Farnsworth poppycock will get somber "respect" when its author appears on YES Network & other outlets

Farnsworth's touting by Girardi and Cashman is well known and now we have the NY Times with a summary of Farnsworth's life as a Yankee. Unfortunately, the article is a disgrace (ie not good). Nor is it made clear he has no great heyday to which he may be returned (examples follow). The statement Farnsworth never "understood" why Torre handled him "delicately" was met with little resistance in the article, but I heard countless times from the radio broadcasts that Farnsworth's rules were self-declared. (One example follows here which "the media" didn't know about). And not in a negative way, just simple, brief mentions of what really was going on with the bullpen where Farnsworth was concerned.

• Torre was overly generous about Farnsworth to the "media," when anyone who paid attention knew he didn't deserve it. And we have the Times saying Cashman even agrees, that it was a "managerial" (Torre) thing. No resistance to this in the article.

NY Times: "Farnsworth’s back problems in 2006, and his erratic performance over all, made Manager Joe Torre treat him delicately."

• (Farnsworth's restrictions were his own including back spasms, back twinges, neck pains, no consecutive days, no more than 1 IP, etc. He was given many chances in NY and elsewhere. The homeruns he gave up weren't so "delicate" either. Examples follow). sm

• (NY Times): "It was an arrangement Farnsworth said he never understood, and one that will change this season.

“I don’t have any Farnsworth rules,” General Manager Brian Cashman said. “That was a managerial choice. When they want to run him out there and use him, they’ll use him."

• (A DISGRACE). sm

(NY Times): "Joe Girardi, the new manager, said he had no restrictions on how to deploy Farnsworth. If he needs him on consecutive days, or in the middle of an inning, he will call on him.

“I’m not going to be afraid to use him at any time,” Girardi said."

• From NY Times article by Tyler Kepner, "More than Ever, Yanks Will Look to Farnsworth," 3/7/08

Farnsworth's performance when needed most, from my post 12/10/07:

• "The 2003 NLDS Marlins v Cubs, Game 3 was rebroadcast on XM this weekend. In the 8th inning an announcer said Borowski was pitching, and the runner on base was Farnsworth's responsibility.

The runner, Miguel Cabrera, eventually scored the tying run for the Marlins, making it 2-2. The Cubs finally won by 1 run but their pitchers had to work 11 innings to do it--thanks to Farnsworth giving up the tying baserunner in the 8th.

• His (Farnsworth's) ERA for that series was 10.12. In the all-important Games 6 and 7, he gave up 3ER in Game 6, and 2ER in Game 7. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Unless you intend to win the World Series with this person--that he just needs to be "tweaked."

Farnsworth began with the Cubs as a starter in 1999, and after starting 5 games in 2000, was moved to relief. He's never really been a closer--which some incorrectly assume is his logical progression-- with the partial exception of the 2005 season which he split with 2 teams, Detroit and the Braves. He's never been counted on as a team's closer for even a full half season unless you want to call his stint at the Braves a half season. He's shown no ability to do the job. Certainly not in the American League.

• The Yankees have no use for any guy who can't pitch more than one inning, can't pitch consecutive days, can't come in with runners on base, and frequently backs out at the last minute when you finally do call him. That's what he did in 2007 and much of 2006. His downward spiral in IP begain after his first year in relief (2000). Looking at his record on Baseball-Reference:

• In 2000, he pitched 1.67 ip/all appearances, *includes his first 5 games for which he was a starter)*

• In 2001, 1.08 ip/appearance

• In 2002 1.07 ip/appearance
• In 2003, 1.0 ip/appearance
• In 2004, .94 ip/
• In 2005, .97 ip/
• In 2006, .92 ip/
• In 2007, .93 ip/

In 2007, Farnsworth:

• Multi-Inning Appearances: 0
• Enter w/ runners on base: 0

In 2002, his last year with Girardi:

• Multi ip apps: 12
• Enter w/ rob: 18
• 2005 (split betw. Tigers and Braves):
• Multi ip apps: 8
• Rob: 14

2006 (w/ Yankees):

• Multi ip apps: 9
• Rob: 14
• So his ascending wimpiness, twinges, etc., started at the Cubs and continued its famous drift into the Yankees.
• Girardi talks about the time he had with Farnsworth in his 3 years with the Cubs, which is great. A lot has gone under the bridge since 2002, their last year on the same team. He wasn't Farnsworth's personal catcher at the Cubs-which is fine, just interesting to note.
• from Baseball-Reference, games pitched by catcher/year:

• 2000 w/Farnsworth
• Girardi-26G
• J. Reed-20G
• M. Mahony-1G

• 2001 w/ Farnsworth
• Girardi-33G
• Hundley-27G
• Machado-18G
• 2002 w/Farnsworth
• Hundley-28G
• Girardi-14G
• Mahony-4G
• Machado-1G

Girardi did make 1 interesting comment to Michael Kay on his ESPN radio show on May 21st this year, that "The biggest problem is that Yankee pitchers too soft, they refuse to make Red Sox hitters uncomfortable." Hey, sign us up for that guy

• FARNSWORTH'S CONSTANT AILMENTS: NECK, BACK, ARM, ETC. JOE TORRE ON WFAN PRESSED ABOUT OVERUSING JOBA AND RIVERA, FIND OUT FARNSWORTH COMPLAINED ABOUT HIS NECK. TORRE NEVER MENTIONED IT BEFORE BECAUSE THE MEDIA DIDN'T ASK:

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007 (my post)

• Kyle Farnsworth was not available Wednesday night v Toronto--Torre on WFAN

Joe Torre on WFAN with Mike and Chris, turns out Farnsworth had a problem with his neck when he got into town (Toronto) and wasn't available in the Wednesday night game v Toronto.... (special note for those who write the Yankees "baby" Farnsworth when it's Farnsworth who comes up with all the twinges, kinks, etc.)

• Torre also said Farnsworth will not be available tonight v Toronto (and AJ Burnett) either. Mike and Chris pressed Torre as to why he used Joba Chamberlain for 2 innings last night (it actually ended up being an inning & 2/3 with Mariano Rivera for an inning and a third), making him unavailable for at least 2 days. They asked why he didn't use Farnsworth for 1 of those innings, that's how the subject came up. Torre said no one else had asked him specifically about Farnsworth's condition in the past day or so.

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