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Javier Vazquez News & Rumors

Guillen unlikely to talk NL Pitcher of the Month Vazquez out of retirement
September 30
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Ozzie Guillen during his introductory press conference was asked if he would like Javier Vazquez to return in 2012. He answered in the affirmative, and that was before Vazquez was named National League Pitcher of the Month. Thursday, Vazquez received the monthly award for the second time in his career and first since August 2001 as a member of the Montreal Expos. The September numbers were jaw-dropping: 5-0 with a 0.71 ERA (the lowest among qualifying starters), three walks and 36 strikeouts in 38 innings. "There's no doubt [I'd like him back]," Guillen said. "I've managed Javy in the past. I know what he can bring to the table, but I just manage. That's the front office and Javy's"
Marlins' Vazquez sets team mark for scoreless innings, earns fifth win in row
September 22
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"If Javier Vazquez is headed for retirement at season's end, he is adhering to the show biz adage, leave them wanting more. Coming off his first complete-game shutout since 2005, Vazquez won his fifth consecutive start Wednesday with seven scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory over the Braves. He also set a record for a Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! starter with 25 consecutive scoreless innings. It enabled the Marlins to win their final series with the Braves at Sun Life Stadium and threw another tripwire into Atlanta's faltering quest for the National League wild card, now down to 1 1/2 games. It won't sway Vazquez to return to the Marlins, a team clearly wanting more from its"
Vazquez continues strong run late in Florida Marlins' season
September 12
Miami Herald
 
"When he stepped inside the clubhouse Sunday morning and discovered how many of his players had their thighs, arms and knees wrapped in elastic bandages, manager Jack McKeon declared his outfit a MASH unit. "We're going to run out of wraps," McKeon quipped. Ahh, but then there was Javier Vazquez, at 35 the team's oldest pitcher. Vazquez not only has never spent a day on the disabled list during his 14 major-league seasons, but also he's a nutrition fanatic who hits Whole Foods in every major-league city he visits, stocking up on vegetables and other healthy edibles. No wonder the guy, year in and year out, puts up steady numbers. And in what is very likely his final season, Vazquez has done"
Marlins sweep Pirates behind Javier Vazquez
September 12
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Injuries to several key players kept the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! from fielding their best lineup again at PNC Park on Sunday, but it didn't matter. Thanks to an exceptional starting job by veteran Javier Vazquez (10-11), Florida left town with a 4-1 win and a series sweep. "He's a guy that just battles out there," catcher Brett Hayes said. "He's been amazing for us. He had a rough start, but you know what, it's not about how you start, it's how you finish. "He's been unbelievable." Text alerts: Get South Florida sports news on your phone Vazquez pitched six scoreless innings and allowed three hits. He threw 113 pitches, notching seven strikeouts and walking two batters. "He"
Vazquez stays on hot streak as Marlins top Mets 9-3
September 6
Miami Herald
 
"Javier Vazquez has given strong indication that this will be his final major-league season. If that proves to be the case, the Marlins might wish for him to reconsider. After all, Vazquez has been their best pitcher for a couple of months. On Monday, Vazquez passed the great Christy Mathewson on the all-time strikeout list in the Marlins' 9-3 victory over the Mets at Sun Life Stadium. Vazquez rode the wave of a 15-hit attack as the Marlins recorded their first three-game winning streak since the second week of August. "If I do go out, that's actually how I want to go out, pitching good," Vazquez said. "I wouldn't want to go out pitching poorly." Vazquez improved to 9-11 after holding"
Vazquez 30th pitcher to reach 2,500 strikeouts
August 31
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Javier Vazquez wanted to throw fastballs and induce contact. He wondered why John Buck kept calling for breaking pitches. After Vazquez struck out Lucas Duda to end the sixth, it became apparent. Unbeknownst to Vazquez, when Duda swung through a 2-2 changeup he became the 30th pitcher in major league history to reach the 2,500-plateau. "I don't know if you guys are going to believe me or not, but I didn't know I was close to 2,500," Vazquez said. "When I got to the dugout, the guys were, 'Congratulations, congratulations,' and I'm like, 'Good, thank you. Why?'" It was a happy occasion all around for a Marlins team in serious need of them. Shut out through six innings in the wake of"
Pelfrey falls apart in 7th inning, out-pitched by Vazquez in Marlins 6-0 victory
August 31
New York Daily News
 
"Mike Pelfrey has made 16 starts against the Marlins since defeating them in his major-league debut in 2006. He has won none of them. The lanky righty locked up with two-time Yankee bust Javy Vazquez in a scoreless duel for six innings Tuesday night, but the Marlins reached Pelfrey for four of their five runs in the seventh to halt the Mets' four-game winning streak with a 6-0 victory at Citi Field."
Vazquez snuffs out Mets' win streak
August 31
New York Post
 
"Javier Vazquez certainly can handle pitching in New York, just not for the home team. The two-time Yankee flop stuck it to the Mets last night, making it two superb performances for Vazquez at Citi Field in less than a month. The combo of Vazquez and a brutal seventh inning for Mike Pelfrey spelled the end of a Mets' winning streak that had reached four games. The Marlins sent 10 batters to the plate in the seventh, scored five runs and sent the Mets to a 6-0 loss. Vazquez (8-11) lowered his ERA to 0.64 in two starts at Citi Field this season. The veteran righty allowed only three hits -- all of them singles -- over seven shutout innings last night."
Florida Marlins' starting rotation loaded with concerns
August 26
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Much attention has been directed toward the struggles of the Marlins' offense through this season gone awry. There may be cause for greater concern about the decline of the starting rotation. With ace Josh Johnson out since May with shoulder inflammation, Marlins starters have slipped to 14th in the National League with an ERA of 4.52. They rank ahead of only the Astros and Cubs. Can Johnson be counted on to take the ball on Opening Day in the new ballpark next April 4 against the Cardinals? He has yet to make it through a full season since signing a four-year, $39 million deal in early 2010. Veteran right-hander Javier Vazquez has been the most reliable starter in Johnson's absence. His"
Former Marlin Cody Ross returns to Sun Life Stadium; Updates on Hanley, Vazquez and Cameron
August 13
Miami Herald
 
"It's no secret the Marlins have struggled at home this year, posting a 24-39 record in their last year at Sun Life Stadium. But why have the Fish been so bad in their not-so-friendly confines? "There's no reason. It's not the fans. It's not the park. It's not the heat," veteran infielder Wes Helms said. "Whatever excuse somebody can come up with, I can come back with, 'You know what, the visiting team has to play here too.' So there's no rhyme or reason to it. We just stink here. And that's the bottom line." But Cody Ross, who spent parts of five seasons with Florida and returned to Sun Life Stadium for the first time on Friday since the Giants claimed him off waivers last August, offered"
Javier Vazquez pondering retirement
August 4
Miami Herald
 (scroll down)
"For the first two months of the season, it looked like Javier Vazquez might have trouble keeping his spot in the Marlins' starting rotation. On May 15, Vazquez's ERA reached a season-worst 7.55. But since June 16, no Marlins starter has been more dependable than Vazquez, who has gone 4-3 with a 2.26 ERA, 41 strikeouts and 10 walks. But despite his impressive turnaround, it's likely this season will be the 35-year old right-hander's last. "I know what I want to do already. I've talked to my family about that and basically this could be my last year," Vazquez said Tuesday, a night after giving up just one earned run against the Mets over seven innings."
Vazquez sharp, Marlins take second straight from Nationals
July 28
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"The Marlins signed pitcher Javier Vazquez to a one-year deal worth $7 million, and early in the season it appeared like the money may have been wasted. Vazquez, 35, was 3-7 with a 6.85 on June 16, had given up 19 runs in his last four starts, and seemed like his 14-year career might be careening to a close. But Vazquez has turned things around since then, and picked up his third win in his last four starts Wednesday with a solid performance that helped the Marlins beat Washington 7-5 at Nationals Park. Vazquez allowed one run on six hits in seven innings, and is now 7-9 with a 5.10 ERA. "I felt good out there today, I had a good fastball and the guys scored enough runs," said Vazquez, who"
Javiez Vazquez has another "frustrating" outing in Florida Marlins' 9-5 loss to Arizona
June 12
Palm Beach Post
 
"A favorite clubhouse perk Marlins players enjoy after a win is loud, blaring music. But the only tunes they heard after Saturday's game was from a concert on the field by rapper Ludacris. In fact, the Marlins' post-game clubhouse has been pretty quiet this month. They've lost nine of 10 games in June, including a 9-5 loss Saturday to the Arizona Diamondbacks on a night they hit three home runs. The problem was starting pitcher Javier Vazquez, who didn't make it out of the fourth inning, failing to continue any momentum the Marlins gained after snapping an eight-game losing streak Friday night. "We were in the game up to that fourth inning. It got away in a hurry. Rough outing for him,'"
Javier Vazquez costly in Florida Marlins' loss to Diamondbacks
June 12
Miami Herald
 
"The Marlins shelled out $7?million — a big chunk of change for the thrift-conscious franchise — to sign Javier Vazquez. They're not getting their money's worth. Not even close. For the fifth time in his 13 starts this season, Vazquez failed to reach the fifth inning as the veteran pitcher was rocked again in a 9-5 loss to the Diamondbacks on Saturday night. The pitcher's earned-run average of 7.09 is the worst in the majors among regular starters and more than a run higher than the next-closest pitcher. "Nothing's going right," Vazquez said. "I wish I could explain it." The Diamondbacks erupted for six runs in the fourth, sending Vazquez to the showers before he could finish the inning and"
Edwin Rodriguez: Vazquez trying to be perfect
May 22
Miami Herald
 
"Javier Vazquez's first eight starts of the season haven't gone the way the Marlins envisioned it when they signed him to a one-year, $7 million deal this winter. So how crucial will his ninth start be Saturday against the Rays? "I think [this start] is very important for Javi, but I think it's more important for us, the Florida Marlins,'' manager Edwin Rodriguez said Friday. "We need to establish and solidify that rotation. And without him in the rotation, we don't have many options. He's going to have to step up, make adjustments, because that rotation, the one we send out there, that's the one we plan on using. We're going to stay with that rotation and see how far it takes us." Vazquez"
Vazquez steadies Marlins as Johnson goes on DL
May 22
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"On a day their ace starter went on the disabled list amid Doomsday predictions, Javier Vazquez provided a saving grace for the Marlins. Vazquez not only got through the first inning without giving up a run for the first time this season, he delivered seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball Saturday in a 5-3 victory over Tampa Bay at Sun Life Stadium. The first dominant performance since the veteran right-hander signed a one-year, $7 million contract came hours after Josh Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in the back of his pitching shoulder. Johnson and the Marlins are confident the injury is minor and the National League co-leader in ERA will be able to"
Struggling Vazquez allows 6 runs in first inning of loss to Nationals
May 16
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"For Javier Vazquez, it's not how he finishes. It's how he starts. Another disastrous first inning Sunday all but torpedoed the Marlins' chances to sweep the three-game series and win their ninth consecutive game at Nationals Park. Vazquez has been scored upon in the first inning of all eight starts. The Nationals hung six on him and went on to an 8-4 victory. Afterward, Vazquez took no solace in retiring eight straight and nine of the last 11 he faced during the four-inning outing. During those final three innings Vazquez struck out four Nationals hitters. "No positives," Vazquez said. "It's all negative right now for me. There are no positives right now. I'm going out there giving the"
Javier Vazquez is placed on bereavement list
May 11
Miami Herald
 
"Javier Vazquez was placed on the bereavement list because of a death in his wife's family, but is expected to make his next scheduled start on Sunday against the Nationals. Vazquez returned home to Puerto Rico after Monday's loss against the Phillies. Manager Edwin Rodriguez said Vazquez will rejoin the team in Washington on Friday. "Before the game [Monday], he told me there was something going on," Rodriguez said. "He sounded concerned with what was happening in Puerto Rico." The struggling veteran had another subpar outing, knocked out in the fifth inning while allowing six runs on nine hits. He also failed to back up at home on Emilio Bonifacio's throw to the plate. The ball sailed"
Marlins place Vazquez on bereavement list
May 11
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Javier Vazquez's downtrodden demeanor following Monday's rough outing against the Phillies wasn't solely a product of his pitching. Tuesday, the Marlins placed Vazquez on the bereavement list. Manager Edwin Rodriguez said a relative on Vazquez's wife side passed away unexpectedly in Puerto Rico. Vazquez departed Tuesday and will rejoin the team Friday in Washington. He will not miss his next scheduled start Sunday at Nationals Park. "I don't know if it's his wife's brother or his wife's cousin, but I know it was a close family member," Rodriguez said. "He felt sick [Monday]. The doctor sent him to the hospital and he died." Rodriguez was unsure as whether Vazquez pitched with his head and"
Javier Vazquez struggles in Florida Marlins' loss to Phillies
May 10
Miami Herald
 
"Javier Vazquez is starting to conjure up images of Al Leiter and, for the Marlins, that's not a good thing. Vazquez was knocked around — and then out — by the Phillies on Monday to kick off a big three-game series between the National League's top two teams record-wise. The Phillies won the opener, 6-4. And it was Vazquez, signed by the Marlins for $7?million last winter, who bore the brunt of the blow, giving up six runs in the short span of 4?1/3 innings. "I wish I had an explanation, but I've got nothing," Vazquez said. "It's frustrating and I'm embarrassed by the way I'm throwing. Hopefully I get through this. If not, I'm in trouble." Vazquez now sits at 2-3 with a ballooning 6.88 ERA,"
Phillies rough up Vazquez, claim series opener
May 10
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Javier Vazquez's grip on a rotation spot seemingly grew more tenuous Monday courtesy of the first-place Philadelphia Phillies. Two games ahead of the second-place Marlins, the Phillies immediately began working to extend that cushion. Jimmy Rollins hit his 36th career leadoff homer and Vazquez allowed eight more hits and five more runs over 4 1/3 innings in the 6-4 Phillies win at Sun Life Stadium. Vazquez (2-3), who has allowed at least one first-inning run in each of his seven starts, saw his earned run average balloon to 6.88. Among qualifying NL starters, only Cubs' right-hander Ryan Dempster has been worse (7.20)."
Javier Vazquez shows improvement, but Marlins fall to Rockies
April 24
Palm Beach Post
 
"Javier Vazquez pitched six innings Saturday night and his fastball hit 92 miles an hour once, encouraging signs for a pitcher struggling to boost his velocity and overall performance. But he wasn't ready to celebrate any positive steps after a 3-1 loss to the Rockies in front of 37,381, the largest Sun Life Stadium crowd since opening day's 41,237. "I threw the ball well, I guess. It's still a loss and it's still disappointing,' Vazquez said after the Rockies snapped the Marlins' winning streak at four. He worked out of an early jam, retired 10 of 11 batters at one point and hit 92 at least once on his fastball. But his downfall started when he singled to right in the fifth inning. Vazquez"
Vazquez's Marlins debut brief as Mets take two of three
April 4
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Fans saw a rare occurrence during Sunday's Marlins-Mets matinee at Sun Life Stadium. Not as rare or as captivating as a no-hitter or cycle, but a performance infrequent enough to regard with some level of astoundment. Javier Vazquez, who during his 13-year major league career has gobbled innings the way a horse eats hay, failed to make it out of the third inning. The Mets scored three first-inning runs off Vazquez on their way to a season series-opening 9-2 victory over the Marlins. Before making his Marlins debut, Vazquez had completed at least three innings in all but six of 411 lifetime starts. Sunday marked Vazquez's shortest start since Aug. 14, 2005, when as a member of the"
Marlins starter Vazquez's consistency puts him in exclusive company
February 27
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"During a 10-year span from 2000-09, Javier Vazquez averaged over a dozen wins, 216 innings and 200 strikeouts. He didn't come close to matching those number as a member of the Yankees last season, but Vazquez remains in elite company when it comes to consistency. A season of double-digit wins with at least 157 innings and 120 strikeouts would be Vazquez's 12th in a row. Only 12 modern era pitchers — Steve Carlton (18), Gaylord Perry and Don Sutton (15), Bob Gibson, Phil Niekro and Greg Maddux (14), Tom Seaver (13), and Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, Don Drysdale, Mickey Lolich and Mike Mussina (12) — have achieved those thresholds in that many consecutive seasons. Sunday, Vazquez will"
Vazquez formally joins Marlins' fold
December 2
MLB.com
 
"The pieces of a formidable rotation are in place. Javier Vazquez, one of baseball's most durable right-handers, signed a one-year contract with the Marlins. The announcement came on Thursday, after both sides agreed to terms over Thanksgiving weekend. Vazquez completed a physical on Wednesday in South Florida before the Marlins announced the signing. Vazquez will earn $7 million, and he has a full no-trade clause. Another stipulation in the contract is the Marlins also agreed not to offer Vazquez salary arbitration after the 2011 season."
Javier Vazquez will play for Florida Marlins
November 29
Miami Herald
 
"If the Florida Marlins reach the playoffs next season because of key contributions from catcher John Buck, infielder Omar Infante, reliever Mike Dunn and starting pitcher Javier Vazquez, they can thank one man: Dan Uggla. The Marlins continued to reallocate ``Uggla money'' -- money that would have gone toward the second baseman's contract had he not rejected their multi-year offer -- by reaching agreement with the veteran Vazquez on a one-year deal Sunday, according to sources. Vazquez, 34, is a durable right-hander who will add seasoning to a relatively young rotation that already includes Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez and Chris Volstad. A veteran of 13 major-league seasons"
Javier Vazquez signs one-year, $7 million deal with Marlins after unsuccessful 2nd stint with Yanks
November 29
New York Daily News
 
"Javier Vazquez didn't want to leave New York during his first stint with the Yankees. But after a frustrating second go-around, he was more than happy to bolt from the Bronx. Vazquez signed a one-year deal worth about $7 million with the Marlins Sunday, as he'll look to put his forgettable 2010 season behind him with a return to the National League. The Yankees will receive a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds of next June's draft, as they had offered arbitration to Vazquez, a Type B free agent."
Marlins and veteran starter Vazquez agree on 1-year deal
November 29
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"How badly did the Marlins want starter Javier Vazquez? They dispensed with one of their fundamental tenets of contract negotiations to get him. According to a source familiar with the deal, the club and Vazquez on Sunday agreed to a one-year, $7 million contract that includes a no-trade clause. Hanley Ramirez didn't get one. Neither did Josh Johnson or John Buck or any other player this front office has signed to a one-year or multi-year contract. The Marlins have held fast to their policy of not budging on no-trade provisions until now. Giving Vazquez the peace of mind he would be a Marlin for all of 2011 likely was the only way to fit him into the 2011 budget. The right-hander reportedly"
Source: Javier Vazquez talks get 'hot'
November 24
ESPN.com
 
"Javier Vazquez isn't a Marlin yet. But contract negotiations to bring him to Florida have gotten "hot," according to one source familiar with those discussions. Vazquez has been atop the Marlins' shopping list for a week, since the trade of Dan Uggla freed up money for a veteran starting pitcher. And sources within the industry told ESPN.com late Tuesday that the club's negotiations with the 34-year-old right-hander were "moving forward." It's viewed as unlikely a deal would be finished until after Thanksgiving. But other clubs that have expressed interest in Vazquez are now saying they're pessimistic about their chances of signing him."
Why Yankees will offer J. Vazquez arbitration
November 23
Foxsports.com
 
"The Yankees plan to offer salary arbitration to free-agent right-hander Javier Vazquez, but not because they want to retain him. Vazquez, a Type B free agent, has agreed to reject the Yankees' offer, enabling the team to collect a supplemental draft pick between the first and second rounds when he signs with another team, major-league sources say. Teams frequently make such gentlemen's agreements with Type B free agents. No harm is done to the signing team, which does not lose a pick for signing a Type B player."
Nats could make offer soon to righty Vazquez
November 21
MLB.com
 
"The Nationals have expressed interest in free-agent right-hander Javier Vazquez, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The club could make an offer to Vazquez as early as next week. Late last month, it was reported by MLB.com that Vazquez would be interested in playing for an East Coast team, including the Nationals, next season. Vazquez has made it known over the years that he doesn't want to play on the West Coast, because he doesn't want to be far away from his family, which lives in Puerto Rico."
Vazquez's Final Pitch in Pinstripes?
October 14
New York Times
 
"In front of 50,287 empty seats, Javier Vazquez climbed the mound at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday for what could have been his final time in pinstripes. There were no farewell ceremonies or video montages to commemorate the occasion, just a few simulated innings intended more to preserve the hitters' timing than to keep his arm fresh. Vazquez faced the likes of Greg Golson, Austin Kearns and Ramiro Pena, all of whom were selected to the division series roster and stand a better chance than Vazquez of being used in the American League Championship Series against Texas. After pitching well over a two-and-a-half-month stretch in midsummer, Vazquez finished his second stint with the Yankees by"
A.J. Burnett, Javier Vazquez understand 'tough decisions' regarding Yankees' playoff rotation
October 6
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Yankees knew they caught a break last season, when they needed just three starting pitchers to navigate the postseason. It's why they traded for right-hander Javier Vazquez, who was coming off a season in which he finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting. But as they begin the postseason with tonight's Game 1 of the American League Division Series, the Yankees find themselves in the exact same scenario they faced last season. A.J. Burnett, last year's clear No. 2 starter, pitched poorly enough to lose his rotation spot. And Vazquez endured a nightmarish return to the Bronx. So, for the first round, the Yankees have committed to a three-man rotation. It will be fronted by ace"
A.J. Burnett, Javier Vazquez understand 'tough decisions' regarding Yankees' playoff rotation
October 6
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Yankees knew they caught a break last season, when they needed just three starting pitchers to navigate the postseason. It's why they traded for right-hander Javier Vazquez, who was coming off a season in which he finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting. But as they begin the postseason with tonight's Game 1 of the American League Division Series, the Yankees find themselves in the exact same scenario they faced last season. A.J. Burnett, last year's clear No. 2 starter, pitched poorly enough to lose his rotation spot. And Vazquez endured a nightmarish return to the Bronx. So, for the first round, the Yankees have committed to a three-man rotation. It will be fronted by ace"
CC Sabathia is a sure thing for the Yankees, same can't be said for A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez
October 1
New York Daily News
 columnist Mike Lupica
"This is as disinterested a September as a top-shelf Yankee team has had in a long time. They are now tied for first with the Rays, who have spent $140 million less on baseball players than the Yankees have this season, not that we're ever supposed to worry about accounting like that around here. It gets better. The Rays' payroll is $72 million and change. David Price, Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena, the whole team bus. The payroll for the Yankee starting rotation, the original one, the one with the immortal Javy Vazquez in it? That payroll is right around $65 million. Just for the starting pitchers. If you want a little more context, that is about what Cincinnati spent this year on all the"
After 10 days of inactivity, Yankees P Javy Vazquez finally gets the call in the bullpen
September 22
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"For the last 10 days, Javy Vazquez sat in the bullpen, a pariah of the starting rotation, and watched as everyone else got to get up and go to work around him. From Mariano Rivera to Chad Gaudin, every member of the Yankees bullpen got to pick up their glove at some point and try and make an impact in the race for the postseason. Everyone expect for Javy Vazquez. Until Tuesday night. "Obviously, as a competitor, it's disappointing," Vazquez said after Tuesday night's 8-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. "You can't hide that fact. But I was glad that they used me today, this way." After starter Phil Hughes exited with one out in the sixth inning, Yankee manager Joe Girardi finally picked up the"
Yankees' Javy holds out playoff hope
September 22
New York Post
 
"Javier Vazquez was glad to finally get a chance to pitch last night, and the exiled Yankee righty said he is optimistic about grabbing a spot on the postseason roster. "I hope so. Of course. I expect to be on it," Vazquez said after pitching for the first time in 11 days. "Let's see." Though admitting it's been "disappointing" to not be used recently, Vazquez said he understood his hiatus. Entering with one out, one on and the heart of Tampa Bay's order up in the seventh inning and the Yankees nursing a 5-2 lead in last night's 8-3 win over the Rays, Vazquez retired Ben Zobrist before allowed Carl Crawford's RBI single. He then got Evan Longoria, who represented the tying run. Vazquez"
In Bullpen, Vazquez Could Be Out of Playoff Picture
September 22
New York Times
 
"The wallpaper on Javier Vazquez's computer shows him in happier times. He is standing along the New Jersey waterfront, the Manhattan skyline behind him, with his wife and three children. A wide smile creases his face. As recently as late July, Vazquez was an anchor of the Yankees' rotation. Now he seems in jeopardy of not being part of their postseason bullpen. When he comes to the ballpark these days, he never knows if he will pitch. Chances are, he will not. Since moving to the bullpen after his Sept. 10 start in Texas - his second trip to the bullpen in three weeks - Vazquez had gone unused until coming in in the seventh inning Tuesday. Asked before Tuesday's game to describe Vazquez's"
Javier Vazquez dropped from Yankees rotation
September 16
ESPN.com
 
"New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi has officially bounced Javier Vazquez from the rotation. Before Wednesday's Yankees-Rays game, Girardi announced Vazquez would pitch out of the bullpen for the foreseeable future. After CC Sabathia, the returning Andy Pettitte, A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes and rookie Ivan Nova will fill out the Yankees rotation. A year ago, Vazquez was finishing up a season in which he finished fourth in the National League Cy Young voting. On Wednesday, he was told he was out of the rotation, something he expected."
Pettitte's progress is more vital than Vazquez
September 5
New York Post
 columnist Larry Brooks
"Javier Vazquez, good soldier even if struggling pitcher, had every right to be miffed when manager Joe Girardi made his way to the mound to pull the starter with a two-run lead with two on and two out in the fifth inning, thus rendering him ineligible to get the victory. It is very easy to make the case that Vazquez, making his first stop since Aug. 21 following his second pit-stop of the season in the bullpen, deserved the shot at qualifying for the victory by going after Lyle Overbay, even though the Jays' first-baseman had homered in the second and walked in the third. It is even easier to state that the manager's quick hook implied a lack of faith in Vazquez, who spun in surprise and"
Yankees manager Joe Girardi fails to see big picture when he yanks Javier Vazquez early
September 5
New York Daily News
 columnist John Harper
"We know by now that Joe Girardi treats each and every ballgame as a mountain to be climbed, a safe to be cracked, a war to be won. But there are days like this one when he should just take a deep breath and resist the urge to overmanage. Here he was, trying to bring Javier Vazquez back to life as a starting pitcher, and with two outs in the fifth inning of a game the Yankees were winning 5-3, Girardi came striding purposefully out of the dugout to yank Vazquez and bring in Dustin Moseley. Never mind that Moseley promptly gave up a game-tying double to Lyle Overbay. That's not the point. Or that Moseley, the pitcher Girardi just bumped from the starting rotation in favor of Vazquez, is not"
As Pettitte Progresses, Yankees Move Vazquez Back Into the Rotation
September 2
New York Times
 
"For all the tumult that has engulfed the Yankees' rotation during Andy Pettitte's absence, it will probably not look much different when he returns. For one thing, Javier Vazquez will be back. And A. J. Burnett's spot is safe, regardless of how he pitched Wednesday night against Oakland. Manager Joe Girardi announced these moves about 30 minutes before Pettitte continued making progress in his recovery from a left groin injury, throwing 55 pitches at a high intensity. Every conversation Pettitte has with the pitching coach Dave Eiland or the trainer Gene Monahan seems to end in the same way - "Let's see how you feel tomorrow" - so plans for his next session are still tentative. But"
Change in mechanics has paid dividends for Yankees pitcher Javier Vazquez
August 31
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The adjustment in Javier Vazquez's pitching motion was subtle. But over his last two outings -- both relief appearances -- it has paid a world of dividends. Throughout his struggles, Vazquez's detractors pointed to the lack of velocity on his fastball as the reason for his demise. But after working with pitching coach Dave Eiland on a minor mechanical flaw -- the positioning of his leg kick out of the windup -- it appears Vazquez's heater now has more late life. During Monday night's 11-5 victory over the A's, Vazquez pitched 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball to pick up the win in relief of Dustin Mosley. Vazquez's four-seam fastball averaged 89 mph and topped out close to 92, according to"
Ivan Nova sticks, Javier Vazquez to Yanks' pen
August 25
Bergen Record
 
"Javier Vazquez's place in the Yankees' pitching staff is as uncertain as ever. On Tuesday, manager Joe Girardi announced that rookie Ivan Nova would take Vazquez's scheduled turn Sunday at Chicago. Beginning tonight at Rogers Centre, Vazquez is available out of the bullpen. But Girardi wasn't ready to say that the struggling Vazquez had been completely bounced from his rotation. "I'm not sure what we're going to do [after Sunday]," Girardi said before Tuesday's game with the Blue Jays. "It's what we're choosing to do right now. We'll continue to evaluate." When pressed further, Girardi said, "We'll evaluate after Sunday." Vazquez reacted evenly to the news. "[I'm] not surprised."
Impressive Ivan to start in place of Javy
August 25
New York Post
 
"Into the flames of the hottest pennant race in baseball, the Yankees have inserted neophyte right-hander Ivan Nova. After Nova pitched very well in his first major-league start -- 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision in the Yanks' 3-2 loss here Monday night -- manager Joe Girardi announced yesterday the 23-year-old would replace the struggling Javier Vazquez in the rotation Sunday against the White Sox in Chicago. "After that, I am not sure," Girardi said of what the move means following Sunday's game. "We will evaluate." Considering Nova's lack of experience -- he has pitched 8 1/3 innings in three big-league games -- the move could be viewed as risky. However, the 34-year-old Vazquez has"
Yankees pull Javier Vazquez from rotation, may be used as long man when Phil Hughes throws
August 25
New York Daily News
 
"Back in May, the Yankees skipped Javier Vazquez in the rotation with the hope that a few days off would help him sort out his issues before returning to the rotation. Tuesday, Joe Girardi announced that Vazquez (9-9, 5.05 ERA) would be skipped again this Sunday, but unlike the situation nearly four months ago, there's no guarantee that the 13-year veteran will reclaim his job. Rookie Ivan Nova, who impressed Girardi Monday night against the Blue Jays, will start on Sunday, effectively replacing Vazquez in the rotation for the immediate future. "The last time we skipped Javy a start, it kick-started him and got him on a roll," Girardi said. "I'm not saying what we'll do after Sunday, but"
Yankees' Nova Is in, Vazquez Is out as Starter
August 25
New York Times
 
"By pitching so well Monday night, Ivan Nova gave the Yankees options. He impressed them enough to merit another start, a decision that has consequences for Javier Vazquez, whose rotation spot Nova will take, and Phil Hughes, who is gradually approaching his innings limit. Nova will start Sunday against the White Sox in Chicago, and Vazquez will be available to pitch out of the bullpen starting Wednesday. That is the extent to which Manager Joe Girardi outlined their pitching plans Tuesday."
As Javy showed, Yanks have holes
August 22
New York Post
 columnist Mike Vaccaro
"The Yankees are 29 games over .500. They have owned at least a tie of first place for 62 of the past 63 days. Their magic number to clinch a postseason berth sat at 34 heading into last night's batch of games. There are a lot of teams with a lot of laments right now; The Yankees shouldn't be one of them. And yet they are a team with laments. It isn't just the third baseman, Alex Rodriguez, finally shipped to the disabled list after yesterday's 9-5 win over Seattle with a troublesome calf so that, in manager Joe Girardi's words, "we have a healthy player in 15 days." And it isn't just that in a game against the lowly Mariners, Girardi felt compelled to call on Mariano Rivera for a four-out"
Javy's no 'skip'-per
August 16
New York Post
 
"If there was a bona fide candidate to fill in for Javier Vazquez, the Yankees might have considered skipping his scheduled start tonight against the Tigers at Yankee Stadium with the hope that the rest would inject more life into his right arm. Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin were possibilities, but neither is stretched out. Ivan Nova is pitching very well at Triple-A, but promoting him from the minors would necessitate a roster move that the Yankees would like to avoid in a non-emergency situation. "[Skipping] is always an option, but we didn't discuss that," pitching coach Dave Eiland said. "He is not hurt -- no pain, no injury." So the Yankees did the next best thing when they curtailed"