Tuesday, February 12, 2008

2 Days, 2 Players: Ross Ohlendorf

Everyday until spring training begins the "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog will review one player from the Yankees roster. We will review a total of 27 players, the 25 we believe will be on the active roster after spring training, and 2 we believe should be on the active roster but won't be for one reason or another. Our reviews are all edited by Carl Pavano himself to insure they're up to the stringent "Pavano Tough" standards.

So, we have reviewed the 25 players we beleived were going to make it on the 25 man roster. Within that time, the Yankees signed some more first baseman and if I had to start from scratch I probably would have added Morgan Ensberg to the mix. However, we are at the point where we need to review 2 players who probably should be on the roster for opening day, but probably won't be. On that note, let's talk about Ross Ohlendorf.

Ohelndorf came to the Yankees in the Randy Johnson trade. A princeton grad, with a hard sinker, Ohlendorf began last season as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues. He wasn't as succesful as the Yankees would have hoped, but when they moved him to the bullpen he did better. He was called up last September and only threw 6.1 innings. In that time he struck out 9 batters and gave up 2 walks and recorded a 2.84 ERA. His pitches were thrown in the high nineties out of the bullpen, and he seemed very promising as a potential setup guy. Then came the playoffs. His only playoff appearance was not pretty. He pitched one inning where he gave up 4 hits, 1 walk, beamed a guy, and struck out none. If you remember the game, you'll remember that he was hit pretty hard, and he did not look too happy. I still think he'll be a good releiver in the future.

My Fearless Prediction:

I do not beleive Ohlendorf will be with the Yankees when they start the season, but I expect to see him this season nonetheless. My beleif is that Albaladejo will impress enough to take a roster spot, and Igawa is getting paid too much to not be given a spot. Once either of them start slipping, Ohlendorf will be ready to take their place.

Little Known Ohlendorf Fact: Ross Ohlendorf was a molecular biologist in Princeton when a radioactive beam shot a spider that later landed on his hand and bit him. It was shortly thereafter that Ohlendorf developed a 95 mph sinker.

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