Have you seen this man?
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That is Damaso Marte, the second highest paid player in the Yankees’ bullpen. In his ten big league seasons he has put up a 1.26 WHIP, 132 ERA+ and 9.70 Kper9. He last pitched in a game on April 25th, 2009, seven full days ago.
Amazingly, we’ve seen Joe Girardi manage his bullpen eerily similar to his predecessor Joe Torre: using the same two or three relievers day after day while the rest of the bullpen corps rot. The team is currently carrying eight relievers. Eight. Yet it seems like we’re always having Jose Veras (awful) or Jon Albaladejo (he’s had his moments) shoved down our throats.
Come on Girardi, you’re better than this.
Photo Credit: Julie Jacobson, AP
Game 24 Spillover Thread
By · CommentsCan they get another hit, please?
Game 24: Now we’re on to something
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So, what can the team do to improve upon it’s best game of the season? Well, for starters, CC Sabathia could pitch like he did in his last start in Detroit, when he was saddled with one of those yucky complete game losses. Sabathia was outstanding despite the L, allowing just three hits and one run outside of the three run sixth inning. Hopefully we get more of the same this afternoon.
Sabathia will be opposed by 30-year rookie Matt Palmer, a righty journeyman that go this first taste of the big leagues last year with the Giants. He’ll be making his second start of the season. That usually spells disaster for the Yanks, but it hasn’t so far this year.
Nick Swisher out of today’s lineup after being plunked in the back of the elbow yesterday, but thankfully he says he’s okay and is just a little sore. Jorge Posada is also out of the lineup because he’s caught the last three games and it’s a day game after a night game. No need to burn him out this early in the year. Here’s the lineup:
Jeter, SS
Damon, LF
Teixeira, 1B
Matsui, DH
Cano, 2B
Melky, RF
Molina, C
Pena, 3B
Gardner, CF
And on the mound, the Nightmare from Norcal, CC Sabathia.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
You lose some, you win some back
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The WPA graph from last night’s game, via FanGraphs, is one roller coaster of a baseball game. It certainly mirrors my up-and-down emotions from the day, but there’s more to this story than just exciting baseball.
In fact, this story starts last weekend in Boston. In back-to-back games last weekend, the Yankees had nearly wrapped up their games, according to WPA, only to see everything fall apart. On Friday, in the top of the 9th with a threat brewing, the Yanks’ win probability hit 96.8 percent. In the bottom of the inning with a two outs a runner on, the Yanks win the game 94.7 percent of the time. Those hopes ended with a Jason Bay home run in the 9th, and a Kevin Youkilis blast two innings later.
On Saturday, the Yanks suffered through a similar experience, albeit earlier in the game. Up 6-0 in the 4th, the Yanks’ win expectancy stood at 94.1 percent. After A.J. Burnett and the bullpen imploded, though, the time found itself on the wrong end of an ugly 16-11 game.
Friday’s story was a bit different. While the Yanks jumped out to a quick start, by the time the Angels took a 9-4 lead in the 7th, the Yanks’ hopes had all but dimmed. Their win expectancy after the Angels plated their ninth run was just 3.3 percent. The Yanks fought back with four in the 8th and two in the 9th to win. They stole victory from the precipice of defeat.
This is, then, the perfect example of the way things even out over a 162-game season. Last weekend, Yankee fans were collectively despondent over the two lost opportunities. Last night, the Yanks got one of those back. It may seem less urgent because the Yanks and Red Sox weren’t locked in battle, but as the Sox did last Friday, the Yanks won a game last night that, in my cases, they just don’t win.
With Boston’s loss in Tampa, the Yanks and Sox are separated by just one game. Considering the Sox’s 11-game winning streak and the Yanks’ uneven play so far, I’ll gladly take it.
ByFor the last few weeks, we’ve heard numerous rumblings of an earlier-than-expected return to the lineup by A-Rod, and earlier this week, even A-Rod’s doctor admitted that the Yanks’ May 15th date seemed far too conservative. A-Rod, he said, could return by next weekend. Now, though, it appears as though the club is tempering those lofty expectations.
Joe Girardi told the Daily News’ Roger Rubin that the team doesn’t want to rush back its rehabbing superstar. While it would be great to get A-Rod back for the Baltimore series, the team sounds very hesitant about playing A-Rod in Toronto on artificial turf. So we may wait until the Twins arrive in tow for A-Rod.
And so here’s where my conspiracy theory comes into play. Because of a leak, Selena Roberts’ publishers are releasing her book on Monday. If A-Rod comes back on Friday, he will arrive amidst a storm over the gossip-filled tome. If the Yanks wait until May 15th, the 11 days should be long enough for everyone to forget about the book. A-Rod, while not in the clear, wouldn’t be the main detraction. Don’t believe me? Just ask Joe Torre. After two weeks, his book was old news. · (17) ·
Damon wants to remain a Yank
By · CommentsWell aware of his impending free agency, Johnny Damon said he wants to remain with the Yankees next season. From Andrew Marchand:
“I know where I want to be next year,” Damon told 1050 ESPN New York. “I want to be here in New York. I also know New York has a lot of young outfielders coming back. Austin Jackson is in the wings. At least, in this situation, I know my chances of coming back could be slim because of the young talent the Yankees do have.”
First off all, kudos to Damon for knowing Austin Jackson’s name. I’d guess that 90% of all big leaguers couldn’t name their club’s top prospect. Secondly, the Yankees have a very unsettled outfield situation next year. Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner will presumably be around, but beyond them the only established big leaguer under contract is Nick Swisher. Brian Cashman has made it very well known that he would like the team to get younger and more athletic, however it’s hard to imagine the $200M Yankees trotting any two of Melky, Gardner and Jackson into the outfield everyday, especially since all three should be expected to provide below average production given their track record, skill set, and inexperience, respectively.
Damon has been very productive during his three-plus seasons with the Yankees, hitting .287-.363-.450 while playing acceptable defense in center and damn near Gold Glove caliber defense in left. Despite his seemingly fragile nature, Damon has played in at least 140 games for thirteen consecutive seasons. He’s a known commodity that’s familiar with New York and by all accounts will come on a short deal, which has tremendous value for a team transitioning towards younger players. There’s just no need to further handcuff the team’s future flexibility by forking over too many dollars over too many years for the decline phases of Matt Holliday or Jason Bay. Damon’s low risk and fits the club’s needs.
Given how the market played out last offseason, the Yanks should obviously decline to offer Johnny arbitration regardless of Type-A or B status because he would garner a raise from his $13M salary this year if/when he accepted. The one year, $5M deal Bobby Abreu signed with the Angels would be an ideal model for a new Damon contract. However we don’t know how the free agent landscape will shape up next year.
The other interesting bit from Marchand’s article concerned Damon’s statement that he considered retiring at one point while with the Yankees. This incident came about during the 2007 when a banged and bruised Damon didn’t know if he still had the drive to play the game. Jon Heyman first discussed this last spring, and Joe Torre Tom Verducci wrote about it in their book. If Damon is already looking forward to 2010, it’s safe to say he has put those doubts long behind him.
Jorge delivers best win of the year
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Andy Pettitte, Friday’s starting pitcher, had the best line of the night. “I was in a pretty bad mood before and now I’m in a good mood,” Pettitte said to the gaggle of Yankee reporters after the game.
Perhaps without realizing it, Pettitte spoke for all of us as the Yankees scored four in the 8th and two in the 9th to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The 10-9 win was the Yanks’ fourth victory in a row, and the Bombers suddenly find themselves just a game behind Boston and two behind the Blue Jays.
The game didn’t start out with that bad mood though. While Pettitte put two runners on in top of the first — a common theme throughout the evening — the Yanks plated four in the bottom of the first. Two walks, a sac fly, a Robinson Cano single and a Jorge Posada home run would give the Yanks a lead that would hold up for four more innings.
As the game progressed, though, the Yanks seemed to be playing with fire. Pettitte put a runner on in the second, three in the third, one in the fourth and one in the fifth. Somehow, none of these Angels came around to score, but in the sixth, Pettitte would not be so lucky.
Torii Hunter and Mike Napoli both singled to start the inning, and I figured Joe Girardi would go to the bullpen. He did not. While Andy got two quick outs on a ground ball and a strike out, he gave up hits to Jeff Mathis and Erick Aybar and then walked Chone Figgins. With two outs, the bases loaded and the Yanks’ lead down to two, Joe Girardi summoned a pitcher making just his third Major League appearance. Even Joba had to earn his way into high-leverage situations.
Mark Melancon quickly surrendered the lead. He gave up a bases clearing triple to Gary Matthews and allowed Matthews to score on a wild pitch. In the span of two batters, the Yanks found themselves down 6-4, and Pettitte’s final line — 5.2 IP, 9H, 5 ER, 4 BB and 2 K — was hardly impressive.
The game continued to slip away in the 7th. Jose Veras retired but one batter and gave up three runs. The Yanks, down 9-4, would have to come back against the only bullpen in the Majors worse than theirs.
Well, comeback they did. The Yanks scored four in the 8th, and after a crisp 1-2-3 inning from Jonathan Albaladejo, the eventually winner, they went to work against Brian Fuentes in the 9th. Mark Teixeira walked, Hideki Matsui singled, and Robinson Cano singled. With the bases loaded, Jorge Posada lined a 3-2 pitch into the left-center field gap for a walk-off, two-run single. All was right with the world.
Of course, the Yanks had a few scares tonight. Nick Swisher is a day-to-day with a bruised right elbow after taking a first-inning Jered Weaver offering off his arm. The bullpen went 3.2 innings and gave up four runs, and I will maintain that sticking Melancon into a situation like tonight’s so soon into his career may not have been Joe Girardi’s most prudent move. But the Yanks won, and that’s what counts. They’ll aim for five in a row at 1:05 p.m. when CC Sabathia takes the hill.
Above: Jorge ends the game. (Photo via Yahoo! Sports)
Tampa falls despite another Montero homer
By · CommentsUpdate by Ben (12:02 a.m.): Juan Miranda is not on his way to the Bronx. He simply had an upset stomach, per Chad Jennings. The Yanks, however, may be shuffling the bullpen shortly.
Scroll down for tonight’s game thread.
Triple-A Scranton (14-7 loss to Norfolk)
Luis Nunez: 0 for 5, 1 K
John Rodriguez & Eric Duncan: both 0 for 4 – J-Rod drew a walk & K’ed twice … E-Dunc K’ed & committed a fielding error
Todd Linden & Austin Jackson: both 1 for 4, 2 R – Linden drew a walk & K’ed twice … Ajax drove in a run
Shelley Duncan: 2 for 4, 2 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K – dude is en fuego … he’s 16 for his last 45 (.356) with 4 doubles & 5 homers
Juan Miranda: 0 for 1, 1 E (fielding) – was lifted from the game for an unknown reason in the 4th … he’s probably on his way up to give the Yanks an extra position player in case Swisher needs to take a few days off with the bum elbow
Carlos Mendoza: 1 for 4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K
Chris Malec: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 E (throwing)
PJ Pilittere: 2 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 BB
Jason Stephens: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 6-1 GB/FB – 42 of 80 pitches were strikes (52.5%) … called up from Tampa to fill one of the stops vacated by Phil Hughes & Ian Kennedy … allowed the best prospect in baseball to reach base all 3 times he faced him
Zach Kroenke: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 3-1 GB/FB – 28 of 45 pitches were strikes (62.2%)
JB Cox: 2.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 5-1 GB/FB – 26 of 42 pitches were strikes (61.9%) … well, at least the ground balls are there
Eric Wordekemper: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-1 GB/FB – 9 of 15 pitches were strikes (60%)
