tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21659920.post3335730801301198390..comments2023-11-05T04:26:27.615-08:00Comments on Canyon of Heroes: Back in the SaddleMike Plughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08180838171989998353noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21659920.post-17507467654324985532007-03-05T17:04:00.000-08:002007-03-05T17:04:00.000-08:00Considering the Yankees need for roster flexibilit...Considering the Yankees need for roster flexibility and their consistent bullpen issues (which includes Joe Torre's bullpen management), is Mike Myers a pitcher that the Yankees A) need to carry and/or B.) have the luxury to carry? <BR/><BR/>Last year Myers held lefties to a .257 avg and a .740 ops. Over the last 3 years his lefty splits are .213/.593.<BR/><BR/>Villone last year held them to a .179 avg and a .609 ops. His three year splits are .202 / .596.<BR/><BR/>Luis Vizcaino, who will also make the team, held lefties to a .163 avg and a .569 ops in 104 at bats. His three year lefty splits are .214/.667/<BR/><BR/>Both Villone and Vizcaino were significantly more effective at getting lefties out last year. Over the last three years, Villone has been better and Myers was only slightly better than Vizcaino. <BR/><BR/>So what is his role on this team? He is the loogy. Meant to be able to get out lefties in a crucial spot. Yet the stats bear out that he is not the most effective at doing so on this team. <BR/><BR/>Ok ok. The others aren't true "loogys" meaning they aren't confined to only one batter a game. Oh wait...that's a good thing. Myers inability to provide innings on this team is to the detriment of the REST of the bullpen and the total roster. Because he is basically a 1 batter pitcher, the Yankees are forced to use their other bullpen pieces more often, which only exacerbates the problem this team already has which is Torre's abuse of middle relievers. <BR/><BR/>The next problem he presents, and possibly the biggest, is that he occupies a roster spot. He and Villone are both likely to be on the team to start the season. I've already demonstrated why Villone is a better option than Myers for both the loogy role, and just for the general purpose of being a pitcher. But because both men make the team, a talented pitcher such as Chris Britton or Brian Bruney cannot make the team due to the lack of a roster spot available. Either one provides more value to the Yankees than Mike Myers as both pitchers can pitch to more than one batter. Both also have power arms. <BR/><BR/>So in summation, Myers takes up a valuable roster spot to do a job that others on the team do better. At the same time, he limits the ability of our bullpen to provide innings both by being a limited pitcher, and by blocking other pitchers such as Chris Britton and Brian Bruney from making this team. <BR/><BR/>The solution? If Ron Villone proves to be healthy and is set to make the club, the Yankees should see what kind of market there is to trade Mike Myers. I highly doubt you can get anything of any real value, but you may get lucky with some project minor league kid. At the very least you can clear a roster spot for a better pitcher, and cut a few hundred thousand off the payroll.Justin Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13980567398879913822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21659920.post-29115199543122241532007-03-04T17:49:00.000-08:002007-03-04T17:49:00.000-08:00Yeah, I have no idea where I got Jose Vizcaino fro...Yeah, I have no idea where I got Jose Vizcaino from....<BR/><BR/>Thompson would also be a fine player off the bench. The main reason I prefer Gardner is that I don't feel he'll ever be a regular player in the Major Leagues, but that he could be a professional base runner quite easily. His size and lack of power force him to play the speedy leadoff role, but I don't think that's something the Yankees need. We do need a guy who can pinch run for Giambi in the bottom of the 8th or 9th and turn the corner on a double. <BR/><BR/>Thompson could be that guy, but he should probably play everyday at AAA to stay ready for more fill in duty should we have a problem with injuries. That's all just nit-picking though. Either guy is fine by me.Mike Plughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08180838171989998353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21659920.post-78196134502513655432007-03-04T15:09:00.000-08:002007-03-04T15:09:00.000-08:00Jose Viscaino? His name is Luis.http://newyork.ya...Jose Viscaino? His name is Luis.<BR/><BR/>http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=150430<BR/><BR/>Wouldn't taking Gardner up to the majors be limiting his progress at the plate? Gardner needs to continue to hit and at least get a little bit of power. Gardner has not had enough ABs at AAA yet to be considered as a player who is ML-ready. <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, you do have AAAA OF Kevin Thompson, and like rogmick61 said, Thompson is speedy. Thompson also has nothing left to prove at AAA, so his bat skills really don't need much more fine tuning. He is also pretty good at the plate against LHPs, so that's another plus.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13893348928764839303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21659920.post-16183005254478446072007-03-04T14:25:00.000-08:002007-03-04T14:25:00.000-08:00Thompson is a good player. Not much better or wors...Thompson is a good player. Not much better or worse than Gardner. The thing is he hasn't shown much power either and his SB rate is worse than Gardner. I'll take my chances with the little guy from the bench.Mike Plughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08180838171989998353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21659920.post-51442589772231279882007-03-04T04:28:00.000-08:002007-03-04T04:28:00.000-08:00I like Myers much more than Villone Erick. Villone...I like Myers much more than Villone Erick. Villone has a career ERA+ of 95 and a .709 OPS against lefties. Myers is 112 and .623, so there's not much conversation where those two pitchers is concerned.<BR/><BR/>I'd rather see either Bruney or Britton more than Villone.Mike Plughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08180838171989998353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21659920.post-49995016871459795032007-03-04T04:15:00.000-08:002007-03-04T04:15:00.000-08:00What doyou think of the following bullpen?Chris Br...What doyou think of the following bullpen?<BR/><BR/>Chris Britton<BR/>Brian Bruney<BR/>Ron Villone<BR/>Kyle Farnsworth<BR/>Scott Proctor<BR/>Jose Vizcaino<BR/>Mariano Rivera<BR/><BR/>Both Vizcaíno and Villone fare well against lefty´s and dropping Myers of takes a lot of innings from the other players. having him around to face one player every four days seems useless to me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13122695545462766546noreply@blogger.com