BALTIMORE — Javier Vazquez is not just shying away from throwing fastballs on the field.
The Yankees starting pitcher took the high road when asked to respond to Curt Schilling’s criticism of him. Instead of firing back with a high, hard one of his own, Vazquez gave a much softer, measured response.
“I guess everyone is entitled to an opinion,” Vazquez said before the Yankees-Orioles game at Camden Yards. “I feel good and this is just four starts. I know I’ve struggled in the four starts. It’s tough but I’ve got to get through it. There’s a lot of season left.”
Schilling, the former Red Sox ace, ripped Vazquez on ESPN Radio on Monday and again today, saying this stint with the Yankees will end as badly as the first for Vazquez.
“I never ever thought the move to New York the first time was a good one [for Vazquez]. And I didn’t think this [move] was good as well,” Schilling said. “I don’t think he suddenly learned how to pitch when he went back to Atlanta and dealt last year. He’s a phenomenal National League pitcher. It’s hard to say this without sounding disrespectful and I don’t mean it that way — the National League is an easier league to pitch in, period. And some guys aren’t equipped to get those same outs in the American League, and he’s one of those guys.”
Vazquez, who said he does not know Schilling, won 15 games for the White Sox in 2007 and had a strong first half with the Yankees in 2004, making the All-Star team. He does not believe the league is his problem, just the location of his fastball.
“I’ve had success in the American League,” he said. “I’m just not making my pitches right now. I’m making terrible pitches. If you make terrible pitches in the National League or the American League they’re going to hit you.”
The season could not have started worse for Vazquez. His return to New York was under a microscope from the beginning. Getting off to a 1-3 start with a 9.00 ERA has made it stronger.
Vazquez has struggled with his command and his velocity. His fastball has topped out 90 mph so far. Usually he hits 93 when he’s right.
“It’s tough when you start the season that way,” Vazquez said. “It’s not like I started the season good then all of a sudden I had four bad starts and then I kept going. It looks terrible right now because it’s the first four starts.”
The lack of command has led Vazquez to go to his off-speed pitches more and he’s ended up behind in counts.
“You have to throw your fastball,” he said. “If you’re not throwing your fastball then you’re not going to be successful in the big leagues. I just need to locate it better but when you’re not locating it in the middle of the game you’re trying to use your other pitches too.”
In Anaheim, Calif., on Sunday, Vazquez gave up five runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings and took the loss against the Angels. His next outing comes Saturday against the White Sox at Yankee Stadium.
The fans at the Stadium booed him off the mound on April 14 when the Angels touched him up for four runs. He knows what to expect Saturday if things go wrong again.
“I know they’re probably not going to be pretty but I’m looking forward just to hopefully start getting into a groove and get some cheers,” Vazquez said.
And maybe shut up Schilling.
