The Yankee Bullpen: 2009 Analysis

I know all the talk is about A-Rod, but I started this before A-Rod was exposed…

Mariano Rivera, arguably the best closer in baseball history will look to lead the Yankee bullpen this year. The problem with this is that he will most likely get hurt. He’s 39-years-old and is coming off of shoulder surgery. This could be the beginning of the end for Mo.

When Mariano pitches, he’ll still be effective; but the injury bug might start to plague his career.

The locks to be in the bull pen for the Yankees are Mo, Marte, and Bruney. After Brian Bruney, I listed the eight candidates that will compete for three or four spots in spring training.

Damaso Marte throws a slick slider and is a good lefty to have in the bullpen, but I believe that Phil Coke can take his job by the time the year is over.

Brian Bruney is in his prime at the age of 27 and came into his own after an inconsistent 2007. Although he had some erratic control last year, he was able to issue only two walks and strike out a batter an inning during the last month of the season.

Jose Veras dominated Triple-A before being called up to the Yankees. There’s nothing left to prove in the minors, and he pitched very well in the major leagues at the age of 27. What scares me about Veras is that all throughout his 20s he wasn’t very good for the Tampa Rays in their minor league system.

Between the age of 26 and 27, Veras’ ERA went down from 4.50 in Triple-A to 1.37.

Edwar Ramirez has a chance to be a real star. He was the minor league baseball reliever of the year in 2007, so you know he has what it takes to be great. He has a devastating low 80s circle change up that is effective against left handed batters and has pitched well on every level. Edwar spent six years in the minor leagues and totally dominated, with a 0.90 ERA in 2007 and a 0.00 ERA in 2008 with eight relief appearances before being called up to the Yankees.

In 2008, Ramirez had a 3.90 ERA for the Yankees, but if you look at his game log he pitched very well.

Dan Giese started three games last year and showed he can pitch on the major league level, but has he leveled off at the age of 32? He had a great minor league career, but last year was his first as a starter at the major league level. After pitching really well in Triple-A Scranton, the Yankees called him up and used him as a reliever and he pitched great. The Yankees can use him as a spot starter if anyone gets hurt and he proves he can step in and start.

Reading Break HO OH

Giese pitched decently all year but didn’t pitch well in September after having shoulder tendonitis. He had a 2.58 ERA before he went on the DL in the middle of August, but finished with a 3.53 ERA.

Jonathan Albaladejo is only 26 and started his minor league career as a starter in Pittsburgh’s system, where he was converted to a reliever. Albaladejo pitched well in New York, but pitched in only seven games because of an elbow injury. He only gave up runs during two of the games he pitched. He finished with a 3.95 ERA, but had 13 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.

Mark Melancon will only be 24-years-old when the season starts. His desire to compete has earned him comparisons to Joba Chamberlain. He has an above-average fastball and a power curve that some compare to Joba’s slider. He has dominated in every level of the Yankee minor league system and has closer potential.

Melancon pitched on every level in the minors for the Yankees, from A to Triple-A in 2008, and finished with a 2.36 ERA. He had 97 strikeouts in 100 innings pitched.

David Robertson has climbed the ladder pretty fast in the minor leagues and has a career 1.24 ERA. Robertson is said to have an amazing curve ball and is also said to be another Joba Chamberlain. He had 190 strikeouts in 138 innings pitched in the minors.

Now that’s domination.

When he was called up to the Yankees, he pitched well in the months of July and September. He did not have a good month of August, but turned it around in last week of September when he did not give up a run. He finished with a 5.34 ERA.

The Yankees made off with Humberto Sanchez after getting him in a trade from the Detroit Tigers for Gary Sheffield in 2006. Sanchez was recognized as one of the best pitching prospects in minor league baseball. His career ERA in the minors is 4.15.

Phil Coke has a fastball that sits between 92-94 mph and has a sharp slider in the low to mid 80s. He was a starter in most of 2008 and finished with a 2.51 ERA in Trenton. He was called up to Scranton and pitched only OK with a 4.67 ERA.

Coke appeared in 12 games for the Yankees in September and dominated with a 0.61 ERA.

The Yankees have put together a very young bullpen that will be great for years to come. There’s no denying that the Yankee bullpen could be one of the best in 2009.