Lose an arm; gain an opening

February 22, 2009 by Benjamin Kabak 29 Comments

In the PeteAbe post to which Mike linked earlier today, we learn more than just who will pitch next week. Additionally, Abraham tells us that Edwar Ramirez is suffering from soreness is his throwing shoulder. While aches and pains are normal this time of year, Ramirez’s potential injury just goes to show how easy it will be for another Yankee pitcher — Phil Coke, Mark Melancon — to earn his chance to shine in the Bronx this year. A team can never have too much bullpen depth.

NYFan50

I hope Melancon makes the team out of ST. I’d really like to see what he can do against ML competition.
http://nyfaninboston.blogspot.com/ Manimal

I really want Melancon on the Opening Day roster, just to shut up the B-Jobbers.
- Chip
  
  Agreed. I can’t wait for him to come up but I’m pretty sure that Coke would get a nod before Melancon just due to the fact that he’s already had success in the big leagues. They don’t want to jump Melancon a level and suddenly have guys tee off on him. Barring injury, he’ll be the eight inning guy by August
  - http://nyfaninboston.blogspot.com/ Manimal
    
    He isn’t jumping a level, he was in AAA for 20 innings. He did spend a decent amount of time there.
    - Chip
      
      True, and I’m all for starting him at the ML level but I still think they’ll take it slow. Either way, he’s going to really be pushing by the end of May if he keeps this up
Tom Zig

Is Phil Coke the functional equivalent of Justin Masterson?
- Chip
  
  Coke has had more success in the minors than Masterson and throws with his left hand while Masterson did well in a longer stint in the majors last year and is younger. I’d go with Coke just because of the left-handedness and he absolutely dominated the majors last year
- http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
  
  No, Phil Coke does the rare, unimaginable thing of being able to get out both left-handed and right-handed hitters.
  - http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
    
    who wudda thunk it possible?
  - http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt
    
    Wow, .787 OPS vs. lefties.
  - Tom Zig
    
    So the Masterson in the rotation idea is an epic fail?
    - http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
      
      Not for the other thirteen squads in the American League. ;)
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

I did a post last year comparing Coke’s September ’08 to Joba’s September ’07.

Guess what?

Coke was better.

Yeah, I said it.
- http://nyfaninboston.blogspot.com/ Manimal
  
  Coke had a better WHIP, but his ERA was worse, and they had comparable K/BB ratios. I’d hardly call it better, but he gave up less hits. Joba definately had better minor league stats.
  - http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
    
    Yeah, they say there’s a reason you don’t trust stats in September, but I couldn’t resist.
  - kSturnz
    
    Minor league Starter Stats in addition.
Giuseppe Franco

I would love to see Melancon begin the season in the bigs but I don’t think it will happen.

I still expect him to start the season in Scranton and perhaps force his way into the big league pen by May.
Rich

Newsday mentioned that Ramirez soreness was “a feeling that he experienced in his last three appearances last season,” which isn’t a good sign.
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  Gee Edwar, thanks for not telling the Yanks through, you know, the three months of winter.
- http://nyfaninboston.blogspot.com/ Manimal
  
  wrong link lol
  
  Anyways, looks like this could be a bit more serious than we all thought.
  - Rich
    
    Fixed?
Zack

A lot of guys are sore, like Jeter said, if you’re going to write about everyone who is sore then you’ll be writing for a long time.

But if Ramirez cant go I’d like to see Coke in his spot, he came up last year and showed what he can do, if he has a good ST why let Melancon jump him?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
  
  Did everyone who is sore now at spring training suffer the same pain three times in their throwing shoulders at the end of last season? It’s certainly significant that Edwar is hurting again.
  
  And obviously, Melancon shouldn’t jump Coke if Coke is deserving, but Melancon has a far higher ceiling than Coke.
  - Zack
    
    Maybe? Some guys dont speak up and try to pitch through pain.
    His last 3 apperances he went 2.1ip, 2h, 4k. so its not like his shoulder was like Posada.
    Even if hes out for a week or two, i thought the baseball rule was “cant lose your job if you get injured”?
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
      
      I think that severity of injury and results are not exactly correlated. It’s 2.1 innings; he very well could be injured or he may not. We’ll know soon.
      
      And anyway, that rule is not exactly a golden one. If Edwar gets hurt and someone out-pitches him, he loses the job. That’s what happens with very replaceable middle relievers.
      - Zack
        
        Yeah, but you dont agree that if it was something serious chances are he probably would have given up more hits or they would have saw something in his face/reaction (ie. joba)?
        
        How can someone outpitch him if hes hurt? If he gets back on schedule it should be his job to lose.
        Dont know just been hearing that saying a lot over the years, but now it’s to the point that we only use it when its someone we like or something.
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