The Yankees’ musical chair bullpen left Jeff Weaver and 46-year-old Jesse Orosco without seats yesterday.
While lefties Gabe White and Felix Heredia made their first appearances as Yankees in last night’s 13-2 loss to the White Sox, Weaver headed to Single-A Tampa and Orosco pondered what could be the end of his 25-year major-league career.
Manager Joe Torre said both Weaver and Orosco were victims of circumstance as White was eligible to come off the disabled list and the Yankees claimed Heredia off waivers earlier this week.
Nonetheless, Weaver wouldn’t be headed south to work with pitching guru Billy Connors if he wasn’t sporting a 7-9 record and a 5.85 ERA. Weaver is expected to rejoin the Yankees in Toronto on Monday. He still could be on the playoff roster.
Orosco’s 1,244 appearances are the most by a pitcher in major-league history. Orosco, who made 15 appearances with the Yankees and owned a 10.38 ERA and no record, doesn’t think his appearance mark will be broken, but he did mention John Franco and Dan Plesac as possible candidates to pass him. Orosco could add to his mark if another team picks him up this year, or he could return next season, he said.
“If it’s over, it’s over,” said Orosco, who added this season he would only want to join a contender.
Torre now will have to juggle a bullpen that has seen an astounding number of relievers (20) pitch.
“It’s unusual for a first-place team,” Torre said.
White, whom the Yankees acquired from the Reds on July 31 for a player to be named later, didn’t impress last night, promptly giving up a two-run homer to Paul Konerko in the eighth.
Like White, Heredia came from Cincinnati, where he was 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA. Heredia pitched a scoreless seventh last night.
The new Reds will try to adjust to New York better than Weaver, whose relief appearance Monday saw him give up a homer and leave to boos.
Weaver spoke optimistically that maybe this year could be a springboard for his pinstriped future.
“A lot of things that have happened throughout the year I wouldn’t have expected or have been through before,” Weaver said. “This is one year out of hopefully a long time. Hopefully, 10 years from now I’ll say 2003 are where things built me as a person and as a pitcher.”