Yankees About to Introduce Big “Bad” Wolf into their ‘Pen

Everything has been going right for the Yankee bullpen since June 1, and the formally much-maligned group has produced nothing but key outs in the biggest of spots.

In fact, the Yankee bullpen leads all of MLB in strikeouts, batting average against, saves, and WHIP since that date.

The old adage warns that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but GM Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi seem reluctant to heed that caveat.

Damaso Marte is set to return from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre any day now, and it is possible he could be pitching during the Boston series in Fenway (*gulp*).

As hard as the Yankee “pig ‘pen” has worked to build a weakness into a reliable foundation, it appears Marte and the Yankee brass will attempt to “blow their house down.”

The Yankees and their fans better hope that Phil Hughes and Mariano Rivera have built their house out of brick as opposed to straw and sticks, because no one with a pulse wants Marte inside.

It is not simply a matter of performance and replacing a weak link with a once dependable commodity. It is not about a glaring need for another lefty in the ‘pen, or that they have been hurt time and time again by hard-hitting left-handed hitters.

This, my friends, is solely about money. The irresponsible three-year contract they re-signed Marte to in the offseason is valued at $12 million.

They cannot allow their second highest paid reliever to waste away in the minors—though I’m sure Kei Igawa felt like he wasn’t alone for the first time.

No, the Yankees have to give him a chance. The same chance they continually extended to Cody Ransom when young players had already proved their ability to outperform him.

Unfortunately, this is not a matter of “if” New York makes a move. It is going to happen, and David Robertson is going to be the most undeserving of demotions.

Robertson is currently pitching to a 3.06 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 35.1 IP. He has allowed just 27 hits while collecting a remarkable 52 strikeouts—leading all relievers in MLB with a 13.33 K/9 ratio.

To make matters “worse,” the young man’s confidence is about to reach a new apex. His August ERA is 0.00 in eight appearances, and he has struck out 13 hitters over that span. This includes a Houdini-like escape of a bases-loaded, one out jam to preserve an important Yankee victory.

Some readers may be asking, “Why on Earth would the Yankees ever send him down? Won’t they choose someone less productive?”

Welcome to the harsh world of “minor league options.”

Due to the presence of Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin to offset the necessary extra days of rest in the “Joba Rules,” the Yankees are essentially one man short in the bullpen. Both will need to make starts over the next month, which makes it impossible to release either of them.

It’s safe to say that Phil Coke, Phil Hughes, Mariano Rivera, and Alfredo Aceves are going nowhere. If you’re not counting in your head, then Marte, Gaudin, and these four add up to six Yankee relievers.

Most teams, including the Yankees, implement a 12-man pitching staff with five starters and seven relievers. This allows for more bench flexibility for a manager to have at his disposal—especially with Alex Rodriguez’s rest schedule and Hideki Matsui’s balky knees.

This leaves the final battle between Brian Bruney and Robertson. Again, welcome to the harsh reality of minor league options.

Although Robertson has been vital to the bullpen’s success and has vastly outperformed Bruney, his ability to be sent down to Triple-A without first having to clear waivers makes him the odd man out.

To his credit, Bruney has performed much better of late. The problem is, Robertson is better than him, and Marte couldn’t carry Robertson’s jockstrap.

If you remember, it was the combination of Marte and Bruney that got the Yankees into this bullpen mess in the first place—forcing inexperienced youngsters like Robertson to blossom into trusted weaponry.

The days of Marte, Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez, and Jonathan Albaladejo seem like centuries ago. The Yankee bullpen puzzle is now complete, and it is firing on all cylinders.

The Yankees, nevertheless, are about to try to force Marte’s square peg into the gaping round hole that Robertson’s impact will be leaving behind.

Robertson will be back in pinstripes on September 1, as the 25-man rosters quickly expand to 40.

As the Yankees proved in turning a 3.5 game deficit into a 7 game lead, however, a lot can happen in a few weeks.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman: Nothing More Than an Infinite Checking Account

The glory years have long since ridden off into the sunset, and the days of championships and dynasties are nearly a decade in the rearview mirror.

Arrogant chants of “1918” have been replaced by seated confessions (and denials) before Congress and a spending plan as loose and irresponsible as the US government.

Yankee t-shirts proudly displaying slogans such as “Got Rings?” or “Who’s Your Daddy” are now collecting dust in the back of closets across the tri-state area.

Even mindless banter between rivals has become less enjoyable without a chamber full of witty and damaging verbal bullets.

The vulnerability of MLB’s empire began with the shifting of Gene Michael into the shadows of the Yankee organization.

The deterioration commenced the day Brian Cashman was given laissez-faire authority.

In the years leading up to George Steinbrenner’s ultimate removal as figurehead of the Yankees, Cashman was being given more superiority and freedom to perform his job—without too many strong-arm demands coming from over his shoulder.

Cashman was now somewhat supplanting Steinbrenner in the throne, and all success and failure could be attributed to his name.

As the payroll began to launch skyward like an Apollo mission, the Yankees were left with disappointment after disappointment from their acquisitions.

It technically all started with the signing of an unnecessary replacement for Tino Martinez—a still productive offensive player, unequaled defender, and fan favorite.

Jason Giambi quickly became a one-dimensional slugger and such a defensive liability that he could not even make throws taught on Little League diamonds.

This signing occurred before the era of laissez-faire I am referring to, but signaled a changing of the guard in how the Yankees would do business. It became all about big names, big legacies, and even bigger contracts.

The first regrettable moves made by the General Manager involved the ever-weakening pitching staff.

Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Jimmy Key, Orlando Hernandez, and David Cone were replaced by Jeff Weaver, Jaret Wright, Carl Pavano, Javier Vasquez, Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown, Esteban Loiaza, and Jose Contreras.

Ramiro Mendoza, Jeff Nelson, and Mike Stanton were replaced by Paul Quantrill, Tom Gordon, Tanyon Sturtze, Scott Proctor, Steve Karsay, Felix Heredia, Kyle Farnsworth, Sterling Hitchcock, Antonio Osuna, Chris Hammond, Armando Benitez, Felix Rodriguez, and Octavio Dotel.

There are countless other calamities being omitted in the interest of space, but for a five year span to include a name scroll longer than Wilt Chamberlain’s sexual conquests is nothing short of repulsive.

It didn’t matter in 2005 that Jaret Wright was coming off of the first season he started more than 10 games since 1999, his ERA consistently floated around 7.00, or that he had never once thrown 200 innings in his career.

It certainly didn’t matter that Jeff Weaver was 39-51 in his career with a 4.33 ERA when the Yankees acquired him from Detroit. Wouldn’t it be nice to still have Ted Lilly in the Yankee rotation?

Just when fans in the Bronx wondered how things could possibly get worse—Kei Igawa happened in 2006.

The man who boasts a 6.66 career major league ERA in 16 games, and currently decomposes at the Triple-A level while swimming through a pool of gold coins in his back yard.

Cashman, in all his sagacity, coughed up $26 million just to earn the right to sit at a negotiating table.

Another $20 million later, the Yankees were paying more per season for Igawa than Roy Oswalt, John Smoltz, Mariano Rivera, Torii Hunter, and Aramis Ramirez were being paid at the time.

To make matters worse, Cashman admitted that they projected Igawa as “a back of the rotation starter.” Excuse me for a second while I attempt to avoid choking on my own vomit.

The Yankees were then able to “strong-arm” Alex Rodriguez into a 10-year contract worth upwards of $300 plus million—running into the meat of his 40s.

(You certainly showed him who’s boss Brian.)

Cashman’s unlimited resources should allow him to be the best GM in all of baseball. Imagine the Tampa Bay Rays, Twins, Rangers, or Cardinals adding $100 million in payroll for the 2009 stretch run.

Instead, the only moves he gets right are the no-brainers. A gorilla flinging feces at a list of names on a chalkboard could have done a better job.

Not only does are his successes limited to the likes of like Mark Teixeira and Mike Mussina, but his only negotiating tactic is adding years or zeros—eventually leaving New York with a pile of overpaid former stars with diminishing skills.

To put this into perspective, Yankees SP AJ Burnett is being paid a higher annual salary than Albert Pujols—the unquestionable premiere hitter in MLB.

In order to justify this contract, he would have to pitch like Ron Guidry circa 1978—but is instead just 5-4 with a nearly 1.50 WHIP.

Cashman has been a disaster since Hall of Famers and clutch miracles were diving into his lap like kids on a mall’s version of Santa Clause.

It is time that he faces the music, and perhaps embarks on a lonely walk down “the ole dusty trail.”

The Yankees need a man with savvy, a man with baseball intelligence, and a man who can supplement smart-money signings with high-priced free agents.

They need a man who will not ignore the development of home-grown talent for the better part of a decade—only to pretend it has now become his No. 1 priority.

They need a man who will make personnel decisions based on a player’s moxie, dedication to the game, love of the bright lights and big stage, and workmanlike attitude—as opposed to clinging to statistics and star power like an old unwanted girlfriend.

That man is clearly not Cashman, and it is time for a change.

AJ Burnett vs. Derek Lowe: Why the Yankees Yearn For Shot at Time Travel

The Yankees endured a long and eventually expensive offseason of courting free agents and subsequently flirting with their representation and entourages.

Primary targets on the pitching front included a “no-brainer” in CC Sabathia, as well as two hurlers in their 30s on completely different sides of the mound spectrum.

The first was AJ Burnett—a hard-throwing ball of electricity and intimidation—blessed with stuff that only could be sent down directly from the baseball gods.

In the other corner was former Red Sox nemesis Derek Lowe, a crafty veteran who possesses a sinker even the deepest burrowing of worms has nightmares about.

Both hurlers had won about 53-54 percent of their decisions entering the 2009 season, and their earned run averages were also strikingly similar. The decision would come down to other factors—ranging from age to injury history to American League transitional ability.

New York had to choose between a flashy glove-popping fastball and a stern grass-burning sinker. The decision is an easy one, right? It appears to be, especially considering the similarity in stat lines.

What if I told you that the glove-popping fastball belonged to a pitcher who only once won more than 12 games in a season, has never pitched a postseason game, has a turbulent injury history, and has been known to let innings explode like a Ford Pinto?

What if I included that the grass-burning sinker was released from the hand of a veteran who won the clinching game of each and every series on Boston’s way to breaking the curse in 2004? Or that he has a career 1.15 WHIP and 3.33 ERA in 21 postseason games?

Now that we can agree that the choice is obvious and blatant, let’s take a look at who the Yankees chose to trust the hopes of a World Series run in—the glove-popping fastball.

The move has undeniably backfired, as Lowe stands at 7-3 with a 3.44 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, while Burnett is floundering at 4-3 with a 4.89 ERA and nearly 1.50 WHIP.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman has been seen frantically searching for plutonium, a restored flux capacitor, and a used DeLorean in order to attempt to travel back in time to Dec. 12, 2008—the day he signed an $82.5 million check over to a lifelong tease.

When Cashman was pulled over for speeding down Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, he tried to explain to the NYPD that he was merely pushing his car to “precisely 88 MPH”—the suggested speed for time travel in Back to the Future.

Making things worse, the Yankees passed up a ground-ball pitcher built to throw in “hitter’s parks” in favor of a fly ball pitcher destined for failure in the newly constructed homer haven of the Bronx.

An extra year and $22.5 million separates the contracts of the two pitchers, and the Atlanta Braves are more grateful every day for losing out in the Burnett sweepstakes.

The Yankees won championships because of men taking the mound who knew how to pitch regardless of how hard they may have thrown.

They won with Jimmy Key, Orlando Hernandez, David Cone, and Andy Pettitte—none of which would be confused with possessing a 95+ MPH fastball at that point of their careers.

Lowe fit the exact mold New York needed for an October playoff run, while also not compromising success and consistency during the regular season. He is durable, dependable, poised, and fearless—the perfect compliment to Sabathia in what could have been a flawless winter game of Monopoly.

Burnett may have helped to loosen and otherwise tight locker room atmosphere, and has implemented an interesting celebration following walk-off victories.

As the season begins to wear on, however, it appears as though the Yankee hierarchy and Burnett himself are the ones left with pie on their faces.

Xavier Nady: Your 2009 Yankee RF? Or Simply Being Showcased?

According to Yankees Manager Joe Girardi, Xavier Nady has a leg up for the starting job in RF.

Coming as a surprise to many including myself, Girardi has appeared to have gone against his heart by not sticking with personal favorite Nick Swisher.

Instead, the Yankees brass decided to think in terms of July 31 as opposed to April 6.

Swisher is the more dynamic offensive player, possessing more power and the ability to hit successfully from both sides of the plate.

Defensively, Swisher has greater range and the tendency to get dirty to make an inning-changing play.

Nady is more than adequate as a defensive outfielder, but lacks the hard-nosed mindset to commit to sacrificing his body. He has always been perceived as a glider as opposed to a sprinter.

It is clear that 2008 was a season Swisher could not have cooked up even in his worst nightmares.

He managed to hit just .219, and seemed lost at the plate in his first year in Chicago. He generated just 69 RBIs and 21 doubles, the lowest such totals of his career.

However, Swisher still managed to post a higher American League OBP than Nady in 2008.

Nady had a .320 OBP in New York, as opposed to Swisher’s .332 OBP in Chicago. This is a telling stat considering the abnormally low batting average Swisher carried.

Nady was able to capitalize off of one superb half of baseball in Pittsburgh in order to skyrocket his worth.

The Yankees are now hoping he can do the same in the first half of 2009.

With Swisher under contract through the end of 2011, Nady is the expendable piece in a crowded Yankee OF puzzle.

If the Yankees are to receive solid trade value in return for Nady, he will have to play on a consistent basis.

By handing him the starting RF job before the end of spring training, they will hope to jumpstart his confidence heading into April.

The Yankees would have traded Nady months ago had the right opportunity presented itself.

However, the discounted prices teams received for Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu, and Raul Ibanez severely crippled their chances of finding interested suitors.

A salary dump is always available, but GM Brian Cashman is in no hurry to give away a valuable player for nothing more than minor league journeyman.

If Nady is hitting .300 or above heading into July, teams will come calling in droves for his services. Cashman will be ready to listen, likely in search of ML-ready bullpen help for the stretch run.

Perhaps Girardi is making sure a lineup without Alex Rodriguez does not become left-hand dominant. Swisher has always generated much more power from the left side.

Ironically, Nady struggled last year against left-handed pitching. He hit only .262 against lefties in 2008, while his season average stood at .305.

If this trend continues, the Yankees may be left wondering what advantage Nady holds over Swisher.

Do not be surprised if this “victory” is no more than a marketing campaign for Nady’s services come July.

Hideki Matsui Throws Final Wrench in Yankee Lineup Options

The New York Yankees came into 2009 with more depth on offense than any year since Darryl Strawberry came off the bench.

With the acquisition of Nick Swisher and the emergence of Brett Gardner in CF, Joe Girardi had countless ways to mix and match a powerful offensive attack.

The signing of Mark Teixeira, however, was the first spark in an eventual flame out of Girardi’s plans.

It is impossible to question the signing of a dynamite offensive leader in his prime who also possesses top-notch defensive prowess.

Teixeira will exponentially improve the Yankees, and is everything Brian Cashman looks for in a potential signing.

The problem is not in his ability. The problem lies in the position that he plays.

By bringing in a 1B that absolutely must play every day for the Yankees to reach their full potential, they in turn eliminated their lineup flexibility.

Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada will no longer be able to cling to 1B as a security blanket, ensuring themselves 75-100 extra at-bats.

As a result, Xavier Nady and Swisher must battle for playing time on a game to game basis.

Swisher seems to have won over Girardi with his attitude and work ethic, leaving Nady uncertain of his ultimate role.

The flexibility issues have magnified themselves with a hip injury to Alex Rodriguez, as well as reports that Hideki Matsui will be unable to play the field until at least June.

The Yankees now have three of their best power threats in Rodriguez, Matsui, and Posada nursing injuries that could leave them in need of temporary DH duty.

While Swisher or Nady losing playing time should not knock fans out of their recliners, losing one of the keys to Yankee success each night would be a crushing blow.

All signs are pointing to Rodriguez being the most likely to return to his everyday role.

If Posada is unable to catch consistently when the season opens, or at any point before Matsui can return to the outfield, the Yankees should be concerned.

With Rodriguez out, Matsui becomes the Yankees only true everyday option at cleanup hitter.

Matsui is able to drive the ball, work the count, get on base, and drive in runs. He has also done it before in the cleanup spot very successfully in New York.

He is simply too good to keep out of the lineup when healthy.

There were clear signs that his knees felt strong as he rotated on them to crush a deep home run into the night on Tuesday. He also ripped a double down the right field line.

Matsui’s importance leaves the Yankees in a terrible spot in the event Posada cannot catch 120 games.

It appears that the same issues that haunted the lineup in 2008 could affect this year’s team.

The Yankees could be left trying to fit squares pegs into a round hole if they cannot successfully heal from injuries.

The pitching staff should be able to hold the Yankees afloat until the summer months, but the pennant race will require them to be firing on all cylinders.

Beasts from the Far East: Wang and Matsui Revive Yankee Confidence

After a tumultuous 2009 season that saw the Yankees finish six games out of the Wild Card race, the Bronx called for change.

It is well documented that Brian Cashman gave $423.5 million in commitments to just three players in hopes of revitalizing the roster.

On Friday night, one of those investments gave a glimpse into the kind of performance that is to be expected of him this season.

CC Sabathia pitched two strong innings in his Yankee debut, and virtually went the entire outing without throwing a pitch outside of the strike zone. He also collected two strikeouts.

The “three-headed blank check” of Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixeira will undoubtedly play a major role in the success or failure of the Yankees this season. The uncertainties surrounding Alex Rodriguez have only added to the pressures they face.

Meanwhile, two players used to being at the center of the team’s core have gone somewhat unnoticed this spring.

The recent comebacks of Chien-Ming Wang and Hideki Matsui will be as important to the 2009 Yankees as the health of Alex Rodriguez.

Wang is a pitcher that has compiled a 46-15 record over the past three seasons, which represents a winning percentage of 75 percent. His heavy sinker is the perfect compliment to the flame-throwing of Sabathia and Burnett.

Matsui is a patient and disciplined hitting machine, collecting 100 RBI seasons in his sleep when healthy. He has arguably been the best clutch Yankee over the last six years.

Yankee supporters can find an excellent silver lining in Saturday’s spring training loss to the Braves. Wang and Matsui were a part of the same game for the first time since June 15 of last season.

Wang looked fantastic is his second start of the spring. His fastball had great life, and it was on a sharp downward plane all game long. Seven of the nine outs that he recorded were via a groundout or strikeout.

More importantly, Wang bounced off of the mound to field a bunt from the first batter of the game. He showed solid mobility, and shoveled the ball with his glove to Teixeira for the out.

Matsui’s day could be considered a success simply by his participation. However, he did show signs of his improving health.

With a runner on first in the fourth inning, Matsui was able to drive the ball through the right side of the infield. Though seemingly routine, this is a great sign for Yankee fans.

To drive an inside pitch to right field, Matsui is forced to rotate his hips and apply large amounts of torque to his knees.

It is this same torque that allows a hitter to generate power, something Matsui struggled with last season while attempting to play through injuries.

Sportswriters will continue to use names like Teixeira, Sabathia, Burnett, Rivera, Jeter, and Rodriguez ad nauseum for the duration of spring training.

Do not forget about the “beasts from the far east”, as the Yankee season may hinge on their success.

Hip Cyst to Sideline Alex Rodriguez until May

It all started with hip tightness and discomfort. It appears to have ended with surgery that will cause the Yankees best hitter to miss the first ten weeks of the season.

A-Rod’s nightmare offseason continues, as he can no longer silence his critics with an explosive April home run output.

Baseball provided Rodriguez with his only safe-haven, as all of the chaos surrounding him disappeared once he stepped between the foul lines.

Forced to be without the superstar that the Bronx loves to hate, the Yankees will scurry to acquire some semblance of a replacement.

Mark Teixeira’s tendency to start seasons off slowly will only magnify the problem. The uncertainties surrounding Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui’s health turns the lineup into one enormous question mark.

Buster Olney of ESPN has speculated that Milwaukee’s Bill Hall could represent the kind of contingency plan that Brian Cashman turns to for the next ten weeks.

With all of the outfield depth that the Yankees employ, it seems easy to trade for a stopgap infielder with adequate defensive skills and legitimate power.

One thing is for sure, the New York Yankees will not allow Cody Ransom or Angel Berroa to play every day.

They saw what happened when they tried a similar method after A-Rod’s injury early last season.

The Yankees went 6-11 without him over an extended stretch, and dug a hole that they were never able to climb out of.

This will be the truest test of the effectiveness of the rebuilt Yankee pitching staff. It will be up to them to keep Boston and Tampa Bay within reach until A-Rod’s return.