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New York Yankees: 3 pitching scenarios maybe 4

Posted by on 25 March 2012, 12:13 am

The New York Yankees have some pitching situations to solve.

I have narrowed it down to three or four possibilities based on what I believe the 2012 Opening Day rotation should be, which in order is Sabathia, Kuroda, Pineda, Nova and Hughes.

My crazy pitching diagram.

First being the plethora of starting pitching.

That leaves Freddy Garcia hanging out to dry, and initially I thought Garcia should go the bullpen but now since he is willing to hear any trade ideas that GM Brian Cashman should send Garcia hiking.

Second up is Andy Pettitte’s return, and what to do when the southpaw decides to grace us with his presence again.

Someone has to go either the bullpen, or more likely Triple-A Scranton as it allows the cast-off to keep his arm fresh by pitching every five days.

This should not be decided until Pettitte and the Yankees set a date. And the odd-man should not be told he is out until the day before Pettitte arrives. Determining ‘who’ should be performance based, so the biggest loser goes.

Thirdly, with the devastating news about Joba Chamberlain’s trampoline injury, which will sideline him indefinitely, the Yankees cannot just keep him on the payroll because they like him. It is not going to be easy but they need to cut Joba. I know it is harsh considering all the crap Joba has been put through but reality is the Yankees owe him $1.6 million for 2012 and reality is players are paid to play. Joba can be resigned next season, which I feel is the Yankees are almost obligated  to do if he can pitch. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: 3 pitching scenarios maybe 4’ »

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New York Yankees: What would you do if you were Girardi and Rothschild

Posted by on 23 March 2012, 3:32 am
Joe Girardi, manager of the New York Yankees.

Joe Girardi, manager of the New York Yankees. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The New York Yankees have CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Michael Pineda, Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes, Freddy Garcia and now Andy Pettitte, which leaves them with the same problem that trading AJ Burnett was supposed to solve, seven starters for five rotation spots.

It is tough to complain about being overloaded with starting pitching especially after the Yankees had the opposite issue last spring, but it will be a tough decision for skipper Joe Girardi and pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

THE LOCKS:

1) Obviously Sabathia, who Girardi confirmed would be opening the season at the dumpy Trop vs. the Rays.

2) Kuroda was named the team’s #2 from the get-go.

3) Pettitte has a rotation spot waiting for him, and that makes complete sense. It was nice to hear that Pettitte hit 94 mph in a bullpen session, but not that surprising. Before he hung up his mitt, the first time, the Southpaw was having a career year in 2010, finishing 11-3 in 21 starts, posting a 3.28 ERA and holding opposing bats to a .256 average.

And fans might even get to see Pettitte in a spring game, as ESPN reported that Girardi has not ruled it out as a possibility yet. Rothschild has already had Pettitte throw live BP so things are moving right along in his comeback. And after speaking to many Yankee fans, Pettitte will be welcomed in the Bronx with open arms.

FOUR FOR TWO:

So, this leaves Hughes, Nova, Pineda and Garcia.

Pettitte’s un-retirement does give the Yankees about a month to give the remaining four a real test run, as the veteran Southpaw said he is aiming for May 1st but knowing Girardi’s usual paranoia that means more like mid-May.

Regardless, in my opinion Spring Training stats don’t mean that much for two reasons. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: What would you do if you were Girardi and Rothschild’ »

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New York Yankees: Andy Pettitte you missed us too much

Posted by on 16 March 2012, 2:42 pm

As I was sitting down to watch the Yankees host the Washington Nationals today, the YES networkboys dropped a bomb.

English: Andy Pettitte

Image via Wikipedia

That pitcher Andy Pettitte has un-retired and had signed a minor league, 1-year, 2.5 million deal with a plan to return to the Bronx again.

It was said that Pettitte is allowed to take all the time he needs to get ready and that a rotation spot will be ready for the 39-year old southpaw.

The last time Pettitte was on the mound was back in 2010, making 21 starts and finishing 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA. Pettitte was having a career year but he missed 4-5 weeks with a groin injury and Yankee fans were forced to stomach Sergio Mitre during that time.

Pettitte’s return was a total shock, as I knew he was invited to camp to be a guest instructor but the NY Post writer George E. King declared that, ….the legendary lefty won’t be attempting a comeback if he accepts.

Shows how much King knows, as GM Brian Cashman said this has brewed since late December.

Around Christmas time, Pettitte had heard the GM on the Michael Kay Show talking about how much the Yankees would still want him if he ever wanted to return, and that got his juices flowing.

That sparked a whirlwind of back and forth between the two, which at first didn’t pan out because of the Yankees overflow and money but Pettitte did not stop throwing the entire time. And after more back and forth, followed by throwing a good secret bullpen for Cashman, Girardi and Rothschild a few days ago all led to Pettitte now being officially back in the pinstripes. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Andy Pettitte you missed us too much’ »

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New York Yankees Hot Stove: How To Be Insanely Sane By Doing Nothing

Posted by on 11 January 2012, 4:42 am
CC Sabathia

Ace CC Sabathia Image via Wikipedia

Since winning the 2009 World Series, the New York Yankees have been desperately trying to add a legitimate starting pitcher to the rotation, unsuccessfully.

THROWING A HAIL MARY:

As defending champs heading into 2010 season, GM Brian Cashman’s solution was Javier Vazquez, again, which irritated Yankee fans to no avail, again. No need to chat about Vazquez ever, so if you don’t know trust me that it is a good thing. Just for when, click HERE but you were warned, it was sad.

Then last off-season; after Vazquez happily packed his bags and Andy Pettitte retired the situation went from a priority to desperately needed.

Cashman did all he could offering ace Cliff Lee the sun and the moon to come play in the Bronx. And thanks to some Yankee fans for spitting and taunting Mrs. Lee during the 2010 ALCS, Mr. Lee opted for Philadelphia for less money and years.

This left the Yankees stumped, but to his credit Cashman pieced together veteran tryouts in Spring Training, which gave the Yankees Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia. The two literally saved the 2011 season, surpassing all expectations by winning 20 games and throwing 300+ innings combined.

IS THE 2012 STARTING ROTATION INSANE?

Freddy Garcia, Pitching Coach Larry Rothschild & Catcher Russell Martin - Pre-Game

So where does this leave the Yankees rotation now?

Well, sorry to break the news but extending ace CC Sabathia’s contract and getting Garcia for one more season were necessities’, not improvements.

And since no World Series ring is equated to a busted season in New York, throwing another Hail Mary and almost catching it again will be tough.

So my question is….

Wouldn’t one think the general consensus might be that repeating a 2011 campaign that ultimately failed to be a tad insane?

WHY MY ANSWER WAS YES:

A very clever man once said:

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. - Albert Einstein

Personally, I always thought the dumbest, smart guy must have come up with that one. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Hot Stove: How To Be Insanely Sane By Doing Nothing’ »

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Who Said New York Has Pitching Problems? Projecting Yankees Starting Rotation

Posted by on 4 March 2011, 6:12 am

The critics have spoken, actually they haven’t shut-up about potential troubles facing the New York Yankees pitching heading into 2011.

There are viable reasons behind the endless debating about the Yankees rotation following this off-season’s reality check.

Does it justify such a dramatic stance that the Yankees might not contend in 2011?

Absolutely not, but things got a little scary before Spring Training with the moves GM Brian Cashman was making. Like the day Cashman signed Bartolo Colon and the now fact he made an offer to Carl Pavano just shy of $10 million to bring his talents back to the Bronx, again. It was embarrassing and New York does not wear desperate well or ever.

So, what will the Yankees starting rotation be at the start of 2011 on March 31st? Well, let’s take a look:

  1. CC Sabathia
  2. AJ Burnett
  3. Phil Hughes
  4. Ivan Nova
  5. Freddie Garcia

The Obvious:

Opening Day, CC Sabathia will be on the mound without question. Sabathia is the team’s ace and one of the top 10 pitchers in all of baseball.

Following Sabathia will undoubtedly be AJ Burnett and Phil Hughes. Knowing Skipper Joe Girardi’s typical way of thinking is the reason Burnett is listed as the team’s #2.

It displays confidence and respect towards a pitcher who posted a 10-15 record last season. Look, Burnett needs all the support he can get, and hope Yankees fans are listening.

A HUGE positive is Burnett seems to be in a great place since arriving in Tampa. My bet is Burnett will have a big year, as the stuff is there that is for sure.

Reality is Hughes probably deserves to follow Sabathia based on last season’s results, but the mild manner 25-year-old is just happy to help out in anyway he can.

The Initial Mess:

Where to begin?

Anyone hearing his or her team had no fourth or fifth starter to solidify the back-end of the starting rotation would be rather troubled, but in New York it was as if the sky fallen down.

Following an off-season where Yankee fans egos got trampled on not once, but twice (not getting into Pettitte and Lee again) caused complete panic. When in actuality it was a very needed reality check for an over privileged fan-base, me included.

The New Reality:

Just 17 days into Spring Training and this presumed mess has turned promising.

As the Dalai Lama once said: Continue reading ‘Who Said New York Has Pitching Problems? Projecting Yankees Starting Rotation’ »

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Andy Pettitte Retires: Can the New York Yankees Win Without Him in 2011?

Posted by on 3 February 2011, 11:09 pm

The news no New York Yankee fan wanted to hear came today, as pitcher Andy Pettitte is hanging up his pinstripes.

Not only is this a sad day because Pettitte is a legend, but it marks the end of an era, as fans will never see the Yankees‘ “Core Four” play together again.

Where does this leave the Yankees heading into the 2011 season?

Without Pettitte in the rotation, there is no doubt the pressure is on.

In his 16-year career, Pettitte has 240 career wins, 203 of which were won during his 13 seasons in pinstripes. He has made 42 playoff starts, winning 19 of them, making Pettitte the winningest pitcher in postseason history.

So how could a 38-year-old southpaw be such a season-changer?

In 2010, after winning the World Series in 2009, Pettitte was having a career year and was named to the All-Star team.

Prior to a groin injury that put Pettitte on the DL on July 19, 2010, he had made a total of 18 starts. Pettitte’s record was 11-3, but the team went 15-3 in his starts. Pettitte didn’t return for two months, and he did struggle for his first two starts back, but he won his final regular season start and once again was dominant in the postseason.

Pettitte was a rock in the Yankees’ rotation with a cemented reputation to come through when the team couldn’t. He provided a sigh of a relief when on the mound, because Pettitte was unswerving and reliable.

If anyone thinks that this is not a major blow to the Yankees, don’t listen because it is a complete lie. Pettitte’s absence will affect everything, from making the postseason to winning, if the team can qualify in the first place. Continue reading ‘Andy Pettitte Retires: Can the New York Yankees Win Without Him in 2011?’ »

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MLB Breaking News: Michael Kay Tweets Andy Pettitte Is In New York To Announce Retirement

Posted by on 3 February 2011, 2:10 pm

Yes, it is true. New York Yankees Southpaw Andy Pettitte will announce his retirement at Yankee Stadium tomorrow, February 4.

This is according to ESPN’s Michael Kay who twittered, “I have learned that Andy Pettitte will officially retire tomorrow. Mote details to come….Michael”

This is sad news for Yankee fans and the franchise, as Pettitte has been a staple playing 14 years in pinstripes.

The Yankees “Core Four” will never play baseball together again, after winning five World Series rings together.

Pettitte will be sorely missed, but he has certainly earned to walk away with his head held high.

The press conference’s official time has yet to be announced.

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