Patterson sent to minors
March 29, 2008 by Jason Guarente
The Yankees have finalized their opening-day roster. Scott Patterson isn’t on it. The team reassigned the righthander to minor-league camp late Friday. He’s expected to open the season in Triple-A.
Patterson never had a real chance to make the club. That’s the only conclusion you can draw from this decision. If a pitcher faces 24 hitters in spring training and retires 23 of them, he’s about as close to perfect as one can get. Near-perfection wasn’t good enough.
It’s not the worst turn of events in the world. Patterson will get his first extended crack at Triple-A. But for a guy who is 28, has pitched lights-out for two seasons and showed he could get big-league hitters out this month, it is surely disappointing.
From Peter Abraham’s blog …
(Yankees manager) Girardi said making the cuts “was brutal” and he praised the spring that Patterson had. But his lack of big-league experience was a factor. Patterson looked crushed afterward.
Citing a lack of big-league experience is a cop-out. It’s typical spin from the close-minded people who make these decisions. The reality is Brian Bruney had a major-league contract and the Yankees weren’t going to pay him $750,000 to pitch in the minors. So Bruney got the final roster spot. The easy solution was to option Patterson and that’s the path they took.
Hopefully, Patterson gets the call during the season. After the spring he enjoyed, you have to figure he has the Yankees’ attention.
*Also, if you weren’t around last night, make sure to scroll down for the Ian Bladergroen post. The Barnstormers have acquired the first baseman’s rights from Southern Maryland.
I look at the Yanks roster and see these guys that gave up 6… thats SIX runs in 1 inning and who did they call on to get them out of the jam… Patterson. Time after time Scott was/is /and will be the Go To Man.
Got to see a lot down in Tampa. Only a matter of time before Scott is called up !
Agree with Syd. He’ll be with the Yankees soon enough! Also agree with Jason on the “he never had a real chance”. When you are spending that kind of money as say Bruney was getting..or even to develop a player through their minor league system…this is the way it works. Unfortunately this is the Yankees…where money always makes the difference. Its good for Scott to be a Yankee WHEN he gets there but its an uphill battle for him coming out of indy league ball.
He still had a great oppurtunity and used it to his advantage. Girardi knows his name and so do the guys on the team, not a bad position to be in.
I bet he is still getting paid a lot more that his Barnstormer days.
The “Bigs”. I’s all about money isn’t it?
Yes Mr. C. it is all about the almighty $$$$.
I am absolutely heart broken but just for the moment. Scott will be going up and if it’s not with the Yanks it will be with someone else. He is just to good and to nice a guy !
Glad to see the Orioles released Jay Gibbons. Maybe they will give Tike Redmen another shot.
The Orioles paid Gibbons $11.9 million to go away. Good work if you can get it.
Two observations from Opening Day, the sequel:
1. Any team with Odalis Perez starting the opener will not win 80 games. Sorry, Nats (and Mark).
2. The Braves’ alternate uniforms look like something out of Little League. I half expected them to have “Smiley’s Furniture” stitched on the back.
Hey, Jason watch the Little League comments
I coach Little League! Many people don’t realize that Little League is a league and not a specific age group. There are levels from T-ball up to Big level which is 17 & 18.
Jason,
Agree on the Brave uniforms. Was not to impressed. I hope they were an opening day 1 time thing. Go back to the Sunday red alternates is what I say.
I hope the Braves 1st inning errors was an opening day jitter. Looked like a little league team throwing the ball around.
When I was in Little League I played on a team called Wyman’s Liquors. I wonder if that would be politically incorrect now days? Especially since I blame my drinking on the orange and white spongy mesh hat they made me wear as a 12 year old that said Liquors across my forehead in cursive. It’s their fault I drink, not mine!
Get a good lawyer Mr. B…I smell a lawsuit.
I was as surprised as anyone. I figured Bergmann or Chico would be starting, not Perez. I also figured Cordero would be closing, not Rauch. But it was awfully nice to watch Zimmerman belt that game winning homer in the 9th in that new, very nice stadium. I see a couple of road trips coming up this summer.
Ask Ultimate, I don’t sue.
I just can’t believe that Scott Patterson is not on the NY Yankee roster.
“Patterson’s inexperience was a factor, said Yankees Manager Joe Girardi, who gave the final bullpen spots to Jonathan Albaladejo, Brian Bruney and Ross Ohlendorf.” - The New York Times
You know how you get experience? They give you the nod and you go.
Scott will get the nod this year.
Dad, Albaladejo is the one that gave up SIX runs… not hits but runs in the first inning last week…
Yankee logic……….. go figure
Good the the rains started and the game was called !!
That’s right Syd, Mr. Barnstormer is adverse to suing, but he sure can conduct a good debate!
I only once hired a lawyer….. My daughter won !!