Garcia update
Posted by: Brian Heyman - Posted in Misc on Aug 14, 2011 
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Freddy Garcia showed the media the finger, the one he cut at home about five days ago. He wouldn’t give the full details on how it happened. But there was a small cut just to the right of the nail on his right index finger. It didn’t look too bad from what I could see, although he reiterated that it had an effect Saturday on his ability to throw his splitter and that’s why he had to be skipped today.
“It feels really good today,” Garcia said.
“A couple of days probably,” he added about the healing process.
Both he and Joe Girardi are hoping he can pitch during the four-game series in Minnesota that starts Thursday night.
Still no makeup date announced for today’s game. Girardi said it will probably be part of a doubleheader when the Rays come back Sept. 20-22.
Girardi said he would push his rotation back a day because of the rainout, so today’s scheduled starter, A.J. Burnett, will open the Kansas City series tomorrow night.
Repost:
Shame Spencer August 14th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
Betsy – To me saying you have no confidence in a guy is a big deal. IMO, probably one of the worst indictments on a player. If you don’t have confidence in him now that’s not gonna change so why keep him around? If you’ve lost all hope in a player, you’d move him for anything or anyone because you’re assuming you’ll never get a return back on your investment.
If they didn’t think he could start, or didnt have the confidence in him to start, why did they even bother calling him up again to cause this 6 man rotation fiasco? I just don’t follow the logic. If they gave up on Phil, Phil wouldnt still be in the conversation. They’re just buying time..
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And just to amend the previous… I also don’t think our pitchers would be faking injuries to keep a guy we have no confidence in on turn.
well that’s good news about Freddy
I never said our pitchers would be faking injuries at all………
GF , Cashman defends his players except when doesn’t and he conducts interviews during games to throw a player under the bus.
You don’t have to defend yourself, Betsy. Thanks for sharing your insight and opinions with us.
Blow off, scumbag
No no Betsy, thats not what I meant.. what I mean is, what does it say that we’re having pitchers fake injuries (this Garcia nonsense is BS, c’mon the guy is just getting skipped to keep him fresh the same way they did with Colon) to keep Hughes on turn?
Blow off, scumbag
Shame, well I don’t think he’s being skipped to keep him fresh – he’s being skipped because he can’t pitch. I don’t agree that the injury is being faked………and I don’t think the skipping is to allow Phil to pitch.
# Jacob Ruppert August 14th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
GF , Cashman defends his players except when doesn’t and he conducts interviews during games to throw a player under the bus.
————
When has Cashman (or Girardi) not defended his players?
To admit a guy is struggling is one thing, but to throw him under the bus ala Ozzie Guillen is something completely different.
# Betsy August 14th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Blow off, scumbag
I hear ya Betsy I’m just not prepared to say that Garcias sudden injury (which he got 5 days ago but not one reporter knew of until convenient) that will help keep our rotation on turn another cycle through is just a coincidence.
Shame, whatever it is, this post from RAB pretty much says it all:
We should remind ourselves that Hughes is just now getting into midseason form. They restarted the clock for him, shutting him down in May and June and building him back up for a July return. When he came back, it was April for him while all of the batters he was facing were playing all year. Just now, over the past few starts Phil has really looked good, looked strong and the results have followed.
The calendar may say August, but as far as Phil’s concerned its May 15th.
How long is this going to continue, this competition on a start by start basis anyway? Not much longer if at all..
There’s absolutely no way that the Garcia cut announcement was coincidence. I suppose the injury is real, but Girardi clearly kept it quiet to give himself some options pending Hughes’ outing.
was that a generic blow off, scumbag, or was it directed at any who disagree with you?
It’s interesting to note that Posada was in today’s lineup, before the game was rained out. It would be great to see Po can catch fire over the last couple months if the Yanks give him playing time.
They knew Garcia had an cut, kept it to themselves, kept the meaningless competition going, knew garcia would be skipped, knew they didn’t have to send anyone to the bp and will end up keeping the 6man (with CC on turn) since they have double headers & an expanded roster.
If the cut happened right after his last start, and it was minor, there’s no reason to announce it. Garcia wouldn’t have been throwing for a couple of days anyway and as he said, it only bothered him on the one pitch, but, it’s his most important pitch….the split finger pitch. Hardly the stuff of conspiracies.
The calendar may say August, but as far as Phil’s concerned its May 15th.
===================
So be it.
For Freddy and Colon it could be November any day now…
# RadioKev August 14th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
There’s absolutely no way that the Garcia cut announcement was coincidence. I suppose the injury is real, but Girardi clearly kept it quiet to give himself some options pending Hughes’ outing.
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Or perhaps Girardi was waiting to see how Garcia’s BP session turned out before he made any decision?
Girardi has demonstrated time and time again that he prefers to keep many nicks and aches under wraps.
Blow off scumbag? I hope that was not directed at myself. I am genuinely trying to befriend you.
Who cares if the cut was real or fake?
There isn’t a conspiracy with Garcia’s cut, but keeping it quiet until after Hughes’ start was a clear decision. It wasn’t like Girardi accidentally forgot to tell the media about it until Hughes had a QS. If Hughes tanked, would we have heard about it? Would Burnett have for some reason started over Garcia and the rotation would shift to put Hughes in the pen?
Nothing to be upset about at all. I’m just pointing out there was a lot of jockeying with that one.
Betsy August 14th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Blow off, scumbag
____________________
Hey, you sound hot. Got a pic?
Looks like Boston will be facing Shields and Price in their next series.
Giuseppe Franco August 14th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
# RadioKev August 14th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
There’s absolutely no way that the Garcia cut announcement was coincidence. I suppose the injury is real, but Girardi clearly kept it quiet to give himself some options pending Hughes’ outing.
——-
Or perhaps Girardi was waiting to see how Garcia’s BP session turned out before he made any decision?
Girardi has demonstrated time and time again that he prefers to keep many nicks and aches under wraps.
===========
This is clearly the mos plausible scenario. It sounds like they decided yesterday that Freddy wouldn’t be able to go today.
Shame Spencer August 14th, 2011 at 12:32 pm
I hear ya Betsy
====================
shame, i think you were just told to blow off scumbag…
NEXT TOPIC-
Blow Off Scumbag
(and you know who you are)
“Girardi said he would push his rotation back a day because of the rainout, so today’s scheduled starter, A.J. Burnett, will open the Kansas City series tomorrow night.”
So CC on 5 days again… ehh…
Hey, you sound hot. Got a pic?
——-
Eh, uncalled for
Garcia had his side session yesterday, which was the same day that Hughes made his start.
Garcia had issues throwing his splitter in his side session as a result of the cut and Girardi made the decision to skip him one start.
I don’t see any conspiracies here, but I guess people will believe whatever they want to believe.
Girardi hasn’t ever given out medical information until it was necessary to do so. If Garcia had been able to do his side session without any problems, this would never have been an issue.
I do think that this a a situation where we can certainly make jokes about the a kitchen accident consipracy, though.
They need to keep CC on 5 days and push Colon back a day. His engine has been running low lately. The extra day will help him…
Of course, Unless CC said he wanted the extra rain day off.
Betsy August 14th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Blow off, scumbag
***************
Hey! I feel left out. What about me Betty Boop?
Uncertain whether Cashman is using a smokescreen in defense of Burnett or is he trying to justify a signing that ranks just a slight notch above the signings of Pavano and Igawa.
Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal
Also in notes: #Rays’ Kotchman and Damon, #Jays’ Lawrie, #Yankees’ Montero vs. #Mariners’ Smoak. msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Atla… #MLB
Mentions some scouts think Smoak is a bust all ready. Also Strasburgh was throwing 99mph in his last outing. That’s unreal. I don’t think the kid will change pitching or anything, but he can sure throw the ball.
108 stitches August 14th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Uncertain whether Cashman is using a smokescreen in defense of Burnett or is he trying to justify a signing that ranks just a slight notch above the signings of Pavano and Igawa.
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A slight notch? Really?
As inconsistent as AJ has been, he more than a slight notch above the signings of Pavano and Igawa.
Pavano never pitched more than a handful of games for us, and Igawa ws completely over-matched at the ML level.
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I mean, even if AJ never pitched Game 2 of the World Series, he’s an outstanding success compared to those other signings. He’s also more likeable than Randy Johnson, that’s for sure.
108 stitches is now 216 stitches with their AJ, Pavano and Igawa analogy.
Cash has much more invested in Burnett than Hughes, especially in the public eye.
If they thought that highly of Hughes, he wouldn’t have gotten such a short rope for a guy who won 18 games last year and has the upside he does. He is the guy who gets inconvenienced when they should be putting him in positions to succede – the way the guy threw the ball his last 2 starts, he should be in the rotation no question. That, and the fact that Cash was willing to give him away for Jimenez without a physical while leaving like 8 other guys untouchable (and ticking off O’Dowd by equating Hughes struggles to Jimenez’).
Cash is more worried about protecting his investment (which is foolish considering everyone outside Yankees universe considers Burnett a bust signing), than developing 2 promising starters in Nova and Hughes.
Pavano (9-8) and Igawa (2-4) delivered 11 wins for the $ 85 M they cost
AJ has delivered 31 wins just over halfway through a contract that costs slightly less
ridiculous comparison
Speaking of Randy Johnson, he’s pretty frightening in the new “Just For Men” commercial featuring the all-female landscaping service.
Yank 1 —
Don’t assume every rumor you hear in terms of who is offered for what is legit.
Hughes got a “short rope” because there was no life in his arm. It had nothing to do with anything else.
Cashman is far more invested in Hughes than Burnett. It’s not his money. However his judgment in terms of player development is what the Steinbrothers will evaluate him on, because they sign off on (or reject) the big contracts, whether he recommends it or not.
Yank1,
I don’t think Cashman cares what the public eye thinks which is why he made his comments.
We don’t need an enigmatic innings eater who is prone to imploding and giving away games late. That is all AJ has become.
That spot should be going to someone like Nova or Hughes who can actually help us in the postseason and for years to come. Innings-eating is highly overrated, especially at this juncture of the season with 6 weeks left and in the lead comfortably for a playoff spot. Now is the time to find out whether Nova or Hughes can help us further our chances in October. Even if Burnett has a strong finish to the season, no one is going to trust him in October and his history has given us 0 reason to.
Yank1 August 14th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
Cash has much more invested in Burnett than Hughes, especially in the public eye.
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This isn’t true. Cashman has pushed internal player development throughout his tenure as the Yankee GM. In negotiating his last contract, Cashman made it clear in no uncertain terms to his employer that he wanted full control over player drafting and development. Cashman pretty much staked his reputation on these efforts, passing on trading for players like Santana and most recently UJ. Phil Hughes is a centerpiece and a symbol of Cashman’s efforts to acquire young players through the draft (and international free agent singings). Cashman is very deeply invested in Hughes’ success.
Hughes got a “short rope” because there was no life in his arm. It had nothing to do with anything else.
————
I meant short rope as in now in a competition for his rotation spot, when he has given up 2 runs or less in 5 of his 6 starts coming off the DL. If he is as highly regarded as we think he is, why is he the one who is inconvenienced and having to ‘prove’ himself over a guy like AJ?
“Cashman is very deeply invested in Hughes’ success.”
So again, why is he not getting a guaranteed rotation spot, especially when he has been very solid since coming back and over someone like Burnett?
Yank 1 —
That short rope may exist on this site, but he’s taken his turn every 5 or 6 days since a longer layoff following his first start back.
The skip due to the bullpen appearance was Girardi’s doing, and wasn’t very bright but you can’t blame Cashman for that.
The Yanks unwillingness to drop any of their six starters from the rotation has had an affect on everyone, CC and Hughes included. The sooner they decide on 5 the better.
This isn’t true. Cashman has pushed internal player development throughout his tenure as the Yankee GM.
==============================================
Ghostwriter,
Well, in that case, the decision of who to pull from the rotation should be easy.
The only reason AJ should stay in the rotation is for Cash to continue to try and justify the investment. Saying he “hasn’t been that bad” is a cop out. He has has one of the 7 worst ERAs in the AL among starters and offers us no reliability moving forward. He is in fact, blocking a promising pitcher this year.
Hughes or Nova’s development should come before trying to placate Burnett and look good.
86,
Let’s be fair – if Hughes had a mediocre start yesterday, he would have been the one out. It’s no secret he is competing for a spot in the rotation. Especially when Girardi already said Nova is in the rotation.
They want to get down to 5 – they already penciled in Nova for his next start before his Angels start, the GM defended Burnett defiantly, and every Girardi quote mentioned Hughes’ versatility considering he has relieved before. The writing was on the wall.
DavidD —
That’s Girardi’s decision. General Managers do not dictate lineups and pitching decisions. No manager would tolerate it. Sure they meet, talk and try to reach a consensus as an organization, but Girardi has the final say on who plays.
Cashman has the final say on who is on the roster.
why did they decide that throwing 13 pitches was too much for Hughes to make his next start?
they are waiting for one guy to get bombed so they can justify their decision.
I really, really would use this organic opportunity to skip AJ in the rotation. I know he’s a veteran, and deserves the benefit of the doubt, but he just hasn’t been pitching that well and he could use a break to get himself together and/or work on his pitches.
That said, why would they push everyone back a day when CC is on record as saying he doesn’t like more than five days rest? Indeed, during his last start, I believe the announcers said that it was his third start this season on six days rest and he’s 0-3.
Why would you not start him on his normal fifth day and push whoever is behind him (Colon?) back the extra day? Just wondering.
Bustnett hasn’t won a game in months. It’s Aug. and the guy has not one a game in over a month.
You can’t make an excuse for a guy with his record and poor ERA. And the problem is that Burnett will block younger, talented, more deserving pitchers in the near future. Hell if Hughes finally takes his game to the next level in 2012 as well as Nova, and with Banuelos waiting in the wings Burnett becomes expendable.
No AJ day on August 14, but we can remember V-J on August 14, 1945:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.....staedt.jpg
General question: When did the trend towards pitching starters on five days rest begin? Most of the all-time great pitchers were in 4-man rotations, pitching every fourth game. Was it in the late ’60s? I was otherwise busy for a few years there. But the great rotations of the ’50s and sixties (Indians, Orioles, etc) pitched every fourth day, if my memory serves.
And it doesn’t matter how much time Burnett takes off. The guy is a .500 pitcher with declining stuff, and he doesn’t know how to pitch in a smart way. The list of excuses for A.J. has been endless. Like I said I hope he bombs against KC so he is removed from the rotation. I never root against Yankee players but with Burnett I make an exception.
It’s incredible the emotional fallout of this 6man roster and the amount of useless hate and negativity that people have been spewing. It’s become a battle of favorites, who a person wants in the playoffs vs another. When fans start rooting against players & hoping for them to suck, then it becomes a childish game of “who i like best”. Very bizarre.
The yankees are looking at the bigger picture, their long future and short future and doing what they need to get the best out of it going forward. They are going to the playoffs. A 6man/5man/starter to bp won’t change this. So they are looking to get things going for their starters.
Long future: Hughes & Nova. Though they didn’t expect Nova to be this good and was probably looking at him as trade bait. Then he improved with Hughes struggling and then he became trade bait. Bottom line, Cashman is highly invested in Banuelos & to some extent Betances with Nova and/or Hughes added to the mix. And with both doing well, they may not need to spend 20mill a yr on a FA starter this off season.
Short future: AJ is here for 2 years. Aside from the one game, he’s been decent for the past month. He keeps the teams in games, either gets a loss w/no run support, or gets a ND (having his lead loss by bp or team scores late). But hardly worthy of a “tar and feathering”. He’s closer to straightening out than some people want him to be.
Bottom line is having Nova, Hughes and AJ pitching well is more important to the organization than Colon or Garcia pitching well because it’s not a guarantee that either will be signed. They’re just place keepers where Garcia is overachieving & Colon is a surprise.
IMO the ideal situation for the Yankees is AJ gets going, Nova & Hughes continue to pitch well and the playoffs have them and CC. Because these are the guys who will be there in 2012. And if this occurs, it will be what’s best for the yankees. Having pitchers fail is NOT in the best interest of the organization.
let me get this straight.how do you cut your right hand when your right handed.dont tell me there are people who are right handed but use a knife with your left hand.smells fishy to me. like aj burnett black eye last year. neither one knows how it happen.does cashman think everyone is f—– stupid. the yankees need a new gm for next year who is not afraid to bring kids up and have success with them or fail.
LockDown
WOW!! Thank you for articulating some sane remarks into this blog. We have our unnamed analyst reading between the lines of the Cashman/Sherman garbage. AJ can be an emotional wreck. Remember the endless discussion in ST about who would be named #2 starter; AJ or Hughes? They decided on AJ because they were cautious about AJ’s psyche if he was named #3. Now we have a similar situation. What does it do to AJ if the GM publicly gives up on him? Hughes is paid to go out and pitch. He is obviously very secure in his present position. Hughes just turned 25 years old and, pitching as he has demonstrated since coming off the DL, is a nice option for the Yankees.
It is in the best interest of the Yankees to work Nova and Hughes. They are the future. They can be the future for the Yankees or they can be traded for quality. All this gibberish of Cashman now out on Hughes is ridiculous. When a GM gives up on a 25 year old his trade value goes in the toilet.
Throw Nova or Hughes on the waiver wire and see what happens. It will light up like fireworks on the 4th of July. It would serve the Hughes hater contingent to re-read your post and use some logic and forget reading between the lines of some interview.