(c/o AP)
Prior to the season’s start, both EJ and Ben Kabak (of RAB) discussed ways in which the addition and utilization of Soriano might be most helpful to the Yankees organization. The concensus was that he should become the team’s proverbial “fireman.” The premise of each post was fairly straightforward. Given how the roster was constructed at the time, Joe Girardi had four outstanding bullpen arms at his disposal — , , , and of course, the newly acquired .
Obviously, Rivera would remain the Yankees closer come hell or high water (and rightfully so). Rather than simply assigning the other three guys to the 6-7-8th inning roles respectively though, the pitchers would be used more according to circumstance. More specifically, situational leverage would be the dictating factor in a pitcher’s useage, with the idea that Soriano would be accountable for the bulk of critical high leverage, non-ninth-inning pitching opportunities.
Even though Soriano wouldn’t have the official Eighth Inning GuyTM label next to his name, he’d still absolutely be maximized in terms of importance as he’d be thrust into action during some of the game’s most impacting moments (thusly justifying some portion of the monstrousity that is his contract). Additionally, aside from the benefit of Soriano handling some of the AL’s more daunting batters during crucial points of the game, Girardi would also still be able to deploy Chamerblain, Robertson, or even Feliciano in other innings (which would theoretically provide a more well rounded, sustained bridge to Mo). This absolutely would have been quite the luxury for the Yankees pitching staff, and at the time, I absolutely concurred the premise.
Well, you know what they say about baseball. Chamberlain ultimately found himself on the shelf after needing Tommy John surgury. Rafael Soriano found himself on the Disabled List with elbow soreness. Apparently, Feliciano’s approximated 10,000 innings of work with the Mets finally caught up to him which propelled back into the figurative LOOGY driver-seat. Meanwhile, Robertson on has continued to quietly deliver some of the best production of his career while Mariano remains the same anchor of the bullpen that he’s always been.
Soon enough though, Rafael Soriano — affectionally known by some as MFIKY — could be rejoining the Yankees bullpen and at this juncture, I think it’s fair to re-examine how he’ll be utilized going forward. For the time being, and the sake of the excerise, let’s take a giant leap of faith and assume that he rejoins the team healthy and in good form. If this were to indeed be the case, I could see him quickly reclaiming the “#OfficialSetupGuy” tag. Although I’m typically not in favor of such static role designations, I suppose there could be some benefits worth considering.
First and foremost, Soriano would be able to enter the game with a “fresh slate,” as it were. During his brief time with the team, inherited runners were a major struggling point. What better way is there to solve that problem than eliminate the baserunners? Second, it might preserve his health a bit going forward. Rather than being called upon sporadically throughout the game to warm up (and at times be forced sit down), his opportunities would be much more rigid and predictable in terms of scheduling. Third, the public perception of MFIKY is that he’s a rather tempermental guy; so pacifying his ego a bit by not “demoting” him in terms of percieved responsibility, may favorably impact his performance.
Most importantly, the idea “fireman” role wouldn’t necessarily have to be jettisoned. David Robertson, who has beenbeen fantastic this year, could still be called upon to handle many of the high leverage situations — which by design, very well could ultimately be more important than the eighth inning duties anyway.
I realize these “perks” aren’t the most substantial in the world, but hey, I’ll take what I can get. In any case, with Soriano healthy and effective, the bullpen becomes that much deeper and that much more flexible. Slotting Soriano into a particular inning certainly might not be the most strategic solution, but it may very well be the most practical given the circumstance. Moreover, when one considers Girardi’s steadfastness when it comes these types of decisions, it may also be the most realistic outcome (for better or worse).
That said, for whatever it’s worth, Girardi has been fairly non-comittal (as one would imagine) about Soriano’s usage upon return thus far. When the topic was brought to his attention, he replied with the following:
We have to see how he’s throwing and how he’s feeling before I can make any Determination. The big thing is we have to get him back healthy and throwing the way that he’s capable of. We’ll just see what happens. But we have to get him back first.
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As much as I like the idea of Soriano being the 7th inning guy before Robertson for the rest of this year, the 8th inning guy next year, and the closer in 2013 if Mo retires after next year, I don’t see it happening. I hope Soriano opts out of his contract after this season because he thinks he can still close. Let him close for the Mets or some other N.L. team as I can’t think of an A.L. division rival who’d sign him as their closer. The Rays wouldn’t bring him back, the Red Sox have Paplebon, the Blue Jays couldn’t afford him, and the Orioles aren’t spending big money on a guy they will use little of since they lose so much.
Soriano opting out would clear a ton of money for the Yanks to get a new reliever or two.
The Yankees 2012 bullpen without Soriano is Rivera/Robertson/Logan/Feliciano. If Ayala was re-signed and a farm system kid pitched well enough in spring training to win the final slot in the bullpen (Noesi?), the Yanks would need to sign only one reliever to complete the bullpen, no one if they acquired a reliever via trade before this year’s trading deadline and kept him (Rivera/Robertson/Logan/Feliciano/Ayala/Noesi/the trade acquisition would be the Yankees bullpen to start 2012.)
Btw I hope I’m wrong about Soriano. I hope he is an excellent 7th inning guy the rest of this year, the 8th inning guy so good he could close some games to spell Mo and be the closer if Mo falls to injury next, and the closer in 2013 if Mo retires after next year. I think he has the talent to be all that as evidenced by his 2010.
I’d say there is almost no chance in hell Soriano will opt out; although, that most certainly would be the best thing for the team long term. He will never find another contract as absurdly player-friendly as the one he has currently with the Yanks. Additionally, even when he’s performing at his very best, he’ll have a hard time producing value equivalent to his cost.
That said, I have no doubt he’ll be the “7th or 8th inning guy” for the remainder of this season. Girardi seems to love assigning roles like that. For the remainder of this season, I suppose I have less of a problem with this plan for Soriano, given the reasons noted above.
Come next season though, I’d like to see Girardi consider utilizing D-Rob or Joba as a “fireman” rather than simply assigning an inning to them. I think that would be the most effective strategy.
I’m also dubious of most trades that involve relievers. Their sustainability is fickle at best, and the Yankees organization has proven over and over that options can be generated within.
I agree re: trading for a reliever.
Heath Bell is a clown. He winds himself a bit and risks pulling a hamstring every time he sprints from the pen to the mound. I also didn’t like his slide in front of the mound during the All-Star Game. If he does that all the time, he’s an idiot cuz that’s another injury risk.
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