Let's Think Outside The Box
Ok, so Brett Tomko isn't that good. Not a shock to anyone outside of the Yankees' organization. Will today's performance make the Yankees realize that Tomko isn't helping? I have no clue, but just in case it does, how about this move?
DFA Tomko and promote Kei Igawa from the minors.
I know, I know, Igawa is a HUGE mistake. The Yankees threw money after him to counter the Red Sox Matsuzaka move and it blew up in their faces. They spent $26 million to win the posting and then signed the guy to a five-year/$4-million deal. Let's face it, at this point that money is a sunk cost.
And that is why the Yankees should promote Igawa to the majors. Is Igawa better than Tomko? I don't know for sure, but I think he might be. Brett Tomko is signed to a minor-league deal. Igawa is signed to a deal where he is going to collect another $8 million from the team after this season. If you think both pitchers have the same ability doesn't it make sense to try the guy who you are paying the bigger salary to? Maybe Igawa comes up and surprises everyone by getting outs. In that case you can try and trade him and get some of that $8 million back. More likely, he struggles and you need to get him back to the minors. That would mean passing him though waivers and I would bet not a single team would take on that $8 million obligation.
So, what's the downside? I guess it is you lose Tomko. You certainly won't lose Igawa and maybe you catch lightning in a bottle. Aaron Small, Shawn Chacon, it has happened before. It isn't likely, but why not try it again?
BTW- June 25th is a big day for the Yankees. It is the day that Cody Ransom is eligible to come off the DL and I would bet anything that it will mean the end of Berroa's tenure in pinstripes. It's sad it has come to this, but getting Ransom back is a big plus for this team.
Comments
THAT'S certainly a great example of thinking outside the box but I agree that Iggy prob can't do much worse than Tomko. Iggy's stuff is great, his control of it isn't. I never understood why that happened when he got up to the bigs (maybe Eiland is the wrong guy for him).
BTW, I am sort of chuckling quietly to myself as I read that Dice-K is going on the DL (again) with a fatigued shoulder. Another victim of the World Baseball Classic? Yeah, that's an event that most owners would surely get behind - to push it off a cliff.
And, yeah, it is sad but it's true. Ransom would be an upgrade over Berroa.
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 22, 2009 10:31 AM
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Random rumination for someone/anyone to take a shot at:
I think that Hughes has a better "mind-set" to be a starter than does Joba - the reasons I say that are that Joba seems to be a hot-headed pitcher, one who, when he's pumped up, can blow it by almost anyone - but who also seems to lose his focus every once in a while, a bit like an ADHD kid (not taking meds) looking out the window while the teacher is giving out an important assignment. I see issues with his maturity and focus. Trust me when I tell you that I believe it is normal for most young adult males to have this issue (LOL).
Hughes, on the other hand, seems to be very cool-headed and seems to stay on task better. He even seems to take direction better. Is his stuff better than Joba's on a raw level? Nope, doesn't seem so. Phil's breaks are more gradual and a bit earlier in their action. Joba is clearly the owner of some very nasty pitches.
If I had to bet on who has a higher ceiling as a starting ace for many years to come, I would put my chips on Hughes.
Think I'm wrong? OK, tell me about it please. And Peter/Andy, I apologize if this is not where or how to post something like this ...
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 22, 2009 01:36 PM
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