An outstanding '91 season- a team-best 2.30 ERA, 66 appearances and a 4-2 record- made Habyan the most consistent reliever among one of the American League's finest bullpen crews.
'I'm happy with the role I have. I like setting up the stopper,' Habyan insists. 'It's an important role. Your peers know the job you're doing.' The homecoming of sorts for this native New Yorker could not have worked any better."
-The New York Yankees Official 1992 Yearbook
"Among the most consistent of Yankee relievers in 1991, Habyan posted a club best 2.30 ERA while leading the team in relief appearances (66). He was part of a quartet of relievers (with Greg Cadaret, Steve Farr and Lee Guetterman) that each notched 60-plus appearances. It was the first time in club history that more than two Yankee pitchers pitched in more than 60 games.
Habyan pitched just five times in April and was 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA (10.0 IP, 2 ER). He took the loss in his first appearance on April 11 at Detroit, allowing two unearned runs in an 11-5 Yankee loss.
He was 2-0 with a save and a 2.16 ERA in May in 11 games (16.2 IP). He earned a win on May 10 against Oakland; the win was his first in the majors since 1988 and snapped a Yankee string of 16 consecutive losses to the A's. John earned a save on May 14 against California, his first in the majors since 1987.
His worst month was June, with a 2-1 record and 3.75 ERA (12.0 IP) in 13 games. He earned wins in back-to-back appearances on June 7 and June 9 against Texas.
John was 4-2 with one save (in as many opportunities) and a 2.44 ERA in 32 games at the break. He posted a 1.10 ERA in July (16.1 IP) in 10 games, dropping his ERA from 2.56 to 2.13. From July18-August 20 he had a string of 15 consecutive scoreless appearances (22.0 IP) dropping his ERA from 2.53 to 1.75.
He was 0-0 with a 2.50 ERA over 15 games (18.0 IP) in August and posted a 2.65 ERA in 12 games (17.0 IP) in September/October. John notched a save in two save situations, in the season finale on October 6 against Cleveland. In the second half, he was 0-0 with one save in three opportunities and a 2.17 ERA over 34 appearances.
For the season, right-handed batters hit just .200 with two homers against Habyan, and in 114 at-bats left-handed hitters did not hit a home run off him. At home he posted a 3-0 record with two saves and a team leading 1.33 ERA (47.1 IP) and a team leading .194 batting average against; on the road he had a 3.38 ERA and allowed his only two homers. Opponents hit .225 against him overall.
Habyan had a 1.84 ERA (73.1 IP) on grass and a 4.32 ERA on artificial turf. He had a 1.97 ERA (68.2 IP) in night games and 3.38 in day games. He retired the first hitter he faced upon entering a game 49 of 67 times (73%) and prevented 32 of 50 inherited runners from scoring. John entered a game with the bases three times and stranded them full twice, stranding six of nine runners overall. He had a staff best three pickoffs.
He signed a one-year contract in February of 1992, avoiding arbitration.
John had two 1990 stints with the Yankees and was used exclusively as a reliever. He began the season with the Columbus Clippers and had his contract purchased by New York on April 16. At the time of the promotion, John had made one start.
He was put immediately to use, making two relief appearances (April 18 at Detroit and April 21 at Texas) and pitching a combined 2.1 scoreless innings (3 H, 3 K). He was outrighted to Columbus on April 24 upon Lance McCullers' activation from the disabled list.
In his second stint at Columbus, Habyan was 7-6 with six saves and a 3.40 ERA (106.0 IP) in 35 games (10 GS), walking 30 and striking out 77. He allowed only one home run in his final 18 appearances (43.1 IP) with the Clippers.
Overall at Columbus in 1990, he was 7-7 with six saves and a 3.21 ERA. He was 4-4 with a 4.26 ERA as a starter and 3-3 with a 2.13 ERA in relief; in relief, he allowed just 39 hits over 55.0 innings. Habyan's best month was July when he was 2-2 with a 1.47 ERA.
Habyan had his contract purchased by the Yankees for the second time on September 9. In his final three appearances of 1990 (September 20-October 2), he pitched 7.1 IP (6 H) and allowed just one earned run, lowering his ERA from 3.86 to a season ending 2.08.
Overall for the Yanks, Habyan was 0-0, allowed 10 hits, walked two [1.38 WHIP] and struck out four. He had a 1.42 ERA (6,1 IP) on the road while at home his ERA was 3.86 (2.1 IP).
Prior to the start of the 1989 season, John had a bizarre accident. On January 6 he had a third-degree separation of his right shoulder when he was involved in a sledding accident in Baltimore. He underwent surgery on January 8 and his rehabilitation extended into the beginning of the season. As a result, John did not report to Baltimore AAA affiliate Rochester until June 11 and did not make his first appearance until June 15. John pitched in seven games (five starts), striking out 22 and walking five, a ratio of 4.4 strikeouts for each walk. He was acquired by AAA affiliate Columbus from Rochester on July 19 in exchange for outfielder Stan Jefferson. At the time of the trade, Habyan was 1-2 with a 2.17 ERA (37.1 IP, 9 ER) for Rochester. He reported to Columbus immediately after the trade and spent the remainder of the season with the Clippers.
At Columbus, John finished with a 2-3 record and a 5.44 ERA and was used exclusively as a starter, making eight appearances and notching two complete games. He fanned 30 batters and walked nine, a ratio of 3.3 strikeouts to each walk, and ranked second on the club for fewest walks allowed and gave up only two home runs, an average of one every 23.0 innings.
Overall in 1989, Habyan was 3-5 with a 3.98 ERA in 15 games. He allowed four home runs in his 83.2 innings pitched, or one every 21 innings.
The Orioles 3rd round pick in the 1982 June draft, John began his pro career with Bluefield (rookie league) and was 9-2 with a 3.54 ERA in 12 games (all starts, with two complete games and a shutout), fanning 55 batters over 81 innings. His nine wins tied for the Appalachian League lead.
Habyan split the 1983 season between Class-A Newark and Class-A Hagerstown. He compiled a 2-3 record with a 5.81 ERA with Hagerstown in 11 games (all starts, one complete game) with 42 strikeouts over 48 innings (7.9 K/9 IP). At Newark, John went 5-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 11 appearances (all starts, one complete game, one shutout), striking out 64 in 72 innings (8 K/9 IP).
He began the 1984 season with Hagerstown and went 9-4 (3.54 ERA) in 13 games (all starts, four complete games), striking out 81 batters over 81.1 innings (8.96 K/9 IP). John was promoted to Charlotte on June 21 and at the time had nine of Hagerstown's 34 wins. At Charlotte he went 4-7 with a 4.44 ERA over 13 starts.
Habyan spent most of the 1985 season with Charlotte, winning a club-best 13 games. His season highlights included a nine-inning no-hitter against Columbus on May 13 and two 3-hitters. In his first 11 starts he was 8-0 with a 2.54 ERA before losing to Memphis on June 8. Overall, John allowed three runs or less in 19 of 28 starts.
He finished third in the Southern League in strikeouts (123), innings pitched (189.2) and complete games (8) and fifth in ERA (3.27) and was named as the right-handed pitcher on the Southern League All-Star team. John left the Instructional League and was recalled by the Orioles on September 23, joining an injury-riddled staff. He made his major league debut on September 29 at Yankee Stadium in the first game of a doubleheader; he pitched 0.2 innings in relief of Scott McGregor in a 4-0 loss to Joe Cowley. His first major league win came in his only other outing, against Boston on October 3.
John began the 1986 season with Rochester and posted a 12-7 record with a 4.29 ERA, tying for second in the league in wins. In 25 starts (26 games) he had five complete games. John was red hot from May 4-August 4, going 12-2 with a 3.33 ERA (135.1 IP, 50 ER).
He was recalled by the Orioles on August 29 and made his major league starting debut that day, losing 4-0 to Dave Stewart at Oakland. Habyan's first major league win as a starter came against Milwaukee on September 20. Overall for the Orioles, he was 1-3 with a 4.44 ERA in six games.
He began the 1987 season with Rochester and was recalled for good by the Orioles on May 18. At the time of his recall, he was leading the International League with 39 strikeouts. With the Orioles, John was 2-7 in 13 starts, and 4-0 with a save and a 3.66 ERA (59.0 IP) in 14 relief appearances. He went 1-3 with a 6.28 ERA before the break but was 5-4 with a 4.00 ERA after the break; the five wins tied for the club-best after the break. His last eight appearances were all starts. John's best outing came on September 28 at Detroit (8.1 IP, 0 R, 5 H), combining with Tom Niedenfuer for a 3-0 shutout over Jack Morris, one of only four times the Tigers were shut out in 1987.
John spent a majority of the 1988 season at Rochester. He was used exclusively as a starter, going 9-9 with a 4.46 ERA in 23 games with eight complete games (tied for second in the International League) and a shutout. John made two tours of duty with the Orioles (May 2-28 and June 28-July 15), compiling a 1-0 record with a 4.29 ERA (14.2 IP) in seven relief appearances. His only win came on July 2 at Texas. He returned to Rochester after his second stint with the Orioles and compiled a 6-3 record with a 3.66 ERA (59.0 IP) through his final nine starts.
He graduated in 1982 from St. John the Baptist High School in Brentwood, New York and played Little League ball in Brentwood. He volunteers as the assistant j.v. basketball coach at St. John the Baptist during the winter.
He makes local hospital visits and also enjoys playing basketball, football and street hockey. John was a Tom Seaver fan as a youngster. His favorite entertainer is Bill Murray."
-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide
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