After watching Javier Vazquez Sunday afternoon, there is reason to believe, after four starts, he should be pulled from the Yankees starting rotation for awhile.

This is not because I am one of the many who remember what he did in 2004. It’s because both his velocity and command are not where they need to be.

If Vazquez is going to throw a fastball that is in the 88- to 90-mph range, his other pitches have to pinpoint every start. They have not been, and the result is a 1-3 mark with a 9.00 ERA. He has made four starts, surrendering 20 runs and 25 hits in 20 innings.

Again, this is not because what went on in 2004. It is because his velocity and command need to be worked on – on the side, not in a game.

YES announcer Ken Singleton twice referenced the fact righty Alfredo Aceves has not had much work lately. He did throw a scoreless 1.2 innings in yesterday’s 8-4 loss to the Angels before lefty Damaso Marte made a total mess of matters.

Aceves is 1-0, 6.35 in 5.2 innings because of one shoddy performance vs. Texas April  17. He is, however, worthy of a spot start while Vazquez is further evaluated before he is put on the mound once again.

To reiterate, this is not a panic move.  Lack of velocity is a serious issue. Lack of command is equally a roadblock to success.

What I like about the 27-year-old Aceves, a native of San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico, is he takes everything in stride. He made it to the majors in 2008, only after spending 2002-2007 in the Mexican League.

Toronto signed Aceves in 2001, and he was 2-1, 3.10 for the DSL Blue Jays that year before being traded to the Mexican League’s  Yucatan Lions, for whom he pitched for four seasons, first as a reliever, then a starter.

He was 9-8, 4.32 for Yucatan in 2005, making 22 starts, then joined the Monterrey Sultans in 2006. At that point, he caught the eye of a Yankees scout named Lee Sigman.

After recording an 11-5, 3.64 effort at Monterrey on 2007, he finally saw light at the end of the tunnel after toiling in the Mexican League, which is a member of the National Association and carries a Triple-A designation.

“I worked, and I always had scouts (especially Sigman) telling me that they wanted to take me to the ‘States’ to pitch,’’ Aceves said. “It was tough to hear that year after year, but I kept working and, finally, it happened.’’

During the 2008 season – after signing with the Yankees just before the start of spring training – Aceves overmatched the competition at Class A Tampa and Double-A Trenton before putting together a 2-3, 4.12 mark at Triple-A Scranton.

Called to the Yankees, he made six appearances – four starts – and was 1-0, 2.40. Then came his breakout in 2009, in which he was 10-1, 3.54 in 43 appearances – one start.

What is Aceves’ lead weapon?  He’s unpredictable. Aceves can deliver a two- or four-seam fastball, a curve, change or cutter with pinpoint accuracy.

He’s calm, cool and collected on the mound.

“I do everything off my fastball, but I use a different one depending what is going on’’ Aceves said. “I work off my four-seamer, but other times I need the two-seamer to throw a good sinker. The other pitches, I use them when I think I need them.’’

Give him a start.

YANKEES WEEKLY FARM SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS

Triple-A Scranton (9-8) – Outfielder Colin Curtis, who opened some eyes in spring training, is hitting a solid .315 (17-for-54). Lefty reliever Royce Ring (1-0, 0.00) has tossed 6.2 scoreless innings in seven appearances.

Double-A Trenton (9-8) – Infielder David Adams is connecting at .344 (21-for-61), while Brandon Laird has a trio of homers – two last week – and 14 RBIs to go with his .262 (17-for-65) average. Righty closer Grant Duff (0-0, 2.00) has allowed just two earned runs in nine appearances, has three saves and a strikeout/walk ratio of 15-4.

Single-A Tampa (10-8) – Catcher Mitch Abeita is off to a smooth start, hitting .326 (14-for-35). Righty closer Jon Ortiz (0-0, 1.42) has cashed in all five of his save opportunities.

Single-A Charleston (7-10) – 1B Luke Murton has been consistent at .290 (20-for-69) with a trio of home runs. RHP Graham Stoneburner (0-2, 2.16), a prospect to watch, has not gotten much run support in his four starts and has a strikeout/walk ratio of 30-6.

Jed spent 35 years in the newspaper business working as both a writer and editor, in both sports and news under tight deadline pressure. As both sports editor at the Indiana (Pa.) Gazette and a copy editor/columnist at The Times of Trenton, he made daily decisions on overall coverage and designed and produced thousands of pages and special sections. Since accepting a buyout from The Times, he has concentrated on broadening his writing and editing horizons to the medical, academic and business fields. Anyone is welcome to Google Jed to see the different places in print, on the Web and in front of the camera his professional expertise has spread to.

Jed Weisberger

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Tags: Alfredo Aceves, Brandon Laird, Colin Curtis, David Adams, Graham Stoneburner, Javier Vazquez, Jon Ortiz, Luke Murton, Mitch Abeita, New York Yankees