D-Rob, Marte to setup for Mo?
November 24, 2009, 8:00 pm by iYankees · 5 Comments
From Peter Gammons (ESPN):
Cashman feels David Robertson and Damaso Marte can pitch the seventh and eighth innings in front of Mariano Rivera, but a Yankee run at Lackey, Ben Sheets or another starter hasn’t been ruled out. The feeling inside the Yankees’ offices is that there will be some payroll cutback, but how much is not known.
Okay, so the stuff about Ben Sheets, John Lackey, and the payroll is nothing new, really. Gammons’ statement regarding David Robertson and Damaso Marte isn’t exactly “new,” either, however, it’s definitely discussion worthy.
While I think the Yankees can benefit from adding a veteran arm to their bullpen, primarily because it prevents starters like Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes from being forced into a relief role in the event of an injury or ineffectiveness, I also think that David Robertson, with a strong season above Triple-A now under his belt, along with a healthy Damaso Marte can effectively bridge the gap between the team’s starters and Mariano Rivera. I know many fans may not be comfortable with that decision, though, as the two relievers aren’t exactly proven yet in such important roles.
With that said, in 2010, should the team rely upon a combination of Robertson and Marte setting up Rivera? Or, should they sign a free agent to help alleviate both the workload and the pressure accompanied with late-inning relief?
Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
i would have to include myself in the group of fans who are skeptical in robertson and marte’s abilities to effectively bridge the 7-8th inning gap. i am particularly worried about marte and his ability to get out right handers [who hit .414 vs him last year, although .248 career], as the yankees used him primarily as a lefty specialist during the playoffs. if you’re going to designate someone as a “7th or 8th inning guy” then they need to pitch to all batters. if robertson and marte aren’t the guys, then who else might step up? bruney. no. aceves. no. coke. no. gaudin. no. melancon. i doubt it. igawa. ha! it looks like the yankees need another arm, if they really intend to keep joba and/or hughes in the rotation. i would stay away from the group a free agents and take the best they could get from the rest, but pickens are slim. putz?
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The Yankees could also choose to mix and match and install the confusing setup platoon for the 7th and 8th inning (between D-Rob and Marte). Still, both Marte and Robertson have had success against lefties and relievers in their careers, so I think the two of them can get the job done. IMO, I think it’s best to add another insurance arm, though, as you stated. It gives the Yankees more options and the depth necessary to counteract injuries, etc.
Also, yes, I think J.J. will be an option.
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I think if you go with this strategy you will find yourself 1. blowing a lot of game trying to get to Mo because you are mixing and matching and 2. you are going to end up using Robertson, Marte, Coke, Bruney and Melancon all in a plethora of never knowing who is going to be used based on varying degrees of failure at the position and based on Girardi’s book and lefty-righty match ups.
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Putz isn’t a bad option at all, he is cheaper than a guy like Soriano but how is his arm?
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