Brower to get the call

From Newsday:

The Yankees are continuing to remake their bullpen. Mike Myers will be designated for assignment today and veteran righthander Jim Brower (pictured) will be recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Myers, the lefthanded specialist who threw one inning of relief and allowed one run and two hits in yesterday's 8-5 win over the Royals, has been woefully ineffective in his main role. Lefthanded batters hit .301 against him. Overall he was 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA in 55 appearances.

Brower, 34, is 4-1 with a 1.65 ERA and 20 saves for Scranton. (Source)

I thought for sure Joba Chamberlain would get the call. I guess they want him to get more relief experience under his belt first.

MiLB.com Photo

Myers DFA

From Peter Abraham:

The Journal News is reporting that the Yankees have decided to designate LHP Mike Myers for assignment.

General manager Brian Cashman has yet to return a telephone call seeking comment. But several team sources said the 38-year-old Myers will be taken off the roster before Monday’s game against Toronto.

It is unclear at this point who would replace him in the bullpen.

Myers is 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA. But left-handers are 24 of 77 (.312) with eight extra-base hits and only 18 strikeouts against him. (Source)

Myers had one job and couldn't do it. That's why he's gone. Also, I feel that the Yankees are preparing for the return of Jason Giambi and the call-up of Joba Chamberlain.

Torre considering changing Farnsworth's role

The Yankees tied the score in the ninth and won the game, 3-2, in the 10th inning, with Brian Bruney and Luis Vizcaíno pitching the final two scoreless innings. It was good enough to give the Yankees their fourth consecutive victory.

But it might not be sufficient to keep Farnsworth in his role as the setup man to closer Mariano Rivera. With Vizcaíno having more success lately, Manager Joe Torre might use Vizcaíno or someone else in the eighth and Farnsworth elsewhere.

“I think we’re going to have to sit and think about it,” Torre said yesterday. When told Farnsworth had said he would be willing to change his role, Torre said: “Just answering that way, he’s not ignoring the fact that he’s struggling. To me, that’s a positive step” (source).

What is there to think about? Kyle Farnsworth is flat-out awful and he can't be trusted in any spot.

In 38 1-3 innings pitched, he's given up 44 hits, 19 earned runs and has only struck out 24 batters. He's been so bad this year that it's a big deal when he gets a 1-2-3 inning.

The problem is, however, that the Yankees have invested so much in Farnsworth that they don't have sufficient replacements for Farnsworth.

Scott Proctor and Brian Bruney haven't been as reliable as they were last year. Luis Vizcaino has been good recently, but he also had a stretch where he was terrible. His performance over the long haul is unpredictable. Edwar Ramirez is taking up a roster spot by never pitching, so the Yankees don't know what they have in him. Ron Villone and Mike Myers aren't eighth-inning guys.

It may be time to seriously consider calling up Chris Britton. Britton is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA for AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He also has 48 strikeouts in 44 innings.

Looks like I was right, again

Unfortunately, I can see Joe Torre never using him (Edwar Ramirez) in a big spot. He never trusts rookies in big spots (source).

Tonight would have been a great opportunity to get young Ramirez's feet wet. Instead, Torre uses Mike Myers for one batter, Brian Bruney for two batters, Ron Villone for one batter and Mariano Rivera for five batters. This, by the way, was after Scott Proctor struggled through five batters. The Yankees ended up winning 6-1, but to be fair, it was 4-1 when Rivera was brought in.

I understand Boston and Cleveland both lost. I also understand that every game counts due to the huge hole the Yankees have dug themselves. However, you can't keep going to the well. There is a day game tomorrow, and while Chien-Ming Wang eats innings, a rested bullpen would still be nice.

It is time to see what the rookie has.

Edwar Ramirez called up

The Yankees have finally made the right move.

The Yankees have promoted 26-year-old right-handed reliever Edwar Ramirez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and he will report today to provide support for a bullpen that has been wretched.

Ramirez, who threw three scoreless innings and struck out six Friday night, was 0-0 with an 0.67 ERA in 15 appearances with Scranton. In 26 2/3 innings, he allowed 13 hits and nine walks, and struck out 47.

To make room for Ramirez, the Yankees are expected to send infielder Chris Basak down to Scranton (source).

Unfortunately, I can see Joe Torre never using him in a big spot. He never trusts rookies in big spots.

He'll still use Mike Myers, Kyle Farnsworth and a tired Scott Proctor when he pulls his starter after throwing 60 pitches.

I also still want Chris "Great" Britton called up.

Call up Britton, Ramirez and Duncan

Watching the bullpen and Johnny Damon melt before our eyes, it is time for changes.

Call up Chris "Great" Britton: Britton is 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA and six saves for AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He has 40 strikeouts and 11 walks in 33 2-3 innings. In two cups of coffee with the Yankees this year, he has a 1.80 ERA in five innings.

Call up Edwar Ramirez: Ramirez is 0-0 with a 0.83 ERA and four saves for AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He has 36 strikeouts and eight walks in 21 2-3 innings. In nine games in AA Trenton, he was 3-0 (0.54 ERA) with 33 strikeouts and eight walks.

Call up Shelley Duncan: Duncan is batting .296 (.383 OBP) with 19 home runs and 55 RBIs for AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. We already know Andy Phillips can't hit Major League pitching. Why not give Duncan a chance?

Put Damon on the DL. If Duncan shows he can hit, have him be the everyday designated hitter.

DFA Ron Villone: If Joe Torre insists on using Mike Myers every time a left-handed hitter is up then there is no need for Villone.

Mike Myers is ridiculously useless

Mike Myers' (pictured) only job is to get left-handers out, and he can't even do that on a regular basis.

Joe Torre brings him in every time a lefty is up in a big spot, and he always seems to give up the big hit. In the bottom of the seventh tonight, Myers comes in with runners on first and third with no out with A.J. Pierzynski up. He then proceeds to give up an RBI single to right field and was then taken out.

There are also countless examples of him coming in to face David Ortiz. This season, Ortiz is 3-5 with 3 RBI against Myers.

Before tonight's game, lefties were batting .333 against Myers, with righties only batting .170. Last season, lefties hit .257 off Myers and righties hit .224.

St. Joseph: even though Myers is a left-handed pitcher, he is not inherently a lefty specialist.

Unless there's a brawl, Kyle Farnsworth (pictured, left) is incredibly useless too. Because he couldn't get out of the eight inning tonight, the three-run lead became a one-run lead and Mariano Rivera had to come in to get attempt a five out save.

Getty Images and AP photos