推 YANKS:umm..Let's go Yankees !!! 09/08 13:50
09/07/2006 4:30 PM ET
'Pen getting postseason practice in
Injury to Rivera has given prime chances to other relievers
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- There is no more frightening scenario for the Yankees than
an October without Mariano Rivera. A September without the All-Star closer,
however, that's another story.
Rivera has missed the past week with a mild muscle strain near his right
elbow, and the Yankees plan to give him the time necessary to rest his
arm and get in shape for the postseason.
"We've been winning some games without him, but nobody is deluded enough
to think that that's what we can do in the future," Joe Torre said. "He's
very important for us. As long as it's getting better, then the ability to
get it all the way well is our priority."
While Rivera is serving as a cheerleader in the bullpen, Torre and his
staff are getting a good look at the rest of the relief corps, giving
them an idea of what some of their other arms can contribute when the
playoffs roll around.
"If we get to the postseason, we're going to have to make some decisions
on the pitching staff," Torre said. "We have some good options. It's
always nice to have choices."
In Rivera's absence, Kyle Farnsworth has moved into the closer's role,
while Scott Proctor has shifted into Farnsworth's eighth-inning setup
spot. With a nine-game lead over the Red Sox in the American League East,
the Yankees have the luxury of taking their time with Rivera.
"It's experience that can't hurt," Torre said. "In the event that something
happens and someone is not available, it wouldn't be foreign to them."
Both Proctor (5-4 and 3.73 ERA in 71 appearances) and
Farnsworth (3-4, two saves and 4.42 ERA in 63 appearances) have been
effective for most of the season, helping bridge the gap from the
starters to Rivera, but now they have an opportunity to get some work
in new roles.
"Ideally, we'd like to have Mo pitching, but what matters the most is
having him back for October," Proctor said. "Everyone down there is
capable of filling the void in the time being, and it could be an
opportunity for people to get experience in different roles for
situations that might come up."
"The good thing about having the lead we have is having the time to rest
him right now and get him ready for the playoffs," Farnsworth said. "We
need him to be healthy next month; we can handle it until then."
Proctor and Farnsworth will surely play important roles come October,
as will Ron Villone, who has been a workhorse from the left side for t
he Yankees. Mike Myers figures to nail down another spot as the
left-handed specialist, and whichever starting pitcher -- Jaret Wright
or Cory Lidle -- is left out of the rotation will likely serve as the
team's long reliever.
"Even though we've come a long way this year, we still want to prove
that we can do it on the big stage," Proctor said. "The key right now
is to get the division clinched. Then we can worry about the rest."
That would leave one open spot in the 'pen, and the next three weeks
will help Torre and pitching coach Ron Guidry decide who should fill it.
The pitcher who has benefited most from Rivera's absence has been
Brian Bruney, who was signed to a Minor League deal on July 1, just
five weeks after being released by the Diamondbacks.
Bruney, who had a strained right elbow early in the year, has impressed
Torre during his three weeks with the Yankees, posting a 1.08 ERA in
eight appearances.
Bruney has already earned some of Torre's trust, as he has been
inserted into some tough spots and gotten the job done. The most
recent was a bases-loaded, two-out jam on Monday in Kansas City,
as he struck out Angel Berroa to hold the Royals' lead at two runs.
The Yankees went on to win the game, 12-5.
"Things like [that] certainly don't hurt his chances," Torre said. "He
came in and did the job. I'm just glad he's proud of his stuff; he
should be, [because] he's pretty imposing with the fastball."
Bruney's emergence brings back memories of Tanyon Sturtze's 2004 season,
when he became one of Torre's favorites out of the bullpen with a big
second half.
"It tells me that I've done my job well so far," Bruney said. "All it
takes is a couple of outings to prove yourself and get the confidence
of your coaches and teammates. Every role is important, so whatever
it is, I'll do the job and try to get outs."
Bruney, who is just 24 years old, believes that his early-season
injury and eventual release by Arizona was a blessing in disguise.
He is now part of a first-place team, hoping to work his way into
a steady role in the Yankees' bullpen.
"The great thing about this team is that there isn't one job that's
more important than another," Bruney said. "If the guy that's
throwing first doesn't get his job done, then the guy going last
won't be able to do his."
Bruney will have competition for a spot on the postseason
roster, as Octavio Dotel remains in the mix. Dotel's return
from Tommy John elbow surgery hasn't been as smooth as he
had hoped, but he has shown improvement in his past few outings,
giving Torre something else to think about.
In eight outings, Dotel has posted a 6.75 ERA in 5 1/3 innings,
but he has thrown a scoreless inning in each of his last two games,
showing a much more effective slider in the process.
"He's still trying to get a little consistency to what he does out there,"
Torre said. "If we get to postseason, he certainly isn't eliminated
from consideration. The experience he's had as a closer and setup
man work in his favor."
Rivera's injury isn't expected to keep him out for the rest of
September, so the Yankees aren't getting nervous just yet.
Instead, New York will continue to get a look at the rest of
the relievers, as Torre continues collecting information for
the decisions he will encounter in a few weeks.
"Everybody is finally fitting into their roles, knowing what
they're capable of doing," Farnsworth said. "We're having fun
out there pitching. I think everyone is more relaxed than they
were before."
"He's been here before," Proctor said of Torre. "He knows what
he has to do to have his bullpen prepared and he's going to do
it. We just have to keep winning games so we can clinch, then
he can worry about what comes after that."
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"If we get to the postseason, we're going to have to make some
decisions on the pitching staff. We have some good options.
It's always nice to have choices."
-- Joe Torre
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Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball
or its clubs.
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