When Octavio Dotel Arrives…………
Posted by Steve L. on April 22nd, 2006 · Comments (7)
You hear this all the time. When Octavio Dotel arrives……well, what? Everyone assumes that he will save the day for the Yankees bullpen in 2006.
Will he?
Well, let’s go back to the last year that he was sound (in 2004). In that year, he was 36 for 45 (80.0%) in terms of converting saves. This means that one time out of every five chances, he spit the bit. And, that was pitching for Houston and Oakland.
Based on this, how do you think he will handle the pressure of pitching for New York? Factor on to that the issue of coming back from Tommy John Surgery.
When I think of this, I can’t get as warm and fuzzy as some other Yankees fans when they drool over Dotel.
At this point, I’ll just be happy if he pitches before the A.S. break.
Well, let’s go back to the last year that he was sound (in 2004). In that year, he was 36 for 45 (80.0%) in terms of converting saves. This means that one time out of every five chances, he spit the bit. And, that was pitching for Houston and Oakland.
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1. I don’t think he’ll be closing
2. He replaces one of either Proctor or Sturtze
3. Where a pitcher pitches is irrelevant. Pitchers that have stunk before NY have stunk when they’ve pitched here, and vice-versa.
Raf, closing = handling pressure. New York Yankees = pressure. It’s all the same.
And, will be be replacing Proctor? Really? I think the intent is to have him take the Gordon role, no?
Raf, closing = handling pressure. New York Yankees = pressure. It’s all the same.
And, will be be replacing Proctor? Really? I think the intent is to have him take the Gordon role, no?
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He won’t be closing, as long as Rivera’s in the pen, and the NY=pressure argument is overrated. If you can’t pitch, you can’t pitch in NY. “Makeup” has nothing to do with it.
My replacement comment has more to do with the roster; Torre has a 12-man staff right now. Who gets sent down, or released? (Sturtze? Proctor? Smith?)
Make-up has nothing to do with it? Ever meet Ed Whitson? Kenny Rogers? Jose Contreras? These were all very good pitchers who melted in NY.
Before Whitson signed with the Yanks, he had 6 of 8 seasons with a negative RSAA. Rogers? His first year was in line with his career, his second year wasn’t. Could have something to do with the surgery. Contreras? Two good years, one bad year.
Eh, I got the numbers wrong on Whitson…