About the Bullpen

by Brandon C. on Sep 10, 2011 11:58 AM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

I understand not wanting to overuse the bullpen, but the team has capable pitchers that aren't being overused.

Maybe it's the rotation's fault for not going deep enough into games, maybe it's Girardi's fault for mixing and matching too much, maybe it's neither, maybe it's both, I don't know.

Either way, between Mariano Rivera, Hector Noesi, David Robertson, Rafael Soriano, and Cory Wade there should be someone to pitch other than freaking Luis Ayala and/or Aaron Laffey.

If Girardi can't manage the bullpen where that is a possibility, he can't manage this team to a division title. I know Robertson pitched an inning, but I'm sure he could have gone two without his arm falling off.

I want the division. I don't care who the Yankees play in the playoffs, they should be able to beat anyone if they're a World Series winning team. I want the Yankees to win the division, and get the choice of the longer series, as well as home field advantage for the AL portion of the playoffs.

I don't think Girardi should be fired, but if he can't figure out a way to have any of those pitchers available for the 9th inning of a September game, it isn't good.

Another thing, you play to win now, not to win in the 10th, or the 11th, or the 12th, or anything. Rivera should have been in in the 9th, then if the Yankees get a save opportunity let someone else take that. At least you have the lead at that point, maybe the adrenaline will help the reliever that is in not implode.

If Luis Ayala and/or Aaron Laffey make the playoff roster, and especially if they pitch any important innings in the playoffs, I will be the one imploding.

Finally, and this is a minor complaint, I would like to see Dellin Betances and Andrew Brackman get in some games. They both could help now, more so than Laffey/Ayala, possibly, and I think Betances could even be a wild card for a reliever for the playoff roster if he gets an opportunity to show his stuff now. The Yankees would never do that though, sadly.

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Dont forget Scott Proctor

looks like Girardi took a page out of torre’s book…..everytime i turn it on i see proctor pitching, and giving up hits…..and runs.

J✈E✈T✈S✈ JETS! ✈JETS! ✈JETS!

by SLAUGHTERHOUSE on Sep 10, 2011 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

So you’ve watched 3 games since August 14th?

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Sep 10, 2011 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Also we have Montero up here and he seems like the only guy in the lineup who isn't tired

or whatever hell the made up excuse is to explain the good pitching and low BABIP. Why can’t we try and see if we can get some mileage out of the young pitchers we called up?

I mean, if we’re deliberately giving away games, is there a reason that Laffey is any different then Kontos? What about Betences, why not let him go in there and fire off some 98mph colonoscopy’s up there?

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

by Rorschach44 on Sep 10, 2011 12:11 PM EDT reply actions

I just added that exact thought actually, just in different words. Not sure if it was up when you added this comment, but I really want to see the youngsters get chances over Ayala and Laffey.

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by Brandon C. on Sep 10, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't read the posts for the most part anyway

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

by Rorschach44 on Sep 10, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Batences could be a great secret weapon out of the bullpen

Best case scenario, he could have a Joba-like impact out of the bullpen. He certainly has the stuff. However, as far as I understand it, there is no way that he gets on the playoff roster. We already have to jump through hoops and employ the use of a loophole to get Montero onto the roster, so I simply don’t understand how we could get Batences onto it.

Brackman also could be quite a weapon. He had a horrible year but over his last 20 innings, he pitched to the tune of a 1.33 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 6 walks. Go with the hot hand..

by Gallinari's Barbershop on Sep 10, 2011 12:24 PM EDT reply actions

Betances, Brackman, shouldn't be on the playoff roster

Joba in 2007 was a completely different story. He was dominating minor league hitting before he was called up. Betances struggled with walks all year and while Brackman improved greatly since moving to the bullpen, I don’t think there’s any way he should even be considered for the playoff roster.

But when it’s Brackman or Betances vs. Laffey or Proctor who aren’t going to be on the playoff roster either, I’d much rather see us punt the game with someone who may have a future than with someone who clearly does not.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Sep 10, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Mo shouldn't have been in to start the ninth last night

Once you’ve gotten to the point of being tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 9th in an away game, the best case scenario will require you to pitch in the bottom of the 10th. Last night, the 6-8 hitters were due up, so if you can get out of that inning with a tie, you’re guaranteed that better hitters will be up in the 10th. So, last night at least, saving Mo until the 10th made sense.

This, of course, does not mean the relievers Girardi actually used made any sense.

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

by Q-TDSK on Sep 10, 2011 12:29 PM EDT reply actions

Scott Proctor and lefties

On Proctor – why are we constantly bringing back players who were mediocre or bad for us before? Gerald Williams, Sterling Hitchcock, Randy Velarde, Javy Vazquez, now Proctor. I don’t get it. In all of these cases, hadn’t we seen enough the first time around? Does Brian Cashman feel guilty that Joe Torre pretty much ruined any shot Proctor had at a successful career? Why?

On lefty/lefty match-ups – This is probably what bothers me most about the way baseball is managed. I laugh in delight every time an opposing manager brings in a LOOGY to face Robinson Cano or when they did it against Hideki Matsui. Not all lefties struggle against lefty pitchers. Girardi is more proactive than most in terms of checking stats, but still those stats are misleading. A hitter’s numbers vs. left-handed pitching includes all lefties, not just bad middle relievers. Facing Jon Lester is not the same thing as facing Clay Rapada. You are better off vs. any hitter with a decent righty than you are with a terrible lefty. The fact these guys are on major league rosters simply because they throw with their left hand makes me cringe.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Sep 10, 2011 1:57 PM EDT reply actions

baseball narratives.

give me a good right hander over a LOOGY any day of the week

by jetanumba2 on Sep 10, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

These last two games reminded me of that game last year against the Rays

September 13th last season. Tied 0-0 going into extra innings, Chad Gaudin loads the bases and somehow gets out of it. So of course Girardi goes to Sergio Mitre the next inning and gives up a walkoff home run.

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

Betances would be a wildcard in the sense that he can't pound the strikezone

He’s got a BB/9 of 5 on the year, against minor league hitters. That’s even higher than DRob, who can get away with it because he strikes out more guys and gives up fewer walks. I don’t have a problem giving him some chances to show his stuff at all, but even if he were to pitch well enough this month to somehow earn a postseason roster spot, I don’t want him anywhere near any meaningful postseason innings.

"In a perfect world, we'd all be Yankees." ~Rick Horowitz

by Captain_Mick on Sep 10, 2011 2:16 PM EDT reply actions

*DRob gives up fewer hits, is what I meant to say

"In a perfect world, we'd all be Yankees." ~Rick Horowitz

by Captain_Mick on Sep 10, 2011 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

For the PSA Survival League

can you pick the same team more than once during the season?

by bloppy_ploppy on Sep 10, 2011 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

It's not just Girardi's fault

Clearly Cashman and the front office brain trust believe in matchups too, or else these talentless anklesluts like Laffey or Proctor wouldn’t even be on the team to begin with. If they didn’t like Girardi playing matchups like an excited high schooler, then they shouldn’t give him the fucking option to do so. Give him the best available and tell him to make it work. If he can’t even do that then fire his ass and hire someone who can. The sad fact is that really no one can though. Like Tex Baby said above, so many managers in the majors manage this way.

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Sep 10, 2011 2:47 PM EDT reply actions

It all goes together... and Girardi is the one who decides when/how to use the players in games.

Sure, Cashman makes the deals… but he’s probably looking for players that are compatible with the way Girardi likes to manage games… so if Joe likes to play matchup, Cashman will end up looking for piles of cheap interchangeable parts, which usually means mediocre to bad LOOGY-style relievers.

Besides, even if Cashman grabbed a few poor choices of pitchers, the burden is still on Joe to realize when those pitchers can (relatively) safely enter a game. If Joe tosses his worst pitchers into late innings of a tie game after you’ve gotten the other team’s Cy Young candidate out of the game, and it’s now a battle of the bullpens (supposedly a strength of this year’s Yankee team)… I’m sorry, but that’s 100% on Joe.

by pinstriper on Sep 10, 2011 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't apologize for Joe's stupidity at times

But if Cashman IS looking for players compatible with the way Girardi likes to manage games, then he most certainly is also part of the problem, and that’s my point. I don’t care how Girardi likes to manage games, because he manages games like most of the moronagers do in the major leagues. Give him better pieces to actually manage games with and we might not have have this fucking problem. Yes, Laffey should not have been used in that situation, but Laffey should NOT be on this team, in any situation. Nor should Mitre. Nor should Proctor. They shouldn’t enter the game in any situation, even with a 9 run lead. They’re. not. good. They’re bad and continue to prove why they are bad. Hell, this is why I’d make a terrible manager, because I’d put them in the game out of pure fucking spite, just to show the fart office how bad these people truly are.

It is 100% on Joe for putting them in the game at that situation, but it’s also on the front office for giving the moronager the option to even do so, when the pitchers he’s putting out there in these situation are not fit to lick the dirt off of D-Rob’s cleats!

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Sep 10, 2011 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

So Cashman needs to save Girardi from himself?

by pinstriper on Sep 10, 2011 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

No. Joe needs to be held accountable for stuff like last night

But that does not give Cashman a green light because he signs losers.

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Sep 10, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

most of the guys they brought in were depth moves with what was available

Basically Cashman know they are mops and brought em up to use as a last resort. Girardi uses them as if they are D-Rob

by lololol on Sep 10, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Laffey was DFA'd from the Seattle Mariners.

The. Seattle. Mariners. Mitre & Proctor have proven they’ve sucked ON THIS VERY TEAM. So why are they back? There should be no last resorts like these on the team, because it’s a sign that you’ve given up. Every game is winnable until the final out. Shuttling out guttertrash like Mitre & Laffey when you’re down by 5 or 6 runs is essentially running up the white flag when the Yankees offense has the ability to come back at almost any point.

You’re arguing that Joe used them poorly last night. I. AGREE. My point is that these chumps shouldn’t even be on the fucking team to begin with.

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Sep 10, 2011 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

whats an ankleslut

by 2xtheBully on Sep 10, 2011 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

A slut with bad ankles.

F*** Boston!

>>>YANKEES<<<

by Xavier10 on Sep 10, 2011 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions

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by MonteroMondays on Sep 10, 2011 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

Somewhat OT, but this freak injury made me worry about Bartolo and CC

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by waw on Sep 10, 2011 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t mind people complaining about Girardi using Ayala so much, but I think it’s pretty hypocritical when those same people want him to use Noesi more, when their peripherals are almost exactly the same.

xFIP
Ayala: 4.10
Noesi: 3.80

SIERA
Ayala: 3.59
Noesi: 3.51

tERA
Ayala: 4.67
Noesi: 4.78

WHIP
Ayala: 1.33
Noesi: 1.38

K/BB
Ayala: 2
Noesi: 2.22

GB/FB
Ayala: 1.66
Noesi: 1.24

I don’t doubt that Noesi has more potential in his little finger than Ayala will ever have, but the facts are that this year, they have performed almost identically. Both of them have BABIP near .300, so it’s not like either is getting really lucky or unlucky there. The only real difference has been Ayala’s strand rates, which makes up about 1.3 of the 1.6 difference in their ERA. So don’t crap your pants about Girardi bringing in Ayala, who was, for better or worse, the second best available pitcher from the pen behind Mo.

And anyone saying he should have put in Betances is kidding themselves. You want to have a kid’s first major league appearance be on the road in a tied game in the bottom of the ninth inning? Seriously? Let’s give Betances some time to learn how to swim before we throw him into shark infested waters. I’m not thrilled with Ayala either, but Girardi didn’t have much of a choice.

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

by Wraithpk on Sep 10, 2011 4:52 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Well......we pretty much did the same thing to Jesus....

First MLB appearance at Fenway versus Lester?…..Just saying is all.

"You know as painful as it is I've had to let a few people go over the years. ..Yogi Berra, Lou Piniella, Bucky Dent, Billy Martin, Dallas Green, Billy Martin, Stump Merrill, Billy Martin, Bob Lemon, Billy Martin".

by ReprezentinNJerz on Sep 10, 2011 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions