推 decorum:Torre's praise? He is too generous with praise. 09/09 00:12
Battle heats up in Yankees' pen
Friday, September 08, 2006
BY ED PRICE
Star-Ledger Staff
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Before Tuesday's game against the Royals, Yankees
pitching coach Ron Guidry convened a brief meeting of the team's
relievers.
The message: "Be ready, you can be called on at any time. And throw
strikes."
It was more a reminder for the younger players on the expanded
September roster. But as a division title looks more and more
inevitable, the remainder of the regular season will offer the
Yankees a chance to evaluate who should be in their bullpen
for the playoffs.
"I think that's going to come down to Ron Guidry and I having
a lot of conversations," manager Joe Torre said. "I think we
have a lot of good options. It's always nice that you have choices.
Once you have choices, you have ability."
How important will it be to make the right decisions? Over the
past four postseasons, Yankees re lievers other that closer
Mariano Rivera have combined for a 6.09 ERA.
And the picture becomes even more muddled because of the recent
health issues surrounding Rivera -- a strained muscle in his
forearm that has kept him off a mound for a week -- and setup man
Kyle Farnsworth, whose back can act up at any time.
Torre has hinted the Yankees would carry 11 pitchers on the postseason
roster. The four starters seem likely to be Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina,
Chien-Ming Wang and Cory Lidle, with Rivera (assuming he is okay),
Farnsworth, Scott Proctor, Mike Myers and Ron Villone presumably set
for the bullpen.
That would leave two relief spots. If the Yankees want a long man,
they could take erstwhile starters Jaret Wright or rookie Jeff Karstens,
who has been OK in three starts. As for relief specialists, Brian Bruney,
Octavio Dotel and T.J. Beam have all earned Torre's praise at times.
(Beam was not on the active roster on Aug. 31, the deadline for
postseason eligibility, but he can be added as a replacement for
the in jured Tanyon Sturtze).
Dotel has the edge in experience, having been a setup man in Houston
and a closer in Oakland. But his comeback from Tommy John surgery in
June 2005 took longer than expected, and his recovery is not yet complete.
"The experience he's had as a closer and a setup man," Torre said, "is
going work in his favor -- as long as we're comfortable that he looks
comfortable."
Dotel has a 6.75 ERA and six walks in 5 1/3 innings over eight appearances
since being activated Aug. 16. He expects his pitches to gain more life
as he gets more work.
"I just have to keep throwing and see how things get better," Dotel said.
"I want to feel one little extra" -- he holds his fingers less than an
inch apart -- "going out of my hand."
Bruney, too, thinks more arm strength is coming. While the Yankees
expected Dotel to be part of their bullpen all along, Bruney has been
a revelation.
Hampered by a sprained elbow ligament, he struggled in Arizona
Diamondbacks camp and was sent to Triple A. When the Diamondbacks
needed a spot on the 40-man roster, they released Bruney.
He decided to rest his arm and did his rehabilitation at the same
Phoenix center where Randy Johnson works out in the off-season.
Once he felt better, he threw for scouts, and the Yankees signed
him and sent him to their Tampa., Fla., facility.
Pitching instructor Gil Patter son helped smooth out Bruney's mechanics
before he joined Triple- A Columbus.
In eight games for the Yankees, Bruney has a 1.08 ERA and 13 strikeouts
in 8 1/3 innings. He said as time goes on, he will better be able to
sustain his stuff -- a 97-mph fastball -- for two or more days in a row.
When he came in Monday with the bases loaded, two out in the sixth
inning and the Yankees down 3-0, Bruney got behind 2-0 to Angel Berroa
but came back to strike him out.
For Bruney, it was significant that he didn't panic, overthink or
nibble after falling behind.
"I'm just glad he's proud of his stuff, because he should be," Torre said.
"He's pretty imposing with the fastball. ... It's just basically, 'Here,
I dare you. And if they do (hit it), fine, that's the way it goes.'"
Those under consideration are quite aware of what's at stake over the
final 3 1/2 weeks.
"I can't wait for us to be qualified (for the playoffs)," Dotel said.
"There's a lot more baseball we've got to play to get there, but I can't
wait to get to that point.
"As soon as we get to that point, it's going to be easier for Mr. Torre
to use me in the games."
Asked if he feels he has made a good impression, Bruney said, "You never
know. If I have, that's good. But I'm going to keep pitching like I
haven't."
Notes:
Hideki Matsui, recovering from a broken left wrist, went 0-for-3
with a walk and a run scored in his rehab assignment for the Trenton
Thunder last night. ...
Gary Sheffield is scheduled to have his left wrist examined today by
hand specialist Charles Melone. If Sheffield is cleared for batting
practice, he will join the Yankees in Baltimore. ...
Infielder Miguel Cairo (hamstring) and outfielder Kevin Thompson (ankle)
will join the team to continue their rehabilitation.
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