Maybe he's just not that good.

Damaso Garcia is not impressed

Bobcat Goldthwait is not impressed

Anybody else think Proctor might be wound a little too tight? This is, like, the third time this year he's gone off and done something really stupid.

I don't know, he could be. Nevertheless, I think Proctor endures quite a bit of physical and emotional stress. He is one of the few people Torre trusts. He gets overworked, and he is constantly facing pretty important situations. I assume his LI is high, but it always feels important when he is pitching.

Plus, he has to hear his name in trade all the time. He's a commodity that most teams want (I'd love to have him on the Braves) and one of the few really movable chips for the Yanks (i.e. He doesn't have the "do not touch label" and he isn't going to kill you with his contract). Moreover, most of the negative stuff he reads about himself (mileage on his arm) is because he's done the job expected of him.

The Yanks bullpen has performed streaky to bad. A lot of that is probably because of the problems in the starting rotation rather than talent deficiencies. I imagine he is internally shouldering some blame. And when he decides to relax, shrug it off and just thow, he is getting lit up.

Anybody else think Proctor might be wound a little too tight? This is, like, the third time this year he's gone off and done something really stupid.

He is. He's a jackass and I've never hated a Yankee player more than him. It's completely irrational, but everything about him drives me crazy. I don't care who we get back, I just want him off the team.

#4 - kevin

What were the other two times? My memory for Yankee jackassery fails me.

I know some people who knew Proctor personally, and they assure me he was a decent guy, at least back when they knew him.

(I'd love to have him on the Braves)

DON'T TRADE SALTY FOR HIM

DON'T TRADE SALTY FOR HIM


I don't think that is in the cards, unless Wang comes in the package. I think JS would trade Salty, but he is going to want a front line starter. If Chuck James continues to pitch well enough, that could become off the table too.

I thought we had Proctor last year for Betamit. I think the deal was ready to ink and someone on the Yanks said "Nope" at the last minute. He would have helped even more last year. This year, he's got some fragging on the arm and the bullpen is competent. I think JS feels he got his Proctor/Linebrink in Soriano. I just think a little insurance wouldn't hurt and Mike Gonzalez isn't going to be walking through that door anytime this year.

If the Yanks call it a year and want to dump Mussolini for a prospect package, I could see JS try to get in the bidding (although prob not with Salty).

JS typical motif is to try to get starting depth, bullpen depth, or a veteran bat for the push. He seems to like dealing with the Yanks, and I could see a deal with the Yanks if they decide to become sellers.

That's one deal I'd like to see: Wang and Proctor for Salty. Gets Wang out of the damn AL East, I can have my peace and calm back.

The Braves seem to like Melky quite a bit, too. Of course he's not going to get Salty either, and if he did I'd be worried why Schuerholtz is dealing him.

The Yankees should be sellers, though. You might be able to get something of value for Matsui if he will waive his NTC. I could see an NL team taking Moose's salary (or most of it), but it'd probably have to be the north east to get him to go. Those are really the only big names I could see moving, unless there's a market for weak hitting RFers afraid of anything within 30 feet of a wall.

I would love to trade Matsui, but I think Cashman is in denial about Matsui's current level of ability (which I believe has declined either as a result of age, the wrist injury, or both), and I also think his supposed cash cow status would preclude even the consideration of a trade, but I would glad to be proven wrong.

What Kevin said, and there was another incident a bit similar to that which happened within a week of it, either before or after.

Proctor's not all that great, but he has a live arm and good stuff, and I'd lay many of his problems on overwork, which is in turn a combination of about 20% managerial misuse and 80% dreadful starting pitching. His personality problems aren't causing any real grief for the Yankees beyond what a few scoreless games wouldn't cure. With a better staff around him, and used more sparingly, he'd be a very good role pitcher.

In the game kevin mentioned in #14, I was listening on the radio. Sterling and Suzy were midway through laying the thorough smackdown on the Proctologist when Clemens abruptly unretired, dominating the rest of the broadcast. I don't think I've ever heard members of the Yankee-sanctioned media go so hard after one of their own.

ATL is 7th in OPS and 8th in ERA, in the NL. Pitching is not clearly the problem. I sure they do not trade their league minimum salary and solution to huge under-performance at 1B (Salty), for a 4th starter and bullpen depth.

Proctor might have better results in the second half, if Torre cuts his appearances down to 98% of all Yankee games.