Joba, Hughes and the Yankees Fifth Starter

The question of who will be the Yankees fifth starting pitcher is sure to be a hot topic until a decision is reached later this Spring. The leading candidates are the obvious suspects, Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes, followed by Sergio Mitre, Alfredo Aceves and Chad Gaudin (in no specific order).

Early spring training starts aside, who is better suited to be the Yankees fifth starter? I don’t think I’m going out on the limb by saying that the spot will be given to either Joba or Hughes. The Yankees have visions of one of them being a starter this season, although, could you imagine how good their bullpen would be all season if they had both guys in there? They’d lock down the 7th and 8th innings before handing it off to Mariano Rivera. This was the case in the 2009 postseason and although Hughes didn’t pitch well then, I’d still be extremely content with having them both in the bullpen this coming October. 

The NY Daily News wrote a good article about Alfredo Aceves winning the starting spot and having Joba and Hughes in the bullpen. Although I can’t see it happening, the Yankees would turn their baseball games into six inning games. With Joba and Hughes working out of the bullpen, the Yankees may rarely lose games when having a lead after six innings. It would similar to 1996 when the Yankees were almost unbeatable when they had a lead after six innings. Mariano pitched the 7th and 8th innings and John Wetteland closed the door in the 9th. 

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Jeter’s Not Going Anywhere

“I’ve said from Day One, this is the only organization I’ve ever wanted to play for, and that’s still true today. I was a Yankees fan growing up,” Derek Jeter told the media in Tampa. “This is where I want to be. I’ve never envisioned myself playing anywhere else, and hopefully I don’t have to.”

And exhale.

Whew. 

Yankee fans, don’t let your mind wander any further about seeing Derek Jeter in another uniform. It’s not going to happen.

“To be honest with you, I never put limitations on how long I can play. … I want to play as long as I can, as long as I’m having fun, as long as I can be productive,” Jeter said. “This organization prides itself on winning and putting a competitive team on the field. As long as I can help out, that’s as long as I want to play.”

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Jeter, Mariano, and Girardi’s Contracts; Blame the Media if it Becomes a Distraction

I find it funny how media members write and talk about how the contract situations of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi could become distractions. The media is the reason why it could potentially become a distraction! Not only are they going to ask those three guys about their contract situations frequently, but they’re going to ask other players and members of the Yankees organization about it frequently which creates a distraction. It wouldn’t be a big deal or turn into a distraction if the media left it alone. 

All three guys are going to handle their situations with class no matter how they feel. No matter how they feel on the inside, they are not going to let it affect their attitude or on-field capabilities. 

Blame the media for blowing this up. Derek Jeter, who is already in Tampa, said he will wait to address the issue until everyone arrives at Spring Training. He will call a press conference at that time. What is Jeter going to say at the press conference? Nothing. He’s going to ask the media to not ask him about it again and say it will be handled when it’s handled. A ploy to get the media to stop asking him questions about it.

If the media does turn this into a distraction then put some of the blame on the Yankees. They are a veteran team coming off of a World Series title. It’s hard to imagine it affects the team’s play. 

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Yankees 2011 Offseason and Free Agency

As I said in a previous post, Brian Cashman looks one or two years down the road when making decisions. He didn’t put up cash for a player like Holliday or Lackey this off-season because he knows next off-season is going to be a crucial one for the Yankees. The Yankees have decisions to make on Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. There will also be some potential free agents the Yankees should take a look at.

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Yankees History Without Mariano Rivera: A Rewritten History of the Last 15 Years

What if Mariano Rivera wasn’t a Yankee? What if the Rockies or Marlins chose him in the 1993 expansion draft? What if he was traded to the Tigers for David Wells in 1995? What if he was traded to the Mariners for Felix Fermin in 1996? What would the last 15 years have been like for the Yankees without the Sandman? Here is a rewritten history of the New York Yankees since 1995 without Mariano Rivera:

1995: (Rivera 5-3, 5.51 ERA, 0 S, 67.0 IP) The outcome remains the same. The Yankees win the first ever wild card but lose in the ALDS to the Mariners in four games (lost in five games in reality). Rivera wasn’t there in game two to pitch 3.1 shutout innings in relief leading up to Jim Leyritz’s game-winning walk off two-run home run in the 15th inning. The Yankees wind up losing game two and then lose games three and four. Visions of Griffey scoring a game-winning run in the 11th inning of game five don’t exist.

1996: (Rivera 8-3, 2.09 ERA, 5 S, 107.2 IP) The Yankees win the AL East and are able to get through the Rangers and Orioles in the ALDS and ALCS respectively. The Braves prove to be too much for the Yankees and win the World Series in six games. Mariano wasn’t there to hold down the Braves in games three and six. The Braves won the first three games of the series and the Yankees won the following two. In game six, nobody could hold off the Braves’ rallies in the 7th and 8th innings. They scored three runs combined in those two innings and one more in the 9th off John Wetteland to beat the Yankees 6-2 for their second consecutive World Series championship. In reality, the Yanks lost the first two games of the series at home but win the next four games to record their first World Series championship since 1978. Mariano had two big holds in games three and six. He posted a 0.63 ERA in the postseason with one win and four holds.

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Yankees Win 27th World Series

The Yankees 2009 season started with a trip to the pool hall on an afternoon during spring training. It ended with a World Series championship. The new Yankee Stadium’s inaugural season started with a Boston fan named Gino Castignoli burying a Red Sox jersey under the structure. It ended with champagne and the Commissoner’s Trophy. The 2009 season started with an A-Rod press conference and ended with A-Rod coming up clutch in big postseason at-bats. February was a long, long time ago.

The Yankees needed everyone to win the championship. Not everyone had Hideki Matsui numbers in the World Series but it took a complete team effort to get to October and get through the ALDS and ALCS. Phil Hughes had a tough postseason but was a big reason why the Yankees had such a strong regular season. Robinson Cano didn’t have many hits in the postseason but batted .320 in the regular season.Then there’s Damaso Marte who had an injury plagued regular season and became Girardi’s go-to-guy with outstanding pitching in the postseason.

There’s also the guys that are consistent; The “Core Four”. Jeter, Rivera, Posada, Pettitte were good all season and their postseason experience shined in 2009. Rivera was the only closer in the postseason not to blow a save. Pettitte was the starter in each of the Yankees three series clinching games. Posada came back from an injury riddled 2008 season and led the pitching staff and clubhouse. Jeter was Jeter. What else can be said about the Yankees captain.

On to the newcomers. Sabathia, Burnett, Teixeira, Swisher. The Yankees don’t make it to the World Series without acquiring these guys. Sabathia was incredible in the postseason. He went 3-1 in five starts with a 1.98 ERA in the postseason. Teixeira led the AL in home runs during the regular season with 39. He also had two big postseason home runs. Remember back to the first month of the season and Nick Swisher kept the Yankees going when A-Rod was out with injury and the bats were as cold as the April and May weather.

Finally, A-Rod. He was clutch. Nobody can say he chokes in October anymore. He put his critics to rest. He batted over .360 in the postseason with six home runs and 18 RBI. A-Rod was a big reason why the Yankees won number 27.

The Yankees broke in the original Yankee Stadium with a World Series championship in 1923. In 2009, the Yankees broke in the new Yankee Stadium with a World Series championship.

Yankees Win Game Four of World Series in Dramatic Fashion

A-Rod may have gotten the biggest hit of his life tonight. With a tie game in the top of the 9th, A-Rod drove a double to left that put the Yankees up 5-4. With Mariano Rivera hovering in the bullpen, one run probably would have been enough. Another two runs would be more than enough. Posada added to the Yankees lead with a two-run single in the next at bat. The Yankees didn’t get down after Joba Chamberlain blew the Yankees 4-3 lead in the bottom of the 8th. They reached deep and answered with three runs in the 9th off of Phillies closer Brad Lidge.

It’s fitting that the Yankees won this game the way they did. This is how they have played all season long. They have so many weapons and so many smart baseball players. Credit Damon for heads up baserunning in the 9th inning. Also credit Damon for putting together a great at bat with two outs in the 9th, ending with a single that allowed him to record that two stolen base play. Johnny Damon went 3-5 in the game with two runs and an RBI.

CC Sabathia pitched on three days rest and gave the Yankees a great effort. He left after 6.2 innings and the lead. Damaso Marte got the final out of the 7th inning and Joba Chamberlain pitched the 8th but made one mistake, which left the ball park and tied the game. Pedro Feliz bombed one off of Joba with two outs in the inning to tie the game.

Mariano Rivera made easy work of the Phillies in the 9th inning, throwing just eight pitches. Expect Rivera to be ready to pitch in game five.

Another dramatic finish to a Yankees game and the Philadelphia crowd, loud all game and series, go home stunned.

Yankees Beat Phillies in Game Four of World Series 7-4

A-Rod may have been hit by more pitches (3) than he has hits (2) in the World Series but his two hits were huge.

Tied at 4-4 in the top of the 9th, Johnny Damon singled with two outs. Damon grinded out the at bat and ended up with a hit into left-center field. With Teixeira up next, the Phillies had a defensive shift on and the Phillies third basemen was just to the left of shortstop. Damon stole second and bolted for third knowing nobody was covering the bag. Damon was credited with two steals on the play. Teixiera was hit by a pitch, giving A-Rod the opportunity to bat. A-Rod took full advantage. He ripped a double down the left field line to drive in Damon and out the Yankees head 5-4. Posada drove in Tex and A-Rod with a hit to left-center in his at bat that gave the Yankees some more insurance. Mariano Rivera didn’t need the insurance runs as he set the Phillies down in order in the 9th.

This Yankees team fights until the final out. The Yankees have terrorized yet another closer this postseason. They now are up three games to one over the Phillies. AJ Burnett goes for the Yankees in game five against Cliff Lee, who stifled the Yankees in game one. Both pitchers were dominant in their first starts this series. The Yankees are in the drivers seat and need one more win in three chances to be crowned champions.

Girardi Makes All the Right Moves in Game Three

Joe Girardi has been criticized for some of his decisions during the playoffs this year but in game three of the World Series he made all the right moves. It starts with making the decision to go with Sabathia in game four. That put some pressure on the Phillies in game three, knowing it would be Blanton against Sabathia in the next game. Then Girardi went ahead and started Nick Swisher in right field. Girardi benched Swisher in game two. How did Swisher thank Girardi? A 2-4 game with a double, solo home run, and two runs scored. Girardi used his bullpen well too. Joba gave him a solid 7th inning. Damaso Marte shut down the Phillies in the 8th and Girardi chose to take out Phil Hughes after giving up a solo home run in the 9th with one out. Mariano Rivera came in the got the final two outs. Girardi will also get credit for putting Matsui in to pinch hit. It was an obvious move but Matsui made it look great with a tack on solo home run.

Girardi made all the right moves in game three and the Yankees are up 2-1 in the World Series over the Phillies. With Sabathia ready to go in game four, the Yankees have a great shot at going up 3-1.

Yankee Bullpen Issues: Who Can Be Trusted in Yankees Bullpen?

Who do the Yankees trust coming out of the bullpen? The first and most obvious answer; Mariano Rivera. After Mariano the level of trust drops substantially. Here are the various confidence levels the Yankees have in their bullpen.

Most Confidence: Mariano Rivera
Mr. Reliable has a 0.71 ERA this postseason. Girardi has called on Mo to get six out saves in game six of the ALCS and game two of the World Series. Girardi won’t have the luxury of using Mo for two inning saves in Philadelphia since there are no days off between any of the three games. Mo is one of the best, if not the best, postseason pitchers of all-time.

Gaining Confidence: Damaso Marte, Joba Chamberlain, David Robertson
Damaso Marte made 21 appearances and gave up 14 earned runs during an injury plagued 2009 regular season (9.45 ERA). The lefty specialist has gotten some big outs against left-handed hitters for the Yankees in the postseason. He hasn’t given up a run in five appearances although his last three appearances have come in Yankee losses.
Joba Chamberlain looks to have taken over as setup man. Joba has given up seven hits in 3.1 innings but has given up only one earned run. He’s been hit hard in a couple of outings against the Angels but the Yankees remain confident in Joba. Look for Girardi to go to Joba instead of Phil Hughes in the 8th inning.
David Robertson is 2-0 and hasn’t given up a run so far this postseason. Girardi’s not afraid to hand the ball to Robertson in a big spot. Robertson has put together strong efforts in tough spots this postseason including getting out of a bases loaded jam in extra innings against Minnesota that set up a Mark Teixeira walk-off  home run.

In the Middle: Phil Coke, Chad Gaudin
Phil Coke was once Girardi’s go-to-guy but has now become the second lefty Girardi calls upon. He hasn’t done anything to cause the demotion so it’s hard to understand. Some situations have called for a lefty pitcher but Girardi decided to stick with a right hander. Coke hasn’t given up any runs in two innings of work this postseason. 
Chad Gaudin is in limbo. He’s pitched one inning this postseason and it was the 9th inning of a 10-1 blowout win over the Angels. Gaudin awaits word of whether he’ll start a game in the World Series.

Losing Confidence: Phil Hughes, Brian Bruney, Alfredo Aceves
Phil Hughes had an unbelievable regular season as the Yankees setup man and bridge to Mariano. Hughes has been rocked this postseason. An inflamed 9.64 ERA and his inability to record an out in game one of the World Series doesn’t show Girardi he can be that 8th inning guy.
Brian Bruney won’t touch the mound unless there is a blowout. Not after he gave up two runs on three hits and recorded just one out in game one of the World Series. Bruney was left off the Yankees ALDS and ALCS rosters and for good reason. 
Alfredo Aceves hasn’t pitched since game three of the ALDS. Tied at 4-4, Aceves gave up the game winning run the 11th inning. In game two of the ALDS he gave up a run in the 11th inning but was saved by A-Rod’s game tying home run. Aceves has dropped in the pecking order.