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March 07, 2008

Billy Traber Tales

Tyler Kepner and Peter Abraham feature stories on Billy Traber this evening. (For the record, Ken Davidoff wrote about Traber 11 days ago.)

Back on February 24, 2008, I suggested that Traber had a shot to make the Yankees pen this season.

The last time the Yankees had a highly effective lefty in their pen was 2001 (Mike Stanton). Granted, last season, Ron Villone and Mike Myers were not terrible for New York - but, it's not like they were stellar. (You could also say that Chris Hammond was good for the Yankees in 2003 - but, he was not like Mike Stanton was in 2001.)

To be candid, it's been a long time since the Yankees had a lefty in their pen who posted a season like Hideki Okajima (in Boston) or Rafael Perez (in Cleveland) did last year. You'd probably have to go back to Dave Righetti in 1986. But, considering we've been seeing guys like Sean Henn, Gabe White, and Felix Heredia fail in Yankeeland (as lefty relievers) over the past few seasons, if Traber can be better than Villone and Myers (last season) - even if not as good as Hideki Okajima and Rafael Perez (also last season) - I think the Yankees will consider him to be a "find."

From 2001 through 2003, Billy Traber kept an on-line journal at "At The Yard." In that respect, Traber was sort of the Phil Hughes of his time. (How freaky will it be if, in March of 2012, we find ourselves talking about Phil Hughes' chances to win a job in some team's bullpen and reflecting on him having a blog back in 2008?)

In any event, Traber has the Yankees attention at this time - without question. If he keeps doing what he's doing, he should be on the team come March 31st.

Posted by Steve Lombardi at March 7, 2008 11:06 PM

Comments

Traber is more of a finess lefty that paints corner and live off his curveball type, unlikely that he'll be effective.

I just hope he's about as effective as Villone without all the walks. that would be more then enough to make me happy.

Posted by: Yu Hsing Chen [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 8, 2008 09:32 AM