Anyone Remember Mike Myers?
Since July 18th, the Yankees have played 25 baseball games. In those twenty-five games, Mike Myers has pitched three times.
In those three games, Myers faced 5 batters.
Yes, in the last 29 calendar days, Mike Myers has been allowed to pitch to 5 major league hitters. In facing those batters, he’s thrown 16 pitches – yes, 16 pitches in 29 days!
Why is he on the team, if Torre is not going to use him?
And, when Torre decides to bring him in to face David Ortiz (when the Yankees visit Fenway next weekend), how sharp do you expect Myers to be?
What’s that you say? Torre would never use an ice-cold pitcher in a huge spot?
Huh? Did you see Jeff Weaver in the 2003 World Series?
In the past, Myers has been quoted saying that he wants to pitch every day. So, I give him credit for not moaning about the lack of use in New York.
Nonetheless, Torre has totally forgotten about him. And, if he’s not wanted, then why is he on the team?
Torre’s an asshole. Instead of wasting Mo last night, he could’ve gone with Myers or Veras. I used to be a staunch Torre-backer before I became a regular on this site but my eyes have been opened. Torre’s a dreadful manager between the white lines. I wish there was a way to bottle his good qualities and plug them into a smarter baseball man.
At this point in the season, the only pitchers he would relieve are Proctor or Farnsworth, since they are the only pitchers in this bullpen allowed to pitch the 7th or 8th innings (unless Villone is finishing up another of his 2 and a fraction inning stints). Even if he dispatches the lefty he’s sent in to retire, you have to replace him with either Farns or Proctor (or, in extremis, Mo). The Yankees have effectively a 4 man bullpen according to usage patterns Torre prefers. A LOOGY is a square block for a round hole. You ultimately have to blame Cashman for once again wasting a roster spot in pursuit of a concept Torre does not endorse. Better to find a righty who can pitch to more than one batter AND throws a change-up or something that moves down and away from lefties (someone like the retired? Jim Mecir and his screwball comes to mind but you get the idea). Anyone who pitches in Torre’s ideal bullpen must be able to get multiple outs, preferably on consecutive nights. Working with Torre for 9 years now, Cashman should realize this and operate accordingly.
MJ, If Torre’s so dreadful who do you want to manage the team?
Whoa, finally a bit of a slap at Cashman. I love it.
Rich, I honestly have no idea. Every manager has his warts. I am not saying that there’s a perfect manager out there and I’m certainly not saying that Torre does EVERYTHING wrong or has NO good qualities. It’s just that there are certain things he refuses to do which end up costing his team. I think the Jeff Weaver/Wayne Franklin examples are best…as well as (in my opinion) his peculiar fetish with the bunting last night.
It’s not really a slap at Cashman’s GM abilities. More an acknowledgment that, in some circumstances, such as Torre’s eccentric use of his bullpen, he’s better off working WITH him rather than using conventional wisdom (i.e., get a LOOGY to pitch to Ortiz in every late inning situation). Torre loves high-workload guys who throw hard (Sturtze, Proctor, even Gordon to some extent…not Farns because he won’t pitch back-to-back games)…he does not like soft-tossers who can’t be workhorses (Colter Bean, Chris Hammond, and the Ramiro Mendoza of 2006).
Mind you, in most organizations, it’s the GM who sets the agenda and builds the roster, not the manager. We have a rather, um, unique situation here with the Yankees.
Agreed, JohnnyC, agreed.
What are the odds that Steve will link back to this post when Myers gives up a 3 run bomb to Ortiz this weekend?
“Torre’s a dreadful manager between the white lines.”
Are we talking about the same man who has guided us to the playoffs every year since he began managing the Yankees? C’mon. Is he only as good as his last World Series win??
christopher – 1,000%
LOL
I also don’t see why they can’t use him in other low leverage situations, he only pitch to one guy in high leverage situation anyway, and his delivery is far from stressful.