TwitterPitchers And Catchers
17 Feb 2010
Today’s the day we all have waited for, pitchers and catchers are reporting in Tampa. As the Yankees look to defend their title, there are only a few questions that need to be answered in camp, but some of them are going to be big ones.
First up is who will be the fifth starter? Joe Girardi may say that it’s a five-pitcher race, but I don’t believe him. I think this probably comes down to Hughes or Chamberlain. I know there is a story in the Post today that the Yankees are going to put Joba in the bullpen no matter what, but I don’t believe that either. The Yankees could have kept Joba in the pen in 2009, but they felt he could be a front line starter. Through July 30th, it looked like he was well on his way as he sported as 7-2 record with a 3.58 ERA.
We know what happened next, but I still think a lot of it had to do with the Yankees and the way they tried to manipulate his innings. There is only one way to find out- let him loose for an entire season and see what happens. I bet the Yankees do that and put Hughes back into the bullpen, but there is one problem with that; it doesn’t prepare Hughes for the role he may need to assume in 2011.
I think the ultimate hopes of the Yankees are that Joba and Hughes pitch in the rotation in 2011. Getting Hughes to be in position to fill that role is going to be a challenge. If they put him in the bullpen from the start of the season, he probably won’t pitch more than 100 innings if that. That will mean we would have the "Hughes Rules" in 2011.
The resolution of the rotation will help clear up the next question of camp which is what will the bullpen look like? I think you can pretty much close five spots right now- Mo, the loser of the rotation competition, Marte, Robertson and Aceves. That leaves a lot of arms in play for the final two spots. I think Logan or Ring have to be considered favorites for one spot since the Yankees would probably like to take two lefties and the last spot will be wide open with Gaudin, Mitre, Melancon and Albie all in the mix. (I could see the Yankees trading Gaudin)
Another big question is what will the lineup look like? We know Jeter leads off and Tex and A-Rod are the 3/4, but what about the other spots? I think the Yankees might go with Granderson in the #2 spot against RHP and Johnson hitting 7th. Those two could also flip-flop spots against LHP. The 5 spot is probably going to go to Cano because the Yankees could then round out the rest of lineup alternating between lefties and switch-hitters (Posada-Johnson-Swisher-Gardner).
A smaller question is who is playing left and who is playing center? I am not sure if there will be a definitive answer reached in spring training and it wouldn’t shock me to see both guys get a lot of appearances in both spots. But, there is another question that directly impacts this one and it is who are the outfielders who make this team?
Obviously, we know that Swisher, Granderson and Gardner are on the team, but I wouldn’t go further than that. Winn has the inside track at the fourth spot, but if he bombs in camp I bet the Yankees trade or release him. Thames is going to have to fight Hoffmann and Golson off for the final outfield spot.
And finally, what about the extra infielder? I think Ramiro Pena is the safe bet, but if Kevin Russo shows them something, the Yankees just might take him.
Some big questions, some smaller ones, but the important thing is that baseball is back!
Feb 18, 2010 @ 19:18:57
Peter, I can see Hughes possibly being used as a starter for half a year in a platoon with Gaudin or someone else. Just thinking outside the box here. Staying outside the box, I think that Gardner, if he can become an OBP kind of guy, can be a great lead off hitter – but his OBP number has to come up significantly! Do I think this is probable? Nope.
The thing I’m trying to figure out is who will protect A-Rod this year. Matsui was a beast so A-Rod saw some good pitches. But if the number 5 guy is a lightweight, then A-Rod is going to be seeing a lot of garbage.
Feb 19, 2010 @ 17:48:13
I’d rather see Hughes as the fifth starter. Joba is a born closer. He and Robertson are going to anchor the bullpen when Rivera leaves. This will be a transitional season where Joba and Robertson become two of the leading set up guys in the AL.
I’d like to see Gardner win the third spot in the outfield. Barring that, I think the Yanks can do a lot better than Thames or Winn. There are guys like Damon and Dye available. Please.
Feb 19, 2010 @ 20:34:17
Mitchell
How do you see that working?
I could see Hughes opening in the minors too.
Anonymous- That is why I wish the Yankees had never brought Joba up into the bullpen in 2007. I think it cemented that opinion in place.
I want to see Joba with no rules get to navigate 200 innings in the bigs. If he can’t then put him in the pen. But, if he can, what a weapon the Yankees would have.
Feb 20, 2010 @ 08:04:15
Peter – I see Joba as the go-to 8th inning guy and heir apparent to Mo.
I can see Hughes/Gaudin or Hughes/TBA getting the 5th slot in the rotation, meaning that Hughes pitches every other start in the slot. Get close to the end of the season and if his innings are still under his cap, whatever that may be, he stops switching off. Nowhere is it written that pitchers need to start every 5 days. Or Hughes starts everty 5th game until the trading deadline and then goes to the bullpen. Or he doesn’t emerge from the bullpen until August and finishes out the season from the rotation.
Several ways to do it – all of them assuming that Joba is not #5.
Feb 21, 2010 @ 00:43:42
Mitchell- I know your thoughts about Joba
As for the rotation plan, would you pitch them out of the bullpen during their off days? I suppose you could do something where they started every 11 days, but appeared on their throw days in the bullpen.
I think it all depends on what Hughes’ innings limit is. I assume it is lower than Joba’s 160 last season, which means you have to do something like you suggest or open the season with him in AAA. That’s why I think the Yankees give the spot to Joba and try and use Hughes a lot over the course of 2010.
And, I still think Robertson or Melancon are the heir apparent to Mo.
Feb 21, 2010 @ 14:42:44
Yeah, Peter, at least I’m consistent in my assessment of Joba.
Hughes probably would need to start about 20 to 22 games to get him around 140 innings or so. I suspect that juggling some starts of the others or even giving some of the bigger horses a day or two push back or even a skip in their turn could be made to work.
Robertson seems to be “icey” enough to close; not (yet) my impression with Melancon. We’ll see soon enough – HOORAY it’s baseball !!!
Feb 22, 2010 @ 10:40:50
Chan Ho Park?
My guess is that Park was acquired to give the coaches the ability to send someone (Hughes? Joba? Melancon? Robertson?) back to AAA to get in their work and develop fully instead of having to wait for the call to the bullpen. Anybody else reading it this way?
Feb 22, 2010 @ 20:32:06
I don’t know Mitchell, it’s a bit of a puzzle to me. What does Park do better than Gaudin, Mitre or Aceves, who you would think are his competition for a bullpen spot? And why pay Gaudin, Mitre and Park $5 million between the three of them? Couldn’t this money have been spent more productively elsewhere?
Feb 23, 2010 @ 07:06:54
Peter,
Here’s a guess (or four) as to how Cashman is trying to think forward:
Park is a known quantity as far as relieving is concerned so his presence means that Hughes can go to Scranton without creating a hole in the bullpen. This maps into your scenario wherein Hughes starts the season in AAA.
OR
Either Gaudin or Mitre can be traded for some very hot AAA player to restock the farm system. Gaudin has value, Mitre may create value this Spring – maybe there’s a ball club who needs one of these guys that is willing to part with a player we can use. I can’t see both of those guys being traded as we need to keep a spare starter on the roster as insurance.
OR
Melancon or Robertson may need to get steadier work in Scranton to fine tune their skills away from the Bronx spotlight
OR
Something else is going on at which I can’t even begin to guess. IOW, I dunno either.
Feb 23, 2010 @ 16:36:44
Maybe it’s a combo of the three. Let’s say the Yankees think they will put Hughes in the minors (assuming Joba wins the 5th spot) to build up innings and they also want Robertson to open in AAA in order to get closing experience (9 career saves in the minors) Then it starts to make a little more sense, but I still don’t like it.