Yankee 21
01-21-2002, 06:04 PM
1/18/2002 11:00 am ET
Karsay happy in pinstripes
Reliever excited to make Yankee Stadium debut
By Mark Feinsand
Yankees.com
Karsay on the Yanks: 56k | 300k
Karsay talks with MLB Radio: 56k | 300k | Audio
Yanks introduce three to media
NEW YORK -- Steve Karsay knows all about the New York Yankees. Though he grew up in the shadows of Shea Stadium in Flushing, he never missed a chance to watch the Yankees on television and made the occasional voyage to the Bronx to watch the Bombers play.
Steve Karsay
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 210
Position: P
Bats/Throws: R/R
More info:
Stats
Splits
yankees.com
"This is a special moment for me, growing up in New York City and watching the Yankees my whole life," Karsay said. "As a kid, I always had a childhood dream of stepping on the mound at Yankee Stadium -- as a Yankee. When I step on the mound for the first time with pinstripes on, it will be a nervous moment for me -- but an exciting one."
After spending 5 1/2 years in the American League with the Oakland A's and Cleveland Indians and then heading to the National League, Karsay is excited to return to the Junior Circuit. He split time with the Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves last season, going 3-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 74 appearances. However, his 3.43 ERA in Atlanta, where he was traded mid-season, was more than two runs higher than it was in Cleveland.
"I didn't know the hitters, their tendencies, how to pitch to certain guys," Karsay said. "I know the AL hitters pretty well, their strengths and weaknesses. It's a comfort factor. The AL is where I belong, and I'm happy to come back."
Karsay saved 20 games for the Indians in 2000 and converted seven opportunities for the Braves last season. His role with the Yankees will be that of right-handed set-up man, joining Mike Stanton and Ramiro Mendoza in the effort to get the ball to closer Mariano Rivera.
"It comes down to wins and losses. If we walk off the field a winner, I'll be happy," Karsay said. "There is no use in saving 35 or 40 games for a team and then packing my stuff up and going home at the end of September. That's not what I want. I want a World Series ring."
Karsay gives the Yankees three pitchers who have served as closers, joining Rivera and Stanton, who saved 55 games with Atlanta. Karsay's primary job now will be to get the ball to Rivera, but Yankees GM Brian Cashman says Karsay could play a number of roles.
"Karsay has been so valuable in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, and even in the closer role. He'll provide Joe [Torre] with a lot of choices," Cashman said. "He'll help us get to Mo, or even spell Mo once in a blue moon. With Stanton, Mendoza, Karsay and Rivera, whatever order Joe uses them in, as long as they're pitching at the top of their game, we'll be fine."
With four of the six spots in the Yankees' 2002 bullpen locked up, Cashman and Torre will use Spring Training to fill the final two spots. A second lefty will be added -- possibly Randy Choate or Ted Lilly -- as well as another right-hander. Should Orlando Hernandez remain with the team and not make the starting rotation, he could be a candidate for the final bullpen spot, as could Adrian Hernandez.
"We're going to go to Spring Training with something that everybody in baseball is looking for, which is pitching," Cashman said. "That has to be a benefit to us, so if we make a move, it will be one that we feel is right for the organization. If not, we'll hold on to everyone we've got. There is room for everybody -- maybe not in the rotation -- but before the season's end, we'll be looking for pitching. That's the nature of the game."
Karsay's annual average salary of about $5 million is considerably higher than most set-up men, but Cashman thinks of Karsay as another closer, giving the Yankees more options. Rivera can opt out of his contract at the end of this season, though he is not expected to.
"He was definitely going to be paid on the low end of the closer scale this year, but he wanted to pitch here and we wanted to secure him," Cashman said. "Rivera can be a free agent at the end of the year if he wants to opt out of his deal, so he covers us there, too."
Karsay has no intentions of becoming the Yankees' closer. He calls Rivera "the best closer in the game" and said that if he can help pick up some of the load, he'll be happy.
"I want to help the back end of the bullpen, fill a void so Joe doesn't have to use Mariano for so many two-inning saves," Karsay said. "If I can help take some innings off Mariano's back, he can stay fresh into the playoffs."
It always comes back to the playoffs.
Karsay has some postseason experience, having been in the playoffs in 1999 with Cleveland and last year with Atlanta. He pitched in five games in the 2001 postseason, allowing one run and striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings for a 1.69 ERA.
While Karsay's World Series expectations are high, the Yankees' expectations are even higher. After falling in the seventh game of the World Series last November, anything short of a title will be a disappointment for the Bronx Bombers, and that's just fine with Karsay.
"Being in Cleveland helped me, because the fans' expectations are at a high level," Karsay said. "They expected to win, so when I stepped on the mound, I had to be at my best to give the fans what they wanted. I look forward to the challenge and the opportunity. I know what the organization expects and the other players here -- everyone wants to win. I can fit into that mold.
"I don't like sitting at home, watching other teams celebrate and jump around. It eats at me," Karsay added. "I want to be part of a World Series champion, and coming to the Yankees, I have that possibility. Everyone on this team wants to win, they're dedicated to winning and I thought it was the best fit for me."
Karsay couldn't keep his old uniform number, as Jorge Posada wears No. 20 in New York. He will wear No. 31, which as a New Yorker, he considers an honor. That number, of course, belonged to Hall-of-Famer Dave Winfield.
"Numbers aren't that big of a deal to me, so there was no reason to call Posada and ask him to change numbers," Karsay said. "Winfield wore 31, which means a lot. For a guy to be in the Hall of Fame, and they put his number on my back, that's special."
While slipping on his pinstripes on Wednesday was a thrill, Karsay said he couldn't wait for the first time he gets to do it for real.
"It's a day I will never forget," Karsay said. "The happiest day of my life as a baseball player was the day I made it to the big leagues. That is, until I put this uniform on and step between the white lines as a Yankee."
Mark Feinsand is the site reporter for Yankees.com. He can be
Karsay happy in pinstripes
Reliever excited to make Yankee Stadium debut
By Mark Feinsand
Yankees.com
Karsay on the Yanks: 56k | 300k
Karsay talks with MLB Radio: 56k | 300k | Audio
Yanks introduce three to media
NEW YORK -- Steve Karsay knows all about the New York Yankees. Though he grew up in the shadows of Shea Stadium in Flushing, he never missed a chance to watch the Yankees on television and made the occasional voyage to the Bronx to watch the Bombers play.
Steve Karsay
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 210
Position: P
Bats/Throws: R/R
More info:
Stats
Splits
yankees.com
"This is a special moment for me, growing up in New York City and watching the Yankees my whole life," Karsay said. "As a kid, I always had a childhood dream of stepping on the mound at Yankee Stadium -- as a Yankee. When I step on the mound for the first time with pinstripes on, it will be a nervous moment for me -- but an exciting one."
After spending 5 1/2 years in the American League with the Oakland A's and Cleveland Indians and then heading to the National League, Karsay is excited to return to the Junior Circuit. He split time with the Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves last season, going 3-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 74 appearances. However, his 3.43 ERA in Atlanta, where he was traded mid-season, was more than two runs higher than it was in Cleveland.
"I didn't know the hitters, their tendencies, how to pitch to certain guys," Karsay said. "I know the AL hitters pretty well, their strengths and weaknesses. It's a comfort factor. The AL is where I belong, and I'm happy to come back."
Karsay saved 20 games for the Indians in 2000 and converted seven opportunities for the Braves last season. His role with the Yankees will be that of right-handed set-up man, joining Mike Stanton and Ramiro Mendoza in the effort to get the ball to closer Mariano Rivera.
"It comes down to wins and losses. If we walk off the field a winner, I'll be happy," Karsay said. "There is no use in saving 35 or 40 games for a team and then packing my stuff up and going home at the end of September. That's not what I want. I want a World Series ring."
Karsay gives the Yankees three pitchers who have served as closers, joining Rivera and Stanton, who saved 55 games with Atlanta. Karsay's primary job now will be to get the ball to Rivera, but Yankees GM Brian Cashman says Karsay could play a number of roles.
"Karsay has been so valuable in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, and even in the closer role. He'll provide Joe [Torre] with a lot of choices," Cashman said. "He'll help us get to Mo, or even spell Mo once in a blue moon. With Stanton, Mendoza, Karsay and Rivera, whatever order Joe uses them in, as long as they're pitching at the top of their game, we'll be fine."
With four of the six spots in the Yankees' 2002 bullpen locked up, Cashman and Torre will use Spring Training to fill the final two spots. A second lefty will be added -- possibly Randy Choate or Ted Lilly -- as well as another right-hander. Should Orlando Hernandez remain with the team and not make the starting rotation, he could be a candidate for the final bullpen spot, as could Adrian Hernandez.
"We're going to go to Spring Training with something that everybody in baseball is looking for, which is pitching," Cashman said. "That has to be a benefit to us, so if we make a move, it will be one that we feel is right for the organization. If not, we'll hold on to everyone we've got. There is room for everybody -- maybe not in the rotation -- but before the season's end, we'll be looking for pitching. That's the nature of the game."
Karsay's annual average salary of about $5 million is considerably higher than most set-up men, but Cashman thinks of Karsay as another closer, giving the Yankees more options. Rivera can opt out of his contract at the end of this season, though he is not expected to.
"He was definitely going to be paid on the low end of the closer scale this year, but he wanted to pitch here and we wanted to secure him," Cashman said. "Rivera can be a free agent at the end of the year if he wants to opt out of his deal, so he covers us there, too."
Karsay has no intentions of becoming the Yankees' closer. He calls Rivera "the best closer in the game" and said that if he can help pick up some of the load, he'll be happy.
"I want to help the back end of the bullpen, fill a void so Joe doesn't have to use Mariano for so many two-inning saves," Karsay said. "If I can help take some innings off Mariano's back, he can stay fresh into the playoffs."
It always comes back to the playoffs.
Karsay has some postseason experience, having been in the playoffs in 1999 with Cleveland and last year with Atlanta. He pitched in five games in the 2001 postseason, allowing one run and striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings for a 1.69 ERA.
While Karsay's World Series expectations are high, the Yankees' expectations are even higher. After falling in the seventh game of the World Series last November, anything short of a title will be a disappointment for the Bronx Bombers, and that's just fine with Karsay.
"Being in Cleveland helped me, because the fans' expectations are at a high level," Karsay said. "They expected to win, so when I stepped on the mound, I had to be at my best to give the fans what they wanted. I look forward to the challenge and the opportunity. I know what the organization expects and the other players here -- everyone wants to win. I can fit into that mold.
"I don't like sitting at home, watching other teams celebrate and jump around. It eats at me," Karsay added. "I want to be part of a World Series champion, and coming to the Yankees, I have that possibility. Everyone on this team wants to win, they're dedicated to winning and I thought it was the best fit for me."
Karsay couldn't keep his old uniform number, as Jorge Posada wears No. 20 in New York. He will wear No. 31, which as a New Yorker, he considers an honor. That number, of course, belonged to Hall-of-Famer Dave Winfield.
"Numbers aren't that big of a deal to me, so there was no reason to call Posada and ask him to change numbers," Karsay said. "Winfield wore 31, which means a lot. For a guy to be in the Hall of Fame, and they put his number on my back, that's special."
While slipping on his pinstripes on Wednesday was a thrill, Karsay said he couldn't wait for the first time he gets to do it for real.
"It's a day I will never forget," Karsay said. "The happiest day of my life as a baseball player was the day I made it to the big leagues. That is, until I put this uniform on and step between the white lines as a Yankee."
Mark Feinsand is the site reporter for Yankees.com. He can be