We’ve tweaked Girardi for suboptimal leveraging of his bullpen parts. But, Girardi is doing a much better job than most managers in being swayed by small sample sizes when it comes to the pen.
In Sunday’s game against the Twins, the Yankees were ready to relieve Sergio Mitre after a fine 5-inning performance. It was a key situation: The Yanks were up two with one on, one out, and Mauer & Morneau coming up. Most managers in that situation wouldn’t even consider going to a guy who had posted an ERA over 10 on the season. We would have heard how that guy is “pressing right now” and how he needs a “bit of a mental break” before being thrown into a high-leverage situation.
But, Joe eschewed the 9 and 2/3′s hard luck innings that David Robertson had pitched this season in favor of professional track record that says DRob is an effective reliever. Bully on you, Joe!
By the way, Girardi was also 100% right to bring in Mo with 2 outs in the eighth with bases loaded, despite the unfortunate outcome. It was the first time this season Joe had used Rivera for more than 3 outs, and we’d like to see more of it in high-leverage situations.
19 Comments
Jim Leyritz's Cellmate May 17, 2010 14:27
I admit, I was swearing when DRob came in. And I was wrong.
And I’m glad to see we’re seeing the same level of overreaction to a single HR given up by Mo as we see every year when he does this once or twice.
Steve May 17, 2010 14:43
I was more upset about the walk to Thome than the HR. But how many times does Mo do that? Never times, that’s how many.
It happens.
Yesterday’s game was just one of those things.
petebannedme May 17, 2010 15:14
When it’s May 16th against the Twins, I think Joe is 99% wrong to bring Mariano in for more than one inning. Either let Joba work his way out of that or bring in Marte for Thome and Kubel. Mariano missed 10 days not too long ago and you’re going to be ok with making him work more than an inning?
Voomo Zanzibar May 17, 2010 15:19
I second guessed one decision before it all unraveled.
Eighth inning.
Top of the order coming up.
That means Mauer and, if anybody gets on, Morneau.
This is the crucial inning.
What should you do? Bring in your “eighth inning guy”? Or bring in the best relief pitcher of all time?
I say bring in Mo for the 8th.
If he retires them in order bring in D-Mart to face Morneau in the top of the 9th and Joba for the last two outs.
Sometimes those crucial outs are in the 8th.
I think the Goose would agree.
Steve May 17, 2010 16:13
When it’s May 16th against the Twins, I think Joe is 99% wrong to bring Mariano in for more than one inning.
nonsense. it’s 4 outs.
and bringing in Marte is a terrible idea.
Truman May 17, 2010 16:29
I was surprised to see so many people criticizing Girardi for bringing in Mariano, If he hadn’t, and Joba gave up the lead, those same people would be furious.
Voomo Zanzibar May 17, 2010 16:47
No, bringing in Marte to face one lefty with a 2+ run lead is not a terrible idea. Comment on the whole post, Steve.
Steve May 17, 2010 16:56
I wasn’t talking about your post Voomo, I was talking about the one before it.
And if I really need to explain why bringing in Marte to face Thome instead of Mariano Rivera was a bad idea, I don’t know what to say…
Michael Kay May 17, 2010 18:45
You can’t say bringing in Marte would of had the same outcome unless you buy into the fallacy of the predetermined outcome.
Voomo Zanzibar May 17, 2010 18:53
Agreed, Steve. Mo eats lefties. And none of us is qualified to say whether of not his arm is going to fall off if he has to pitch, sit in the dugout for 7 minutes, and then pitch again. I think he, Girardi, and Eiland can handle that decision.
BA Baracus May 17, 2010 19:02
Listen fool. I have more gold chains than the number of batters Mo’s faced this season.
Javy Vazquez May 17, 2010 20:17
hey guys…….jose no go to me. i no big game peeeeeeetcher. i sit on bench. maybe i set up mr. joba?
Jon Pimplebum May 17, 2010 21:55
Hah! Who’s the best reliever now, old man??
petebannedme May 17, 2010 23:39
Steve, to this point I’ve been pretty satisfied overall with how the coaching staff has handled the bullpen arms. Any time you need a win, you go to Mo. We know that. Season on the line, I’m not afraid to go to him for 9 outs! But a May 16th game against the Twins, especially when Mo missed an extended period?
You’re not just asking him for 4 outs. You want him to warm up, come in, get the out, sit down, cool off, warm up again, and then get 3 more outs. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but when you’ve recently missed 10 days with a muscle strain, that’s a pretty good way to reaggravate it this early in the season. But obviously Joe knows his players better than me. I was just thinking at the time that I wouldn’t have brought him in that early on May 16th.
Tim May 18, 2010 09:10
I, too, was surprised that he went to Mo and not Marte in that situation. I mean – why else do you have Marte on the roster if you aren’t going to use him in that situation. If this was September and a pennant race, or October, it is Mo for sure. But on May 16th, with a 40 year old closer who you absolutely CANNOT afford to lose to injury – I can’t see any reason to use him for more than one inning.
That said, I generally like Joe’s handling of the bullpen, and have for the past 2 seasons. Here’s an outside-the-box idea – how about bring in Mo to pitch to Thome, get him out, then replace Mo with Marte to start the ninth with at least a 2 run lead. If Marte can’t get three outs against the bottom of the Twins order and a 2 run lead, he shouldn’t be in the majors. Clearly the Thome at bat was the highest leverage point of the game.
Steve May 18, 2010 09:16
Why is everyone assuming that getting ONE extra out is this huge injury risk? Mo has been doing that for years.
Bizarre.
Clearly the Thome at bat was the highest leverage point of the game.
and yet, right in your previous paragraph, you argued to use Marte for that situation….
petebannedme May 18, 2010 11:09
I already explained why I feel that one extra out is a risk…
Ogre/CapitalOneViking May 18, 2010 11:51
You forgot to put Mo’s recent injury and week + of inactivity into your algorithm.
Nnnneerrrrrrrrrddssssssss!!!!!!
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