Yankees' Jake Bird trade somehow looks even worse after Triple-A demotion

The next time the New York Yankees give up a genuine asset for a project pitcher whose FIP doesn't match his ERA, they'd better be damn sure they've got the fix. "He's got so many years of control!" doesn't matter when the pitcher himself doesn't have control.

Camilo Doval and David Bednar, two proven closers, were the Yankees' marquee acquisitions at the trade deadline less than two weeks ago — and yes, both have taken their own personal slings and arrows so far. But, because they're the Brian Cashman Yankees and they love to fix pitchers, they also had to go ahead and add Jake Bird, a longer-term mystery. Bird, armed with a nasty breaking ball and below-average heater, had never posted an ERA below 4.33 in a big-league season.

At the time, I graded the addition as a C+; Bird is a pitcher that stat-minded Yankee fans have long advocated for in trade discussions, but he wasn't poised to help much in the here and now, barring a miracle. What the Yankees needed this summer was as many sure things as possible. Bird probably would've been there for the taking in the offseason as well, given that the Rockies did not deal other controllable arms like Seth Halvorsen and Victor Vodnik. The Rockies are weird.

Anyway ... that C+ grade appears to have been too generous. Bird registered two implosions in three outings with the Yankees, then was demoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where I regret to inform you all the struggles have continued.

Fool me once with Scott Effross and his supreme "breaking run value," shame on you. Fool me twice? I ca -- won't -- won't get fooled again.

Yankees' Jake Bird has struggled just as much at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after demotion

Bird has appeared twice down on the farm, and oddly recorded the win in the appearance where things went off the rails. It's a box score you have to see to believe, though, the second game of a doubleheader that was supposed to be done after seven innings, but instead stretched to an eighth — in which the Yankees' affiliate scored eight runs to break the tie, and the Phillies answered with five.

Bird entered with the ghost runner on second in the eighth, and ... made an error on a bunt, struck out the next batter, intentionally walked farmhand Robert Moore, and induced a double play to escape. He then began the ninth, now protecting a sudden eight-run lead, and uncorked an immediate wild pitch, then walked the first two batters of the inning. He was removed in favor of ... position player Ismael Munguia, who allowed three run-scoring hits, but somehow navigated the inning with the lead intact and the win secured.

Our first thought is, of course, "What was any of that?!" Our second, unfortunately, is that Bird's command issues and seat-of-his-pants drama followed him down to the high minors.

It's also worth noting that the Bird addition once again proves that the Yankees either do not care about momentum, or believe their training and instructional methods to be so superior that they can counteract any challenge. Bird started the year spectacularly; his ERA through the end of May was 1.67 (with a 2.58 FIP, proving only minor regression was due). He completely flatlined in July, as his ERA rose from 2.63 to 4.73 — and that is when the Yankees acquired him.

"He's already gotten his worst performances out of the way. Logic dictates he'll soon return to his baseline competence/equilibrium." - The Yankees

"He's getting worse by the day. Something is wrong with him." - Reality

Roc Riggio, surrendered for Bird, has a .641 OPS in his first eight games in the Rockies' system. Still, it's impossible to argue this was the best use of the asset.