Rafael Soriano Will Close Because the Yankees Don’t Need a “Fullpack”
May 11, 2012 · Harold Friend · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Joe Girardi thinks that he didn’t tip his hand when he used Rafael Soriano to close out the final game of the series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Girardi is an excellent baseball man and can spot talent: Soriano will be given more chances to be the New York Yankees‘ closer.
Forget about Dave Robertson leaving his role as the set up man. Making him the closer would mean that he is taking over a role in which he has no experience. The Yankees would then need a replacement for him.
The old baseball axiom is that a team should not weaken itself at two positions when replacing a player.
The 32-year-old Soriano is an experienced closer that saved 27 games for the 2009 Atlanta Braves. In 77 appearances, he pitched 75.2 innings, allowed only 53 hits and had a 1.057 WHIP.
Unlike many other pitchers that thrive in the National League and have major problems when they switch leagues, Soriano improved when he joined Tampa Bay in 2010.
He led the league with 45 saves, gave up only 36 hits in 62.1 innings and had a Mariano Rivera-like 226 ERA+ and an 0.802 WHIP.
The fact that Robertson blew a save in the middle game of the three games against Tampa Bay is irrelevant. He is an excellent relief pitcher, but he needs too many pitches to be available as often as he will be needed.
Joel Sherman in today’s New York Post pointed out that fact. In 2011 Robertson pitched five-and-one-third more innings than Rivera. He also threw 298 more pitches than Rivera. This season he averages 4.51 pitches per batter.
Remember manager Earl Weaver and pitcher Don Stanhouse of the Baltimore Orioles? Benjamin Pomerance of BaseballSavvy.com explained why Stanhouse was called “Fullpack.”
Almost every game Stanhouse attempted to close became an adventure that Weaver didn’t need. There were almost always walks and an occasional hit or two. While Stanhouse usually got out of it, he always stressed Weaver until Don Knotts would have seemed more relaxed.
Weaver once told reporters that each time Stanhouse worked the ninth inning, he smoked an entire pack of cigarettes. So Stanhouse became “Fullpack.”
Robertson is a far superior pitcher than Stanhouse had been, but the point is that the Yankees, Girardi and fans don’t need adventurous ninth innings. There is less chance of that happening with Soriano.
Read more New York Yankees news on BleacherReport.com
Yankee Tickets
Shop Yankee
