The Lefties

by jscape2000 on Apr 7, 2009 11:00 AM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

3 of the 4 lefties on the roster pitched in yesterday's game.

CC was his own problem, so all I can do for him is hope.

But Phil Coke showed why he'll be a valuable asset for an inning plus an out. A couple of ground balls, a K, a BB. He got one out in the 6th and was good in the bottom of the 7th. But after a longish top of the 8th I was surprised to seem him back out there.

But I'm glad that Girardi isn't doing anything crazy like limiting him to facing lefties.

Of course, the other options got their chances later and stunk it up.

Marte signed quickly for 3 years and an option at $4 per year. If I had told you at the start of the last offseason that Marte was going to be guaranteed more money and more years than Tom Glavine and John Smoltz combined would you have believed me?

While I supported the Marte signing at the time, he was the best lefty on the market and we'd already sunk the cost of trading for him, as I watched contract values collapse last off-season I can't help but second guess now.

This is a guy with a career 4.04 BB/9. His 1.25 WHIP is solid but unspectacular. If he can be that player for 2 of the 3 years he'll be worth it. But I wonder if, like Kyle Farnsworth, we'll wind up counting the days until he's traded.

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Fans overreacting

Last season, through his first 7 starts, CC pitched to a 1-5 record and a hefty 7.51 ERA. By year end, CC would’ve been in serious contention for the NL CYA if he hadn’t had switched leagues in a mid-season trade to MIL. I’m not saying that we should expect a similar slow start from CC again but it just shows his ability to bounce back from a bad start or a bad month.

by BigSlim on Apr 7, 2009 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

I agree..

on CC, he’ll be fine. But as far as Marte, I’m still not convinced, and last year’s 1.30 WHIP does not help. Yankees have done poorly signing big contracts with relief pitchers not names Mariano. Tom Gordon is the closest to a good signing, but he was ineffective against the Red Sox in post season.

"No matter where you go, there you are"

by coops2001 on Apr 7, 2009 3:38 PM EDT reply actions

CC...

TRADE HIM… i’m kidding. He’ll be fine.

Marte, the jury’s still out I would guess… but I wouldn’t throw him in Farnsworth territory just yet. He hasn’t really thrown a lot of meaningful pitches for the Yanks yet, so we’ll know more as he does. Who knew that contract would wind up being an albatross?? If the Yanks decide to part ways, they are going to be eating most if not all of his $$..

by NumberSeven on Apr 7, 2009 4:23 PM EDT reply actions