The Bronx Stop: A Yankees Blog

Ed Price/Newsday.com:

Jeff Karstens, on the DL because of a spring-training groin strain, will pitch tomorrow for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He had been scheduled for Class A Tampa.

Karstens likely needs two more outings before he is ready to come off the DL. The Yankees could then option him or keep him as a long reliever or spot starter.

Karsten's has had a rough go at getting his chance to prove that he can pitch in New York.

Karstens, a 24-year-old rookie, was making his second start of the season for New York after missing the Opening Day roster due to right elbow tendinitis. His first pitch was a fastball to Red Sox leadoff hitter Julio Lugo, who ripped a line drive off the hurler's right leg, sending Karstens into a pained crumple on the mound.

"You start the season on the DL, and come back, they give you another shot to pitch, and the first pitch of the game the guy hits a line drive off my leg," Karstens said. "It's a long season though, so I've got to come back and come back strong."

We also have to remember that Karstens pitched really well for the Olympic squad over the winter.

Team USA beat Korea 3-1 today in the quaterfinals of the World Cup in Taiwan and the hero was Jeff Karstens.

He allowed one run on five hits in seven innings. He struck out seven without a walk and threw 66 of his 82 pitches for strikes. He was 2-0 in the tournament.

Team USA plays the Netherlands in the semifinals. Cuba and Japan play in the other semifinal.

So hopefully Jeff is able to come in and help the Yankees out in any way he can...I think he can, but we will see.

Tyler Kepner of the New York Times had a great piece on Jeff Karstens and Darrell Rasner yesterday:

Baseball is not always fair-- certainly not to Jeff Karstens and Darrell Rasner. Before Memorial Day 2007, each was knocked from a game in the first inning by a batted ball, three Saturdays apart, on national television.

Karstens missed more than three months with a broken right leg. Rasner missed the rest of the season with a broken right index finger that needed three pins.

“It wasn’t as if they had two or three chances and they failed,” the veteran starter Mike Mussina said. “They barely got any chances, and they got hit with the ball. Things happen in strange ways sometimes. Just when you think you’ve seen everything, something else happens.”

But now, the competition is on again, and Karstens and Rasner are relishing it. The Yankees have three open spots in their bullpen, and Joe Girardi hopes to take a long reliever. Both pitchers could fill the role, and both looked sharp in Wednesday’s intrasquad game.

Karstens tossed two scoreless innings, and Rasner struck out Derek Jeter and Robinson Canó in his inning.

“Jeff Karstens can pitch,” said Dave Eiland, the pitching coach. “I’ve had him for several years, and the guy can pitch. Last year, he had some bad luck early and he just never got it together again. When you’re out for so long, it’s like spring training again. We all know what he’s capable of doing.”

Karstens won a game for the Yankees in relief in September, but his overall numbers (1-4, 11.05) were forgettable. He salvaged something by winning twice for the United States in the World Cup in November in Taiwan.

“The way the season ended last year wasn’t good for me, and to go over there and throw well made me feel better,” Karstens said.

With both Karstens and Rasner healthy and ready to pitch-- the Yankees bullpen questions might finally be getting some answers.

Just caught this over on Yahoo! Yankees News.

"We're right on the schedule that's going to lead us up to the opening of camp," Eiland said. "It's a real good situation here."

Phil Hughes and Jeff Karstens also are working out with Eiland, and both have thrown two mound sessions. Other pitchers, including Ian Kennedy, who don't live near the Yankees' facility are taking part in throwing programs at home.

"It's running along smooth like it always has here," Eiland said. "I've already talked to all the veteran guys, too. We're all on the same page. We're all preparing to get started."

Eiland thinks the early hands-on sessions with the young pitchers are important.

"Veteran guys, they know what they need to do," Eiland said. "This is Joba's first major league camp. This will be Ian's first major league camp. Phil's going into camp as a member of the team. Now going in, I'm going to know exactly what these guys have been doing for the past month. And I'm preparing them for the program that we're going to be doing in spring training. So that's huge. It's a huge advantage."

Eiland is entering his first season as Yankees pitching coach. He worked with Chamberlain and Hughes in the minors and spent time with them with the big league club last September.

"You prepare guys and you do the work that you have always done to get them ready to pitch," Eiland said. "Obviously, they're pitching at the highest level now, but they can't be somebody they're not. So you still prepare them and get them ready to attack hitters with their equipment. The game is still the same. You're just facing the best of the best now. You make adjustments. You just don't make any major changes."

Great news obviously. With Eiland in as pitching coach, do not be surprised if all three of these young gun's awe people this year.

P.S. The article also mentions Joba starting the season as a bullpen member but I am predicting the Yankees let him start and see how he does. If he does great, look for them to use him sparingly throughout the season in preparation for the playoffs. Go Yankees 2008!!!

UPDATE: Bryan Hoch adds more depth to the Chamberlain bullpen situation.