Yankees 12
Blue Jays 6
TAMPA – A lefty with a funky delivery and limited big league experience. Or a pellet-throwing neophyte right-hander who looks young enough to be picking up after big league jocks instead of wearing one.
That’s the decision the Yankees will make by tonight when they choose between Randy Choate and Jason Anderson for the final spot on Joe Torre’s 11-man pitching staff.
With Steve Karsay (shoulder) and Mariano Rivera (groin) starting the season on the DL and the Yankees unable to deal Sterling Hitchcock, there is one spot open in the pen.
And while it was assumed that Choate, 27, would grab it earlier in the week, the 23-year-old Anderson is still in the mix.
Choate would give Torre a third lefty in the pen to go with Chris Hammond and Hitchcock. Anderson, a developing closer thanks to a 95 mph fastball, provides Torre with the option of finishing a middle inning that was started by either Jose Contreras or Hitchcock, starters who will work in relief.
“Randy Choate has to get left-handed hitters out, no doubt,” GM Brian Cashman said. “He has taken a step forward from last year. Joe and Mel [Stottlemyre] have a better feel for him.”
But is it enough for Choate, who has struggled at times this spring to retire lefties. Yesterday in a 12-6 win over the Blue Jays at Legends Field, Choate threw two innings and went to three-ball counts on lefties Frank Catalanotto and Eric Hinske before retiring them – but Torre noticed.
“He had a couple of three-ball counts to left-handers and the concern is left-handers,” Torre said. “But he fought his way back and he is a battler. I am a little uncomfortable with some of the stuff but going to big counts, especially to left-handers, doesn’t mean he doesn’t go after it. It’s just that he gets in that arm slot sometimes and the ball gets away from him.”
Choate heard whispers from reporters before the game that Anderson may move past him for the final spot and force Choate to open at Columbus (Triple-A).
“I heard the chirping and it [ticked] me off,” Choate said. “There are two days left, you don’t know, there is competition and the bullpen isn’t set. You never know, you have to prove you can get the job done.”
Anderson, who pitched at Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A last summer, purchased two sport coats Wednesday in case he is on the Yankees’ Toronto-bound charter tomorrow evening.
“I can always use them later,” said Anderson, whose 5.59 spring ERA is the result of one miserable outing, a beating administered on March 17 against the Phillies in which he gave up five runs, two walks and three hits in an inning.
When camp opened Anderson had no chance of sticking. Now, he has reached the wire and is still in play.
“I try not to think about it because I don’t want to build everything up and be let down,” Anderson said. “The hardest part is not knowing but I am still here.”
Torre is a manager who loves experience. And even though Choate has only appeared in 77 big league games across three years, that’s 77 more than Anderson. And lefties hit a putrid .107 (3-for-28) against him last year. Still, Torre likes what Anderson has showed.
But was it good enough to grab a big league spot? Anderson and Choate will find out today.
