Searching for Aaron Small

Ever since a magical late-summer run in 2005, any journeyman pitcher who’s had a little success for the Yankees is compared to Aaron Small. He is the gold standard for the out-of-nowhere success story, going 10-0 in the second half of the season.
Darrell Rasner seemed to be the Aaron Small of this season when he started 3-0. Small is retired now, and he was in Pittsburgh for a church-sponsored baseball clinic for inner-city kids.
“I’m proud of you,” he told Rasner, a former minor league teammate. “Keep doing it.”
Rasner is trying, but now he has a 7.00 earned run average across his last five starts. Manager Joe Girardi did not like the way the Yankees played on Tuesday, when they lost by 12-5. But he spared Rasner.
“Darrell gives us everything he’s got when he’s out there,” Girardi said. “His effort is tremendous, and he’ll straighten it out.”
Maybe so, because the Yankees need Rasner to help steady a thin rotation. The sure things, for now, are Andy Pettitte,Cheap Fox Racing Hats, Mike Mussina and Joba Chamberlain. Beyond that is Rasner and – on Friday – the doubleheader tandem of Dan Giese and Sidney Ponson.
General Manager Brian Cashman’s policy is to exhaust internal options before jumping at a trade. Perhaps that means he’ll eventually promote Alfredo Aceves, the Mexican League import who has already risen to Class AAA. Maybe Jeff Karstens will get another chance.
But the Yankees need someone to be their Aaron Small, version 2008. It’s unfair to ask any pitcher to have a perfect record, the way Small did, but consistency at the back end of the rotation would be fine.
A few random observations from Tuesday…
¶ Admittedly, it must be tough to assign numbers when your team has 15 that are retired and two others no longer issued (6 and 21). But Shelley Duncan’s been gone 11 days and the Yankees have already re-issued his number, to Justin Christian. He’s the third former River City Rascal to reach the majors; the others are Josh Kinney and Joe Thatcher.
¶ The Pirates now have two mascots: the fluorescent-green Pirate Parrot (who once was inhabited by a guy who sold cocaine to players) and a bandana-wearing pirate named Captain Jolly Roger, who was introduced last year.
¶ I love it when players appreciate their place in baseball history. Kyle Farnsworth was the winning pitcher in the final game at Three Rivers Stadium, in 2000,Milwaukee Brewers Hats, and he knew it when I asked him today. He even saved two ticket stubs and knew that a pitcher named Jamie Arnold got the save.
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Permalink Aaron Small, Darrell Rasner, Justin Christian, Kyle Farnsworth, shelley duncan, Yankees Related Posts From Bats Shelley Duncan Starts OverBad News for NadyAustin Jackson (.349) and the Waiting GameDarrell Rasner Leaves for JapanHughes on His Way Back,2009 World Baseball Classic hats, and Odd Uniform Sights Previous Post
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Did an Umpire Cross the Line at Shea? 6 Comments 1. June 25, 2008 6:03 am
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I was at last night’s game; compared against the Red Sox’ game, it presented the difference, in stark terms, between the two teams. New York mails it in, while Boston rallies yet again from a multiple-run deficit in their last at-bat.
The fact that the Yanks pinch-hit the light-weight Jose Molina for the woeful Rasner mid-way through the game, because they had no other right-handed hitter, also summarized the Yanks’ current condition.
These are not the Yankees of just a few years ago. If they make it to the post-season,Cheap Scarves, it will be a major achievement.
On the bright side, though,Philadelphia Phillies Hats sale, we’re now lovable underdogs….
— Yankee Fan for 40 Years 2. June 25, 2008 6:44 am
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Searching for Aaron Small? Give me a break. How about searching for Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and a few other guys who can find a way to knock in a few runs. Aaron Small wouldn’t help a team that doesn’t score runs. Sandy Koufax wouldn’t help a team that doesn’t score runs.
— Elle 3. June 25, 2008 8:47 am
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Maybe this year’s Aaron Small is Carl Pavano. I understand he is almost back to pitching form. With all of the money The Yankees have invested in his non-playing, would it be too much to expect something from him?
Tha Yankees played awful last night and their lack of offense only highlighted the fact that Rasner does NOT belong in the starting rotation…
— JGJ 4. June 25, 2008 12:40 pm
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While not quite a Pittsburgh mascot,San Diego Padres Hats, don’t forget about the pierogies.
— Penn81 5. June 25, 2008 1:23 pm
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I am very disappointed with the Yankees this season overall, and lately specifically. Not only their record, but how thin they are in almost all areas. Yes, the vaunted lineup will (should?) score a lot of runs, but they have no bench,Washington Nationals Hats, no depth in position players and – dare I say it? – no plan for this year. Maybe that’s good, since the plan may be to overcome the waste of the past after this year by letting go of the dead wood and resisting the temptation to acquire more, but it sure makes for a poor season in the last year of the Stadium as we know it.
Mother Nature causes one doubleheader and we have Giese and Ponson going in the two games? And Rasner on Sunday? It’ll be tough to split that series unless we bang the Mets pitchers around. (not out of the realm of reality, either.) I know they have had injuries but their master plan has resulted in, I think, zero wins for the Kennedy-Hughes experiment. The bench is abysmal (other than Molina as back-up catcher) and Hawkins/Farnsworth won’t get it done in close games. Derek “the DP” Jeter has ruined a lot of rallies lately. Clutch hitting is almost absent. You get two gifts where your pitcher gets walked and the big guys cannot even advance the runner.
Damon gets hurt and they bring up Christian,Boston Red Sox Hats Sale, who had a decent game, but is he a top prospect for next year? I haven’t heard much of him.
They look like a team biding their time until expensive contracts end and they can sign other players.
— Steve 6. June 25, 2008 3:56 pm
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This team doesn’t know how to win in that mysterious manner that the late 90’s teams knew how to win. This All-Star at every position approach has not worked, but I guess it would have been tough to predict that kennedy and hughes would both flop so thoroughly this year. (Although I am not giving up on them for the long haul.)
I think the Yankees should figure out a way to hire Orel Hershiser to teach pitching. Special instructor or something. all those young talents need mentoring. get the bulldog to teach them some skills and impart some mental toughness.
— Yanks_Fan Add your comments...
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