You're Starting to Catch on, Ian
If you don't want to be made out to be a jerk by the New York media for your entire career, try showing some frustration after a bad performance.
“It felt like one of those days when I was warming up you could tell it was going to be a little bit of a battle," Kennedy said. "I’m not happy at all with my outing. Even though you don’t feel good, you’ve still got to produce, and I didn’t do that.
"I'm frustrated with myself tonight."
“I’m just kind of frustrated with myself.”
“I don’t think I was getting ahead of guys,” Kennedy said. “I wasn’t throwing strikes. I’m more frustrated that I was trying to get ahead of guys, and you can’t execute your plan when you don’t. When it comes down to it, I didn’t do it.” Labels: ian kennedy, scranton
posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 4:45 PM
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It's Time for Some Scranton Call-Ups
Ponson is awful. Rasner's been better, but not much. The Yankees need to make a move to solidify the rotation, and kids, it shouldn't be Jarrod Washburn. Chad Jennings reports on the recent activities of a certain Yankee who wants another shot:
Ian Kennedy's past three starts: 20 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 14 Ks.
Manager Dave Miley said tonight was the best Kennedy's curveball has been since his return from the disabled list. Kennedy had talked earlier about working on that pitch, and it seems to be helping. He said he was missing up in zone during the first inning tonight -- hence the two walks -- but he started concentrating on first-pitch strikes and that really helped. The kid is really dealing lately.
Kennedy's been pitching better than Ponson. He's got a higher ceiling than Ponson. He fits into next year's plans, while Ponson does not. What's the holdup here?
One other bullpen note:
As for Brian Bruney, he was practically sitting at 95 mph tonight. He had a few pitches at 94 and 93, but I really think I saw more 95s than anything else. I asked if he felt stronger tonight than he has in previous rehab outings and Bruney basically said that if the Yankees say they want him throwing harder, then he'll throw harder. The bullpen's been great, but Bruney could help make it even better. The problem is, whose place can he take? Rivera, Marte, Farnsworth, Veras and Ramirez aren't going anywhere, which leaves Giese and Robertson. While Robertson has mostly pitched well despite two poor outings that inflated his ERA, he's probably the one to go. Giese has also performed well and is more of a long man in the bullpen, which is something the club can still use at this point.Labels: brian bruney, dan giese, darrel rasner, david robertson, ian kennedy, lupe's bf, roster moves, scranton
posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 9:44 AM
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Why All The Talk of Washburn Replacing Rasner?
Besides the fact that I think acquiring Jarrod Washburn is short-sighted and ill-advised, why in the world do media types keep insisting he'd replace Rasner in the rotation instead of Ponson?
(T)here are reports that Jarrod Washburn of the Mariners could be joining the Yankees. The cost: another minor leaguer. Washburn (5-9, 4.50) is not the ace he was six years ago, but he's a good replacement for Darrell Rasner at the back of the rotation, another little piece of the puzzle that would seem to fit well as the Yankees make a run in the AL East. The proper one to be jettisoned from the Yankees rotation - for Washburn, Dan Giese, a minor leaguer, Dave Eiland, or any contestant in the 2008 Miss Universe pagent - is Sidney Ponson. It's been well documented how strongly against this signing I was in the first place, and hoped it was only for a couple of starts, but as bad as Ponson had been before the trade, he's been even worse after it.
2008 Stats, with NYY:
Ponson: 26.2 IP, 38 H, 28 ER, 12 BB, 12 K, 6.08 ERA, WHIP 1.88, ERA+ 68
Rasner: 72.7 IP, 87 H, 39 ER, 22 BB, 48 K, 4.83 ERA, WHIP 1.50, ERA+ 86
Sure, Rasner hasn't been amazing, but that's serviceable from a 5th starter and he has a much higher ceiling than Sir Sidney, who hasn't posted an above-league-average ERA+ since 2003.
I still don't want to Yankees to deal for Washburn, especially because he's signed through next year and severely limits the other options for 2009 (Chamberlain, Mussina, Pettitte, Hughes, Wang, Kennedy just as a few possibilities) from making the rotation or long relief roles. That doesn't mean, however, that Ponson should still be on this club.
Two obvious replacements for Ponson were sent to the Pirates last week in Jeff Karstens and Dan McCutchen, but that doesn't eliminate some others. Is Jeff Marquez ready (assuming he's healthy)? Steven White doesn't appear quite there yet, and Kei Igawa slipped through waivers over the weekend and thus is off the 40-man roster, which would prompt a move to recall him. Alan Hornw couldn't do worse than Ponson, could he? Alfredo Aceves has shot up through the system this year.. he could be worth a shot. Lest we forget, Ian Kennedy is all but ready for a recall, and he's already on the 40-man.
Now I'm aware Kennedy didn't exactly impress in his early season tryout, but besides the fact that some of that could be attributed to injury, he still pitched better for the Yankees than Ponson has (albeit barely). Wouldn't he appear to have a higher ceiling? Well if he doesn't, the Yankees need to fire their entire scouting staff.
Release Ponson before he can start again, and bring someone up to start or replace Geise in the bullpen (Chris Britton is still alive, you know) and move him to the rotation, or look for a guy whose contract expires at the end of this year and won't be very costly.
There's no excuse to keep running Ponson out there every 5th day.Labels: darrel rasner, ian kennedy, lupe's bf, roster moves, scranton, trade rumors
posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 1:59 PM
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Yanks, Red Sox Old Timers to Play in Scranton
The Scranton Times announced in their paper on Sunday a "Legends Game" between former Yankees and Red Sox. The game is to be played on Saturday, August 16 at 1:30 PM EST at PNC Field, the home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
Appearing for the Yankees will be Goose Gossage, Bucky Dent, Graig Nettles and Mickey Rivers, and the Red Sox will have Jim Rice, Mike Torrez, Fred Lynn and Luis Tiant, with more to be announced as the date approaches.
The contest is set to be a 9 vs. 9 game (no DH for these guys). Tickets go on sale Saturday, May 24 at 10:00 AM.
That night the SWB Yankees play down the road at Lehigh Valley.
No emotion or fist pumping is expected.Labels: bucky dent, goose gossage, graig nettles, mickey rivers, old timers, redsox, scranton
posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 6:22 PM
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What's a Guy Gotta Do?
Hughes and Kennedy have looked awful thus far. There's no getting around it. Regardless of long-term success, one or both of them need to be optioned to AAA to get their act together.
In the meantime, look who's rotting at AAA:
W:4 L:0 ERA:0.87 IP:31 H:18 HR:0 BB:6 K:27
Who is this promising young prospect? Why it's our old friend Darrell Rasner, whose 2007 season was cut short by an obviously filled injury.
If for no other reason than to give the bullpen a break and let one of the kids work on mechanics in Scranton, it's time to give him another crack at the majors.Labels: darrel rasner, roster moves, scranton
posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 6:35 PM
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Cashman Restores Balance to Universe
Ok, so maybe that's a little bit of hyperbole, but the Yankees have optioned Sean Henn to Scranton and recalled Chris Britton.
Now since it's Red Sox-Yankees, we'll hear about how Torre wants to "find the right spot" to bring him in and "not throw him into the fire" all the while forgetting that he pitched in the AL East last year.Labels: brian cashman, chris britton, joe torre, roster moves, scranton, sean henn
posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 2:17 PM
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Are You Intentionally Trying to Throw the Season?
Cashman. Torre.
I've been posting about this for seemingly forever. I have sent you personal emails.
Enough is enough.
If Sean Henn's 79 pitches in 2+ innings with 8 hits, 7 runs and 5 walks - yes, that's 13 baserunners in 2.2 innings - isn't enough to convince you that he should NOT be a major leaguer and that Chris Britton should, there's really no other explanation other than you're intentionally tanking the season.
I'm out of other theories.Labels: brian cashman, chris britton, joe torre, roster moves, scranton, sean henn
posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 7:52 PM
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"Mild Lower Back Strain" My Ass
So Bruney's been recalled and Villone is going to the DL because of a "minor lower back strain."
My take: phony injury, created in order to keep Villone on the DL past Sept 1, so that once rosters expand they can keep both and wait to decide whether to put either Bruney or Villone on the postseason roster.
Analysis: Crafty move if you want to keep Villone as an option, but still wrong if Britton is left to rot in AAA.Labels: brian bruney, chris britton, ron villone, roster moves, scranton
posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 2:54 PM
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Chris Britton another victim of Torre's "Circle of Trust"?
Rumors persist that something happened in Spring Training that caused Torre to lose faith in Britton. The guy's been tearing it up in AAA, and during his brief visit to the Bronx this season gave up 1 ER in 5 IP.
Rather than getting promoted again, Britton has been forced to watch as Henn, Karstens, Ramirez, Bruney, Brower, Chamberlain, Bean, Rasner, Villone (and I'm sure someone I'm forgetting) have been promoted instead of him to the Yankees' bullpen.
I know Torre wants "a lefty." But there's no reason to have "a lefty" if said "lefty" (Henn) is only used as your long reliever.
Free Chris Britton!Labels: bullpen, chris britton, scranton
posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 11:47 AM
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