Wrapping up the doubleheader
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on May 17, 2007 
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Joe Torre said and he and Ron Guidry would talk today about who would start on Sunday against the Mets. Chien-Ming Wang hasn’t been ruled out but it seems unlikely he would be their choice.
Jorge Posada was 3 of 5 on the day, raising his batting average to an AL-best .375. He and Derek Jeter are riding 11-game hitting streaks. For Posada, it is the longest of his career.
Jason Giambi snapped an 0-for-20 skid with his single in the ninth inning of Game 2.
What was said that makes Wang unlikely? I figured that he would be the way to go.
Matsui did a really good job today also. His avg for May is above .300, so I don’t know why people include him in the list of players who are in slumps. Now all i got to say is lets win the series! Looking forward to tomorrow.
Thanks for the updates Pete! We appreciate them.
Granted Giambi has been an atrocious 0-20 before that hit, but hasn’t he also drawn a lot of walks in that span? I can’t remember if this is the case, so someone can correct me if I’m wrong.
Also putting it out there – Posada is the most underrated player on the team. Catching is physically demanding, and requires so much mental concentration (knowing and communicating well with the pitcher, knowing the hitter, remembering what happened at their last at-bat) and on top of that pretty much holding the team together offensively with Jeter the past few games – it’s pretty remarkable.
DL
The story with Posada is how much he’s improved in the last year or two – especially defensively. He and Tony Pena really seem to click. His % throwing out runners has improved, he blocks the plate better, and just seems in control of the game.
He’s also caught 6 different rookie starting pitchers this year
Pete – get some rest. Talk about a long day
Pete,
What happened in the last hour or so, to go from only 91 pitches… viable option for Sunday to Wang being an unlikely choice for Sunday? Did you pick up on something said in the organization or is that your gut feeling?
If they bring Wright up for Sunday do they option Rasner?
Thanks for all of your hard work.
I just get the sense that it’s too early in the season to be screwing around with a starter, especially one who was already on the DL. If they wouldn’t bring Wang back on 3 days in the playoffs, why would they do it against the Mets?
I’m just hazarding a guess but that’s how it seems.
And the best part is that Posada was “supposed” to have a low production year
“And the best part is that Posada was “supposedâ€? to have a low production year”
And Jason Marquis was supposed to be a horrible signing. Gil Meche was supposed to be an embarrassment to the Royals. Aaron Rowand was supposed to be done. Braden Looper was supposed to be a mistake in the rotation.
Pre-season “guarantees” almost always show that in all aspects of life, William Goldman was right: no one knows anything.
i think they start wang on 3 days rest.. a slightly tired sinkerballer is better than a sinkerball with too much rest (he wouldnt start until tues if he doesnt pitch sunday)
I agree Josh. If they don’t plan on using him on Sunday, what the hell was the point of taking him out and nearly blowing the game with *Farnsworthless*.
AAA is decimated by injuries and underperformance…that or they are already starting here. Who is exactly do we even have for Sunday? Someone is going to have to go on short rest.
Josh, Wang being able to have a good performance isn’t the problem in this case, it’s; how many innings can Wang go without the Yankees pushing the limits on him and getting him injured.
Peter- I think part of the reason they wouldn’t do it in the playoffs- was because they would have had to throw Jaret Wright (in game 5) unless they wanted to short-rest Moose too. THis time- they would only have to short-rest Wang. I think they should give it a shot- to save from having to screw around with their bullpen with a transaction (which seems to be improving with the improvement of the starting pitching)- funny how that works, eh?
i would start tyler clippard-
give the kid a shot
chazzh, you beat me to that post, pick your poison, Wang on short rest and Jaret Wright in game 5 or Jaret in game 4 and a rested Wang in game 5.
Funnilly enough, it comes down to Wang vs. a Wright again, this time Chase as my guess. I think Wright is Right and Wang is Wrong for this decision because then Wang would get the two starts vs Boston, not DeSalvo.
To get the roster spot, I suggest we play the game without Cairo, can he be sent to the minors? Then after the game send Wright back down and bring up Gonzalez. Who’s with me?
Why else would Wang go under 90 pitches if he isn’t pitching on Sunday?
Whats with Joe and the low pitch count, Dice-K who also gave up one run was left in for the whole game and threw 124 pitches! Wang had enough to pitch the 8th.
Nespn at it again- Who framed Roger Clemens? Not us
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....ortCat=mlb
By Scoop Jackson
I watched, I listened, I read, waiting for someone — anyone — to say something; to break down how selfish Roger Clemens really is to continue to treat the game this way. The game of baseball, the one America holds so dearly to its heart. Instead, nothing. The only point of national contention seems to be a “freedom clause” in his contract that allows him to go home on off days.
The media — the people who are supposed to be the voices of reason, the protectors of the sanctity of sports — collectively have acted as if Roger Clemens’ signing with the Yankees was about Roger Clemens’ signing with the Yankees. The media is failing to recognize this is about how one man not only has put an “I” in team, but put a “me” in MLB and “myself” in professional sports.
Roger Clemens is without question the most selfish athlete of our time.
Either that, or he’s the most celebrated pimp in professional sports.
Now, I like Roger Clemens, a lot. Always have. I’ll root for him whenever he’s on the mound, as long as he’s not facing Pedro Martinez. I respect his “gangster.” It’s not him I have the issue with. If he can continue getting away with what he’s doing, more power to him. Play the game, don’t ever let it play you. Ball Player Rule No. 4080.
But when a player, year after year, holds teams — heck, an entire sport — hostage, affecting everything from payroll to personnel moves, all for the benefit of his personal happiness, it seems it’s our job to ignore it. To act like it doesn’t keep happening. Instead, let’s make a big deal about what he’s allowed to do on his off days. Yeah, that’s the story.
As we always say in this business, “the public has the right to know.” And you all have the right to know when someone has a God complex and represents everything that is wrong with professional sports.
But like Dave Chappelle’s old skit, “When Keepin’ It Real Goes Wrong,” this latest situation should be dubbed “When The Benefit Of The Doubt Goes Too Far: The Roger Clemens Edition.”
All I’m saying is, sometimes in life we have to call a spade a spade, a crook a crook, a con artist a con artist, a selfish SOB a selfish SOB, a great pitcher a great pitcher … a pimp a pimp. And I feel it’s my duty to say what needs to be said about the great Roger Clemens:
So what he’s been pitching for 23 years?
So what he has rings, Cy Youngs and 348 wins?
So what the last time he pitched his ERA was 2.30?
So what he has more than 4,000 strikeouts?
SO WHAT?
He’s a self-absorbed, beyond-arrogant, bigger-than-the-game, I-have-no-respect-or-honor-for-the-concept-of-team, I-only-pitch-when-I-feel-like-it, any-team-should-feel-blessed-to-have-me, Randy-Johnson-will-never-be-on-my-level, the-world-revolves-around-me, kiss-the-ground-I walk-on, worship-who-I-am-because-I-am-the-me-myself-and-I-in-MLB pimp.
But again, my problem is not with Roger, it’s with us. The media cowards. Because all of us, for too long now, have looked past all of this and validated what I’ve said my whole life: “Pimpin’ ain’t easy, the media is just scared.”
Please send hate mail to Scoop Jackson http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/.....t_id=15099
According to Jackson, Roger’s is selfish sob . This guy is clueless.Roger’s works hard, mentoring young pitchers . How come this guy still has a job in espn? Advice to Jackson, Stick with Basketball.
Gonzalez is 1 for his last 25 in the minors right now and his average is down to .238.
He has also made 4 of his 6 errors on the season in the ten days.
He’s not ready yet. Wish he was but, he’s not.
I think they have two viable options for Sunday and none should be pitching Wang on short rest. Especially since he is coming off a hamstring and a finger injury.
One, call up Wright and give him the start.
Two, move Pavano to the 60 Day DL, and call up Jeff Marquez to pitch. Marquez isn’t on the 40 man roster, which would necessitate the Pavano move.
Marquez has been outstanding in AA this year and is probably on the cusp of getting called up to AAA. Especially with all the injuries in Scranton right now.
I’d make either one of those moves and not mess with Wang. Not worth it, IMO.
Boy, if only we could make every year a walk year for Posada.
Jeff NY,
I was thinking demoting Wil Nieves temporarily. He’s worthless with the stick and Phelps could catch in a pinch.
Pete,
Thanks for the response. I see your point, plus pitching Wang against Mets weakens the rotation against the Sox. Do you think Rasner will be sent down or, as some on this board speculate, do you think it may be a less obvious choice like Vizcaino. This would allow Wright to make a spot start, then make room for a guy like Britton after the start.
Deep, that thought crossed my mind too. I’m sure we could live with Phelps for a few days as backup catcher, but most people (including apparently the Yankees coaches) don’t think Phelps is a good enough defensive catcher. To be honest the backup catcher usually plays once a week so I can live with a mediocre defensive option as long as he doesn’t bring it to the plate with him. I’ve been calling for that since spring training.
SJ, thanks for the info on Gonzalez, I didn’t realize he was slumping. They should teach Basak to play multiple positions.
Either way, they will need to make a move to get a new starter up here, maybe I’m missing the obvious one, send down Rasner after his start on Saturday. Next time they would need a 5th starter would be 5/29 and I hear there’s some veteran pitching in Tampa tomorrow night who could fit nicely into that spot.
Send Rasner down after his Saturday start and bring back Igawa for Sunday. By the time Rasner is eligible to come back (10 days?) Clemens may be ready and the Yanks can decide who goes down between Rasner/DeSalvo/Igawa. Personally, I’d like to see how Igawa has reacted to his demotion. The Japanese are a very proud people — I would think he would be very motivated to prove he belongs in MLB.
SJ44–
Is Pavano currently NOT on the DL? I would think they’re going to have to make a decision on him soon, because he’s clearly taking a roster spot and it surely doesn’t look like he’s going to pitch anytime soon.
If he’s not on the DL, why can’t they just put him back on the 15-day rather than the 60-day, if they only need to call someone up short-term?
And, I’m curious why you would bring up Marquez and not Clippard?
“To get the roster spot, I suggest we play the game without Cairo, can he be sent to the minors? Then after the game send Wright back down and bring up Gonzalez. Who’s with me?”
Cairo would have to agree to be sent down.
the issue isn’t the 25 man roster. it’s the 40 man roster.
calling up Clippard or Marquez necessitates a roster move.
they can move Pavano to the 60 day DL. but then you need ANOTHER roster move when Clemens comes back.
they could DFA Colter Bean, i suppose. but now you are talking about losing someone (i know most people here won’t care) for 1 start.
i would either pitch Wang on short rest or call up Chase Wright (ugh). i’d send Rasner down after his next start and hope Clemens is ready before Wright’s turn comes back up.
I know a lot of you don’t like Cairo. And I would agree that this season and some (most?) of last, he did not do well at the plate. But, he is a perfect bench player because he can play all the infield positions (except catcher) and the outfield in a pinch. He’s no Brooks Robinson, but I don’t think he’s a liability in the field. I don’t think it’s very easy to find a guy like him who is so mentally able to plug himself in wherever he’s needed. If they can groom one of their minor leaguers to do this in the future, great, but for now anyway it’s Miguel. He is suited to his role.
However, what the Yankees don’t have is a Ruben Sierra-type who is a HR threat off the bench who can fill in in the outfield. (Or that other player who shall remain nameless, even though he’s not much of a pinch-hitter.) They really should not be carrying Phelps and Mientkiewicz, but it looks like that’s going to be the situation.
I guess what I’m saying is you really can’t move Cairo to make room for a pitcher.
i say start the wanger vs. the mutz . he’s better than anybody they have and he’s young , he can handle it . foget starting moose on 4 days rest . he’s too old and moose certainly doesnt like getting out of his routine . which leaves pettitte , rasnor and wang vs the mutz and moose could kick off the series vs. the red sox .
Igawa has been ruled out for SUnday. They are refining his delivery and he is scheduled to start for Tampa on Saturday. He’ll need at least 2 starts to see if he can be consistent with this new delivery before they bring him back. Supposedly, this new delivery has added 2-3 miles per hour to his fastball. Hope this is true and that it improves his command.
You know, with the forecast in NY this weekend, no one may pitch.
Hmmm–
So, using Chase Wright would not necessitate another roster move?
Good point Bill,
The worst of the rain looks to be during the day Saturday, so that game is in serious jeopardy at this point. If that storm were to linger into early Sunday, then abate as the day wears on, Rasner could pitch Sunday; problem solved. But the way the Yanks luck has been going, I’d expect this weather to lead to another double header – on Sunday – since Sunday’s game is scheduled for 8:05 on ESPN.
I say no to using Wang on 3 days, considering he is recently off the DL. To lose him again would be catastrophic. Yes, I realize the alternatives are pretty lousy.
YAYYYYYYY! I win! Everybody was so good and it was so hard to beat a team who is last in batting avaerge.
Everybody on the team should submit their ring sizes!!!!!
Talk to me after the Mets and the Red Sox have us for lunch!
You guys are too much!!!!
I’d go so far as starting Myers or Proctor rather than risk Wang. We’re just starting to get some traction with the rotation. I would tamper with it as little as possible.
Apparently Yankee DG is off his meds again.
They should call me up to pitch this weekend. I can keep hitters off balance with my little league heat and my big league heart.
“Hmmm—
So, using Chase Wright would not necessitate another roster move?”
not a 40 man roster move. he is already on the 40 man, which is why he got the call earlier in the season.
they’d have to send someone down from the 25 man, but i assume that would be rasner.
“YAYYYYYYY! I win! Everybody was so good and it was so hard to beat a team who is last in batting avaerge.
Everybody on the team should submit their ring sizes!!!!!”
please point out any post that suggests anything like this.
you are arguing with yourself.
in fact, this entire thread has been dedicated to discussing who will pitch on sunday.
Good point on the doubleheader, the Yankees play at Shea only once this year, so with a rainout Saturday we could be looking at a twin bill Sunday with Rasner and Wright starting. That could get ugly.
Send Nieves down call up your starter then call up Raul(cant be any worse)Chavez