Game 31: Another lefty (or: Wild Thing, you make my heart sing)

May 2, 2008 by Joe Pawlikowski 107 Comments

A few odds and ends to tie up before the game starts, all courtesy PeteAbe (but you know you like coming here more).

Posada has what is being termed rotator cuff tendonitis. The estimate for return is early June, but Pete, as well as I, suspect they’ll take a little longer, just to avoid any complications. Surgery could happen this off-season, and if it doesn’t mean lost time for Jorge at the beginning of 2009, I think he’ll take the option. He has pride in his contract, and I’m sure if he thinks surgery will help him in the long term, he’ll go for it.

Meanwhile, it turns out that Phil Hughes doesn’t have perfect vision, as he so thought. He’s nearsighted, so his not being able to see the signals is explained a bit. That, and he thinks a mechanical flaw led to his rib injury. Yes, it’s a ton of excuse-making. Whatever. As long as he’s effective when he’s back, I don’t care what he or the Yankees say. Hopefully the time off will get the fans off his back.

Jose Veras is up to take Hughes’s spot until Darrell Rasner is recalled for Sunday’s start. To clear room on the 40-man, the clear move is to DFA Chris Stewart, especially since J.D. Closser is in the fold now. Stewart will surely go unclaimed, though once again, with Closser his presence doesn’t seem as necessary. Taking Veras’s spot in AAA is David Robertson. With him one step closer to the bigs, our pen situation looks even better. Now, if we can just get Girardi to understand that you can’t have two-pitch relievers go through the heart of the Tigers order twice…

Kennedy is getting skipped next time through, which is the right move. I think you have to give him the start on May 10, and then go from there. I’d guess Kei Igawa is next in line for a call-up.

Your lineup, sans Cano, which will make at least a few commenters happy, as we’re facing Erik Bedard tonight:

1. Melky Cabrera, CF
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Shelley Duncan, 1B
5. Hideki Matsui, LF
6. Jason Giambi, DH
7. Morgan Ensberg, 3B
8. Jose Molina, C
9. Alberto Gonzalez, 2B

And on the mound, number forty, Chien-Ming Wang.

dan

Back to back days of misspelling Ensberg
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.
  
  What can I say? I type fast and don’t proofread. It’s amazing that one of my infamous spellings of “the” (teh) hasn’t slipped into a post.
GoYankees

if we can just get Girardi to understand that you can’t have two-pitch relievers go through the heart of the Tigers order twice…
Let’s hope that won’t be necessary
http://RiverAve.Blues Joseph M

I’m getting disgusted with the line-uo merry-go-round. There is no way Duncan should be batting 4th. You have to leave Cano in and hope he breaks out of it.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.
  
  Couldn’t agree more. Also, with Girardi seemingly rotating the lineup to get guys days off, don’t you think he should find one for Derek Jeter?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Glad to see Bobby back for many reasons, the least of which is getting someone to call out Kay.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Always a good thing when Wang gets through the first in <10 pitches.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Sheesh, where is everyone?
LiveFromNewYork

I’ve been bitching about the lineup for days now. I don’t know why, if it’s about days off, it has to change so much. And I still disagree that the young guns need days off.
LiveFromNewYork

Did Pete ever do a mea culpa for his sarcastic remarks about Phil’s injury when it was first reported? I think that sarcasm and disdain for Girardi was really uncalled for and I haven’t been to his blog since.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Yeah, he did. It was a little “it was wrong of me to speculate that the injury was fake,” (or something to that effect), and that was it.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

wtf is it with Girardi and hit-and-running with Molina at the plate? That’s 3 times he swung through the pitch in the last 4 games.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Who is that man and what has he done with Melky Cabrera?!?!
- RichYF
  
  Just so you guys know, at no time can you ever say that you think Cabrera will amount to anything but a league average player. If he goes on to a HoF career, I am holding you guys to this. It’s the only reason he’s playing well. Every time you guys mention him, and then say “we’re the biggest Melky haters around,” he just keeps raking.
  
  Three years from now, I expect more of the same.
RichYF

Robinson Cawho?

I’d laugh so hard if this Gonzalez kid proved to be useful.
Mike R.

Someone get Bbedard a “The Melk man is my daddy” T-shirt.
Pettitte’s stare

Can we please have them stop calling Wang’s sinker a “turbo sinker”? I want to start the petition right now, it is driving me nuts!
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  I say we start a petition to rid Yankee broadcasts of Michael Kay.
  - Mike R.
    
    I second the motion. All in favor?
    - RichYF
      
      I.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      Aye aye Spongebob.
      - RollingWave
        
        there could be worse though, they might hire Hawk Harrelston or John Sterling to replace him :P
    - Kelvin
      
      Agreed.
Pettitte’s stare

if I give money to the “get rid of Michael Kay fund” does it count as a tax break for giving to charity? I think it would make the world a better place.
- LiveFromNewYork
  
  I have no faith in them getting someone better than Michael Kay. Sterling is worse, by far. And they seem to be consciously surrounding him with people with a brain.
Kelvin

3 runs already tonight. Hope they don’t suddenly go to the “Hey, we scored some runs, so why score more?” mentality.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Kay is a friggin’ psycho. So far this year he’s asked:

1. Flaherty if he’s ever intentional thrown his mask at an opposing player on a pop-up behind the plate.

2. David Cone if he ever throw at a specific part of an opposing player if he knew he was nursing an injury in that area.

And now he just asked Murcer if he ever sharped his steel spikes. What the hell is wrong with that guy?
LiveFromNewYork

When does Giambi get boo’d.
- Pettitte’s stare
  
  What’s the point of booing him? he already knows he’s bad. At least he is smart enough to get hit in that AB.
  - LiveFromNewYork
    
    They boo’d poor Phil Hughes and that sucked.
Kelvin

Random question guys, but does being a strike out pitcher make you more of a fly ball pitcher? It is possible to be a strike out-ground out pitcher, isn’t it? I am just under this impression that being a strike out-ground out pitcher is, kinda, ahhm..hard?
- Pettitte’s stare
  
  I haven’t looked at any numbers or anything like that but just a difference that I sometime see. Strikeout pitchers often through a faster 4-seam fastball which doesn’t have the same movement as 2-seam fastball and maybe hitters can get better lift off the ball. That is just my uneducated guess though.
- Mike W.
  
  I think that the reason there are not many “ground-ball strike out pitchers” is that if you are producing ground balls, for the most part, your pitchers are moving down towards the ground. It is far easier to get a piece of a ball that is moving down, rather than a ball that has upward movement or is higher in the zone. The closer the ball is to your eyes means that it appears bigger to you, but is in fact harder to hit than a ball that is down.
- Chris
  
  Here is a link to analysis of strike-out and ground ball rates for various pitchers. In short, the best pitchers generally achieve both.
  
  http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2008/03/categorizing_pi_3.php
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Strikeout guys do tend to be flyball pitchers, and I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because strikeout pitchers are in the zone more, and when they miss their spot the hitters get it in the air. I dunno, just guessing.
  - RustyJohn
    
    Bert Blyleven used to talk about this phenomena of strike-out pitchers giving up flyballs or, in his case, homeruns which led to him coining the phrase, “You have to give up the longball to win.”
- Kelvin
  
  Thanks guys.
Chris

Can somebody explain how we can’t buy a run when a crappy lefty is pitching, but when a good lefty pitches we hit better?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  It’s crappy pitchers in general. Maybe it has to do with preparation, the guys get more focused and prepare with more care and intensity if they’re facing a good pitcher, and just slack off when they have a AAA guy on the mound.
  - Kelvin
    
    I agree. It is kind of similar when they face rookie pitchers (or at least,a pitcher that they would be facing for the first time). How many times have we’ve seen them make those pitchers look like Cy Young candidates?
    - A.D.
      
      It’s true someone has to find the stat about how bad the yankees are against below avg pitching
  - RustyJohn
    
    Another theory is that some hitters hit better when pitchers are consistently around the strike zone. Those hitters are usually ones who have crappy walk rates and high strike-out rates which is not, or was not, this team so who knows why
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

I don’t get any fantasy points for ugly hacks, Jeff Clement.
A.D.

Bobby Murcer will have to announce every game at this rate…and if Wang could pitch it
A.D.

Also I get that Igawa would be next in line, though I don’t like it (personally I think they should have led SD claim him and only had to eat the posting fee) but why not go to Chase Wright, Marquez, or McCutchen, Igawa outside of his first AAA start hasn’t even really dominated

Excited about Robertson…he’s what can directly lead to Joba getting his starting chance
Manimal

Stupid fucking wave.
- LiveFromNewYork
  
  When did they start doing the wave at the Stadium? That’s never been cool there. And it’s so 1980s everywhere else.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

The corporate hacks at the Stadium tonight need to cut out the wave shit. As the saying goes, “take it to Shea.”
Kelvin

Gameday says injury delay, what happened?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Wang was looking at his finger, maybe a blister. Not sure, but it’s looking like he’s done after 5. Great, just great.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    Nevermind, there’s no one up in the pen.
- A.D.
  
  No one is sure, they checked wang out and let him pitch, maybe something with one of his fingers… i think because it’s cold
- Kelvin
  
  ohh..nevermind.
- Kelvin
  
  ..and thank you again guys.
A.D.

There better not be something wrong with wang
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Uh oh, the Yankees have a pain in the Wang.
- Number 27
  
  if anything was going to make me worry less about something being wrong with wang, it was that comment.
Number 27

thank god for that double play.

but what the fuck.
nick

You mention Igawa as next in line for a replacement for Kennedy, my question is why not stretch out Ohlendorf for the spot? He already pitched 3+ innings in his last appearance, and has been the de facto long man. He was a starter until mid season last year. The “Joba as a starter” argument should work as well for Ohlendorf.

I don’t know if he has enough pitches to be an effective starter on the big league level, but Igawa is just awful. Ohlendorf has to be a much better option.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  No third pitch. That’s why he starts to get hit the second time through the order in his longer relief outings.
Chris

I think if there’s one out and no one on, Wang should just intentionally walk the batter and pitch for the double play.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Shelley’s getting pwned (not owned, it’s different) by Bedard tonight. No chance.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

How the hell did Ichiro hit that pitch?
LiveFromNewYork

I always liked Ichiro.
Kelvin

Is Wang going back to pitch the 7th? or is someone up in the pen?
- Kelvin
  
  Nice inning from Kyle. Now get Joba in there for the 8th, no reason to make Kyle throw 2 innings.
Mike R.

Farnsworth!?!?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Why not Joba for two? When’s the last time he pitched, like 4 days ago?
Chip

Yeah I’d be up for Joba for two here
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Oi, Farns brought the cheddar tonight.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  I think Kyle’s pissed about something. He’s really bringin’ it tonight.
  - Mike R.
    
    According to gameday he trew an 87 MPH “changeup” followed by 96 MPH heat to Clement to get that K.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

That was the most impressive inning Kyle Farnsworth has thrown in a Yankee uniform. They had no chance.
- RollingWave
  
  I thought he had a few good outings in early 06 … it went down hill after that.
nefarious jackson

you bet your ass Farnsy, thats the way to do it!
Mike R.

It seems like someone interrupted Kyle in the middle of an Intense game of Big Buck Hunter and he was in a hurry to get back to it. Very impressive!
LiveFromNewYork

Kyle. Nice job BUDDEEE.
Chip

Girardi is a genius!
LiveFromNewYork

Maybe Girardi was right about Farnsworth.
Kelvin

Wouldn’t it be nice if Kyle becomes consistent? consistently good that is.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

What is it with these guys. They get off to a good start and put a few runs on the board early, then they just disappear. Three games in a row now.
- Kelvin
  
  Looks like i jinxed them earlier when i said this;
  “3 runs already tonight. Hope they don’t suddenly go to the “Hey, we scored some runs, so why score more?” mentality.”
  oohhh..boy.
- LiveFromNewYork
  
  Frustrating.
Stylez

he stil sucks balls
- LiveFromNewYork
  
  Not if he keeps pitching like that. We need him to be good.
LiveFromNewYork

I’m going to the Stadium tomorrow and kill that guy with the cowbell.
GoYankees

Cy Wang. Are we watching Yankee history in the making?
LiveFromNewYork

I think Matsui has been up there about an hour.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Nice job Cap’n.
pete

3 hits in the last 2 games for ensberg, melikes.
farnsworth was filthy tonight it looked like he wasn’t throwing as hard but the ball was rly popping up and in on righties.
Kelvin

Insurance runs. Love it.
pete

whatever sean green is throwing, it’s pretty nasty
Mike R.

We are three outs away from Wang starting the season 6-0. Where are the “Wang is not an ace” and “Melky’s a 4th outfielder” naysayers?
- LiveFromNewYork
  
  Exactly. If Wang is not an ace, I like whatever he is.
  
  And if Melky is a scrub, he’s the good kind of scrub.
  
  And this Mariano guy…he’s okay.
Kelvin

heh. Just noticed it now that Seattle has 4 errors.
…and nice K by Mariano.
Mike R.

Mo is not worth all that money. LOL
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Mo’s on a mission this year.
- Matt G.
  
  My theory on Mo’s dominance (and I am not a proponent of Joba staying in the pen) is that he has to show Joba who’s boss. I don’t know that Farnsworth will light the same kind of fire.
Kelvin

Feels so nice to win.
Kelvin

Wang 6-0 for the year, with a 3.00 era. I don’t care if “experts” don’t want to call or treat him as ace, if he is producing this kind of results, I honestly don’t care what they call him.

Cy-Wang!
pete

well just imagine if he were an ace – he would be even more 6-0ish!
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Justin Upton is really good at hitting baseballs. He should do that for a living or something.
- RollingWave
  
  what about Micah Owing? ;)
chris

finally have a good bullpen – wang is an ace – we have arod and jeter in their primes and unftunatly cashman couldnt do too much with the other 175 million in payroll to make the a competitive team

already seeing the benefits of giardi though. despite a lot of innings pitched by the bullpen – he has limited the appearances for his guys – no scott proctor syndrome.
RustyJohn

In case you feel bad about being a Yankee fan, I’m in Seattle and am constantly reminded that the Mariners spent like 125 million to field that team tonight- a team that can’t play defense (except for the left side of the infield and center), can’t hit and can’t get on base. At the beginning of the year Ichiro said he was glad to have such crappy outfielders in Wilkerson (dearly departed) and Ibanez…that way he “wouldn’t have to worry about running into them going after fly balls.”
- RollingWave
  
  Ichiro is one funny dude …
  
  what’s worse for the M’s they couldn’t capitalize on the Angel’s early losses… just wait till Lackey gets back… ouch…
- LiveFromNewYork
  
  Ichiro is a funny guy. That’s hilarious. We don’t feel bad about our 200 million payroll playing like the Bad News Bears.