Yankee Fans Unite

Wang
Pettite
Hughes
Kennedy
Mussina

Chamberlain
Rivera
Hawkins
Farnsworth

Igawa?
Ohlendorf?
Bruney?
Henn?
Karstens?
Rasner?

Pretty good blog post: http://emedia.thetimes-tribune.com/Blogs/SWBYankees/tabid/552/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2811/Keeping-the-pitchers-in-line.aspx

Mussina had gotten beat up a little in his first pitching outing, but it was only BP. Mussina is a big question mark to me. If he did work out well during the off season, and build up strength so his fastball still has some life, then he could do OK.

Chamberlain as a starter looks to be something we won't see till mid season. He did pitch in game on Friday, 2 innings, and dominated the college players.

Ohlendorf, Karstens and Bruney have been reported to look very good. Ohlendorf was throwing a wicked sinker, if memory serves right from what I read. Hawkins was looking pretty good according to Girardi. Mo hasn't pitched much, but he hasn't pitched much during ST for a long time.

Farnsworth was looking very thin, he had been ill for a while with a staph infection.

Kennedy struggled a bit with his pitching on Friday, mainly his control wasn't quite there.

Hughes was doing really well.

Overall, I think Joba and Phil are going to be the real decision makers of how this season goes. Kennedy is a smart pitcher, but a lot depends on his maintaining his control. During his college years he was on and off a bit.

Bruney lost a lot of weight, now we need to see if he can put it together to be a contribution to the pen.

I am hoping Wang can bounce back from his post season troubles.

From what I have been reading, some of the pitching problems and pitch selection of Wang came from Gator. While Wang isn't stating it as such, I got that underlying current from Hughes' comments. I think Eiland could end up being one of the stronger moves the Yankees made this year.

from Pete Abraham's site...


Johan Santana against the Cardinals today:

2 innnings
4 hits
3 runs
3 earned runs
0 walks
1 strikeouts


The line for Joba: 2 0 0 0 0 2 — 22 pitches/15 strikes.

Phil Hughes now pitching

Hughes vs. Manz: Strikeout on four pitches.

Hughes vs. Rey: Strikeout on four pitches.

Hughes vs. Cleveland: Diving catch in right by Colin Curtis.


Santana needs some work. Either that or there's a curse with the Mets.

If Igawa and Henn make the team, then I give up.

What about that Albaladejo kid? Is he any good?

I haven't heard much on Albaladejo. I would be fine if Igawa can turn things around and be a decent arm out of the bull pen.

What really gets me, his numbers were almost identical to Dicey K's. Just a tick less impressive. While Dicey K is hovering around average overall, I'd be happy with that from Igawa. Heck, I'd be ecstatic.

Albaladejo is scheduled to pitch an inning today. I heard he was pretty good in a short stint last season. I also will be scratching my head if Henn or Igawa make the team. I don't believe that a team should keep a lefty in the bullpen just for the sake of having one, especially if the pitcher is a huge liability.

I've completely run out of patience with Henn and don't want to see him on the team. If Igawa has a nice spring, I'm willing to give him ONE more chance out of the pen, simply because they have so much invested in him. Given a choice right now I'd definitely take neither.

One potential benefit of having Girardi as a manager is that he might not be as matchup-happy as Torre, which led to a lot of crappy lefties out there against the likes of Ortiz. Give me a more reliable righty any day.

I've always said a good pitcher can get anyone out. That said, I think there is value to having a lefty pitcher in a relief role.

Igawa might be able to handle that role. Henn I believe just doesn't have what it takes.

There is a dearth of lefty pitchers, look at all the prospects the Yankees have and you see RHP.

A lefty gives a different look. Just as you want to have different kinds of pitchers, sinker, power, control, which can help throw off a lineup, you want them to have a pitcher throwing from the other side. Just a part of the game.

I agree.

I'm all for lefties. I am one, after all, and therefore know firsthand all the joys of left-handedness and all of the discrimination that goes along with it. But I don't want a lefty for the sake of a lefty. I also think the role of a "lefty specialist" (ie. Mike Myers) is a waste of a roster spot for someone who's only getting a few outs and gets run out of time after failing a few times.

Why not a righty who throws a screwball or fadeaway [which would act like a left-hander's curveball]?

Today's pitchers

Name - IP - Batters faced - Hits - Earned Runs

Pettite - 2 - 6 - 1 - 0
White - 1 - 11 - 5 - 4
Patterson - .1 - 1 - 0 - 0
Hawkins - 1 - 3 - 0 - 0
Farnsworth - 1 - 5 - 2 - 1
Henn - 1 - 4 - 1 - 0
Bruney - 1 - 7 - 3 - 2
Veras - 1 - 3 - 0 - 0

All I can say is if they use Joba out of the bullpen early this year, I sure as heck hope they do't get comfortable with him there. That would be a waste. He's gotta start sometime this year and hopefully, they keep him fresh enough to start a game or two in the playoffs (yes, it IS our rite of passage!).

Absolutely agree Brian.

While its great to see some of the results from these ST sessions, especially when some of the pitchers on the opposing teams are looking less than stellar, don't read too much into it.

Sometimes they are working on new moves/pitches. Pettitte was working on a side step move to help hold runners on 2nd and 3rd. Wang working his changeup (which would give some new worries to the batters facing him.

Remember also that the batters in a number of cases haven't been working it like the pitchers have.

1st cuts are done. Eric "The Other" Duncan got sent down.