ROGER!!!
By · CommentsHe’s back!!!
He just announced it from King George’s box during the game. Details forthcoming…
(Big ups to Scotty for sticking up for his teammates. It’s about damn time someone did it.)
Update 1: Kay just said he’ll be in the rotation within a month. But then again, this came from the same guy who asked Al Leiter if he “ever ate cotton candy” earlier in the game.
Update 2: Clemens is in the YES booth with Kay and Leiter and said that the deal was in place last night, but he didn’t tell anyone until it was finalized today. No one on the team knew, not even Andy. He also mentioned that we was looking at the 3 teams (I assume Yanks, Sawx and Astros), and said that “things changed in a hurry.” That’s gotta mean they pressed him because of these injuries.Â
Update 3: Roger says he hopes to be on the mound by the end of the month, if not then by early June. He also said Jeter was bugging him “once a week.” Rocket also said he looks forward to working with all the young pitchers.Â
Update 4: Clemens said the deal doesn’t included any of the special travel provisions he had with the Astros.
Update 5: When asked, Clemens said he choose the Yanks because of “his teammates,” because “they know how to win,” and also cited the “the manager” and “the best closer in the game.”
Update 6: Clemens said he doesn’t know the details of the contract, but said it might be a 3 or 4 year deal…then laughed. I’m not sure how applicable Update 4 is then…
Update 7: Just a thought on my part, but the biggest winner in this deal is Phil Hughes. There’s not a better mentor imaginable…
Update 8: Clemens said he’ll sit down with the Yanks within 48 hours to determine how he prepares (ie minor league starts, etc). Clemens is done in the booth with Kay and Leiter.
Wang-Pettitte-Clemens-Moose-Hughes…fucking awesome!
Update 9: There will be a press conference on YES after the game.
Update 10: Hideki Matsui gets his 2,000th career hit and joins an exclusive club, benches clear and near a brawl, and neither is the biggest story in the game. Wowza, what a weekend. Jeter just said he knew Rocket was coming back (then giggled) and said he WAS NOT bugging him every week. Derek, you’re such a tease.
Update 11: The Worldwide Leader finally caught on.
ByDon’t look now, but Doug Mientkiewicz is 6 for 15 (.400) with 2 homers and 6 steaks in his last 5 starts, while playing his usual phenomenal-but-never-fully-appreciated defense at first. Funny how Minky stepped it up the day after this post appeared at RAB. · (5) ·
Down on the Farm
By · CommentsGreat job by Obi-Wang today (Wang was the only baseball player to appear on Time Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People this year, that’s very cool, and hat tip to Cliff), but stupid Torre jinxed the perfect game bid by pinch running Phelps for Giambi in the 7th. He’s been in the game longer than I’ve been alive; doesn’t he know that you aren’t supposed to fuck with ANYTHING during a perfecto???
Triple-A Scranton (10-0 win over Syracuse)
Chris Basak: 3 for 5, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Andy Phillips: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Eric Duncan: 3 for 5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI – moved up to the cleanup spot, and he responded
Shelley Duncan: 3 for 4, 2 R, 2 2B, 4 RBI – wasn’t moved up to the cleanup spot, and he responded
Bronson Sardinha: 1 for 4, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 KÂ - moved down to the 6-hole, and he responded…kinda
Alberto Gonzalez: 1 for 5, 1 2B, 1 RBI – hasn’t drawn a walk in 20 games…
Omir Santos: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B
Ross Ohlendorf: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 8-7 GB/FB
Justin Pope: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 WP
ByIt is incredibly tense to be sitting at Yankee Stadium during the 8th inning of a perfect game. When Ben Broussard launched that home run, the Stadium collectively sighed in disappointment and then gave Chien Ming Wang one of the best standing ovations in a long time. Why Joe Torre uses Brian Bruney in the 9th inning of a six-run game but not in the 5th yesterday is well beyond me. · (2) ·
One-way ticket to Scranton
By · CommentsSo how about that $47 million investment, Cashman? It was looking all bright and cheery on Saturday, when he appeared in an emergency situation and ended a losing streak. Last night, though was just a reminder that Blower-san* is going to have plenty of outings like this if you keep allowing him to start games. True, there aren’t many alternatives. But there has to be something better than this.
It’s pretty obvious that Igawa won’t succeed in the bigs given his stuff and current approach. His stuff ain’t gettin’ any better, so the only thing he can work on is his approach. Wouldn’t Scranton be a better place to hone that skill? Yeah, you can work on it in the majors, but you’re going to be killing your team every fifth day in the process.
Unfortunately, there are roster issues standing in the way. I would hope Darrell Raner’s start on Sunday is his audition for a second chance. If he throws well — and I’m not talking about results, I’m talking about throwing strikes and getting ahead of hitters — Igawa could then be sent down on Monday to make room for DeSalvo. But, if Rasner flops, it would appear that the Yanks are still stuck with Igawa.
There is, however, an alternative. But it would involve juggling a few spots on the active and 40-man rosters. If Rasner doesn’t look good, you send him down for DeSalvo on Monday. So the rotation looks like this:
Monday – DeSalvo
Tuesday – Pettitte
Wednesday – Mussina
Thursday – Wang
Friday -
There is simply no reason to plug in Igawa there, especially considering that Seattle will be the opponent once again. As I said, if Rasner is good or even okay on Sunday, he could get the nod. If not, why not Tyler Clippard?
Colter Bean: What’s the point?
By · Comments
Games like tonight’s really piss me off.
I was out, having a Friday night. I saw Spider-Man 3 with my friends, enjoyed a burger at the Burger Joint behind the curtain at Le Parker Meridien, and then settled in for a beer at a nearby bar before my friends and I scattered for the night. And then along comes the end of the Yankee game, and this breathtaking sight of the Yankees scoring 11 runs against the Mariners — the Mariners! — and still losing. Why? Because Joe Torre can’t manage a bullpen, and Brian Cashman can’t construct a pitching staff.
The last time the Yanks had a viable pitching staff, the calendar read 2003. Mike Mussina, David Wells, Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens led a dominant staff all the way to game 6 of the World Series. Now, we have Kei Igawa and Carl Pavano draining precious resources. We also have a bullpen run in the worst possible way. No joke.
Let me draw up a situation for you: It’s 8-6 in the 5th inning of a game that is clearly going to a slugfest in which the bullpens play a clear role. You know your bullpen will have to pitch a bunch of innings. So to start the 5th, your overpaid pitcher (who isn’t really underperforming but is just living up to his scouting report) starts off the inning by by giving up two hits and up to the plate strides the opposing team’s most fearsome power hitter.
By no stretch of the imagination, I can confidently say that this is a situation in need of an out. It may be early yet, but it is the time to go to the guy you know will retire this batter. Stop the bleeding before it gets too late, and worry about the 6th inning in the 6th inning and the 7th inning in the 7th inning.
What does Joe Torre do in this situation? He goes with Brian Bruney, the strikeout guy who’s been great out of the bullpen.
No, no. Wait. He doesn’t. He doesn’t go with any reliever that would get a key out in this situation. Instead, he goes with Colter Bean, the last guy out of the Yankee pen, and someone who’s been returned to the Yanks after a Rule V selection and cleared through waivers within the the last two and a half seasons. He goes with someone who shouldn’t be on the team.
So of course, Bean gives up four runs, and Torre then turns to the second worse guy in the pen who also gives up two runs. Yanks lose. End of story. Nothing new here.
Down at AAA, the Yankees have Chris Britton, a bona fide Major Leaguer with a season of success under his belt. Hell, they even have Ron Villone, the last guy — outside of Bean and Vizcaino — I want to see come out of the pen in any situation ever.
I hate to blame Joe Torre for this loss because Brian Cashman, who was told that Kei Igawa would be this bad, should shoulder some of the weight. But putting in Colter Bean in a two-run game with Richie Sexson representing the go-ahead run at the plate is inexcusable.
If the Yanks shut down the Mariners in the 5th, momentum is on their side. And if Torre was worried about the 6th, 7th and 8th innings, well, he had to get there first. In those situations, you have to go with the guy who will get the out. I don’t know how many times Joe Torre will go with the Colter Beans and Jeff Weavers of the world when the Brian Bruneys and Mariano Riveras watch from the bench. But once again, it cost the Yankees and lead to one of the most embarrassing games of the season.
Down on the Farm
By · CommentsLet’s get you caught up on the standings…Â
Triple-A Scranton (6-4 loss to Toledo) 12-14, 4th place in the International League Northern Division
Kevin Thompson: 0 for 4, 1 BB, 3K
Kevin Reese: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B
Andy Phillips: 1 for 4, 1 BB – 11 H in last 22 AB with 4 XBH and 5 RBI
Bronson Sardinha: 0 for 3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K – right at the Mientkiewicz line…
Shelley Duncan: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K – half his 22 H have gone for extra bases…
Eric Duncan: 0 for 3, 1 BB
Alberto Gonzalez: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B
Chase Wright: 6.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 3 K, 1 WP- has pitched for 3 different teams in his last 3 starts (Yanks, Trenton, and now Scranton)
Ben Kozlowski: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Yanks 4, Rangers 3; Yanks 5, Rangers 2
By · CommentsIt’s a good ol’ fashioned sweep, folks. Here’s the WPA. I’ll quickly recap (bullet points, of course) once I get to work.
| Player | WPA | Pitcher | WPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giambi | .218 | Rivera | .218 |
| Matsui | .151 | Pettitte | .169 |
| Melky | .076 | Farnsworth | .150 |
| Jeter | .044 | Vizcaino | -.122 |
| Cano | -.028 | ||
| Alex | -.065 | ||
| Posada | -.076 | ||
| Damon | -.101 | ||
| Abreu | -.133 |
| Player | WPA | Pitcher | WPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matsui | .110 | Mussina | .195 |
| Jeter | .084 | Proctor | .112 |
| Minky | .071 | Bruney | .048 |
| Posada | .029 | Rivera | .047 |
| Giambi | .019 | Farnsworth | .014 |
| Melky | .013 | Henn | -.008 |
| Damon | -.020 | ||
| Nieves | -.028 | ||
| Alex | -.031 | ||
| Abreu | -.056 | ||
| Cano | -.099 |
Yanks OFs becoming an offensive blackhole
By · CommentsThree in a row! That’s a winning streak. And hey, the Yanks are now in a virtual tie for second place.
It was bound to happen really. Their run differential suggests a team that should be 15-11 instead of 12-14. So now that the luck is evening out, the Yanks will begin their rise through the standings. But the outfield better start picking up the slack.
Tonight marked the Yanks’ 26th game of the season. We’re 16 percent of the way through the season, and here’s what the Yankees’ outfielders have done as a group. They’ve had 317 at-bats and are hitting .230 with a .319 OBP and a .261 slugging. They have 3 HR, 42 RBI and a whopping 16 extra base hits. Alex Rodriguez, by himself, has 22 extra base hits.
With Doug Mientkiewicz sucking up at-bats as the first baseman, the Yankee lineup basically has four spots giving them no offensive production. And in game 2 of the double-header, Wil Nieves, now 0 for 17 this year, played. It was a veritable train wreck.
But the Yankees keep on scoring runs. Their 150 runs scored is second overall to the Florida Marlins. So Derek and Alex and Jorge and Jason are picking up the slack. Right now, that’s ok, and I have to belief that Matsui and Melky and Damon and Abreu will start hitting again. When that happens, look out. This Yankee lineup will become a juggernaut.
Of course, in the meantime, I wouldn’t be opposed to trading Bobby Abreu, but that’s a discussion we’ll have tomorrow.
Down on the Farm
By · CommentsI sure hope you don’t have plans on Sunday, because it’s goin’ down. National TV mofo!
Triple-A Scranton (7-5 win over Toledo)
Kevin Thompson: 0 for 4, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Andy Phillips: 3 for 4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K – .318-.394-.568-.962 this year, just imagine if he had some protection in the lineup
Bronson Sardinha: 0 for 4, 1 BB, 2 K
Eric Duncan: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K
Alberto Gonzalez: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 3 RBI – only 28 total bases this year, about 60 fewer than A-Rod…
Andrew Beattie: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Steven Jackson: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K – first time he’s gone more than 3.2 IP since April 16th…
Ron Villone: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 5-1 GB/FB – ya know, he could have opted out of his contract if he wasn’t on the 25-man big league roster by May 1st…
TJ Beam: .1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K – I guess Chris Britton’s shoes are too big to fill…
