Lucky Dip Surprise

Who'da Thunk It

In most years during the recent dynastic run, deadline trades made hardly any impact on the Yankee squad. This maybe because for the last seven years, the Yankees were cruising with a commanding lead over the AL East as the trade deadline rolled around. The exception to the rule was the move to acquire David Justice back in 2000. Indeed, trade-deadline deals rather bore me. So it is with great surprise that I'm pointing at the recent move to acquire Shawn Chacon from the Rockies as the trade-deadline-masterstroke of the decade.

Chacon is 2-1 in 5 starts since coming over. Amazingly he sports a 1.64 ERA, and his won-loss record might be even better if the bullpen had not coughed up 2 very good starts from him. Here's a quick article on him.

"I was a little nervous at first, coming to the big city from Denver," said Chacon, who was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and grew up in Greeley, Colo. "It's just great to be pitching in meaningful games, and I'm trying to have fun with it."

Saturday was Chacon's biggest effort yet: His eight innings helped spell the Yankees' tiring bullpen. He allowed four hits, walked three and struck out five, pitching out of jams in the first, third, fifth, sixth and eighth, retiring all 11 batters he faced with runners in scoring position.

"He'll throw any pitch on any count at any time in the game," manager Joe Torre said. "To me, that's having confidence in your stuff. He wanted to go out there for the ninth inning, too."

Chacon throws a sinking fastball, a curve, a looping changeup and a slider. Not many pitchers throw both the curve and slider, but his effectiveness was limited in 41/2 seasons with the Rockies, not only because the ball carries better in the thin air, but because breaking pitches don't seem to act the same way. Chacon had a 5.56 ERA at Coors Field.

"There has to be a difference," said the Yankees' Tino Martinez, who played in the National League in 2002-03. "He has great stuff, he keeps the ball down and he knows how to pitch."

With four starting pitchers on the disabled list, the Yankees offered two pitching prospects to the Rockies, Eduardo Sierra and Ramon Ramirez. The Rockies finally accepted that package in late July and Chacon, who was 1-7 with a 4.09 ERA at the time, came to New York. The Yankees were intrigued by Chacon's 3.12 ERA away from Coors.

"You don't have to worry about finishing off every pitch the way you do [at Coors]," Chacon said. "Later in games when you start to feel fatigued, your curveball would stay up."

For the Yankees, Chacon has lasted at least six innings in every start but one - against Texas last Sunday when he pitched five innings and did not return after a long rain delay. In his one relief appearance he worked the eighth against the Rangers Aug.12 and held a one-run lead. The Yankees are 5-1 in games in which Chacon has appeared.

"His mental makeup is there," catcher Jorge Posada said. "He does everything possible to keep us in games."

22 Ks and 11 BB in 33 innings pitched doesn't exactly make him a DIPS darling. Still, his WHIP is 1.15 and the BAA is a nice and low .211 indicating pretty good 'stuff' - In fact he's only allowed 2 homeruns in his Yankee tenure. He's also 27 y.o. (turns 28 in December) making him the second youngest pitcher behind the injured Tiger Wang. And while 5 starts and a relief appearance is a very small sample size, if Chacon can keep these kinds of stats going, the Yankees might have found a fantastic number 3/4 Starting Pitcher going forwards. Right now, you'd have to say this guy's a keeper even if Pavano and Wright fizzle out. It's amazing to think the Yankees got this guy for 2 unheralded minor leaguers. In a season marred by injuries and whatnot, it's exactly the kind of stroke of luck the Yankees needed.