Darrell Dominates
Darrell Rasner has been dominant this year in Triple-A. After being cut during Spring Training, Rasner currently has a 3-0 record, and he has collected 21 strikeouts in 25 innings of work. He attributes his success to SWB’s new pitching coach, Rafael Chavez. Chavez apparently taught Rasner how to throw a cutter in order to complement his curveball, allowing him to keep hitters guessing (collectively, they’re hitting just .153 against him).
I’ve always liked Rasner. His stuff is solid and he seems like a gutty type of guy. He could possibly be in a big league rotation and if this new cutter becomes some sort of revelation, you can expect to see him in the Bronx sometime this year. If IPK or Phil Hughes continue to struggle and if the Yanks decide, later on, that they may need more seasoning in AAA, then Rasner could definitely get the call. We’ll see him with the Yanks during some point this season (to eat innings), that’s for sure.
April 24, 2008, 6:24 pm at 6:24 pm
I was surprised to see Rasner get sent down after Spring training. Karstens was injured and Igawa wasn’t any good. I thought Rasner was a a shoe-in. With Mussina, Hughes and Kennedy struggling so frequently, you’d think a long reliever would be a must. Apparently Joe thinks Ohlendorf can do the job. I like Ross, but prefer him to only pitch one or two innings. Rasner is a guy who can pitch quite a few innings and even make spot starts. He should be up in NY.
April 24, 2008, 8:18 pm at 8:18 pm
Maybe if the Yanks drop Farnsworth or Hawkins, it’ll signal a Rasner rise?
April 30, 2008, 5:08 pm at 5:08 pm
[...] Rasner has been dominant at Triple-A, thus far. With Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman being especially vague with their comments about [...]