Bullpen hopefuls: Jonathan Albaladejo
Jonathan Albaladejo is hardly a sexy choice for the final spot in the New York Yankee bullpen. Albaladejo, though, has impressed Manager Joe Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland enough that he has made the team out of Spring Training in each of the past two seasons.
So, want to or not, we have to consider the sinker-balling right-hander a legitimate candidate to make the Opening Day roster again in 2010.
Albaladejo is one of those pitchers who is an innings-eater. A guy who does a decent job pitching an inning or two in the middle of a game, or just swallowing up innings in games when a team is behind. Yet, given chances by Girardi last season to move up in the bullpen pecking order, Albaladejo was never able to show that he had what it takes to consistently get key outs late in games.
He seems like a guy who is good enough to be on a big-league roster. He just isn't quite good enough to be truly important to a bullpen.
Albaladejo, 27, posted a 5.24 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP in 32 2009 appearances while shuttling between Scranton and New York. Fairly ugly numbers, and while he might be capable of somewhat better than that he is probably a guy destined to be a journeyman, shuttling from team to team for a few seasons.
As for this season, I could live with him making the team. After all, he is not completely terrible. As long as he isn't asked to get important 7th or 8th-inning outs. Whether he makes the team or not, we will probably see some of Albaladejo in New York at some point this summer.
19 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
He'll be used in the massive blowouts.
That way we can save Swisher’s arm for the high-leverage situations.
There should only be one open spot in the pen.
As I see it, the following are in: Aceves, Gaudin, Hughes or Chamberlain, Marte, Rivera, and Robertson.
Everyone else is competing for the last spot, and the most likely are:
Albaledejo, Logan, Melancon, and Edwar Ramirez.
Of that bunch, Melancon would seem to have the most upside. The rest are known quantities at this point, and not very attractive choices.
by designatedquitter on Feb 9, 2010 11:57 AM EST reply actions
Pretty much
the way I see it, too. One spot unless there are injuries. And, likely, we will see all of these guys in NY at some point during the year. That’s how it goes w/bullpens.
by Ed Valentine on Feb 9, 2010 12:00 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah they will probably see a fair amount of shuffling around
here’s to hoping its Melcanon who finds something.
This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.
I liked Edwar Ramirez
His 2009 was not good at all, but I liked what I saw in ´08.
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.
Vince Lombardi
Is there any doubt he's making the team?
Or at least in the bigs at some point?
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
No doubt he’ll be in the bigs at some point. Plenty of question around who gets the last relief spot.
I still think he can be good.
Righties posted a .382 BABIP last season. Lefties only had a .250 BABIP.
As a RHP, even if those numbers regress to an average .310 on both sides, he should see marked improvement because of usage.
He got slugged pretty hard from both sides (.455 on the left, .588 on the right). I wonder if there is an underlying pitch selection/ pitch quality issue.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
He is...
What they refer to as a AAAA player, little better than AAA, not quite a major leaguer,
plus he is similar to Bruney, has trouble throwing strikes (not going to miss him either).
these relievers
are mostly a crapshoot anyway, they’ll play themself out well enough by may or june.
I'm rooting against him
but only because spelling his name hurts my brain.
I’m open to change if he gets a good nickname. Johnny Albs isn’t it.
I’m more in favor of Melancon.
Albie?
Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
by CasanovaWong on Feb 9, 2010 10:02 PM EST up reply actions
Can we call him J. Alba
and pretend that it’s this J. Alba

This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.
by Lord Duggan on Feb 9, 2010 10:16 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If only
watching him come into a game was that enjoyable!
by Ed Valentine on Feb 10, 2010 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
I'd hit that
Takes on so many meanings in this context….
Jeter's pride makes next pact tough...Guess who?
The Jeter player hater is at it again (NY Post)..What a buffoon Sherman is.
I only taking an educated guess here, somewhere along the line, Jeter blew off this clown or 2). Since Jeter isn’t exactly a great quote machine, a la Shockwave,
His ego says I am going to write articles that don’t shine Jeter in the brightest light.

by 



































