Thoughts on the way home
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Aug 22, 2011 
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This was a good trip for the Yankees. They did what they needed to do against two of the weaker teams in the American League, and they’re coming home still in first place in the American League East. Their third baseman is back, their MVP candidate is thriving and their two young starters are grabbing ahold of rotation spots. Just a few thoughts right before Erik Boland, Wally Matthews and I get on the plane.
• With guys like Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano surging, the Yankees lineup looks really, really deep with Alex Rodriguez added to the middle. I know some people would have preferred a drastic shakeup, but there was no sense looking too far outside the box. Going back to the May batting order made sense.
• If Eric Chavez is playing against right-handers and Andruw Jones against left-handers, those dwindling Jorge Posada at-bats are going to become really tough to find.
• Russell Martin’s been somewhat inconsistent at the plate, but he’s such a power threat that he’s been a productive part of that lineup. Given the bat and the glove, Martin might be playing his way into a role next season as well. He’s arbitration eligible, and having Martin around could make it easy to break in Jesus Montero.
• It’s becoming harder and harder to so much as think about taking Ivan Nova or Phil Hughes out of the rotation. If the Yankees won’t move A.J. Burnett, is Bartolo Colon the most logical option? The workload seems to be affecting him, and he could shine in that relief role he had out of spring training.
• Ian Kennedy is pitching very well in Arizona, but I still the Yankees would make that trade.
• If Burnett were in the last year of his contract like Javier Vazquez was last year, then the rotation situation might be different. But the Yankees have to think about Burnett beyond this season. Long-term, it’s in their best interest to try to get him right and not just give up on him. Whether they can afford to do that in this division race is debatable.
• This team has exactly one player who wasn’t in the organization on Opening Day. It’s Cory Wade, and he’s really been a terrific signing.
•There were a few times this season that I though Luis Ayala might be DFA, but he’s stuck around and pitched well in a limited role. Unless he’s designated for Garcia this weekend — DFA someone right before September call-ups? — he’ll be one of the more obscure minor league signings to stick.
• Is everyone still worried about Mariano Rivera?
Associated Press photo
Have a safe flight home Chad.
Thanks for all the hard work.
Mariano- No worries!!
Repost:
Yankee Trader August 22nd, 2011 at 9:06 am
Erin-
Curb is on my to do list today.
86w183-
AJ to the Nationals makes sense. He would most likely waive his partial NT to go to the NL and stay close to home since his wife won’t fly.
Matchups for the Oakland series:
McCarthey vs. Colon
Cahill vs Sabathia
Harden vs Hughes
last game is a 1:05 game and by Thursday Harden might be on another team as I believe he was claimed.
Gotta go. Have a great day all.
Sorry for the repost – but I needed to respond and clarify:
86w183 August 22nd, 2011 at 8:33 am
Villa-Nova —-
Completely disagree with you on runs and RBI. They are the MOST important stats in baseball if you place a priority on helping your team win.
A high battgin average guarantees nothing. A high OBP, SLG, OPS guarantee nothing. They measure an individual’s performance.
Runs and RBI measure contributions to winning. You don’t need a lot of baserunners to score runs, but you need runs to win games. Runs and RBI measure the effectiveness of things like OBP and OPS.
I’ll take 1-4 with a 2-run double over 3-4 with no runs and no RBI every time.
*****
If my post was convoluted, I apologize, but I was saying exactly what you are. I agree – I’ll take 1 for 4 with a 2 run double over 3-4 with no runs and no RBI every time.
That’s why I said, what good is a high batting average if it doesn’t net your team runs. That runs are the name of the game. And that if you are leading the league or among the league leaders in runs and RBI that means you are putting your team in a position to score runs and are a very valuable player on your team.
I was responding to someone earlier who said that runs and rbi are largely dependent on what other people on your team do, and I do not believe that over the long haul of a season that this is true, especially if you lead the league or among the top 5 in BOTH categories.
Sorry for the long repost, but I felt I had to clarify my position. We are on the same page here, 86w183.
Chad-hope you have a good flight and enjoy your day off
I just can’t see them cutting Ayala loose. He’s picked up a good amount of valuable innings for the Yanks. I’d be more inclined to send Noesi down for the next 10 days and recall him. Somebody will grab Ayala off of the wires. He is probably just having a freak season, based on his career numbers, but, he has value this year.
MTU-
Good morning. Hope you had a tribute for Super Nova as he pitched 7 shutout innings. Anyway gotta go and I’ll look for any of your comments/posts later.
I look at Ayala having a David Weathers type post season. Completely overlooked but, doing a great job.
YT-
I did. It’s one or two threads back.
If you want me to repost it just let me know next time we meet.
Have a good day.
The Astros want to shed payroll so there is no way I can see the Yanks trading AJ for Wandy without adding to their own payroll………Wandy isn’t good enough to do that IMO and the Astros likely wouldn’t be wild about it either unless they save a lot of cash.
If the Yankees decide to move AJ then the best thing try try IMO is to just eat a large portion of his contract and try to find a team that would be willing to take 2 years of AJ at say 6-7 million per.
Yankee Trader-enjoy. It’s a good one. As usual.
Speaking of AJ-very, very glad to read that he shaved his head. That hair was hideous.
“Ian Kennedy is pitching very well in Arizona, but I still the Yankees would make that trade”.
Yup…..Kennedy has been great but the Yanks still got the better end of that deal. Wish thy could have kept Kennedy out and said so at the time…..but you gotta give to get.
I have no desire to see NY pick up Wandy Rodriguez or Brett Myers. Last year, Myers would have been a good pickup. Trouble is that he lost about 4 MPH off of the fastball and found Drayton McLane’s wallet.
Can’t fault Ayala for a bad showing during the “Burnett night”. He seemed to have been rushed in the game and might have needed a little more time to get ready. He’s otherwise been pretty reliable in eating innings when called upon. A good find as was Cory Wade.
With 9 games left in August, Noesi seems to be the one that will get sent down but be ready to re-join the team on 9/1 in Boston when rosters are expanded.
GB-
Corey Wade has been another great pick up.
The pro-level scouts have really earned their money this year.
Can u imagine the media coverage if Jimenez was pitching that poorly for the yankees!? Espn just glosses over it cuz its cleveland
I’m going down to Baltimore Friday to witness the re-birth of AJ Burnett firsthand.
I’ve got my Yankee poncho and an inflatable crucifix packed and ready. All I need is a baptist minister that can hit offspeed pitching and a 250+ lb. virgin to help me with the ceremony.
MTU,
Since last winter, Cashman has dipped into baseball’s honeypot and scooped out a lot of gold.
It’s becoming harder and harder to so much as think about taking Ivan Nova or Phil Hughes out of the rotation. If the Yankees won’t move A.J. Burnett, is Bartolo Colon the most logical option? The workload seems to be affecting him, and he could shine in that relief role he had out of spring training.
—
Last 6 starts:
Colon: 4-2, 3.71 ERA
CC: 3-3, 4.09 ERA
It’s amazing how Colon has one poor start and so many people are throwing him under the bus.
Bronx Jeers- Good luck.
swbyankees RHP Freddy Garcia is expected to pitch for @SWBYankees in the first game of today’s DH. Game time 5:30pm – Tickets: http://t.co/vTVKSDp
GB-
Yup. And haven’t been stung once.
P.S. I was very heartened to hear that your place is slowly but surely nearing completion.
This is a good thing. Now if I could just fix that hole in my head.
It’s not the numbers from Colon, it’s the lack of innings
Colon is throwing about the same number of pitches per start, he just doesn’t quite have the command he had earlier in the year before he went on the DL, and seems to be throwing more pitches per batter (don’t know where I can look up pitches per batter splits).
Blake-
This is true. Gotta give to get.
That’s why if we decide to put in a bid for JU someday it’s gonna sting.
Of course, we might get a little off the price considering Towers owes Cash.
What exactly does “getting AJ right” mean? He’s been a .500 pitcher his entire career. He’s a .500 pitcher for the NYY (on a team that over his tenure must be 80+ games over .500, that’s pretty hard to do.). People will be talking about “getting him right”, right up until the end of Sept. 2013 when his contract runs out.
here is an interesting stat, it’s the Yankees’ record (W-L) depending on who starts the game:
CC 19-8
Garcia 11-9
Colon 12-7
Nova 16-5
Hughes 6-4
Burnett 12-14
I can tell you who I don’t want starting for the Yankees if I want the best chance of a win, can’t you?
MTU,
The problem with that is the Towers is gonna have the Dbacks competitive in that diviison……they already are. He’s on such a good.contract he may not be available for awhile if they keep being good. That rotation is young and they have more pitching on the way.
Colon does concern me a bit…..I think they have to stick with him for now though as he was so good earlier in the year.
I think the rotation should be
CC
Nova
Hughes
Garcia
Colon/Burnett combo with one of the two being the long man and ready to relieve the other at a moments notice
MG,
That’s why I think the win stat IS meaningful. That’s the goal….to win the game and.some pitchers just allow that better than others. This isn’t a “blip” with AJ……its been going on 2 years now. Hes a mediocre pitcher most of the time but he has these outings where he just gives them no chance to win at all……he had about 10 of them last year where he had lost the game by the 3rd or 4th inning…..that not.only effects that day….but the rest of the week after it.
Bisonthrow,
If the playoffs started today…..that’s what id go with. Cc, Hughes, Nova, Garcia as the 4 starters……and then Colon in the pen…..AJ in the pen or watching from home. That could change of course…..but today I think that’s it.
Blake-
Yeah. Not sure what’s gonna happen with Bartolo.
Maybe he needs another quick trip to see Dr. Purita.
I’ll catch you later. It’s a hike day today.
Have a good one.
MTU,
Have fun!
blake,
Idk if you agree or not but my biggest issue with the yankees right now is the fact that I feel like they are placing to much weight on what might cause a stir in the locker room over what will actually win games. I value everything jorge has done for this team but the fact of the matter is there are players within the organization that could IMO provide more than jorge can. As for AJ i understand the fact that they are paying him so much but why have him drawing the bank account as well as losing games. Why not just pay him and use a guy who puts you in a better position to win games.
Of qualified pitchers over the last two seasons only Jeremy Bonderman has a worse ERA than AJ Burnett. And Bonderman is out of baseball right now.
So, among active qualified pitchers over the last two seasons AJ Burnett has the WORST ERA in MLB.
I think Colon is just going through the dog days like many guys do this time of year. To say his tank is running on empty is much too presumptuous IMO. There is no reason to think he won’t be ready to take the ball when it counts, he’s only been doing it all season. I love the kids as much as anyone but to say either is ready to claim the #2 slot is just noise. It makes for good reading which is what the media gets paid to do.
Finesse pitchers struggle more in the post-season due to cold weather. With that in mind, — assuming everyone is healthy — Colon is probably a better choice than Garcia.
Choosing # 1 and # 6 is really easy, though, isn’t it.
Villa-Nova…. we’re cool. Runs is indeed what it’s all about. Jeter is 25 Runs from 1775 which would be # 20 All-Time. Alex is already # 17.
Bison,
Yea they are in a tough spot with Jorge…..its not cost them games and they don’t seem to be ready to call up Montero for whatever reason so they are just riding this out it seems like …..he has been swinging the bad better though so hopefully he gets some big hits down the road here.
As for AJ…..they had to try ……..with 3 years left on his deal they had to try to get him straightened out …….but now the deal is more than half over and the equation is starting to get less risky to just cut bait on him IMO. They’ve given him nearly 2 years now and things aren’t getting better……im just guessing but I would think the chances are starting to run out.
Colon hasn’t pitched this many innings in the last 3 years…COMBINED. He’s on fumes.
If Cashman thinks everyone else needs to smoke objective pipe he must have been on some delusional pipe when he made that comment.
Mike_Boston August 22nd, 2011 at 9:57 am
I think Colon is just going through the dog days like many guys do this time of year. To say his tank is running on empty is much too presumptuous IMO. There is no reason to think he won’t be ready to take the ball when it counts, he’s only been doing it all season. I love the kids as much as anyone but to say either is ready to claim the #2 slot is just noise. It makes for good reading which is what the media gets paid to do.
**************
Mike, I hope you’re right about Colon. BUT there is a reason to think he’s running down. He hasn’t pitched a full season is several years. It is reasonable to think that he won’t have the stamina over the remainder of the season. And at this point Hughes has been through the wars. He’s young, but he’s not a “kid”, per se, when it comes to playoff experience.
MG August 22nd, 2011 at 9:42 am
here is an interesting stat, it’s the Yankees’ record (W-L) depending on who starts the game:
CC 19-8
Garcia 11-9
Colon 12-7
Nova 16-5
Hughes 6-4
Burnett 12-14
I can tell you who I don’t want starting for the Yankees if I want the best chance of a win, can’t you?
—
From the first 5 there, that’s a .660 win%. With that win% they would have 5+ more wins now.
AJ should be the 6th starter, or even 7th starter, as Noesi is probably better.
It may just be the dog days for Colon…..and the Yanks need to keep sending him out there to.find out…….but he does rely heavily on that 2 seamer so.it coukd be a scouting report issue as well…..meaning teams are adjusting to him.
Garcia is a junkerballer…..but at what point do we have to.give him his.due and just say…..hey this guy is pretty darn good?
The Yankees didn’t even expect Colon to make the team. That an aging, overweight, often injured pitcher who hadn’t thrown a substantial number of innings in years might slow down shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.
Can the Yankees afford to eat half of Burnett’s salary in order to move him over the winter ? Yes they can.
Between Igawa ($4M), the likelihood of Jones ($2M) and Chavez ($1.5M) not returning takes care of most of it.
The contract of Alex was front loaded so his salary decreases by $2M in 2012.
Jorge’s contract of $13.1M absorbs raises of $1M to Jeter, $4M to Cano, $1M to Soriano, and $1.75 to Granderson plus abritation dollars to Hughes, Robertson, and others.
Blake,
I think they try to trade him for whatever they can get this offseason. I personally hope/think that he will not be in yankees camp come next spring
Colon hasn’t pitched this many innings in the last 3 years… COMBINED. He’s on fumes.
——
CJ Wilson did the same thing last year and he was fine.
It’s too soon to jump off the Colon bandwagon and assume he’s running on empty.
go get Harden!
There’s a big age difference between Wilson and Colon. Not a fair comparison.
“I think they try to trade him for whatever they can get this offseason.”
The Yankees should consider AJ a floundering stock……if you trade him before the value hits zero then you’re saving money instead of “eating his contract”. JMO but id move him if at all possible this winter and save what cash I coukd still salavage on his contract.
Colon could be tiring, but I wouldn’t assume that is the case. I certainly wouldn’t be talking about sending him to the pen after one poor start. Colon in the bullpen with AJ still starting would be ridiculous.
There’s a big age difference between Wilson and Colon. Not a fair comparison.
–
There is also an experience difference. Colon has been a starter forever and knows the pace of a season. He is a veteran. He has had 3 bad starts since coming off the DL but I don’t think that necessarily means he is terrible or losing steam. There is a strategic adjustment that Colon needs to make as well, he is a guy throwing 85% fastballs. Players are bound to adjust to him. He needs to adjust back.
He has a very good K rate but its 50% looking strikes. For throwing 92-95 he is really relying on guile.
Wilson is 30 though ……and hasn’t basically been out of baseball for a majority of 5 seasons. He’s also left handed and.doesn’t rely so much on his fastball. Im not saying colon is definitely finished……its a concern though. Gotta keep pitching him though to find out. We’ve seen him be really good this year…….we haven’t seen AJ be anything but mediocre or bad for 2 years now.
JF,
Do you have a blog now?
I think Colon has a reasonable chance of getting a 2nd wind when the weather cools somewhat, that’s not unusual for older pitchers.
It’s tough going out there in the heat and humidity and throwing 6 or 7 innings, particularly when you aren’t in the best physical condition.
As someone mentioned earlier he’s still throwing 95-100 pitches a start, he’s just lost some command. His velocity has been OK, that’s not a sign of a guy that can’t pick it back up when it’s cooler.
In addition to what Face said about Colon basically just pumping fastballs all season, by doing that he has put less stress on his arm than most pitchers.
Do you have a blog now?
–
In the spirit of transparency I am linking to my personal business.
Ideally you wouldn’t like anyone to give up 5 runs in a game, but look at Colon’s gamelog. He came off the DL vs a crappy Mets team and won but then struggled (the toronto game was really BABIP heavy and some bad defense) but then rattled off 5 straight pretty good starts. its not like he has looked completely worn down. He got his footing after coming off the DL and then had a bad start. Anyone can have one.
blake, wins are still the single most important statistic for any sports team, all of the peripheral stats are supposed to be indicators of improving the probability of getting one.
you’re exactly right, Burnett takes the Yankees out of far too many games when he starts, that’s why, among other things, he should not be in the rotation going forward either now or next year.
No matter what they say about the 6 man going to 5, I can still see all of them starting in Sept, unless AJ continues to implode.
May the best man win a post season spot.
AJ burnett ERA by run support , which I continue to find fascinating
0-2 Runs scored 3 ERA
3-5 runs scored 4.76 ERA
6+ runs scored 7.29 ERA
He is pitching to the score just enough to lose each tier
Bryan Mitchell has a chance to be very good if he stays healthy, but, this is a little bit of a stretch.
“mashmore98 Mike Ashmore
SI pitching coach Danny Borrell said Bryan Mitchell reminds him of Josh Johnson. Lofty comparison right there. More comments on my blog…”
Jerkface August 22nd, 2011 at 10:24 am
AJ burnett ERA by run support , which I continue to find fascinating
0-2 Runs scored 3 ERA
3-5 runs scored 4.76 ERA
6+ runs scored 7.29 ERA
He is pitching to the score just enough to lose each tier
—
So the strategy with AJ is to score no runs, pull him after 6, and win with the bullpen.
I can’t imagine why AJ gets no run support.
Every time he gets a lead, he gives it up.
Last game he was at 60 pitches in the 2nd.
Wears on the team in the field and at the plate.
Sort of like 3 and out in football, after defending a long drive.
Jerkface-those numbers are really weird. So….maybe it’s not such a bad thing when he doesn’t get run support.
Don’t know if this was posted already, but good stuff on Brackman, making a Joba-like adjustment with his hands. Sometimes it’s best to return to what intuitively has served you. Too much tinkering/interference can get you off the scent, as it seems to have donewith Chamberlain.
Man, would it be awesome ABrack he could keep it together. I should be getting out to PNC Park next Sunday, as I can’t stand to go through another Betances home start reliant on that stupid, static tripod thing & Collins’ silent blog, once the game is done.
Collins does a good job, & has been on it for the most part, when it comes to demands for Montero info, but Ashmore has spoiled me by getting answers from players & coaches on very specific questions I & others have asked on the B Boys. Maybe Collins needs time to get into a flow covering those two. Ashmore, though, should get a bigger job somewhere. He can’t make much, yet he treats the Trenton beat like a full-fledged, 24 hr beat guy. Mike, if you’re reading, you’re the best.
“You’re looking for help, and I guess the only person who can help you is yourself,” he said.
So, after that disastrous outing in Buffalo, Brackman spent the next eight days doing just that. He chose to go back to the motion he used in college at North Carolina State, mainly by starting with his hands higher than at his belt, where they had been.
Almost immediately, Brackman said he noticed a difference.
“It’s just feeling comfortable,” he said. “I guess I just wasn’t comfortable with my mechanics at the beginning of the season, and now I am.”
After weeks of not knowing where the ball was going, of coming into games and throwing one pitch in the dirt, followed by the next sailing over the batter’s head and slamming into the backstop, Brackman is starting to show glimpses of the talent that made him a first-round pick.
In his next four outings — all in relief — Brackman struck out 10 and walked two in 8 2/3 innings. That includes a pair of back-to-back appearances with no walks, the first time that had happened this season.
“Even in my bullpen sessions, my command has been 100 times better,” he said. “Even just tossing . . . I can hit the man in the chest.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....z1VlevI8b3
What bothers me most about AJ is the games like his last start where he just decides the game by the 2nd inning …..he’s been much better at that this year but it was a big problem last year. Nova has evolved more in one season than AJ has in his entire career……
seems like the best amount to score is 5 for aj…then pull him, at least he leaves with a lead.
Courtesy of Pete (edited by me to include yesterday’s game)
“Adrian Gonzalez has one home run in his last 177 plate appearances and has gone 91 plate appearances since his last one on July 30. That came off Chicago’s Brian Bruney, who has since been released.”
Also, because I think this is funny:
Post ASB SLG:
A Gon: .399
Gritner: .404
Last years im,plosion was much worse for aj, altho his era is about the same.
What is the explnation for that?
maybe martin and rothschild have calmed him down a bit to prevent total implosion.
He repeats the mantra after every game, “I’m not going to beat myself up about it.”
it’s silly to worry about Mo. He’s Mo.
Responses to Chad’s entry:
1. I agree that the situation with Burnett is a mess for the Yankees. Chad’s right – you can’t bury him for the rest of the season in the pen because you still are on the hook for him for another two years and that’s way too much money to hide.
2. Given that – I do think Colon is the guy most likely to head to the pen. It stinks, because Colon and Garcia have been the most consistantly good pitchers behind CC all season long, but as much as we might like to think baseball’s a meritocracy, it’s not. Ideally, I would like to see the Yankees pick up Harden (as is currently being speculated) and go with a rotation of CC, Harden, Hughes, Nova, Garcia down the stretch.
3. Yes, I still make the Ian Kennedy/Curtis Granderson deal. I don’t think there’s any shot Kennedy would be this good if he was still with the Yankees.
4. I don’t DFA Ayala to make room for Garcia. I would send down Noesi and shift Colon into the relief role. There’s no reason to DFA a guy who has been this productive when you’re a couple of weeks away from roster expansion.
5. I think Russ Martin gets a two year deal – I’ve thought so for a while now.
6. Corey Wade – fantastic pick up.
maybe he should beat himself up and break himself down.
didn’t halladay get sent down to do the same?
start from scratch, learn how to pitch.
sometimes it takes a major injury to reinvent yourself.
if he wants another big contract he better learn how to pitch.
LGY August 22nd, 2011 at 10:07 am
Colon hasn’t pitched this many innings in the last 3 years… COMBINED. He’s on fumes.
——
CJ Wilson did the same thing last year and he was fine.
It’s too soon to jump off the Colon bandwagon and assume he’s running on empty.
————————————————————————————————————————-
Nobody’s jumping off of anything. Colon didn’t pitch at all until this past winter. If anybody needs a 10 day breather, he’s it. Add in his 20 plus innings in ST and 75 innings in the winter league and he’s over 200 innings for the year after sitting out last year.
3. Yes, I still make the Ian Kennedy/Curtis Granderson deal. I don’t think there’s any shot Kennedy would be this good if he was still with the Yankees.
========================================
using the words shot and Kennedy bring back horrible memories…
All the analysis and pop-fix fantasies are not going to change reality. Burnett is an aging pitcher who at his best was a .500 hurler with a bad temper and a propensity for not telling the truth. He’s a walking circus side show. Tattoos, bleached hair, black eyes, smashing clubhouse doors and a 32-34 Yankee record with an ERA approaching 5.00.
The focus should be on getting rid of him.
I can’t be disappointed in AJ Burnett anymore – I just can’t. To be disappointed in him would mean that I expect more from him than the team is getting – I’m not.
George Young, former GM of the NY Football Giants famously said that giving a player a ton of money doesn’t make the player any better. AJ Burnett has been the same pitcher since the day he came into the major leagues.
He tantilizes with electric stuff but can’t control it and is prone to melting when things don’t go his way. He was this way at 21 and he hasn’t changed. The Yankees gave him a boatload of money because he was impressive when pitching against them and against Boston, they got wooed by good AJ and chose to overlook bad AJ.
I would love to bury him as the 12th man on the pitching staff but you can’t do it. He’s not mentally strong enough to bounce back from that which means you would lose him for the rest of the contract.
I’m certain the Yankees will explore every option they have to unload him this winter, but short of eating a ton of money and taking back either a non-prospect or a bad contract I don’t see it working out.
mick, 34 year old pitchers don’t reinvent themselves, Halladay was 23 years old when he went back to the minors and changed his pitching style.
The boat sailed for Burnett a long, long time ago, there is little or no chance he ever becomes anything more than he is right now.
LGY August 22nd, 2011 at 10:07 am
Colon hasn’t pitched this many innings in the last 3 years… COMBINED. He’s on fumes.
——
CJ Wilson did the same thing last year and he was fine.
It’s too soon to jump off the Colon bandwagon and assume he’s running on empty.
————
Yeah but CJ Wilson is also what, 8 years younger? And Colon’s basically been going since winter ball – he’s already pitched a full season.
MG August 22nd, 2011 at 10:48 am
mick, 34 year old pitchers don’t reinvent themselves, Halladay was 23 years old when he went back to the minors and changed his pitching style.
The boat sailed for Burnett a long, long time ago, there is little or no chance he ever becomes anything more than he is right now.
*****
I wondered about this last night. Maybe Steve Tracshel is a better comparison.
Speaking of CJ Wilson – he has to be extremely ticked at Jared Weaver right now. Weaver’s 5 year $85 mil deal was likely what Wilson was hoping to get himself. But given that Wilson is older and not as good his price tag will likely drop down significantly.
Depends on you interpretation of reinvent, but, as good as he was before, it took Nolan Ryan until the age of 33 to stop walking batters dropping from walking 5 or 6 batters every 9 innings to 3.5 or 4 a game.
86w183 August 22nd, 2011 at 9:58 am
So true about finese pitchers.
AndrewMarchand The Yankees have no interest in Wandy Rodriguez, per a source.
The Yanks need Colon as a starter for a deep post-season run, so I hope he gets back to where he was in May somehow.
GreenBeret7 August 22nd, 2011 at 11:01 am
Depends on you interpretation of reinvent, but, as good as he was before, it took Nolan Ryan until the age of 33 to stop walking batters dropping from walking 5 or 6 batters every 9 innings to 3.5 or 4 a game.
———————
AJ’s issues are a lot more profound than Ryan’s control. AJ is not, and really never was, a guy who would battle through. When one thing goes wrong he’s not likely stem the tide, instead he throws gasoline on the fire.
That’s a mental thing, not a mechanical flaw.
Speaking of CJ Wilson –he has to be extremely ticked at Jared Weaver right now. Weaver’s 5 year $85 mil deal was likely what Wilson was hoping to get himself. But given that Wilson is older and not as good his price tag will likely drop down significantly.
—–
Not a comparable because Weaver signed over a year before free agency.
Wave Your Hat August 22nd, 2011 at 11:05 am
The Yanks need Colon as a starter for a deep post-season run, so I hope he gets back to where he was in May somehow.
—————-
When Colon first went into the rotation for Phil Hughes, after each game he pitched the sentiment was always the same “Wow, Colon looks great, but how long can this last?” As the season moved on we stopped asking the question of how long it could last but it didn’t make the question any less real.
Bartolo Colon is a 38 year old man who hadn’t pitched meaningful innings in some 3 years. He started his season just as teams were finishing up last year to get ready for winter ball, went straight from that to spring training and so now he’s probably about 10 months into his work – that’s usually when guys are shutting down for the year.
Do I think he’s capable of giving a few more starts? Sure. But do I feel like the team should be counting on him? Nope.
What does that mean to me – it means go out and get Rich Harden.
LGY August 22nd, 2011 at 11:09 am
Speaking of CJ Wilson –he has to be extremely ticked at Jared Weaver right now. Weaver’s 5 year $85 mil deal was likely what Wilson was hoping to get himself. But given that Wilson is older and not as good his price tag will likely drop down significantly.
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Not a comparable because Weaver signed over a year before free agency.
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You don’t think GMs will use it against him in negotiations?
If the Yankees could send AJ and 20 million bucks to some team for anything at all in return then they should look at it as saving 13 million dollars……not eating 20 million.
“What does that mean to me – it means go out and get Rich Harden.”
Tomorrow? Doesn’t seem real likely to me.
“Colon hasn’t pitched this many innings in the last 3 years…COMBINED. He’s on fumes.”
gb’s is so old he’s our resident expert on running on fumes, so i think the blog should pay close attention attention to what he says
I wouldn’t give Wilson 5/85. If he gets that then he should jump for joy and take it.
Speaking of Nolan Ryan and AJ Burnett in the same sentence is a joke and a bad one.
Randy,
Ian Kennedy’s numbers if he was in the al east will be average at best. Being in the NL west helps a lot
randy l. August 22nd, 2011 at 11:15 am
“Colon hasn’t pitched this many innings in the last 3 years…COMBINED. He’s on fumes.”
gb’s is so old he’s our resident expert on running on fumes, so i think the blog should pay close attention attention to what he says
————————————————————————————————————————-
When you were growing up and admiring Aesop’s slugging and power, was that fact or just fable? i heard that he was an earlier version of Babe Sparticus and Atilla Gehrig.
You don’t think GMs will use it against him in negotiations?
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Nah because baseball contracts work off comps. The comps for Wilson are AJ and Lackey except he’s younger and better than those two when they hit FA.
The comps for Weaver were Felix and Verlander. Those three have nothing to do with Wilson though because the situation is so different.
GB, we shall see w/Bryan Mitchell, but I am very excited about him. He definitely has one of our top power arms. In last 4 games, I think 22 IP’s, he has 3/16 BB/K’s. His control/command was sketchy earlier in the short season, but he is now seemingly commanding his pitches and has gone 6 IP’s over the past two games. I am hoping to see his next start if I can swing it.
Pruf, very interesting about Brackman… reverting to college mechanics, holding his hands higher. The results can’t be denied. I’d love to see him end strong. I am hoping to catch a game in Lehigh Valley next week.
And how are we getting Harden while in first place. The RS will pluck him first, no?
GB, Pruf, thanks for posting the links.
Another purported FA pitcher in Weaver gets locked up by the Angels. Once again, at the risk of repeating myself, the “develop your own” refrain has never been more relevant.
Who can we trade AJ to ? Can we get a bag of balls for him ?
Wave Your Hat August 22nd, 2011 at 11:14 am
“What does that mean to me – it means go out and get Rich Harden.”
Tomorrow? Doesn’t seem real likely to me.
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Don’t need him tomorrow – just sometime before 8/31.
LGY August 22nd, 2011 at 11:22 am
You don’t think GMs will use it against him in negotiations?
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Nah because baseball contracts work off comps. The comps for Wilson are AJ and Lackey except he’s younger and better than those two when they hit FA.
The comps for Weaver were Felix and Verlander. Those three have nothing to do with Wilson though because the situation is so different.
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I think we’re both right. I think the GMs are going to use Weaver as a comp for Wilson and I think his agent is going to use AJ and Lackey.
YankeeFem, I like Mitchell a lot, but, Burrell’s comparison is just a bit off. Right now, Mitchell doesn’t approach Johnson’s 97 MPH. As he matures, he might, but, no question about his off-speed pitches and a 93 MPH at his age is nothing to sneeze at. He’ll be fun to watch as he matures. Austin was out of his mind yesterday with his game, but, he’s hit well all season in both leagues. I’m curious to see where he plays more often,…catcher or 3rd base.
“Don’t need him tomorrow – just sometime before 8/31.”
Well that’s only nine tomorrows. Still doesn’t seem real likely.
There aren’t any rabbits waiting to be pulled out of a hat. The Yanks will compete in the post-season with what they have now.
Colon is crucial, for better or worse.
blake August 22nd, 2011 at 11:14 am
If the Yankees could send AJ and 20 million bucks to some team for anything at all in return then they should look at it as saving 13 million dollars……not eating 20 million.
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Honestly, I’m not sure you could find a team willing to take AJ at 6.5 mil per.
The problem is that as a pitcher, AJ is at best a 5th starter – $6.5 is a lot of money for a 5th starter. Outside of the Yankees the only teams who could pay that would likely be the Red Sox, Cubs, Angels and maybe one or two other squads and I don’t see those teams being interested.
jnorris427 Josh Norris
Jake Cave and Greg Bird have been added to the GCL roster. #Yankees
1 minute ago
Chip
How are GMs going to compare Wilson to Weaver? It’s shot down way too easily.
Another purported FA pitcher in Weaver gets locked up by the Angels. Once again, at the risk of repeating myself, the “develop your own” refrain has never been more relevant.
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So many pitchers have been locked up in the past couple of seasons. Ppl forget this past pitching FA class was suppose to have names like Beckett, Verlander, Cain, Lee, Halladay, etc.
Yankeefem, I watched Brackman the other night and he was sensational for his first 1.2 innings. he had an 0-2 on the 6th batter and then 4 balls, then a home run. His first inning was 11 hitches with 2 strikeouts and only 1 ball. When he loses it….it’s fast. Was hitting 95 and a nasty curve, and then it was gone.
Wave Your Hat August 22nd, 2011 at 11:31 am
“Don’t need him tomorrow – just sometime before 8/31.”
Well that’s only nine tomorrows. Still doesn’t seem real likely.
There aren’t any rabbits waiting to be pulled out of a hat. The Yanks will compete in the post-season with what they have now.
Colon is crucial, for better or worse.
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You’re probably right – but I’m holding out hope.
If for no other reason than that Boston fans would riot if Rich Harden (whom Theo passed on due to questionable medicals) beat the Red Sox in a playoff game.
LGY August 22nd, 2011 at 11:32 am
Chip
How are GMs going to compare Wilson to Weaver? It’s shot down way too easily.
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They are going to say “you’re not as good as Weaver, we’re not going to pay you as if you are.” The agents will say “but look at what AJ and Lackey got” the GM will say, “different time, different economy” and so it will go.
Chip
Yea but AJ can throw 200 innings and you have to.figure he might fair better in the NL and out of the NY spotlight…..that has value. You might be right……but it wouldn’t stop me asking.
I read something awhile back ….(can’t remember where) that suggesting that Bryan Mitchell could be the best of them all before its over.
1 pitcher signing a below market deal before FA doesn’t give GMs a very good weapon in negotiations with Wilson. Weaver didnt test free agency, Wilson will have almost all of baseball vying for his services as he is really one of the only pitchers of note on the market this offseason.
Scarcity of supply will send Wilson’s price through the roof.
The Yanks will spend the winter looking for an ace in the trade market, and we will spend the winter listening to and debating Montero and Nova trade rumors.
NotHankStein Wish I knew Arod was playing poker in the Poconos last week. He could have used my time share at Mt. Airy Lodge!
Chip
You are talking about a player who was only permitted to negotiate with one team vs a player on the open market.
You simply can’t compare those two because that throws off the whole idea of free agency. Verlander, Felix, and Weaver. Those three can’t be compared to players on the open market. If they could basically every pitcher looking to score big in free agency is screwed.
It’s just not the way free agency works.
Wave Your Hat August 22nd, 2011 at 11:35 am
and we will spend the winter listening to and debating Montero and Nova trade rumors.
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Oh, good. I can hardly wait.
blake August 22nd, 2011 at 11:35 am
Chip
Yea but AJ can throw 200 innings and you have to.figure he might fair better in the NL and out of the NY spotlight…..that has value. You might be right……but it wouldn’t stop me asking.
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I think the Marlins had that same thought process with Javy Vazquez – didn’t work.
As I said, I’m sure Cashman will ask. I’m just fully prepared to see 34 in pinstripes (and in the rotation) next year.
blake, yes, B Mitchell’s arm was oohed and ahhed over from day one. It will be fun to watch him evolve. Always nice to have another potential high ceilinged power arm in the offing.
GB, yes, not a Josh Johnson at this point… Let’s get him up to Charleston before making such proclamations.
But I am excited about his stuff. As for the Brackmonster, did you notice the difference in his mechanics? I haven’t seen him pitch of late.
Javy V is rockin a 2.53 ERA in his past 12 starts.
Wave Your Hat August 22nd, 2011 at 11:35 am
Scarcity of supply will send Wilson’s price through the roof.
The Yanks will spend the winter looking for an ace in the trade market, and we will spend the winter listening to and debating Montero and Nova trade rumors.
_____
The latter is something I am not looking forward to. What you are looking for, may well be right under your nose even though everyone thinks other team’s pitchers are sexier. Guess again!
YankeeFem, Brackman through those first 5 battters was as smooth as watching Hughes against the Twins and White Sox…then, suddenly, it was like watching Burnett
LGY August 22nd, 2011 at 11:39 am
Chip
You are talking about a player who was only permitted to negotiate with one team vs a player on the open market.
You simply can’t compare those two because that throws off the whole idea of free agency. Verlander, Felix, and Weaver. Those three can’t be compared to players on the open market. If they could basically every pitcher looking to score big in free agency is screwed.
It’s just not the way free agency works.
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It doesn’t throw it off completely since Weaver had the option of not negotiating with the Angles and waiting until free agency. I’m sure Wilson’s agent will argue that Weaver took less money than he would have gotten on the market and suggest that had Weaver reached free agency he would have gotten a CC, Johan, Lee deal – I’m just saying that I don’t think GMs will be swayed by that argument.
My guess – Wilson winds up closer to 5 and $70 than the AJ/Lackey 5 and mid 80s.
If they trade Montero they better sign Thome to DH!!
Pruf, very interesting about Brackman… reverting to college mechanics, holding his hands higher. The results can’t be denied. I’d love to see him end strong. I am hoping to catch a game in Lehigh Valley next week.
///
Yankfem, I hope he gets into the game next Sunday. At this point, I’m going to PNC next Sunday, unless there’s some foreboding weather in the forecast. Easier to take in a day game & still get back before dark.
Mitchell’s the one I want to see at Staten Island. Short season’s almost over, so better make a dash up there soon.
Re developing our own refrain, well said. One thing the Steins & Levine grasp is $$$. Given AJ’s misadventures, & the fact that he’s being sorely out-pitched now by two guys we developed, maybe a light will go off in the brass’ collective brain that development is actually the least expensive, and LEAST risky road to consistent, long-standing success.
As Nova & Hughes hopefully steady the staff behind C, the B Boys will be readying themselves as the next wave in what is obviously a pitching rich system at many levels.
Enjoy the off day.
P.S. The Yanks not interested in Wandy? Good.
GB, Brack is a work in progress that at some point may actually progress… Here’s hoping. Right now, however, like the song says, when he’s good, he’s really good; and when he’s bad, he goes to pieces…
Speaking of CJ Wilson – he has to be extremely ticked at Jared Weaver right now. Weaver’s 5 year $85 mil deal was likely what Wilson was hoping to get himself. But given that Wilson is older and not as good his price tag will likely drop down significantly
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Weaver was dealing with a market of one team. Wilson will obviously have many more than that bidding for his services. Weaver gave some away to be sure, but he’s gets to play baseball for a living where he wants to play and for $17M per year. Hard not to be happy with such a result. Kudos to Boras for not getting in the way of what was obviously his client’s desires. He probably threw up in his mouth a couple times, but also recognized that a happy client is a good client.
It doesn’t throw it off completely since Weaver had the option of not negotiating with the Angles and waiting until free agency
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Yeah, but once he made the choice, the comparison goes to pieces.
“When you were growing up and admiring Aesop’s slugging and power, was that fact or just fable? i heard that he was an earlier version of Babe Sparticus and Atilla Gehrig.”
gb7-
i’m going to defer to you on these questions because any one who has a carbon dated birthday is the go to guy on old stuff.
speaking of old guys, jeter is making quite the comeback.
if this keeps up jerkface is going to change his username to “eggface”
Pruf, thing with B.Mitchell is he had something like 8 days between last two starts, so unsure when he will start. I myself am trying to figure out how to negotiate stretch drive with milb season ending shortly.
Betances *should* pitch Sunday, but not sure what the plan is with Sept. 1st fast approaching. We will know more about how Killer B’s factor once that fateful day hits. Also SWB won’t make playoffs, so… Trenton hopefully will. Who is the Trenton playoff rotation?
No, thank you to Wandy.
“The Yanks will spend the winter looking for an ace in the trade market, and we will spend the winter listening to and debating Montero and Nova trade rumors”.
I completely disagree. Montero will not be traded now. And if Nova keeps pitching like this, neither will he. Cashman is going to stay the course with the young arms. If a decent number 2 or 3 becomes available in Free Agency, they will go after that guy (although off the top of my head I can’t think of if one is even available this year in FA).
I’m afraid Brackman is AJ without the tattoos.
I think Cashman has made it clear he’s not interested in dealing Montero, Betances and/or Banuelos for anything less than a premium return. I’m talking Johnson, Felix and Kershaw caliber.
randy, and for the saber crowd, Jeter has a 18.6% LD (line drive %) vs. righties. But not surprised at all by that.
New Post: “Nothing he does really surprised me anymore”
If only there was a way to swap AJ for Wandy…that I’d do…but otherwise, no need for him.
randy, and for the saber crowd, Jeter has a 18.6% LD (line drive %) vs. righties. But not surprised at all by that.
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He has like a 30% line drive rate for August, he is really hitting on all cylinders. Hitting .280ish vs RHP now as well post-DL
Here’s a question. The Sox can’t claim Harden before the Yankees, since they finished better than the Yankees in the 2010 season, correct? The claim order is regular season, not post-season?