Alfredo Aceves: 5-1, 1 SV, 2.02 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 40 IP, 30 H, 9 ER, 8 BB, 34 K - as a reliever.
"Ace" has been leaps and bounds better than anything the Yankees would have expected. He's a long-man, short-man, setup guy, mop up guy, in other words he's been anything the Yankees have needed him to be. I've said it many times before and I'll say it again, his versatility has helped solidify the Yankees bullpen.
Grade - A
Jonathan Albaladejo: 4-1, 5.04 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 25 IP, 27 H, 14 ER, 11 BB, 16 K
He hasn't been great, but at this point in their careers he might be a better option than David Robertson, and he's definitely a better option than Brett Tomko who is rarely being used.
Grade - C
Brian Bruney: 3-0, 4.86 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 16.2 IP, 12 H, 9 ER, 10 BB, 18 K
He was supposed to be the team's setup man and after getting off to a hot start it looked like he was a perfect fit. Then the injuries came and have turned him into a disaster. Since coming off the DL the second time he's 1-0 with a 7.04 ERA, and in 7.2 IP has allowed 6 ER on 9 hits, walked 8 and struck out 5.
Between his ineffectiveness and the lies about his injury he has been one of the biggest disappointments in the Yanks pen.
Grade - D
Phil Coke: 1-3, 1 SV, 3.99 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 38.1 IP, 26 H, 17 ER, 14 BB, 31 K
After some rough times in April Coke has turned his season around. He's been one of the more reliable Yankee relievers and has held lefties to just a .192 batting average.
Grade - B
Phil Hughes: 0-0, 0.98 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, 18.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 19 K - as a reliever.
The numbers speak for themselves, the guy has been absolutely lights-out as a reliever and has become the teams primary setup man. He's throwing 94-96 with a filthy curveball.
Grade - A+
Mark Melancon: 0-1, 6.35 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 2 K
After being thrown into the fire back in May and then sent back down before being recalled this month. His stuff looks like it could be MLB material if he just got more work in. He's only thrown 5.2 innings so I can't really grade that.
Grade - INCOMPLETE
David Roberston: - 1-0, 3.57 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 22.2 IP, 16 H, 9 ER, 16 BB, 34 K
The numbers look pretty good, but don't let them fool you, Robertson has had a lot of trouble with inherited runners, allowing over 50% of them to score, which is awful.
He's struck out 34 in 22.2 innings so the stuff is there, he just walks too many (16) and has been put in far too many high leverage situations.
Grade - C-
Brett Tomko: 1-2, 5.23 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 20.2 IP, 19 H, 12 ER, 7 BB, 11 K
He's an adequate mop up guy, but that's about it. I can't remember too many big outs he's picked up this year. Can you?
I didn't expect much from him anyway, so that will keep his grade in the C range.
Grade - C-
Mariano Rivera: 1-2, 23 SV, 2.43 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 37 IP, 30 H, 10 ER, 3 BB, 43 K
He's the greatest closer ever, and he's having another fantastic season. He blew the save against Boston in Fenway and the Yanks have never recovered from that loss as they have still not beaten the Sox. That alone will drop his grade a half grade, but besides that he's been exactly what we expected, maybe even more when you consider he's coming off surgery.
Grade - A-
OVERALL: Coming into the year the pen was supposed to be one of the stronger areas of team. The failures of pitchers like Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras, and others set the pen back a long way. With the additions of Phil Hughes and Alfredo Aceves they are just now finding themselves as a unit. It is very important that Aceves stays away from the rotation and remains in the pen. Along with that Brian Bruney has to regain his early season form. The first one is almost guaranteed, the second is a much bigger if, but if Brueny can get back into a grove the Yankees pen can be what we expected in coming into the year.
Grade - B-/C+
How do these grades stack up with yours?
5 Comments:
i'd give the pen more credit than B-/C+
especially in light of the past month or so of their performance....
the ability to keep the game close even with joba and wang and pettite not going deep into games has been extremely instrumental in keeping the yanks close to the sox...plus we've gotten rid of the awful jose veras so we're in good shape
I'd give them a B+/B
Good job Greg...I think I agree with every one!!
I should have been clear about how I graded the overall performance. That grade did include the work of Veras and Edwar.
I pretty much agree with all the grades, but Anon is right. I think they deserve maybe a B or B+ becuase of effort, becuase they began the year as one of the worst bullpens in the Bigs, then turned it around and are now one of the strengths of this year's Yankee team, well beisdes Bruney of course.
I would've given Robertson a higher grade and Alba a lower one but that's about it. Good grades.
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