Thoughts on Jose Veras

by acman319 on May 27, 2009 10:42 PM EDT

I'm just curious to see what you guys have to say (or think) about Jose Veras. I'm never sure with this guy. Sometimes he seems like a decent middle/late reliver and other times he seem like a joke out there. I know that if the Yankees send him down, he has options and they would lose him and that their bullpen is really hurting with injuries right now. I'm just curious to get an overall idea of what yout overall thoughs are.

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three words- sucks to be- and adding a fourth...

him. After watchin him give up yet another homerun tonight (this time in a non-pressure situation i have to wonder why he hasnt been dealt or flat out cut when we have guys like robertson, melancon, and others throwing so well for much much cheaper

by syracuse451 on May 27, 2009 11:18 PM EDT reply actions

I don't know what his problem is

At one point I thought the guy was a close option for the Yankees. When people say why Joba was so good in the pen, they fail to remember how good Veras was before him.

He has good stuff. It something psycological. I just think you keep him for now. Its really not early anymore, but he still has a bit of a track record that tells you he can be very good.

Id keep him right where he’s at. His control seems hit or miss, but when its on he’s pretty unhittable.

I think he’s a lot like Scott Proctor. I know, bad memories. But when used right and when he’s going good, he can be a real weapon.

by FreeBradshaw on May 27, 2009 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

My thoughts

This season, when Veras comes in for relief, he’s just as good as a coin flip. Problem is he has no options so if we send him down there’s a possibility we can lose him.. At this point in the season the Yankees can’t afford to send him down, with the loss of Bruney for another 15 days and Marte out, bottom line we need Veras. He certainly has electric stuff but it’s Hit or Miss….

With comparisons to last season.. in 1/3 of the games he’s pitched this season he already has 1/2 the number of BB’s and runs allowed…

by Fluke on May 27, 2009 11:26 PM EDT reply actions

his problem

is pretty simple actually – he has terrible mechanics.

It doesn’t take a expert to see that he is falling off the mound a lot (see how he almsot always looks imbalanced after the delivery?). and his delievery is very inconsistent.

consistent delievery = consistent control = usually less walks

Yes there are other pitchers, espically RPs that have that sort of falling off the mound type of habit. K-rod is one, but his stuff is also dramatically better. and even he walks more people than you’d like to see from a closer (it’s over 4 per 9 in 4 of his last 5 years) and it’s one reason why a lot of the experts are down on him long term. Mitch Williams is the ultimate example of this sort of guys. and the end result wasn’t pretty.

Just as a comparason .. let’s use some of the ultimate examples of consistent delivery. say… Mariano Rivera (it’s ironic actually , since Veras does try to inmitate Rivera’s stance.) Rivera’s probably one of the most consistent mechanics RP ever. he has never walked more than 3 per 9 since becomming closer, and since 06 it’s a ridiculas under 1.5 BB per 9 rate for him.)

Having good stuff and good command is the two key to being a good pitcher. Veras isn’t bad in the former, but he’s terrible in the later.

by RollingWave on May 28, 2009 1:12 AM EDT reply actions

Veras

As middle relievers go, Veras is better than average and has good strikeout potential to quash a rally. With a young pitcher one must be patient. He may at least become good enough to handle the 8th and be a secondary closer as Tom Gordon was at his best. In the long term, I still think that Joba will be best suited to handle the 8th and eventually to close when Mariano retires, probably at the end of his contract. Huston Street may be an option, but how about Jake Peavy as a starter if the price is livable (not Hughes, but perhaps Ian Kennedy as a centerpiece)? He would take Joba’s spot now and later take the role that Andy Pettitte plays when he retires. But the Yankee bullpen overall is more stable than most even with Joba in the starting rotation.

by logiet on May 28, 2009 1:26 AM EDT reply actions

wont happen

sabathia burnett peavy hughes wang, street and joba in the bullpen? nobodys gonna take kennedy as a centerpiece. theyl want hughes or joba who are both obviously untouchable. a peavy deal wud mean that ur giving up alot of good young talent theyl want a top notch minor league starter along with some other prospects hopefully theyll take brackman but then theyd want someone major league ready (austin jackson, david robertson, melancon?) so i dont see peavy happening huston street is a possibility but hes gonna be in high demand but wel see the yanks wud have 2 put 2gether a sweet deal 2 land even street

by Jon F on May 31, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

fundamentals

Being an acolyte of Rivera – it’s strange his mechanics are so poor. I don’t know if it is psychological – but you learn quick the position doesn’t tolerate failure – you are expected to do one thing well and well you must.

Repetitive action that pitching is, itself challenging for guys with great control – try making 20/20 free throws in front of 40,000 people and you see what guys like Veras go through. I’d often felt relievers have to be mean and I hope he can right these issues, and that his stock will rise. We can use a clutch guy with ‘good stuff’ in tight games.

Right now, Veras seems better suited to long relief with a padded lead or to mop up. Wang’s got the spot, with Aceves, for now.

ejs

by ericjs on May 28, 2009 1:30 AM EDT reply actions

We cant send Veras down

I like Veras, but as stated already he has struggled pretty bad this year. Reason they are sending down the younger RP’s who are pitching better is because if we send Veras down, he has to clear waivers and that won’t happen. His stuff is too good, I think Veras will be very good for us down the stretch. Rather him hit a rough patch now then later in the season, I think by the All Star Break Veras will be looking very good, like he did last year. He throws 95 with a good Slider, I think hes our setup man of the future. Give it time, hes still young, but we cannot send him down otherwise he will be wearing another uniform and fast.

by jsballer3314 on May 28, 2009 9:22 AM EDT reply actions

I think

I am perfectly OK w/Veras wearing another uniform — and fast. I am tired of watching him have no clue where the ball is going. And he is 28, which is not exactly ‘young’ in baseball years. It should be his ‘prime.’ If this is his prime, then we need to find somebody else.

by Ed Valentine on May 28, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

when i think of Veras i think of Melancon in AAA

by Brian5517209 on May 28, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

Respectfully I dont agree with Ed

Veras is 28 which is is not old. He should be in his prime but his issues are control more then anything, he will get it together. Our bullpen is really weak right now and he arguable has the best stuff in our pen right now, for it to be said that you wouldnt mind him on another team is pretty crazy considering the state of our bullpen minus Mo.

by jsballer3314 on May 28, 2009 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

whyowhyowhyowhyo do you stick with the guy

WHen

1. His control is flawed
2. his mechanics are all over the place
3. Mentally, not showing tough…just gave up 2 runs to Cle..IN BOTTOM 9TH…

Joe Girardi is patient with this guy who is not rewarding to see

Veras..he’s become a HR whack-a-thon. And there is no tolerance ‘to get it together,’
in the AL East.. Every team has a balanced lineup….

Talent isn’t everything…with TX, TB and Boston and the Mets coming up, Eiland needs to shore up his pen.

ejs

by ericjs on May 30, 2009 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

because...

all three are fixable. plus our bullpen is depleted and the yanks don’t care if he gives up a few runs in a game theyre winning by a lot, he can eat up a few innings. he does have potential, and he’s shown that he’s of value before and they are willing to keep him around to see if he comes around.

by theintz on May 30, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions

ehhh no

1 and 2 is basically the same thing, as mechanics being all over the place leads to terrible control. it can be improved upon, but the likelyhood of that happening during the middle of a season for a guy already in the majors isn’t too high.

by RollingWave on May 31, 2009 5:30 AM EDT up reply actions