With Pedro Feliciano on the disabled list, the Yankees will add Luis Ayala to the 25-man, according to Mark Feinsand,
Luis Ayala will be the final man on the Yankees’ pitching staff to open the season, as the Bombers chose the veteran righthander over young lefty Steve Garrison.
The spot in the bullpen opened up when Pedro Feliciano was forced to start the season on the disabled list. Garrison was considered an early favorite to break camp with the team, as the Yankees were hoping to take a second lefty, but he didn’t impress in his final two outings, hurting his chances.
Ayala, who came to camp as a non-roster invite, did not fly to New York with the team on Tuesday, but was headed north on a flight Wednesday morning.
Ayala posted a 1.08 ERA in eight appearances this spring, allowing seven hits in 8 2/3 innings. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
I don’t want to make too much of a very small move, but why even bother looking at Luis Ayala here? The Yankees have plenty of right-handed pitchers in the bullpen, both for long and short relief, and other right-handed options available to them on the 40-man roster. Namely, they could call up Ryan Pope, a promising 25 year-old relief pitcher who will probably be called up at some point in 2011 to pitch real innings in New York. Neither Pope nor Ayala would likely pitch all that much in the week or so until Feliciano returns, but why not get Pope’s feet a little wet?
Or hell, why not call up Greg Golson just to have a pinch runner sitting around? I ask not because its all that big of a deal, but because I the Ayala thing is a real headscratcher. The man had a good spring, but had an ERA well over 6.00 in Triple-A last season. Anyone else have a rationale for Ayala that they can think of?
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18 Responses to Yankees Replace Pedro Feliciano With Luis Ayala
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TIQ IQ
I don’t really mind it. He was good in ST, and if anything, I think letting vets win that last spot in ST has a goodwill effect with future guys considering joining you in camp.
I don’t know – if he’s going to be good, he’ll succeed at Triple-A. And by adding him to the 25-man, the Yankees have to put him on waivers to send him down to Triple-A.
he dont succeed in spring trainig?
*he’ll succeed at Triple-A. My bad.
I think he is better than Alfredo Aceves by far, and he has a real shot to be the next joakim soria. Here in mexico already is the best reliever.
S.T. NUMBERS:
ERA
Ivan Nova, 1.80 (for those with more than 12 innings)
Luis Ayala, 0.79 (for those with more than five innings)
EL CHICOTE (whip) had nine strikeouts and no walks, and he lead the team in appearances and saves.
I suspect Mitre left him the negatives.
I’d like to think he was added to the roster because his name would sound awesome if announced by Bob Sheppard. Sadly, this will never come to pass.
I wish that Higashioka could’ve gotten announced by The Voice of God. What a name.
If a guy does really well in ST, why not reward him. He may have to be waived, but then he has a shot to be picked up by someone else. One way or another, the odds are long that he will play for the Yankees beyond April, so why not do him a favor.
E.J. – If like you said Ayala isn’t likely to pitch much anyway why not give him a shot. No harm, no foul. He pitched well in spring training and if teams don’t intend to give the guy’s that do well there a shot why even have them go to spring training and perform anyway. I think he pitched well and even if he only gets one or two shots at pitching he deserves it. Who knows he might just surprise.
Its not like the Yankees aren’t giving players chances out of Spring. The Yankees added veterans (and Luis is 33) Eric Chavez, Bartolo Colon, and Freddy Garcia out of spring training. They even traded Mitre to make it happen.
I think there’s more to gain by promoting someone whom the Yankees will benefit from by giving him some experience (Pope), or at least someone who could be marginally useful in the right situation (Golson).
Yes but keep in mind these guys didn’t all get jobs they truly earned. Colon deserved to be in the rotation over Garcia by far. Also, Mitre was traded mainly because the Yankees brought in Kevin Milwood and wanted to trade depth for a need. I think someone like Golson would be the best option however, I have no problem with Ayala in the pen.
EJ to be fair I don’t think your comparisons of Ayala to Chavez, Colon and Garcia are fair. Chavez provides the Yankees with something other players in camp didn’t. The ability to back up both 1st and 3rd base not to say anything about his lights out performance for roughly the 5 weeks of spring training offensively. Yes, they could have taken Vazquez but he was/is only a 1st base back up. Colon clearly outperformed Mitre. Garcia brings valuable experience and the ability to eat innings that Mitre did not. So they were logical choices to keep over Mitre. None of the other “so called” options to Ayala performed any better then he did this spring in fact they didn’t produce nearly as good. The guy deserves the opportunity regardless how short.
Why put much emphasis at all on Ayala’s spring training? Yeah, he was good. But besides those few spring inings, Ayala has been really bad for the better part of the decade. I see no reason to believe that he’s all of the sudden turned it around at age 33.
I’m not too sure if he makes the team better at this point. And I know that if Feliciano (who now might be out longer, so this could be less important) returns, the Yankees are either going to have to cut someone else, or lose Ayala. Sending him to Triple-A to see what he’s got seems like a much better solution. If he’s really turned a corner, they can add him later.
EJ, I think we are just going to have to agree to disagree on Ayala.
I see your point EJ. I would prefer having a guy like Golson on the roster. He provides a solid base stealing threat and would make a great pinch runner. He can also play some defense and could provide great value to the club. However, whether or not you think Ayala has turned it around, he won the battle in spring training and he earned it fair in square. So do I think it’s the greatest decision? No, but I don’t blame the yankees for making the move either. But I couldn’t agree more. I think Golson is the best option for the ball club.
Guy’s how many reserve outfielders do the Yankees need on the roster. With Granderson scheduled to play. They have as regulars Gardner, Granderson and Swisher. If they added Golson what do they do with Dickerson who they just traded for? If they kept Golson instead of Ayala that would give the Yankees 3 reserve outfielders (Jones, Dickerson and Golson) by my count that’s at least one to many. Besides I’m not sure what Golson brings to the party that Dickerson doesn’t. Just my opinion.
Dickerson didn’t make the club. So EJ is suggesting Golson instead of Ayala, but Im sure he’d be fine with Dickerson over Ayala.
I don’t mind this decision. I think it’s good to give him a shot. Plus if he pitches well, the Yankees are going to get rid of him. However, if he is pitching poorly, it won’t really matter if the Yankees release him to waivers.