Since returning from his Lisfranc injury earlier this month, Brian Bruney has pretty much picked up where he left off at the end of April. In August, he’s throw 10 innings and has allowed three runs on six hits, five walks and seven strike outs. He hasn’t allowed a run over his last four appearances, and I have to wonder just how badly the Yankees’ bullpen missed his arm for three months this year. Those Lisfranc injuries have really killed the Yanks this year.
With 502 days of rest, Pavano delivers a win
It’s amazing what 502 days of rest will do for a pitcher, eh?
A whopping 502 days after his last start, Carl Pavano made his 20th appearance as a member of the New York Yankees. It wasn’t pretty, and Pavano wasn’t particularly adept at keeping the Orioles off the base paths. But the oft-injured right-hander made the pitched he needed to make when it counted, and the Yanks emerged as 5-3 winners over Baltimore.
For the surging Yankees, last night’s win was their fifth in their last seven. With Boston’s losing 11-0 in Toronto, the Yanks moved to within five of the Wild Card lead, and it looks like this week’s series in New York with the Red Sox will be a key turning point in the race for a playoff spot.
In Baltimore, the Yanks spotted Carl Pavano to an early lead. Johnny Damon singled to lead off the game, and while Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu both lined out, A-Rod hit a booming double to center field that plated Damon. Jason Giambi drove in his first of three runs with a single, and before Pavano had a chance to step to the mound for the first time since April 9, 2007, he had a 2-0 lead.
He needed every run of that lead and then some. Pavano allowed three hits in the first, and only a lucky double play prevented the Orioles from scoring any runs. An inning later, another three hits and a walk would lead to three Oriole runs, and after two innings, Baltimore had a 3-2 lead. Pavano, meanwhile, had thrown way too many pitches and wasn’t looking sharp. Everything turned after that.
Pavano retired the Orioles in order in the third but got into trouble in the fourth. In an effort to curry favor with the Bronx faithful, Pavano drilled Yankee nemesis Kevin Millar with a fastball. A Jay Payton single put runners on first and second with no outs, and while a Jason Giambi two-run home run had given the Yanks a 4-3 edge, that lead was in danger of evaporating. But Pavano bore down and struck out Juan Castro, Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis to end the Oriole threa.
On the night, Pavano threw five innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits and a walk. He also struck out five and threw 54 of 91 pitches for strikes. At times, it wasn’t pretty, but it was more than we could have expected from a pitcher everyone doubted. Whether he can do it again in five days is up for debate. That will, of course, be the true test of Carl Pavano.
Right now, we just tip our caps to Pavano — and the Yankee bullpen — and appreciate how the Yankees are still in this thing. While Carl Pavano now has more wins than Kei Igawa, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy combined, the Yanks have to make up five games over their last 33. As Carl Pavano — the YES Network’s Chevy Player of the Game — proved last night, anything is possible.
Wright, Zambrano make their case
Triple-A Scranton (4-0 win over Lehigh Valley)
Justin Christian: 1 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 K
Bernie Castro & Matt Carson: both 2 for 4, 2 K – Castro scored a run … Carson tripled & drove one in
Melky: 2 for 3, 1 BB, 1 CS – Chad Jennings notes that Melk’s run himself into quite a few outs since being sent down
Shelley Duncan: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 RBI
Eric Duncan & Chris Basak: both 0 or 3, 1 R, 1 BB – E-Dunc K’ed once, Basak twice
Nick Green: 1 for 3, 1 K
Chase Wright: 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 7-10 GB/FB – 62 of 92 pitches were strikes (67.4%) … he’s pitches very well in AAA, definitely should get a call-up when rosters expand
Phil Coke: 2 IP, zeroes, 2 K, 3-1 GB/FB – 16 of 20 pitches were strikes (80%)
Game 129: Perfect Timing
How many of you remember this day? I know I sure do, it was awesome. Coming off of two consecutive seasons of at least 201 IP, Pavano was just entering his prime at age 28, and looked every bit the part of the young, workhorse starter the Yanks needed. It was glorious.
Then the injuries came. First it was rotator cuff tendonitis. Then it was the infamous bruised buttocks. Then it was broken ribs in a car accident. Then it was Tommy John surgery. Aside from the bruised hiney, all the injures were serious. But no one cares. Because of Brian Cashman’s complete and utter inability to predict the future, Pavano’s tenure as a Yankee didn’t go as planned. With a grand total of 5 Yankee wins in 4 years under his belt, Pavano returns tonight right when the Yankees need him most.
Ironically, injuries are what force Pavano to the bump tonight, as Joba and Danny Giese are riding the DL pine. With only 34 games remaining and a 5.5 game deficit in the Wildcard staring the team in the face, Pavano returns at a time in which he can redeem himself the most. All the Yanks are asking of the now 32-year old Pavano is to keep them in games. If he does that, he will surpass everyone expectations.
The Yanks are 4-2 in their last 6 games; let’s keep this little hot streak going.
1. Damon, CF
2. Jeter, SS
3. Abreu, RF
4. A-Rod, 3B
5. Giambi, 1B
6. Nady, LF
7. Matsui, DH
8. Cano, 2B
9. Pudge, C
And on the mound, (I can’t believe I’m actually saying this) Carl Pavano.
Notes: Billy Traber, one of the most useless players the Yanks have had in recent years, was shipped to Triple-A to make room for Pavano … Boston already lost, so the Yanks have a golden opportunity to gain ground in the WC … top prospect Austin Jackson was placed on the DL with a minor back issue …
Pags: Pavano could be useful
As we near the first Carl Pavano start since April 2007, Mike Pagliarulo has chimed in with a piece of reverse psychology analysis. The former Yankee believes that Pavano can be effective because he’s made just two starts since the middle of 2005. And some people accuse us of focusing too much on the silver lining and not the cloud. That is some admirable logic from Pags right there.
Meanwhile, as part of the Welcome Back tour for Carl Pavano, Tyler Kepner looks at a few contracts worse than Pavano’s. Yes, Kei Igawa earned himself a spot on that list.
Cano missing Bowa’s ‘tough love’
The Times’ Jack Curry caught up with Larry Bowa in Philadelphia this week, and the New York scribe and Bowa chatted about Robinson Cano and his relationship with the now-Dodger third base coach. Bowa feels that Robinson Cano is missing the tough love and pressure Bowa used to exert upon the Yanks’ second baseman. Even with a huge hot streak over the last 30+ games of the season, Cano’s 2008 will be viewed as a huge step back and one of the bigger reasons why the Yankee offense is on pace to score nearly 200 fewer runs this year than they did last.
Montero goes deep, like way deep
Fast forward to the 1:30 mark if you don’t feel like waiting around. Check out where the kids are running to go after the ball, that was no cheapy. (h/t Ashish)