WasWatching.com

The next three weeks may be very telling.
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I guess we'll find out. I'm confident some combination of Hughes, Karstens and Rasner can put up the numbers Pavano did.

I don't know how he was throwing last year, but I'm sure the rest did him a world of good too; he threw a career high in innings, so I wouldn't be too suprised if he was tired towards the end of the season last year.

We've still got a couple weeks in spring to go, so I dont think they've made up their minds yet.

in a newspaper this morning, according to a baseball executive on a team who would like pavano, the yankees arent shopping him. but, i dont read that as never; i read that as either they dont want to trade him until he builds up his selling price a little more, or they havent opened coversation or dialogue with this guy's team, but that doesn't mean they havent discussed pavano to other teams.

I'm reading the Pavano chapter in the Morrissey book now, and I have to say I'm surprised they haven't traded him while they can. The only thing I can figure is they don't want to do what the Sox did with Arroyo and trade him until they know what path the season will take. The chapter opens with a story about Pavano calling Dick Cheney a congressman, which is pretty good.

It sounds like Karstens has brought his 4 seamer back to a Clippard-like 88 – 92 mph. I find it curious that in some circles that may mean he now throws hard enough and yet Clippard is still downgraded because he doesn't. Given Clippard’s secondary stuff may be better than or at least the equal of Karsten’s, when might he be expected to get some love? Do you feel they’re both somewhere in the number 3 - 5 starter mix on a winning big league club? If so, I see very little wrong with that.

My questions are directed at the general state of internet MiL scouting rather than your comments either present or past.

Saw Karstens pitch last week and he looked very sharp. Rasner and Clippard got it done as well. But, I wouldn't trade Pavano just yet, unless a stud young catcher or a nasty left-handed reliever was offered. Otherwise, Cash is smart to hold 'em for now. Pitchers will be in big demand later in the year, and (it’s somewhat hard to type these words), the Yanks look to be stacked with arms! Not too many number ones, but a boat load of very capable 3’s, 4’s, and 5’s. The results of the last 10 days says that Hughes needs a little more time in the oven. No need to take this gourmet muffin out of the oven while it’s still a little soft in the middle and there are many serviceable options..

I like this post so much more than the psychobabble about A-Rod. Sorry.

No doubt Karstens has been impressive in ST and even dating back to his starts at the end of last year. Finally we're in a position where we don't have to rely on the Sidney Ponson's and Scott Erickson's to eat innings.

On the other hand, Karstens trade value may not be higher. We have legitimate needs, specifically a catcher who can actually swing the bat. I'd like to see Cashman pull a Matt Smith type deal with Karstens, mainly because I think he'll peak as a 4.5 ERA guy.

This is the kind of inside dope that I love to hear come out of spring training. Karstens has some scary looking flyball tendencies, but I still think that he could probably approach league average numbers (in other words, I think that he could be as good as Pavano). Just out of curiosity, I wonder what kind of package it would take to get Nick Johnson (who is out until May) back from the Nationals. The Nationals could certainly use pitching and a subsidized Pavano + say Steven Jackson might be enough.

I've always thought NJ was an interesting option, but I think Cashmans new way of thinking is not aligned with a deal that would get him. Old and oft-injured seems to be a way of the past, unless they come very short term and with a below market rate price tag.

~~Old and oft-injured seems to be a way of the past~~

Bizarrely, he's not that old. He'll be 28 this year! It does seem like he's been around forever though. I just always liked him; he was perhaps the only Yankee of the 00s who I hated to see traded away. The injury thing is a problem though and I think that's why the Yankees decided to use him as the centerpiece of the Vazquez trade.

Nick is constantly injured though. I wouldn't want to have to rely on him.

Has Karstens put on a bit of muscle to get his velocity up? I would actually have both him and Carl on the roster for the first third of the season -- if either one is an adequate fifth starter, trade the better one (plus Sanchez?) for a backup catcher/possible prospect.

rbj, the article says Karstens added 15 lbs.

but i think it's mainly a fresh arm. in his ML stint last year, the commentators were saying how JK's MiLB manager said his velocity had dropped during the season, and when 'on', it could hit 91. but that was mostly near the beginning of the year. it steadily declined the whole year apparently.

Jeff Karstens has always thrown around 91.

EJ: reports are that last year while in the bigs he was down around a consistent 86 due to a sore and tired arm.

EJ: reports are that last year while in the bigs he was down around a consistent 86 due to a sore and tired arm.

No Dave, he was throwing his 2 seam fastball at the request of Ron Guidry a lot last year. I'm telling you that Karstens has steadily thrown 91 since the draft.