Great story on Joba in the Daily News today; it comes highly recommended.
Pitching, pitching & more pitching
The minor league regular season ends in a little less than 3 weeks, so let’s get you updated on the standings…
Triple-A Scranton (5-3 win over Rochester, walk-off style) 73-54, leads division by 4.0 games
Brett Gardner: 3 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K, 2 SB
Eric Duncan: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB – 8 for his last 20 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homer & 6 RBIs…sorry Eric, won’t fool me this time
Alberto Gonzalez: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 BB – walk was intentional
Jose Cruz Jr.: 0 for 4, 1 BB, 1 K – this is pathetic, the Yanks signed Cruz to take playing time away from…Erubiel Durazo! how messed up is that? (walk was intentional)
Angel Chavez: 3 for 4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB – walk-off single (walk was intentional)
Kevin Thompson: 1 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB
Steven White: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 10-7 GB/FB – another solid Steven White start
Brian Bruney: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K – only 19 of 34 pitches were strikes…and he gave up a jack
It’s just not fair
Joba pumping 99 for an inning followed by Edwar’s filthy change? Yeah, good luck with that.
Update: 2 IP, no baserunners, 5 K combined for Joba & Edwar.
Update Part II: Edwar came back out for the 9th after the Yanks piled it on in the top of the frame. 3 IP, no baserunners, 5 K combined.
FYI – Johan Santana’s kinda good.
Deja Vu all over again for Trenton
Forgot to mention this last night, but Chris Basak was claimed off waivers by the Twins. Basak, as you may remember, was DFA’ed to make room on the 40-man roster for 1st rounder Andrew Brackman. So long Chris, thanks for that lone big league AB where you stood on second thinking you hit a double, but in reality you were out.
Triple-A Scranton (2-1 loss to Rochester in 10)
Brett Gardner: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 CS – gunned Lew Ford down at the plate
Eric Duncan: 0 for 5, 1 BB, 1 K
Alberto Gonzalez: 1 for 5, 1 2B – 5 doubles, 1 triple & 1 homer in last 8 games
Jose Cruz Jr.: 0 for 5 – yes, it’s that Jose Cruz Jr….when did they pick him up, who knows
Bronson Sardinha & Andy Cannizaro: both 1 for 3
Kevin Thompson: 1 for 1, 3 BB
Ian Patrick Kennedy: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP, 1-11 GB/FB – another dominant outing, but that GB/FB ratio is kinda ugly
Ross Ohlendorf: 2 IP, bunch of zeroes, 1 K – nails
Jim Brower: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
The redemption of Kyle begins
Let me set the scene for you.
It’s 5-2 Yanks after six innings. Roger Clemens, over 100 pitches, had given up his share of hits, but a nifty variation of the strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play kept the Tigers from really breaking out against the Yanks.
Out in the bullpen, Joba Chamberlain, rookie stud, is unavailable. But Edwar Ramirez is. Instead, in trots Yankee Enemy Number One: number 48 Kyle Farnsworth.
Uh, oh.
Farnsworth had lost the set-up job after months of inconsistency. Recently, he had pitched better but only in non-pressure situations. Today, it would be different. Farnsworth would have to protect a three-run lead against the Tigers’ 2-3-4 hitters including the hated Gary Sheffield.
Well, Krazy Kyle kame through. He K’d the last two hitters he faced and got the first out after running the count full to start the inning. The crowd erupted. On Tuesday, we came to bury – or is that boo? – Farnsworth. Today, we came to praise him.
Luis Vizcaino pitched the 8th, and our fears were assuaged when Mariano nailed down the save. All was well in Yankeeland.
Seeing Farnsworth throw well is huge for the team. If he can throw consistently and get outs, the Yanks could have a stellar and solid bullpen. For now, though, we’ll take this inning. One day at a time for the Yanks and Farns.
And, hey, when all is said and done, Farnsworth is no Eric Gagne. Just ask the Red Sox fans.
He’s killing our chemistry!
Yes, it’s a small sample. But in 24 plate appearances since returning, Jason Giambi it hitting .348/.375/.870, with half of his eight hits clearing the fence. Before sustaining the injury to his plantar fascia, he hit .322/.404/.517 in April.
Giambi will help the Yankees in whatever role he can. I just hope he gets to play four or more days a week.
Move over Jose Reyes, here comes Wil Nieves
Did Eric Gagne really blow another save tonight? Sheesh…
Triple-A Scranton (6-1 win over Syracuse)
Brett Gardner, Andy Cannizaro, Angel Chavez & Eric Duncan: all 2 for 4, 1 R – Gardner stole a base & K’ed twice…Cannizaro & Chavez drove a run in…Duncan tripled, drove in 2 & walked
Alberto Gonzalez & Bronson Sardinha: both 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 K
Wil Nieves: 2 for 3, 1 2B, 1 K, 1 SB – yes ladies & gentlemen, Wil Nieves stole a base
Ben Kozlowski: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K – 51 of 78 pitches were strikes
Jeff Karstens: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K – guess the move to the ‘pen was permanent
TJ Beam: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K – 17 of 21 pitches were strikes…this is the TJ Beam that was so dominant in the minors last year