lohud.com

Sponsored by:

The LoHud Yankees Blog

A New York Yankees blog by Sam Borden, Chad Jennings and the staff of The Journal News

Inexplicably, the game has started again

Peter Abraham
March
4

It’s raining at Knology Park. Not drizzling, raining. Yet they have started the game up again. Every starter for the Yankees is out except Shelley Duncan and Bernie Castro.

Phil Hughes threw 30 pitches under cover to complete his day.

UPDATE: Kei Igawa is pitching for the Yankees. Scott Patterson pitched the second inning. Igawa worked a 1-2-3 third. Toronto replaced its entire lineup except for Frank Thomas.

I’m not going to live blog this game. Not much point with all the AAA players on the field. I’ll keep you posted with any important news.

Such as this: Shelley Duncan just singled to center to drive in Morgan Ensberg. The big boy is 6 for 9 this spring with eight RBI. Yankees lead 2-0.

UPDATE: Now Shelley is out of the game, too, replaced by Collin Curtis.

UPDATE: Facing a AAA lineup, Kei Igawa was dominating, six up and six down. 18 pitches/13 strikes. Two strikeouts. International League, watch out.

Seriously, the K-Man needed a boost and this should provide it.

UPDATE: Now the game has been suspended again. It’s the top of the sixth, 2-0 Yankees. Toronto doesn’t have a hit.

They’re not bothering with the tarp. This should be it.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 at 2:50 pm by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post Print This Post | Email This Post Email This Post

96 Responses to “Inexplicably, the game has started again”

  1. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    Who is pitching for the Yankees, can’t they protest?

  2. gayle

    Ensberg continues his hote streak in the Spring.The announcersof course say that it has shown how far his stock has dropped that he is in the game at this point HOWEVEr perhaps they are not considering that the Yanks are the away team and did not bring the full accompianment of players

  3. Mike R.

    Kei is pitching and pitching pretty well. Patterson pitched the 2nd inning and also pitched a gem.

  4. gayle

    Duncan again RBI

  5. BoogieDown

    It’s Igawa time, ladies and gents! Hold on to your hats.

  6. Kevin

    When is Hughes gonna pitch again? 3/9 start down in Fort Myers? Should be sunny that day… When is Joba going next? Tomorrow after Kennedy?

  7. CB

    The announcers before mentioned that the owners of the stadium the game was being held at would be very reluctant to have the game called because the yankees are such a big draw.

    I suppose they would have had to refund the tickets and a spring training game wouldn’t get made up.

    It’s all about the dollar. It’s always clear when players do it.

    Not always so clear how ownership does.

  8. Mike R.

    This is going to be a great game to get a good look at some of our prospects.

  9. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    SO if someone gets hurt because they don’t want o lose the money than what? There aren’t any repercushions. (sp) ( I know I butchered that word)

  10. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    Shows what they think of Kei sticking him in a game like this. :lol:

  11. Hoosier Yankee

    That is really too bad that the rain shortened Hughes’ start. He easily could have gotten into the 3rd with his low pitch count. I really wanted to see him pitch too. I have a feeling he is going to be very good this year (15 wins).
    Kei, will screw it up in the 4th inning.

  12. Mark Alan

    The game restarting is not inexplicable, Pete. I’m afraid that you just don’t understand basic Knology. I was three credits short of splitting my degree (poli sci and Knology), and I can assure you that in Spring Training, it is in the interests of the various vendors that the games be restarted and played for as long as possible. That it to say (I.E.), follow the buck.

    So ends your Knology lesson.

  13. jimmy1138

    After 2 innings of Kei Igawa still a perfect game…

  14. Jeff

    I really would like to see Ensberg make this team.

  15. Don

    jimmy1138: don’t jinx us.

  16. Kyle Petterson

    “Shows what they think of Kei sticking him in a game like this.”

    How so? No offense, but why wouldn’t they put him in this game? He needs the innings, we need to see if he can be used anywhere. He has shown flashes of being an OK pitcher and the only way he is going to get there is to continue to pitch.

  17. gayle

    Not to pick on any one of other blogs BUT it says something when the Newsday beat writer has the game as being rained out. Did the writer leave with the rest of the starters??

  18. Rick

    Castro and Ensberg have to be turning some heads in the Yankee camp.

  19. gayle

    OOps posted too soon looks like they now have the correction lol

  20. searay

    Igawa perfect today? How can that be? He is no better than a little leaguer.

  21. Rick

    Duncan is looking great too!!!

  22. Rick

    It might be a stretch but Duncan may hit better than Giambi this year.

  23. Don

    Has Duncan hit for a high average yet in his career? (as far as I know he hasn’t)

  24. Jeff NJ

    I heard Duncan on WFAN today, if ever a young player comes with the right attitude it’s Shelley. I think a big year is on tap.

  25. Dr. Dorian

    repercussion. re-percussion –like the drum section. not the soft pillows on the couch.

  26. Bryan

    Fatty and the Idiot Dog are talking about how ridiculous it is that Girardi hasn’t decided yet if Joba will be a starter or reliever.

  27. Mike R.

    Billy Traber is looking very good this spring.

  28. Rick

    Billy Traber strikes out the side. Yankee pitchers are pitching a perfect game through five innings!!!!

  29. BoogieDown

    Bryan, I call them Fatty and the Lap Dog since Chris defers to Mike on everything. He’s such a patsy.

  30. Mark Alan

    Rick…

    And one of the Yankee pitchers involved in the perfect game is Igawa. Go figure!

  31. Bryan

    Let me think….

    Maybe it is because if someone gets HURT Joba is going to start!!!!!!!

    Man I must be a genius since Mr. Diet Coke couldn’t figure it out.

  32. Rick

    It would be interesting to see if Traber can pitch to major leaguers. He is a lefty.

  33. Brandon (Proud supporter of "Alex being Alex")

    WTF they’re still playing 8O what is this part 2 of Girardi boot camp :evil:

  34. Mike R.

    It’s over. It’s all over. Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeeee yankees win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  35. SJ44

    Billy Traber was my darkhorse to make the team when camp started.

    Nice to see him making the case.

    The Yankees need a lefty specialist.

    It would be great if he can fill that role.

    Must be a slow day for Chris and Mike. Chris doesn’t have a tennis match somewhere and Mike must be out of Diet Cokes.

    Unfortunately, the audience is forced to listen to them educating the masses with their vast amount of pitching knowledge.

    Good day to listen to elevator music.

  36. Rocco

    PERFECT GAME!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOO

  37. Rick

    Game over the Yankees have a perfect game against the Blue Jays.

  38. The J Train

    I love Shelley, and think he can be a productive major leaguer if he is able to get rid of the holes in his swing…and there are plenty of them.

  39. SJ44

    Lefties were 9-51 against him when he pitched for the Nationals last year.

    How that translates to the AL? We shall see.

    If nothing else, its encouraging.

  40. Mike R.

    It is beyond my comprehension why people listen to Dumb & Dumber for anything Yankee related. They are the most obnoxious duo ever. It’s awful! I tried listening once and couldn’t.

  41. Mike R.

    I like Traber. I also like Albaladejo, but that is more based on what I’ve seen from him in winter ball down here. I think they could surprise some people.

  42. anti-mussina

    so if mussina bombs this year these people will eat crow: sj44, jennifer, john, andrea, rebecca, brandon… am i missing anyone else?

    if mussina wins 10 games and keeps his era below 6 i will stop posting here permanently.

  43. Blargh

    You’ll boil the crow for us, of course?
    Or if you prefer the other history behind that, you’ll gut the deer or cow and bake the pie, right?

    This should be the third time that I’m typing this: Mussina will pick up 20 wins, a perfect game, and a WS ring to cap off his career this year.

  44. Bryan

    Apparently Lester is better than Kennedy as well

  45. raymagnetic â„¢

    “so if mussina bombs this year these people will eat crow: sj44, jennifer, john, andrea, rebecca, brandon… am i missing anyone else?

    if mussina wins 10 games and keeps his era below 6 i will stop posting here permanently.”

    You will stop posting as the anti-mussina you mean to say, right? I guess then you’ll go back to being anti-pettitte perhaps?

  46. Mike R.

    # anti-mussina March 4th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

    so if mussina bombs this year these people will eat crow: sj44, jennifer, john, andrea, rebecca, brandon… am i missing anyone else?

    if mussina wins 10 games and keeps his era below 6 i will stop posting here permanently.

    Or change your name to anti-”the pitcher doing poorly at that moment” and continue post.

  47. Bryan

    Now Lap Dog is comparing Lester to Hughes because Lester pitched more last year and was 4-0

  48. kd

    Kei Igawa, the best AA 1/2 pitcher that 46 million can buy.

    Ok, don’t jump down my throat for being negative, it was a joke. I just view him as a mistake, cut your ties and move on

  49. Brandon (Proud supporter of "Alex being Alex")

    Igawa lived 8O

  50. CB

    Billy Traber had extreme splits both last year and over the course of his career.

    For his career lefties are hitting only .210 off of him and only putting up a .310 slugging pct and a .613 OPS.

    His numbers against righties are just plain bad – .329 BA with a .894 OPS.

    Here’s the odd thing with him – neither the Indians nor the nationals ever tried him as a lefty specialist.

    For his career Traber has faced over twice as many right handed hitters as left handed hitters.

    That basically means teams have tried him as a general all purpose pitcher.

    Which he’s failed at.

    However, in a few role as a lefty only pitcher the yankees could have something.

    If he just performs at a similar level to his career numbers against lefties he would be an terrific asset.

    Switching leagues will be an issue but even when he was a rookie in the AL for the Indians he put up great numbers against lefties.

    If he does work out as an effective lefty specialist Cashman deserves a lot of credit. Picking up guys like Traber has never been a path the yankees have taken. They’ve always thrown money at free agents instead.

    It wouldn’t surprise me if Traber had a better season than either Ron Mahay or Affeldt, the two left relievers the yankees were supposedly looking at.

  51. Mike R.

    Edit
    *posting.*

  52. Brandon (Proud supporter of "Alex being Alex")

    Bryan that is ridiculous !!! there is no way Lester is even 1/3 of what Hughes is going to be, stupid WFAN puppy

  53. S.o.S.27

    So Igawa had a good outing. Only the second good outing of his carreer,if i can remember correctly. The other was vs. the Red Sox last year when he had to come in for Karstens. Are you catching my drift? He needs to be in the pen. He seems to due better coming of the bench than starting. We might have something here. Girardi are you reading this!

  54. G. Love

    Sell high. Trade Igawa now!

  55. Hoosier Yankee

    Our 5th starter may rotate all year long. Depends on Moose. Karstens I like a lot, heck, if Igawa can finally learn some control, he was the strikeout king in Japan. Wouldn’t that be nice if he came through this year as a starter and we could leave Joba in the pen all year.

    I like Traber so far.

    Duncan is going to post huge numbers this year.

  56. Rick

    A couple good pitching appearances for Traber could earn him a spot.

  57. Andrea

    haha. I’m famous.

  58. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    So another reason to pray for Mike to do well is to get rid of anti moose. Do you promise to leave if he does avg?

  59. Mike R.

    I’m going to have to abandon the board in order to avoid the idiocy the is “The Mike & Mad Dog comedy hour”. They are awful! If you insist on listening at least don’t publish their inane ideas on the rest of us. :’(

  60. Jax

    Mike and Chris are awful. Dog: “I’ll take Lester,Wakefield and Bucholtz over Hughes,Kennedy and Mussina.”

  61. Brandon (Proud supporter of "Alex being Alex")

    now this fool is dissing Joba !!! :evil:

  62. x23

    wow…perfect game!!!

  63. saucY

    crack!

  64. x23

    wow,…perfect game!!!

  65. SJ44

    Folks like that never leave Jennifer. They just come back with a different name.

    I guess they find it entertaining. Most of us just find it boring.

    Nobody has to eat crow re: Mike Mussina. Most Yankee fans who live in the real world realize that he is needed this year.

    That’s why they want to see him do well. He is important to the team because of the youth at the back end of the rotation.

    He also has done a good job mentoring the young arms. I for one don’t want to see that stop.

    These kids need guidence as well as someone to take on some innings for them.

    Its not a sin to root for Mike Mussina. Unless of course, you don’t want the Yankees to do well.

    Which would explain some of the nonsense that’s been spewed here the past couple of days. May be a early run of Red Sox trolls getting ready for the season.

  66. TurnTwo

    part of it, you’ve got to understand, is on a slow news day, they need to come up with material to get you to react and call the show, talk about the show, etc…

    although, i dont honestly believe that they are mostly clueless…

  67. TurnTwo

    i should say “do honestly believe”

  68. Wolf In Pinstripes

    The Kei Young campaign has begun!

  69. SJ44

    Jon Lester: a 5 inning, 110 pitch pitcher. That’s all he has shown thus far in his career.

    Wakefield: Back and knee problems the last two years and has problems finishing season’s.

    Buchholz: Huge upside. Shutdown last year because of a sore shoulder. They are going to be VERY careful with him this year.

    Having a hard time how these 3 are sure things.

    Then again, its Chris Russo saying it. That tells me all I need to know.

  70. Andrea

    Seriously, what does “eat crow” MEAN? I’ve never understood it. I know what the phrase means, but I don’t get where it comes from.

  71. TurnTwo

    it amazes me that in this sports market, Mike and the Maddog is the best we can do for afternoon and drive-time sports talk radio.

  72. Jax

    I find it insulting that he’s even mentioning Lester and Hughes in the same breath.

  73. Joe

    Chris Russo could tell me my name is Joe and today is Tuesday, and I would doubt it. That’s all you need to know about the fool.

  74. Clay Bellinger

    Mike and Chris are awful. Dog: “I’ll take Lester,Wakefield and Bucholtz over Hughes,Kennedy and Mussina.”

    So anyone who thinks this is crazy? I don’t agree with it but I’m sure there are many people that think those 3 Boston pitchers are better.

  75. Patrick

    “Wouldn’t that be nice if he came through this year as a starter and we could leave Joba in the pen all year.”

    Not particularly. Leave him in the pen this year and he will be a reliever for the rest of his career. Call me crazy but I’d prefer an ace starter to a dominant set-up man. Who would you rather have, Roy Oswalt or Scot Shields?

  76. Patrick Bateman

    Since we shouldn’t base our expectations on last year’s performance, ie Mussina, I’m penciling in Kei Igawa for a 19 win season.

  77. saucY

    Andrea, i’ve never heard “eat crow” until i started posting here. i think i’ve seen/heard it a number of places since though…

  78. Patrick

    Comparing Hughes, Kennedy and Mussina to Bucholz, Lester and Wakefield sounds valid to me. Hughes and Bucholz both have huge upside. Kennedy has had more success in the minors whereas Lester has a higher potential that hasn’t translated to results yet. Mussina and Wakefield are both aging veterans. I would prefer the Yankee 3 but I could make a convincing argument for choosing Boston’s pitchers.

  79. EY

    Patrick,
    I definitely won’t complain at a 19-win season from Igawa :D

  80. SJ44

    IMO, Mark Melancon, not Mike Mussina, determines Joba’s fate this year.

    This is something Mike and the Mad Dog could talk about…..if they knew anything about Mark Melancon.

    If Melancon can pitch his way to the Bronx by the AS Break, it makes it easier to transition Joba to the rotation.

    You need a dominant arm in front of Mariano. Hawkins and Farnsworth are not the guys. They can handle the 7th, not the 8th innings.

    The way the Yankees are constructed (with Joba pitching the 8th), if they get to the 8th with the lead, its game over.

    That’s how they amassed the best record in baseball the second half of last season.

    Hard to give that up. Which is why Melancon’s development bears watching.

    If he is the dominant arm I think he is, and shows it, he can be slotted into the 8th inning by mid-late July.

    He doesn’t need a ton of innings since he is a relief pitcher.

    He’s 100% healthy and ready to go.

    He just has to get the feel back to being on the mound in game situations and get his arm back up to snuff.

  81. anti-mussina

    raymagnetic â„¢ , jennifer – I promise to leave and pete can ban my ip permanently.

    SJ44 – if you have balls then you will put yourself on the line. if mussina posts an era above 6 and don’t win atleast 8 games then you will stop posting permanently.

  82. Jax

    SJ44, could Humberto Sanchez be an option too for the eighth in July?

  83. raymagnetic â„¢

    Andrea: Eat Crow

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eat_crow

  84. Mike R.

    SJ44 March 4th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    IMO, Mark Melancon, not Mike Mussina, determines Joba’s fate this year.

    This is something Mike and the Mad Dog could talk about…..if they knew anything about Mark Melancon.

    Since when has knowing about a topic been a pre-requisite for them talking about something. I think the opposite is true.

  85. Clay Bellinger

    Oh man, a call out!

  86. Patrick

    SJ – If Melancon doesn’t perform like you (and I) expect him to and he’s not an option to call up, what would you do with Joba come mid-july?

    It would be a very difficult decision with nobody to replace him as the 8th inning guy. Personally, I would transfer him to starter regardless. His future as a starter is more important than the bullpen this year. Also I think one of the guys we already have could step up and fill that role.

  87. SJ44

    Please kid, grow up. I will post whenever I want regardless of what Moose does this year.

    If this is so important to you, I feel sorry for you.

    A little tip for you. It doesn’t take balls to post on a blog.

    Its just entertainment. That’s all it is.

  88. Mike R.

    Anti-mussina – There is a small difference you are not taking into account. I don’t think anyone wants SJ to stop posting. I think a mojority of us would be against it.

  89. Mike R.

    *majority*

    Damn you lack of an edit button!!!!!!!!

  90. SJ44

    Patrick,

    Depends on how the season is going. How many innings does Joba have in the bank, how the team is doing, the starters, etc?

    Its too early to say who the next guy in line would be. Could be Horne, McCutcheon, or somebody who gets hot during the year. Similar to what happened with Joba last year.

    Humberto Sanchez won’t be ready by early July IMO. His timetable may be closer to August.

    Clearly, his future is as a starter. When that is, will be the question.

  91. Blargh

    Andrea: Aw, I remember trying to answer that yesterday

    Gist of it is…there’s a Eat Crow entry on wikipedia, so take it with a grain of salt. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eat_crow )

    Archaically, it’s either literally eating boiled crow or an Americanization of eating humble pie.
    Humble pie in itself, archaically, is a real food. Pie of humble, or umble. Humble/umble would be innards of cow/deer/boar/etc. Not exactly fitting for nobles, so eating humble pie is denigrating in itself.

  92. S.o.S.27

    Patrick,
    If July comes and we dont have anyone to take Joba’s place in the pen, I would go outside to find someone to fill that role. There is no reason not to have him go into the starting role and dominate for more innings. Like someone said earlier. We dont need him to be Scott Shields when we have a future Ace.

    DONT PROMISE ANYTING SJ!! IN SJ WE TRUST..

  93. S.o.S.27

    So i accidently turned to Steven A. while in my car and he said that Brett Farve retired because he already broke all Dan Marinos records. He said no one noticed that but him. What we do notice is that anyone can be a radio host if you shout and talk nonsense. Seriously. Does anyone know how long will it take to find his replacement? Hes killing my ears and crapping me out!!

  94. Patrick

    Haha that was me about Scot Shields

  95. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    Mike you got that right. I wouldn’t be the list bit upset if anti (whoever is doing bad) never posts a single word. sj on the otoher hand a lot of people would be upset if they didn’t read his posts, he is very knowledgable. you on the other hand not so much.

  96. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    oops I didn’t mean to make that sound like the post was directed towards mike, it was directed at anti.

    Pete we need an edit button.

Leave a Reply

Advertisement
Parade Photos
New York Yankees baseball fans cheer during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player  Mariano Rivera, bottom, waves during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) New York Yankees baseball players Alex Rodriguez, second from left,  Francisco Cervelli, third from right, and entertainer Jay-Z, left, celebrate on a float  during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez, right, and entertainer Jay-Z celebrate on a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui, the World Series MVP, celebrates from a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Baseball fans cheers as the New York Yankees were honored along Broadway in New York on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, with a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
More photos
About this blog
Thoughts and discussion on the 27-time World Champion Yankees.

LoHud's Yankees News Page

Subscribe
LoHud Yankees Podcast | Get iTunes

Get blog updates via email:

Twitter Updates
 
 
About the authors
Chad JenningsChad Jennings joined the The Journal News in October 2009, having spent the better part of seven years covering baseball in Scranton, PA. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and an award-winning beat reporter and features writer. E-mail me at cjennings@lohud.com
READ MORE ABOUT CHAD

Sam BordenSam Borden is an award-winning journalist who joined The Journal News and LoHud.com in January 2008. He covered the Yankees for the New York Daily News from 2004-06, and has also worked as a columnist for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. E-mail me at sborden@lohud.com
READ MORE ABOUT SAM

Advertise
Democracy


Ad
MLB Salaries
MLB SALARY DATABASE
Links
Other recent entries
Monthly Archives