Opening Day starter? Joe won’t say
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 06, 2007 
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Joe Torre held a long, interesting pre-game interview in the dugout. A few of his points:
* Wang, Mussina and Pettitte will work on regular rest in April. Igawa and Pavano will work around the days off.
* On of the Big Three will start the opener. Joe didn’t say who, only that that they have somebody in mind and that person doesn’t know. I suspect it’s Wang, who deserves it and owned the Rays last season.
* Joe said he talked to Hughes earlier this spring and told him he wasn’t making the team out of camp. “I wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know,” Torre said. Torre went on at length about Hughes, saying the organization is determined to protect him.
* Brian Bruney now has the flu, which is keeping him from getting on the mound. He’s well behind everybody else but still has time to catch up.
* Torre raved about Carl Pavano’s bullpen today.
* Joe went on on a high note, talking about the time he caught an Old Timers Game and J.R. Richard wanted to throw sliders. Joe Garagiola couldn’t catch the ball behind the plate so Torre had to get behind there. “He was trying to make the team,” Torre said. “I told the manager to get him the hell out of there.”
Wang certianly deserves to be the opening day starter, I think that it would be very nice if they could work it in such a way that Andy ended up pitching the home opener.
Has Joe said anything about Clippard’s performance yesterday?
Why is Joe automatically discounting Hughes?? It isn’t right! I know you want to protect him but what if he is lights out this st??
it doesn’t matter if he is lights out. they want to limit his innings to 180 this season. the best way to do that is hold his innings to 5 per start in april, may, june, then bring him up without having to worry about taking him out after 5 innings or worry about having him in Ocotober.
it’s the smart approach. the 5 they have will be fine for April-June.
The treatment that Hughes is getting has very little to do with Joe and much more to do with the philosphy of the Yankees as an organization. Look at his minor league track record and you will find out that the kid has been shut down twice (due to minor arm trouble) in his career and that has limited the number of innings he was able to log. They (as in the organization) have him on a fairly strict plan to increase his inning totals each year and starting him in Scranton is a way for them to artificially cap his innings. In AAA, they can pull him after 5 or 6 innings and no one complains if the team loses. Do that in the Bronx and you have major problems. Let’s not rush the kid as the goal is for him to be in the rotation for the next ten years, not just the first half of 2007. I am looking forward to his stint on the hill today though….
Pete, can you elaborate on Joe raving about Pavano’s bullpen? Is this a smokejob to build up trade value or are people actually feeling like Pavano’s coming back to what they thought they were getting back in 2005?
I think Pavano’s something of a joke but honestly, if he can get back to something close to his 2003-2004 level, the Yanks should definitely feel good about their 1-4.
Wang has proven he can handle the pressure as the lead runner. Im not sure moose thrives in that position. Pettite should be eased in with a welcome back not we needed you to lead the pitching staff.
MYF, Opening Day *is* the home opener this year.
I wouldn’t complain if either Wang or Moose get the opener. Wang was great last year, but let’s not forget that Moose was the unquestionable ace for the first half of 2006. I also felt that he deserved the home opener last year over Wang, who had yet to prove himself…. so if he didn’t get it last year, he should at least get it this year.
Good old J.R. Richard. Had he not had that stroke in the summer of 1980, Houston probably goes to the series that year and the Phillies would still be looking for their first world championship.
The youngster Dellin Betances could be another J.R. Just as tall, and hits 98 on the gun. Keep an eye on him as he works his way up through the system.
J.R. Richard? Damn!! I saw him strike out Parker and Stargell on six consecutive pitches once.
Thanks Cliff, I suppose I should look a schedule before opening my mouth next time…
I went over to Legends and caught Pavano’s side and actually filmed it- not sure how it was something to rave about; he looked decent but I guess hes the manager and knows his stuff… it is only a matter of time though until he gets a hangnail and is out for 2 months.