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Around the Yankee Universe, 04.08.09

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, right, talks with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.

More photos » Kathy Willens - AP

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, right, talks with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.

Here are some of the stories about our New York Yankees that are floating around the Inter-Google as we await today's second game of the season. Apparently, by the way, Game 2 is a must-win or the Yankees may as well pack for vacation and forfeit the remaining 160 games.

  • Yankees Manager Joe Girardi isn't fazed by one poor game, thank goodness. He knows this season is all about erasing the bitter taste of the way last season ended.

"I think the feeling that we had at the end of September last year is a feeling that we don't want to experience," Girardi said. "That memory of last September was a bad memory. We went out and added to our team, and I think all the players were excited about the people that we brought in. That's one of the reasons we have expectations for ourselves."

  • The heating pad he was using Monday meant CC Sabathia was cold, not injured. The fact that he was admittedly uncomfortable might also explain why he had no idea where the ball was going.
  • Dayn Perry of FOX Sports says CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and Joe Girardi could all benefit from fast starts. He's right, but CC and Tex are historically slow starters, and Joe G. will be judged by where the Yankees finish, not by how they begin.
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX says the Yankees are "an emotional stimulus package for every city they visit." This is why the more they spend, and the more they are seen as the Evil Empire around the baseball world, the better it can actually be for the sport as a whole.
  • Alex Rodriguez will arrive in Tampa Monday for the next phase of his rehab from hip surgery. Speaking of A-Rod (and hasn't it been nice not to for a while?), the release date for Selena Roberts' book about Rodriguez has been pushed back again.
  • Nick Swisher is not thrilled about being on the bench, but he is trying to maintain an upbeat attitude. I am liking this guy more and more, and I think he will be a pivotal player for the Yankees by season's end.
  • Jason Giambi is back in Oakland, and seems happy to be home. Personally, I wish he had never left the Athletics in the first place.
  • Life.com has a really fun photo essay with the legendary Yankee great Yogi Berra. Great photos, and of course, some great quotes from Yogi. I kind of like this one, about Casey Stengel. "Casey was a smart baseball man who knew what he was doing. He could be a little unorthodox, but made a lot of sense. He also had some good players, and that didn't hurt."
  • Chad Jennings reports that Brett Tomko, pretty much the final pitcher cut in Spring Training, will close at AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre. That makes no sense to me. The only possible role the veteran Tomko could have with the Yankees this season would be as a long man if/when the team decides it needs one. If he is closing, though, he won't have the stamina for that job. If the Yankees think Mark Melancon is a future closer, why not let him close games at AAA and get acclimated to the role?

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Comments

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So the heating pad was to provide heat

So this isn’t really heating pad-gate?

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 8, 2009 7:31 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Nice roundup Ed

Along with you, I’m dumbfounded with the decision to make Tomko the AAA closer. Mark Melancon should have the job until proven otherwise. Personally, I’d rather see Tomko get released than to take away innings from our younger players. He’s a very mediocre journeyman and a ML vet so he’s adept at keeping himself prepared even when he’s not seeing a lot of game action.

by BigSlim on Apr 8, 2009 8:19 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Thanks

Yeah, the Tomko thing is an odd decision. So, instead of prepping Tomko as a long guy and Melancon as a closer, they use Tomko short (making him useless to the big-league club), and they don’t find out how Melancon reacts to the ninth inning. I don’t get it.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 8, 2009 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

well

Just to play devil’s advocate, their plan might be to keep Tomko as insurance for an aging Mariano, if they really are dead serious about keeping Joba in the rotation. Maybe they just don’t think Melancon would be ready yet in that situatuon.

by dwbh on Apr 8, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Tomko as Yanks closer?

Now there is something that would give me nightmares. Yikes!!

by Ed Valentine on Apr 8, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

A dropoff I don't want to see

In 108 career relief appearances, Tomko has 2 Saves and 6 Holds. This obviously means that no manager has ever trusted him to hold tight leads in a game. If Mo were to miss time this year, I’d take anyone in our bullpen (or EVEN Kei Igawa!) to close before giving Tomko one iota of consideration.

by BigSlim on Apr 8, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Kei Igawa?!!!!

OK I agree with the point you are trying to make but thinking about Kei Igawa as a possible closer if Mo gets hurt- that’s an extremely scare thought and brings up many negative images in my brain. I would take anyone over Tomko….. except Kei Igawa. Igawa is absolutely Tomko has a better (but not much) track record. Other than that your point is valid and honestly, although they would never do this, I would like to see Joba closing if Mo (God forbid) were to get hurt.

by Blazer Fan From Ohio on Apr 8, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The reason

as it says on Chad’s blog is that they want to be able to control the innings and appearances of the actual prospects. The closer will be called upon regularly, so rather than rotating through closers based on who’s available, they’ll rotate through the 6th, 7th, and 8th with the valuable guys.

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

by jscape2000 on Apr 8, 2009 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

nah

we’re doooooooooooooomed

by RollingWave on Apr 8, 2009 10:01 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Little difference between long relief and closer

Tomko has been a starter and a reliever over long stretches in the big leagues. He, and just about any other pitcher, is capable of pitching one inning four times a week, or three innings twice a week.

What I’m more worried about is this fascination with Tomko. He is a mediocre journeyman pitcher who is going to give you a league average performance at best, and sub-replacement level pitching at worst. If he’s our backup plan, we’re in trouble.

by 3460kuri on Apr 8, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Tomko

I think the explanation is Jennings’ piece is that the Yanks like to use a veteran as closer at that level. They feel for some reason that it makes it easier to monitor the innings of the younger pitchers. I think it has nothing to do with plans for Tomko, but it still seems odd.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 8, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

yup

just having those two back healthy is a huge plus. and matsui

now add in cc, aj, and tex (minus bobby, jason) and there is reason to be optimistic, especially considering they still did fairly well last season and had a better records than other playoff teams

would be nice to get arod back healthy soon though

by holycowboy on Apr 8, 2009 12:23 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Tomko

OK I’m completely confused as to why Brett Tomko is the AAA closer. Melacon is supposed to be our future closer so that makes no sense to me at all. It’s Joba in reverse…. let him pitch 1 inning every time out and then make him a starter. What’s the point? Seems to me like the Yanks are clueless on how to groom and handle young pitching talent

by Blazer Fan From Ohio on Apr 8, 2009 4:41 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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