http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/scorecard/mlbnews.asp?articleID=237175 Here's Washburn's month-by-month breakdown: April: 4.86 ERA / .303 BAA / 1.41 WHIP May: 9.30 ERA / .333 BAA / 1.67 WHIP June: 2.93 ERA / .280 BAA / 1.60 WHIP July: 3.16 ERA / .280 BAA / 1.29 WHIP Total: 4-9 / 4.75 ERA / .298 BAA / 1.48 WHIP / 5.32 K/9 / 2.03 K/BB / 0.97 G/F Obviously not great by any means. But for Igawa and an average or worse prospect, it's worth the gamble. Lefty fly ball pitcher in YS could work. Plus, he's better than Rasner, and definitely better than Ponson.
Because he's better than Rasner and Ponson, and it's no guarantee that Wang will be back (or effective) by October. I'm no huge Washburn fan, but he's a 4-5 starter who can eat innings, and he won't cost much. EDIT: And if you take out his horrific start 5/21 (2.1 IP 9 ER 12 H), he has a 4.10 ERA (3.45 on the road, 5.00 at Safeco). He also has a 3.03 ERA in 62.1 IP since that bottoming out start. He's a solid 4 or 5 with experience whose game plays well at YS (neutralizes the short porch).
Better than Rasner for sure. Not Ponson. Not now anyway or this entire year. Ponson has been an absolute steal.
Id have to agree with Don. Ponson has been nothing less then solid for us in his short stint so far. Although, it wouldnt be completely a surprise if he self destructs at some point this season, making him expendable for a healthy regular ( Wang, Hughes ) but so far, hes been very solid.
I can only imagine what garbage prospects the Yankees will steal Washburn for. I guess it just goes to show there are alot of stupid teams in baseball..... Not saying Washburn is a star but I think it's a good move for the Yanks and to get rid of Igawa in the process is a great move.
It's a question of when, not if, Ponson implodes. He has a 1.72 WHIP with the Yankees, and it's not going to get any better (although it can't get much worse). The one guarantee to change is that 4.37 ERA, in a hurry, and not in a good way.
He hasn't lost since he has been here and the Yankees have won every game he started. Stats are nice to look at but win and losses are all that count. Tough to argue with that.
Personally I would rather wait for Kennedy than trade for Washburn and I hate Kennedy. I don't want Washburn for 2 years though. Not with Sabathia available this winter and probably some others too.
He's been solid since he's been here, but it's not at all because he's actually pitching well. He's putting on 1.72 guys per inning. He's been lucky so far, the opponent hasn't hit well with runners on base. That doesn't last forever. Soon enough, the Yankees will start losing games he starts because he's come back down to earth.
Ponson has not actually pitched that well. He's been fortunate, but that doesn't last over the long term. Washburn would be an upgrade.
Washburn has BEEN an effective(although inconsistent) # 2-3 starter over the course of his career. He has playoff experience, a proven track record and badly needs a change of scenery. Bringing him to a contender and asking him to be our # 4 at best...seems like a pretty good deal if you ask me. The other thing is...if he proves to be decent in NY....he's another lefty LONG TERM for this franchise...especially when Moose and Pettite ride off into the sunset. 09 Yanks rotation(If Both Moose and Petitte retire) 1. Wang 2. Chamberlain 3. Hughes 4. Washburn 5. Kennedy/Ponson That's a pretty good combo of youth,upside, and experience if you ask me.
Yeah, I understand that but it doesn't matter. If the team scores runs when he pitches then that's great. Like I said it's only wins and losses that matter. If you have a guy that goes all year with a 1.0 ERA and ends us with a record of 0-20 because his team doesn't score once then what good is it? Of course it can catch up to him eventually but until it does there is still Kennedy and Hughes about to re-emerge. Why waste 15 million on this guy..especially if it keeps the Yankees from making another move this winter. Washburn is no savior and it appears the Yankees are well aware of that. They didn't even bother to show up in Toronto today.
because pitchers don't "just win" consistently. If Ponson remains in the rotation and keeps pitching the way he has, the Yankees will not keep winning the games he starts. You can be fortunate over the course of short periods of time, but over a full season, things tend to even out somewhat. The example you gave doesn't happen.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=mlb_trade_deadline&month=7&year=2008 Talks have stalled. Mariners want a solid prospect, Yankees only willing to part with a marginal one. Cashman can probably just wait this new GM out, and something will get done.
They have nearly $85M coming off the books. They can afford to use $10M of that on an above average lefty that can eat innings. And the reason no scout was in Toronto today was because they had already scouted him enough. At this point it's just a matter of waiting for the Seattle GM to give in and accept a marginal prospect (or pay some of Washburn's salary, OR take Igawa).
