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Great night for the Franchise

April
19

Phil Franchise had a great start on Wednesday. He went six scoreless innings against Syracuse and allowed two hits and no walks while striking out 10.

The Yankees are doing the exact right thing with Hughes. Limit his innings, give him a chance to learn, overcome struggles, etc. People forget he’s 20. Look at Francisco Liriano and now Felix Hernandez. You have to develop kids slowly and let them gradually build themselves up.

Chase Wright is 24 and those four years make a difference.

Via the Syracuse paper, here is what Syracuse manager Doug Davis said about Hughes:

“I saw him all last year, and for a six-inning stretch that’s the best I’ve seen him throw. When he gets to the point where he can throw his curveball for a first-pitch strike, work his changeup in there when he needs to for strikes, and keep the ball down, he’ll be very tough.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 19th, 2007 at 1:53 pm by Peter Abraham.
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120 Responses to “Great night for the Franchise”

  1. kasey

    couldn’t agree more, pete. i’m hoping felix is fine, but “elbow soreness” is never a good sign. that’s hargrove’s M.O., though. it took him all of two months to destroy mark lowe’s arm last year.

    i hope we don’t see hughes until next year and, when we do, the innings and pitch counts are closely monitored. it’d be nice to have the kid around for a while.

  2. eric

    I’d like to see a September call up. If he pitches well we ride him into the playoffs. If not, we’ll see him in the spring.

  3. Yankeefaninwooosta

    agree 100 percent with this one. Let us not forget the likes of Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, ….anyway the list goes on and on and on. This kid has a live arm, lets not overwork it too soon. It kills me how impatient Yankee fans can be (myself included).

    Things are very positive right now, considering all the injuries. If you take away the runs given up by Farnsworth and the Scutaro homerun served up by MO, how many runs has this bullpen given up? Well, I’ll tell you. in 44&2/3 innings the rest of the bullpen has allowed 6 runs. (and three of those are off of proctor)
    Of course this will probably jinx it .
    sorry

  4. Thurman

    I would like to see the franchise avoid the 40-man all year so the Yankees don’t start the arbitration clock until next year.

  5. EricNS

    Good job in handling Hughes – your take is right on Pete!

  6. sammy

    agreed with Pete’s assessment. I even agree with Thurman’s comment, given that we can maintain the consistency that we’re getting from our other resources at this time…

    … speaking of which, calm it down, Darrell… you’re doing fine…

  7. kasey

    boy, rasner ran out of gas quick.

  8. kasey

    came back well, though. good to see him get out of that jam. hopefully they can milk a 5th inning out of him so they don’t go in to fenway with a spent bullpen.

  9. SJ44

    Rasner is competing, which is all you can ask for from him.

    He doesn’t have great stuff, is just a fill in guy until the starters get back, but he is competing and doing what he can to keep the team in the game.

    All I can ask for from him since he is far from an elite pitcher or elite prospect.

    With this lineup, if he can keep his team in the game, and eat some innings, its enough for me.

  10. sammy

    … NICE JOB, DARRELL.
    way to get out of that jam.

  11. SJ44

    As far as Hughes is concerned, IMO, his path to the majors involves Roger Clemens as much as his development.

    If the Yankees fail to sign Clemens, and Hughes is throwing the ball well in Mid-Late June/July, there is going to be a lot of pressure to give him a shot. I can’t see this team staying with Rasner, Igawa and Karstans at the back end of the rotation for the entire season. Too many soft tossers in a rotation is not good.

    We all know the chances of seeing Pavano again this season are slim. So, if they don’t sign Clemens, and Hughes is throwing well, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him this season.

    OTOH, if Clemens signs with the Yankees, I believe they will keep Hughes in AAA all season.

  12. Kyle

    I’m not a fan of Torre’s managing skills, but he is very careful with SP, and I think Hughes would be fine because of that. I still want him in AAA right now, but it’s not because of injury concerns, I just want him to keep working on that changeup.

    The Twins really didn’t misuse Liriano IMO, but he supposedly has horrible mechanics and a history of arm problems.

    The Mariners have the worst record of perhaps any team with regard to keeping young pitchers healthy. And well the Cubs…it’s a lot more than just Baker, but seriously, could you think of a worse manager for young pitchers?

  13. sunny615

    Terry Francona?

    But I think developing Hughes carefully now will mean we’ll have a Clemens/Unit/Schilling for the next 10 years.

  14. Andrew

    The rotation by mid-June could be: Clemens, Wang, Pettitte, Mussina, and Hughes.

    Mmm.

  15. SJ44

    I disagreed on the Twins not misusing Liriano. He complained about his elbow in June of last year, yet didn’t miss starts.

    By late July, he was in constant pain, yet no MRI and he didn’t miss a turn until August.

    They rolled the dice and came up snake eyes.

    Its that great balance (protecting young arms vs. helping your team) that is always open to debate.

    Its so tough to know which is “right” and which is “wrong”.

    But, when a pitcher is complaining his arm is sore, IMO, especially with a talent like Liriano, you can’t run the risk.

  16. sunny615

    Rasner out on 81 pitches… so is it because he was ineffective or because he wants to save him for boston as a long reliever?

  17. Jeff NJ

    Count me in the camp against signing Roger Clemens, that is just important expirience that young guns will not be getting.

  18. Global Warming

    3 Straight Lefties.

    Besides Rasner will be the longman for Boston.

  19. Michael

    i hope we don’t see hughes until september, that means nothing disasterous happened to the rotation

  20. Gator49

    Man-Ram just hit his 1st hr to tie Toronto. Waste of a Halladay vs. Tavarez start.

  21. SJ44

    If Hughes can’t pitch deeper into games, calling him up would be a waste.

    They already have enough 4-5 inning starters on the rotation.

    Until he can pitch 7 innings, and effective one’s at that, at the minor league level, its not really prudent to call him up and put him in this rotation.

  22. hmmm

    “The rotation by mid-June could be: Clemens, Wang, Pettitte, Mussina, and Hughes.”

    schwing!!

  23. Chris NY

    SJ44, not to mention they gambled with Liriano thinking they could get away without surgery (once they finally shut him down), brought him back too soon and made it worse…….. then he had to have surgery anyway.

    Re: Clemens. While I’m as enthused as anyone about all the young talent, we still need to win now. Now way you don’t sign Clemens. He’s a #1 or #2 starter. You don’t pass on that to give young guys experience as a #4 or 5. You sign Clemens and if Pavano, Igawa, etc are ineffective or injured, that’s where you get the young guys their experience. Does anyone really think you take Rasner or Karstens or a minor leaguer in place of CLEMENS????????

  24. Chris NY

    Serisously guys, CLEMENS. This is the Yankees, not the Devil Rays. We’re not a last place team that has goals of ONLY building for the future. The NEW YORK YANKEES will always compete and try to win now, while still doing as much as possible to grow young talent and give them chances WHERE IT MAKES SENSE and where it doesn’t lessen our chances of winning.

    SIGN CLEMENS.

  25. Kyle

    “But, when a pitcher is complaining his arm is sore, IMO, especially with a talent like Liriano, you can’t run the risk.”

    I misremembered then. I thought when he started complaining about soreness they DLed him almost immediately. If not then yeah, that is very stupid.

  26. SJ44

    Chris,

    Exactly re: Liriano and Clemens. Roger Clemens is a true ace. A dying breed in today’s baseball. A guy who gives you enough quality innings, and holds enough leads, to win games.

    On days the team isn’t hitting, Roger Clemens can shut down any lineup. On days opposing pitchers want to drill Yankee hitters, Clemens is there to back them up.

    This rotation doesn’t have an ace. Wang, as good as he is, is not an ace.

    You have Clemens, Pettitte, Wang and Moose as your top 4, I don’t care who you have as the 5th starter, the Yankees are going to win a lot of games.

    No Clemens, and you are hoping to get enough wins out of Pavano, Rasner, Karstans, Wright and Igawa, to make up for his absence.

    IMO, that’s not good scenario for the Yankees.

    That’s why I hope they sign him this year. He not only helps them this year, he bridges the gap between the guys who are here, and the younger pitchers who aren’t quite ready to handle the fulltime chores in NY.

  27. Gator49

    Can someone update the game please? Gameday is stuck.

  28. Gayle

    Bruney in
    bases loaded with indians 2 outs
    1-1 top of the 6th

  29. Jer

    Bruney is pitching. Bases loaded. One out. Jhonny Peralta up, the count is 2-2.

  30. SJ44

    Today is a day that illustrates why you can’t win long term with the 4 inning starts of the Darrel Rasner’s of the world. As good as the Yankees bullpen is, they can’t be lights out every night.

    Sometimes, a starter has to man up, pitch 7 innings, and keep a team off the board.

    That’s why a guy like Roger Clemens is so valuable. Nothing against Rasner, I am sure he is a very nice guy. But, if this team wants to contend for a World Series, he should be in AAA not in the rotation.

    This is a “house money” game to me, since they already won the series. However, the sooner you get guys like Rasner out of the rotation, and get the likes of Wang, Moose and (hopefully) Clemens in, the Yankees can fill the biggest hole on the team and really make a nice push.

  31. Gator49

    Thanks!!!

  32. sunny615

    6th inning
    indians batting (rouse batting)
    bases loaded
    2 outs
    bruney in (hit) – myers out (walk, hbp)

    line out to arod
    infield fly to cano

  33. mel

    Fireman Bruney, you’re our hero!

  34. sunny615

    inning over – pop out into melky
    no runs.

    WHEW!

  35. Cumberberg

    Helluva job by Bruney to get out of that bases loaded, no-out jam!

  36. Jer

    Rouse flew out. Inning (and anxiety) over.

  37. Dave

    out of the inning unscathed – Bruney is just lights out right now. How many pitchers can get three outs with the bases loaded and get out of the inning without a run coming across the plate? Unbelievable! Im beginning to think Bruney is the real deal and not just lightening in a bottle.

  38. Doreen

    If they do it right, and Hughes is as good as everone says, there is absolutely no need to rush him. Because if they do it right, he will be a Yankee for a long, long time. the Yankees will do whatever else they need to do for this season.

  39. SJ44

    That’s great work by Bruney. Meanwhile in Toronto, the Jays flush an 8th inning, 3 run lead down the drain and are now losing 4-3 in the 9th.

    Without BJ Ryan, this team will be out of the race by the All Star Break. They don’t have anybody in that bullpen who can get outs to finish games now.

  40. Cumberberg

    …now if only Yahoo would ditch that lame picture of Bruney with his Diamondback duds and beard…

  41. swo

    “If Hughes can’t pitch deeper into games, calling him up would be a waste…Until he can pitch 7 innings, and effective one’s at that, at the minor league level, its not really prudent to call him up and put him in this rotation.”

    SJ44, Hughes can (and has) pitched 8 effective innings before. That was before they put him on the pitch count. It’s not that he CAN’T pitch 7 innings, it’s that he WON’T because the Yankees won’t let him.

  42. Cumberberg

    GIAMBINO!!!!!!!!!

  43. sammy

    G-UNIT.

  44. mel

    Jason has the most beautiful swing, no hitch at all.

  45. Dave

    I cant agree more SJ44. There is a reason for a pitcher or two in the rotation that can throw seven almost every time out. Our bullpen is going to start failing right after the all star break if we continue to put in starters that cant throw more than five (Rasner, Karstens, Igawa – most times, Wright, prolly Hughes when he comes up, Pavano.) We need wang back and clemens to be that second guy that can throw seven and keep our bullpen strong.

  46. Jeff NJ

    I wonder when they will take the shackles off Hughes. That day will be sweet. I anticipate some time in 2009

  47. David

    There was no reason Rasner couldn’t have gone longer today. Torre just didn’t let him. Torre needs to trust the starters to pitch longer some nights.

  48. Chris NY

    A-Rod’s hot, Giambi’s getting hot, Jeter and Cano are always hitting, Posada, Abreu….., no-one tell me we can’t sweep Boston this weekend, it very well could happen!

  49. Erick

    Jeff,

    Hopefully more like 2008, by then, continuing the 30-40 plus innings per year, Hughes won’t be held back.

  50. Jeremy

    Why is Torre so conservative with Rasner? I agree with those who have said that we need to rest the pen and that we can afford to keep Rasner in a bit longer.

    We are starting to take the pen for granted because, with two exceptions (the Farnsworth v. Twins and Rivera v. A’s games) it has been automatic despite an unusually heavy workload. This will not last if the pen has to keep pitching at its current rate. Leave Rasner in when he is getting by. If there is some physical reason he cannot go to 90 or 100 pitches, he should not be in the rotation.

  51. sunny615

    oy… vizciano…

  52. sammy

    ahhhhh… another walk to the lead-off batter.
    and… we’re tied back up.

    what’s with that?
    the Curse of the Farnsworth?

  53. Stormy

    Vizcaino walked the leadoff man. He’s not a championship player. Trade him for a backup catcher immediately.

  54. Jeremy

    Ok, forget what I just wrote about the pen being automatic.

  55. sammy

    don’t like where this is going… either for this game… or for the weekend.

    not having Vizcaino until Saturday, at the least? Sucks. We’ll have to turn to the Kraz-enator.

    … wait… we’re in the seventh.
    will Kyle come up next inning?

  56. sammy

    what’s with everyone being so defensive?
    stormy, just pointing out a trend that we seem to have happen lately… in close games.

  57. Michael in Chicago

    Ah, crap. Papelbon gets the save and Cleveland leads 5-2.

  58. Ryan

    Someone jinxed us with the bringing up of our low bullpen ERA! :)

    Viscaino in a little trouble after giving up one run already. lets go double play ball.

    We need some pitchers to go a little deeper for us, not liking the frequency of seeing our pen like we have been.

  59. sammy

    oooooooooooohhhhh… kay.

  60. Michael

    vizcaino,can’t hang that tthing there

  61. sunny615

    OY

  62. Michael in Chicago

    Vizcaino is channeling the spirit of Felix Heredia.

  63. SJ44

    He’s conservative with Rasner because Rasner isn’t very good.

    Has anybody watched him pitch this year? He flushed a 3 run first inning lead down the drain against the Orioles in 5 batters and couldn’t even see the 4th inning.

    He was marginally better against an awful hitting team in Oakland.

    Today, once he gave up the HR to Dellucci, he went back to his usual pattern of falling behind every hitter.

    Its hard for a manager to have confidence in a guy who has not shown the ability to pitch quality innings.

    Its why he is such a liability in the rotation.

    You need at least two guys who can give you 7 innings a turn.

    Today is the perfect example of what I am talking about. Another crappy, 4 inning start from him, and you have to use the entire bullpen to try and hold a lead.

    If a guy (in this case, Vizcaino) is not on, you lose the game.

    You can’t play an entire season needing your bullpen to pitch 4-5 innings every night. You can, if you are the Devil Rays but, not if you want to contend.

    The sooner the Darrel Rasner’s of the world go back to their rightful place, the AAA rotation, the better chance the Yankees have to start stringing some wins together.

    We can all kill Vizcaino today but, its misguided. The inability for the starter to go deep in the game is today’s culprit.

  64. Dave

    This is happening because about five posts today have discussed how automatic the pen is with a huge workload – thanks alot guys! The curse of the Torre is more like it.

  65. Andrew33

    why wasnt rasner allowed to finish the 5th, vizcano has been in close to or more then 10 games, they are going to have to use someone else for the 8th and 9th, i guess proctor so he can pitch in close to 100 games again this year, torres management of his pitching is bordering on the absurd

  66. Gator49

    This is why they play the games, and why baseball is a great sport. Toronto should have had an automatic with with Halladay vs. Tavarez. We should beat an Indians team whose bullpen has been frazzled the last two days, and with Fausto Carmona starting. Instead of gaining a game, it looks like we will lose one. Plus we are using everyone of our relievers for 20+ pitches before going to Fenway.

  67. Angel

    rolls eyes at Dave.

    Thats right, its our fault.

  68. rodger

    they are wayyyyyyy overworked and this will continue until our starters go longer, they can’t stay fresh

  69. Dan from Mass

    It certainly didn’t work out, but I think if Torre left Rasner in to face 3 lefties at the top of the lineup, with how good Myers and the rest of the bullpen has been, he’d be second-guessed for that.

  70. Jer

    Jeremy,

    I still agree with you. Vizcaino has been pitching really well so far, but Torre is relying way too much on the BP. Rasner could have held his own til the 8th. The Bruney would’ve taken us to the 9th easily.

    We are going to have to rely heavily on our BP this weekend, why did Torre start dipping in now when we already won 2 of 3???

  71. skisan

    Call me crazy,but I don’t want Clemens. Let him go to the Sux so we can kick his steroid ass in August. I don’t know why he has received a pass from the media regarding steroids, but check out his pictures w/ the Astros and the Sux here:
    http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/04/10/the-most-undercovered-aspect-of-the-roger-clemens-love-in-2007-edition
    Sooner or later, it will come out and I’d rather he be on The Olde Towne Team when it does. We’ll get our re-inforcements from the farm system, thank you, Brian Cashman.

  72. sunny615

    time for another walk off.

  73. Jeremy

    SJ44,

    Rasner’s just a back-end guy, everyone knows he’s nothing special. The question is whether Torre should pull him after 4.1 IP and about 80 pitches despite the fact that he is not getting hammered and the pen needs as much rest as possible. This is the second straight game where Torre arguably pulled Rasner too early and the pen has to pick up the slack. It worked the first time but it doesn’t seem to be working now.

    My point is just that Torre should be brave and let Rasner soak up some more innings for the good of the pen. When he hits 100 pitches or can’t get outs anymore, then replace him.

  74. Stormy

    Sammy, my comment wasn’t directed at you — it was at Peter, who said Farnsworth was not a “championship player” because he walked a leadoff man in a game. It was one of the silliest thing I’ve ever read, and I like to quote it.

    Here’s what I don’t get: Bruney has been the best reliever on this team this year — why has he been pitching the fifth inning in this series? If I was Torre, I’d have Bruney pitching the eighth, and Vizcaino, Farnsworth and Proctor rotating in the seventh.

    And why, oh, why is Vizcaino throwing a breaking ball 3-1 in that situation? He hung it, and it was blasted off.

    Great call by Michael Kay. Casually: “That’ll get a run in… More than a run… GONE!”

    Nice one, Mike.

  75. sammy

    I don’t think it’s anything that we can’t pick back up… we’re averaging 9.5 runs this series… and we have nine more outs.

    but… darn it. Who do we put out there for the rest of the game? Henn? We’ve already used Myers. Should we use our other lefty?

    Farnsy? And let him just try it out… maybe.
    any guesses as to who they’ll put out there for 8 and 9?

  76. Erick

    Rasner had 81 pitches, by the way he was throwing the ball, at the most he finishes the 5th wih 100. No way he goes to the 8th.

    He should have stayed in, but that was his last inning.

  77. SJ44

    Folks, this isn’t the most important Yankee game being played today. Tonight’s Tampa Yankee game is more important. Wang is pitching. If he comes out of it well, he is back in the rotation on Tuesday.

    If not, we get the “joy” of another 4 inning Rasner start again.

    Torre had to get him out of there with the lefties coming up. Rasner showed no ability today to get deep into the game. That’s the problem with him. He can’t go deep into games.

    The Yankees won this series (I will GLADLY take 2 of 3 in 80+% of the series the Yankees play this season) and I sure as hell am not going to kill Vizcaino, who has been excellent for them most of this season.

    We need starters who can go deeper into games. We are now 14 games into the season and, I believe, we have only had 2 starters who have seen the 7th inning. Not good enough.

    If Wang can come through tonight, he is back and we get our #1 starter and innings eater back.

    That’s a start.

  78. gargoyle

    There isn’t a BP in baseball that can go 3+ innings every single game without eventually melting down.

    Could Igawa have started the 7th last night?

    Was Rasner gassed?

  79. sammy

    stormy – sorry about that. I got whacked in another post here today, and jumped the gun.

    my apologies for that.

  80. Gator49

    Why can’t we gove Posada a day completely off? Ever wonder why he tails off in the second half, and does nothing in October. This is April against Cleveland, before the Sox series. Give him the day off.

  81. Jeremy

    “We need starters who can go deeper into games.”

    Precisely.

  82. Angel

    “When he hits 100 pitches or can’t get outs anymore, then replace him.”

    I would say he’d reached that point – he couldn’t get outs – hence, he was pulled.

  83. SJ44

    Darrel Rasner being able to pitch into the 8th inning? LOL

    The only way Rasner sees the 8th inning is if he pitches 2 4 inning games.

    Torre did what he could. It didn’t work today. Killing him because his starting pitcher (who is back in AAA next week if Wang is ok tonight) is just foolish.

    He’s still looking to find roles for guys and mixing and matching because his starting pitching is awful right now.

    Once Wang and Moose get back, there will be more order to the rotation because the starters will be eating more innings.

    Vizcaino will be able to pitch tomorrow if needed. He can pitch every day. He just had a bad day today.

    I am sure if anybody wants to take the time to research things, you will find not many games are won when your starter can’t go more than 4 innings. Just the way it is.

    I am not disappointed if they lose the game today because they won the series. I always take the long view with baseball. I like winning as many series as you can.

    With the starting staff is shambles, we are going to have days like this. Its inevitable.

    That’s why I am MUCH more concerned with tonight’s Tampa game. If Wang pitches well, and comes out of it well, that’s the “Win” today for the Yankees. We need him back ASAP.

    Still like this team a lot. Will like it more when they have more than one major league pitcher in the starting rotation.

  84. SJ44

    Kyle Farnsworth, once again showing why he needs to be gone. Walks another guy who is 0-for the season.

    The good thing is, he keeps showing Torre he is useless. The bad thing will be if Torre isn’t watching.

    This guy can’t ever pitch in another Yankee game that is close. These type of games? Pitch him all day, because he saves the quality arms.

    A one run game? No way. Not under any circumstances.

  85. Mike

    The Phillies are clearly desperate for relievers. I hope Cash is dangling Farnsworth on a string. I’d rather have Britton out there.

  86. Jeremy

    Angel,

    “I would say he’d reached that point – he couldn’t get outs – hence, he was pulled.”

    My Gamecast display says that Rasner started the fifth by getting Rouse to fly out on one pitch. Jason Michaels then singled to center on a 2-1 count. Torre pulled Rasner for Myers.

    With Sizemore due up, I’m not saying leaving Rasner in was the obvious move (that’s why I referred to leaving him in as being “brave”), but Rasner hadn’t hit the wall.

    My main point is just that, like SJ44 said, our biggest problem right now is that our starters are not going deep into games. As a result, our relievers are bearing an inordinate workload (just consider Peter’s observation that Myers has already pitched over 1/6 of his innings from last season, and he’s had quite a bit more work since then). For the most part they’ve been doing an extraordinarily good job – as Kay pointed out during last night’s game, we have the second-best pen ERA in baseball. There’s no way that will last if the pen keeps having to pick up the slack for starters who can’t go six or seven innings.

    Torre can’t magically transform Rasner into a better pitcher. But I think he should, like I said, be brave and give his starters the benefit of the doubt for awhile, leaving them for the extra out or two during situations where he might otherwise pull them. That’s the only way Torre can help solve the problem of starters not going deep enough into games.

  87. Jer

    SJ44,

    I didn’t notice the lefties coming up. Gameday is not helpful when trying to comment on the game. Furthermore, I didn’t see how Rasner was looking so maybe I jumped the gun a bit.

    Still, it would’ve been better to have Rasner go longer and have a loss without having a loss and using up half the bp.

  88. Jer

    Wow. Jeremy, didn’t see your post. Wish I had a TV in front of me right now.

  89. Angel

    Thats sometimes the difference between watching a game on gameday and actually seeing it. He was struggling at that point.
    I’m not disagreeing that the starters must go longer, if Torre had of left him in and put the game out of reach he would have been crucified for that. He’s damned if does, and damned if he doesn’t.

  90. SJ44

    He can’t go longer if he isn’t good. He isn’t a good pitcher. Going longer in the game isn’t going to make him better. In fact, his history with the Yankees have shown he gets worse.

    If you are the manager watching Rasner pitch, with every AB being a struggle, its hard to have confidence he can go deep into games.

    He has shown nothing this season that would demonstrate Torre, or any other manager, having confidence in him.

    Myers has been lights out this season. Myers and Vizcaino can both pitch everyday so, “wear and tear” shouldn’t be an issue. It just didn’t work today.

    I just prefer my starting pitcher to actually look like he can pitch 6 innings. Rasner can’t, so you know its going to be a long day for the ‘pen. Unfortunate but, that’s baseball. They won the series and that’s the important thing.

    I completely agree re: Farnsworth. With their bullpen issues, I’d LOVE to see Cash find a home for him in Philly.

    I suspect though that Pat Gillick isn’t that desperate. I wish he was!

  91. Alfred

    Always the same with A-Rod…. ;)

  92. Jeff NJ

    No boos for A Rod pop up, wonder how long that lasts

  93. Global Warming

    When you are using 5-6 relievers a game, one of them is bound to have an off game.

    Exhibit A being Viz today.

    This string of starters not going past 5IP needs to end. It’s like Jaret Wright is pitching everyday for us! God I cannot wait til Wang comes back and gives us 7 everytime he takes the ball.

  94. David

    Rasner had given up one run to that point. Its not like he was being hit hard. It was overmanaging.

  95. Jeremy

    Angel,

    I don’t think many people will criticze Torre for pulling Rasner if he really looked so hittable.

    Torre’s motive for doing things should not be to avoid second-guessing. Any pitching change he makes could work out or fail. But it should be indisputable that we need to squeeze more innings out of our starters to lighten the load on the pen. In light of the strain on the pen, Torre should give his starters a longer leash. Otherwise, those pen innings will add up and we could have a gassed/injury-filled pen in the late season and playoffs.

    Again, I’m not saying that Torre did something moronic here. You’ll know when I do!

  96. David

    Igawa could have easily pitched a 7th yesterday too.

  97. SJ44

    I concur Global. Its Pettitte and 4 Jared Wright’s in the rotation.

    Once Wang and Moose come back, you have 3 guys who can pitch deep enough in games to give the Yankees a chance to win every night. The other 2? Pure crapshoot but, that’s why they have a great offense.

  98. rodger

    were the boo birds back for a-rods last ab

  99. David

    No one can pitch deep into a game if Torre won’t let them.

  100. SJ44

    Its not overmanaging. What do you see in Darrel Rasner that makes you think he can pitch? He stunk against the Orioles. He couldn’t hold a 3 run lead for one inning to a second division team. He was barely average against an awful hitting team in Oakland and was hanging on by a thread this entire game.

    That’s what the manager has to work with when assessing whether or not Rasner can go deeper into the game. Nothing he showed today, or during this season, showed he could survive the 5th without spitting the bit.

    Because he only gave up one run, you think he was “cruising”? He was already at over 80 pitches in the 4th inning and was going to be facing lefties that hit the ball hard off him their first two AB’s.

    Its not overmanaging to pull him at that point, and put in a guy who has been miles better than Rasner all season.

    Torre is trying to win the game and its impossible to have any confidence in Rasner.

    Hell, if he kept him in there and Sizemore, Dellucci and Hafner hit him, people would complain, “why did he not bring in Myers”?

    You know what Darrel Rasner’s problem is? He isn’t Chien Ming Wang, the guy he is replacing in the rotation. He is a 4 inning, AAA pitcher who some folks want to will into being more than he is.

    Torre knows what he is and tries to work around it. It didn’t work today. Big deal, the Yankees won the series.

    We have to hope Wang is lights out tonight. If Wang is back on Tuesday, the staff begins to look a little more like a contending team’s pitching staff again rather than Scranton-lite.

    To second guess Torre today over this is absurd, IMO. He was stuck with a guy who can’t give him innings. Just the way it goes sometimes.

  101. Paul..

    I love how Waldman and Sterling keep making comments how long this game is, like its a burden. YOU WORK FOR THE NEW YORK YANKEES in a big city called NEW YORK where other people are doing alot more intense and hard working job then both of you. SHUT IT.

    Ok now, lets have a huge bottom 9. :)

  102. SJ44

    He doesn’t let them because they don’t show they CAN pitch deep into games.

    Does he take out Pettitte, Moose or Wang early in games? No. He takes out guys who haven’t shown, at any level, they can pitch deep into games.

  103. Jer

    It’s a judgement call. If Rasner really looked that bad out there, then Torre is justified in taking him out.

    I think we can all agree that we need our starting rotation back as soon as they’re healthy. SJ44 has a good point about Wang’s game today. Him coming back will give us a huge lift. Starting pitchers are starting pitchers because they can go 7 innnings and hold their own. Right now we’re missing that.

  104. Michael in Chicago

    Getting the YES feed here in Chicago. I really enjoy listening to Paul O’Neil. Not quite Al Leiter, but he has some good stories about the playing days with Buck, and Lou before that.

    Well, they’re going to have some games like this. Not horrible, but again, some depth lacking in the starters.

    Boston should be interesting. I look forward to seeing how the Yanks play this. The team is clearly at a disadvantage, at least pitching-wise, and Boston’s hitters always show up one way or another against NY.

    Kei was refreshing the other night, and somehow I have to believe that long term, they’ll patch it up and put something together.

    And, Matsuzaka is for real, it’s official. I wish we had bid higher for him. Gotta tip my cap on that one.

  105. David

    Rasner did not give up an earned run in Oakland and had given up 1 run in the 5th inning today. It was a quick hook by any measure.

  106. SJ44

    You are too caught up in looking at stats and not watching the game. “He gave up one run” doesn’t describe his outing accurately at all.

    The guy was already at 80 pitches in the 4th inning. How many swings and misses did the Indians have against him? The answer is, 3.

    He isn’t any good. He shows it in every start. Its why just looking at stats, and not watching him pitch, is misleading. He has been given 3 leads in 3 starts and has given up the lead the next half inning in all three starts.

    Do you think the manager of a team with a guy pitching like that is going to be patient with him? Of course not.

    He is what he is. A career minor league pitcher trying to fill big shoes.

    To second guess Torre’s use of him is laughable. There are many more instances where its rightly justified to question his use of the bullpen.

    Not giving a scrub like Rasner more rope ain’t one of them.

  107. hmmm

    eh, they didn’t play well today. but they took 2 of 3 from a good team running 3 rookies out there. i’m satisfied with that for now.

  108. A-Rod is the best

    Melky Cabrera stinks. Darrell Rasner stinks.

  109. Michael in Chicago

    A-ROD YEAAAAAHAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

  110. Jeremy

    HE DID IT AGAIN!

  111. Erick

    ABREU!!!

    Thank God for stupid Phillies fans.
    It´s a shame Yankee fans behave the same way with A-Rod.

    AROD!!!

    Please don’t go.

  112. Gator49

    Un freakin believable!!!!!!!!!!!

  113. Jer

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    AROD FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!

  114. stuart

    they took 3 out of 3….

    wow.

    I am at work and saw none of it… did he kill the HR????

  115. Yankeefaninwooosta

    Wow………..

  116. Jer

    Now I REALLY wish I had a TV in front of me. Alas, I don’t think that would go over too well since I’m at “work”.

  117. Jake

    Does A ROd ever hit a “cheap” homer?

  118. David

    sj-I was watching him pitch all game. They were not hitting him hard. A-Rod is unreal.

  119. Paul..

    That ball was TATOOED!!!!

  120. sunny615

    In the 7th inning – I said this:

    sunny615 April 19th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
    time for another walk off.

    I think I should get a booby prize or something!

    (http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/19/great-night-for-the-franchise/#comments)

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Peter AbrahamPeter Abraham is the Yankees beat writer for The Journal News and LoHud.com. E-mail me at pabraham@lohud.com

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