Boredom in the Bullpen

by jscape2000 on Nov 20, 2009 11:15 AM EST in New York Yankees Analysis

Confession:

I didn't find this season's bullpen nearly as exciting as the '08 version.

First, CC, AJ, Andy and Joba contributed more than 170IP more than the 2008 top 4 starters of Moose, Pettitte, Rasner and Wang.

Then, Phil Hughes locked down the 8th inning- 51IP, 0.86 WHIP, .228 SLG against, 11.4K/9.

And finally, while the 2008 squad was very good (.235/.310/.373), the 2009 'pen was even better (.231/.308/.393). Plus, the '09 team did it with only 21 pitchers while the '08 team used 24 men. Furthermore, 14 guys relieved in 10+ games in 2008 and only 12 guys did that in 2009.

What should the bullpen look like in 2010?

I see that people are trying to link the Yanks to high profile relievers like Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez. Haven't we learned the Karsay/Farnsworth lesson? Every once in a while it works out right and Tom Gordon shows up, but relievers are the hardest players in the game to predict. Not only would either Soriano or Gonzalez cost most of the Yanks' payroll space, since both are Type A free agents the Yanks would lose their first round draft pick next June.

The Yanks are stacked with pitching prospects, and the simplest way to employ those prospects is to throw them in the fire. Joe Girardi has proven he's the right guy to handle a Cashman style cost control bullpen, shifting roles regularly to put the hot hand in the game.

And even better (or worse if you get excited by leadoff walks, line drives, and blown saves), of the pitchers who relieved for the Yanks in 2009, only Josh Towers (5.1IP), Anthony Claggett (2.2IP), Brett Tomko (20.2IP), and Jose Veras (25.2IP) will not return. Coke and Marte will be back as effective lefties, and Houdini Robertson, Alfredo Aceves and Brian Bruney will be ready as the right-handed bridge.

Shall we sign Soriano to a Farnsworth style deal? Wouldn't that make 2010 more exciting?

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Comments

Good Lord

The bullpen is the one area I don’t want to see the Yankees touch. Unless of course they ship the entire pitching staff to Toronto….

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Nov 20, 2009 11:17 AM EST reply actions

I would rather

see the Yankees just leave well enough alone. They have a lot of talented young arms, and paying big for middle relivers, setup guys is usually a disaster. Use the guys they have, see if Mark Melancon develops the way they think he will and spend money elsewhere. The bullpen is not a huge issue, to me.

by Ed Valentine on Nov 20, 2009 11:27 AM EST reply actions

relief pitchers

are the biggest crap-shoot in baseball. Those guys have notoriously short runs of success, which is why Mo is such a legend for being able to maintain his dominance for 14 years. Let’s stick with the guys we have, the only guy who really matters in there is Mo.

by Wraithpk on Nov 20, 2009 11:33 AM EST reply actions

Coke and "effective"

Those words do not belong in the same sentence.

by New York Sports Jerk on Nov 20, 2009 11:43 AM EST reply actions

maybe you need to change dealers.

"It ain't over till its over"---

by FreeBradshaw on Nov 20, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

+1

by Scooby Snacks on Nov 21, 2009 2:20 AM EST up reply actions

NO TYPE A RELIEVERS

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Nov 20, 2009 12:51 PM EST reply actions

yea.

definitely not worth it.

Who knows, maybe the Yanks can get lucky in the draft and a Chad Cordero type college closer falls to them in the draft?

Gonzalez and Soriano SCREAM fail in NY.

Can’t forget, we have Damaso Marte for the next couple years. If he’s really that dude we saw in the playoffs…I’d count him as an addition. He could be a very good setup man. Give him a chance.

"It ain't over till its over"---

by FreeBradshaw on Nov 20, 2009 12:57 PM EST reply actions

Could aslo give Robertson a bigger role,

and also I doubt that both Joba and Hughes will stay in the rotation throughout the year, for whatever reason—be in flat out suck or just inning limit.

Definitely stay away.

"It ain't over till its over"---

by FreeBradshaw on Nov 20, 2009 12:59 PM EST reply actions

I could see Robertson

developing in to the setup role assuming Joba and Hughes go to the rotation as I expect they will.

by GMan83201 on Nov 20, 2009 3:28 PM EST up reply actions

Soriano as setup?

I’d think after posting solid numbers as a closer that he would want to remain one and be paid as so. Soriano’s deal will cost more than homer-happy Farnsworth’s contract.

by Scooby Snacks on Nov 20, 2009 3:29 PM EST reply actions

Bullpen Options

I like the idea of Robertson getting a bigger role and of Melancon getting a shot. I don’t trust Marte for a long period of time but I think Coke will cut down on the long balls and become a very solid lefty. Aceves seems like a modern day Ramiro Mendoza to me in that he can pitch a few innings or come in with men on because of his control. Gaudin works as a long man/spot starter but the Yankees may not want to pay him the 3 mil or so he’d get in arbitration to fill that role. I don’t think Bruney should be offered arb. but it sounds like the Yankees are planning to bring him back.

That being said you can never have too much relief pitching, and bringing in someone with a track record as the “8th inning” guy, while not necessary, might help people give Joba and Hughes the chance to develop as starters.

Rafael Soriano was good in the AL. The problem with him is I think he can get a job as someone’s closer. The rest of the FA relif market is pretty mediocre when you’re looking at guys like Kevin Gregg and Fernando Rodney.

Trade? I’m sure Cleveland would like to dump Kerry Wood, but the 10.5 mil he’s owed in 2010 is a lot to pay a setup man. Maybe Cleveland would eat some money. Juan Cruz could probably be had for very little from KC. Guys who would cost more in prospects – Heath Bell? Jason Frasor?

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Nov 20, 2009 3:38 PM EST reply actions

Pen is fine

if Hughes and Joba are both starting, then I could see them getting another reliever. But if they plan to leave one of them in the pen, then the one that isn’t starting is the 8th inning guy. And the rest of the pen? Leave it the way it is. They did fine this year.

Aceves
Robertson
Marte
Hughes/Joba/Another reliever
Rivera

Those 5, in my mind, are locks. For the last two bullpen spots, make people compete for them. Nobody else in that pen earned a lock for next season. Bruney, Coke, Ian Kennedy, Edwar Ramirez, all should get an opportunity to be in the mix. But they should, in no way whatsoever, just give any of those guys spots in the pen. They don’t deserve it.

Maybe the Yanks get one guy for the pen, but for the most part, I think the bullpen will stay from the farm system, and similar to last year.

by nyyrocks29 on Nov 20, 2009 3:48 PM EST reply actions