After Farnsworth’s latest pathetic showing, we’ve been thinking a lot about the Yankee’s inability to find even a near-adequate bridge to our ninth-inning security blanket. Since the Stanton/Nelson heyday, the list of failed signings and mid-season picks up is remarkable. Consider: Steve Karsay, Jay Witasick, Mark Wohlers, Kyle Farnsworth, Chris Hammond, Armando Benitez, Tom Gordon .... All setup men who didn’t pan out; all, with the notable exception of Hammond, hard-throwing right handers. (The inclusion of Gordon may be a bit harsh, but his Yankee record will forever be stained by his implosion in the '04 playoffs.)
When will the brass learn that pitchers who can perform up to this weak standard, and probably beyond it, can already be found in the system?
Joba renders this point mostly moot, but we fear what will happen if, or when, Hawkins and Farnsworth take on a greater burden in the second half of the season.
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