Let's take a look at some items from the AL and NL East..
- An Orioles source confirmed to Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun that Alfredo Simon arrived in Tampa on Saturday afternoon and will work out at the team’s minor-league complex within the next few days.
- Don't get accustomed to the Red Sox signing $100MM players, cautions Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal.
- Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon hasn't been totally cleared of wrongdoing in a fatal shooting, but he has been able to secure a visa which allowed him to travel to the United States. Simon's agent, Phil Issac, says that Simon will arrive in Florida this afternoon, writes Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun. Zrebiec writes that it's too early to speculate about his availability, but the veteran will begin a throwing program and start preparing for the 2011 season.
- Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez wants to stay with the club beyond 2011, writes Bill Ladson of MLB.com. The catcher has been brought up in trade rumors as some believe that the club could make Jesus Flores the backup after handing the keys over to Wilson Ramos behind the plate.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman said that Pedro Feliciano was "abused" by the Mets' use of him in recent years, tweets Jim Baumbach of Newsday.
- One group of bidders interested in buying a share of the Mets includes Tampa Bay Rays minority owner Randy Frankel, writes Michael O'Keeffe of the New York Daily News.
How can Cashman make such a blunt statement when Torre “abused” Proctor.
Beat me to it. That was my first thought after reading that headline.
You’re acting if those facts are not mutually exclusive. I’m sure if someone asked him about Proctor he would say the same thing. Now if TORRE were asked that question regarding Feliciano and said the same thing, then we’d have something to talk about.
I never mentioned those two cases cannot be mutually exclusive at all so I’m not sure where you are getting that. In case you missed the point, I was ripping, if you will, Cashman for portraying the Mets as bad guys by saying they “abused” Feliciano when his own team has done the same thing in the past. The Mets did not “abuse” him by asking to pitch so many innings, he was willing to go out on the mound “like all good ballplayers” when asked to do so. Yes he was overworked because of the state bullpen but not abuse as Cashman puts it.
What does “A” what Torre, who no longer is affiliated with the Yanks, have anything to do about a question that Cashman answered in, what he thought to be, an honest evaluation?
Your statement of “How can Cashman make such a blunt statement when Torre “abused” Proctor” makes it seem like Cashman is being hypocritical and was condoning or ignoring what Torre did. Cashman didn’t control what Torre did and I’m sure he probably doesn’t condone the overuse of any of his players under contract for more than 1 year.
I wasn’t attackingyoubut certainly not understanding how Torre/Proctor has anything to do with Cashman and his comment about Feliciano. You act as if one speaks for all or all are responsible for the actions of one.
That’s as silly as getting mad at a comment made by Alderson about another organization because Minaya may have done the same thing during his tenure. One has nothing to do with other.
Not only did Proctor get abused by Torre, so did Tanyon Sturtze and Luis Vizcaino. Torre was not the guy to work for if you were a middle relief guy.
As for the whole “what Cashman said” thing, I can see that the Yanks history of tearing up relievers would come up when he says another organization did the same. No one’s going to care that Cash was never the manager and didn’t personally make calls to the bullpen.
And being a realist…we can throw in Paul Quantrill, even though he lead MLB in appearances with the Dodgers the 3 years prior he arrived in NY. Certainly, the Mets and the Yankees aren’t the only teams to overuse relievers, however, Cashman’s comments are ridiculous as he is the one who signed Feliciano…being full-aware of what was going on in Flushing…unless he was not doing his homework because he was too busy rappelling off buildings in his elf costume!?!?
I am a die-hard Yankees fan, but not a fan of Cashman. And while being a little off-topic…doesn’t Cash look like a slightly younger, slightly cuter, version of Jeff Van Gundy!!!
jeff van gundy and cute should never be put in the same sentence, page, book or library together…ever…
Yes, Quantrill is another tough guy who got overused by Torre. He had a great attitude and no one there to protect him from his own desire to contribute.
As for cute, I have to decline as I don’t usually weigh in on men’s attractiveness!
ned colletti is guilty by all counts too you know. at least he keeps his mouth shut about it but then again i don’t expect a depressed millionaire to talk much.
So Cashman feels the Mets “abused” Pedro’s arm. No kidding. Why’d he sign him for two years? He pitched in over 85 games 3 seasons running. Look at the track record of pitchers who have done that. What happens next?
Does Cashman not even read his hometown papers? This was no secret. He comes across as more and more of a complete tool as time goes on.
If anything this shows how Cashman be so cavalier with money and how desperate he is when it comes to lefty bullpen guys. Other than a good two weeks in October post-season we really have gotten nothing from Damaso Marte’s 3/$12 mil deal. Pedro’s issues don’t seem as drastic but certainly not getting off to a good start. I wonder, what could’ve happened from the medical exam he took to spring training for himto have a sore shoulder all of a sudden?
I can defend the statement he made, even if it rubs ppl the wrong way, but the signing was one of those “sign him and hope he holds up” move and while they can afford it and it didn’t cost us a pick it really is sort of a waste.
The Mets absolutely would have resigned Feliciano if he didn’t demand a two year $4M deal… Cashman wasn’t wrong in signing him, there was risk to be had for anybody who signed him.
The Mets just couldn’t afford the risk/reward factor at this juncture, with quite a few other holes to plug. The Yankees could…
I agree. Cashman was well aware of Pedro’s issues. They were all well noted, well documented and EVERYONE has said the same thing about his overuse. I guess the fact that it comes from a GM is what bothers ppl. It’s not like Cashman is acting as if it was hidden. PC or not, what he said was the truth and even though there was no background mentioned I’m sure his remark was in response to a question rather than him just throwing that comment out there.
Baubach could be trolling. One of the great things about being a sportswriter is you can make things up.
Doesn’t take many attributed made up quotes for people to stop talking to you though. Usually it’s “a source in the organisation said”, IE they made it up or a hot dog vendor told them.
Ah, Twitter — the convenient way for a sports journalist to state an opinion without any backing facts.
If anyone’s an expert in abusing pitchers it’s the Yankees.
It’s more like Joe Torre than, you know, the yankees philosophy
They enabled it.
Hey, at least we paid them handsomely while doing so.
No it’s Dusty Baker
can Pedro show Cashman on the doll where the mets touched him
That’s because the Mets suck.
If the group can reach a deal with the Wilpon family to buy a minority share in the beleaguered ballclub…Ellin will enlist actors Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Ed Burns to bring their star power to Citi Field…Connolly said the principals are all “genius marketers” who would help revive the Mets…
Anyone looking to help prolong the Wilpons’ tenure as owners can’t be much of a genius….and the answer to this franchise’s woes is definitely not a fresh crop of marketing gimmicks.
Oh cry me a river, Cashman. Spare me that crap when you were babying/jerking around guys like Joba (“Joba Rules”). We all knew Manuel “abused” Feliciano. This is no secret. Even that homer Heyman said this earlier in the offseason. He was a “buyer beware” type of signing. Unless Steinbrenner or anyone else forced you to sign him, shut the hell up. Joke’s on you for signing him over the next 2 years and shelling out $8 million.
He got asked a question and spoke the truth. I’m sure the Yankees will have trouble eating the 4 mill per if Pedro never pitches again.
Joba Rules were meant to protect a young pitcher transitioning from a Starter to a reliever mid season. How in any way does that compare to using Feliciano 85 times? But yes, Cashman shouldn’t have held a press conference complaining about the Mets usage of a guy where the stats could have told the same story. Good thing he didn’t. He was asked a question and answered it. Stop whining.
Who’s whining? I could care less what Cashman or the Yankees say/do…just don’t try to pass the buck to us when the facts about someone is right in front of you. There’s an old saying Cashman should learn: “Before you point fingers, make sure your hands are clean.”
HIS HANDS ARE CLEAN!!!! His name isn’t Joe Torre. I mean use common sense. If Alderson commented about something someone else did would it make sense for someone to say “Look who’s talking. Minaya did the same thing?”
Cashman’s job is to acquire players and it was Torre’s job to use them accordingly. I’m sure Cashman can voice his opinion but he isn’t going to dictate how a vet middle reliever isused. He’s not going to insist on Joba rules for a 30 something non-prospect.
Cashman = diplomacy
Lolz, have tons of fun with that used up arm. Thanks for the draft pick!
I swear I glanced at his headline very quickly and thought this story had something to do with Simon Rex.
Proctor, Bruney, Gordon, Quantrill, Sturtze, etc. would probably slap Cashman… if they could even raise their arm to do it.
i would really like to know if modern day pitch counts and appearances really do extend a pitcher’s career, and/or quality of pitches. is it possible that young players don’t throw enough, like they did 30 or so years ago? i guess 90 appearances for getting one hitter out doesn’t seem like a big deal to me.
One of the better questions asked. I don’t think there’s any evidence saying what usage patterns really protect arms. There’s too many factors to simply compare outings and pitches per era to say with conviction that pitchers are helped by modern ideas.
So we’re left with impressions of what will or will not help a pitcher. For me it goes like this:
-I don’t think that the 100 pitch limit some teams have on starters matters. Once the guy is in the game, stress on the arm has more to do with whether or the pitcher is struggling with command. Struggling pitchers are probably not throwing with their best mechanics, so lots of pitches thrown that way can be an issue.
-With relievers, I think the number of times a pitcher has to warm up and the amount of pitches thrown per outing may have a big effect on their arm health. Obviously, if you’re only getting one guy at a time LOOGY style, then things should be easier on your arm.
-As for innings limits for guys coming up through the minors, I also agree with the concept that giving them too many innings early can wreck a developing arm.
Of course, if I was asked to PROVE any of this, I can’t. It’s just my impression of things.
Show us your class Cashman.
this coming from a fan of a team that decided to publicly start a name calling war, now that’s class