Around the Yankee Universe, 04.13.09

by Ed Valentine on Apr 13, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

Here are a few New York Yankees stories floating around the Inter-Google following what was a disheartening loss to Kansas City Sunday. After reading last night's comments, I'm thrilled that I did not see the game.

Peter Abraham breaks down where it all went wrong for Joe Girardi and the Yankee bullpen in the 8th inning. I happen to agree with Pete that using Mariano Rivera in the 8th inning, in bad weather, this early in the season would have been reckless.
With a bullpen breakdown happening in a game started -- beautifully, apparently -- by Joba Chamberlain, inevitably some will argue Chamberlain should be in the bullpen and not the rotation. Mark Feinsand of the Daily News cuts them off at the pass with this argument.

The bottom line is that Chamberlain showed today why keeping him in the rotation is the right move. Forget the eighth inning and concentrate on the first six. Remember all those starts by Sidney Ponson and Darrell Rasner last season? Personally, I'd rather see what we saw from Chamberlain every five days instead of what we saw last year from those guys.

I have a really hard time arguing with that.

By the way, Joseph DelGrippo's rant on NY Baseball Digest about Joba and his innings limit is just plain stupid. I normally wouldn't bother to mention it, but it annoyed me so much I had to. Sure, Joe, let's just throw him out there on a cold, wet APRIL day in his first start of the year and let him throw until he blows out his arm. Great idea!

Was Watching has a rather wild thought regarding the Yankees' general manager job.
In the Yankee Universe, it is never too early for a little speculation about what next season's team will look like. Dugout Central provides exactly that today.
Alex Rodriguez begins the next phase of his rehab from hip surgery today when he begins baseball activities (whatever that silly phrase means) today in Florida.

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Comments

Common sense

says it was April 12th, the 6th game of the year. Don’t push any of your pitchers too far.

I really would love to see a postseason rotation of Sabatthia, Burnett, Chamberlain, and whomever else. That, and not a few extra pitches in an early April game, is what really matters.

by 3460kuri on Apr 13, 2009 9:22 AM EDT reply actions

I still fault Girardi for the loss

Marte threw only 11 pitches and retired two batters. He throws equally well against righty bats. The weather was horrible. So why bring in another pitcher and subject him to such conditions? Leave Marte in there as he was pitching fine during heavy rainfall.

by BigSlim on Apr 13, 2009 9:25 AM EDT reply actions

i agree

with these weather conditions, each pitcher you bring in you’re taking a risk

reminded me of stump merril’s overdoing the

by holycowboy on Apr 13, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

meant to say

reminded me of stump merril’s overdoing the lefty-righty thing

by holycowboy on Apr 13, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Well

If Joba was in the pen, then who the hell would have dominated the first 6 innings of the game?

Its easy to find relievers. Maybe not as lights out as Joba was, but its a lot easier. First off, it we kept Farnesworth it would be a lot easier. He had his bonehead moments, but he was pretty damn good in retrospect.

Joba is our 5th starter, but the way the guy threw yesterday and also his starts last year the guy could be a #2 for a lot of teams. He is a very good starter and is gonna get better.

Phil Coke is the problem. He is not bad, but he should be the lefty specialist, not Damaso Marte. Marte is a setup guy and should have been allowed to finish that inning.

And its still April, the Bullpen will work out the kinks. I still think they’ll end up trading for a power arm by the deadline. Maybe even one of the AAA guys gets a chance in the pen.

But Joba stays where he is. Forever. It doesn’t make any sense to move him back to the bullpen.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 13, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

Oh, please

Not Kyle Farnsworthless! Have you noticed that the first time he got in a ‘clutch’ situation in KC he gave up a game-losing three-run homer? He is not dependable, and I think you are way, way in the minority if you wish the Yanks still had him. But, yes, the bullpen will work itself out.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 13, 2009 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Gaahh Farnsworth

I wouldn’t put him anywhere near a baseball in a crucial situation.

When will all this Joba-in-the-pen yakking be put to rest?

I still think we should have signed Juan Cruz when we had the chance to.

by BigSlim on Apr 13, 2009 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Nah

Paying big money to middle relief guys is almost always a mistake. The Yanks have plenty of arms, and it will work out. Yesterday was simply Girardi over-managing.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 13, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

"kept farnsworth"

oooohh… my sides… whoo.. ah.. thanks for the laugh bradshaw..

by NumberSeven on Apr 13, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

i can understand

not using Mo on some level, but saying it would have been reckless is a bit much, in my opinion. He’s the closer. That’s what he is there for, to close out games. I feel like if it were a younger guy, this wouldn’t even come up in conversation.

That said, I still think Joe G would have been better of staying with Marte, or after that, then at least staying with Veras for more than one batter. Or if he really wanted to throw Coke, bring him in to start the inning- then you have the lefty match ups to start the inning and a guy you feel comfortable with throwing to righties as well.

Oh well. Bottom line is it’s one game. Would have been nice to have gotten the sweep.. but maybe we’ll save that broom for Tampa…

by NumberSeven on Apr 13, 2009 10:33 AM EDT reply actions

Reckless

I said that only because he is coming off shoulder surgery, it was April, cold and he hasn’t been asked to do that yet. Eventually I am sure Girardi will be in situations where he will ask for it. I said reckless because you want to be 100% sure you don’t hurt the guy.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 13, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Little too cautious

Mo is 39 with plenty of arm miles behind him so any time he takes mound is a risk of injury. He’s being paid top dollars to pitch in the most critical situations – whether it be in rain, sleet, or shine. If he’s not hurt, to what extent do you keep coddling him? If he needs to build arm strength, place him on the DL and let him throw in the minors. Sure, it’s early April, but every win counts in the most competitive division in baseball.

by BigSlim on Apr 13, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions