Javier Vazquez: New York Yankees To Bench High-Priced Starter vs. Boston Red Sox
May 3, 2010 · Bronx Baseball Daily · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Well, the expected is now official, as Joe Girardi said before Monday night’s game against Baltimore that Javier Vazquez will not pitch in the upcoming weekend series at Fenway Park.
Girardi’s exact words were “We’ll give him a couple days to catch his breath,” according to The New York Daily News’ Mark Feinsand, then apparently Vazquez asked the Yankees skipper to not change the schedule, but Girardi would have no part of it.
It is hard to doubt a manager who just won a World Series, but I can’t help thinking this actually might be the wrong move.
I have defended Javy over and over, and I am no longer making excuses for him, but is pitching in Detroit really better than pitching in Fenway?
Granted as much as the Red Sox have been struggling, things are different during a Yankees-Red Sox series, and the pressure is heightened.
But let’s be honest, these are just not the Red Sox that used to put fear into pitchers.
This team was just swept by Baltimore!
They, much like Vazquez, are lacking confidence, so that gives us two more arguments.
One is if Vazquez was to struggle against the struggling Sox, would the Yankees know 100 percent that this is a lost season for him?
The other argument is, as a Yankee fan, are you afraid if the Red Sox smack Vazquez they will suddenly gain a ton of confidence and go on a roll?
I am torn on the issue of Javy versus the BoSox, but I am terrified of the idea of Javy versus the Tigers.
The Tigers are off to a solid start.
They are 16-10 entering Monday night, but their recent success is not my biggest concern.
The No. 1 and No. 2 batters in the Tigers lineup are Austin Jackson and Johnny Damon, respectively, who as we all know have close ties to the Yankees.
Both of these players would want nothing more than to trample the Yankees and prove a point to Brian Cashman and the Steinbrenners.
A-Jax and Damon are already off to good starts, and I am not confident that Vazquez can get out either guy even if they didn’t have extra incentives.
I am far from thinking Vazquez would have shut down Boston, but I am even further from thinking he will be able to shut down the Tigers.
For now, all we can do is wait and see.
Girardi gets paid the big bucks for a reason, and I am only here to offer my opinion.
So what do you think?
Follow Me on Twitter: SCrociata
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