Archive for August, 2009
Kennedy tosses from a mound, but ’09 return unlikely
Posted by: | CommentsAs Chien-Ming Wang has struggled and Phil Hughes has landed in the bullpen, the Yanks have struggled to find an adequate fifth starter. While I’m not too thrilled at the prospects of another Sergio Mitre start, the Yanks sound as though they are heading down that path. One pitcher — Ian Kennedy — never had his chance this year. Prior to coming down with an aneurysm, Kennedy was 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in four starts for AAA Scranton. He had a 25:7 K:BB ratio in 22.2 innings and would have had ample opportunity to earn that fifth starter role had injury not struck.
Today, we hear that Kennedy has thrown 25 pitches from a mound for the first time since April and will do so again on Friday. The 24-year-old wants to pitch in a Minor League game before the season ends on Sept. 7. Ticketed to winter ball, Kennedy unfortunately won’t make it back to the Bronx this year but should be in the picture come 2010. (Thanks to all who sent a tip about Kennedy to us. Keep on using that contact form.)
The home run that shouldn’t have been
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s no secret that the New Yankee Stadium is a bit … um … hitter friendly, and we’ve certainly seen more than a few balls barely carry over the right field fence for cheap homers. Well, it turns out that Mark Teixeira‘s home run Sunday night against Boston – you know, the one that gave the team the lead in the 8th while simultaneous crushing the heart of the Nation – would have been a home run in exactly zero parks under normal conditions according to Hit Tracker. Apparently the ball hung up so long that it gained an extra 37 feet of distance due to wind, pushing it over the fence. Hey, Boston was playing with the same conditions, so they can’t complain.
Don’t think this is something isolated to the Bronx, because Jason Bay hit a dinger in Fenway last night that also would have been a homer in zero parks under normal conditions. The Monster definitely gives more than it takes away.
Eric Hinske ‘having a great time being a Yankee’
Posted by: | CommentsOn June 30, the Yankees acquired Eric Hinske from the Pirates in exchange for two minor leaguers. The move came just days after Xavier Nady‘s attempt to rehab from a torn UCL was pronounced a failure, and that the outfielder would undergo his second Tommy John surgery. Hinske, who had signed a one-year deal with the Pirates over the off-season, wasn’t hitting the cover off the ball in Pittsburgh, but that didn’t concern the Yankees much. They wanted a bat with some pop off the bench, and Hinske provided just that.
At the Pocono Record, Justin Rodriguez has interviewed Hinske to talk about the Pirates, the Yanks, the AL East, and the perception of Hinske as a good luck charm. It’s a quick read that shows off Hinske’s loose personality, but there is one item of particular note. Apparently, the Yankees did pursue Hinske over the off-season, but he signed with the Pirates in late January.
Why would Hinske sign with the lowly Pirates over the powerhouse Yankees? He wanted regular playing time. This is something we constantly cite in explaining why it is difficult for the Yankees to assemble a deep bench. On a good team, Hinske is a bench player. At the time, the Yankees had Johnny Damon, Nick Swisher, Xavier Nady, Mark Teixeira, and Alex Rodriguez playing his four main positions (LF, RF, 3B, 1B). How much playing time would he realistically have gotten if those guys stayed healthy? Very little, which also raises the question of why the Yankees pursued him in the first place.
When Hinske didn’t get regular playing time in Pittsburgh, he asked General Manager Neal Huntington for an out. He granted just that, allowing Hinske to fill a similar role on a much better team. Not that he has a problem coming off the bench. “You can make a decision to be a miserable person or make a decision to help the team win,” he said in the interview. It sounds and looks like he’s fitting right in with the Yanks. While he’s not a big reason for the Yankees surge, he does provide valuable bench depth which allows Girardi to give his veterans a day off. You might not see that in the box score every day, but it’s fair to say that having Hinske as the first bat off the bench is a bit better option than, say, Gardner, who was their first option earlier.
Again, the interview is worth a read.
Just say no to Sergio
Posted by: | CommentsA few days ago, the Red Sox cut ties with John Smoltz because he couldn’t get Major League hitters out. Over eight starts spanning 40 innings — just 5 IP per start — Smoltz had allowed 59 hits, 39 earned runs and eight home runs. While his proponents pointed to a decent 33/9 K/BB ratio, Smoltz had nothing, and the Red Sox knew it.
Last night, Sergio Mitre made his fifth start in Yankee pinstripes, and he is nearly Smoltzian in his efforts. In his five starts, Mitre is averaging 4.6 innings pitched per outing. He has allowed 38 hits in 23 innings. He has surrendered 4 home runs and has a K/BB rate of 15/6. That 1.91 WHIP is helping no one.
Staked to a lead he could not hold, Mitre got off to a decent start last night. He recorded six of his first nine outs via the K, but in the fourth, he couldn’t make his pitches. He threw an easy double play ball into center field for a costly error and needed 96 pitches to record 15 outs. His own error aside, it was an ugly outing.
In recapping the game last night, Joe wrote, “There’s no shame in having a seven-game win streak snapped with your fifth starter on the mound.” He also expressed his belief that Alfredo Aceves could wind up drawing the start on Saturday in Seattle against the Mariners instead of Mitre. I’d like to take that argument a bit futher: Sergio Mitre should not be the starting pitcher come Saturday.
Right now, Mitre is offering up the same nothing for the Yanks that Smoltz gave the Red Sox. The best I can say is that he hasn’t walked too many hitters. As a supposed sinkerball specialist, he’s given up too many home runs. As a pitcher, he has allowed far too many hits. He is fooling nobody, and while the Yanks have a 5.5-game lead and some leeway, they shouldn’t be trotting out a five-run handicap every five days.
During the post-game show, Joe Girardi seemed more than willing to commit to Mitre going forward. Joe’s reason? Outside of his own error, Mitre would have tossed a great game. That’s revisionist analysis if I ever I heard it. Mitre still give up the hard-hit balls later in the inning that plated the unearned runs. He still gave up a booming home run that led to the Yanks’ loss.
Right now, the Yankees have a few better options idling away in the bullpen. Aceves could get another shot. Phil Hughes is throwing one inning or less every few days out of the bullpen. Chad Gaudin hasn’t done anything since arriving in the Bronx, and even Russ Ortiz and the recently-DFA’d Josh Towers could be at least as good — or as bad — as Sergio Mitre.
We praised the Yanks for the strong bench and bullpen yesterday afternoon. As long as Sergio Mitre continues to pitch every five days and as long as better pitches sit in the pen, the same cannot be said of the back end of the Yankees’ rotation. It’s time to cut ties with Mitre. His presence gave the Yanks some depth, but the results just aren’t there.
Worst. DotF. Ever.
Posted by: | CommentsDan Brewer’s 1.561 OPS last week earned him Florida State League Player of the Week honors. Our old buddy Eric Hacker took home the International League Pitcher of the Week award.
Jason Johnson was released. The poor guy just couldn’t stay healthy.
Make sure you scroll down for tonight’s game thread.
Triple-A Scranton (6-1 win over Norfolk)
Kevin Russo & Juan Miranda: both 2 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 K – Russo walked twice, scored twice & hit a solo jack … Miranda doubled twice, drew a walk & scored a run
Colin Curtis & Shelley Duncan: both 1 for 5 – Curtis stole a bag & scored a run … Shelley K’ed twice
Austin Jackson: 0 for 4, 1 RBI, 2 K
Cody Ransom, John Rodriguez & Yurendell DeCaster: all 0 for 3, 2 K – Ransom drew a walk & scored a run … DeCaster walked
Chris Stewart: 1 for 3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Anthony Claggett: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 5-9 GB/FB – 38 of 64 pitches were strikes (59.4%)
Mike Dunn: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 1-4 GB/FB - 19 of 34 pitches were strikes (55.9%) … 43 walks in 64.1 IP (6.1 BB/9)
Kevin Whelan: 1.1 IP, zeroes, 2 K, 1-1 GB/FB – 13 of 16 pitches were strikes (81.3%)
Amaury Sanit: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-2 GB/FB – 14 of 21 pitches were strikes (66.7%)
Game 112: First the Jays, then the Sox, now the Jays
Posted by: | CommentsThe Yanks complete their Sox on Jays sandwich this week with three more against the fourth place team in the AL East. The Blue Jays had a nice run early on, but they turned out to be more like the 2005 Orioles than real contenders. They’re now 53-57, while on this date in 2005 the O’ were 55-58. Strange stuff, eh?
For the second time in a week the Yankees get Jays lefty Mark Rzepczynski, whose name you should not make fun of. Remember, it’s Zep-CHIN-Ski. He pitched well through six last time out, striking out seven to one walk and three hits. But the Yankees struck in the seventh, as Nick Swisher tied the game with a homer, and Robbie Cano followed with a double. That chased Rzepczynski from the game, and the bullpen would go on to blow it, allowing the Yanks to bat around.
The Yanks will send the same man to the mound as well, Sergio Mitre, who could well be pitching for his next start. The Yankees acquired Chad Gaudin a few days ago, and he could be in line for a start if Mitre stumbles again. Then again, with Gaudin’s dominance of righties, perhaps he’s best left to a bullpen assignment. In any case, the Yanks are looking for more than the 4.1 innings Mitre gave them last time out. The bullpen is decently rested after long starts by Sabathia and Pettitte, but there’s no need to overstretch them. Chances are Gaudin gets into the game, even if Mitre does give them five solid (I can’t expect six at this point).
Johnny Damon gets the day off today, and I would expect A-Rod to get a day off either tomorrow or, more likely, on Wednesday’s get-away day game.
Lineup:
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Nick Swisher, RF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Jorge Posada, DH
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Jerry Hairston, LF
8. Melky Cabrera, CF
9. Jose Molina, C
And on the mound, number forty-five, Sergio Mitre.
The Cody Ransom Era isn’t over quite yet
Posted by: | CommentsA few days ago, while I was away, Mike succinctly summed up my feelings on Cody Ransom. He might be able to jump high, but he’s not really a viable Major Leaguer. Shortly after that post, the Yanks designated Cody Ransom for assignment. According to Chad Jennings, Ransom has cleared waivers and will rejoin AAA Scranton with a minor league contract. Despite the Twitter love for him, no other team in baseball wanted a 33-year-old infielder with a 57 OPS+ and 25 strike outs in 86 plate appearances this year. While some fear we might see him again in the Bronx when rosters expand in three weeks, I don’t see the team clearing a space on the 40-man roster just to call up Ransom on Sept. 1.
The bullpen and bench are always in flux
Posted by: | CommentsThink back to April, if that doesn’t cause too much psychological pain. Entering the season, many had questions about the team’s bench and bullpen, and April didn’t do much to eradicate those fears. In fact, with the bullpen pitching to a 6.46 ERA in that first month, they only exacerbated concerns. The bench, once looking deep, was depleted after injuries to Alex Rodriguez and Xavier Nady. While the bench and bullpen isn’t nearly as important as the starting lineup and the starting rotation, good teams usually have a few useful players in both areas. The Yanks, it seemed, did not.
In baseball, a team changes over the course of a season. A team is not the same in April as it is in August. It’s easy to forget that in April if the team is losing. The bullpen was just bad then, and it was tough to see a road to recovery. Ditto the bench. With the Nady injury further sapping the team’s depth, there weren’t many options. It looked like the team might be good, but would lose a few games because of these glaring weaknesses.
We’ve often said that a bullpen’s strength is its malleability. Again, ditto the bench. It’s difficult to find quality bench players and relief pitchers, because if they were good they’d be starting. Even veteran relievers are no guarantee. How many times does a team sign a veteran reliever in the off-season and then immediately see his production dip? Just look at the Royals, who signed Juan Cruz. He’s now looking like Jose Veras, only Cruz is under contract for this year and next for multi-million dollars. Veras was expendable at the league minimum.
Over the course of May the Yankees showed their flexibility and depth by shedding the ineffective parts of the bullpen. They optioned Edwar Ramirez and Jon Albaladejo and DFA’d Jose Veras. Brian Bruney’s injury hurt the bullpen depth a bit, but the Yanks were able to move Al Aceves and Phil Hughes up, much to everyone’s delight. Even David Robertson and Mark Melancon got chances, but as they faltered the Yankees again showed their flexibility by demoting them when needed.
All of a sudden, the bullpen was a strength and it could grow even stronger between now and the playoffs. Brian Bruney has looked better in his last few appearances. If he can get close to his April production, that’s a massive boost. Damaso Marte hasn’t allowed a run in his last five AAA appearances and could join the team soon, possibly for the West Coast swing. Add Chad Gaudin‘s dominance of righties, and you have a pretty damn strong bullpen. One of the strongest in the league, in fact.
In early February, before we knew of A-Rod‘s hip injury, the bench looked as deep as any. Among the backups were one of Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady, one of Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera, Jose Molina, and Cody Ransom. That’s a pretty formidable bench. However, the A-Rod and Nady injuries moved Swisher and Ransom to the starting lineup, meaning even lesser players would take their places on the bench. And then there was the period where both catchers were hurt, forcing the Yanks to carry Francisco Cervelli and Kevin Cash. All of a sudde, the depth had dried up.
Fast-forward a few months, and the Yankees once again have a solid bench. They’re replaced Ransom with Jerry Hairston Jr., who plays more positions, is better on defense, and is a better hitter. Getting decent production out of both Melky and Gardner has soften the blow of losing Nady. Jose Molina is back and providing his excellent defense at catcher. True, Ramiro Pena languishes now, but once Brett Gardner gets back the Yanks will have 25 usable players on the roster. How many teams can say that?
The reason that both the bullpen and bench are currently strengths is not that the Yankees acquired quality veterans over the off-season. It’s because they left themselves a lot of flexibility in their roster construction. All of the reserve players either had options or were easily releasable. When they proved they weren’t cutting it, the Yanks made the necessary moves. They were backed into corners in a few instances, but once players came back from injury they were able to compensate. It looks like things are back to where they’d hoped at the start of the season: strong bench, strong bullpen. Crazy thing is, they could get even better in the next few weeks.
Just 21 days 'til pitchers and catchers report.
