Yates is a Hawaiian and pitched at Hawaii-Hilo, and a career reliever. Drafted by the A’s, like so many college pitchers, he slowly meandered up the chain, doing most of his best pitching in his second year at a level. After the 2000 season he was the throw-in (with Mark Guthrie) to bring Dave Justice from the Mets (where he’d been for all of a week after being traded for Robin Ventura).
Yates pitched well in AAA in 2002 but evidently got hurt and spent a lot of 2003 lower levels learning to start. He wasn’t particularly impressive, but these being the Mets they put him in the major league rotation to start 2004 anyway. He had two good starts, both against the Expos, but otherwise was shelled. There being little call for pitchers who can only beat the Expos, he was sent to AAA, then brought back as a reliever. He wasn’t really any better at that. He missed the 2005 season after blowing out his arm, then failed to make the team in spring training this year and was cut loose. The Braves, desperate for relievers, picked him up. He pitched really well in AAA but I’m not convinced that he’ll ever make it in the majors.
Tyler Yates – Statistics – The Baseball Cube
Breaking news… Allard Baird out, Dayton Moore in.
Thanks for your years of service, Dayton; you’ll be missed.
One of the interesting things about this dynasty is how little spin-off there has been. If I recall, the only coach got his first managing gig based on his tenure on the Braves bench is Ned Yost. (Jimy Williams had managed in Toronto, but as a Cox acolyte there, so he is somewhat different.) The Yankees, of roughly the same time period, have spun off, from the top of my head, Willie Randolph, Joe Girardi, and Lee Mazilli. Likewise, Schuerholz subordinates have not found success elsewhere with nearly the numbers that John Hart’s disciples did from Cleveland or other similar hotbeds.
Poor Joe Girardi, who walked into a talentless dead zone.
Poor Lee Mazilli, who left working for one loony to work for another.
Lucky Willie Randolph, who will one day figure out the double-switch.