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by jscape2000 on Apr 14, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

I figure Phil Coke has pitched himself down to AAA (though Girardi could opt to send down Albaladejo [60 pitches] and/or Edwar [51 pitches], too).

In the order I would call them up:

	G	GS	IP	H	BB	K	HR
David Robertson	2	0	5.0	2	1	10	0
Anthony Claggett	2	0	4.1	4	0	6	0
IPK	1	1	6.0	4	0	11	0
Mark Melancon	2	0	3.2	0	0	7	0
Brett Tomko	2	0	3.0	2	0	4	0
Phil Hughes	1	1	6.0	6	2	6	2
Steven Jackson	2	0	2.1	3	1	0	0
Zachary Kroenke	1	0	2.0	1	0	0	0
JB Cox	1	0	1.0	1	1	0	0

Actually, while David Robertson tops the list, he pitched 3 innings last night, and the Yanks need someone who can be immediately available. So Claggett, brought into the system in the Sheffield trade, is my top pick. Could Claggett help the Yanks win more games than Sheffield helps the Mets win this season?

I have some reservations about my next pick, but when a kid looks as good as IPK looked in his last outing, maybe it would give him the confidence to actually attack the hitters at the big league level.

If Melancon were off a usage limitation he'd be at the top of the list.

The Scranton Yankees are undefeated so far this season. One of the reasons why will be in Tampa tomorrow, unless Swisher can pitch on back-to-back days.

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Comments

Melancon...

is on a usage limitation? He threw 95 innings last year…

by daneptizl on Apr 14, 2009 8:53 AM EDT reply actions

Not an innings cap

but a usage limit like the infamous “Joba Rules.” The Yanks are very conservative with their top flight pitching prospects, especially those recovering from TJ.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Apr 14, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

We're calling guys up already?

Why?

COke looked like crap, but he’s gotta be given some time. He still looks like this by May then we’ll look at this.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 14, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

C'mon!

Albaladejo pitched 3 innings last night. Edwar pitched 2 (51 pitches). Coke has pitched 2 days in a row and been terrible. Who pitches the next couple of days if one of the starters gets shelled. You have to call up somebody, even if it is just for a few days. Right now, there simply aren’t enough guys available.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 14, 2009 12:52 PM EDT reply actions

true dat

and this is why the yanks- or any team for that matter- should have a long man the bullpen. a guy who can just go out there and throw 5 innings of mop up duty…

God bless Swisher though.. loving this guy more everyday.

by NumberSeven on Apr 14, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree with Number Seven,

This team needs a dedicated long man, if only to spare the bullpen during situations like last night. Brett Tomko, anyone?

by FrankDiscussion on Apr 14, 2009 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

It's amazing

I am sure the Yanks passed on the long man thinking their rotation was such that they would rarely need one. In 7 games, there have already been 3 occasions where a long man would have been valuable.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 14, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

If anything the experiences

of the past two seasons should have stated the case for having a dedicated long man available. You can’t just throw any reliever into this role, look at how Ohlendorf was utilized last season, and now it appears that Albaladejo is being thrown in as well. I don’t care for this ad-hoc approach, better to have and not need then to need and not have.

by FrankDiscussion on Apr 14, 2009 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

Frank

are you turning philosopher on us? LOL!!

by Ed Valentine on Apr 14, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I want to see the Yankees carry their best six (or seven) relievers on active roster, NOT fill a space with someone (Brett Tomko) who has pitched 1700 innings with mediocre results, and has no potential at this point, simply because you’re “supposed to” carry a long man.

The concept of having a long man, along with a closer, is really just an arbitrary result of the intense bullpen micro-managing that’s gone on over the past 20 years in baseball. Having six or seven good, effective relief pitchers and giving them all consistent work is the best way to win games.

by 3460kuri on Apr 14, 2009 4:56 PM EDT reply actions