As soon as i saw him pitch the 2nd inning, i crossed my fingers.  Fantastic news.

YES Postgame showed Moose writing on his dry-erase board: “Balls that hit [above] the yellow line are usually homeruns.  Not tonight.”

I love Moose.

Also, what does it mean that he’s now aligned with Rasner? I imagine not only are they going to keep increasing his workload, but are they going to do an every 5th day thing with him? I imagine the answer is yes.

They may need him sooner rather than later if Wang’s calf is worse than thought.

I am really excited, too. But man, that Yankee bullpen could really suck once he is starting. Does anyone think there is any option from the minors or via trade that could be available at some point this year? I know it is way early to judge, since lots of teams we thought would be mediocre are still doing well and in contention. But still—any ideas?

And I really wish Bruney didn’t blow out his foot. He wasn’t going to be Joba, but he could have been a better option than what they are throwing out there now.

Sorry, what’s the story on [2]?

The Yanks are overflowing with relievers.  Both Veras and Edwar Ramirez have pitched well.  Farnsworth, much to our collective dismay, will also see his share of high leverage innings.  Down in Scranton, David Robertson has the potential to be a high strikeout guy and, who knows, the Yanks may even put Melancon on the fast track if he continues to pitch well at AA.

There are:

David Robertson
JB Cox
Mark Melancon
Scott Patterson

There’s also Alan Horne whom they could probably turn into a reliever if they wanted to.  And, between Moose, Rasner, Joba, IPK, and Phil they’ll have 2 odd men out, at least one of whom could end up in the pen…

There are ALSO people like Ohlie, Edwar, Veras - any of whom might step up to fill in for Joba.

I like how Yankee fans are getting the news in stride, appreciating the long-term importance of Joba-as-a-starter:

Well folks, that does it for the best back end of a bullpen in baseball. At any rate, it’s good to see Joba take Johan Santana’s spot in the rotation. I’ll be sure to have my Maalox ready as Farnsworth and Hawkins try to get us through the 7th and 8th.

Oh, and about that Kennedy guy and that Hughes kid…

(Stolen from WasWatching’s comments).

Sorry, what’s the story on [2]?

ARod hit a ball out to RF that bounced off the yellow-painted wall *beyond* the regular wall, ie, it was a home run.  But the umps got together and said it had stayed in place and thus was a double, not a homer.

Certainly enough options in AAA/AA that something can and will be done with Joba’s spot. Things will certainly be interesting when Hughes comes back if Rasner is still pitching well and Joba doesn’t have any bumps and bruises along the way. Might we see the two headed monster plan come to fruition?

“But the umps got together and said it had stayed in place and thus was a double, not a homer.”

Thanks.  Based I hope on confusion about the point of impact?

Mrs. Rilkefan was just checking that the baby hadn’t reprogrammed the tv again and flipped past some sports station where an indignant announcer was asking how the Yankees can possibly cover the eighth without Joba.

the process has started, so converting Joba to a starter.

Somewhere, Francesa weeps.

if you have any doubts about this move, just know that Francessa and Steve Phillips both hate it.

it’s golden.

this season just got interesting.

If Steve Phillips hates it, that means Joba will probably win 15 this season.

yup.

couldn’t have said it better meself.

I had predicted last off season that this is when it should begin, in May and June, then as a starter by July.

With JB Cox and Mark Melancon progressing well, they may feel one of those guys can be the [eventual] set-up man. I still think Ohlendorf could set-up Mariano if he’s not overused early.

Just wanted to comment on something said in the last thread…

Mariano has explained that he really can’t throw a changeup with the cutter, because of wrist action being so different. I heard it on YES.

I remember last year, Rivera experimented with a changeup in spring training.  Then he started the season and got shelled pretty badly (remember Marco Scutaro’s walkoff homerun?)  Was this due to playing around with the changeup?

Wow has anyone ever seen the Showtime original Joe Torre: Curveballs along the Way? Feech from the Sopranos is playing Frank Torre! This is amazing. I’m laughing my ass off right now. Isaiah Washington is playing Dwight Gooden. This needs to be put on Youtube. Amazing the things you’ll find on TV at 5 in the morning. Thanks, liquor.

Was this due to playing around with the changeup?

According to fangraphs, Rivera threw 1125 pitches in 2007.  0.1% were changeups.  My sliderule says that’s approximately one changeup, so it probably doesn’t explain several bad outings.  Unless throwing that one pitch messed up his wrist action for a couple of weeks.

Also, what does it mean that he’s now aligned with Rasner? I imagine not only are they going to keep increasing his workload, but are they going to do an every 5th day thing with him?

I wouldn’t read too much into this.  For that matter, I wouldn’t read too much into Girardi’s comments.  “The process has started” doesn’t exactly give us a lot of detail on what the process will look like.  Starters do throw bullpen sessions between starts.  There’s no reason that Chamberlain couldn’t alternate longer outings with some one inning stints, with two days off in between each.  And it wouldnt be hard to line him up to take a rotation slot other than Rasner’s.

Also, Phillips is still insisting that Chamberlain will have to go to the minors to get stretched out.  What a freakin’ moron.

I know I sound like a broken record on this, but people really need to look at Johan Santana’s game logs from his transition years.

Wang’s calf?  Whoa, what’s the matter with Wang’s calf?  I’m so sick of the injuries!

In the week leading up to his first start of 2003, Santana made four appearances.  All less than two innings.  Sixty pitches total.  Of course, he’d pitched some longer stints earlier, but what were they doing there?  Un-stretching him?

After two starts (82 and 88 pitches), he went back to the pen for two weeks of relatively short outings (nothing more than 2.1 IP and 35 pitches).  Then he threw a three inning outing (64 pitches, because he got lit up a bit).  After that, he was in the rotation the rest of the way.

I just had a slightly different thought on Joba.  Maybe you guys have already figured this out.  Is it possible that what they really want is to pitch him with some big leads like last night, so he can work the change in without a lot of pressure?  They might not want him doing too much of that when he’s trying to protect a one or two run lead.  Of course, trailing by a lot is also low leverage, but maybe they felt that they needed a game like last night’s to announce the transition before doing something that might cause massive strokes in the press box and radio booth, as bringing Chamberlain into a game that was already lost surely would.

Whoa, what’s the matter with Wang’s calf?

Mild strain.

Anyway, more details on the great transition plan are emerging.  Sounds like Girardi wants Joba to be able to throw 100 pitches in his first start.  Obviously, you do have to build up to that gradually.  My point above and before is that I don’t see why 75 pitches in his first start and 90 in his second would be such a problem, and wouldn’t be a pretty good way to stretch him out.

Is it possible that what they really want is to pitch him with some big leads like last night, so he can work the change in without a lot of pressure?

The time frame is about right for the transition now, but it’s an interesting question.  If last night’s game was a save situation, you can guarantee Mo pitches the ninth.  With how rarely this team a)has a lead and b)has a lead that is not a pressure situation, it may be tricky to transition Joba in low-leverage situations.

I know he’s not a sexy option, but I’d add Scott Strickland to the bullpen options at AAA. He used to be very good and he’s striking out more than a batter an inning in AAA. I think he could very useful, especially to keep the younger guys from getting over used.

Rasner has walked 2 in 19 innings, that’s sick.

A-rod is a Greek God. I am so happy he’s back. Now they only need to go 19-6 to reach my prediction from yesterday!

Rasner is like a poor man’s Jon Lieber. 

he’s bound to get rocked on of these days b/c he’s always in the strike zone and his stuff is average, but if he can keep this miniscule walk rate, he can be a #4/5 starter. 

that’s why i don’t like the Aaron Small comparisons.  Rasner is 27, he was a prospect (albeit not a great one) once upon a time, and he has been league averate in 50+ innings for the Yankees over the previous 3 years.  that’s a miniscule sample, but he has been talked about as a longman/#5 or #6 starter for the Yankees since 2005.

Small really came out of nowhere.

Of course it’s completely illogical, but it feels to me like today’s game will be a litmus for the rest of the season.  A win tips it positive, a loss negative.  They just have to win some games with Kennedy on the mound…if they can’t do it against the O’s…I know such comments bear no scrutiny and reside completely in the emotional centers of my brain.  And yet, such thoughts refuse to die.  My name is Dave, and I have a problem.

Rasner is 27, he was a prospect (albeit not a great one) once upon a time, and he has been league averate in 50+ innings for the Yankees over the previous 3 years.

Rasner was a second round pick (#46 overall) so yeah, he was definitely considered a reasonable prospect at one time.  If my memory is right, he lost velocity after being drafted which is what led to Washington cutting him, but he wouldn’t be the first pitcher to be effective despite less than eyepopping velocity and secondary pitches.  Throwing quality strikes can cover a lot of weaknesses.

Of course it’s completely illogical, but it feels to me like today’s game will be a litmus for the rest of the season.  A win tips it positive, a loss negative

Yeah, I know we’re not supposed to believe in momentum, but this team needs a winning streak. A loss today after what was probably the most uplifting game of the year would be a real punch in the ...

When Aaron Small came up, he didn’t even pitch that well, peripherally. A 24 to 37 BB/K ratio is awful.

I think there are more than a few control guys who put it together pretty late. Paul Byrd didn’t get a real shot until 28. Silva got one at 25. Corey Lidle at 29. If he turns into any of those guys, which is a positive outcome, but not an unrealistic one based on stuff and performance record, he’s a really useful ballplayer under team control for a few years.

I think if I’m Girardi, I’m sending Joba in in low-leverage situations now and ordering him to hang some beach balls out there. Just so when he moves into the starting role, people aren’t expecting him to ring up 17 K’s through 7IP.

OH GOD I’LL NEVER BE A MANAGER

he’s bound to get rocked on of these days b/c he’s always in the strike zone and his stuff is average, but if he can keep this miniscule walk rate, he can be a #4/5 starter.

Last night Rasner did a good job of painting the corners and staying low and away, even throwing a couple of what looked to be backdoors.  If he can do that, then the chances of him being rocked will go down.  Again, I’ve only seen him twice, but last night he showed that he doesn’t need to pitch in the zone.

I’m more worried about his second time around in the league than his ability to pitch in or out of the zone.

Rasner won’t always be this good (after all, he’s pitched well against weak-hitting teams like Baltimore and Seattle and Detroit doesn’t hit righties) but there is every reason to think he can give the team league average innings - which Kennedy is incapable of at the moment.  And as SG posted a few days ago, once this team starts scoring, they will start winning.

Also, Rasner has shown an ability (in his limited sample) to induce strikeouts, which is an excellent sign.

what is a good site to get the radar readings from pitchers?  i know some of you guys cite average fastball velocity sometimes, and i was wondering where you get it.  thanks.

fangraphs, maybe?

Actually, I still want Rasner to be the long man.  Not because I think he can’t be effective, but because that means everyone ELSE is pitching well.  If the other day was a blip for Moose, and Wang and Pettitte return to being themselves, then Rasner is a #4 for now.  Once Joba enters the rotation then Rasner is #5.  If either Kennedy can be effective and/or Hughes comes back when he’s supposed to (and pitches like he is), Rasner is in the pen.

And of course then, I think the Yankees would have a great long-man/spot-starter, so that they can hopefully start limiting Ohlendorf to 1-2 innings for late work.  Now if we can just have EVERYTHING go right the rest of the year…

Yes, Fan Graphs rocks.  For pitchers, you can get pitch type/velocity stuff at the bottom of their season stats pages.

According to fangraphs, Rivera threw 1125 pitches in 2007.  0.1% were changeups.  My sliderule says that’s approximately one changeup, so it probably doesn’t explain several bad outings.  Unless throwing that one pitch messed up his wrist action for a couple of weeks.

Yeah, but how many changeups did he throw in warmups and side sessions, and how much of that made him lose the feel of his cutter early on?

Yeah, I know we’re not supposed to believe in momentum, but this team needs a winning streak. A loss today after what was probably the most uplifting game of the year would be a real punch in the ...

Totally agree. As a fan, I feel momentum even if I don’t think it’s a useful analytical tool. I really want the Yanks to win just for my own sanity. Reeling off four or five in a row does wonders for the ol’ nerves.

How would a rain affect your sanity?

i.e. a rain out

It would make me more anxious. It would probably act as a multiplier effect on the results of the next game. I hate rain outs.

I think momentum is definitely in play - and a rainout would definitely screw that up.  Of course they could also go out and lose spectacularly tonight and then so much for momentum…

That’s been a big part of their problem I think. All the rain outs and crappy weather have probably kept them off balance over the course of the season. This weather needs to chill out, it’s late May already.

I’m pretty sure the big part of their problem has been them playing like crap. That being said they can start playing well any time now. It would certainly make me sleep better.

This weather needs to chill out

Hasn’t that been the problem?

This weather needs to <strike>chill out</strike> warm up, it’s freakin’ late May already.

Fixed.

Checking Accuweather, it looks like it is unlikely to be a rainout tonight.  For NYC, it is supposed to stop raining shortly, have about 4-5 hours of sun, another rain shower, but then be done raining by 6 or so.  Of course Accuweather could be wrong, but…hope for the best.

it’s a very pretty day right now.  all sunshiney and blue sky-ey.  let’s hope it lasts.

Blaming the weather is a lame excuse.  Does anyone believe Boston has had nothing but warm sunny game days?  Yesterday wasn’t 80 degrees and clear, it was chilly and a bit wet.  A-Rod still hit the cover off the ball and Rasner managed to throw seven scoreless frames.  The Yankees have sucked.  Hopefully, the sucking will stop.  The weather really has nothing to do with anything.

A-Rod still hit the cover off the ball

^^There’s your keywords, right there.  ARod.  They were without ARod for almost 3 weeks, in which time they’ve gone 6-11 or thereabouts.  So basically, you have dreary weather, a huge hole in your lineup, and a half-empty and half-dead stadium due to inclement conditions - it’s easy to get your spirits down in such situation.  And if you’re expecting a loss going in, that’s likely what you’re going to get.

I don’t think weather is solely responsible, that would be foolish, but it definitely added to the problem.

So we all agree… A-Rod saved this season! ANOTHER MVP!!! Then we won’t hear whining about him till the playoffs.

The Yanks have been in the playoffs every year since 1995 but now they should expect to lose because the weather is a bit dreary and the lineup only has six former All Stars rather than eight?  Even without A-Rod, the Yanks lineup was still capable of scoring more than two runs per game.  Boston was without Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett.  Are they crying about poor weather?  I’m sorry but there is no reason for the Yanks to enter any game “expecting a loss.”

Then we won’t hear whining about him till<strike> the playoffs</strike> the next time he Ks 3 times in a game and makes an error.

IE- Mike Lowell sucks though

That’s more likely to happen to Jeter anyway.

Mike Lowell is not A-Rod, but he has an OPS+ of 111 thus far and without him the Sox had to shift Youkilis to 3B and play Sean Casey.  This move actually didn’t hurt them as Casey posted a 140 OPS+ in 62 at bats (mirroring to an extent the Molino/prowess epoch).  On the other hand, starting the season with Beckett on the DL was a tough loss.  All I’m saying is that plenty of teams have had injuries and it’s lame for the Yanks, who still had a stacked lineup, to whine about them and the weally, weally cold and cwoudy weather.

Darrel Rasner for MVP!

DRas’ ERA will likely blow up shortly- to the tune of at least two or three runs higher (which is still serviceable). He strikes out too few batters for a flyball pitcher in order to be very successful. I would buy SG’s “Moose Theory” on Rasner- ie, he throws lots of quality strikes to the outside part of the strike zone- because his bb rate seems to indicate precise location ability. However:

1)A fly ball rate near 50% betrays the fact that he is not really throwing quality strikes (surely not the many “low and away” strikes as suggested above). He’s gotten lucky on HR/FB. Once that regresses- along with his unsustainable left on base rate (this is really the biggie here- it’s a ridiculously lucky 91%)- his ERA will start to move towards his xERA (which is 4.32).

2)Furthermore, based on his brief MLB record and his MLE’s, Rasner’s walk rate should double sometime soon.

The Yanks would be thrilled for their 4th or 5th starter to put up a 4.32 ERA.

of course he is going to regress, do you think that anyone here thinks Rasner is a 1.89 ERA pitcher?

i’m pretty sure everyone here would be thrilled if he could go 6 innings a clip with an ERA hovering around 4.25.

The weather is a lame excuse but losing Posada and Arod(plus his less bad backup), two of the three best players on the team, as well as Bruney, is a valid excuse.

As per Pete Abraham, LaTroy gets three games for throwing at Luke Scott.  To no one’s surprise, he will appeal.  Chris Britton, fire your engines.

Dice-K up to his old tricks.  3 BB’s and 43 pitches through 1.1 innings.  His ERA really could use a little regression.

Unfortunately, Brian Bannister is also up to his old tricks of not being a very good pitcher.

I dislike JD Drew.

Bannister is only good against the Yanks.  Just as Kenny Rogers is only good against the Yanks.  And that goes for Jeremy Bonderman too.

Bonderman seems to be doing okay against the Mariners today, but I guess that’s not really saying much.  Man, they suck.  Good thing they went out to get Bedard.

Steve Phillips believes the Mariners will be good.

I hate Kenny Rogers.  I hope he dies of auto-erotic asphyxiation.

So, just to be clear, 15 BB/9 isn’t good, right?

Hey guys,

I have an extra ticket to tonight’s game.  Upper deck, section 14.  Ticket is free, you just <strike>would have to put up with a psycho</strike> enjoy my wonderful personality.  Email me at yel2001@gmail.com if you’re interested.

If only I didn’t live 3000 miles from The Stadium.

“I hate Kenny Rogers.  I hope he dies of auto-erotic asphyxiation.”

Too pleasurable. I hope he dies while being nailed to the cross in a Crucifxion re-enactment in Manila.

IE — Stop already! You’re making too much sense.

6th walk for Dice-K in 4+ IP.  Ouch.

Why are they sending him back out there with a pitch count of 100+ in 5 innings?  Is Dusty Baker guest-managing?

Darth Suke: 117 pitches for 5.1 innings so far…

Yankeemonkey:  I am also going to be in live and in person at the Stadium tonight.  Look for me in the mezzanine. 

I’ll be the green amphibious one.

Kermit suit?

What do you mean, “suit”?

Well. Boston now has its second grand slam today: Lowell after an IBB to Manny. 11-3 Boston.

Wow, Boston’s middle relief is not very good, is it.

Boston might very well be an awesome team right now, but all the same, I’m glad they’ll no longer be playing the Brewers or Royals. Those teams both look dead in the water.

Rasner has certainly looked good, and this very well may reflect a change in approach/command which could stick, but I don’t think 19 innings is enough to say anything from a statistical standpoint other than “hey, he’s been pretty good so far!”

T be fair a lot of mediocre pitchers have looked good against the Yanks this year.

Joe, you’re right, but its still nice to see a guy from the system who has a grasp on how to approach pitching. It’s a data point against the Yanks not being able to teach pitchers how to pitch in the majors which is an important victory for saving face for the farm system.