RISING FROM THE ASHES
Tanyon Sturtze is revitalizing a sagging career in New York




By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 7, 2004

The most important play in baseball for a pitcher is strike one. When a pitcher gets ahead in the count he can do all sorts of nasty things to the opposing batters. For a guy like Tanyon Sturtze it has taken him quite a while to get that part of the game through his head.

With the departures of Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, David Wells, Jeff Nelson and a plethora of other relievers the Yankees pitching staff needed a major overhaul, including the bullpen. That is when Brian Cashman went out and snagged 33-year old Tanyon Sturtze off the rubble pile.

Sturtze was picked up on May 15th of this year from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was floundering in the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas where he had amassed a 3-0 record with a 2.50 ERA. He held opposing batters to an average of .206. Sturtze had made the rounds in eight previous major league seasons. Sturtze began his career with the Chicago Cubs before moving through Texas for one season, the White Sox for two, Tampa Bay, Toronto and Los Angeles.

Tanyon didn’t have what you would call quality numbers. His lifetime win-loss record was 29-39 with an ERA of 5.20. His career highlight was when he was named the Most Valuable Player for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after the 2001 season by the Tampa Bay chapter of the BBWAA. He pitched 195 innings, led the staff in starts (27) and was tied for the club lead in wins (11). He also had 12 losses.

Like most observers I took a wait and see attitude. New team, new beginning. It didn’t take Tanyon long to disappoint. In his first outing with the Yankees on May 21st Sturtze pitched two innings and was tagged for three hits (two were home runs) and four earned runs. He left the game with an 18.00 ERA. However in his next four outings Sturtze pitched 11 innings and allowed just two earned runs. His ERA dropped like a stone to 4.15. Right about then everyone in Yankee Land couldn’t be happier for how things were working out. Cashman was looking like a genius.

From that point on Sturtze’s season was a topsy-turvy combination of outings, ranging from outstanding to just plain lousy. His season began to seriously spiral downward after he was suspended for three games for his involvement is the July 24th brawl between the Boston Red Sox and the Yankees. Sturtze was pitching at the time the brawl started and he was injured and had to come out of the game. From that point on Sturtze’s ERA blew up like a weather balloon. His low point came during a 22-0 blowout loss to the Cleveland Indians. Sturtze added his can of gas to the blaze by giving up seven earned runs on six hits. His ERA hit a then-season high of 5.90. After that debacle manager Joe Torre didn’t use Sturtze for the next ten days.

Tanyon pitched again on September 9th against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and worked 3-2/3 innings without giving up a run. However, his next outing was a reverse for the worst as he gave up another seven earned runs in 2/3 of an inning. Sturtze’s ERA hit the ceiling. He was now carrying an ERA of 6.47. No one wanted to see this guy in a game. However, Joe Torre, for whatever reason, stuck with the hard luck pitcher. Joe and the team were rewarded. Over Tanyon’s last six outings he worked 12 innings. He gave up only three hits and no earned runs. He struck out 14 batters and walked four. His ERA plummeted from 7.25 at the end of August to 4.20 at the end of September.

What Tanyon Sturtze is doing now is going after batters and getting ahead in the count early. More strike one counts have given Tanyon the ability to use his repertoire more effectively. His strikeout to walk ratio has gotten much better. Last night, in Game 2 of the ALDS he gave up a solo shot to Torii Hunter, but hung in there without letting the damage get worse.

A month and a half ago I’d have been yelling at the TV screen at Joe Torre for even thinking about bringing Tanyon Sturtze into a pressure situation. Now, I’m hoping he gets the guy up and brings him before anyone else. The guy has been through the grinder this season. He hasn’t complained and has taken the ball every time he’s had the opportunity. He has moved from the doghouse to the penthouse over the past month or so, and is one of Torre’s go-to-guys. What the future holds for Tanyon Sturtze no one knows, but I sure am enjoying the present. You should too.

PLAY BALL!

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