Thinking About Phil Coke

by jscape2000 on May 19, 2009 6:00 AM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

As I followed the end of the game I was turning over the conundrum of Phil Coke. I expected him to be a success: a mid 90s fastball, command, and a good breaking pitch. But he's obviously getting knocked around by major league hitters.

The Good News: The 27 year old lefty threw 36 pitches to record 4 outs and complete the sweep of the Twins.

The Bad News: The 27 year old lefty threw 36 pitches to record 4 outs and complete the sweep of the Twins.

Good News: Of his 36 pitches, 33 were fastballs. He threw 61% of his pitches for strikes; it's not a strong number, but he mixed his 2-seamers and 4-seamers well enough to keep the Twins off base. The run in the 9th came on a walk, a wild pitch, and two grounders.

Bad News: Of his 36 pitches, 33 were fastballs. This means that either Coke or Cervelli had no confidence in his breaking balls. He recorded one out with his slider, a foul, and a ball that became a wild pitch.

Good News: Coke mixed location, in and out, high and low. He mixed speeds on his fastballs, running them from 89-94.

Bad News: Coke mixed location, in and out, high and low... and he recorded only 3 swinging strikes. All of those came against Justin Morneau at the end of the 8th. Coke threw 31 pitches in the 9th inning. In 31 pitches, no one swung and missed.

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'Knocked around by major league hitters'

Gotta disagree w/you here, ‘jscape.’ Have you looked at Coke’s WHIP? It’s 1.18 — only Mariano Rivera at 1.16 is better among guys who have at least 10 innings pitched. Coke has been very good — only Brian Bruney has been better out of the bullpen. He scuffled last night, but you have to remember it’s the first time in his career he has been asked to close a game. I feel good about the guy.

by Ed Valentine on May 19, 2009 7:09 AM EDT reply actions

I'm less confident in Coke

than I was a year or two ago. Yes, he’s held the league to a .213BA and .290 OBP so far this season, but when they’ve hit him it’s been solid contact- .508 SLG. With a BABIP of .196, I think it’s more likely that the BA and OBP go up than that the SLG goes down.

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

by jscape2000 on May 19, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I sure hope Bruney pitches the way he did before the injury because our 8th inning bullpen work is STILL horrible. I think we give up a run every 8th inning. A dominate set up man would be great right now and one who can cover for MO when he needs a night off cough cough Joba.

by pedro316 on May 19, 2009 8:39 AM EDT reply actions

Joba's busy

being an effective starter. perhaps you havent noticed, but he has the second best ERA among starters on the team.

let’s say Joba is relieving – who starts in his place? Tomko? Aceves?

by Travis G on May 19, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Wang when he returns.

by pedro316 on May 19, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

and perhaps you haven’t noticed the Yankees haven’t won a World Series since they had an effective bullpen. Having an effective #5 starter isn’t anywhere near as important as having a dominate bullpen. When Wang comes back Joba will be #5 again…. NUMBER FREAKING 5!!!! which means he will not start in the Playoffs if we make it!!

by pedro316 on May 19, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

So you know what that means.....

if Joba IS the #5, that means he goes back to the pen in the playoffs

But right now Joba is pretty much the Yankees 2nd best starter. AJ has been a bit erratic the whole season. If Joba cures this 1st inning crap, which he may have, he’s been easily the Yanks #2 starter. You don’t put your 2nd best starter in the pen.

As the rotation stand, Hughes is the odd man out when Wang comes back.

If Wang is back to normal, then Id say if Joba keeps this up you have to say Andy Pettite would be the odd man out. I know it kinda sounds crazy to make a vet be the odd man out, but he’s been the Yankees worse starter aside from Hughes and of course Wang.

Andy could be a good reliever, he’s done it before. Its just as crazy as saying Joba is the Yankees best bet for the bullpen cuz I highly doubt Joba is going back to the pen.

by FreeBradshaw on May 19, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

If Wang comes back and is the Wang we all know then he is easily our #2. And numbers aside for the first month and a half Burnett would still start ahead of Joba in a playoff game. And come playoff time there is no way you put Pettitte in the bullpen and Joba as a starter, for 2 reasons. 1) Playoff Experience and 2) Joba is a way better reliever. I dunno maybe I am totally wrong and a complete dumbass but I see Hughes as a perfect #5 starter and this is how I would set up my pitching if I was maanager. #1-CC #2- Wang(when healthy) #3-Pettitte #4- Burnett #5- Hughes and then have Burney for the 7th, Joba for the 8th and Mo for the 9th and Joba would be the next closer when Mo finally retires. I also like the Lefty-righty-lefty-righty mix.

So when Wang comes back what we will have is CC-Wang-Chamberlin-Burnett-Pettitte…… ? for the 7th, Bruney for the 8th and Mo for the 9th. And who is replacing Mo when he retires in the next year or 2???

by pedro316 on May 20, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I just think he’s a young guy and the adrenaline was squirting out of his ears he was so hyped. 9th inning at Yankee Stadium, he knows that’s Mariano’s domain. Being out there for the first time trying to close out a tight game, I’d give Mr. Coke a little slack there. I like him a lot, and God knows we need an effective lefty in the bullpen, haven’t had one since Stanton in his prime.

by fredny on May 19, 2009 8:49 AM EDT reply actions

I don't think

Coke had ever closed a game before, even in the minors. He had been a starter, so it was something he had never done.

by Ed Valentine on May 19, 2009 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Aceves

Is it me, or is Aceves starting to look like a real good option in the bullpen? His ERA and WHIP are 2.16 and 0.84, better than his 2.40 and 1.17 in his 30 innings last year. Maybe I’m missing something?

by coops2001 on May 19, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Well.........

Phil Coke did throw a lot of pitches last night but he was in a situation that, if the bullpen were healthy and more effective, he would not have been forced into. I don’t you can fault him for last night, And while he was not overpowering he got the job done and closed out the sweep. Alfredo Aceves is a good pitcher there’s no denying that. I think the bullpen is gonna turn a corner and get a lot better. And I predicted a bad team I know but: Look out AL East here come the Yankees. And the young guys have really energized this team haven’t they? See you don’t win with old guys

by Blazer Fan From Ohio on May 19, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

Girardi's Love For Veras

Can somebody tell me why Girardi continues to put JV out on the mound? This guy makes me scream!! He comes out and there is the guaranteed first batter walk and then it usually gets worst or he leaves you with this horrible feeling inside that something bad is about to happen. He is out of options so the Yankees need to DFA him and bring back Robertson or Melancon…SOON REAL SOON!!

by Mondoas on May 19, 2009 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

I agree, I wouldn’t be sad to see him leave today when they activate Bruney. They really need to shake things up with the worst bullpen is baseball.

by pedro316 on May 19, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

be nice to Coke :(

he’s a good pitcher

by Brian5517209 on May 19, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions

He is a good pitcher

It’s not about hating on him… As I watched I just realized that if he’s going to have a future it’s as a lefty specialist or a middle innings guy. I don’t think he’ll be at the Tom Gordon level of ‘lock down’ (non-closer) relievers. At the same time, having someone cheap on the roster to pitch the 6th and 7th leaves money free to address areas of greater concern.

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

by jscape2000 on May 19, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions

half with you

he didn’t look that great trying to close out against minnie the other night, but i got the sense that it was because he was “aiming” a bit instead of just letting it go.

i’m not totally convinced he’s just a lefty specialist or middle innings guy…though he did look better against morneau than he did in the 9th. i think he was seriously sweating the moment. he may have the stuff to do the job yet…i think we still need to wait a little longer to make that judgement.

by losjanks on May 20, 2009 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Who was knocked around last night?

Oh yeah, Mr. HGH himself, who gave up 12 hits in 6 2/3 innings. I think Coke acquitted himself nicely, given the circumstances. He’s no Mo, but not too many people are. Players can’t develop unless you give them the chance to perform in pressure situations – he had that chance last night and he survived. That’s all we need for now.

by cph on May 19, 2009 2:03 PM EDT reply actions