On the Yankees beat

I recall Viper ranting about my being mistaken re: Igawa and the US$ 46 million.

It is US$ 46 million. Why would you pay that much money to a pitcher who gave up a Grand Slam to a Tampa College kid?

What a disaster this season is turning into. It's a second rate team with a US$ 200 million payroll. I just don't understand it. Who could so many things go wrong on and off the field?

Jean Afterman must go. Cashman must go. Then Farnsworth and any other dead wood.

In fairness to poor snake bit Cashman, who knew Hughes would get hurt and Kennedy would regress?

Who know Igawa would do so well in the minors, then come back and get bombed by Detroit?

What a mess ...

Again I must ask, where are Brackman and Horne and all of these vaunted arms like Melancon and Betances and Sanchez? I thought we had an army of young, great pitchers?

So where are they?

It shows how little Ant Colony knows about this team because Brackman had TJ surgery last August and is not expected to pitch at all in 2008. This is not breaking news. We've known this since he signed his contract last summer.

Where have you been?

The team already knew that Brackman was likely going to have TJ surgery but they drafted him anyways. Why? Because the success rate for players recovering from TJ is extremely high and he's essentially the right-handed version of David Price, who was the #1 overall pick of the 2007 draft by the Rays. The front office felt he was worth the gamble despite his injury.

His talent is unquestioned. He throws almost 100 MPH and has a nasty spike curve ball. But he fell down to the Yanks because of his impending TJ surgery. Don’t expect to see him pitching for the Yanks before 2010.

Melancon is also recovering from TJ and is pitching in Tampa (High Single-A). He's pitching well and getting better with his command. He will be sent to Trenton (Double-A) once the weather warms up. The only reason he's not there now is because it's a whole lot warmer in Florida in April and May than it is in Jersey and it’s also where most Yankees go to recover and rehab from their injuries (ie: A-Rod, Posada, and Hughes to name a few).

Melancon could be this season's Joba, but he won't be pitching in the big leagues until late in the season if at all.

Again, this is nothing new. We've known this stuff for months. Welcome to 2008, Ant Colony.

Humberto Sanchez is also recovering from TJ, but he had a couple of setbacks during the offseason. He’s very close to throwing off the mound but he may not be ready to pitch in a game until late June or July. He will probably end up pitching in Scranton this season but it’s unlikely he’s going to get called up to the bigs in 2008.

Again, nothing new here.

Alan Horne strained a biceps muscle in his pitching arm about a month ago and is very close to returning to action. It appears the organization has been extremely cautious with his injury. An appearance with the Yanks later this season still appears likely, but it’s not going to happen until July or August.

Delin Betances is not even close to major league ready. He’s pitching in Single-A right now. He’s very raw but has a lot of potential.

Maybe you should do a simple Google search and find this stuff out for yourself. It would save you from the embarrassment of asking dumb questions on this board.

GF, but then I wouldn't get to see your nice 'reminder' list either... ;-)

Anyway, on to things that actually are new, Razz doesn't dazzle but to borrow a phrase from one of our regulars, he does GIT-R-DONE.

I love it.

A fourth guy who gives us quality starts.

Makes the other stuff easier to take, doesn't it?

I am one blogger who gave up on Karstens and Rasner. My comment was that they should not wear the pinstripes in the Bronx. My decision was based on 86 mph fastball and his performances last year at best serviceable. BUT,to my surprise the kid is pitching. Some kids adapt to the competition. He would be a very pleasant surprise to the transition that the team is undertaking. I hope for his continue success. These young guys ( HUGHES, KENNEDY, RASNER and the bullpen youngsters still have 80% of the season to learn and mature. It maybe frustrating at times but much good will come from it.

As far Igawa is concerned. Either trade him or put up with his slow progress or stationary growth for the time being. Patience is a virtue and for many years Yankee fans have not had to exhibit this emotion. We have seen what paying over price, end of the road FA's gets us. No WS flags and rings are displayed in many years but I see light at the end of the tunnel with the present direction.

Lets Go Yanks.

Remind me why the Yanks didn't send Igawa to San Diego when they had the chance?

Hype and "stuff" make for great conversation, but I'll take the guys who can Git-R-Done anytime!

Actually, I think what has transpired this year goes back to the "hungry" issue that I was talking about a couple of weeks ago. Rasner realized that his "window" of opportunity with the Yanks had passed him by, and when he got this latest chance, he came in with something to prove. He has the attitude that every start could be his last = he is "hungry".

Whereas, in my post about "hungry" players, I said it was unwise to hand rotation spots to Hughes and Kennedy before ST even started. They knew they had their spots and subconsciously let down just enough. When dealing with any youngster, I think it is best to keep them "hungry" and make them earn their spot. They should approach every game like it is their one chance to impress.

I know, I know, I'm stupid and don't know anything about baseball. But, I'm going to post my opinions anyway...

Rick:
Trust me your far from stupid but the Yankees had no other choice after easing out if the Santana sweepstakes. But to hand the kids the spots and use the pyschology that they were good enough to be trusted with the spots. Making a kid hungry all the time does not necessarily produce the results especially if the results are all not that good. They could roll up in a ball and go home.

Sully: Why would the Yankees trade a guy to San Diego that you got for a bargain price of 46 million. Who possesses a blazing 89/90 mph fastball with a curve that drops from 12 to 6, coupled with a 68 mph changeup and a slider with accuracy of a laser. The only team that I would consider the trade is with Boston for a bucket of Boston beans, the candy.

sully,

seriously, what have the padres done to deserve this? have they wronged us so severely in some way that we should inflict such a total merciless act upon them??? where's the humanity???

i mean cashman still has to meet these people in GM meetings, he needs to be able to look them in the face, make eye contact.
trading igawa is like selling your house 5 minutes after it was leveled by a tidal wave. for full price...

Larry M

Great point! I hear what you're saying and I agree there are different psychological approaches. When psychologically dealing with athletes, you basically have two roads to take. The tough love approach I described and the nuturing confidence one you described. These approaches can be used in coaching sports, work relationships, and raising one's kids.

I understand different people respond differently to each style. And, this psychological approach can apply to veterans as well as younsters. Look at AR and Giambi as classic cases. The Yankees threatened to send Giambi down to the minors in 2006 and he responded by getting hot. They don't do that with AR though when he goes into a funk because of his fragile psyche. Remember when Giambi suggested to JT that they give AR the same tough love approach they did for him?

I know there are other approaches. But, I personally prefer my approach for one reason (and this could explain why I feel the way I do about AR). In sports and in life, I like people that are "mentally tough" because they are the ones that usually Git-R-Done. If someone is going to "roll up in a ball and go home" when they're under pressure, then they're not the kind of people I want on my sports team anyhow.

I'm the kinda guy that likes the get tough style. I want to see people that can "answer the bell" when they're being challenged.
I raised my kids to be mentally tough. When you get knocked down, you get back up! Nobody's going to give you anything in life, you've got to earn it, etc. I know you and others might disagree with my approach, but it's the one that works best IMO.

As far as this past ST goes, perhaps they could have said Hughes and Kennedy were the favorites to win spots, but let it be known that the jobs were still up for grabs. That not only puts Hughes and Kennedy on notice, but gives all the others a ray of hope. Again, just my humble opinion.

And thanks for the intelligent conversation without the name calling and snide remarks, etc. I really appreciate it! It kinda takes me back to when this blog first started.

Rick: Nice answer, I'm more like you in how I look at life. You go out and get it and let someone try to take it away. Be in control of the situation.

I still have hopes for this team. I really like the way Girardi gets all the players involved. Guys seem ready to play as opposed to Joe Torre's play the hot guy while the others rust away on the bench.

Hope this rain delay goes away.

Nope -- the game goes away, instead of the rain.

BUT -- this is not bad, since we won't have to see Igawa on Wednesday.

And by the time the awful Igawa would have come up again maybe Kennedy will have called up Cashman and admitted how he was all wrong claiming after his first Scranton start that there was no difference between AAA hitters and MLB hitters and now he sees the light, etc., and they'll give him another chance as fifth starter.

Sorry, if it means I have to look at Betemit flopping helplessly around 3b, I can't say I enjoy watching the 'play everybody' approach in action.

I call it the 'soccer dad' approach. And I think it should be used exclusively by soccer dad coaches.

Diane: This is a little different than the soccer coach playing everybody. This is understanding that playing the whole roster keeps the regulars fresh and the bench guys ready to take over for the regulars if they get nicked with minor injuries. No regular player can have go 162 games and be at the top of his game mentally or physically. Cal Ripken is an aberration of the physical aspect of the game. By the way Ensberg must be in disfavor with Girardi.

I agree Wilson showed me that he's no third baseman but for his defense. Igawa is no pitcher. Those were rockets when the ball is buy a third baseman before he can move two steps. I'd start wearing a mouth piece.

I was also one of the people on here who said that Rasner was probably a AAAA player. The definition of a AAAA player is a guy who eats up the AAA league but can't find success at the Major League level. However, Rasner is looking good and hopefully gaining confidence at the same time. Here is what I notice that is different about him:

1. Control: Got the all important strike one on many batters.
2. Fastball was at 91MPH as opposed to 85 MPH.
3. This is the most blatant difference I saw in him: His curve or off speed stuff was around 71 MPH, while the heater was 90-91, which is a big difference when hitters are trying to guess what you are throwing.

I was impressed with his poise and control and I hope it works out for him. I won't get too excited yet though, but he's on the right path.

Rasner is not the long term solution at the back of the rotation for this team but he is starting to play an important role the way that Shawn Chacon or Aaron Small did back in 2005.

He really is basically a AAAA pitcher, but he's eating innings and pitching well for a team that needed him to eat innings.

Hopefully, the Yanks are catching lightning in a bottle and they can ride it for a month or two until Kennedy and/or Hughes begin to step it up and pitch the way they are capable of pitching.

Anthony,

By the way, I have never said Igawa's contract was anything but $46M because that figure has been seared into my memory for the last 18 months.

The only logical explanations why you would suggest otherwise are as follows:

A.) You're a liar

B.) You've mistaken me for someone else

C.) Your memory is not nearly as photographic as you have claimed

Go through the archives and find me the quote and link where I said that Igawa's contract was anything but $46M and I'll mail you my next paycheck.

Anthony,

By the way, I have never said Igawa's contract was anything but $46M because that figure has been seared into my memory for the last 18 months.

The only logical explanations why you would suggest otherwise are as follows:

A.) You're a liar

B.) You've mistaken me for someone else

C.) Your memory is not nearly as photographic as you have claimed

Go through the archives and find me the quote and link where I said that Igawa's contract was anything but $46M and I'll mail you my next paycheck.

RASNER IS is the man now and will fight for his spot . Rasner is hungry and will continue to fight as of now HUGHES and Kennedy pitched like AAAA pitchers and right now Rasner has two wins and won a game against a team Hughes could'nt beat. Right now you go with the pitcher that is doing it. yes you can insert Kennedy back into his Igwa's spot. but do you think if Ras has 6 wins by the time Hughes comes back that he will automatically be removed? he may be the real deal WHO KNOWS just like WHO KNOWS if hughes and kennedy is real deal obviously no one on here knows the answer and we shoud'nt act like we do we can only speculate. Larry M, Jim A , My respect for you has increased with you admiting that you had other thoughts about rasner. I had to eat crow regarding Melky barbecued at that. the bottom line is that we have people that can admit they are wrong.

Hughes has a mountain to climb to regain confidence of the fans and Himself a lesson is learned