Aceves to Eighth Inning Catching On
By Mike Silva ~ June 3rd, 2009. Filed under: Mike Silva.
Marc Carig of the Star Ledger believes that Alfredo Aceves might be the best option of the Yankees in the eighth inning. Perhaps my “Bullpen Roles” piece is catching on!
Carig cites a bunch of stats that I really don’t feel a need to get into. Bottom line: Aceves has a WHIP less than one which, by the way, is better than Mariano Rivera and has shown the guts thus far to pitch in the big spot.
The one concerning quote in the article is by Joe Girardi who said that he likes “the flexibility Aceves gives him”. The Yankees rotation is averaging 6 innings per start. This isn’t the 2008 pitching staff that couldn’t get out of the fifth inning on a regular basis. Besides, that is what Brett Tomko or, Chien Ming Wang, could be for.
I still say Wang in the seventh and Aceves in the eighth is the answer.
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Wang isn’t going to pitch the 7th. He’s going back into the rotation within the next week or two.
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:35 pm
And 15 minutes after I wrote above comment, the Yanks announce that Wang is back in the rotation tomorrow against the Rangers and Hughes will go to the pen.