Cashman snatches a pitcher who may have just turned the corner in Javy Vazquez

I will give Cashman credit here. All things considered, this was an excellent trade for the Yankees.

The addition of Vazquez is another significant ripple through the AL EAST lake. Besides the fact that he has averaged over 200 innings per season the past 10 years, his presence deepens the Yankee pitching staff, lessens the load on the bullpen, and allows either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain to remain as 42's set up man in the bullpen. Likewise, either Phil or Joba can slot in as the #5 man in the rotation.

Vazquez durability is certainly highlighted when comparing him to the Sox new $82 million pitcher John Lackey.  Granted Lackey has been a horse in the AL, its not out of the question that the durable Vazquez pitching behind the Yankee lineup could win more games than Lackey.

Yes, I am well aware of the Damonic carnage that heaped itself upon Javy Vazquez in G7 of the 2004 ALCS. I was there, lived through that hell, but not without scar. I'm also aware that after having an All Star worthy first half of the season, Vazquez plainly sucked in the 2nd half, and did not disclose to the team until it was too late that he was having shoulder pain.

“I didn’t feel as well in the [season’s] second half as I did in the first half,” Vazquez said, mentioning a sore shoulder that he delayed addressing in the summer of 2004. “It was really the only time in my career that I felt my arm wasn’t where it was supposed to be.”

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/vazquez_returns_z17DkYlL4iNx6JhGt8R6ON#ixzz0aa0A4Owo

My primary concern with Vazquez is that he doesn't turn into Jeff Weaver and cave in, overwhelmed by the whole Yankee world. Fortunately, this time around, he doesn't have to be THE guy, and the expectations are lower, only slightly, but maybe just enough that combined with 5 more years of experience, he can get out of his own way and let his talent take over.

I don't want a guy who comes in focused on proving himself. I want a guy who comes here just to get the job done and win. He needs to understand that his return is not about "Javy", its not about him redeeming himself.  Players that come to NY and plan on being the hero rarely excel.  The players that do the best focus on doing their job, and staying within themselves.

The press can make it very difficult to do that. We know that Vazquez is going to be reminded about that ALCS G7 disgrace. What we don't know is if he's going to take that out to the mound with him in a constructive way.  I like his fire, but I need to see that he can make it work for him, and not against him.

Sound like I am complicating things? Anyone who's paid attention to the comings and goings of Yankee pitchers over the past 10 years especially knows where of I speak. Baseball is not a sport where "trying harder" improves performance.

Javy has a great opportunity to build on an outstanding 2009 and help the Yankees win 110 games in 2010.

When he is in a jam, in close quarters, or doesn't have his best stuff, can he trust himself and bull his way through that inning? Will he have the confidence to get through  that game and get his team a win? Vazquez doesn't have to be Andy Pettitte to be successful, but he's got to be much more Pettitte and much less Jeff Weaver.

He struck out 238 batters this past season and had a whip of 1.03. Exciting right, very promising too, eh?

Well, he had struck out 241 and had a WHIP of 1.10 in his previous pre-Yankee campaign. Pretty similair seasons, and both in the NL.

If we look at his 2009 strikeout numbers and outstanding WHIP, each similair to his prior pre-Yankee season its easy to wonder if we may get more of the same from him as 2004, and his second half swoon.  He finished that season with a 4.91 ERA after having an All Star 1st half.

As we look deeper, however, something says that 2009 may have been a turning point for Javier Vaqzquez. I am unsure if Brian Cashman looked at the situation in the following way, but who cares.  It was a strong move.

In 2009 Javy Vazquez posted the lowest ERA of his career in at 2.87 - which is excellent even in the NL. His prior best ERA was over 1/3 of a run higher at 3.24, fittingly that was in that prior pre-Yankee season I just mentioned.

Why does that significant of an ERA disparity matter?

It could mean that Javy Vazquez has learned how to pitch through trouble.  A pitcher with a golden arm can strike out a ton of players, have an outstanding WHIP, and eat up a lot of innings - but to register an ERA  that low, in any league, a pitcher is having dominant outings and when he isn't dominant he is holding the fort.

When Vazquez was in New York, he tried. You could see on his face how badly he wanted it each time he pitched. Sometimes that doesn't work in a game based largely on extension, balance, and being relaxed.

When he was traded to Arizona to acquire 6'10" lilliputian-hearted eunich Randy Johnson, he was very vocal about his disappointment at his performance while in New York. It has even come out since then that he felt that he "wasn't one of Torre's guys" , and that it caused him to be a little "uncomfortable." So if not Joes' guy, then who's guy were you in the first half of the 2004 season when you made the AL All Star team?

Tough shit, Javy.

Keep your fakking mouth shut and do your job. Joe Torre, may have been tight as a virgin's knees managint that series after G4, but he wasnt the guy throwing two meatballs down the cock to Damon that went for HR's. Damon came into the game on a 3 for 28 skid.

When people ask you about that Game 7, Javy, just tell them that "it feels like a very long time ago...(you) are really excited to be a part of this group of guys and to have a great opportunity to contribute to winning a world series."

Then go out and Win.