No No Mo (Sorry)
The New York Yankees are desperate. The team that is always "looking back, looking forward," signed Hideo Nomo to a minor league contract yesterday and he will almost certainly start a game for them in the near future as they await the return of Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright from the injured list. The Kevin Brown era appears to be over, which has left the Yankees with Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina, and Al Leiter as the top their starters, the latter being the master of the twenty six pitch, two base runners an inning pitching style.
To get an idea of the Yankees' desperation, Nomo won 5, lost 8, and had a 7.24 ERA this season pitching for Tampa, a team with a 5.64 ERA, which is the worst in the majors. Tampa felt that he couldn't help them, but he has become a Yankee.
When Nomo pitches for the Yankees, he will become the 25th pitcher they have used this season. Many individuals don't believe that a recently created condition referred to as ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, exists. The way the Yankees have used and immediately discarded so many pitchers contradicts that belief. At the conclusion of play on July 27, the Yankees had eight pitchers who had worked fewer that ten innings this season and another six who hadn't pitched at least twenty innings. Whoever is in charge looks, sees, and eliminates.
Tim Redding has pitched 1 inning, Alex Graman 1 1/3 innings, Colter Bean 2 innings, Wayne Franklin 3 2/3 innings, Jason Anderson 5 2/3 innings, Steve Karsay 6 innings, Aaron Small 6 1/3 innings, Darrell May 7 innings, and Sean Henn 11 1/3 innings in three starts.
The Yankees are unwilling to allow the players that they have labeled as their top prospects much time before they sour on them. When a Sean Henn, Alex Graman (who now, it has been decreed, is a relief pitcher), Brad Halsey, Brandon Claussen or some other youngster is brought up to make an "emergency start," he has no idea how long he will remain with the team regardless of how well or poorly he pitches. He has no idea if he will be used as trade bait.
Brandon Claussen, who has had problems as a Cincinnati Red, was considered a top Yankees' prospect in 2003. He was brought up from Columbus on June 28, 2003 to start against New York's other team at Shea Stadium, facing Tom Glavine. Claussen pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing only one earned run when he was relieved by Sterling Hitchcock with the Yankees leading 9-2. Hitchcock got bombed, Dan Miceli was ineffective, and Mariano Rivera had to pitch two innings as the Mets came back only to lose 9-8.
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