BP Blackballing

Brian Bruney has been back with the Yankees for a few games now, and while he has pitched fairly well, I question the opportunity awarded to him while pitchers like Chris Britton are toiling away in BP limbo (Britton was optioned back to Scranton today–again). After his Lisfranc injury, the Yankees were eager to get Bruney back, especially after he had posted a 1.59 ERA and 1.15 WHIP during his abbreviated season (11.1 IP). He also seemed like a legitimate threat to Kyle Farnsworth’s work, which was certainly a good thing.

With his foot healed, the Yankees sent Bruney to the minors to get his work in and the results are somewhat problematic. In his first stint (GCL), Bruney threw 4 innings, walked 2 and struck out 6. He gave up just 1 ER. Then, he moved up to Trenton and threw 2.1 innings, with 2 walks, 2 K, and 1 ER. Finally, he was shipped to SWB, where he threw 7.1 innings, struck out 7 (whoa!) and allowed 7 walks (whoa!) and 3 ER. That’s a 1.91 WHIP, yet Bruney still got the call to come up to the majors. Granted, Bruney was rehabbing and regaining his form, but still, why did Bruney get another shot so quickly? The 7 walks in 7.1 innings are startling, right? Now, with the Yankees he’s pitched 3 innings and has already walked 4 (2.00 WHIP). He has nice stuff, but the control has never really been there and it doesn’t appear to be there now (it definitely wasn’t there during his final rehab outtings).

I’m constantly wondering if the Yankees are simply living off of what Brian Bruney “could be”, instead of what he actually is, although his performance earlier in the season was very solid (he still walked 6 in 11.1 innings). But, when will “Base On Balls Bruney” blow up on us and deliver the WHIP killing performance that’ll truly hurt the team? It’s a question to think about, especially when every game is now very meaningful and extremely important.

Bruney’s promotion was due, mostly, to the Farnsworth trade. However, Chris Britton, who was optioned to AAA today (again… yes), continues to put up great numbers yet fails to get a legitimate opportunity to be a part of the Yankees’ bullpen puzzle. I would even say that Britton’s numbers are phenomenal this year. For SWB, he has thrown 25.2 innings, has given up 25 hits, 5 ER, 1 HR, and 7 BB (total!). That’s a 1.75 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP on the season. Plus, he’s struck out 23. You really have to wonder just what the hell is going on with the Yankees and Chris Britton. Why didn’t he get a shot over Bruney? Hasn’t he earned that right? This bullpen blackballing is nothing but peculiar.

Seriously, whose wife… (or husband??!?!?)… did this guy bang?

Jobaless Month

Ed Price is reporting that people in the Yankees’ organization expect Joba Chamberlain to miss a month of action with “rotator cuff tendinitis”. Price also notes that a source told him that Joba’s injury actually involved his bicep tendon and not his rotator cuff. Seems like it’s just another day of DL misinformation in the Yankee camp (like when we heard about Posada’s “rotator cuff tendinitis” which was actually a torn labrum).

Random Rant

ESPN notes that the Marlins tossed a 4-hitter against the Phillies last night. Chris Volstadt threw 6 innings with 3 hits and the BP gave up 1 hit over the final 3 innings. Now, I think it’s time we give the “hitter” tag a rest unless a pitcher throws an actual no-hitter (or, maybe a 1-hitter). We’ve seen ESPN using the “hitter theme” in a ton of articles this year (game recaps), probably to drum up interest so that people will actually read their stories. 4-hitters, 3-hitters, 5-hitters, come on now. In the grand scheme of baseball, what the hell is a 4-hitter anyway? That’s a game with a few hits, or, as I like to call it, a normal freaking occurance.

Phil Hughes’ Fastball

Phil Hughes’ fastball looked good in his start last night, and, as we all know with Phil, locating with his fastball is key. Without that location, we’ve seen how bad it could get for him.

Here’s what he told the NY Post:

“I felt like my fastball command was better last time. But it was still around the plate enough, and I was able to put the ball where I wanted it enough to be successful,” Hughes said. ” Physically I felt great. That’s the biggest thing, and getting my pitch count up.”

Chad Jennings is also reporting that Phil Hughes has dropped his slider in favor of a cutter and used it a lot in last night’s start (along with his fastball that touched 95 mph). If Hughes can come back within another week or so, he would take Dan Giese’s spot in the rotation and if IPK can stay in the rotation, we’ll essentially have the starting 5 that we were supposed to have at the beginning of the season. Of course, Sidney Ponson will be around instead of CMW, but I guess Yankee fans can get used to Sidney, as it looks like he’s here to stay (unless Hughes and IPK are great and Joba can come back as a starter).

Friday’s Bits: Rotation, Rotation, Melky, Matsui, Pudge

Here are a few items of interest for Friday’s early birds (and Saturday’s insomniacs):

1. The rotation is in shambles—yes. With Joba Chamberlain’s rotator cuff tendinitis, which, while not a truly severe injury, can still force Joba out for a lengthy chunk of the season, the team will have to make some important moves. The club is teetering in the AL East and every pitching performance is now extremely valuable. With the season on the line, Ian Kennedy (Friday) and Dan Giese (Saturday) have been given opportunities, as they’ll face off agains the Angels in Anaheim. It’ll be particularly interesting to see how IPK reacts to a fresh start in the majors and I for one think that he’ll be able to handle the Angels’ lineup. Dan Giese will get the start over Rasner, and will replace him in the rotation for the time being. Also, rumors about Andy Pettitte and a possible arm injury are continuing to circulate despite Joe Girardi’s denials, so the team could use strong performances from both starters before Pettitte’s next scheduled start (which would be on Sunday).

2. Although IPK and Giese are getting opportunities right now, Phil Hughes and maybe even Carl Pavano are on the comeback trail. Hughes pitched 4.2 innings last night for AAA (1 ER, 3 H, 2 K, 2 BB), and Pavano went 3.2 for AA (1 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 ER). Pavano looked to be laboring a lot during his performance, so his contributions are highly doubtful (and tempered, at best), but Phil Hughes will definitely get another shot at proving himself down the stretch (barring setbacks, of course). If he returns, he’ll probably take Giese’s spot unless IPK drops the ball.

3. With all the pitching problems the Yankees have faced over the year (or should I say, over the years?), one arm has showed up, repeatedly, and that arm (it’s an old one) belongs to the “soft tossing” Mike Mussina. Mussina won his 15th game of the year last night (15-7 record), shutting down a potent Texas lineup for 7 innings while the meager Yankee offense struggled against the mediocre Scott Feldman. Moose certainly has a chance to become a 20-game winner for the first time in his long and accomplished career and, who knows, with a little bit of luck, he could even win 20+ in 2008.

4. Well Melk Man, it was nice while it lasted. It seems like Melky Cabrera’s days are numbered, as his role has been severely limited during the Texas series. With yesterday’s “day off”, Melky had missed 4 days in a row and now, fans are left wondering about Melky’s playing time as the season winds down. I mean, let’s face it, we all love Melky (as a sort of youthful character), but his defense has been the only thing keeping him in the lineup as of late. He’s not hitting much of anything anymore and a lineup that features Damon in CF seems ideal (offensively) as the team tries to make a playoff push. While Girardi is reportedly giving Melky a shot against the Angels tomorrow, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him relegated to the bench by the season’s end.

5. Melky’s playing time could actually take a bigger hit if Hideki Matsui can return soon. Matsui began a running program for his sore knee yesterday (he’ll be joined by Joba Chamberlain today) and if his leg reacts well, he could be back with the team before season’s end. This would allow Joe Girardi to slide Matsui in as the regular DH, with Damon in CF, Nady in LF and Abreu in RF (no Melky). With the offensive inconsistencies we’ve witnessed in 2008, a lineup that featured that configuration would probably be best. At this point, I would expect Melky Cabrera to get traded in the offseason (Justin Christian could possibly be a decent 4th outfielder and a great set of bench wheels).

6. Finally, wrapping things up, we have some Pudge Rodriguez news. After a nasty collision on Wednesday, Pudge will likely return to the lineup in today’s game against the Angels. The Yankees need to win these games and they’re facing a truly tough team, so it’ll be important for them to have their best players on the field and Pudge’s return should bolster the offense a bit.

Back with more, later.