Vazquez to the 'Pen for Sox Series, Friday Start Could Be in Question

With his bullpen thin, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi is making Javier Vazquez a reliever for at least the Boston Red Sox series. The move puts Vazquez's scheduled start against the New York Mets on Friday in question.

"We want him to start on Friday, but sometimes you have unseen circumstances," Girardi said.

Despite the fact the Yankees are trying to protect Vazquez, this creates the possibility of repeating the scenario that began Yankees fans' ire toward Vazquez. In 2004, he entered in relief and gave up a grand slam to Johnny Damon that helped the Sox beat the Yankees in Game 7 of the ALCS.

On Sunday, Vazquez would have started if rain had not altered the Yankees rotation in Detroit. Instead Sergio Mitre, normally the long reliever, began Sunday's game and Vazquez moved to the bullpen.

"Everything got screwed up," Girardi said.

Now, Vazquez is being moved again. Vazquez, who wasn't available after Girardi made the news official, was already dealing with being skipped for his regular starting turn.

"I'm usually the guy they bump somebody else to get me in there," Vazquez said. "So I know how it works."

Now, he is heading to the bullpen and there is a question of when he will start again.

ESPNNewYork.com first reported that Vazquez could be headed to the bullpen on Sunday morning.

Well it's about time! This trade is looking more and more like a crapshoot every day that goes by.

Vazquez has been terrible in round two with the Yankees, Boone Logan has been mediocre and Melky Cabrera hasn't been doing much better over in Atlanta either.

Maybe him going to the bullpen will serve as a wake up call, or as a place where he can re-discover his confidence, kind of like what Phil Hughes did last season.

Either way, Vazquez needs to step up and get himself right or he will be run out of town once again.