers were ready. That’s it and nothing more.
If he doesn’t work out, they don’t lose any significant money.
Its not hard to figure out. Instead of booing the guy non-stop for silly reasons, why not support him? Like it or not, a functional Hawkins can actually help the team a great deal right now. Beats the hell out of the alternative.
If you make him a basket case over this nonsenical number stuff, how is that “smart”?
Nobody is saying LaTroy Hawkins belongs in the Hall of Fame. He’s a stopgap guy and nothing more.
If more fans would open their minds and understand why the Yankees signed him, perhaps you will lay off the guy and see how it shakes out.
“For whatever reason (I wish the beat guys would ask Cashman about it), this team plays shorthanded on its roster every night. To me, that’s inexcusable.”
Yeah but part of the reason is because there have been a bunch of “in-between” injuries. Jeter, Molina, Posada, A-rod, Betemit, Bruney, Farnsworth all have had or have injuries that are right on the edge of requiring DL time but in none of these cases it’s a given. Thus far Cashman has played it really conservatively and it’s worked out until last night. I do agree that Bruney should have been DL’ed especially because Hughes was pitching, rain was in the forecast, etc.
I see why they are hanging on to Moeller because both of our catchers have lingering injuries that could get worse. Again Cashman is playing it really conservatively but at this point it’s time to really clean up the roster and fill all 25 spots with a useful player.
If you watched closely last night, Joba topped the radar gun out at 92. That was the highest all night. The high before that I saw was Hawkins at 87. The radar was way off.
Ooooh, Peter, that was a low blow to Andy and Paul Byrd.
Nice one, though.
Whozat & Dennis,
Thanks. I never looked at how many innings Lester had thrown previously I was just guessing based on the fact that he was out for a while.
“If you watched closely last night, Joba topped the radar gun out at 92.”
the YES gun is not reliable, Hughes on WGN topped out on 95 mph and sat 94 mph, Joba last night hit 97 mph, Uribe doesn’t swing and miss on 92 mph
“If you watched closely last night, Joba topped the radar gun out at 92. That was the highest all night. The high before that I saw was Hawkins at 87. The radar was way off.”
Don’t go off the YES radar gun, check out gameday it’s usually accurate. Gameday has Hughes sitting at 94 and Joba at 96-98 which is about where they should be.
SJ,
Good points all around.
I don’t get why people are clawing at this guys back for wearing 21 to honor Clemente. What is wrong with you people?
He was a logical signing considering the market and the inexperience of the guys in the farm. He also went to the World Series last year and pitched pretty darn well in the playoffs.
So what is the catch?
That’s just it, it hasn’t worked out except for last night. In fact, it hasn’t worked out at all.
Posada didn’t catch for 2 weeks. Meaning, you tied up a roster spot for 2 weeks for a guy who couldn’t catch. If they DL’ed him, they would have had another bat on the bench.
Instead, they played Giambi everyday at first because they didn’t have any options. That’s just dumb.
By messing around with the pitching, they stuck Ohlendorf in a role he isn’t trained for and its hurt him and the team.
I could understand if this was a small market team and every callup affects servicetime, etc.
But, this is the New York Yankees. That isn’t in the equation.
Bad enough its a roster without a real first baseman on it. To play a pitcher short last night, in a bad weather game with a rookie on the mound, is just ridiculous.
As everybody knows, I’m a big Cashman fan but, he screwed the pooch with that move last night.
The catch is that Yankee fans believe it’s their g-d given right to go 162-0.
Or at least 125-50 every year.
i have a friend who moved to SC this past winter and i think it’s charleston. i don’t know why i never put 2 and 2 together and realized i could see the riverdogs play if i ever went down for a visit.
just emailed the friend. might take a drive down next month.
“That’s just it, it hasn’t worked out except for last night. In fact, it hasn’t worked out at all.”
Sorry, you’re wrong. Posada played DH while his shoulder was injured. Molina and Moeller were more than adequate while Posada was DHing/sitting.
What extra value would the Yankees gain by DLing Posada? You said we could have had another bat on the bench, he WAS that bat on the bench. He played more than any player they would have brought up in his spot.
They could have Dl’ed Jeter but they didn’t, and turns out it was a great decision. He came back before 15 days and hit very well.
Giambi isn’t getting playtime because there are no other options. Giambi is getting playtime because Girardi and Cashman think he will be an asset on offense and they think he will be good enough at defense. There are plenty of options to play first (Ensberg, Duncan, Betemit, Miranda).
Ohlendorf is the long reliever because Girardi trusts Bruney and Farnsworth, not because they are screwing around with the pitching.
I do agree with you that last night Bruney should have been DL’ed and Rasner called up. Other than that, Cashman’s approach has worked out.
“The yankees should try and make a deal with Washington for Nick the Dick. The Nats desperately need pitching and the yankees have a ton of it, Id include Shelley Duncan in the deal if they want a first baseman in return as well as pitching.”
That just might work but that would put us out of the running for Teixeiriexiera. Also, I don’t know how much the Nationals like us for giving them T Clip.
“Nats desperately need pitching and the yankees have a ton of it, Id include Shelley Duncan in the deal if they want a first baseman in return as well as pitching.â€
absolutely not, and it really makes no sense, why would you trade BP top tier prospects for 1B when most likely that will be addressed in FA next season. Your going to over spend for a stand in 1B, it makes no sense at all.
Posada played first base last weekend in Baltimore. How did that work out? He missed a ball that most first baseman would get to, leading to runs and it made a difference in the ballgame.
If a catcher can’t catch, there is no reason for him to be on the roster.
Put it another way. If Posada had been on the DL at some point in his career (he’s never been on the DL), he would have been DL’ed.
To preserve a personal steak, which the Yankees did for years with Matsui when he had his consecutive game streak going, they hurt the team.
How can Ohlendorf be an effective long man when he never trained for it.
That’s my point. They have other options and chose not to use it.
They are playing guys out of position and that’s not only not smart, its unproductive.
It also makes them play shorthanded every night. Still waiting to hear the logic on that.
Every team has injuries in April. Mainly, because the weather is awful and guys get hurt going from hot and dry to cold and wet.
Yet, only the Yankees seem to be willing to play shorthanded every night.
Perhaps there is this deep rooted intelligent reason why that’s the case. I would just like to hear from somebody within the team why playing shorthanded is some competitive advantage.
I’ve got to disagree with just about everyone out there on the way the Yankees are handling the roster. What they’re doing, simply, is not panicking when they have an above five hundred record, are a couple of games out, and have played an extremely tough schedule.
What they hoped to get out of Ohlendorf was a short inning guy who, until the end of last year, had been a career minor league starter. They are not going to blow him out by having him pitch long relief a few times in April. Their hope was that there wouldn’t be many long relief situations, and if there were he could handle them, even if he didn’t pitch as well as in short innings situations. Unfortunately, Mussina, Hughes, and Kennedy have all been bad, and the schedule hasn’t helped, so he’s gotten in there a lot more times in long relief than they expected.
That’s going to straighten out though. It’s only April. There’s no hurry at all. The reason they’re not making all these roster moves that everyone is clamoring for is very simple. They want to let the kids develop and gain confidence down on the farm and then bring them up and have them succeed. In the long run — and not the very long run either, maybe a couple of months — they feel that’s going to be better than having these guys here for one game when they may or may not be ready, and then tossing them back to Scranton after a couple of days of getting bombed. They’d rather see if they can straighten Hawkins and Farnsworth out and, if it doesn’t work, bring up some of these guys for good in couple of months.
A guy like Bruney is going to have a really important effect on a game very few times in the course of a season. His being out for a game is not a disaster. They went into the game with all but one guy available. Hughes only went 2 innings, which was unfortunate but smart. Farnsworth got hurt. Things didn’t work out, but it was hardly a disaster. They’ll fix the roster in the short term tonight, and by July, when they hardly hit the road at all for an entire month, they’re going to have the pieces in place and be playing very well.
regarding all the comments to DFA Moeller, it seems that the Yankees can do that only if they are 100% certain that Posada’s shoulder has fully recovered. And I doubt they can be that certain at this point, since Jorge just started catching again.
it’s tough, because it seems that until the 3rd catcher goes, Duncan is stuck in AAA.
Though if Farnsworth isn’t hurt, they might want to risk 11 pitchers in this series – maybe juggle by shuttling Ohlendorf and other pitchers w/options – so that the “12th pitcher” is on call in Scranton.
If Bruney didn’t have bad luck yesterday, he would have had none at all.
From Tyler Kepner’s NY Times Blog
Here is what happened to Yankees reliever Brian Bruney on Thursday:
* He had a magnetic resonance imaging exam on his injured right foot, which the Yankees fear has two torn ligaments and which will probably put him on the disabled list.
* He learned that the 18-wheeler transporting his truck to New York had an accident, and his truck fell off and sustained significant damage.
* His aunt in Oregon found his uncle not breathing, and his uncle is now in a coma.
Last night is a game that we file under “it happens”. Nobody is automatic all the time. Take the series, you make the playoffs. A sweep would have been nice but oh well.
What’s funny, and a reason that I truly trust the Yankee braintrust and nobody else, is that when I read the end of last night’s game posts (read them shortly ago, was wise enough to bail when something went wrong and the Yankee fan boo birds descended on the forum like vultures) it was like watching a tennis match.
That’s why Joba belongs in the rotation.
That’s why Joba belongs in the pen.
That’s why Joba belongs in the rotation.
That’s why Joba belongs in the pen.
So I say Joba belongs wherever the Yankee organization feels he belongs. And I really really believe that.
To permanently carry a long reliever, if it’s someone not already with the team, means someone gets sent down. That has to be a rational and not emotional decision.
It should be Betemit.
No it should be Ensberg.
Wait, I say DFA Giambi. He’s deadweight!
Bruney shouldn’t even be on the team.
See what I mean? We have too damned many arm-chair managers here, and truly, some of the suggestions don’t even make sense, nor would they ever be carried out for a variety of reasons!
Well here’s something I wish could work out because if it could it would be a win-win all around. I don’t know if it ever will happen, nor do I know who would be sent down if it did. That’s not my worry or expertise. I would love to see Kei Igawa find a way to have his psyche allow him to translate his goods from Scranton to the Bronx. You talk about effective middle/long relief if he were ever able to work that out? And since he was supposed to be part of the Yankee plans anyway, it’s something that they would likely do in a heartbeat if he could get it together.
Wow, let’s kills LaTroy Hawkins for what he did last night. I mean nobody gives up homers to Jim Thome. Nobody. Hawkins must be terrible. And Krazy Kyle – isn’t that what the boo birds love to call him? Krazy Kyle? Looks like Kyle got the job done well. Surprise! Well, surprise only if you bring negativity into every game where you can never free your mind to believe things can get better with any particular player. (Don’t tell me that certain posters don’t do it because I have seen everyone from Hideki Matsui to Johnny Damon thrown under the bus.) And if that’s the case, that makes you pretty unintelligent – and clearly wrong. Witness Matsui and Damon for starters.
Anyway, I look forward to tonight’s game. Go Andy! Go Yankees!
I think it’s great that Hawking wanted to wear 21 to honor Clemente, I really do. However, he should have been aware of the Paul O’Neills sentimental value to Yankee fans. Also, Hawkins did not make it clear that he was honoring Clemente when he wore 21 on opening day, so racist accusation are out of line here. But I digress from the crux of my argument- Hawkins is no good. He is one of those guys that opposing teams and fans LOVE to see warming up in the pen in a close game. Just like Farnsworth. The media is defending Hawkins b/c apparently he is a great guy. Farnsworth is supposedly a real jerk, so he gets dumped on. But guess what- they are both infamous for blowing leads. As if cheering for him will suddenly make him perform better? They are not threatening him or his family. He is a professional athlete making millions of dollars, its a copout to think that we, as fans, can cheer him to success. I continue to digress, but can we talk about Cashman’s awful record with relievers?? Farnsy. Quantrill. Hawkins. Gordon (in playoffs). Felix Rodriguez! Feliz Heredia. Chris Hammond. Steve Karsay. I understand the appeal of wanting Joba to be a starter, but how can you discount the value of middle relief given this track record??
“If a catcher can’t catch, there is no reason for him to be on the roster.”
Unless that catcher is Jorge Posada who is a fantastic hitter. Putting Posada on the DL would have provided no extra value to the team. He was able to hit and he got more at-bats than anyone else they would have brought up.
“How can Ohlendorf be an effective long man when he never trained for it.
That’s my point. They have other options and chose not to use it.”
Fine but if thats your point then you must feel that Ohlendorf should have been in AAA for the entire season with Rasner in his spot. Right now Ohlendorf is the 12th guy on the pitching staff. Frankly I’d rather have Ohlendorf out of position than Rasner who is a AAAA pitcher.
“Yet, only the Yankees seem to be willing to play shorthanded every night.”
Yes, there is evidence to back this up (note my sarcasm)
“Perhaps there is this deep rooted intelligent reason why that’s the case. ”
Well I tried to explain Cashman’s approach and that it has worked out in all cases but last night but I guess you missed it.
That’s terrible news all around re: Bruney.
The family stuff is much more important, obviously.
But, if he has either a LizFranc fracture or two torn ligaments in his foot, he’s out for most, if not all, of the season.
Here’s hoping his uncle pulls through. That is much more important than the injury. Although, I don’t wish injuries on anybody.
pat wow that stinks
“randy, Im not sure what you mean”
hugh that’s exactly the problem when when your iq is off for the day. it ‘s hard to know what anyone means.
Dlev you were obviously posting this as I was writing my post. All I needed to read was your first paragraph to see that a rational mind was prevailing.
“I’ve got to disagree with just about everyone out there on the way the Yankees are handling the roster. What they’re doing, simply, is not panicking when they have an above five hundred record, are a couple of games out, and have played an extremely tough schedule.”
How I wish that all Yankee fans had the ability to assimilate that reality. The Yankee organization hasn’t made the postseason 12 times in a row because they don’t know how to manage a team. Because they don’t make any particular Yankee fans suggested move du jour hardly suggests that things are falling apart or they don’t know what they’re doing. Under the cirumstances (what circumstances? Go back to Pete’s blog on what the Yankees have been through already in terms of injuries and other happenings) they have done a phenomenal job of holding things together.
I will always go with the theory, actually reality that they and only they have COMPLETE information on what is happening both with the Yanks and in the minors at any given point in time and only they really know the optimal moves to make given all of that.
Terrible stuff going on with Bruney. Hope everything will turn out ok for him and his family
Nobody is saying Ohlendorf belongs in AAA all season.
However, when you have a situation in which two rookies aren’t going deep into games and Moose is up and down, somebody has to take the bullet on the roster. On the pitching side, it should have been Ohlendorf.
Really, for two reasons. One, you need a long man in the ‘pen. Two, you keep Ohlendorf doing what he was trained to do. Pitch in short inning stints.
Now, look what you have. The guy is cooked and needs to be in Scranton if for no other reason, to prevent being abused. His workload in April is at the abuse level. Sorry but, that’s unacceptable.
Shelley Duncan took the bullet on the position player side for roster purposes. They needed to do the same with Ollie until the roster issues got straightened out.
Again, the team plays shorthanded every night and it hasn’t worked. There is no reason why the Yankees, or any other team for that matter, needs to play shorthanded.
Honestly, last night was a huge snafu on the part of the Yankees. There isn’t a logical explanation as to why they played shorthanded within the pitching staff last night.
Look at what it means right now:
No Chamberlain for the next two days. That is of course, unless you want to blow him out.
No Hawkins because he’s worked a lot the last two days.
No Bruney or Farnsworth because they are hurt.
No Ohlendorf because he’s cooked.
So, who is available tonight? Mo and Traber. Lovely.
They almost have no choice but to send Ohlendorf down or they will be really shorthanded because they can’t use Joba tonight under any circumstances.
So, they need 3, perhaps 4 pitchers to be called up today or they are playing yet another game shorthanded.
I’m not even going to go into the 3 catcher deal right now.
My question is this. How many more games will they play shorthanded when they don’t have to?
All it does is make it tougher on themselves.
“Now, look what you have. The guy is cooked and needs to be in Scranton if for no other reason, to prevent being abused. His workload in April is at the abuse level. Sorry but, that’s unacceptable.”
I disagree. He doesn’t need to go to Scranton and he’s not “cooked” and he hasn’t been “abused”.
“Again, the team plays shorthanded every night and it hasn’t worked.”
Last night it didn’t work, overall it has worked.
“So, they need 3, perhaps 4 pitchers to be called up today or they are playing yet another game shorthanded.”
You are exagerrating once again. If they need 6 relievers tonight (Mo, Traber, 4 callups) then the game is already lost. DL Bruney, DL Farns, DFA Moeller call up Rasner, Alba or Edwar and Shelley.
You know SJ, you have a lot of great opinions and insight but occasionally you overreact and exaggerate.
“Fine but if thats your point then you must feel that Ohlendorf should have been in AAA for the entire season with Rasner in his spot. Right now Ohlendorf is the 12th guy on the pitching staff. Frankly I’d rather have Ohlendorf out of position than Rasner who is a AAAA pitcher.”
Yay for setting up a straw-man.
Bruney should have been in AAA showing that he could throw strikes while Ollie (who can) was getting a shot at high-leverage innings instead of getting burned every three days pitching the 3rd through the 6th.
When was Ohlendorf trained to do short relief? Since the middle of last season. Prior to that he was a starter. 4 months of short relief didn’t make him incapable of going more than an inning. The problem was that he wasn’t very good at pitching longer stints. We’re seeing that now, but that’s because of how badly the starters have pitched.
Of course the Yankees do need a couple of guys tonight (except that this is the kind of situation where Pettite is very likely to come through). But they didn’t need that help last night. Look at it this way. If they’d called up Veras or Britton last night — they couldn’t have called up Rasner, since he’d started a couple of nights earlier — and he’d given up the run instead of Chamberlain, how many people would be calling for Giardi’s head because he let Veras or Britton blow the game when he could have used Chamberlain for two innings?
“he hasn’t been “abused—
Yes he has! He was throwing 1-inning stints all spring, and they just tossed him into a 3 innings every four days kind of role. If you’d been training for sprints and all of a sudden you started having to run half marathons, don’t you think that could put you at risk of injury?
“You are exagerrating once again. If they need 6 relievers tonight (Mo, Traber, 4 callups) then the game is already lost.”
Bull. What if there’s a bunch of rain delays again? What if Andy just tanks it? There are definitely scenarios in which a plethora relievers could be needed in the next two days. It’d be stupid to play an arm or several short.
Ohlendorf can’t pitch for at least 3 days. Not unless they want to overdo it with him.
Why do that?
Just because you don’t like Darrell Rasner doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be with the ML club.
Look at Ohlendorf’s work so far this year. He is great in one bursts. After one inning of work, his stuff and his results fall off dramatically.
How is that clear evidence that he isn’t a long man.
They need 3 guys tonight. That’s at a minimum, or they are playing another game shorthanded again.
My point is really simple. Regardless of the injury situation, there isn’t any logical reason why the Yankees continue to play shorthanded every night. Especially with a possiblity of rain in the forecast again tonight.
“Yay for setting up a straw-man.
Bruney should have been in AAA showing that he could throw strikes while Ollie (who can) was getting a shot at high-leverage innings instead of getting burned every three days pitching the 3rd through the 6th.”
Agreed but you are forgetting that Bruney gained Girardi’s trust and isn’t going to be sent down until he loses it. For better or worse, GIrardi has decided that Ross is the last guy on the totem pole so it’s either stash him in AAA or have him pitch long relief. Maybe now that Bruney is injured that will change.
“When was Ohlendorf trained to do short relief? Since the middle of last season. Prior to that he was a starter. 4 months of short relief didn’t make him incapable of going more than an inning.”
Just because you used to be a marathon runner doesn’t mean that you can train for sprints for 10 months and then just start running half-marathons every week. It won’t kill you the first time, but it’ll certainly put you at risk of injury. You haven’t trained for it.
Yes, he can throw two innings. Sure. No one’s saying he can’t. But 2-3 innings two or three times a week when he’s trained for one inning stints is risky.
Also, there’s the issue that he throws harder out of the pen AND that he only uses two pitches. Why? Because he’s only trying to get three, maybe six outs. Pushing him for more also decreases his chances of success.
Don’t think the releaf situation is an over reaction. Pen needs help and there are parts that can be moved. Middle releaf are like chess pieces, at times you have to make moves to protest the the king and queen (sorry Joba).
I’m not exaggerating at all Patrick.
Look at the pitching staff and tell me they don’t need 3-4 arms.
They don’t have any fresh pitchers in the ‘pen right now, except for Traber and Mo.
What if the game goes 12 innings? Or, its another rain delay? Who pitches?
Its not even a question that Ohlendorf is being overused right now. Girardi himself will admit it.
The guy has thrown more innings than anybody in the bullpen so far this year.
Do you really think that was the Yankees plan going into the season?
If it was, then, why train him to be a short reliever?
“Agreed but you are forgetting that Bruney gained Girardi’s trust and isn’t going to be sent down until he loses it. ”
I’m not forgetting that. I’m disagreeing with it.
What about using the starter who has a throw day tonight if necessary – doesn’t that get them over the hump a bit? It’s not ideal but it lessens the emergency.
“I would just like to hear from somebody within the team why playing shorthanded is some competitive advantage.”
well, it would build character, though i’m not sure that’s what we want here. i think the yankees are in between cycles and trying to win while balancing delicate arms is no easy task.
compounding the problem is that the league has changed with so many teams having revenue sharing money( yankee money) that cashman can’t simply go out and pick up spare parts when they needed the way he could a few years ago.
in this new economic reality , there is almost a need for a quadruple A team of players
that cashman could dip into when he needed players. the red sox are making a project out of bartolo colon in a similar fashion.
I thought Moose had a 2-3 record with an ERA somewhere below 5?
“What about using the starter who has a throw day tonight if necessary – doesn’t that get them over the hump a bit? It’s not ideal but it lessens the emergency.”
Only if they do it
They had Wang throw his side before the game yesterday, so that wasn’t an option then.
I think it’d be Moose, right? Not an ideal short-relief candidate.
“compounding the problem is that the league has changed with so many teams having revenue sharing money( yankee money) that cashman can’t simply go out and pick up spare parts when they needed the way he could a few years ago.”
But they HAVE the spare parts. It’s an issue of being willing to go get them.
Molina can catch and Posada looks like he’s back. Why 3 catchers still? Duncan needs to be on a flight to Cleveland today. You just can’t play Giambi against 3 lefties. But they probably will.
I don’t want to see Jason out there for a while. I am so sick of him.
That’s my issue Randy. They do have the spare parts this year.
For whatever reason, at least to date, they have decided not to use them.
They are probably going to be forced to use them now because of the injury situation.
I just want to see better roster management. This team has a shot at being really good this year. They just have to tend to the little things (like roster management) a bit more proactively than they have so far this year.
I’m not saying that it’s the ideal situation for Ohlendorf or the Yankees — though since you’re all claiming that he’s been pitching too month for a month now, I’m not sure why that wouldn’t have gotten him in shape for pitch 2-3 innings stints. It’s been as long as spring training.
Obviously he’s better in short situations. The Yankees had hoped to use him only as the emergency long reliever instead of keeping a guy who most of the people here would have been bitching about anyway. That hasn’t worked out because there have been too many emergencies. But it’s still April. They’re going to work this all out. What they’re not going to do is blow up the plan and panic.
Playing Giambi against 3 lefties will be a catastrophe. We really need a RH Bat (ShellyD) in the Lineup. Any news on any roster changes yet?
I feel bad (well, kind of but not really) about doing it, but I can’t have been the only one hoping Farnsworth seriously injured himself last night?
Not to mention Cano in his uber slump
as far as ohlendorf i don’t believe for a second that the yankees or any team protects all their young arms equally. most of the players in the minor leagues are there so the studs have some one to play with on their way to the major leagues. the number of talented pitchers the yankees has is unusual and managing all these valuable arms is a new thing for them. one of the problems is they don’t have enough arms they don’t care about. because of having hughes, joba, kennedy,etc. above him, i don’t think the yankees are as careful with ohlendorf as they would be if he was their top prospect.
I never wish injuries on anybody.
I don’t care how badly a player performs, let’s be honest, its just a game.
That’s bad karma and I think that’s bad fan behavior.
JMHO.
“It’s been as long as spring training.”
it’s been six weeks?
Not anything serious, Bob. Just something to keep him on the shelf long enough for another guy to impress the Yanks. Because when it comes down to it, Farnsworth hasn’t been THAT BAD so far. The K/BB ratio has been pretty good, for what that’s worth. He’s certainly been better than Hawkins.
Like I said, I felt bad, and really wasn’t wishing injury on him. But when it happened, you can’t help but think, “well at least that will keep him off the mound.” Which is what I think we all want when it comes to Farnsworth.
Tough new all around today, particularly for Bruney and all of the family and health issues for him.
Unfortunately, they are going to have to make some aggressive, definitive decisions and quickly.
Ross Ohlendorf has thrown the second most innings of any reliever in AL so far this year.
That is an a lot to put on the shoulders of a rookie pitcher who was physically and mentally prepared to be a short reliever.
Ohlendorf is not an elite level prospect. But he has very good stuff and a good arm. It is not easy to find a reliever with an arm like that. With Joba eventually getting into the rotation and now Bruney hurt Ohlendorf’s importance as a future set up man grows even more.
I can’t see him throwing more than 70-75 total innings for the year. And that workload would put him in the Vicaino range. He’s already thrown over 16 innings.
And please – no more about him having been a starter. He hasn’t been used as a starter since the middle of last year. And as a reliever he is not getting the type of regular, scheduled rest a starter gets. So his pattern of use now is nothing like what it was when he was a starter. Stress on a reliever’s arm goes past the total number of innings they throw.
Joba has been pitched in 4 of the last 6 games, with two appearnces of over an inning (24 pitches/ 33 pitches).
Joba has not thrown a lot of total innings this year but his patter of frequent usage since he got back from visiting his father is concerning. Regardless of the reason why he’s being used this way, using any relief pitcher 4 out of 6 games (over 7 days) is a significant stress on his arm. Doesn’t matter whether each instance of use is justified. Cumulatively 4 out of 6 games is a concern.
Joba’s is not the arm you want to stress. Too much of the franchise’s near term and long term future depends on that arm.
You cannot take ANY risks with Joba. None.
Last night Bobby Jenks pitched for the Sox – he was sitting 92-93. Jenks is a guy Joba has been compared to over and over. Jenks used to throw 98-100 out of the pen but suddenly last year his velocity just disappeared.
Relievers flame out all of the time for inexplicable reasons. It’s most likely due high stress repetitive use – not just in game but getting warmed up over and over.
They have fresh arms in AAA. Now it’s a matter of taking something of a chance and using them at the major league level.
They can’t afford a few days of carrying Farnsworth and Bruney on the active roster. They are putting way too much stress on the other guys in the pen as is.
With those guys out the problem spirals. They cannot expect or afford to have Joba be the guy who “picks up the slack.” He’s far too important to suddenly need him to be a high use reliever.
I think they should send down Ohlendorf. They need a fresh arm for the next series. Ohlendorf can got to AAA and throw 1-2 innings for the next two weeks and then come back as a the short guy taking Bruney’s role.
I think they need at least 3 pitchers from AAA to reinforce the bull pen for the next couple of series.
I don’t know if they can call Rasner up now because he threw 8 innings in his start a couple of days ago.
I think they’ll call up Albaladejo, Ramirez or Patterson. and one other guy. If they plan on using Albaladejo the way they’re using Ohlendorf then he’ll be the “long man.” Otherwise I’m not sure who they’ll turn to give Rasner’s recent start.
SJ44, with all your infinite baseball knowledge and worldly connections, why don’t you just saunter into Cashman and Girardi’s offices and demand they make the changes instead of just blTching about it on this site.
Glad to see Ohlie’s Army of excusemakers out in force. He hasn’t been “abused” or “overworked,” he’s just pitched like crap. Sort of like the way he pitched all last year in Scranton, with the exception of a few relief appearances at the end of the season.
The guy has a live arm, like a couple of hundred other guys on the fringes, and it’s not out of the question that he can contribute to a major league team. But there’s a reason why he’s a going-on 26-year-old rookie who’s had a succession of pitching coaches in 2 different organizations changing him from power pitcher, to groundball pitcher, to power pitcher, to reliever.
He’s lucky to be in the major leagues at this point and if he wants to be “protected” and pitch late in games in a specialized role, he needs to earn it. Until he does he’s cannon fodder and will and should be used to fill innings wherever necessary.
“I feel bad (well, kind of but not really) about doing it, but I can’t have been the only one hoping Farnsworth seriously injured himself last night?”
I’d like to think that you were. I cannot even wrap my mind around being able to begin to think that way.
Any chance we will be seeing Shelley soon?
“For whatever reason, at least to date, they have decided not to use them.”
sj-
you diplomatically say “they”. i know people don’t want to bash cashman because they like his long range overall plan, but don’t you really mean cashman when you say “they”?
isn’t the roster really on him ?
“But when it happened, you can’t help but think, “well at least that will keep him off the mound.†Which is what I think we all want when it comes to Farnsworth.
Which is what I think we all want when it comes to Farnsworth.”
Wrong again.
In fact I want him on the mound. Because I know he really knows how to pitch. And well. And it appears he’s proving it.
Theo,
How about if you don’t like it, don’t bother reading it.
I don’t think I need to take marching orders from you.
So, don’t be offended if I don’t.
first sidenote was hilarious! HGH!!! hahahaha!
Randy,
Rosters are collective decisions. The GM, manager and other people at the ML and minor league levels have input.
The final decision clearly rests with the GM. But, the input on what to do is a collective thought process.
I am very pleased with the Yanks so far. Last night one got away, but Joba is only human. We played hard, came from behind, and had 2 out hits. Gotta love it.
My only qualm remains with Giambi. Can we for the love of god bench this guy? When ARod comes back, please put Ensberg at 1B and Matsui at fulltime DH. Leave the steroid addict on the bench to sulk.
*I can’t make the game. Can my give-away be mailed to me in a non-conspicuous package?
*Best wishes to Brian and his family.
*Looking forward to a great outing from Andy. But I’ll take a gutsy one if it comes to that. Andy knows they’re thing in the ‘pen and he’ll come through.
*Hope Paul’s record & ERA are indicative of a problem (ahem, withdrawals). He hamstrung us a bit in the postseason before Cano got to him.
*Of course we’re alarmed at the moves, changes, and rosters put forth. But there’s more to it than we know. I’m with Trisha, trust the organization to do what’s right. They’re not total idiots, even though they have Joba in the bullpen.
*thin in the ‘pen*
“Otherwise I’m not sure who they’ll turn to give Rasner’s recent start.”
His next scheduled start would be tomorrow, which is certainly the more likely day of today and tomorrow that they might need a long guy. It certainly seems reasonable that he could throw several innings tonight or a bunch tomorrow.
I’m going to let someone else talk about why randyhater is an idiot, unless we’ve all decided to ignore him?
“I’m with Trisha, trust the organization to do what’s right.”
I usually do. But some things just don’t make sense. Was the possibility of Bruney coming back in a week instead of two worth playing a pitcher short last night? I really don’t see how one could justify that, given the selection of arms they have at AAA.
Espn’s Jim Caple has in interview with Hank on espn.com. Pretty good stuff. He believes that 21 should be retired..
Have a good weekend.
-dennis
Pete,
Why the HGH comment????? I thought we got over that!!!!
i don’t care who comes up to fortify this bullpen, just as long as they’ve had some success and are pretty fresh. fact is we all know the Yankees need long innings from the starters fresh relievers this weekend if we went to take 3 of 4.
all things considered though, the Yankees had a good April for the first time in a few years. If they split the last 6 games of the month they’ll finish 15-14, a game over .500. if they finish 2-4 this month, they’ll be a game under .500, which will mean they never fell more than 1 game under .500 all month.
much better than the last 3 or 4 April’s, especially considering the young pitching, moose’s inconsistency and their being on the road pretty much the whole month, and all the cold and rain they dealt with.
Man, I feel awful for Bruney.
“His next scheduled start would be tomorrow, which is certainly the more likely day of today and tomorrow that they might need a long guy.”
Thanks for the correction. For some reason I thought he’d thrown more recently than that.
That works out perfectly. Bring him up.
The only relief pitcher who has thrown more innings than Ohlendorf this year is Aquilino Lopez on Detroit, the team with the worst pitching staff in the AL. Lopez is a journeyman guy who is just getting trotted out there all the time because of how bad Detroit’s staff and pen have been.
Lopez has thrown one more inning than Ohlendorf has.
I think that’s really all that needs to be said about whether or not he’s being abused.
16 innings over 23 games for Ohlendorf – not too see what’s gong on.
whozat,
Of course Bruney’s a given. Man’s in a walking boot. Send him to New York. In the majors a pitcher with a hangnail’s put on the DL, why not a broken foot or torn ligaments or we don’t even know because all the experts are in New York. lol.
There’s a lot going on behind the scene. And why he’s not on a plane to be with his aunt is beyond me. I don’t know if my memory’s faulty, but I seem to remember them being mentioned in his background.
CB –
If you check last night’s game blog when Ohlendorf came in I said “somewhere CB is cringing”. Tough deal all around
“Bruney was sent for a MRI exam on Thursday in Chicago after treatment yielded only incremental progress. The results were forwarded on to team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon in New York, and Bruney said he was headed to New York on Friday to see a foot specialist.”
There would have been no way that a decision could have been regarding whether or not to DL Bruney and a pitcher be flown in in time for last night’s game.
“Espn’s Jim Caple has in interview with Hank on espn.com. Pretty good stuff. He believes that 21 should be retired..”
Who believes this? Hank or Jim? If it’s Hank then I must say, and I’ve never believed it before, that he’s an idiot.
TK,
I did see that. And you were right.
They’ve had a good April so far given all the road games, lack of days off and injuries.
The concern now is what the implications for getting through April will mean for them over the course of the season, especially with the pen.
Thanks, Dennis. See there’s yet another example of Hank’s opinion not meshing with the organization. It’s not a mom-and-pop operation or sole proprietorship. It’s a mega-consortium.
Hank wants 21 retired (I’m assuming for Paulie, not Clemente), yet the Yankees put the number back into circulation. The Yankees weren’t thinking of retiring the number anytime soon.
I’m going to shut up about it now, we’ve beaten this one to death. Hank should just’ve let it RIP.
“Man, I feel awful for Bruney.”
All too often, we forget that these are living and breathing human beings. We should all root for Brian Bruney – and his family – to get through this time.
“There would have been no way that a decision could have been regarding whether or not to DL Bruney and a pitcher be flown in in time for last night’s game.”
You fly the pitcher in just in case, and then you can make the decision right before the game. Who really cares if Scranton is a man short?
oh, and rough day for Brian Bruney… poor guy. someone get the man a beer.
“We should all root for Brian Bruney – and his family – to get through this time.”
Certainly. But pulling for a guy to get through a tough family or personal situation does not mean we have to think he should remain on the MLB roster, does it?
Raymagnetic-
Hank.
-dennis
Ohlendorf’s arm will fall off by the end of the year
Brian from PA,
Just ask Hank for one. He thinks the party line is the keg line.
randy 1,
Decisions that work out : Cash (and Cash alone) gets credit
Decisions that aren’t so great : “they” or “them” get credit
Disastrous decisions : blame “the guys in Tampa”
Whenever a proposed deal doesn’t get done : all the other teams in baseball are conspiring against us
the Caple-Hank interview is pretty much a joke if you read it. pretty funny. he also wants 62 retired. right now. before joba’s next start.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....ple/080424
IMO, the tone of the article is that Caple is speculating (satiracal?) what Hank would say, based on personality and mannerisms gleaned from previous Hank statements
I think Farnsworth has caught Pavano-itis. They kept replaying his slip and I don’t see how that strained his elbow.
Mickey Mantle played with a bandaged leg!
Satirical, rather
The Caple article is pure satire.
At least, I would assume it’s satire as I highly doubt a serious baseball interview would ask Hank for his opinion on the falling value of the US dollar
I could be mistaken here, but I’m pretty sure the Caple story is a gag…
“In fact, let’s imagine what Hank would say about …”
Operative word being “imagine?”
whozat –
These are two separate issues, in my mind. I personally think that – as far as the team goes – he should go on the DL. Between his foot and his family issues, I can’t see how anyone could expect him to function.
However, it does bother me that too often we look at the players merely as performers. Whether it’s Brian, Joba, or whomever – these are real people, going through difficult times. Regardless of how Bruney performs for the Yanks, he is still deserving of a certain – I don’t know, dignity (if that’s the right word).
Mind you, I’m not accusing you of insensitivity, based on your last post. I’m just clarifying my own remarks on the matter.
You realize that the article is fiction.
This is what Jim thnks Hank would say – not a real interview.
When will we get some real news about the pitching maneuvers. Sounds like Cox to AA and Robertson to AAA is happening but have not seen it confirmed – even in SWB blog.
I guess Pete will get up some info when he gets with the club in Cleveland.
I think part of the reason you are not seeing major roster readjustments is that it is still very early and no team has run from the pack. I believe management is assessing what it has for the first 4-6 weeks, reacting (perhaps slowly and or poorly) to injuries and babies, letting some of the young players get warmed up in AAA and then will make moves in the next few weeks.
I officially retract my statement about Hank in this particular instance.
Translation: My Bad!
It is a gag. Ii thought you guys would get a kick of it..
Caple is prttey good. My favorite was the Pope not doing mass at Shea.
-dennis
” The GM, manager and other people at the ML and minor league levels have input.
The final decision clearly rests with the GM”
sj-
well, then cashman is making the final decisions on this roster. i think what we see on the roster is his choice. i don’t think he does as good a job as theo ( the real theo) in creating different scenarios the team can implement when things go wrong.
for instance, the red sox added sean casey for $800,000 and there wasn’t any glaring need for him at the time. but things happen. and he’s done well with them. i mentioned the side project of bartolo colon. theo makes mistakes, but i think his back up plans on his back up plans are better than cashman’s .
Oh, and Caple’s a bit off
“Try paying him when the yen is trading at its highest rate since the mid-’90s.”
March 2008′s 102.49 Yen:1 US dollar is the 3rd best rate (with respect to the Yen) since the mid 90′s; November and December of 1999 beat that
lol. dennis pulled a late april fools on all of us.
It was in good fun only. Please know that.
-dennis
Dennis: Ah, but it is not April FFool’s
Funny article, though!
That was from the same article on Bruney’s MRI. You CAN’T fly someone in from Scranton because you can’t have more than 25 players on the roster. There was no decision made and there would have been no decision made by game time.
“Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he planned to speak with general manager Brian Cashman and head trainer Gene Monahan to evaluate if a roster move would be necessary for Bruney.”
“theo makes mistakes, but i think his back up plans on his back up plans are better than cashman’s .”
Can you please just ask Theo for a date already. It’s abundantly clear that you are very much in love with Theo from all the posts you make here “bigging up” his every move.
Wow – Glad you guys were not around for Orson Welles “The War of the Worlds”
“Wow – Glad you guys were not around for Orson Welles “The War of the Worlds—
Incidentally, I think I’m about one or two counties away from where the invasion would’ve started in the radio play version
I only got through the first half of the comments, but I don’t understand the “Girardi is ruining Ohlendorf’s arm” argument. He was a starter his whole career until last season. There’s absolutely no reason he can’t pitch two or three (given the amount of pitches he throws) at a time. Yes he was reduced to more one-inning stints but you guys are overvaluing his “training” and ignoring the fact that he’s used to going 6-7 innings.
raymagnetic-
so you think casey was a a bad sign for the red sox ?
colon is a bad low risk investment?
“for instance, the red sox added sean casey for $800,000 and there wasn’t any glaring need for him at the time. but things happen. and he’s done well with them. i mentioned the side project of bartolo colon. theo makes mistakes, but i think his back up plans on his back up plans are better than cashman’s .”
True that Casey has worked out reasonably well and would have been a help to the Yanks, but all GM’s have hits and misses in that regard. Recall, for example, how the ’05 season was pretty much saved by Cashman pickups Aaron “Lightning in a Bottle” Small and Shawn Chacon. Look how well Molina has worked out (he’s the best defensive catcher in the AL East by a country mile) while the Sox had to rush a stiff like Mirabelli by police escort to serve as a backup.
Lot of this stuff is a crapshoot, especially when you’re talking about the fringe/back-up types.
Mussina on ESPN this season: 13 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Peter,
Tell me what you know about Eric Hacker. He is a 6’1″ 215# right-hander at Tampa (Adv A) who is 25 years old. In his last 4 starts (out of 5), he has allowed 7 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks and struck out 18 in 27 IP. Obviously he’s a little old for A-ball, but his performance this year and last are impressive.
Joe
“Yes he was reduced to more one-inning stints but you guys are overvaluing his “training†and ignoring the fact that he’s used to going 6-7 innings.”
With 4 days of rest in between.
That’s the whole point.
Right now he’s been used almost every 2-3 days and being asked to thrwo 2-3 innings often throwing 40-50 pitches per appearance.
That is NOTHING like starting where you have 4 days of rest and scheduled side sessions to get some work in.
It’s not just the total innings.
That’s the entire point.
Starting pitchers can throw 180 – 220 innings over a season without a problem because they get 4 days rest in between.
When have you ever seen a reliever throw 200 innings – they never even get close to 150.
The most innings Scott Proctor ever threw for the yankees was 102. Tanyon Sturtze 78.
Right now Ohlendorf is on a pace to throw 113 innings this year.
That is an enormous workload. Last year the most innings an reliever threw in the AL was 88.
” so you think casey was a a bad sign for the red sox ?
colon is a bad low risk investment?”
Actually I don’t, although I think Colon is finished. A
Anyway, Fredo Corleone responded to your post the way I should have instead of making a joke towards you.
Great article on Griese’s stuff in Chad Jennings blog. He sounds like he may have found something. At the very least, could he be this year’s Shawn Chacon or Aaron Small? Worse case, he’ll make a good long reliever.
Giese not Griese (or Grease for that matter).
Went to MLB and what do I see? Geno spraying OFF on Joba (who looks a lot like the Babe in that pic).
I’m irritated in advance because we’re going to see and hear a lot of it in today’s broadcast. But, time does heal all wounds. Or at least takes away the urge to puke when you see certain things, like midges.
Another thing that doesn’t sting so much? Seeing Pete’s joke about the HGH. Not offensive at all, as both pitchers have been linked. Props, Pete.
With two pitches, I imagine Giese would be a reliever.
Sweeny’s article on Joba is a great piece. Talks a bit about David Robertson as a possible Joba II if and when Joba moves into the rotation.
Rebecca read Chad’s blog, Giese throws his pitches from different arm angles, so it’s almost like 6 pitches. Gotta love when guys you never heard of are pushing their way into our consciousness.
Any guesses on Alex’s status for tonight?
It sure would be nice if Alex was full speed tomorrow when the string of lefties start. For tonight, I use him as pinch hitter in the 8th to get his feet wet. We need him at 100% starting tomorrow.
raymagnetic-
baseball has gone through a sea change with revenue sharing. the best teams are not as good as they were before. the talent is more spread out. the red sox have benefited in their rivalry with the yankees because the yankees have been hurt worse than they have.
as a philosophy, the red sox do not care about any one player. they deal in probability. with free agents they sign matsuzaka, drew,okijima, and lugo, and lugo and drew stink , but they come out with two players who get them over the top .
they seem to understand that half their signings and half their young players work out as expected. that seems to be built into the plan. they make a lot of tries. hansen popped back up last night( or the night before). masterson comes up for one start and tosses a 6 inning 1 run effort. they are going after winning by throwing numbers at the yankees.
i don’t think there’s any individual brilliance going on. i just think in this time of lower quality teams they realize success is based on quantity rather than quality.
if success was based on quality, than the red sox and yankees would have traded for and signed santana. but in today’s revenue sharing that would have crippled either team. each team would rather have cheap quantity.
so if quantity is the new game, cashman should be stocking that at the triple a and double a level to throw at the kind of roster problems the yankees are having now.
my guess on Alex: DH
“so if quantity is the new game, cashman should be stocking that at the triple a and double a level to throw at the kind of roster problems the yankees are having now.”
Isn’t this exactly what Cashman has been doing since he got total control of the Yankees?
No GM is perfect and it’s easy to look at certain moves a GM makes an criticize them. The fact of the matter is Cashman has made more than his share of good moves that conteract bad moves he’s made.
OK, so here’s my pseudo-lineup
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Matsui DH
Posada C
Giambi 1B (ugh, circuit breaker)
Ensberg 3B
Cano 2B (you can do it!)
Melky CF (someone else should be here, but he helps make it a circular lineup)
Does anybody know the story of what happened between Joba and Erin Andrews?
(Sorry if this has already been discussed…I’ve been busy with other things today.)
John in Ohio,
First I’ve heard of anything. Tension? Romance? Bugspray? Enquiring minds want to know!
But Dan Patrick was so funny the other day. He read that Erin’s really turned on…by men who wear sunscreen. So Dan said that he’s slather himself in Helmann’s mayo if that’s what it’d take to get her attention.
Morgan Ensberg guest blog entry is up on PHils site FYI pretty interesting lol
Does anybody know the story of what happened between Joba and “Erin Andrews?”
Jeter beat him to it?
here’s something on joba/erin
http://homerderby.com/archives/2149
i didn’t expect so many matches by doing a ctrl+f = “blow”
Something about after she interviewed him Wednesday night she turned away and made some kind of disgusted face. As if he had said something inappropriate or whatever.
Your mussina stats are flatout WRONG.
He’s 2-3 4.94ERA
I found a short You Tube vid on the page I linked below of Erin making a similar face. Maybe she just makes a lot of faces. (Besides Joba’s a big mumbler, if he said anything nasty that low she’d have never heard him).
http://www.sidelinehotties.com.....n-andrews/
OK, so Erin Andrews issues a comment that Joba did nothing inappropriate. Whew.
I’ll bet she hears a lot of crap, though.
Erin looked like she stepped in dog poop. Probably forgot to count to “three, one thousand”.
She’s bound to hear a lot of crap.
She is stunningly beautiful, and a lot athletes have gotten away with acting however they choose their whole lives.
Erin Andrews is apparently a Red Sox fan, and she made a face because he was a Yankee. At least that’s the spin I heard.
“i don’t think there’s any individual brilliance going on. i just think in this time of lower quality teams they realize success is based on quantity rather than quality.”
Despite the yankees having essentially 4 rookies on their pitching staff they have a lower team ERA than the Red Sox.
Take a look at the Red Sox pen besides Okajima and Papelbon. They are horrible. Really, just look at what guys like DeClaramen, Aardsma, Lopez and Timlin are doing – especially their walk totals.
Then take a look at their AAA pitching. There are no major prospects on their AAA staff. The best one is Craig Hansen who no longer seems like much of a prospect.
They just had to rush Justin Masterson up from AA to make an emergency start in the major leagues because they had no decent pitchers in AAA to take the start.
No one wants to thrust a good prospect like Masterson from AA to the bigs unless they are forced to.
Dice-K has a 3.14 ERA so far this year. Great. In 5 starts he’s thrown 28 innings. He’s averaging less than 6 innings a start. Their net expenidtures on Dice K average out to over $17 million a year over the life of his contract. Last year he got off to a good start and then faded into an league average pitcher.
This was supposed to be Jon Lester’s breakout year. Coming into this year he had made 28 career starts. He has a 5.4 ERA and thrown 31 innings in 6 starts – 5 innings a start is not a step forward. He’s walking 5.5/9 innings.
Kevin Cash is their backup catcher. His career batting average is LOWER than Will Nieves’s. He is arguably the worst player in the entire AL. Jason Varitek has had recurrent injury problems.
Theo tried to cut Manny Ramirez to dump his contract. Think about that.
I think Theo is a very good GM. Cherry picking moves any GM makes is not productive.
The fact is that the Red Sox and Yankees are building their teams in a similar fashion. The Sox have been better with developing position players. The yankees with pitchers. The big difference – the Yankees got a later start on changing the direction of the team.
“Isn’t this exactly what Cashman has been doing since he got total control of the Yankees?”
he’s trying ,but the yankees don’t have the luxury of an ugly duckling year like the red sox had in 2006. it’s a matter of degree how far you can go in any one year. i think the yankees have gone too far overboard this year with fragile rookie pitchers. their rotation and their bullpen is a mess because of having to treat delicate arms delicately .
and as far as every gm makes mistakes, give me the one who has 2 world series rings in the past four years.
“he’s trying ,but the yankees don’t have the luxury of an ugly duckling year like the red sox had in 2006.”
Then you are attaching an unreasonable parameter than Epstein doesn’t have to ever deal with so that makes the comparison off in the first place.
If you’re never allowed to think/ build long term but the other guy is then you really can’t say the first guy is doing a worse job because he’s not building depth and thinking long term.
The Yankee’s aging and roster inflexibility was years in the making. It’s going to take some time to fix and it’s already moved a a break neck speed over the past 2 1/2 years.
CB.
Very objective post.
It is early on Hansen. He had pitched 121/3 innings without giving up an earned run in AAA this year. He came in the other night for two innings and gave up a HR but struck out 3 topping out at 97mph. Stiil a viable prospect but the book is still out.
April is April when it comes to stats. The Chicago White Sox had the lowest bullpen era last April in the AL. They finished the season with the highest in all of baseball.
Both teams are a work in progess. I think Cashman is every bit as smart and capable as Theo. Cashman was late in getting authority not a plan.
-dennis
Dennis,
Again – the point of my post was not to knock Theo at all. I think Theo is a very, very good GM and obviously done a great job.
The position players you guys have developed are very impressive. When a Lowell gets hurt and you can bring up a Lowerie – that’s a great luxury.
At the same time I don’t think Theo would have wanted to call up Masterson for an emergency start from AA if he could have helped it.
I just think that Theo and Cashman are really going about things in a very similar way.
CB.
Perhaps I was unclear. I did not take your post at all to be a knock on Theo. Not even close. I didn’t even think you were negative.
My point was to not put too much credence in April era’s.
I like they pulled up Masterson. He is 23. Let’s see what he can do.
I also happen to be a fan of Cashman as it has to be great to walk in his shoes but it also has to suck. I think he is a bright, loyal, hard working dude. That is my impression from a far.
Almost happy hour.
-dennis
” Cherry picking moves any GM makes is not productive.”
cb-
you’re missing my point that a sea change has happened with revenue sharing and as a result no team can stock pile stars. i don’t care about any one deal a gm makes.
it’s an opinion, but i’m not impressed with cashman’s ability to juggle a lot of variables when he can’t buy his way out of it. he’s in a baseball world where he can’t do that like he did before. if he could santana would be the yankees #1 and pettitte would be the #3.
to be cont…
Dennis,
You were clear. I was just reemphasizing the point about Theo being a top baseball guy.
The question with masterson is his secondary pitches. But when you look at a guy like Wang, a power sinker ball guy doesn’t always need that great a secondary pitch.
He was the guy from your system I thought could help the team this year (i was assuming the pen) but I thought it would happen much later than April.
Enjoy happy hour.
CB.
Have a good weekend. This will be a fun one with good baseball and the NFL draft tomorrow AM.
I respect your insight and diligence with your posts.
I will pop on tomorrow.
Take care.
-dennis
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