What has happened to the Yankees' bullpen?
What was once a strength of this team has now turned into a disaster waiting to happen.
Since July turned into August the Yankees bullpen has allowed 27 earned runs in 30 innings, that's an ERA of 8.10. They also allowed 35 hits, 6 home runs, and 18 walks during that stretch.
For the entire month of July the Yanks' pen only allowed 28 earned runs and 7 homers in 79 innings pitched.
And it hasn't been just one guy, from top to bottom the entire bullpen has been pretty damn awful. Here are the August ERAs for the Yankees relievers:
Brian Bruney: 5.79
Jose Veras: 4.15
David Robertson: 16.87
Damaso Marte: 9.00
Edwar Ramirez: 21.60
Mariano Rivera: 3.00
The only difference major difference is that now they are without Kyle Farnsworth. Could The Farns have really been this valuable to the pen? Are Robertson and Ramirez being used in higher-leverage situations now that Farnsworth is no longer here? Situations Farnsworth could handle, but Robertson and Ramirez cannot. Does Damaso Marte strictly belong in a league where pitchers hit?
I'm not sure about the answers to these questions, but the bottom line is that since the Yankees traded Farnsworth the bullpen has stunk.
Monday, August 11, 2008
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I actually think you might be wrong about Marte. If you noticed, his first inning of work is usually stellar as it was yesterday. Its that second inning when Girardi rolls him back out there that he falters. It's not rocket science, Joe. Use him properly.
He got hit hard in 1 inning of work against the Orioles.
But you're right, three out of four of his bad games came in his second inning of work. Anyway, I'm hoping he can pitch well here.
But I wonder if the Yankees still had Farnsworth if Girardi would have had to go with Marte for that second inning those nights.
I think this is definitely a case of You don't know what you've got till it's gone.
Stupid Cashman.
i don't think farnsworth has been doing too great in detroit either though
yea in 4.1 innings farns has let up 3 homers and blown 2 saves.
i think that maybe the offense needs to wake up and score more runs so that every night the pen isn't trying to stop the bleeding on a 1 or 2 run defecit, or preserving a tie game, or if we're lucky, holding a lead.
What he's been doing in Detroit is irrelevant. There is no reason to believe he would have done that in New York. Maybe he's unhappy, maybe he doesn't like his role there, maybe the food in Detroit bothers him. Who knows?
The bottom line is that while he was with the Yankees this year he was very very good.
I think the subtraction of Farnsworth has screwed up everyone's roles. I don't think it was necessarily Farnsworth himself, but the fact that everyone's role changed, and maybe some guys left their comfort zone. Nice post Greg.
anon,
Thanks. Yea that's pretty much how I feel too. Anyway, we really will never know if the bullpen would have turned to crap with Farnsworth still here, it's possible, but I doubt it.
What hasn't stunk about this team for the last month.
You have a point Pinstripes.
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