I think Baileywalk’s pretty much spot on regarding Zito. AT MOST, the guy’s a #2. Is he an innings eater? Sure. Would you want to count on him in a crucial playoff game? Probably not. If he were asking for a 1 or 2-year deal, then maybe he’d be worth it. But, no doubt he’ll be looking for something in the 4-6 year range; and at 14-15 mil. per, that’s just insanity.

BTW, to Carla’s point – the last time the Sox were lower than 2nd was 1997. Nice to see them back below again.

MJ, for what it’s worth, I don’t think Randy Johnson would take the ball if he couldn’t pitch.

You do have to consider this worrisome, though. If Randy at “game-ready” health is the guy who pitched against the Devil Rays the other day, I’d rather he not pitch at all. Even if the team somehow got through with his balky back in the ALDS, we would still have the ALCS and (hopefully) the World Series. That’s AT LEAST two more starts.

Right now, for me, Jaret Wright and Randy Johnson are the same guy — they could go out and pitch well, but most of the time they struggle, and they need a free-swinging team to succeed (Johnson throws more innings, but they both fade late in the game). If I was the Yankees, I wouldn’t let Randy Johnson take me down. I wouldn’t think twice about replacing my third- (maybe fourth-) best starter in the rotation.

You’re right. He’s just taking some extra rest. But with how he’s pitched lately, I say, Randy, don’t rush back.

TOTALLY off-topic here, but I saw something really interesting in “Baseball Prospectus.” For any Torre supporters left out there, check out this stunning bit of news about our 36-year-old closer:

“As for Rivera, he’s the biggest advantage the Yanks have going for them as they head to the postseason; despite missing three weeks–a move mandated as much by the fact that he’s STILL thrown more innings (72) than all but two closers (J.J. Putz and Takashi Saito) as by his elbow strain–he’s sixth in the AL in Reliever Expected Wins Added (5.282).”

It’s pretty stunning that Mo, after missing all that time, is third in IP among closers. So even teams who were clinging to playoff spots didn’t burn out their closer the way Torre did.

He was on the DL, so, they can sneak him in.

I don’t think Rasner’s an option. I believe he wasn’t on the roster before 9/1.

I’ve been let down by RJ this year, just like everyone else. But to already assume that he’ll pull a Wells and just walk off the mound is not something I’m prepared to do. I don’t think he’s that kind of guy. A guy with a 5.00 ERA doesn’t mean he’s a spineless loser. We’re not talking about any pitcher with a high ERA, we’re talking about a guy that, like him or not, does enjoy competing.

Let’s lay off the negativity just a bit, OK? The guy’s taking a week off to get right for the postseason for crying out loud.

I think Yankees fans all over the place are having flashbacks to David Wells and the 2003 World Series this morning. And, it’s not pretty.
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I had a flashback to gm 7 of the ’04 ALCS

About that starting pitcher…a west coast guy with a huge curve who vacuums innings with a career ERA+ of 129?
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My worst fear is that the Yankee pursue Zito. At this point in his career, the best thing you can say for him is that he’s durable and that he eats innings. That’s not worth fifteen million dollars a year.

Zito had a really nice year in 2002. But he hasn’t been that good since then, and his numbers continue to decline. In ’04 his ERA was up near 5, and these last two years it will be around 4. He still walks a lot of people, and his WHIP was ridiculous this year. He’d be a great number three on a competing team, but he’s still thought of, and wants to be paid as, an ace — and only a foolish team would do that.

A fine post, SL.

About that starting pitcher…a west coast guy with a huge curve who vacuums innings with a career ERA+ of 129?

carla, not only did they wake up in third place, they went to bed that way after getting blanked by Toronto. It’s gonna be nice seeing 2 blue flags ahead of that red one at the Stadium tonight.