Open Thread: Darrell Rasner

November 15, 2011 by Mike Axisa 58 Comments

From waiver wire fodder to rotation regular, Darrell Rasner is little more than a footnote in Yankees history. He made a total of 29 starts and seven relief appearances for New York from 2006-2008 (most coming in 2008), pitching to a 5.06 ERA and a 4.70 FIP in 158.1 IP. His best career start came on May 21st of his final season in pinstripes, when he held the Orioles scoreless over seven innings.

Three years ago today, the Yankees sold Rasner to the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan’s Pacific League at his request. They received a million bucks in return, and Rasner received a new two-year contract and some financial security for his family. He pitched to a 5.09 ERA in 233.2 IP during the life of the contract, then inked another one-year deal with an option last winter. I don’t know what happened this season, but Rasner appeared in just one game (three shutout innings with five strikeouts) for Rakuten. Perhaps he got hurt? I don’t really know. No decision has been made on his option yet (their season is still being played), but hopefully he lands back on his feet.

* * *

Here is your open thread for the night. All three hockey locals are in action (the Rangers and Islanders against each other), but you can use this thread to talk about anything you want. Have at it.

Art Vandelay

how come players can be sold to japanese teams but japanese players have to be posted ?

serious question.
- RetroRob
  
  I think we need an importer-exporter to help answer that.
  - Art Vandelay
    
    I’m art vandelay i’m an importer exporter. i import chips and export diapers. but I know nothing about the mlb japan relationship !
    - jramey
      
      haaaaa
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

Here’s a question: If you had to use one stat to judge a pitcher, what would it be?
- Michael Kay
  
  Wins!!
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    Haha, I knew this would happen.
  - BronxBomber98
    
    October wins!
    - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
      
      Pettitte > Everyone else
- Dick Gozinya
  
  Height
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  I’d probably go with SEIRA since it does incorporate batted balls. FIP and xFIP don’t.
  - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
    
    So would I
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKo6y5DcG0A&list=PL028A92FFCE6507AF&index=9&feature=plpp_video
    - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
      
      Woah, the video popped up and not just the link!
      - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
        
        RAB is a magical place.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    SIERA*
    
    /nazi’d
- Jeremy Hellickson
  
  ERA!
- Mike Mussina circa 2008
  
  Craftiness.
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Freddy Garcia circa 2011
    
    I agree.
- vin
  
  Fist pumps?
- A. Brackman
  
  Height.
kenthadley

Would you trade Hughes, Noesi, and Romine for Danks?
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  That’s a bit much for a pitcher you may only have for one year.
- YankeesJunkie
  
  Too much.
- FIPster Doofus
  
  No.
- The Big City of Dreams
  
  What would you guys trade for Danks?
  - vin
    
    On a talent for talent level, Noeis and Romine would probably work. Of course I’d rather they dealt Cervelli instead of Romine, but it’s gotta hurt a little.
    - Mattchu12
      
      This.
Brooklyn Ed

KenDavidoff: The #Yankees like the #WhiteSox’s John Danks, but aren’t sure there’s a fit for a trade. #Yankees will keep Banuelos, Betances.

—————

I’m sure Cashman and Williams will work out something.
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  And will include A.J Burnett :)
- Sheepmeister
  
  Cash: I’ll give you bench player and a AAA pitcher who has a 75% chance of flaming out for Danks
  
  Williams: Are you trying to do the same thing as you did for the swisher trade
  
  Cash: Nooooooooooooooooo…?
  
  Williams: Ok, done deal.
- Mattchu12
  
  While Banuelos and Betances belong nowhere near a deal for Danks, this is exactly the kind of move that I would love to see Ninja-Cash make.
  
  Danks + signing Darvish and ‘Derek Lowe’ing AJ would make me very happy.
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

Does anyone know when the Top 10 Yankee prospect list for 2012 gets released?
- YankeesJunkie
  
  Usually in December/January for baseball america.
teddy

MarcCarig Marc Carig
“I just liked his aggressiveness,” Bob Garber, CJ Wilson’s agent, on Yankees GM Brian Cashman.
Grit for Brains

1. ManBan and Betances obviously should not be in any trade for Danks, but I do think one of those guys would be what it would take to start the year with Danks in the fold…I hope Cash wouldn’t do that, and I don’t think he would. I also don’t think Chicago is itching to trade him especially with the reality that Buerhle could well be gone. They probably figure if were not getting a “can’t miss” high ceiling guy, we’ll wait till the deadline and get a similar package. Who knows, we’ll see if Cash can pry him loose for less.

2. Read on MLBTR the A’s want a Haren like package for Gio…haha, funny

3. I actually think not trading AJ is probably what makes the most sense regarding AJ at this point. Your not going to get anything of substance and the savings would be minimal. Might as well pay him to eat innings on the Yanks rather then somewhere else
http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.

Date On Date Off Transaction Days Games Side Body Part Injury Severity Surgery Date Reaggrevation
2011-10-14 2011-10-14 Off 0 0 Left Elbow Surgery Loose Bodies 2011-10-14 –
2011-08-13 2011-08-29 15-DL 16 11 Left Shoulder Inflammation – – –
2011-06-30 2011-06-30 DTD 0 0 Right Wrist Contusion with laceration from batted ball – —-
2009-04-29 2009-05-08 DTD 9 7 Left Ankle Sprain — – —-
2009-04-23 2009-04-23 DTD 0 0 Left Shoulder Contusion — – —-
2009-03-10 2009-04-04 Camp 25 0 Left Elbow Inflammation Posterior Lateral – —-
2007-08-17 2007-09-18 15-DL 32 30 Left Elbow Sprain Mild UCL – —-
2006-08-24 2006-08-24 DTD 0 0 Left Hand Laceration Index Finger – —-
2006-07-29 2006-07-29 DTD 0 0 Left Knee Contusion Batted Ball – —-
2006-05-19 2006-06-06 15-DL 18 17 Left Shoulder Strain — – —-
2006-02-03 2006-03-15 Camp 40 0 Low Back Inflammation Degenerative Disc Disease – Yes
2005-07-20 2005-09-11 Minors 53 45 Low Back Soreness Degenerative Disc Disease – —-
2005-01-28 2005-01-28 Off 0 0 Left Hand Surgery 5th Metacarpal fracture from fight 2005-02-03 —-
2004-04-08 2004-05-18 Minors 40 0 Left Elbow Inflammation Tendinitis – —-
2003-10-10 2003-10-10 Off 0 0 Low Back Spasms —

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=HAMELS19831227A

When you eliminate the minor bumps and bruises, I count 4 elbow injuries, 2 shoulder problems and 2 back injuries related to a “degenerative disc disease”. Might help explain why his GM didn’t want to lock him up to a long term deal.
- Gonzo
  
  Holy smokes
  - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
    
    I wouldn’t go too crazy, I’m not a doctor and have no idea how severe most of these things are. But it should raise an eyebrow or two.
Jumpin’ Jack Swisher

Always liked Rasner. One of those guys who seemed to be on the cusp of figuring it out, but never really did.
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
  
  He was an easy guy to root for. Career minor leaguer who seemed to figure things out in AAA and got his cup of coffee in the bigs. Even managed to make a few bucks for himself and family when he went to Japan. Nice story.
  
  He’s also one of the first guys I think of when discussing how minor league numbers don’t always translate to MLB success. I think he had a 0.88 ERA in AAA when he was called up, and his MLB ERA was around 5+ as Mike noted. Just goes to show what a big jump it is.
  - Jumpin’ Jack Swisher
    
    He was the type of guy the mother-in-law always loved. Him and Bubba Crosby, of course.
- from japan
  
  He was converted to a closer in the middle of the season and
  made more of success in the new role than in the starter, his
  first role. I think the team would exercise his option for the
  2012 season.
John S.

Marc Carig
Yankees invite C.J. Wilson to New York to meet with team: Pitcher’s agent meets with Yankees GM Brian Cashman bit.ly/tAxmxF
CMP

Terrible news about Matt Kemp’s long term deal. He would have been a great replacement for Swisher next year. I guess the Yankees need to take a harder look at Cespedes since they really have no real outfield prospects in the upper levels on the farm.
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
  
  If the Yanks land Cespedes and he’s for real, then the timing works out beautifully. Let him spend a year in the minors, prove he is/isn’t ready and then you make a decision on Swisher. If he destroys the minors, you could even move Swish mid season if you had to.
  - CMP
    
    Exactly.
    
    Plus the FA market for outfielders sucks next year too.
    
    Cashman, make it so.
    - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
      
      If the Yanks need 30 mil they can just take it from the executive bathroom, where they have about twice that amount on a roller next to the toilet.
Plank

Why is there this new sentiment in the comments this offseason of defining pitchers by a subjective 1-5 scale. There are so many ways to look at pitchers both in what they’ve done and what they may do.

Why define a pitcher in such a clumsy way?

A: He’s a number 3.
B: No way. He’s a number 4 at best.
C. You’re both wrong, he’s been a number 2 his whole career.

I’d rather read people using wins to justify which pitcher they like.
http://twitter.com/#!/czm93 Craig

According to LoHud, teams have inquired on Swisher, Gardner, Martin and even AJ.
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
  
  I have a not so crazy trade proposal for Burnett.
  
  Burnett+ for Juan Uribe.
  
  Uribe makes 8 mil next 2 seasons, AJ was worth 6.7 mil according to Fangraphs but made 16.5. Burnett plus a mid level prospect should get it done. Uribe was awful for the Dodgers last year, but has some upside. Was 3+ win player in 09/10 for the Giants. Still just 32 years old. Make Uribe your infield supersub, or flip him in a side deal.
  - Sarah
    
    I think the new Dodgers owners want the fans to come back, not stay away. AJ Burnett will not bring fans to the stadium. :-)
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    Steve S. for GM!
- RetroRob
  
  The Yankees had inquiries on AJ last year, too, but Cashman was hesitant to move as the loss of Pettitte and the non-acquisition of Lee was already creating an innings problem. Even 195 bad innings has some cascading positive impact. Ironic, considering AJ’s rep coming to the Yankees was a quality pitcher who couldn’t give innings. Now he gives innings, but is horrible. Losing three mph off one’s fastball will do that.
  
  I’m also guessing the Yankees weren’t quite ready to give up on AJ after one bad year and have to throw in $25 million for the honor.
  
  I do think they’ll move him and throw money in this time if they can bring in two other starters.
Billion$Bullpen

“He wears his hat with a flat brim, and it looks pretty stupid.”

My favorite line ever on this site.
moonimus

I would include betances in a deal for danks if I knew we could lock him up. Betances doesn’t impress me as much as manban. Definitely trade the risky upside for a bonafide major league pitcher especially a lefty in his prime. My two cents.
Jonathan

Darrel Rasner. I dunno if anyone else is into sporcle.com as much as I am but one of the quizzes they have is naming who made the top 5 starts in every year from 1995-09 and in 08 Ponson and Rasner were part of it…ouch.
- Ethan
  
  Love sporkle! I do a lot of the geography ones as I find i can’t normally do many of the others haha
Jose M. Vazquez..

Rassner just reminds me of a period in Yankee history where we had two or three starters that when they were to pitch you would say to yourself “today we lose”.