Seriously, why doesn't David Robertson get into any of these big 7th or 8th inning spots? I know Joe Girardi loves his formula, but it's not working. All its doing is making them go to Mariano earlier than they would want to. That's all it has accomplished. When you bring Joba in you're hoping he goes an inning, and the same with Hughes, but they're not. They struggle, they leave men on base, and then Mo has to cleanup their mess. Usually he does, saving them and their ERA's.
Before I go on let's look at the numbers:
While Joba's ERA isn't terrible, the face that he's given up 7 hits and completed just 2.2 inning in six outings tells you all you need to know.
Phil Hughes: 6 games, 0-1, 5.79 ERA, 2.36 WHIP, 4.2 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
David Robertson: 3 games, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K.
I know Robertson wasn't in the original formula which was supposed to be Joba-Hughes-Mo. But like I said, it's not working, at least not the way it should be. So why not go with the hot hand? You don't have to keep going with what you were hoping would work when it's not, especially when you have a guy who has succeeded in tough spots wasting away in the pen.
This sort of reminds me of '95, when Buck Showalter refused to use Mo in a big spot in late in game five against the Mariners. From what I've read it was because he trusted the veteran Jack McDowell more than the unproven Rivera. Well, we know how that turned out. I'm not saying David Robertson is the next Mariano Rivera because he's not. But he's a good young pitcher who's pitching well and not being used, and so far it might have cost them two games.
Who knows, maybe Joba and Hughes just need a breather, after all they've both pitched in almost every game. But if the Yankees have a lead in the seventh on Saturday I'd like to see D-Rob come into the game instead of Joba.
I'm also a little surprised, after escaping that bases loaded nobody out jam in game two of the ALDS I was sure that would be enough to win Girardi over, but I guess not.
