Should Javier Vazquez Get A Start?
by Ed Valentine on Aug 31, 2010 2:02 PM EDT
in New York Yankees Analysis
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PrintIs it time for the New York Yankees to put Javier Vazquez back into the starting rotation?
Vazquez has had an up and down season (10-9, 4.86 ERA), but he got the win Monday night with an outstanding relief effort. His two relief appearances, in fact, since being removed from the rotation for Ivan Nova, have been spectacular. In nine full innings (4.2 Monday night) Vazquez has given up just four hits, two runs, struck out eight and walked only two.
I think the Yankees have to give Vazquez the start instead of Dustin Moseley the next time that spot in the rotation comes around. Not because Moseley (4-2, 4.86) has been terrible. He hasn't. In fact, he has been better than the Yankees could have hoped.
It is simply that the upside for Vazquez, who won 15 games a year ago and has now posted 11 straight double-digit victory seasons, is much greater than it is for the journeyman Moseley.
Face it, other than CC Sabathia the Yankee rotation is uncertain for an October playoff run. After Sabathia, who else is there that you are sure about?
Phil Hughes? Innings limit, and has not been great recently. Andy Pettitte? Maybe he will be back, and he can say what he wants about his readiness, but the Yankees will be in the playoffs and Pettitte will be in Spring Training mode. A.J. Burnett? Geesh, that's a total crapshoot. And right now not looking likely to produce anything good for the Yankees. Nova? He has looked good in two starts, but that's all it is. Two starts. Who knows if he can do it in October, much less the rest of this season. Moseley? Thanks, but no thanks.
So, the Yankees absolutely need to get Vazquez back in the starting rotation. They need to know if the slight mechanical changes he has made will continue to pay dividends, and if they can look to him as a possible post-season starter. Which, after all, is what they acquired him for in the first place.
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I say yes
But thats cause I want you to lose ;)
Seriously, if I were you, no way.
2010 Red Sox Playoffs.... We Can Do It!
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
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by bestbostonsports on Aug 31, 2010 2:07 PM EDT reply actions
I was torn with the results of the Rays - Sox series
part of me wanted some distance from the Rays, but of couse then you’d be closer…. pick your poison i guess
That doesnt have much to do with the article
oh well, its better chasing two teams than one, beacuse if one gets hot you still have a chance at the other.
Not over quite yet. We still play you seven times.
2010 Red Sox Playoffs.... We Can Do It!
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
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by bestbostonsports on Aug 31, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Not to sound mean
But have fun trying to make up that ground… the Yankees have been playing with one, yes.. ONE consistent starter, a without their clean-up hitter, without their 2nd best pitcher, without Berkman or Johnson. When Rodriguez, Pettitte and Berkman come back… Boston won’t catch New York. If either Burnett or Javy decides to show up on a regular basis… the race will be over in no time.
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 31, 2010 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
without their clean-up hitter*
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 31, 2010 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah
its sort of over I guess, huh?
2010 Red Sox Playoffs.... We Can Do It!
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
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by bestbostonsports on Sep 1, 2010 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Well.....
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 31, 2010 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions
You would
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 31, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
why
2010 Red Sox Playoffs.... We Can Do It!
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
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by bestbostonsports on Sep 1, 2010 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Its hard to decide
we are right in the think of things with the division title and could use Javy the way he’s been, but on the other hand it seems like Mosey pumps up our offense (over 10 runs support i think per start?)
Personally i would give me another appearance or two to make sure the mechanical adjustment is solid and then get him back in there. If Nova keeps pitching like this though, how can you keep him out of the postseason? Even as a reliever…
You would be close to correct
9.72 per.
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 31, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm all for giving Javy a start
Worst comes to worst… throw in Moseley.
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
No
Right now, I think Nova is the better option. Leave him in there- he’s doing really well. When Andy comes back he can replace Moseley. Javy hasn’t had a good start in over a month and Nova has earned his spot in the rotation, at least for right now. Maybe if Javy has one or two more good appearances and Andy hasn’t come back yet, he could earn himself a start. But not quite yet.
I hate all Boston sports teams
Nova is in for now regardless
It’s not Javy vs. Nova, it’s Javy vs. Moseley. Until Andy comes back, it’s CC, Hughes, AJ, Moseley and Nova right now. I’d have no problem with sliding Vazquez into Moseley’s spot next turn, but for now I don’t see how you can sit Nova down.
+1
"I am a man of great mental power." ~Alfonso Soriano
by Captain_Mick on Aug 31, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
agreed
Nova has been great.
I just think that Javy needs one more solid relief appearance before the Yanks should throw him back in there.
I hate all Boston sports teams
there's also the question of if the want to skip AJ for a start.
he’s pretty much earned that.
by FreeBradshaw on Aug 31, 2010 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Absolutely.
He showed it last time that when he goes to the pen, he comes back out magnificent.
What makes him take a dump in those previous starts..who knows (maybe its cuz he’s towing a bus?), but he looked normal in those innings last night.
Javy for A.J.
Right now, I’d prefer Javy pitching versus A.J. right now. Javy made an adjustment to his mechanics. A.J. is incapable of making the same adjustments in his head.
He did Pitch well in Relief...
However it was against the A’s, There Offense is not very good. I Dont wanna see either of those two, if we need to win a game in Boston or Tampa.
But what do I know… I thought Joba should have stayed in the Bullpen. We just need to Win, and if Javier has to come in and pitch lights out, Does it matter which half he plays in.
Statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything.
Does it really make much difference if Moseley relieves Vazquez, or the other way around?
Vazquez does seem to be energized by his trips to the bullpen, for whatever reason. His velocity was up, and he pitched confidently. Either one of them looks like a better proposition than Burnett right now. Also, I wouldn’t worry about Andy Pettitte when he comes back. He’s too much the old pro to be affected by rust or mental readiness issues.
The Red Sox don’t have seven games left with the Yankees, only six, at least on my schedule. Also, those games are 6 of the last 9. If the Red Sox don’t come into New York any closer than they are now, the last 3 won’t matter.
by designatedquitter on Aug 31, 2010 3:22 PM EDT reply actions
I voted NO
because I think it’s done him some good not starting. That’s not to say I wouldn’t start him again; I’d let Moseley and Nova continue to get the nod and when it’s apparent that they are faltering then throw Javy back into the mix.
I don’t think there’s any way that the Yankees win the World Series without a significant contribution from Javy. They need to get him right for the end of the season and hopefully the playoffs.
Is the best way to do that moving him back into the rotation right now? I’m not sure. Javy needs to be a starter in the playoffs, but as he has looked sharp in his last few ’pen outings, it might be wise to let him stay there and keep pitching well before we throw him back into the rotation.
I think the best thing to do would be to talk to Javy and try and get a gauge on where his confidence is at. If he’s still saying that he’s “lost velocity on his fastball” or has a “dead arm” then leave him in the pen, he ain’t ready. If he thinks he’s back to being magnificent, and feels good about where he’s at with his mechanics and release point, get him back to starting.
Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com
This year is the 1997 to last year's 1996
I think ultimately the Yankees are doomed by their inconsistent starting pitching and career worst years by Jeter and A-Rod, either falling to Texas in the first round or Tampa in the ALCS.
Of course, that also means that the next few years will be our 1998-2000.
The fact is that once the post season starts, the Yankees are going
to need AJ & Vazquez to be right. We won’t know how Andy is or even if he’ll stay until he comes back. You can’t start Nova & Mosely in the post-season—at least not on a regular basis—because the bullpen will be in tatters. While they have pitched fine, they are pretty much done by the 5th inning and that will only get worse facing teams like Texas & Tampa.
I have no problem with them sticking with the current rotation for another week, but eventually Joe is going to have to find out if Javy & AJ can be fixed.
Four Horsemen need to be ready to go for post season
CC, AJ, Andy & Javy get paid the big bucks & need to be ready to go as starters for the post season.
That is why we paid for performance… right???
by YANKEES FOREVER on Aug 31, 2010 4:20 PM EDT reply actions
Or just bid against ourselves to assure that these players would be ours
Yankees tend to overpay for some players that turn out to be busts… I don’t even want to go into some of the names.
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 31, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Phil Hughes says Hai
"I am a man of great mental power." ~Alfonso Soriano
by Captain_Mick on Aug 31, 2010 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
well first off the Yanks didn't exactly "pay' for Vazquez
they traded for him, so they didn’t pay him most of that contract.
They pay for performance, but I dunno about you but I don’t see little green papers playing baseball. I see humans, people…players playing baseball.
The best 4 pitchers are in the rotation in the playoffs. Who gives a crap what they make?
by FreeBradshaw on Aug 31, 2010 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
The extra cash is fused to the baseball, adding 10 MPH to the velocity of a pitch
Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.
Javy for AJ, then AJ for Mosely
"Young men, I have no doubt that you're gonna do well today. But I have 1 favor to ask of you... SAVE JIMMY JOHNSON'S ASS FOR ME!" Lou Holtz
by TheRealSlimShady on Aug 31, 2010 8:17 PM EDT reply actions
I Voted No
Both Javy and Moseley have pitched well in their new roles, and right now with the bullpen playing some of the best it has this season, I wouldn’t fiddle around with it too much. If Javy goes to the rotation and fucks up then he may lose whatever confidence is allowing him to be a successful reliever. A strong bullpen is key to being successful in the playoffs, and with Javy, the Yankees going to make a better run for 28.
With AJ really struggling, I say we do what JP Riccardi suggests and move him to the pen so he can perform in a Joba-07 way. Then he and Kerry Wood are the bridge to Mariano, Joba becomes a middle reliever, and the rotation is CC, Hughes, Pettite, Nova, Moseley for the rest of the season. For the playoffs the Yankees would go to a 4 man rotation: CC, Hughes, Pettite, and either Moseley or Nova (depending on who is playing better towards the end of the season).
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