Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Sep 13, 2007 
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Mike Mussina returned and looked like the Moose of old as the Yankees beat Toronto 4-1. That’s seven in a row for the Yanks.
Shelley Duncan got some good news on the health front. This notebook also updates the status of Luis Vizcaino and has news on Jeff Karstens heading for Taiwan to play for Team USA.
Hopefully Shelley didn’t give his doctor a forearm.
Kars to Taiwan for World Cup, interesting, but he really need to make up the innings…
Check the schedule for World Cup, Taiwan and USA in same pool, and play in Taichung (Chung means middle in chinese), then other pool either play in either Taipei city (Tien-Mou)or Taipei County (Shin-Chuan)..
Semi finals and finals are in Taipei’s 2 ball parks (pei means North)….
as Wang’s birth place Tainan (nan means south)…
Taipei, Taichung and Tainan all at the west coast of Taiwan
Will 9/21/2008 be the first game to sell out? How many tickets will the Yankees scalp themselves?
not to look a gift horse in the mouth but if i was managing last night i would have left moose in the 6th for one more out . he had 89 pitches and a 4 run lead . its not like he brought in farnsworthless . he brought in edwar . that really got my goat . same thing can be said for joba in the 8th . torre was a little quick with the trigger on both these guys .
I can understand second-guessing a loss, but can’t we just enjoy about a win? A 7th-consecutive win, at that.
I loved that Joba didn’t allow the unearned run to bother
him.He still had two goog ininngs, got the “W”and a zero era intact.
Matsui seems to be coming around too,at the perfect time.
.
It’s surprising that Torre used Joba so much last night,with
the very important weekend series coming.
No, Moose was totally out of gas. You could see Torre ask him something on the mound, and it was probably “Can you keep going?” Moose knew he was done. Taking him out then preserved the shutout, which will go a long way to helping Moose’s confidence. If he stayed in for one more out and gave up 3 runs in the process, it wouldn’t have been worth it.
Now making Joba go two innings, that was stupid.
great game by mussina. the rest and the wakeup call of losing his rotation spot seems to have helped. with a veteran team why not create competition for their spots to get over veteran complacency? damon, mussina,and farnsworth seem to have responded . i like the idea of having to compete for a spot. even melky and cano should have someone behind them wanting to play so they don’t take anything for granted.
I don’t really count that unearned run. Anyone know what the all time record is for most consecutive innings without an earned run to start a major league career? He’s got to be getting close.
DesignatedBlogger,
I think thats a good sign. I’m happy when I see a pitcher actually swallow their pride a bit and do whats best for the team.
But yah, Joba two innings? Hmm. Not sure what the stratagy there was. Only thing I can say is that the Yankees are playing game by game now and decided not to plan stratagy and personal for games later in the week.. I guess its a good mindset to have. Every game is big.
If Torre gave Moose the option to stay in or come out, and Moose said he was done, it’s a sign Moose is thinking that it’s more important for the team to win than it is for him to prove something.
If only we could be sure Clemens will be as honest about his elbow through his workouts leading up to the Boston Series, and during the game on Sunday.
I didn’t see it, but was Papi’s walk-off HR something that merely could have been caught, or flat-out should have been caught? Probably some schmuck Sox fan in the stands would’ve interfered anyways.
Let ‘em have their cheap walk-off HR. Whether NY wins 2 / 3 or sweeps this weekend, it’s still looking OPTIMISTIC! Finding ourselves 2 down in the loss column with 2 weeks to go isn’t ideal, but at least it gives us a good shot as we reach the finish line. And a much better shot at securing the WC as ‘Plan B’ at the very least.
At that point in the game, I for one thought Edwar had a better chance of getting the third out than Moose did. It worked out fine, so what’s there to second-guess?
The RS win didn’t bother me a bit. The only thing the Yankees should be concerned about is winning their own games. What they’ve accomplished since the end of May is remarkable. Nothing the RS do down the stretch can change that. The only thing that bothered me was the amount of RS trolling after the game. You’d think they had won the WS rather than a one-run game against the D-Rays.
Ranting guy: It would be 3 games behind in the loss column if the Yankees took 2 out of 3.
Mr. Vegas-
I feel the same way about that Red Sox win. I watched the game on NESN, watched him hit the HR, listened to the crowd cheer and whatever.. It didn’t bother me one bit.
Ussualy Im sick when I see that, but I hardly payed it any attention. It doesn’t even matter.
Big Papi’s 2nd “Homerun” was a high pop fly down the RF line that should have been caught. Perhaps the wind was blowing, but the RFer (Delmon Young) totally misjudged the ball. He went to the Foul Pole and the ball landed in the first row seats about 8 feet to his Young’s left (from the batter’s box).
Poor Edwar Ramirez. He now apparently has Torre’s confidence, and may be the next Quantrill/Sturtze/Gordon/Proctor/Vizcaino!
Everybody….Look at the Yankees last 7 games and compare them to what Boston has been doing….after the Yankees sweep out Boston and their putrid pitching staff and bats that only come alive against AAA team middle and late relievers, we will only be ONE GAME OUT IN THE LOSS COLUMN to the BoSox and it will basically all be over. They are a shell of the team that started 36-15 and it is time for them to go away….Bye Bye Nation, Rat Boy, Youk the cry baby and Capn Crunch….babye now….have a nice winter !
Love the Optimism Vito! Go Yankees!
Mussina begged out in the sixth because he didn’t want to get stuck with a loss, not because he selflessly wanted to help the team. The guy’s as soft as a baby’s ass (always has been, always will be) and if he gets a post season start we’ll all live to regret it.
Also, let’s not exaggerate what he did last night. Against one of the worst hitting teams in the league, who are in the middle of their annual September mail-in, he needed about five different rockets to find leather. Factor in that he had extended rest (which is the only way he gets his fastball over 85 MPH) and only one K (which is a big indicator for him) and I’m not impressed.
For my money, the post season rotation should be Wang, Petitte, Hughes and Kennedy, assuming Clemens isn’t fit to go. And don’t be so sure that Joe doesn’t agree. I think he’s as sick of Mussina’s act as I am. His quitting on his feet last night won’t change that.
randyhater-
I don’t know… Joe is really known for sticking with experience.
If Moose and Hughes pitch similiarly the rest of the way I think you’ll see Joe give the nod to Moose for that third spot.
yankees must shut down David Ortiz,especially in the ninth,no “Bawston” walk off runs,or come from behind wins,this series!!!! We have pitchers they’ve never seen,and should be able to keep them off balance. Go Bronx Bombers!
And you call yourselves Yankee fans? You should be ashamed of yourselves. All this Torre loathing is totally uncalled for. Who died and left you General Manager. We should be thrilled about what the Yanks are doing. Torre and his coaches know a heck of a lot more baseball and what is happening with the team than we ever will. Get with the game root for the team but bashing your own guys just sucks and just spells loser.
Maybe using Joba for 2 yesterday was part of a deliberate plan to minimize Joba’s exposure in Boston. The Youklis buzzing is likely to make him a target and for all the talk about how he’s a young player and they are trying to protect him, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Yankees don’t want to put that much pressure on a 21 year old. Facing the Sox 3 times in 3 weeks might also be a disadvantage for him if he has to face them in the playoffs.
Does anyone else think media types, who wear a suit with the top button unbuttoned with no tie, the most un-cool, un-hip thing going? I mean, why not just wear a t-shirt?
Vader-
Heh who did you see dressed like that Vader?
Vader I agree. I for one vowed to never again wear a tie or button the top button ever again. I wonder who you might be talking about…
Watch ESPN2, and if you want a good laugh watch anything out of Boston. Fox Sports New England has to be the biggest culprit and sometimes on the NESN pre-game, too funny.
http://fsnnewengland.com/sports_tonight.jsp
http://fsnnewengland.com/STLINEUP.jsp
*Repost*
Warning! Do not read while drinking coffee. The Journal News will not be responsible for damaged screens or laptops.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....ey=7215532
(To get your juices flowing this a.m. If you have the time read through the comments. Basically Red Sox fans taking it as gospel and Yankee fans reminding them that uh, the Yankees have been doing this for years)
Has anyone else had this comment, “Your comment is awaiting moderation” after you posted anything? I’m sorry, but people (trolls) say things that have nothing to do with the conversation and degrade people (anyone remember the guy talking about people with cancer) and they want to moderate my comments about media types? Now that is funny.
Vader,
Pete has explained (and it’s happened to me) that will happen if you put more than 2 links in a post.
Oh, goody, the “Torre Knows All and is Above Criticism” post. We don’t “loathe” Torre, we just recognize that his achilles heel is Bullpen management. It’s a horror show. Using Edwar the next day after throwing 30 pitches – inexcusible. Using Joba for 2 innings in a 4 run game – also inexcusible. Allowing quality relievers to rot on the bench – such as Villone, Britton, Veras, heck even Igawa and DeSalvo – while you continue to burn out the small cabal of MFR (most favored reliever) is ALSO inexcusible.
Torre has accomplished great things in NY, but that does not make him above criticism.
Peter,
If you can’t put Farnsworth in a game to get 3 outs with a 4 run lead against a non-playoff team with the 3rd worst offensive output in the AL, then he should never be used. Forgetting the fact that you yourself have had to grudgingly admit that he’s pitched well of late? You’re letting your personal feelings about managers/players get in the way of objective analysis and reasoning, and it’s obvious to many of us who read the blog.
Bottom line – if you can’t trust Bruney or Farnsworth to get 3 outs in a game with a 4 run lead, then they shouldn’t even be on the team. Oh by the way – Rivera got 4 outs and came in to the game in the 8th, so we really only needed them to get 2 outs.
Instead, Torre’s bungling of the pen has cost us Joba for 2 out of the 3 Red Sox games. Would you rather have Farnsworth pitching in Toronto with a 4 run lead in the 8th or in Fenway with the game on the line Peter?
Darth – Don’t worry maybe someone’s just busting your hump.
Thanks mel, I thought maybe since this was a media outlet, maybe you weren’t allowed to pick on them.
Mel-
I cant even read those comments. It makes me sick that the Red Sox and their fans think the organization has been doing this forever and created these rules and guidelines.
Will somebody tell them that the Yankees field more of a homegrown team then the Red Sox do?
Ugh.
At some point in the 17 remaining games, Torre will need to realize that the roster was expanded with September callups. Last night the entire bullpen of many arms must have known they were on standby with Mussina pitching. Torre must have been scoreboard watching and had faith in the D-Rays winning a game and decided he would go with his very best out of the pen with an attempt to gain a game once Mussina fooled him with a quality start.
Dman,
I know what you mean. When those guys have no counterpoint, they just give an edited pottymouth response and talk about how the division is theirs.
I don’t hate on any of our players because they’re all Yankees, but it seems that Boston fans hate on Crisp, Lugo, Drew, GAGNE, and now Dice-K. As a Yankee fan imbedded in Boston is that a fair assessment?
Sawx fans have blinders. Theo has done such a great job, Drew, Renteria, Lugo, Crisp????? He wanted Jeremy Giambi over Papi. Theo gets credit for the 2004 championship, but I’m sorry, if wasn’t for the Yankees collapse, would the Sawx Nation be that big?
I was just busting with one of the guys here at work (a Mets fan but an intelligent baseball mind) that I had the funny feeling the Yankees would do this when the writers started revisiting The Bronx Zoo of ’77 (Deja vu all over again). It certainly looks like it. If we sweep the Sox (certainly not impossible since we already took 8 out of 15) and they lose two to the A’s, Twins, or Devil Rays (TB usually being good for at least one Sox lost/series) and we win against Toronto, Baltimore, or Tampa (again VERY possible) we have the Division.
Or at worst we still shell them as the Wild Card…leaving another 85 years until your next one….bye bye Baked Beans…hello Anderson Avenue!
Mel-
No kidding!
Thats what makes no sense to me. They say things like ‘Theo goes out and has the best drafts and is the best at signing free agents and making mid-season trades, all while keeping the pay roll low’…
Then the very next sentence talks about how they need to get rid of half the guys they signed!
I don’t get it. Theo wins a world series, now hes untouchable. Everybody here in Boston turns a blind eye to him. They’ll yell and degrade the players themselves, but they won’t blame Theo or the organization.
At the very least, I hope that the Yankees take 2 out of 3. That would give us the season series and be the tiebreaker for the division. It’s possible if our starters and bullpen pitch like they did in the last series. We’ve played them tough all season, many of the early losses were of the 1-2 run loss variety.
We’re doing…really well… on the road trip so far.
Bullpen troubles or not, I ain’t complaining.
Can anyone tell me why would you pitch to Ortiz?..makes no sense. Even though Reyes had the better record against him. No-one can underestimate Papi in that situation
Mysterjc:
They are the Devil Rays.
Do you really need any more explanation than that?
Reyes had nothing last night. Couldn’t find the plate (although he got chihuahua to pop). He’d already walked Lugo and there was only 1 out so I can see why they didn’t IBB Ortiz. Groundball would’ve ended the game with David’s quad problem. But, then he laid that fat 3-1 meatball right over the plate. Ortiz has never been one to refuse a meatball. lol.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/daily?page=dd/070912
=D
*EXTRA! EXTRA!*
Press Pops Patriots’ Puss
http://tinyurl.com/2q3cvk
Last regular season game at old Yankee Stadium will be against Baltimore 9/21/08. We must be ending the season on the road.
Mets will play their last game on 9/28/08 against Florida.
*EXTRA! EXTRA!*
Moose Calls Toronto OUT!
http://tinyurl.com/3czaa9
I was puzzled by Joba coming back for the 8th, especially with Kay mentioning that if he pitches an inning he’d be available for 2 sox games. I’m hoping it’s just signs of an unpublicized Joba rule change and wouldn’t be surprised if we see him for an inning tomorrow…
Also, maybe Viz is worse off than we though and Joe was saving Farns for tonight?
I did wonder why Reyes would even pitch to Ortiz, but then again, what do they have to lose?
Go Yanks!
Dr. A–I’m interested in putting together a collections of those images…would I be able to find them or do you take them down after each day?
Yah no idea why they’d pitch to him but, lets not worry at all about the Red Sox until Friday.
It’s been all great news on the Yankee front, and thats all I care about!
In hindsight it wasn’t so great, but only because of the amount of pitches he threw getting the 4 outs.
I think he only threw 12 pitches in the 7th.
If the margin had been bigger then we would’ve seen some of the other guys. When, up to that point, you had only managed 4 hits the game is really, really tight. So you gotta go with your best guy. It was a must win because at that point Boston was still losing.
If Joba has a light Saturday (I hope we see him because that means we’re winning) then he probably comes back Sunday (if we’re winning).
I’m still really impressed that we won the game on four hits.
That says a lot about our team
first of all it was just my opinion on how i would have used moose. thats all . 4-0 , 2 out and 89 pitches in the 6th . maybe he did say he was done when torre came out . maybe he did think whats best for the team . i dont think so but he may have . anyway , joba pitched 2 innings because he hadnt pitched since the kc series . and i would assume he will able to pitch on friday if need be because he wont be available today . i hope the viz will be available for the beantown series .
Chris, the Joba-Rules (if not ammended) dictate that for pitching 2 innings, he gets 2 days off. That would be today (Thursday) and Friday, available again Saturday. Then he would be unavailable for Sunday.
I’m not concerned about his availability against Boston, but more in using him unnecessarily and the same for Edwar. There is a bullpen FULL of arms that should be able to maintain a 4 run lead.
Well, either way we know Jobas getting a rest.. I hope the same goes for Edwar..
He seems to have gained some of Torre’s confidence. Coul become the new go-to guy out of the pen while the Viz heals.
“but more in using him unnecessarily”
If Joba wouldn’t have pitched yesterday, he would have no pitched for an entire week.
The Sox are still in reach, if tampa had ANY decent middle relief pitching they would have swept them as they feasted on Sox pitching… I look forward to the weekend battle! Once again tonight is a VERY big game
On fox it shows that Hughes is pitching sunday. Is that an error or have they made the decision to shut Clemens down?
S.o.S.27
I haven’t checked but, ESPN, Mlb.com, etc all had Hughes down days before the announcement about Clemens.. I think they probably just haven’t updated.
Dayn Perry was obviously smoking before he wrote that article. There are several points in that article that make me laugh ie.:
*Rebuilding while contending* I wonder if he realizes that the Red Sox missed the playoffs last year. The Yankees on the other hand have plugged in Joba, Kennedy, Hughes, Duncan, plus several other youngsters and will probably make the playoffs for the 12th year in a row.
*Becoming players in the Pacific Rim* Ummm the Yankees have been players since the 90′s although not always successful. I wonder if he remembers Hideki I-Rob-U.
*Building the Brand* Does he realize that the Yankees are estimated to be worth 1.2 Billion. Nearly 600 Mil more than the Red Sox.
I could go on and on but the Red Sox are merely now doing what the Yankees have been doing forever. I used to have some respect for Dayn Perry but after reading that article I realize he’s an idiot.
raymagnetic-
I know right? Isn’t it completely absurd that he misses how they bascially copy the Yankees plan?
Do yourself a favor ray, don’t read the comments posted below that article. You might get sick.
ESPN Poll on who will the Playoffs: Boston or Us
(right hand column – 2/3 of the way down)
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/index
Not to change the subject, but does anyone want to buy (face value) 2 tickets to next Saturday’s game against the Blue Jays?
Tier Box MVP. Behind Home Plate. Down Low.
Now that Moose is back in Torre’s circle of trust, does that mean Kennedy is out or are we going to go with a 6 man rotation? I would hate to see Kennedy lose his spot even if he has a mediocre start today. I think he earned it winning big games for us this month when Moose wasnt.
Rebecca-
Hi,
you’re welcomed to download from this address
http://tinyurl.com/297xgs
and then I have several subdirectories, here:
http://s9.photobucket.com/albu.....7/Yankees/
just click on the thumbnail and grab watcha want.
DMan I’m reading the comments now and LMAO.
Rebecca-
Hi,
you’re welcomed to download from this address
http://tinyurl.com/297xgs
and then I have several subdirectories, here:
http://s9.photobucket.com/albu.....7/Yankees/
just click on the thumbnail and grab watcha want.
Not to stick up for Sox fans, but, um — there are plenty of Yankees “fans” who “hate on” our own players (A-Rod, for example, but also Giambi, Matsui, Cano, Farnsworth, or whoever the player with the worst slump-du-jour is).
And regarding using Chamberlain and Edwar (I myself questioned Edwar, since he’d pitched the night before – but I don’t know how many pitches he threw and he seemed to have a relatively easy 2 innings), on the one hand there are people here who scream (figuratively, of course) that every single game is a must win. I happen to agree that all games are important from here on out. But, you can’t say you have to win every game and then say that Joe should just plug in any arm in relief just because they’re there. It was a 4-0 game, not a 10-0 game; and while the Blue Jays are not the strongest team in the division, they are tough in their own ballpark.
I could only read a few of them before I started questioning the IQ levels of those posting.
I felt like I was taking crazy pills.
oh, I don’t take the pics down. that would break links, etc.
Doreen-
I agree with you that there are people who question our players and such.. But the difference is, some critisim is thrown at Brian Cashman too.. Hence why they were talking about firing him earlier in the season..
Theo Epstien gets an absolute free pass, no matter what the move. You never read a word about him being in trouble..
Even last year, when they finished third, no body was questioning his moves..
Thats the difference, I think.
Acula Overload!!!
Mel maybe I’m wrong but I think it is tongue and cheek? He rattles off a list of players they drafted but half are gone. LOL
And I’d like to know how they rebuilt while contending. They didn’t make the playoffs last year. Last off season they brought in big ticket, over paid losers like Drew.
The Yankees on the other hand turned over their roster while bringing up kids. We got rid of big bird and replaced him with Hughes. Look at this season alone. We brought up Hughes, Kennedy, Chamberlin all who have been successful and that is just in the pitching department.
I can’t help but think that, that article was satirical.
jennifer-
Well just read some of the comments.. Its obvouis all those red sox fans didn’t take it as so.. They really think they’re the greatest sports franchise in the world.. It boggels ones mind.
Why the hell do the MEts get to close out the season at home? 2 years in a row no less. The Yankees should have the last regular season game at home. Our stadium is far more historic than theirs.
jennifer, i guess the schedule makes have more confidence in a yankee post season than a met one…
makes = makers
Doreen,
There are people here who change their opinions about players with every game, even after every at-bat. They’re just Negative Nancies. In fact, if a player gets ripped here, they usually play well that day. Intelligent
fans will look at a player’s body of work over the course of a season when making judgements. Although, as a Yankee fan I’m really enjoying that Drew pick up so far.
I appreciate all the Yankees, even after they’re gone. I miss our mascot Cairo! Even Josh Phelps is making himself at home in Pittsburgh.
Am I the only one that takes that article as satiracle?
DMan — It’s true that I’ve never read anything negative about Theo. In fact, isn’t it widely acknowledge that he’s a boy genius? How old does he have to be before that’s no longer true, I wonder?
Mel — I miss Cairo, too. It was also very strange, yesterday, when I heard Mike Myers on XM and instead of giving the inside scoop on the Yankees, he was talking about Ozzie’s extension with the ChiSox. Too weird. And I followed Andy Pettitte’s games with Houston when he was gone. The way the season has turned around, it just doesn’t seem fair that there’s any negativity at all (not that I think Yankee-world is perfect, but it’s purty durn good).
jennifer-
I truly believe he is serious. It comes off as a joke becauses hes just so amazingly uninformed.. its like he didnt even check facts, eh just went with assumptions..
Anyone want to email him and ask him if he was serious?
Doreeen – as far as using Joba unnecessarily, I meant only the second inning. A 4-0 game does not dictate using Joba for 2 innings. Especially not with the number of guys in the pen, including Farnsworth, who could come into the middle of an inning if one of the other guys gets into any trouble.
It’s just more of the same – burning out the “trusted” relievers while entirely ignoring the other 10 guys in the pen. I would not be at all surprised if the Yankees ended up winning a game in blowout fasion while Britton and Villone STILL sit idly on the bench.
Perry, couldn’t write a fluff piece on the Yankees since, they’ve rebuilt while still contended, made the playoffs 12 years in a row and counting, and have led the league in traveling attendence since forever.
Sheppard — In that case, I’d have to appreciate your line of thinking. Joba didn’t “need” to do 2 innings, and maybe Farnsworth could have been brought in fresh in the 7th, Joba in the 8th, Mo in the 9th. You use one additional pitcher, but Mo doesn’t have to do a 4-out stint.
Britton and Villone are not as trusted, apparently.
I’d only add that there may have been a plan in place since Ian Kennedy is pitching tonight. Maybe they wanted to mix-and-match somehow to complement Kennedy?
Dr. A–Thank you!
i don’t understand the torre bashers. is he purrfect, no? but to sit in your home drinking a cold beer or whatever, trying to make decisions based on absolutely no information, without having the vaguest clue as to the overall plan of attack for the remainder of the season seems {searching for an understandable word here) got it. stupid.
Ah, so the master plan is to win it all using just 4 relievers. Well played Mr. Torre, well played.
Sherard:
Very good posts. We are both on the same page with Torre’s bullpen management (or mismanagement). I’ve said many times before, Joe Torre is a good manager overall and with his lifetime achievements with the Yankees, will be recognized as one of their greatest skippers. But managing pitchers is not and never was a strong suit.
Does anyone question why Cashman and Yankee pitching gurus instituted the “Joba Rules”? Do you think the same rules would be in effect for other MLB managers who haven’t turned bullpen arms into sawdust??
Joba definitey needed the work last night, but not for two innings worth. Farnsworth – not a “master of command” – could have used an inning to stay sharp. Villone – who also is not a master of command – could also use the work since he hasn’t thrown a pitch since coming of the DL. ( the sad thing is that Torre will undoubtedly use him in a key situation against a Red Sox lefty).
I agree,Joba needed to pitch..but one inning was enough,
i would have love to see him in fenway in pressure situation.I hope we use him saturday and sunday. GO YANKEES.THE A.L. EAST STILL OUT THERE