Game Thread: Pettitte out with back spasms

March 22, 2008 by Benjamin Kabak 19 Comments

With just over a week to go before his first scheduled start of the season, Andy Pettitte will be missing today’s scheduled Spring Training start with back spasms. Pettitte’s problem is his second of the spring, and while the Yankees are saying he should be in line to make his start on April 2nd against the Blue Jays, he won’t be able to go too deep into the game. Keep in mind also that Josh Beckett, who suffered from back spasms a few weeks ago, has yet to pitch in another Spring Training game.

The Yankees, coming off a perfect Spring Training week and at 12-7 on the Grapefruit League season, find themselves countering the Toronto Blue Jays today with Mr. Sunglasses himself, Kei Igawa. Despite a 3.38 ERA, Igawa has been far from impressive this spring. He has shown no modicum of control and has a 4:4 K:BB ratio in 8 innings. The Yanks are countering with their A-team lineup although, in my mind, the ordering is less than ideal.

In bullpen news, Joba Chamberlain is set to throw an inning today along with LaTroy Hawkins and Kyle Farnsworth. Nine days until Opening Day.

The game starts at 1:15 p.m. It’s on YES and MLB.tv. The Gameday will be available here closer to game time.

Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Duncan LF
Woodward 2B

Update 12:20 p.m.: Lineup changes abound. Giambi moves to first; Duncan to left; Matsui will DH. Kei Igawa has been scratched, but we don’t yet know why. Jonathan Albaladejo will make the start instead.

Update by Mike 1:00 p.m.: Cano’s out and Woodward’s in. There’s a threat of rain and the Yanks want to see as much of the relievers as possible, which is why Igawa was scratched.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

I know why Igawa was scratched. It’s because he sucks.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Oh my lord maybe they traded him.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
    
    I was thinking about that as a possibility, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up too much.
    - zack
      
      We wish. Maybe it has to do with Pettitte being scratched? For whatever reason they wanted a lefty to start the minor league game?
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
        
        I don’t think the Yanks care all that much about whether or not a lefty starts the Minor League game. Kei, as far as we know, wasn’t demoted for the day; he just isn’t pitching today.
Brian

In a major misunderstanding, Kei Igawa apologetically calls in from Tokyo.
Rich

From the audio at Abraham’s blog:

Pettitte: “I’m planning on making my first start unless they tell me anything different. It sounded like they were behind me being able to do that.”
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

This is one ugly inning. Shelley’s throwing to the wrong base and misplaying balls, the ball hits the bag at third, ugh. Tough to evaluate Albaladejo on this outing.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Nevermind, he gave of a few of XBH all by his lonesome.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Man, Patterson just pounds that low and outside corner.
zack

I just tuned and saw this big guy on the mound as was like “damn, he really comes right over the top!” and then, of course, knew who it was. He is a no nonsense pitcher…
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  He should make the team just to pitch in that fireman role. If he comes in and escapes unharmed even 50% of the time, that’s better than any other pitcher on the staff can do (in the non-Joba & Mo category).
CB

Fastball command may be the most under rated part of pitching.

Paterson doesn’t throw that much harder than Edwar. But the results off their fastballs are nothing alike. A lot of that is because of Patterson’s height/ release point, but Patterson is able to put the fastball where ever he wants.

That is a rare skill.
- http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=56352514 Jamal G.
  
  It maybe under rated from a fan/media point of view but as to players/coaches/organizations I don’t think anybody underestimates the value of fastball control/command.
  - CB
    
    I was mostly referring to fans/ media. But look at Ian Kennedy – if evaluators put more emphasis on command rather than on velocity I don’t think some baseball people would be so quick to say Kennedy’s “ceiling” is as a #4 or #5 starter.
    - http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=56352514 Jamal G.
      
      Hey Adam Foster of Project Prospect rated IPK in the Top 10 of his Top 30 Pitching Prospects this season. (http://www.projectprospect.com/top-30-pitching-prospects/)
      
      I trust those guys’ opinion and they make the point your making. His overall command and ability to avoid the sweet part of the bat in the minors was why he was rated #9 in Foster’s Top 30.
      
      If it means something, Greg Maddux and his declining velocity but superb command has 58 wins over the past 4 seasons, and since that’s roughly 15 wins per year I think that’s what everybody would like to see from IPK throughout his career.
      
      As to our other topic bout Garcia, I have read that he has the best stuff in the organization. Talking bout just raw stuff, all other things considered he doesn’t even break most people’s Top 15 in the Yankees system but pure, raw stuff is where some (not much) believe he’s #1 in the organization (including the Phranchise & Joba). I read this pre-2007 draft but I don’t think Brackman has bumped anyone of these two (maybe even Hughes) in terms of stuff.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Is a slippery mound really Farnsworth’s biggest problem?
- Guiseppe Franco
  
  Don’t we wish.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=56352514 Jamal G.

Do Ya Thing Baby Huey!