Ohlendorf gets his shot with the Pirates
-
- September
- 4
In case you missed it, Ross Ohlendorf started for the Pirates last night for the first time. His line: 6 innings, 7 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts. He was not involved in the decision.
Just a hunch, but Ross has a chance to be pretty good once he settles into a defined role. The Yankees never quite figured out what to do with him.
Ohlendorf was a starter to open the 2007 season then turned into a long reliever. Then a short reliever.
He came to spring training this season as a reliever and was used as a one-inning guy throughout the exhibition season. Then the season started and he was suddenly a long man. Then he got sent down in June and was made a starter again.
If you lost count, that’s five changes in less than two seasons. Young players have to be flexible, but that’s a little ridiculous.
Ohlendorf can throw 95-96, sink it and has good enough secondary pitches to be a successful starter, especially in the NL. He’s a smart guy, too, who embraces the idea of pre-game preparation and delving into scouting reports.
The Yankees got Xavier Nady back, so no complaints about the trade. But keep and eye on Ross.
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on Thursday, September 4th, 2008 at 11:32 am by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
the love affair with him has got to stop
Ohlendorf is a bum
Good for Ross!
As much as it looks like the season is done, we are really 4 games back of the Red Sox. We have those 3 games at Fenway Park to conclude the season. If we pick up 4 games over the next few weeks, we have a slim shot of pushing for a playoff spot. Obviously, very slim odds but we are not done yet.
nady is worth the ohlendorf. what the real question is – is nady/marte worth tabata?
I wish Ohlendorf well.
Go, Ollie! Loved the kid, he was a gamer.
The trade might end up a very good one for both teams. We’re already seeing dividends and the Pirates got good players that help them for several years to come (longer in Tabata’s case!)
Thank you, Pirates, for Nady! Oh yeah, Damaso, too. Funny, Nady was an afterthought in the trade.
The Yankees not knowing what to do with young pitchers yet again.
Please Darrell Rasner give us a quality start tonight.
“Ohlendorf can throw 95-96, sink it and has good enough secondary pitches to be a successful starter, especially in the NL”
There you said it, an NL starter. Let’s give him a few more starts, like Karstens to see what he does for the Pirates. Either one of those guys is a number 4 or 5 starter in the NL. In the AL, that puts them in the pen on mop-up patrol.
despite this weak attempt at a scouting report, ollie was never rated that highly in the organization. his secondary stuff is not very good, and he isn’t exactly young. pete may like him, but that doesn’t mean he’ll amount to much.
besides, ohlendorf only hits that high on the gun when he’s in relief. when he starts he’s in the 92 range. important detail. ahem.
Ollie helped us get rid of RJ and helped us get 2 good players. Good luck.
didn’t see the new thread…...
I debated this yesterday with someone on here who wanted him in the bullpen because of his latest injury.
If the Yankees put every young pitcher in the pen when they had arm trouble they’d have no staff except Mussina. Wang tore his rotator cuff his first year then went on to win 19 games 2 years straight with 200+ innings. Imagine how silly it would be if they had decided to make him a reliver.
Pitchers get injured. It happens. The guy has 3 plus pitches, is working on a 4th, and throws 98 MPH in the 7th inning of his starts. He dominated the Sox. Utterly dominated them. A pitcher with his arm comes along once every 10 years.
Yeah, let’s use him in the bullpen !!!
Miggs – Sounds just like the coffee conversation I had with a coworker yesterday.
Ohlendorf stinks.
Everyone was so high on him… the guy got shelled here.
He’s no “prospect” he’s 26-27 years old.
Best of luck to him… won’t miss him that’s for sure.
His yo-yo treatment resembles Joba’s career so far and I find myself doubting the Yanks high command on their plans for next year.
Rasner give us a quality start ? Ponson and Rasner starting makes it 100% Sure that the Yankees have to score 7-10 runs OR MORE to win those games…..PACKED IT IN, THEY HAVE !
“Ollie helped us get rid of RJ and helped us get 2 good players.”
Two good players??? I only remember 3 fringe prospects and Vizcaino (who did end up bringing Bleich to the Yankees).
Ohlendorf was definitely jerked around, but over the years it is amazing at the number of players who leave the Yankees to become successful for other teams. I think the players character and ability to handle pressure and the big stage is a huge understatement when developing the youth. Tabata was obviously crumbling under the pressure so no surprise that he has had a resurggence.
The pirates gambled on higher upside talent in the final package and so far they have looked smart. Personally I’ll still take Nady and Marte (if used right) over the package sent to the pirates as I don’t think any of them would have done anything in the AL or with the Yankees for that matter.
In further defense of Yankee management, the NL is a B-league compared to the AL.
Fredo, Ohlendorf helped bring in Nady and Marte.
“Two good players???”
I think he’s talking about Marte and Nady.
I’m glad the Yankees kept Coke. I really don’t like Pepsi all that much.
Pete you need to forget all this baseball silliness for the rest of the season and go Hunter Thompson on us. There is an election on.
Good luck to Ross!
I like Pepsi better than Coke, but will gladly sip on Pepsi as she watches Coke in relief.
Fredo,
LOL. So we got Ollie from AZ and he helped us get Vizcaino in the same transaction?
as I watch Coke
BTW, Rebecca, loved the X & Coke joke from yesterday. Never tried either, but it was still sinful.
“LOL. So we got Ollie from AZ and he helped us get Vizcaino in the same transaction?”
Yeah, I missed your point. I think Tabata helped get Marte/Nady moreso than anyone else, but no trade is complete w/o throw ins, Ollie gets some credit too.
Moving Joba back to the pen to open next year and then transition to a starter is similar to the Olly treatment. He needs to be a starter and leave him there, sink or swim. I was fine with the plan for this year, but before we know it, Joba will be 28-29 and still without a full season starting.
harwood,
You’re kidding, right? You know that Pete doesn’t want politics infecting the blog, right?
We’ve got a friendly gang here. Religion and politics would kill the vibe.
isn’t it funny how almost every pitcher that goes from the AL to the NL suddenly become better?
the NL is really junior varsity. the lineups on some of the top NL teams is downright pitiful…
You love Ohlendorf who has never performed but utterly despise Edwar who is a decent middle reliever
He isn’t a late innings reliever but is a sufficient middle man
Better than the garbage we used to have: Karsay, Heredia, Witasick, Embree, White, Hammond (the “fosh”), the list goes on
djsunyc,
Just take a look at the scoreboard on a daily basis. Some ridiculous scores. Teams coming back from 7+ run deficits on a regular basis.
Bryan,
Edwar was good…yesterday.
I know he was but right now you can’t fully trust him to pitch the 8th
I like Edwar I am just saying how Pete hates on him all the time
Bryan,
Sorry, I guess you haven’t read my Edwar rants. I wasn’t defending him, I was poking fun at him.
Doesn’t seem to be in between with him. I’m glad that good Eddie showed up. That was pretty…clutch.
I hope Ross does well, Karstens too. It will make the Pirates feel better so we can fleece them again for a CF.
TK,
Was kind of hoping things really work out so we can work on getting a certain infielder that’s causing them problems.
The one that grew up in New York. The one that was drafted by the Sox, but went to college instead.
I really haven’t known who to cheer for this week…..the Yankees or the Rays although I confess I am glad that Tampa’s lead is shrinking.
I’m just curious who you guys will be rooting for next week when the Sox play Tampa for three games in Boston?
I’m guessing as long as the Sox are ahead of New York you will most likely be cheering for Tampa.
Interested,
Is this a little secret between you and Pete, or are you going to give the rest of us a link?
ray, tampa. no question.
You know, I’m starting to agree with mel re: Joba next year. If the most important thing is to further his development as a starter and build up his innings—and I think it is—then don’t try to be too clever with starting him in the pen again and hoping the innings add up juuuust right.
Just let him start and see how that goes for a few months. If everything goes well and it looks like he’s going to approach his innings limit, then you can get creative with skipping starts and/or bullpen work.
Mel, you sold me. Let Joba be Joba – from the start.
Joey’s Poodle
here
“The one that grew up in New York. The one that was drafted by the Sox, but went to college instead.
”
Since I share the same alma mater as this troublesome infielder, that would be a nice development indeed (except for the greasy agent involved)
ray,
That’s easy. We’ll be cheering for the Yankees.
Joey’s Poodle,
No secret, he just can’t post the name because it gets filtered out. Pete used to have the link, but has come to his senses and finally taken it off.
Okay, just read the article. Nothing that hasn’t been said here.
Nick in SF,
Don’t know if you’re being sarcastic or not, so I’ll just say, “Thanks!” Take it any you way want.
“I’m just curious who you guys will be rooting for next week when the Sox play Tampa for three games in Boston?”
Alas Ray – I’m rooting for Tampa, I think they will need to build back their self esteem after we came into the Cowbell capital of the world and manhandled them.
“I’m guessing as long as the Sox are ahead of New York you will most likely be cheering for Tampa.”
I’ll be cheering for the Yankees while secretly hoping that the Rays beat up on BOS.
Besides insulting everyone here and trying to stir up trouble, is the Interested Reader actually interested in anything?
TK
I admit I will be impressed if you guys beat them tonight with Kazmir pitching.
Haven’t we already beat Kazmir this year?
ray, you better watch yer mouth, Vito may be “in the wings”
“Alas Ray – I’m rooting for Tampa, I think they will need to build back their self esteem after we came into the Cowbell capital of the world and manhandled them.”
Does anyone know the story behind the cowbell, other than the fact that it’s annoying as hell? Is the guy banging it a fan of the SNL skit or something?
Nady was worth, We need more guys like him on our line up. He plays aggressively and was worth Ohlendorf.
Marte is worth it as well, he’s just been used the wrong way. Marte can easily give you two outs, at times three. But pick and match with Marte seems to work better.
Fatcesa needs to do something about this opening jingle
Rebecca,
I think Kazmir gave up 2 earned runs in a 5-0 loss. He’s 1-1 with a teeny tiny ERA against us this season.
Ah yes…..I noticed a Vito thread through some of the earlier posts!!!
“Haven’t we already beat Kazmir this year?”
I believe so. Plus, he’s been off his game since the ASG so I think we’ve got a shot tonight if the bats stay red hot.
Also, how come Steve Phillips doesn’t get more grief for trading that guy? That has got to be one of the worst trades in the history of baseball.
There are all kinds of ways to limit the innings that Joba pitches, skip some starts to give another arm a chance to show what they have, limit the innings he pitches when he starts to 6 or less, have him pitch in the Arizona Fall League to add to this year’s innings.
The mind set and way he pitches coming out of the pen is different than when he starts. It seems to me that is a sure fire way to screw him up rather than develop him. I sure hope the Yankees think this whole thing through very carefully.
I also think they should use him for as many innings as possible when he comes in relief now. If he goes in during the 6th, let him close out the game unless he is in trouble or throwing too many pitches. Line him up to go with Rasner or Ponson and do the longer relief role.
in a perfect world, Rays continue an epic slide and BOTH the Red Sox and Yankees make the post-season…( LOL )
TK,
I forgot. Are you a Giants fan or Jets fan?
“Fatcesa needs to do something about this opening jingle”
is it actually worse than the old one? that station needs to join this century. i feel like i’m listening to radio from the 50/60’s with their jingles and whatnot…
Ray –
Kazmir specializes in blanking your squad, not ours. I think we have done relatively well against him historically. This year Kaz seems so intent on striking out the side every inning so he is cooked by the 5th or 6th
And yes, I realize that I have just consigned the Yankees to being shutout
The trouble between that other site and Pete.
Pete covers the Yankees professionally; he’s a fan of the Patriots. Why is it so hard to see the difference?
Steve Phillips didn’t trade Kazmir. Jim Duquette did.
Thanks Mel.
I still don’t know where to look, but at least I know why I don’t know…
I think the cow bells were a give away at a game, it was meant to make noise due to the lack of fans coming to their games.
“Does anyone know the story behind the cowbell, other than the fact that it’s annoying as hell? Is the guy banging it a fan of the SNL skit or something?”
I don’t know where it originated but I remember last season they had cowbell night at their park where they handed out cowbell’s to the first few thousand people.
mel –
I root for the World Champion New York Football Champions of the World Giants.
I am hoping for a quick rout of the hated ‘Skins tonight.
“Steve Phillips didn’t trade Kazmir. Jim Duquette did.”
Really? Damn. Well, can I blame him for it anyway?
“Also, how come Steve Phillips doesn’t get more grief for trading that guy? That has got to be one of the worst trades in the history of baseball.”
Two reasons:
1) He didn’t make the trade
2) He did enough other bad things as Mets GM to get him all the grief he can handle.
is it actually worse than the old one? that station needs to join this century. i feel like i’m listening to radio from the 50/60’s with their jingles and whatnot.
I think it’s pretty bad. They need to have something new and fresh. Instead, this sounds like the old jingle just with different words and it just seems…weird.
I agree that they need to join this century.
Tyree should be on with Fats today-in case anyone is interested. BTW-did anyone see that ESPN E:60 special on Tyree? Freaky stuff.
TK,
Should be no problem tonight. Jason Campbell seems lost IMO. They should go with Todd Collins. I only have a casual interest for obvious reasons. The real season starts on Sunday.
Tell me again that you don’t know what trouble after you post the link again.
Then tell me you don’t understand the difference between a fan and a beat reporter.
Then tell me again what morons you think LoHud blog posters are.
“I don’t know where it originated but I remember last season they had cowbell night at their park where they handed out cowbell’s to the first few thousand people.”
Sounds like the worst giveaway night ever!
Interested Reader, Pete is a pats fan. But that doesn’t imply that he backs Belichek’s coaching practices… I’ve never read him praise his team’s coach. He praises the hell out of the team though…
“Sounds like the worst giveaway night ever!”
I thought it was hilarious at the time. It might be annoying but its kind of funny at the same time, if only for its SNL association.
Thanks, Interested.
As Mel says, the criticisms of Pete’s blogging are no different from those which have appeared here from time to time.
In fact, it almost looks like a ‘cut and paste’ job from some of our commenters…
Interested Reader,
Don’t know what you mean, but yes I read that particular article. Like I said, nothing we haven’t seen here. I think I’ve been the most critical of Pete on the issue. I think it’s a personality conflict and there’s nothing much you can do about those.
“Nick, that doesn’t make it okay for belichek to give nothing to the media and then criticize girardi for doing the same thing. I’d like pete to explain this to me.”
Apples and Oranges. 1st of all, Belichik gives to the media, the exact same thing 29 other NFL coaches give the media.
No real reason not to be honest about in baseball. Further, Girardi’s issue, especially earlier in the year wasn’t that he was givning no information, but rather he was giving misinformation. No information works. It’s largely what Torre offered thru his time here. Misinformation just pisses people off.
TK
I am painfully aware of how Kazmir has owned the Sox most of the times he pitches against them. Thank you for that reminder…LOL
Even though he may not be as dominant against other teams he is still a very good pitcher and I think you guys will have your hands full tonight, especially since Tampa will be wanting to avoid the sweep.
I’m not making any predictions….just that Kazmir is usually tough against whoever he faces.
what infielder on the pirates are you guys talking about?
“I’m not making any predictions….just that Kazmir is usually tough against whoever he faces.”
True Ray, but he hasn’t faced these Yankees. These are the new 2008 Yankees. These are the Yankees that get hits with RISP. These are the new Yankees, who play with fire in their belly. These Yankees want to win.
These are the Yankees we needed two frackin’ months ago!!!
It would really suck if Tampa and monnesota both make the playoffs. Dome vs. Dome. And automating the strike zone is the worst idea I’ve ever heard.
That’s Minnesota, of course. My hand-eye coordination isn’t as good as Dustin Pedroia’s.
The Pirates is the Yankees and Red Sox other AAA team. If any of these guys do well, look for them to be traded back to NY or to Boston (Tabata included).
Interested Reader, every manager takes heat from the media. In fact, the very website you’re leading people to heavily criticized one of the most popular and succesful Yankee managers in Yankee history. Not to mention that if you’re watching the product that this team is putting forward and aren’t upset with the manager, then you can’t be much of a fan either. I like Girardi, and I want to see what he does next season, but it is frustrating as a fan to see Girardi stand in front of the press after every losing game and act like nothing is wrong with the team.
Pirates are.
ray,,,it is an easy prediction that the RazzMan will get lit up tonight and Kazmir will shut down my beloved Spankees and we will lose 10-1 tonight…..SO POUND SAND, MEESTER !!!
“Again, why is it okay for Leyland to embarrass his players but it is not okay for Girardi to protect them?”
Again, show me a post where Pete has praised Leyland’s managing?
is it that he never criticized a manager for a team several hundred miles away, he must automatically approve of the guy?
Fredo,
Belichik is the king of misinformation. Brady’s injury report this week is ankle and shoulder. Brady has said his injury is on the same foot, but not the same injury. Shoulder? Another one of the phantom injuries that Belichik likes to make up. It’s a game for him.
As a fan of both teams, what the Belichik and Girardi say about injuries doesn’t bother me. But I don’t play fantasy leages. To me, the games are played on the field with players who are healthy at the moment.
who is this troubled infielder on the pirates that was drafted by the red sox but went to college instead?
“These are the new 2008 Yankees.”
Laura….I want the old Yankees back, especially for the last three games of the season.
Just a little “friendly harassment” Laura!
“Kazmir specializes in blanking your squad, not ours.”
TK:
Kazmir = 0-1, with a 7.00 ERA over 2 starts (9 IP) vs. Boston this year.
I’m supposed to be angry about something that Pete Abe writes? Really?
This is recreation; I don’t cede that type of emotional power to Pete or this blog. And I can filter out what I don’t like from what I do.
But if you want to get worked up about it, that’s certainly your right.
“who is this troubled infielder on the pirates that was drafted by the red sox but went to college instead?”
Pedro Alvarez
“It would really suck if Tampa and monnesota both make the playoffs. Dome vs. Dome. ”
but that would most likely mean Boston loses out on a playoff spot. sounds good to me. is that your team?
Laura, Although Phillips stunk it up as any kind of GM, or baseball man in general, he isn’t ther one that traded Kazmir. Jim Duquette traded him.
““Kazmir specializes in blanking your squad, not ours.â€
TK:
Kazmir = 0-1, with a 7.00 ERA over 2 starts (9 IP) vs. Boston this year.”
Don’t get all ‘facty’ with me Fredo!
Seriously, my impression is that Kaz has had some tremendous games against the Sawx in the past.
Mel:
Doesn’t bother me either. All coaches do it in the NFL. The weekly injury list is a league-wide farce. Belichik takes a beating for it in the press because A) the Patriots win and B)Brady is a polarizing figure in the game.
Don’t think it’s as true in baseball, simply because it’s not necessary. Teams don’t spend a week preparing for other teams in baseball.
Incidentally, the injury list is really about gambling. Nothing more, nothing less.
Football Coach’s relationship with the media is nothing like a baseball manager’s relationship. A football coach talks to media about 3 times a week, 16 weeks, for a short Q&A. Baseball managers face the media essentially every day, 150 days. It is apples and oranges.
“Pete may not comment on Belicheks practices, and that’s fine. But at the same time, he shouldn’t comment on Girardi’s if he’s doing the same thing.”
The thing is IR, is that Pete doesn’t cover the Patriots, he covers the Yanks.
I for one wouldn’t really be interested in reading a Yankee blog that talked about the coach of the patriots.
The mock movie poster was pretty funny.
Fredo Corleone
No real reason not to be honest about in baseball. Further, Girardi’s issue, especially earlier in the year wasn’t that he was givning no information, but rather he was giving misinformation. No information works. It’s largely what Torre offered thru his time here. Misinformation just pisses people off.
__
The media slugs are the biggest culprits if diseminating misinformation, much more than a baseball manager. They invented it, or, at least they honed it to a fine art. Sports writers are as bad as the rest of the media slugs at this. How many times do media types cherry pick obscure, meaningless stats to sell their point and ignor the more important ones. How many times do you see a story that is written about a player, knowing it’s not completely accurate, but, they go with it, then complain that the player they slammed won’t talk to them because the player has a “grudge” against them? I won’t even get into what the news media does…there’s not enough time in my life.
You’re right, misinformation annoys me.
Once again, you morons show how idiotic you are. OHlendorf is no starter. WHy was he made a reliever in the first place? Because he can’t maintain that velocity for more than three innings. It drops off drastically as the game goes on as most people saw that while he was a minor leaguer. He is no starter at best he is a middle inning reliever who can go 1 or 2 innings at a time. try using him as a starter and you will find out how mediocre of a starter he really is. IDIOTS!!!!!
Keyswahili:
Couple questions:
1) As a group of morons, wouldn’t we be moronic rather than idiotic?
2) Wil Rogers never met you, did he?
Can Ohlendorf throw 95-96 as a starter? Despite the good fastball he’s simply not a very good pitcher. What a huge difference between how he was in AA in Arizona to now.