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March 03, 2008
Wanted: Strike Throwers For Yanks Pen
During the YES broadcast of the Yankees-Phillies game yesterday, General Joe, being interviewed during the contest, made a reference of the importance of his pitchers throwing strikes.
Throwing strikes is something that troubled the Yankees last season. See these stats via the Complete Baseball Encyclopedia:
AMERICAN LEAGUE, 2007, WALKS/9 IP
BB/9 IP
1 Orioles 4.35
2 Rangers 4.20
3 Yankees 3.59
4 Devil Rays 3.57
5 Tigers 3.52
6 Mariners 3.43
7 A's 3.29
8 Royals 3.26
9 White Sox 3.12
10 Red Sox 3.02
11 Angels 2.99
12 Blue Jays 2.98
13 Twins 2.63
14 Indians 2.52
But, when you drill down deeper into the numbers, you can see that it was the Yankees bullpen, for the most part, that hurt them here last season:
YANKEES, 2007, WALKS/9 IP
BB/9 IP IP RSAA
1 Colter Bean 15.00 3 -2
2 Jose Veras 6.75 9.1 -1
3 Brian Bruney 6.66 50 0
4 Sean Henn 6.63 36.2 -10
5 Matt DeSalvo 6.26 23 -3
6 Edwar Ramirez 6.00 21 -8
7 Tyler Clippard 5.67 27 -5
8 Jeff Karstens 5.52 14.2 -10
T9 Jim Brower 5.40 3.1 -3
T9 Chase Wright 5.40 10 -3
11 Luis Vizcaino 5.14 75.1 3
12 Kei Igawa 4.92 67.2 -12
13 Scott Proctor 4.80 54.1 5
14 Ian Kennedy 4.26 19 6
15 Kyle Farnsworth 4.05 60 -1
16 Ron Villone 3.83 42.1 2
17 Phil Hughes 3.59 72.2 2
18 Mike Myers 3.54 40.2 9
19 Darrell Rasner 2.92 24.2 2
20 Andy Pettitte 2.88 215.1 15
T21 Ross Ohlendorf 2.84 6.1 1
T21 Chris Britton 2.84 12.2 2
23 Roger Clemens 2.82 99 5
24 Chien-Ming Wang 2.66 199.1 21
25 Joba Chamberlain 2.25 24 11
26 Mike Mussina 2.07 152 -8
27 Carl Pavano 1.59 11.1 0
28 Mariano Rivera 1.51 71.1 12
It’s pretty obvious that, last season, guys like Kyle Farnsworth, Luis Vizcaino, Brian Bruney, Scott Proctor, Sean Henn and Edwar Ramirez did not help themselves, or the Yankees, by allowing as many free passes as they did (in 2007). On the bright side, it appears, at least now, that perhaps only Kyle Farnsworth will be returning to the Yankees pen (in 2008).
With the exception of his time with the Giants in 2005, LaTroy Hawkins has been a strike-thrower for the last 6 years. And, Mo Rivera and Joba Chamberlain should be able to throw strikes this season.
It will be interesting to see who wins the other three spots in the Yankees bullpen this spring – and how much throwing strikes has to do with them making the team. If Girardi gave us a hint yesterday, it could have a lot to do with them making the squad.
Posted by WW Staff at March 3, 2008 11:13 AM