Around the Yankee Universe, 05.20.09

by Ed Valentine on May 20, 2009 8:00 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

Let's take a look around the Inter-Google at what is being written and said about our New York Yankees as they continue to roll along.

You have to love the attitude reliever Edwar Ramirez displayed when the Yankees optioned him to AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre to make room for Brian Bruney.

"I have to go down, because I'm not pitching like I'm supposed to," Ramirez said. "I have to work. I have too many walks this year. They're right, and I have to pitch a little bit more and work on my location."

I have been an Edwar fan since the Yankees first brought him up a couple of seasons ago. Sending him out instead of releasing Jose Veras (6.61 ERA) is probably the right move since the Yankees would have lost Veras, who has no options. Still, I hope Edwar pitches well and earns his way back.

Pie-throwing. A mock WWE belt given to the star of each victory. Players laughing and enjoying each other on the bench and in the locker room. Filip Bondy of the Daily News points out that there are some very un-Yankee like things going around the Yankees these days. Personally, I love to see the fun, the camaraderie. It can only help during a long season.
The Yankees liked what they saw from Chien-Ming Wang during his bullpen session at the Stadium Tuesday.
Joe Torre might be persona non-grata at Yankee Stadium, but he appears headed for an appearance there next season, anyway. It seems the Dodgers might be in New York for inter-league play in 2010. It would be very interesting to see the reception Torre is afforded.
Alex Rodriguez hit a home run in his fourth straight game last night. Even before that, though, Sweeney Murti had pointed out the obvious -- the Yankees missed him tremendously the first month of the season.

It's clear that the Yankee turnaround isn't entirely about Alex Rodriguez-the lack of production at third base would not have been as big an issue if the Yankee starters had gotten out of the gate faster, if the bullpen hadn't been a disaster, if Jorge Posada hadn't gotten hurt, and if Teixeira hadn't been batting under .200 for the first five weeks.

But it's also clear that the Yankees missed A-Rod more than anyone is willing to admit. He will undoubtedly say or do something very stupid in the near future. And I will be among the first in line to tell you how stupid what he said or did was. But when Alex Rodriguez steps into the batter's box he makes the Yankees a better team than they are without him.

Rookie catcher Francisco Cervelli is earning praise from the Yankees.

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Comments

I don't like Veras

but he has shown that he is a good pitcher in the past. He nibbles a lot and it creates a lot of walks. He needs to attack the strike zone more like he used to.

I think its a good idea instead of losing him.

Its not like Edwar was that great right now any way. Getting Bruney back is huge. He needs to stay healty the rest of the season now….

And is there any doubt the Yankees would miss A-Rod? He’s one of the Top 5 hitters in the game, any team would miss him. I am surprised tho on how Mark Texiera is effected so much by him

I would have thought it didn’t matter who was batting around Tex cuz he was such a good hitter. I guess not. The Lineup protection really helps him.

by FreeBradshaw on May 20, 2009 8:33 AM EDT reply actions

Veras

I don’t think he nibbles. I just think his mechanics are so funky he really doesn’t have any idea where the ball is going. That said, I understand shipping out Edwar because you don’t want to lose another pitcher off your 40-man roster.

by Ed Valentine on May 20, 2009 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions

i roll my eyes...

…everytime i see Veras get up in the pen.

I agree sending Edwar down does make a lot of sense- and I love the kid’s attitude about it. But Veras needs to get things figured out soon, you can’t just keep sending him out there hoping he’ll find the strike zone.

by NumberSeven on May 20, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

He’s gotta be the next to go if he doesn’t get his act together, 95 mph fastball or not. It makes no difference when you can’t throw it anywhere near the strike zone.

by Ed Valentine on May 20, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't know.

by FreeBradshaw on May 20, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

??

dammit…

I know his mechanics are funky, but he was very good for a time.

Pitching is all about repeating your motion, so I guess he gets in his own way….

by FreeBradshaw on May 20, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Veras

Basically if Edwar can go down and figure out his problem and get called back up, it might be bye bye Veras unless he can start throwing strikes and getting guys out. I was a big supporter of Veras last year being the set up guy but I have lost all confidence in him this year. Hiding an injury?? He could be, alot of Yankees do.

by pedro316 on May 20, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

edwar

His problem is his fastball tops out at 87-89 mph and its straight. He of course has a nice changeup, but he still has to throw the FB for strikes, and that’s not good cuz its so slow.

Id like to see him either develop more of a running FB, a sinker, maybe both. He needs one more pitch. Maybe develop a slider or something.

Edwar has a real nice out pitch, but its his only pitch. His fastball sucks right now. Players have figured out what he does, and now that he knows it he can’t just pour his FB over the plate anymore.

by FreeBradshaw on May 20, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe I saw a post somewhere (maybe this site, but maybe not) discussing how much the pitcher that preceded Ramirez matters. This might have been based on 2007 stats only, but the conclusion was that when he comes in after a guy that throws hard, he’s much better than when he follows a finesse pitcher. So, for example, he was lousy when coming in after Mussina or even Pettite, but much better when relieving Wang or Clemens, or even a hard-throwing reliever. I’m not sure whether the stats still bear that out, but it seems like his stuff, and especially his change up, would work better after hitters have seen Burnett, Joba or CC throwing mid-90s for 6-7 innings.

by long time listener on May 20, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I've been surprised

by that as well Free. Tex really needs that protection to get the fastballs he needs.

Also, I am absolutely certain that Torre will receive the warmest of receptions at The Stadium.

by potroast on May 20, 2009 8:41 AM EDT reply actions

Torre

There were some idiots (daily news…) saying they want Torre back, when they were the ones who wanted him gone…

Torre will of course get the warmest ovation.

He should have never been let go IMO. I have nothing against Girardi and I actually like Girardi as the manager, but I just think you cannot get rid of Torre, especially when he made the playoffs in every year that he was there…….Its not his fault for all the injuries.

by FreeBradshaw on May 20, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Historically

almost anytime a #3 hitter has put up great numbers, that team has also had a threat in the clean-up spot. Ruth-Gherig, Maris-Mantle, Canseco- McGuire, even Dale Murphy-Bob Horner. I’m sure there are many more examples but y’all get my point.

"I don't want one of those guys who'll drive in two but let in three every game." Casey Stengel

by tnredneckyankeesfan on May 20, 2009 9:06 AM EDT reply actions

Yes, that's true

but the question that would arise from what we are saying is would those guys be good hitters without their partner?

by potroast on May 20, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions

I would say..

…unequivocally yes. Just having having a big bat behind you in the lineup doesn’t make you a better hitter. Yes, you’ll probably get better pitches- but you still have to put the bat on the ball.

by NumberSeven on May 20, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I would think there would be a LOOOOONG standing O

for Torre whenever he makes his first appearance in the new place, even if it were the World Series.

by .ryan on May 20, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

you want to face the Dodgers in the World Series?

by Brian5517209 on May 20, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

you wouldn't?

If the dodgers get there, their lineup is good with Manny back. Even so the lineup is still par for the course if it was in the AL.

As for the Dodgers pitching.., I doubt they get to the WS with all the youngins they have. If they do and face the Yanks, they would eat them alive.

by FreeBradshaw on May 20, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

the only thing that complicates it...

is the book. I did lose a little a respect for him when I read “The Yankee Years.” I still don’t understand why it had to come out when it did, and why he would agree to it at this point- while he is still very much in the game.

That said, I couldn’t do anything but but cheer him in his return to the Bronx. Even with the nominal loss of respect, the good he did for this franchise more than outweighs anything else.

by NumberSeven on May 20, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree

Ya I would a agree with that unless he came out and publicly bashes Derek Jeter like Gary Sheffield did, but I dont ever see that happening.

by pedro316 on May 20, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Joe Torre

its gona b interesting if the dodgers and torre come to town. i think they will give him a great and warm welcoming which he deserves.

by NYY27 on May 20, 2009 1:49 PM EDT reply actions

no way. That mofo tried to break yankees chemistry in the beginning of the season writing lies in his book to make money. I think the yankees fans should boo him louder than we have ever to anyone. Can’t believe he was that class less.

by yankslocktowin on May 20, 2009 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

But when Alex Rodriguez steps into the batter’s box he makes the Yankees a better team than they are without him.

He doesnt even have to be in the batters box, the on-deck circle is enough.

by Deadbass36 on May 20, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions

heh

Torre will and should receive a warm ovation. whether he was an a-hole or not after leaving, he led us to 4 titles and 6 pennants, which is plenty reason enough.

re: Veras -
the move could’ve been either Edwar or Veras, but the fact that Edwar had options made it an easy choice.
Veras is going to have to show something. he’s got a live arm, but guys that throw hard and cant hit the strike zone are a dime a dozen. Ed is right about his mechanics – they’re a big reason he cant consistently throw strikes. but they’re unfortunately not going to change, so he either learns how to use his funky delivery, or he doesn’t stick with the yanks.

by Travis G on May 20, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Torre,,,

Where would you get any idea that he is an a-hole for leaving?? If anything it was the yankees’ bras that was the A-Holes with the low-ball offer

by FreeBradshaw on May 20, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions

forgot to mention Tex & Arod

in addition to Arod’s return, i believe Tex’s resurgence is also due to his normal patterns: he usually starts the season cold, then turns it up in May, so the return of Arod is not necessarily the reason for Tex’s hot streak.

by Travis G on May 20, 2009 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions