Yankee 21
09-17-2002, 12:04 PM
Mussina may already be in, regardless of what El Duque does
By Bryon Evje
Special to YES Network Online
September 16, 2002
With Mike Mussina losing each of his last three starts and four of his last five, his place in the postseason starting rotation may not be as open and shut as it once was. And in a bizarre way, with his glancing right cross to Jorge Posada’s left cheek, Orlando Hernandez may have actually given hope to his candidacy.
It may have seemed like a harmless clubhouse scuffle at the time, but when El Duque and Jorge Posada briefly went at it before Saturday’s game, the Yankees may have taken pause. As a result, it's quite possible El Duque punched a hole in the notion that he’s bound for the bullpen on Oct. 1.
What happens over the final two weeks of the season may be the ultimate indicator, but the possibility exists that Joe Torre and the Yankee brass have yet to rule out Hernandez as one of the club’s four postseason starters.
When El Duque punched Posada, he probably sealed his fate in pinstripes. But the Yankees, who are likely to jettison Hernandez after this season, could have more to gain from letting him pitch as a starter rather than a reliever this postseason.
One thing we already know is that, no matter the circumstances, El Duque always manages to survive. Hernandez likely views his current predicament no different than he would a struggle for survival. Surely he senses his days in the Bronx could be numbered, and that could ultimately stand to motivate him to great lengths. Hernandez has made it through the entire 2002 season as a Yankee when he was reportedly on the verge of being traded several times during the off-season, spring training and early season. He may think he can save his Yankee future with more stellar work in October.
The Yankees would obviously benefit from this because they’d have a proven postseason performer and, at the very least, Hernandez could ultimately boost his value in the eyes of other organizations.
Since the day he arrived in the Bronx, communication has not been one of Hernandez' strong suits. Granted, he doesn’t speak fluent English, but that’s an invalid excuse for a New York athlete who shares a clubhouse with numerous Latin American players. Hernandez continuously makes himself unavailable to the media. He’s often slow to report injuries to the coaching staff. His teammates generally seem to tolerate him.
For the most part, none of this has affected El Duque’s ability to pitch well when healthy. Were it not for a subpar start in Game 3 of the ALCS against Seattle last year, Hernandez’s playoff record would be unblemished. As it is, he’s 10-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 14 starts, and that outing against the Mariners did come only two days prior to his father’s death.
But Hernandez’ real path to the starting rotation could rest on Mussina, who has not been himself all season. In fact, Mussina has been so unlike the pitcher who led last year’s club in ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched that the Yankees have to be wondering if he’ll ever return to that form.
Among the Yankees’ five starters (excluding Jeff Weaver), Mussina has the most losses (10), the highest ERA (4.48) and has allowed the most home runs (27).
Mussina has seemingly been feeling his way through each outing, rather than just getting the ball and throwing it. One of Mussina’s strengths in the past was his ability to maintain a fluid tempo up with men on base, but his pace has slowed down considerably with runners on this season.
After his brilliant three-hit shutout over the Red Sox at Fenway on Aug. 28, Mussina has dropped three straight starts despite solid numbers (3.08), and now the Yankees have to be wondering if his confidence isn’t at least a bit shaken. He never has a lot to say to reporters after he pitches, but all Mussina has been able to do muster after his last few starts is a placid shrug of the shoulders.
The argument can be made that Mussina is entitled to an off-year after the Yankee offense had an off-year on him in 2001, which likely cost him his first career Cy Young Award. But is it necessarily wise to award him a spot in the postseason rotation based largely on past performances?
Hernandez, to his credit, has been the Yankees’ most effective starter for long stretches this season. Hernandez has had only seven starts in which he’s allowed four or more runs. Mussina has had 15. Opposing batters are hitting only .228 against Hernandez and .261 against Mussina. Hernandez hasn’t faced Minnesota this season, but he’s 1-0 with a 2.34 ERA (23 innings, six runs) against Oakland and Anaheim. Mussina hasn’t faced Anaheim, but he’s 2-2 with a 6.89 ERA (31 1/3 innings, 24 runs) versus Minnesota and Oakland.
However, the numbers suggest Mussina would be far less adept at relieving than Hernandez. Not only has Mussina never pitched in relief, opposing teams are hitting .302 against him with runners on base this season -- a situation that relievers must deal with regularly. Opposing teams are hitting .214 against El Duque with men on.
Barring any interruptions in the schedule, Mussina and Hernandez should each get three more regular-season starts. Hernandez will pitch the opener of the three-game series in Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Mussina will pitch the final game on Wednesday. Hernandez would make his final two starts against Detroit and Tampa Bay, respectively, and Mussina will face Tampa Bay and Baltimore.
But if all the speculation is true, those starts won’t matter because Torre has already made his choice. Mussina, who has a 4-3 career record with a 2.56 ERA in the postseason, would be the Yankees’ No. 4 starter in October. Torre reserves the right to change his mind, though. If Mussina gets hit hard in the division series and the Yankees still advance to the ALCS, Hernandez could be back in the rotation.
For now, the Yankees are hoping Mussina turns in three straight solid starts. That would settle any and all debates.
But if Mussina continues to falter, it would be a shame to see Hernandez make his final start as a Yankee against Tampa Bay rather than Oakland, Anaheim or, for that matter, a National League club.
By Bryon Evje
Special to YES Network Online
September 16, 2002
With Mike Mussina losing each of his last three starts and four of his last five, his place in the postseason starting rotation may not be as open and shut as it once was. And in a bizarre way, with his glancing right cross to Jorge Posada’s left cheek, Orlando Hernandez may have actually given hope to his candidacy.
It may have seemed like a harmless clubhouse scuffle at the time, but when El Duque and Jorge Posada briefly went at it before Saturday’s game, the Yankees may have taken pause. As a result, it's quite possible El Duque punched a hole in the notion that he’s bound for the bullpen on Oct. 1.
What happens over the final two weeks of the season may be the ultimate indicator, but the possibility exists that Joe Torre and the Yankee brass have yet to rule out Hernandez as one of the club’s four postseason starters.
When El Duque punched Posada, he probably sealed his fate in pinstripes. But the Yankees, who are likely to jettison Hernandez after this season, could have more to gain from letting him pitch as a starter rather than a reliever this postseason.
One thing we already know is that, no matter the circumstances, El Duque always manages to survive. Hernandez likely views his current predicament no different than he would a struggle for survival. Surely he senses his days in the Bronx could be numbered, and that could ultimately stand to motivate him to great lengths. Hernandez has made it through the entire 2002 season as a Yankee when he was reportedly on the verge of being traded several times during the off-season, spring training and early season. He may think he can save his Yankee future with more stellar work in October.
The Yankees would obviously benefit from this because they’d have a proven postseason performer and, at the very least, Hernandez could ultimately boost his value in the eyes of other organizations.
Since the day he arrived in the Bronx, communication has not been one of Hernandez' strong suits. Granted, he doesn’t speak fluent English, but that’s an invalid excuse for a New York athlete who shares a clubhouse with numerous Latin American players. Hernandez continuously makes himself unavailable to the media. He’s often slow to report injuries to the coaching staff. His teammates generally seem to tolerate him.
For the most part, none of this has affected El Duque’s ability to pitch well when healthy. Were it not for a subpar start in Game 3 of the ALCS against Seattle last year, Hernandez’s playoff record would be unblemished. As it is, he’s 10-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 14 starts, and that outing against the Mariners did come only two days prior to his father’s death.
But Hernandez’ real path to the starting rotation could rest on Mussina, who has not been himself all season. In fact, Mussina has been so unlike the pitcher who led last year’s club in ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched that the Yankees have to be wondering if he’ll ever return to that form.
Among the Yankees’ five starters (excluding Jeff Weaver), Mussina has the most losses (10), the highest ERA (4.48) and has allowed the most home runs (27).
Mussina has seemingly been feeling his way through each outing, rather than just getting the ball and throwing it. One of Mussina’s strengths in the past was his ability to maintain a fluid tempo up with men on base, but his pace has slowed down considerably with runners on this season.
After his brilliant three-hit shutout over the Red Sox at Fenway on Aug. 28, Mussina has dropped three straight starts despite solid numbers (3.08), and now the Yankees have to be wondering if his confidence isn’t at least a bit shaken. He never has a lot to say to reporters after he pitches, but all Mussina has been able to do muster after his last few starts is a placid shrug of the shoulders.
The argument can be made that Mussina is entitled to an off-year after the Yankee offense had an off-year on him in 2001, which likely cost him his first career Cy Young Award. But is it necessarily wise to award him a spot in the postseason rotation based largely on past performances?
Hernandez, to his credit, has been the Yankees’ most effective starter for long stretches this season. Hernandez has had only seven starts in which he’s allowed four or more runs. Mussina has had 15. Opposing batters are hitting only .228 against Hernandez and .261 against Mussina. Hernandez hasn’t faced Minnesota this season, but he’s 1-0 with a 2.34 ERA (23 innings, six runs) against Oakland and Anaheim. Mussina hasn’t faced Anaheim, but he’s 2-2 with a 6.89 ERA (31 1/3 innings, 24 runs) versus Minnesota and Oakland.
However, the numbers suggest Mussina would be far less adept at relieving than Hernandez. Not only has Mussina never pitched in relief, opposing teams are hitting .302 against him with runners on base this season -- a situation that relievers must deal with regularly. Opposing teams are hitting .214 against El Duque with men on.
Barring any interruptions in the schedule, Mussina and Hernandez should each get three more regular-season starts. Hernandez will pitch the opener of the three-game series in Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Mussina will pitch the final game on Wednesday. Hernandez would make his final two starts against Detroit and Tampa Bay, respectively, and Mussina will face Tampa Bay and Baltimore.
But if all the speculation is true, those starts won’t matter because Torre has already made his choice. Mussina, who has a 4-3 career record with a 2.56 ERA in the postseason, would be the Yankees’ No. 4 starter in October. Torre reserves the right to change his mind, though. If Mussina gets hit hard in the division series and the Yankees still advance to the ALCS, Hernandez could be back in the rotation.
For now, the Yankees are hoping Mussina turns in three straight solid starts. That would settle any and all debates.
But if Mussina continues to falter, it would be a shame to see Hernandez make his final start as a Yankee against Tampa Bay rather than Oakland, Anaheim or, for that matter, a National League club.