According to Joel Sherman, in a effort to get some value out of paying through the nose for Kei Igawa (See: Toilet in Cashman’s office filled with $46 million) the Yankees are likely to use Igawa as a reliever this year (H/T to TYU). Sherman also went on to say that Igawa would work out of the bullpen in Scranton as well.
I was starting to wonder how long the Yankees would allow him to toil in AAA before they either ate his contract (unlikely) or found something else for him to do, like being the bat boy.
While it is unlikely we’ll see the Yankees break camp with Igawa as a LOOGY, he could very well be in line with Boone Logan to fill that role if Marte falters in his role this year. However, looking at Igawa’s splits against lefties doesn’t give people the warm and fuzzies they would like to feel regarding Igawa.
During his time in the Major Leagues, Igawa has allowed left handed batters to hit a healthy .317 against him while allowing a .400 OBP. In a bizarro-world situation, Igawa faired slightly better against right handed batters only allowing a .298 batting average against and a .380 OBP. However, those splits still aren’t convincing enough to want me to put him in a situation other than as a mop up reliever.
Now, starting and relieving are two different beasts all together as Joba and Phil have proved the last few years. The only problem with Igawa’s starting and relieving splits is that there isn’t just enough information.
In his time at the major league level, Igawa has only logged 71.2 innings. Of those innings, Igawa has only pitched 7.1 innings in relief and in that time he has allowed a .208 batting average against. While it is possible he threw differently as a reliever in those 7.1 innings, it is a little tough for me to accept the thought that he will be able to turn it all around as a reliever.
So, who’s willing to give the Japanese Greg Maddux a try at being a reliever?
M. B. Rozell
Kevin Rozell
batboy sounds good
This is not directed entirely at you, but I think we as Yankee bloggers are going too far with the Hat-Tips. I mean, what’s with that hat-tip to the TYU (no offense to them)? A handful of blogs have already reported on this and it’s not exactly like Joel Sherman is an obscure reference. You’re not following him on twitter? You could have easily found that link yourself.
Again, you know I have nothing but love for the blog. This is more like a general rant.
Well, I saw it first from TYU. While I follow Sherman, I don’t monitor Twitter as much recently then I did before (new puppy), but thats only a temporary issue. However, you’re absolutely right. I think I had a similar thought while I was writing this, but I had other things I was thinking about at the time so it got lost in my mind.
No harm no foul.
I don’t know what the accepted standard is, but imo H/T should really be for when somebody has a real find that you wouldn’t have happened across without them. What do you think?
Probably right :P
Let me give an HT to my cardiologist; he’s not a blogger but he did revived me after I found out about Igawa. Here’s praying for catching some lightening in a bottle on that one.