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He's paid like one but is he truly?

Tanaka gave up 4 runs in 6.1 innings and 5Ks against the Sawx in Fenway. In a hitter's park, that's not bad. Got a lot of run support and more than enough to register his 11th win.

His next start will be his 20th..matching all of last season. How do his numbers stack up so far?

2014 Innings: 136.1 Hits: 123 Homers: 15 Strikeouts: 141 Record: 13 5 WHIP : 1.06 ERA: 2.77

2015 Innings: 121.2 Hits: 100 Homers: 20 Strikeouts: 115 Record: 11 6 WHIP: 1.02 ERA: 3.62

Maybe the big keys are the innings pitched, the homers given up, and the ERA. I think that has A LOT to do with the fact, he doesn't feel right. This is an interesting study because it validates or invalidates the concept of using alternatives to Tommy John surgery. This season Tanaka hasn't lasted longer in games, less strikeouts, given up MORE homers, and a full run higher after the league has seen him for a second year. I also think Tanaka doesn't challenge hitters like he used to. The Yankees can only hope he'll be back fully healthy next season and ready to be that aggressive pitcher that attracted all that cash.

Pre injury: Yes

Current Tanaka is more of a number 2 pitcher

Tanaka has to locate his pitches, because he doesn't have overpowering stuff..anything up will get hit out the ballpark

Every time out Tanaka is put in a position where the bullpen is burnt out and can't be utilized. Pineda gets treated like a baby. Nova is NOT a starter. CC is pushed back because the Yanks don't trust him anymore. And now Eovaldi is done till the post season.

He looked like an Ace tonight, but of course Shreve blows it as out top guys can;t pitch because of over use

He is the Yankees Ace for better or worse. lets hope he has a stellar postseason.

Well this answers that.

He's a bum.

Yea, if he can get that needed surgery and start whipping that splitfinger fastball like he used to.

Stannis wrote:Yea, if he can get that needed surgery and start whipping that splitfinger fastball like he used to.

It's not going to happen under this short sighted management, and might not last anyway. He might just not be physically cut out for the NA schedule.

He's a reasonably good 2nd or 3rd guy paid like an ace. Cashman put together a horrendous pitching staff.

Tanaka pitched fine last night. He got pulled after the 5th but he could have gone 6 innings allowing just 2 runs. The problem is the offense. It has always been the offense that sink the yankees in the playoffs over the past decade.

Horrendous staff is a bit of an overreaction. They lost because they couldn't manufacture any runs. Too many old hitters that showed their age towards the end of the season.

So is the expectation that he wasn't 100% this season (with the elbow issues that could have but didn't require surgery) and that he'll be stronger next season?

I don't understand why they don't just proceed with giving him the needed surgery? I thought they should have done it this year.

It's never too late. Yankees have some of the best position player prospects that need time to develop and make it to the show. So they can afford to have a losing season. And this allows Tanaka to return the season after that as a true ace with new faces on the team. Forcing him to play with that tear is doing no good.

Stannis wrote:I don't understand why they don't just proceed with giving him the needed surgery? I thought they should have done it this year.

It's never too late. Yankees have some of the best position player prospects that need time to develop and make it to the show. So they can afford to have a losing season. And this allows Tanaka to return the season after that as a true ace with new faces on the team. Forcing him to play with that tear is doing no good.

It's the same reason the Yankees always draft college pitchers that they feel can move up the system quickly and fill in as needed instead of drafting strong armed high school pitchers with greater upside. They are always in win now mode and don't have the wherewithal to see that there may be greater benefit by sacrificing now for greater rewards later.

Yes he is our ace

No. He's a good, solid starter though.

no

Negative