It’s 22 Years Since Yanks Had Duo As Bad As Burnett & Vazquez
Posted by Steve L. on September 28th, 2010 · Comments (11)
Both A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez have logged 150+ IP for the Yankees this season, to date, and their ERA+ is less than 90. When was the last time the Yankees had two players with 150+ IP and an ERA+ of 90 or less in the same season? We have to go back 22 years to find another such dud duo in Yankeeland. See the following list of times the Yankees had 2+ pitchers in a season with 150+ IP and an ERA+ of 90 or less.
| Rk | Year | Tm | #Matching | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1908 | New York Highlanders | 4 | Jack Chesbro / Bill Hogg / Joe Lake / Rube Manning |
| 2 | 2010 | New York Yankees | 2 | A.J. Burnett / Javier Vazquez |
| 3 | 1988 | New York Yankees | 2 | Richard Dotson / Tommy John |
| 4 | 1945 | New York Yankees | 2 | Monk Dubiel / Al Gettel |
| 5 | 1940 | New York Yankees | 2 | Marv Breuer / Spud Chandler |
| 6 | 1930 | New York Yankees | 2 | Roy Sherid / Ed Wells |
| 7 | 1929 | New York Yankees | 2 | Herb Pennock / Ed Wells |
| 8 | 1910 | New York Highlanders | 2 | Tom Hughes / Jack Warhop |
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In that 1988 season, Tommy John was 45-years old and Rich Dotson’s shoulder was toast. And, to find a time when the Yankees had two pitchers like this in a season before 1988, you have to go back to when rosters were hurting because of WWII.
So, what’s the excuse for Burnett and Vazquez this year?
I wonder if we’re going to find out that Burnett is going through some craziness at home (thus the black eye) during the offseason.
Shouldn’t be an excuse, but we know how frail he is mentally.
@ Steve Lombardi:
Yeesh…I remember Richard Dotson. I’m amazed that your B-R query didn’t also dig up any season where Dave LaPoint, Tim Leary or Andy Hawkins similarly sucked it up. Those four guys made middle school/high school very unpleasant!
@ Corey Italiano:
I’m not sure I buy the mental frailty argument.
@ Corey Italiano: That’s an interesting point/question.
MJ Recanati wrote:
Yeah, the fact that they didn’t show up tells us that guys this bad are usually not allowed, or not asked, to throw as many games/innings as Javy and AJ this year.
So, here’s an interesting question – let’s say Cashman/Girardi grow a pair and leave AJ off the ALDS active roster. And, then, let’s say that the Yankees have a walk-off win in the ALDS. Does AJ then still show up to give a pie? Or, is that something he only does when he’s an active player?
@ Steve Lombardi:
Let’s just hope for decisive victories in the ALDS.
Corey Italiano wrote:
Forget decisive victories. Let’s just hope for victories at this point.
I just heard a rumor about AJ going to the pen for the ALDS and going with a 3 man rotation. CC for games 1 and 4 on short rest, Pettitte for games 2 and 5 on regular rest, and Hughes for game 3.
G.I. Joey wrote:
If that’s true, I’m 100% fine with that.
MJ Recanati wrote:
A man can hope!
Interesting list, seeing how it includes two Hall of Famers, an MVP, a pitcher with over 280 career wins, and Phil Hughes’s Great Great Grandfather.