The Yankees re-constructed bullpen is looking better than ever. It took Girardi just one season to completely revamp a struggling relief staff. Torre was notorious for being a terrible bullpen manager--overtiring young relievers, pulling set up men when they make a single mistake, etc... Girardi took a bunch of journeyman and unexperienced young pitchers and made the second best 'pen in the MLB--next to the Red Sox. Sorry Mets, but you still need work--no amount of money is going to make up for the fact that the back of your pen gives up gopher balls like Caddy Shack. Below is a list of the key pieces of the Yankees' pen in 2009. With Marte and Rivera clearly entrenched in the late innings, the Yankees have a pretty open 'pen to fill with young talent. The number in parenthesis is the pitcher's potential. The number the right of their letter grade, is my grade (based on the usual college grading system) for their current ability.
The New Guns
1. David Robertson, MR, 88 (A-): Robertson is a top 100 prospect, and one of the best young relievers in the MLB. His career MiLB era is an absolutely insane 1.24 in 138 innings. His career line is 12-3, 138 ip, 190 k, .93 whip and a 1.24 era. Jose Ceda is getting a lot of the hype, and he is very good, but Robertson has the better stuff--which is saying a lot. His power 12-6 curve, sider and fastball are all plus pitches. His 4-seamer rides and his 2-seamer dips. He looks to me to be a possible heir to Rivera.
2. Phil Coke, LHR, 85 (B+)- Outside of Marte, who actually did a better job of getting out righties than lefties in 2008, the Yankees haven't had a good lefty in the bullpen since Mike Stanton. Mike Myers was a bust, and the parade of shit that Torre chose to use didn't include one effective lefty. Phil Coke didn't allow a single earned run in his September callup in 2008, and is 2-0 with a 1.86 era this spring. His 94 mph 4 seamer and his slider are both top of the line. He finally came in to his own in 2007, and now in 2009, he looks to be a lock for the 'pen.
3. Mark Melancon, CL, 78 (A-)- Melancon is widely considered to be the heir to Rivera. His mid 90's fastball and his slider are both very, very good pitches. Coming back from Tommy John surgery, he went 6-0 and posted a 1.86 ERA in Trenton in 2008. He has an outside shot at the 'pen for 2009, but it looks like the Yankees want him to get some more work in the minors first.
4. Jonathan Albaladejo, MR/LR, 80 (B)- Albaladejo was traded to the Yankees, from the Nationals, for Tyler Clippard. He missed most of 2008 with injury but looks healthy and in shape for 2009. He's a sinker/slider pitcher who has good stuff. He has a low-mid nienties fastball. In 28 career ip in the majors, Alabaledejo has put up a 2.89 era and has struck out 25. He doesn't need any more time in the minors, but with the all-of-sudden-crowed Yankees' bullpen, he may have to start the season in AAA Columbus.
5. Humberto Sanchez, SU/LR/SP, 82 (A-)- Sanchez has a very high ceiling and can really fill any role for the Yankees in 2009. He throws a mid nineties fastball and a top of the line slider. The 6'6" 230 lb righty has a big enough body to be able to shake off his elbow surgery and shouldn't have too many problems in 2009 as long as he stays in shape. His career 4.15 ERA in the minors isn't fantastic, but right before his injury he seemed to put everything together. In 72 innings in 2006, Sanchez put up nice numbers-- a 1.75 era, 86 strikeouts and a 1.03 WHIP. Theres a good chance that he'll make the pen for 2009--Girardi loves his stuff.
6. Steven Jackson, MR, 76 (B-)- Steven Jackson has some decent stuff. A good fastball and decent breaking stuff, the southern boy may very well be one of the top 3 Yankees' 'pen prospects. It's highly unlikely that he'll make the 'pen for 2009, at least out of Spring training, but his 2.16 era suggests that the 27-year-old is MLB ready.
7. Kanekoa Texeira, SU, 74 (B)- The young Hawaiian has dominated the minors in his 144 career innings. He;s 11-5 with a 2.24 era and 149 strikeouts. He came with Swisher to the Yankees this Spring and has a very good change of being in the Yankees' pen in 2010.
8. Anthony Claggett, SU, 74 (B)- The 24-year-old Claggett may not be a star, but he is very solid. He throws a 93 mph fastball, a slurve and a solid change. He has a 2.76 ERA in 261 MiLB innings and will be in Scranton in 2009.
9. J.B. Cox, SU, 73 (B/B+)- The former college closer, Cox's stock has fallen since his first few years with the Yankees. His 4.75 ERA with Scranton last year wasn't too promising, but his slider is still one of the best in the minors. He still has a career 2.64 era in the minors, and will probably be a mid-season call-up in 2009.
The Proven Young Guns
1. Jose Veras, SU, 86 (B+)- Veras, hampered by elbow problems for most of his career came into the Yankees' bullpen dealing out of Spring training in 2008. He throws a fastball that can get to 98 mph, a hard slider and a good 12-6 curve. He was the most reliable reliever in the pen for the Yankees in 2008, outside of Bruney, and will probably make a bid to set up for Rivera in 2009.
2. Brian Bruney, SU, 83 (B)- In the minors, Bruney struck out 316 in 285 career ip. He has horrid control 164 in that span, but he had shown flashes of brilliance in 2007, and then put it together in the second half of 2008. He was the Yankees' best set up man in 2008, and he had 19 holds, a 1.83 era and 33 strikeouts in 34 ip. He gace up just 18 hits in the 34 innings but walked 16. He probably can never be a lock as a late inning reliever due to his control, but he can be a top-of-the-line middle reliever.
Back from the Dead
1. Edwar Ramirez, MR, 83 (B+)- The 6'3" 155 pound Ramirez looks 18, but is actually 28. Before learning his forking super-change, Edwar was cut from just about half of the teams in the AL. He learned that pitch in the Indy leagues and immediately won minor league relief pitcher of the year upon returning to professional ball. With Scranton in 2007 Edwar pitched 40 innings, posted a .54 era, gave up just 20 hits and struck out an insane 69. Because of his straight 88 mph fastball, and average slider, Edwar is prone to the homerun, but that superchange is one of the best pitches in the game. The 76 mph pitch, screwballs more than Pedro's circle-change, and makes hitters look absolutely horrible--even when it hangs. For most of 2008, Edwar had an ERA below 3.50, but a tough September made it rise to a still respectable 3.90. He pitched 55 innings and struck out 63.
2. Dan Giese, LR/SP, 81 (B-)- Giese is a nice guy, but never showed much potential in the minors before he hit 30. He helped the Yankees out in 2008, spot-starting and providing long relief. In 52 innings he has a 3.76 era and started 3 games. His minors numbers in AAA Columbus in 2008 were very impressive. He had a very nice 1.98 ERA in 51 innings, and struck out 51.
3. Alfredo Aceves, LR/SP, 78 (B-)- Aceves has an outside shot of making the Yankees 'pen in the long relief/spot starter role. It looks like Giese has his hands on it, but you never know...The 5'10 Mexican, already had a professional career in Mexico before coming to the Yankees. He knows how to pitch and has a lot of experience, but his stuff is only slightly above mediocre. He throws an 88-92 mpg fastball that gets some groundouts and a few different changes and breaking balls. In 140 career innings in the MiLB Aceves posted a 2.62 ERA and a .98 WHIP--so it's obvious he has some potential.
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