Whither Al Aceves?

I agree.

Josh Towers and Ian Kennedy are starting pitchers. They should be the designated co-long men who shadow Joba or Mitre or any other starter we are concerned about length-wise.

Aceves should be removed from a starter-shadow role so he can ramp back into the bullpen role he’ll be serving in October.

And to think…we thought Joe Torre was crazy with his bullpen usage. This year has been a circus between the “rules” and use of certain bullpen arms as well.

It seems to me as though they feel that giving guys extremely long breaks has no negative affect on their performance…where it’s been proven time and time again…as well as being common sense…as that not being true.

Then there was that strange stretch where Phil Hughes wasn’t used for a long while as well…when he was doing very well for himself…and he came back and had the inevitable hiccups here and there…and rightfully so.

I’d just like to know what the hell they’re doing over there. Seems to me they’re just throwing darts at a dartboard to determine what’s happening some of the time.

Joe: ok, i’m going to do what looks like stupid stuff the next two weeks–i want to try different people doing different things–bunting, running, pinch hitting–or not, different reliever combinations, and most of all, getting some guys a good break. As long as we’re, say, more than 4 games up, I’m going to keep looking and learning. The last two series of the year, we’ll go back to normal to get fine-tuned for the playoffs. OK?
Team: um…is there still a buffet in the clubhouse?
Joe: Yes.
Team: ok.

I think it’s the fatigue earlier in the season that scared them. Joe used Ace heavily earlier in the year, then he had some arm fatigue and struggled for a while and I think maybe the FO told Joe to not use him as much. I know he was a starter in Mexico and the minors, but he’s already had arm issues and openly talked about being tired, I think it’s not totally all that bad to rest him a bit with a playoff berth essentially clinched.

Totally Agreed. Why not use the Mexican Gangster last night… Maybe it was to prove that no way in hell Bruney should be on the post season roster…. I don’t know Thats the only purpose I can see. Otherwise, I hope to see Ace in the game tonight…

While using Aceves at this point would be good, giving everyone extended rest then working them back into shape with the last 10 days can’t hurt.

Phil Coke was used a lot the 1st half, his performance suffered and he has been very good lately when he has been used after a nice layoff. Aceves was slumping for a while too, after he was injured so extra rest can’t hurt.

We need Aceves, Coke, Marte, Hughes and Mo good to go for the playoffs. Giving them rest can’t hurt, as long as they get their work in over the last 12 games.

Mike, I think you’re crazy and it has nothing to do with this post.

Maybe the Yankees have seen that Aceves works best when he goes multiple long-relief type innings? I, for one, don’t think he is the ‘bridge’ to Hughes/Mo, he’s the guy who keeps you in the game until you can get to the bridge, aka Robertson (and Coke/Marte, for stupid matchup games).

It shouldn’t really matter. In the playoffs, if Hughes and Mo aren’t going 2 innings each in a tight game, there will be some ’splainin to do.

that ur crazy and this is a non-issue

Maybe I’m just crazy and this is a non-issue. What do you think?

I think that people like you because you’re very polite and you’re rarely late.

Is there any chance the Yankees go with two swingman types next season? I can easily see Aceves back in his role next year and the same goes for Kennedy, at least at the beginning of the year to build his arm strength back up.

I think the bigger issue is when Girardi demands to keep Bruney on his post-season roster.

I totally agree. Ace should be used more and regularly and in a relief role. To not use him last night in order to cover up the incompetence of pseudo-starters who shouldn’t be starting, e.g., Joba, is mismanagement.
Girardi needs to get past his misplaced loyaltytoplayers who are not what he wants them to be and start seeing them for what they are. Mitre may be good in middle relief, or not, but he is no starter. Joba may be good for something, but he is not currently a starter.
Get real Joe before its too late. If the Yankees don’t make it to the WS, Joe must take a large share of the blame.
Of course we can’t let Cashman off the hook either. Before anyone starts with all the good decisions he’s made, let’s address the fact that everyone knew we needed to add another starter at the deadline, and he would make no deal. If he had, we wouldn’t be having these discussions now; we wouldn’t need to.

Most everything that I would contribute has been said, so I would just like to congratulate Mike on his use of “whither.”

Well-played, good sir.

I think Girardi has shown times when he manages the bullpen very well. He used a lot of different pitchers and it helped keep them fresh.

In some games he tends to go too much with set roles. Such as using Bruney when they are losing. Funny thing is the bullpen in the beginning of the year was not very good. Veras, Bruney, Alby were all out and the bullpen improved. Yet here 2 of the 3 are back again, and he uses them and they give up runs.

Girardi gets stubborn at times, and keeps seeming to think that he can get them “straightened out”. Like Farnsworth last year, Bruney and Alby seem to be those he thinks he can fix. Same with Mitre.

Coke is a question. But limit the exposure and he has some success. What about Marte? He has hardly been used, and yet he can be effective in some cases.

The roster is expanded, they have extra arms, why the set roles now when there is other options? To keep them “fresh”? Seems lack of use and they get rusty. Just like Pettitte was rusty with the time off, then bounced back.

Sure, it’d be nice if he started getting used as more of a reliever. I think you make a good point, so they should probably do that. Not going to worry too much over this issue though.

Especially since Joba will probably be back in the bullpen for the playoffs just because he hasn’t pitched well but he is a better pitcher than others on the roster.

The only thing with Joba out of the pen is will he pitch well or be the guy who gives up a ton of runs in one inning. That can be worse than him starting, as you have time to make a come back. (Like the vaunted Royals did last night – )

I dont see how Girardi is any different than Torre in regards to bullpen usage.

And you can make a case that Aceves is hurting. Otherwise why wouldnt he pitch last night especially?

At this point I don’t see how Joba can be relied on in any role in the post-season. I’m sorry for him and his problems, but this isn’t about his ego or potential- this is about the team. You know the ciche, there is no I in team.
Although at times Girardi has managed well, he has a tendency to fall back on habit, even when it is obvious things aren’t working. At times he has done well with the pen, but too often he has been the anti-Torre. where Torre overused and abused his favorite relievers, burning them out, Girardi tends to let those out of his inner circle, even when they perform well, be inactive to the point of rust.
Cashman has been a contributor to the current condition of the team, good and bad. He did a lot that has worked out, to my surprise. His problem is that he is too focused on his predetermined game plan and is unable to adjust at half-time- sorry to mix sports metaphors.
When it was obvious the starting pitching rotation need support, he teased and said something was coming. What was coming may or may not have helped- the jury is still out. The problem with his choices, or lack of choices, was that he approached this too much from the perspective of a B-team and felt the Yankees could coast along.
Cashman couldn’t accept that even the best team occasionally needs help and tweaking. His unwillingness or inability to change and adapt has left the team in the precarious position it is. I’m am not despairing, yet, but what could have and should have been a sure thing is now a toss-up.

Ace had a back issue a few weeks back. My guess is they are resting him so that he is ready for October.

Let’s not jump on Girardi for his bullpen management, which has been easily one of his best strengths over the past two seasons. I don’t agree with everything he’s done, but he also has access to information we don’t on how the players are reacting, physical issues, etc. There is a reason he’s not using Ace reguarly. We just don’t know what it is, but I suspect it’s simply rest to that he’s ready for next starting gate come October. There’s plenty of time to make sure any rust is knocked off before then.

the way nyy was “handled” its pitching staff is laughable; this far in and there is still no solid selection after the two lefties to start; ajb is as mindless as they come, and joba seems to be taking after him; if i had my money on the game, i’d want aceves either starting it or in the pivotal long relief role; he is easy for nyy to continue passing over, though, because they have a difficult time solid pitching technique when they see it; these mexicans are complete pitchers when they get up here (valenzuela, soria); i’m wondering what joe was doing all those years behind the plate when i thought he was legitimately as good as defensive catchers got; i rooted hard to him to get this managerial job but am disappointed that neither he nor cash seem to know where they’re going…the red sox have a rotation — nyy seems to have an audition

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