Yanks' Bullpen Taking Shape

NEW YORK (WCBS 880)  -- The last week of Spring Training is the most interesting: roster spots that have been fought over for the month of March are settled, rotations are announced, and opening day is within sight.

For the Yanks, the lone remaining roster questions settle around the bullpen. The team will carry 7 relievers.

The locks are:
Mariano Rivera
Joba Chamberlain
Kyle Farnsworth
LaTroy Hawkins

The LOOGY is likely to be:
Billy Traber

The talented additional guy will likely be:
Ross Ohlendorf … Jonathon Albaladejo, Scott Patterson and Jose Veras have waning outside chances.

That leaves the long man. With an incredibly loaded April schedule that features only 2 off-days, Manager Joe Girardi insists on having an innings-eater in the pen. Only 3 pitchers fit the description: Kei Igawa, Jeff Karstens, and Darrell Rasner.

The trouble is all three of these choices are abysmal. In order to include a long-man, a pitcher who possesses vastly higher talent will be in Scranton, and the Yanks will be left with lesser talent on the mound.

All three candidates have had poor springs. Yes, they are small-sample sizes, but would you really want them to get bigger?

           IP      H      ER    BB      KK

Rasner:   12.1   13     8       8       8

Igawa       8     7      5      4       4

Karstens   9.1    19    10      3       5

Of the three, I find Rasner the least objectionable. He has the most potential to mix and match his stuff and occasionally succeed.

If Igawa makes the team, the decision will smack of GM Brian Cashman trying to give this guy every chance to prove himself. It’s high-time for Cashman to admit his mistake and cut bait on the disappointing lefty. When Igawa gets the ball up in the zone, he gets smacked around in a most inglorious fashion. Cashman has done a wonderful job of rebuilding the Yankee pitching corps, but Igawa is one of his biggest mistakes.

The Yanks’ best bet would be to make Scott Patterson the “long man.” In 6 innings this spring, Scott has given up just 1 hit, with 0 runs, 0 walks, and 5 Ks. He’s exhibited exceptional mound presence as well. Although he has never pitched above AA ball, Girardi is impressed, “He's done a good job. We keep running him out there and he keeps competing with the other guys. He's been as good as anyone in camp."

Hawkins Looks Sharp

One of the most pleasant surprises this spring has been Latroy Hawkins. In 8 innings, he has not allowed an earned run. The key to his success is his transition from power thrower to sinker-ball pitcher.
His manager says: “Everything is down…He has the sinker, and he's a different guy than we saw a couple years ago when he was the power guy with the big hook. He's a ground ball pitcher now." 

If Hawkins and the rejuvenated Kyle Farnsworth can handle the 6th and 7th innings, the Yanks’ bullpen may actually be a strength. And if Girardi truly can get something out of Kyle, he’s a genius. 

Protecting Joba

The current plan calls for the powerful phenom to be the 8th inning set-up until sometime in June, when he will transition to a starting role. As I have mentioned before, I feel strongly that Chamberlain’s ultimate destiny is to be a starter. But the Yankee braintrust wants to cap his innings at around 150 this year to minimize the possibility of injury. Therefore, the short-term plan to keep him in the pen makes sense. 

"If he starts at the front end [of the season]," the GM said, "you're playing with fire."
Still, it will be very hard to move Joba out of that set-up role in June if he is indeed excelling at it. Then will come the true test of the Cashman’s resolve.