Yankees news: Coffee's for closers

by danhanzus on Sep 10, 2011 9:42 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

Derek Jeter and the rest of the Yankees combined for just three hits on Friday.

Years before Alec Baldwin earned loads of money playing a slightly amped-up version of himself on 30 Rock, he delivered one of the great monologues in movie history in 1992's Glengarry Glen Ross.

In the role of bastard sales strategist Blake, Baldwin completely destroys a roomful of salesman in an attempt to "motivate" the crew. When Jack Lemmon's character gets up during the beginning of Blake's rant to pour himself a cup of coffee, Blake barks, "Put that coffee down. Coffee's for closers only."

Great movie and I implore you to watch the scene here. As for the Yankees, there should be no coffee-drinking in their clubhouse today. Because the Yankees can't seem to close of late.

Three days. Three cities. Three wins for the opposition in their final at-bat. There's a special place in hell for a stretch of losses like this, made all the more regrettable as the Red Sox continue to stumble.

The comment section last night featured a lot of chatter about Joe Girardi blowing the game with his use of Aaron Laffey and Luis Ayala in the ninth, but I don't get that. Girardi knows the playoffs are less than a month away and he knows the Yankees will be in them.

Pitching David Robertson a second inning there simply isn't worth it. The team continues to tread lightly with Rafael Soriano. Boone Logan says he has dead arm. Bringing in Mariano Rivera? They haven't gone off script in 15 years, no reason to start now.

The Yankees blew the 2004 ALCS for a lot of reasons, but right near the top of that list was a gassed bullpen that Joe Torre murdered by overuse. Girardi, a YES broadcaster that doomed season, probably took note.

Onto the links ...

The Yanks went down last night, but don't blame Bartolo Colon. Russell Martin said Colon "looked as good as he has all year." Fine news with October creeping up.

Jesus Montero continues to impress. He homered again last night, this time off a name brand in Jered Weaver.

The Yankees are hoping an MRI can pinpoint the nature of Nick Swisher's elbow pain.

Hot prospect Dellin Betances is with the Yankees and ready if called upon.

Francisco Cervelli doesn't even want to know if he suffered a concussion on Thursday.

CC Sabathia gets his first crack at 20 wins tonight.

Until next time, hang on to the roof ...

Dan Hanzus is a regular contributor to Pinstripe Alley. He can be reached at dhanzus@gmail or on Twitter @danhanzus.

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So sad..

We could be up 5 1/2 games on the World Series Champs if the offense showed up.

F*** Boston!

>>>YANKEES<<<

by Xavier10 on Sep 10, 2011 10:32 AM EDT reply actions

The douche!

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/878fc86b5c415214f80e6a70670016f6.jpg

F*** Boston!

>>>YANKEES<<<

by Xavier10 on Sep 10, 2011 10:37 AM EDT reply actions

Couple things...

1. The overall philosophy of not overusing the bullpen is correct. These games have very little meaning and it would be stupid to abuse Robertson and co. in order to win them. What I don’t understand is why guys like Scott Proctor and Aaron Laffey are on this team. I would have no problem losing close games with Dellin Betances or George Kontos on the mound. It just seems like a total waste to go down with career scrubs. Nobody’s learning anything. Nothing’s being accomplished by Scott Proctor tossing batting practice in extra innings.

2. This really isn’t a complaint against Girardi because most managers do it, but the “don’t use your closer in a tie game on the road” philosophy is stupid. What’s the point of saving him for a hypothetical save situation that may never come? You’re better off with the lesser pitcher in that situation with a lead than with him in the game at a point where if he gives up a run, the game is over.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Sep 10, 2011 11:35 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs

I rec’d, I was just about to type the same thing practically word for word.

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by Brandon C. on Sep 10, 2011 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

this.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Sep 10, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed, especially on point 1

I agree with the sentiment in point 2, but thinking about it with the clarity provided by morning coffee, I wouldn’t have wanted Mo in to start the 9th, or even come in with one runner on. If you get through that inning, there will be more difficult hitters to face in the 10th.

Usqueadbaugham! Anam muck an dhoul ! Did ye drink me doornail?

by Q-TDSK on Sep 10, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

When you turn it off for a while you run a real risk of not being able to turn it on when it matters.

Seen this happen many times, and not just in b’ball.
This team is playing like it doesn’t care right now and that’s down to the manager. Gassed relievers? Really? Which ones?

Ted Williams' famous Red Sox farewell speech: "I consider myself the unluckiest man on the face of the Earth."

by The Yankees on Sep 10, 2011 11:38 AM EDT reply actions

I would not say they don't care

They’ve had a lot of travel and long games lately, and just faced one of the top pitchers in the league. Three game losing streaks suck, but they happen even to the best teams in baseball. Let’s just hope they get themselves back on track soon.

by waw on Sep 10, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

The team continues to tread lightly with Rafael Soriano.

I was wondering why Ayala was pitching in the 9th inning of a tied game instead of Soriano. Soriano’s overall stats aren’t good but post allstar break his numbers are very solid: .214 baa, 13 K’s and 5 BB’s, and a good but not great 3.52 ERA. The Yankees signed this guy to be Mariano’s setupman, let him at least try to do his job, especially if the alternatives are journeymen like Ayala.

by Gallinari's Barbershop on Sep 10, 2011 11:48 AM EDT reply actions

Nevermind...

I see that it would’ve been his 3rd day in a row. Disregard that comment lol^

by Gallinari's Barbershop on Sep 10, 2011 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

It was Ayala's third game in a row too

So apparently he can throw three straight days but not anybody who is good.

by Briceratops on Sep 10, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

because nobody cares if Ayala blows his arm out...

The Savior has come, and he is glorious. #63

by Wraithpk on Sep 10, 2011 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Not stressing the bullpen is a valid reason of not using guys like Soriano, Rob and MO all the time

also Corey Wade I’d throw in that list cuz unlike Luis Ayala, he’s not a mirage.

The problem is that in a tie game, in the bottom of the 9th…you put Aaron Laffey and Luis Ayala in the game. Are the playoffs just a formality at this point? Maybe, but there’s still a good 4 weeks and anything can happen. And why play with fate after you lost two in a row (which isn’t a big deal) by throwing crappy pitchers out there?

You have to put yourself in the best position to win and keep the pen rested. Why does this have to include Ayala and Laffey? I couldn’t care less about a 3 game losing streak. But with expanded rosters, why the hell aren’t we at least trying to use a kid with actual MLB stuff instead of proven career POS’s like Ayala and Laffey?

I’d much less be pissed at these past two games if we lost using Brackman, Kontos and Betences instead of Proctor, Laffey and Ayala.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Sep 10, 2011 12:03 PM EDT reply actions

I believe that the Yankees think all non-elite relievers are exactly the same

if you don’t have an innings role then you’re interchangeable with anyone else. Any reliever can throw a scoreless inning no matter how talented they actually are so while we have young arms with potential, old pieces of crap can get out of those same innings probably 9 out of 10 times. They can then use those young arms to trade with a team that doesn’t share the belief that all relievers are the same and they can hold onto their Ayalas and still be fine. They option Noesi down because they can keep him and Ayala and still think they benefit because the more mops you have the better you are. This must seriously be what they believe because its unbelievable why they insist on keeping Ayala and Mitre and Proctor and disregard Noesi and Whalen and Kontos. The success of Colon and Freddy has taken this team out of control when it comes to milking players for as much talent as possible. Sometimes players just suck and you have to get rid of them and not look back. We won’t miss Ayala no matter how much they think they will.

by jetanumba2 on Sep 10, 2011 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Or, the thought could be that the old arms are more likely to get out of innings because of "experience."

Usqueadbaugham! Anam muck an dhoul ! Did ye drink me doornail?

by Q-TDSK on Sep 10, 2011 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

that too

apparently its better to have experience and suck than to have none and actually be better

by jetanumba2 on Sep 10, 2011 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

there's really no problem with thinking that non-elite RPs are interchangeable

since for the most part, they are. That’s fine when your starter only gives you 5IP and you need Luis Ayala to give you an inning or two. Even if the score is tied, go for it. Lots of time left to score runs.

The problem is we’re talking about the 9th and extra innings the past two nights.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Sep 10, 2011 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Mediocre middle relievers are

Mitre, Ayala, Proctor all suck. Noesi has actually been good when he’s allowed to get regular work and giving a chance to someone like Kontos is more benefit to the Yankees than just throwing Laffey out there because he happens to throw with the wrong arm. The Yankees need to realize that to get above average performance they actually need to take chances.

by jetanumba2 on Sep 10, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

as in we know what Ayala and Proctor will offer us, lets at least see what Kontos or Whalen or Brackman can do if we’re not going to care if we win or lose

by jetanumba2 on Sep 10, 2011 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

The comment section last night featured a lot of chatter about Joe Girardi blowing the game with his use of Aaron Laffey and Luis Ayala in the ninth, but I don’t get that. Girardi knows the playoffs are less than a month away and he knows the Yankees will be in them.

So lemme get this straight. You understand why Girardi used Laffey & Ayala in the ninth but don’t get how Girardi blew the game? Cause you pretty much just explained WHY he blew the game.

I’m alsol just quote myself again in regards to this…

And honestly, this kind of lackluster attitude is one of the reasons why I hate the WildCard so fucking much

You’re right that they probably have the attitude that they’re going to the playoffs, so games like today and yesterday don’t really matter in the grand scheme. "We don’t need to use D-Rob another inning. Throw in Laffey. If we win, fine. If not, Boston lost so we’re still 2.5 games up. There’s little chance we won’t make the playoffs anyway."

I can’t stand that mindset. It infuriates me to the point of wanting to kick Bud Selig’s teeth in for suggesting another WildCard for the playoffs. They should play every day to win, no matter the situation. Personally, I don’t want the Angels in the playoffs. It’s a team we have a history of sucking against, no matter how good or bad they are, and despite beating them in 09’ I’d rather not take that chance again. I watch baseball to see the Yankees win EVERY FUCKING DAY, not to give up a game because a playoff spot is supposedly guaranteed. Losses are losses sure, but losses when it’s like your manager gives up the fucking game, or when your front office signs guttertrash sucking whorechumps like Laffey & Mitre in the first place just makes it all the more frustrating when they lose. When the Yankees lose because they can due to the fact that they are all but guaranteed a playoff spot, it’s not fun to watch and it lessens the sport. If this is the case, then why should I watch games now? I can wait till October and see what happens then.

Fuck the Wildcard and fuck Bud Selig.

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Sep 10, 2011 2:35 PM EDT reply actions