[25] Will, actually it looks like that’s just the regular season (http://tinyurl.com/l2kcus) – add in the postseason and they’re 63-76 against LAnaheim since ’96.

THe Yankees have three very reliable relievers right now: Hughes, Aceves and Coke. In my view, they should each be used for two innings pretty much every time they go out (assuming each is effective). They could be rotated every third day, or even every other day no and again. You carry Mo for the ninth, and maybe two other arms. Such an arrangement would likely eliminate the need to carry a useless 12th pitcher (like Tomko). In any case, using your better relievers for a couple of innings in some type of rotation would cut down on the reliever-roulette that managers seemingly play at the end of the game.

The “score truck” is where they type in those fictitious radar gun numbers from pitch to pitch you know, on a whim…

How else would Phil Hughes throw a 94 MPH “12-6″ curve ball that breaks a foot and a half?

: )

So no, I am not talking about turning him into an appendage for probable losses.

Monkey, as to the kidstartersrelievers, the problem I have with long relief is how random the scenarios are. When you have long relief up odds are good you have a failed starter and a losing game (not always but odds are). Many here were pushing earlier for Hughes to be used in ‘meaningful’ situations. You are essentially arguing for the opposite – treat him as an appendage to probable losses in order to get him 2-3 inning stints. I think this wastes an asset even more than turning him into a 3-5 out 7th/8th inning guy.

If you were to argue that he should still be starting … I think I’m onside with that, though Girardi and others may be aware that the bullpen has been generally very good lately and not want to mess with it for a bit. (I fault Joe G for the Bruney switch last night, mind you. THERE is a guy who needed to be eased back in, to regain command and confidence.)

There are about 80 games left, Hughes’ role is probably not locked in. Neither’s Joba’s and he CANNOT start the rest of the way, especially if (score truck willing!) we get to the playoffs.

Awesome, Emma

Isn’t that where the Michael Kays of the world go to “score?”

: )

If he did get tired, I suspect it was rather because he ran up his pitch count. If you throw out his 14 pitch start, when he was knocked out by the line drive, he has averaged 95.8 pitchers/start, with a high of 108. It’s not unlikely that once he gets to around 90 he starts to run out of gas. If so, then he will need to 1) be more efficient with his pitches, and 2) eventually be allowed to stretch to 100 or 110 pitches more often.

cough,cough … mo … cough,cough … 1996 … cough, cough.

does make you wonder how the current management would have handled things back then …

Again, I have no problem with young starters working out of the pen, especially to save innings. The Twins did this with Santana. Earl Weaver preached it.

Rather, I am irritated that they have not been used in “long” relief (i.e., for two or three innings at a time, not simply mop-up work). That would have kept Hughes’ innings down and allowed him to work on his approach..and be ready to take his proper spot in the pen on shorter notice.

Yes, Joba + 3 would be worth pursuing for Doc, but I still maintain Jays won’t, and the salary hit is very large. If Yanks took on Vernon Wells’ contract (one of the worst ever, only Zito’s feel worse) they could get Doc for Joba alone, probably. But … that’s 35 million plus added. No chance, no sense.