Around the Yankee Universe: Mitre madness
by Ed Valentine on Aug 1, 2009 8:45 AM EDT
in New York Yankees News
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PrintIf you have pitching experience -- Little League, American Legion, backyard wiffle ball -- please contact New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman immediately.
After Friday night's putrid start by Sergio Mitre, and considering the 7.90 ERA he has in three starts, I'm sure nobody wants to see him start another game. But, right now the Yankees might be stuck with him
Peter Abraham summarized the situation nicely.
Sergio Mitre to date:
3 starts
13.2 innings
24 hits
13 runs
12 earned runs
3 walks
6 strikeoutsThat looks like a one-way ticket back to Scranton. But the Yankees have Kei Igawa, Josh Towers, Jason Hirsh, Romulo Sanchez and young Ivan Nova in Scranton. When the K-Man is your ace, that’s trouble.
"I’m not sure that we have a lot of options at this point," Joe Girardi said, quite correctly. "(Mitre) has got to get it done for us."
Thing is, after three less than inspiring starts, it's pretty obvious Mitre can't get it done. So, if you can pitch -- even a little -- get those resumes to Cashman ASAP.
Here are a few other stories floating Around the Yankee Universe today.
- ESPN's Jayson Stark puts the Yankees firmly in the 'loser' category when assessing the trade deadline.
If everything in life comes down to Yankees-Red Sox, then any deadline when the Red Sox pull off a major coups and the Yankees trade for a utility guy (Jerry Hairston Jr.) has to dump the Yankees in the old "losers" column, even though they're obviously not exactly a team in need of a major overhaul.
"The one thing you have to say in their defense," one AL exec said, "is they're rolling. It's hard to find their fault right now." But if this is a team without a hole, how come the Yankees made a run at Jarrod Washburn and Kansas City's Brian Bannister? Because they know themselves that they're one rotation injury from a potentially serious pitching crisis. If they can unearth a little pitching depth in August, we'll call off the Trouble Watch.
But for now, any Deadline Day that passes without a significant Yankees move will be considered by the proper authorities to be an official "loss."
- Interestingly, Gordon Edes of Yahoo! Sports has the Yankees in the 'winners' column. Here is his reasoning.
Why do they get a "W" when all they did was pick up utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr.? Because their big moves in the offseason have left them in a position where they didn’t have to do more than that.
- NY Baseball Digest thinks that Friday may turn out to be an important day for the Yankees -- for 2009 and beyond.
The Red Sox closed the gap last night on and off the field. They beat the Orioles and acquired Victor Martinez. Jim Duquette told us Thursday that the Yankees are one of the team’s best positioned to win now and in the future.
We will see, starting August 6th, if "winning now" includes beating the Boston Red Sox. If not, all the Yankees can hope for is that they continue to hit the jackpot with their deep farm system. July 31st might become the day that the 2009 season, and how business is conducted in the future, changed for the New York Yankees.
- After Friday's trade deadline passed, Mark Teixeira expressed confidence that the Yankees were fine without a major pitching acquisition.
"I don't think anyone can complain about bringing in CC (Sabathia), A.J. (Burnett) and myself," Teixeira said. "Guys are stepping up for us this year. Joba (Chamberlain) is stepping up, Phil (Hughes) is stepping up. We've got everything we need here."
My take: I had no real issue with Cashman refusing to part with top prospects. Something has to get done, though, because the Yankees can't keep sending Mitre out there.
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Relax....
I’m still giving Mitre the benefit of the doubt. Burnett, Sabathia, Chamberlain, and Petite have all had their struggles this year and have straightened themselves out, so I’m confident that Dave Eiland will fix Mitre. Mitre numbers were solid in AAA, so although I am worried, I’m not panicking yet.
As for the trade deadline and the Yankee’s grade, who cares. None of the pitchers the Yankees were exploring (Washburn, Snell, Arroyo, etc..) peaked my interested. Plus, a lot of teams were trying to extort the Yankees. Toronto asking for Hughes and Chamberlain for Holliday is understandable (but steep), but Seattle asking for Hughes for Washburn was laughable.
I don’t see much reason to have any faith in Mitre. It’s not just that he’s been brutal for three starts. The guy has never been productive on the Major League level. He’s got a 5.47 career ERA.
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Eactly
Look at his career numbers and he has never been successful. No reason to think he will be now.
by Ed Valentine on Aug 1, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
5th slot doesn't look good
during the broadcast last night they actually referred to Igawa as “the last resort”……if your’re saying that type of stuff in a division race,there is a problem.
But in his defense, it isn’t like the team didn’t get a chance to win last night. If they got thw W……its poosible we wouldn’t go as hard at him 2day…..but dam, what do they do?
by ReggieARodJeter on Aug 1, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions
relax guys
Before Mitre we had problems with Wang and this team still managed to win games and now they are in 1st place. So perhaps having problems in this rotation spot makes the rest of the team want to win games.. I believe the Yanks may sign someone off waivers before the August 31st deadline but WHO is available ? other than some pitchers from Cincinnati Reds and I believe Chad Qualls from Arizona.
That's nice spin
but I’d rather have a reliable starter, period. If someone goes down with an injury we’re in trouble. But I think your concern about available arms in August highlights what I think was a failure to aggressively solve the problem at the trade deadline. It’s tough, though, because the asking price would have been some top prospect and nobody wants that.
Yeah I want to win the lottery too but that has not happen yet..
I am not saying we don’t need someone.. off course we need someone.. but Cashman once again FCKs up again.. I would of prefer they pursued Cliff Lee but Indians were asking too much… I also think they should have pursued Zack Duke from Pittsburg his thrown a couple complete games and could easily eat up some valuable innings that’s wearing down the Relief Pitchers. I know his record 9-9 with 3.26 ERA doesn’t show it but most of his losses have been by 1 or 3 runs… with an offense like the Yankees he would be a nice addition.
You know Mitre is bad
when people want to see Kei Igawa again.
….I want Igawa to take Mitre’s spot. Either Igawa or Halladay.
LOL....not Holliday
Where is the guy that jinxed the team last night by repeatedly stating “the Yanks are1.5 games ahead?” Thamks man.
by ReggieARodJeter on Aug 1, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
you cant now...
he is too valuable to our bullepn, and the way Ace has been pitching, if Hughes leaves all we got in Mo in the pen. Cash should’ve went out and got an arm for the 5th spot in the rotation. If we dont make the playoff Cash will def. be in the hot seat.
Cashman
Made a mistake. I don’t blame him for not wanting to part from his prospects. But, it wasn’t going to take any of our top prospects for a pitcher that can get the job done. It wasn’t Halladay or nothing. We could have gotten Arroyo, or Bannister, or maybe even Washburn if he just made the trade. Joba Chamberlain may not be able to start the rest of the season because of the stupid innings limit. That way we have 3 starters. If one of them gets hurt, we will have a serious pitching problem! I thought our pitching was “deep” this year? But when you take all our possible back up starters and make them relievers this is what happens (which is really the opening day bullpen’s fault for not getting the job done). We just have to cross our fingers, and hope nobody gets hurt, and Joba can stay in the rotation. For Mitre, quite simply, he sucks. His next turn is against Boston. The first game of that series. He can NOT be pitching that game or we will be hearing 0-9 instead of 0-8! Something needs to be done about him.
Ya....
not looking forward to Mitre vs. Red Sox……. and 2 days before that we face Roy Halladay, we could be looking at a little losing streak here.
Halladay
is Halladay really pitching against us? We can’t even miss him in a two game set! Can you believe our luck? We’re probably seeing both Beckett and Lester against Boston too and we’ll be missing Smoltz. Haven’t checked but knowing our luck with these pitchers it wouldn’t surprise me.
I think its
AJ v Beckett
CC v Lester
Smoltz v Mitre
Joba v Penny…not in that order…… Mitre 1st….than AJ…than CC than Joba
by ReggieARodJeter on Aug 1, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Especially
In yankee stadium, although Fenway isn’t much different, as any pop up to left is a double.
You throw Igawa in that spot
If he pitches well against the Sox you keep him up as number 5. If he does well rest of the season he will be great trade bait during the off-season. If he stinks up the place, well then you are now 100% sure he is useless. Mitre as we know IS useless.
by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Aug 1, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Didn't Igawa
Pitch really well against the Red Sox a couple years ago and like, save Joe Torre his job?
Brilliant
So that way he can impact every 5th game where as Bruney can setup Mo and screw up every other game. I likes your mathes.
by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Aug 1, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Wanna keep throwing those dice with the deed to your house on the line?
by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Aug 1, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Mitre is no answer
But an even dumber move is moving Phranchise. Again. Kei Igawa is the risk I would be willing to take. See if he can transfer those numbers outta Scranton.
by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Aug 1, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll save you the trouble
He can’t.
by New York Sports Jerk on Aug 1, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Probably not
But worth 2 starts to find out. I would give Mitre one more shot. I still think Aceves is a better choice to start. Last nights outing was not great but the options are very limited. Anyway you look at it the Yankees are stuck with a crappy 5th starter. They just need to keep winning series and get into the post season where the 5th man is not necessary.
by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Aug 1, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
So let me get your logic right
You have Hughes who has been lights on in the Pen right now setting up Mo. How many 2-1 games did we win in a row not too long ago? Hughes forces the game to essentially a 6 inning affair for the opposing team. Slap him in the rotation, and risk his regression to Mr. Meh as a starter AND having virtually no one to pitch the 7th and 8th. So even if Hughes keeps his pitching ways in the rotation he basically effects 20% of the games the Yankees play. By keeping him where he is he is effecting roughly 80% of the games. I dunno about you, but I think there is no question here. I don’t know Travis, I mean it’s obvious I am not your biggest fan, but I at least always thought you were relatively logical. Lets slap Hughes in and win a single start while the bullpen helps lose games for the other 4 starters makes no sense.
by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Aug 1, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
sure
illogical me, wanting a very promising starter to go back to starting instead of a AAA retread. i guess since Joba was good in the pen, we should stick him back there bc the sacred 8th inning is so much more important than innings 1-6. and maybe Josh Towers would be our #4 starter.
look at Joba. he’s probably the hottest starter in MLB right now and people wanted him pitching one inning a few times a week instead of 6+ every 5 days.
if you haven’t noticed, we’ve won so many games since the break bc our starters have pitched so well.
Hughes pitched in ONE of those 2-1 games.
it is unfortunate they didnt put Hughes back into the rotation once Wang went back on the DL bc it’ll now take a few weeks to stretch him out.
and your ‘logical’ idea is Kei Igawa?
hey genius
you do realize to switch Hughes over from the pen he will need like 3-4 starts down in Scranton right? So basically you then have NO Hughes for weeks.
by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Aug 1, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
There is hope if..
Girardi can give Melancon a vote of confidence and keeps using him in tougher situations. If this guy is as good as advertised(Mo’s replacement, supposedly), he can eventually take over the 8th inning role, and then Hughes can go back to the rotation and everything’s solved.
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