New York Yankees @ Bare Baseball - Baseball MLB Blog

Johnson, Yanks fall in finale

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 16:22:00 +0000

07/19/2006
NEW YORK -- In the top of the eighth inning, pitching coach Ron Guidry came to the top of the dugout steps and began waving a white towel to get the attention of someone in the bullpen.
The bullpen phone was off the hook and 42-year-old Randy Johnson was well over the 100-pitch count.
But the technical difficulties weren't what allowed Johnson to rack up 129 pitches on Wednesday against the Mariners -- his highest count since 2002.
It was Johnson's desire to stay in the game until he won it.
Unfortunately for Johnson and the Yankees, that didn't happen. They fell, 3-2, to Seattle in the series finale when Johnson allowed a game-winning sacrifice fly later in the eighth. But Johnson still wasn't finished even after falling behind.
He had thrown 123 pitches when Joe Torre walked to the hill following the sacrifice fly. Torre only had one question: "Are you all right?"
"When I was halfway to the mound I saw the eyes and I knew he was in there," Torre said. "He had pitched his heart out to that point. I just wanted to make sure he had something left in the tank."
Even surprising to catcher Kelly Stinnett, Johnson did. After determining Johnson was fine to still pitch, the only issue was who he'd pitch to. Richie Sexson, who earlier hit a solo homer off Johnson, was due next. Johnson didn't budge, blowing a high fastball past the Mariners slugger to end the inning and his day.
Johnson was hit with the loss, the Yankees' first since the All-Star break and Johnson's eighth of the season. But the lefty's tenacity was "vintage" according to Torre.
Johnson finished having allowed three runs, two of which were earned, in eight full innings. He also struck out a season-high 11 batters while only walking one.
"It seemed like he was stronger in the last inning than he was earlier in the game," Stinnett said. "So maybe it was good to stretch him out a little bit."
Seattle starter Gil Meche was just as impressive, tossing a perfect game through four innings. But unlike Johnson, Meche waned as the game went on. Meche was cruising until the sixth when he allowed the Yankees' first run on a Derek Jeter RBI single. He threw 36 pitches in the inning.
The Yankees tied the game in the seventh when Andy Phillips doubled to right-center field, bringing Alex Rodriguez home from first on a close play at the plate.
Mariners catcher Rene Rivera leapt up to argue the call, turning his back to the field, so Andy Phillips broke for third base. He reached without a throw but third base umpire Andy Fletcher said Phillips had to return to second base because Fletcher had called time before Phillips left the bag.
In something not seen often in baseball, both managers came out to argue different plays at the same time. Neither ruling was changed, leaving the score tied and Phillips on second with no outs.
Pinch-hitter Miguel Cario's sacrifice bunt moved Phillips to third with one out. But Seattle brought in reliever Mark Lowe, who struck out Bernie Williams and got a long flyout by Stinnett to end the inning.
"That was the most ridiculous call I've ever seen," Rodriguez said. "It changes the whole scenario. It's a big momentum change, too. You put a lot of pressure on Bernie Williams to get that run in against a kid that's very capable. It's just an awful call."
Like the Yankees did a night before when they benefited from a not-so-close call at first base, the Mariners capitalized. Ichiro led off by tapping a ball in front of home plate, but he beat Stinnett's throw. Ichiro then stole second and advanced to third on the play due to a throwing error by Stinnett. Raul Ibanez drove in the eventual game-winner with his sacrifice fly.
Johnson didn't speak with print reporters after the game, but his coach and teammates spoke for him.
Asked if Wednesday's Johnson reminded him of the one he played with in Seattle, Rodriguez confidently said, "No." That was 10 years ago, he said, and things have changed.
But after Wednesday's game there's no question Johnson's competitive fire to stay in the game until he's on top is still there -- even when it doesn't work out that way.

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Notes: Another setback for Dotel

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 16:21:00 +0000

07/20/2006
TORONTO -- Just when it looked like Octavio Dotel was ready to return from the disabled list and give the Yankees' bullpen a boost, the right-hander suffered another setback on Thursday afternoon, clouding his timetable.
Dotel pitched a scoreless inning for Class A Staten Island, allowing two hits while striking out one against Williamsport. But after the outing, Dotel told special pitching instructor Rich Monteleone that he had what Joe Torre described as "soreness or tenderness" in his right arm.
"He didn't feel like his arm had a lot of pop today," Torre said. "He didn't throw a couple of pitches and say, 'I can't do this.' He pitched his inning, so in my mind, it's nothing more than that he's not ready yet."
General manager Brian Cashman said that Dotel's latest problem is located in the same spot behind his surgically repaired elbow as his last setback, which turned out to be tendinitis. Dotel, who will visit team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon on Friday, had his rehab assignment shut down from June 20 to July 15 when that first problem cropped up.
"We were close enough to get excited, no question," Torre said. "When you go back and think about the type of surgery it was, that's why you're always cautious about how quickly you rehab and bring people along. I know he has to be frustrated by it. We certainly feel for him."
Dotel underwent Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery last June, and the Yankees signed him this winter to a one-year, $2 million contract with the expectations that he would join them sometime in late-June or early-July.
The Yankees were hoping to add Dotel to the mix of late-inning relievers, joining Scott Proctor, Kyle Farnsworth and Ron Villone.
"We were counting on him to show up here on Sunday," Torre said. "Even then, we weren't going to use him in the eighth inning of a close game; but at least it would have been progress. If things went well, he'd eventually wind up in that role. It wasn't to be."
Progress for Matsui: Hideki Matsui visited hand specialist Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser on Thursday, receiving a good report on his surgically repaired left wrist.
Rosenwasser said that Matsui's bones have fused together perfectly, though he is still experiencing lingering muscular pain, which is normal after this surgery. Once that pain subsides, Matsui will be cleared to take batting practice.
"He's doing well," Cashman said. "He's not swinging a bat yet. I'd rather not say when I think he can; we'll just wait until the doctors clear him."
Matsui will travel to Tampa on Friday to resume his rehabilitation at the Yankees' training complex. He may return to New York in the coming weeks for another visit with the doctor. Matsui is targeting a mid-August return to the Yankees.
Gary Sheffield, who is also recovering from left wrist surgery, visited this week with Dr. Charles Melone, also a hand specialist. Sheffield is scheduled to have his cast removed next week, but there is no clear timetable for his return.
"Nothing to report right now," Cashman said. "He's doing well."
Torre said that he hasn't figured out exactly what he will do with Melky Cabrera, Bernie Williams or Aaron Guiel once Matsui and/or Sheffield return, but he isn't worried about that right now.
"When it gets close, we'll figure it out," Torre said. "When Matsui or Sheff is out there taking fly balls, we'll have plenty of time to make that plan."
Posada in action: Jorge Posada returned to the starting lineup on Thursday after missing Wednesday's game with a bruised right index finger, the result of a foul ball in Tuesday's game.
"It doesn't take much to get well with an index finger," Torre said. "An index finger, especially on your throwing hand, once the swelling gets out, you're back in action. Hopefully it will stay that way."
Sid on the way: Sidney Ponson did not travel to Toronto with the Yankees on Wednesday night, as there were complications with his visa to enter Canada.
Ponson, who is from Aruba, was not scheduled to play in Canada this season with the Cardinals, so no paperwork was ever filed for him to obtain a visa.
Ponson threw a bullpen session before the Staten Island game on Thursday and is scheduled to join the Yankees at Rogers Centre on Friday. He will start on Sunday for New York.
One day at a time: Torre will keep a close eye on Alex Rodriguez's sore left toe this weekend, as the Yankees play four games on the artificial turf in Toronto.
Rodriguez said Wednesday that he may not play all four games, but Torre wasn't so quick to back that plan.
"He's going to be written down [in the lineup]," Torre said. "If there's a problem, we'll talk about it. I know this stuff plays havoc on the feet and legs, and I know that thing is still sore. We'll monitor that as we go along."

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

A-Rod's defensive woes continue

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 16:20:00 +0000

07/21/2006
TORONTO -- When it rains, it pours.
Of course, Alex Rodriguez didn't have the weather to blame for his latest mishap, a sixth-inning throwing error which helped the Blue Jays mount a four-run rally against Mike Mussina and erase a 3-0 Yankees lead.
The domed Rogers Centre protected Rodriguez from the scattered showers that hit Toronto, but Rodriguez couldn't save himself from another night of tough questions about his recent play.
"You just work at it," Rodriguez said of his play at third, where he made three errors in a game on Monday. "It's something that's not fun to go through; I have to just keep working on it. You don't want to hurt your teammates out there, so you just have to work through it."
Mussina and the Yanks were clinging to a 3-0 lead against Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays in the sixth inning, and Toronto was trying to rally with a man on third and one out. Reed Johnson chopped a ball to A-Rod at third, where he fielded it and fired home, trying to throw out Aaron Hill.
But the throw sailed by Posada, allowing Hill to score Toronto's first run while Johnson advanced to second base. Instead of a 3-0 game with two outs and nobody on base, Mussina was now faced with a 3-1 game, one out and a man at second base.
Torre had no problem with Rodriguez's decision to throw home, but he also said he would have been content had A-Rod thrown to first for the out.
"He made the right play, I thought," Torre said. "The ball was right in front of him and he never hesitated. I didn't see any indecision on his part. He just dropped [his arm] down and the ball sailed on him.
"It's an error," the manager added. "If it was somebody else who made the same play, you'd talk about the error and then go on to the next subject. Because it's Alex, you're not going to do that."
Unlike his manager, Mussina wasn't quite as pleased with the decision to throw home.
"I thought he was going to throw to first," Mussina said. "When I turned and saw him throw home, all he had to do was throw it on target and the guy would have been out by 20 feet.
"[The inning] would have probably been pretty different; I don't have to pitch guys the same way," the pitcher added. "The mentality becomes completely different. With a guy at third and one out, I'm willing to give up that run. If I'm not willing to give that run up, I start making mistakes and it turns into four runs instead of one. I'm willing to give up that run to have two outs and nobody on base."
After the error, Mussina gave up a bloop single by Frank Catalanotto, a ground-ball single by Vernon Wells and a two-run double by Troy Glaus, as the Jays took a 4-3 lead.
"It let everything happen from there," Mussina said of the error. "I was doing the same things I was doing before, it all just mounted up in one inning. It was a tough inning."
"It's frustrating as hell, obviously," Rodriguez said. "You want the inning to stop. Moose was throwing such a great game; it's just one of those things."
Rodriguez's recent throwing problems have come when he tries to sidearm his throws. He had two balls hit to him at third base on Thursday, and he made perfect overhand throws to first base on both plays.
"It's definitely important for me to get on top of the baseball, make sure it's truer," Rodriguez said. "Every other ground ball they hit to me tonight, I was real happy with my technique and my mechanics. I just have to keep working on it.
"I'm working through it; it's not easy, that's for sure, but I'm working hard," he continued. "I'm feeling pretty good. I liked the way I threw the ball across the diamond tonight, except for that one play."
Despite the fact that he is hitting .284 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs, Rodriguez has been the focal point for the fans this season for everything that has gone wrong for the Yankees.
"That's something he's going to have to answer for," Torre said. "That's what happens when you're Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter or [Jason] Giambi. When you play for the Yankees and you make an error, it seems to mean more."
Rodriguez's 17 errors already eclipse his total from last season by four, and some of those errors have been costly to the Yankees, who trail the Red Sox by 2 1/2 games in the American League East.
"Pitchers, catchers, everybody goes through it at some point," Rodriguez said. "You have to make sure you get your target, do your footwork and stay on top of the baseball."
"I don't know what's going on; I know he needs to play better and that he's disappointed in the way he's playing," Mussina said. "It's just not him right now; we need him back the way he's supposed to be."
As Rodriguez's play continues to be inconsistent and the boos continue to mount at Yankee Stadium, there has been plenty of speculation that the two-time MVP would be better off playing for another team. Some people have even suggested that A-Rod wants out, a notion he dismissed rather quickly after Thursday's game.
"That's not true," he said. "That couldn't be further from the truth. That's a ridiculous thought."

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Yanks fall in extra innings

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 16:16:00 +0000

07/21/2006
TORONTO -- It doesn't happen often, but Mariano Rivera walked off the mound Thursday night without a smile on his face.
Vernon Wells blasted a walk-off home run with one out in the 11th inning against the All-Star closer, giving the Blue Jays a 5-4 victory in the first game of a four-game series.
"Any time Mariano comes back without a save or a victory, I'll never stop being surprised," Joe Torre said. "He's so good at what he does."
Rivera looked like his vintage self on Thursday when he took the mound in the 10th inning of a 4-4 game. The closer blew through the Blue Jays lineup with a perfect inning, getting a pair of ground balls and a fly out to left.
But in his second inning of relief, Rivera allowed a leadoff single to Frank Catalanotto, putting the winning run on base. With Wells at the plate, the Jays put on a hit-and-run sign, but Rivera's first pitch jammed Wells inside. Catalanotto took off for second and was caught stealing, giving Rivera the first out and erasing the baserunner.
But his next pitch, an inside cutter, caught too much of the plate, allowing Wells to deposit it over the left-field fence for the game-winner.
"It was where I wanted it," Rivera said. "He was able to put good wood on the ball and hit it out of the ballpark. He hit a good pitch."
"My thinking in that situation is just try to get started early and try to hit it, and whatever happens after that happens," Wells said. "He's the best."
The home run was the first given up this season by Rivera, who last served up a long ball on Aug. 16 to Tampa Bay's Eduardo Perez. It was the sixth time in Rivera's career that he has allowed a walk-off homer, the last coming on July 24, 2004, against Boston's Bill Mueller.
The loss dropped the Yankees 2 1/2 games behind the Red Sox for first place in the American League East. The Blue Jays remain 5 1/2 behind Boston, but moved within three games of second-place New York.
"It was one of those games where both teams battled," Torre said. "We didn't do enough, I guess."
Roy Halladay held the Yankees to three runs over 7 2/3 innings, but B.J. Ryan blew the save -- just his third in 27 opportunities this season -- preventing Halladay from becoming the first 13-game winner in baseball.
Mike Mussina was brilliant over the first five innings, but a four-run sixth -- highlighted by yet another Alex Rodriguez throwing error -- put a damper on his seven-inning performance.
"It let everything happen from there," Mussina said of the error. "I was doing the same things I was doing before, it all just mounted up in one inning. It was a tough inning."
After going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position in the first two innings, New York got to Halladay in the third, as Miguel Cairo singled, stole second and scored on Johnny Damon's RBI double. Damon was later doubled off second base after Jason Giambi's line drive was caught, ending the rally early.
The Yankees scored another run in the fourth, using an A-Rod double, a Jorge Posada single and an RBI groundout by Bernie Williams to take a 2-0 lead. That lead increased to 3-0 in the fifth, as Cairo's sac fly scored Melky Cabrera from third base.
"Getting three runs against Halladay," Torre said, "that's not easy to do."
The way Mussina was throwing, allowing just two singles through the first five innings, the three-run lead looked like it would be more than enough.
Unfortunately for Mussina and the Yankees, the sixth was a different story.
Aaron Hill started the inning with a double, giving Toronto its first runner in scoring position in the game. Hill moved to third on John McDonald's groundout, then took off for home on Reed Johnson's grounder to third. A-Rod threw home to try for the out, but his throw sailed away from Posada, making it a 3-1 game.
"I was a little hesitant because it was hit a little soft, but I thought I had a play at home," said Rodriguez, who now has 17 errors this season. "I tried to throw it on the run a little and I pulled it."
The Jays took the momentum from there, as Catalanotto blooped a single to score Johnson, then Vernon Wells poked a grounder through the hole at short. Troy Glaus doubled in both runners, giving the Blue Jays a 4-3 lead.
"We helped them, that's the problem," Torre said, referring to the error. "Moose made two bad pitches that inning; the leadoff double and the breaking ball to Glaus. Otherwise, the two hits by Wells and Catalanotto were good pitches."
The game stayed that way until the eighth, when manager John Gibbons removed Halladay in favor of Ryan with two outs and Giambi coming up. Before the at-bat, Giambi was 16-for-50 (.320) against Halladay and just 1-for-13 (.077) against Ryan.
But Giambi took advantage of the shift on the right side of the field, poking a single to left to put the tying run on base. Ryan then walked A-Rod, setting up Posada's broken-bat bloop single to left-center, scoring pinch-runner Bubba Crosby to tie the game at 4-4.
"We scored some runs against some tough pitchers tonight, we just couldn't come away with the victory," Torre said. "It's frustrating. This is a tough one to swallow, but they certainly earned it, because they battled their way back."
Scott Proctor threw a pair of scoreless innings, while Ryan posted a zero in the ninth and Justin Speier did the same in the 10th. After the Yankees went down in the 11th, Rivera came back out, giving up the one-out homer to Wells.
"He's done that to a lot of people," Torre said. "He's a pretty good player; he's having a hell of a year."

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Notes: Staff showing its stuff

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:24:00 +0000

03/11/2006
TAMPA, Fla. -- There's no doubt the recipe for success for the New York Yankees' pitching staff involves a solid outing from the starting pitcher and quick work from closer Mariano Rivera.
That's what the Yankees got on Saturday, with three solid innings from starter Chien-Ming Wang and a 1-2-3 seventh inning -- although in a regular-season game, obviously, it would be the ninth -- from Rivera.
Wang made his second start of the spring, throwing three solid innings after an unimpressive debut.
He said he felt better than during his opener after working on correcting his arm angle. Throwing the ball at a higher angle, Wang mowed through Atlanta's lineup, yielding just one hit while fanning four.
"He was a lot of fun today," catcher Jorge Posada said. "His arm angle was outstanding.
"The results really showed. If he can do that consistently he's really going to have a good year."
Wang gave up three runs on six hits against Toronto his first start, and according to him his sinker was flat. This time his out pitch had more sink.
"His location was better and he had a lot of jump on his fastball." Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "He threw some good sliders, a couple good forkballs. He was outstanding today."
Rivera threw just eight pitches in his third appearance this spring, striking out the first batter he saw and forcing two infield ground outs.
"I felt good today," Rivera said.
Rivera has given up just one hit in three innings this spring, a home run to Detroit's Marcus Thames. He has five strikeouts.
Giambi almost back: Jason Giambi said his sore left calf is improving and that he could see action in a game as soon as Tuesday.
"I ran today," Giambi said. "I ran around and it felt pretty good."
Giambi said he thought he could play Monday, but Torre said since the Yankees are the visiting team against Pittsburgh and the Pirates denied his request for a designated hitter, Giambi should get his first chance to play on Tuesday.
Giambi has missed five games since injuring the calf in the field during a play at first base. He has been receiving treatment on the calf every day and ran on it the first time Friday.
Giambi said the plan is to get him back in a game at designated hitter before he comes back to play first base so that it doesn't get overworked too soon. The challenge, he said, is going to be running out of the batters box.
Around the horn: Bubba Crosby saw action in his first game since injuring his right index finger, playing right field. He doubled in his only at-bat. ... Five players were reassigned: right-hander Philip Hughes, catcher Jason Brown, outfielder Chris Prieto, right-hander Darrell Rasner and infielder Danny Garcia. That leaves 57 players in camp. ... Outfielder Kevin Reese turned 28.

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Yankees take care of Braves

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:23:00 +0000

03/11/2006
Yankees at the plate: Jorge Posada (2-for-4, three RBIs) hit his second homer of the spring off righty Travis Smith in a four-run fifth inning. Robinson Cano went 2-for-4 with a double.
Braves at the plate: Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (1-for-2) hit his second homer of the spring, off lefty Matt Smith, in the sixth inning. Tony Pena Jr. was 2-for-3 with a double.
Yankees on the mound: Chien-Ming Wang made a big improvement on his last outing in his third start of the spring. In three scoreless innings of work, Wang gave up just one hit while fanning four. Mariano Rivera pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning with a strikeout.
Braves on the mound: Starter Horacio Ramirez gave up two runs on five hits in four innings of work, with a pair of walks and two strikeouts. Smith gave up four runs on two hits in two innings, including the home run to Posada.
Grapefruit League records: Yankees 6-5; Braves 3-7-1.

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Cairo thrilled to be in pinstripes again

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:22:00 +0000

03/11/2006
TAMPA, Fla. -- Miguel Cairo could have found himself with a spot in a starting lineup this season, but he wasn't about to pass up a chance to don the Yankees pinstripes again, even if it meant he'd be relegated to a backup role.
Cairo left the Yanks after the 2004 season and spent a year across town with the Mets, but the utility infielder jumped at the chance to play for the Yankees again and said he is excited to get back to Yankee Stadium.
"It's just the atmosphere," Cairo said. "When you play in New York with this team, with the fans, it's a different atmosphere. It's something different.
"It's hard to explain, but every time you get on that grass inside those lines it's like something else gets into you. No matter how tired you are or if you're hurt or whatever, when you cross the lines it's like you don't have pain. You're not tired. It's like extra energy gets over you. You forget all that's happening.
"I am very happy and honored for them to want me back. I'm just happy to be here."
Cairo, 31, can serve as backup this season to any of the infield positions, though he'll get far less playing time than he got with the Mets last season. Cairo played in 100 games a year ago, playing at second base in 82 of those games.
Through his first eight games this spring, Cairo is hitting .273 with a pair of doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. He has been starting at shortstop while Derek Jeter is playing in the World Baseball Classic, as well as leading off with Johnny Damon also in the Classic.
Cairo said he will be happy to help the Yankees out in any way he can this season, whether it's in the infield, outfield or on the basepaths.
"I could [have started with another team]," Cairo said "But I really wanted to come back here -- be around these guys.
"There's a lot of guys you can learn from. You got Alex [Rodriguez], Jeter, all these guys. There's a reason they're so good. You see the way go about the work that they do, the preparations that have in spring training to get ready for the field. Just watching that you kind of try to use it. You try to imitate that and work as hard as you can."
With that kind of attitude, it's no wonder Yankees manager Joe Torre was full of good things to say about Cairo.
"I'm very happy," Torre said. "I know he wanted to stay here. Things didn't work out [after 2004] and it was just one of those things. It was great that the opportunity presented itself again. Neither one of us had any hesitation about the fact that he wanted to come back."
Cairo's attitude isn't the only thing keeping him on Torre's good side, his versatility is another part of what makes him so valuable in the clubhouse.
"He's such a managers friend in that regard," Torre said. "He plays first, the outfield, all the infielders spots, [and he can] steal a base. He can do a lot of things.
"And, plus, he's walking back into a place he's familiar."

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Notes: Sturtze makes return to mound

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:21:00 +0000

03/12/2006
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Tanyon Sturtze took the mound for the first time this spring on Sunday, and for the right-hander, it couldn't have come at a better time.
Sturtze, who spent the winter rehabbing and strengthening his tired right shoulder, threw a scoreless inning against Cleveland, allowing one infield single.
"I needed to go slow the whole spring, and today was finally the day to get into a game," Sturtze said. "I was starting to itch a little bit; I felt like I was starting to get behind, where maybe I wouldn't leave camp with the team. That's not what I want, so I wanted to get going."
"Sturtze was fine," said manager Joe Torre. "He had a big smile on his face. He wasn't hurting, and who knows how long it's been since that's happened."
Although he faced just three hitters and threw only eight pitches, Sturtze felt like his arm strength was there, as was his command.
Sturtze believes he needs between eight and 12 innings of work this spring to be ready for the April 3 opener. The Yankees have 17 games left in Florida this spring, plus two in Arizona, so he shouldn't have much trouble reaching that goal.
"I'm just shooting to get ready for Opening Day," Sturtze said. "Today was the first one, I felt good out there, and that's all I'm worried about."
Slow and steady: Carl Pavano threw his fourth bullpen session of the spring on Sunday, the second time he threw entirely from the top of the mound. Pavano threw 40 pitches, taking another step toward his return, which is expected in mid-April.
"Today, my main focus wasn't as much on mechanics as much as just slowing myself down," Pavano said. "I get a little anxious, especially with my slider, because I haven't been throwing it a lot. I tried to get into a better rhythm throughout, and when I got to my slider, I felt a little more locked in."
Pavano is a few weeks behind the rest of the staff, having gotten a late start because of a balky back. The right-hander also missed the second half of 2005 with rotator cuff tendinitis, but he says his arm feels strong.
Pavano will take an extra day off before his next bullpen session, which will take place on Wednesday. He will increase his pitch count to 50, then throw a bullpen session next week.
Despite the urge to speed up his return, Pavano is listening to team trainers and following the routine that his prescribed for him.
"It's hard, but if I look at the results we've been having with the way we've been going, how I've been feeling, as anxious as I am, I know this is the best thing for me," Pavano said. "Sometimes, I'd like to go a little faster, but they say it's not in my best interests. I'm listening to them. Every time I've gone out there, I've gotten better."
"I think he's probably more excited about feeling so good than frustrated about not being able to pitch," said Torre. "The results have been good."
Jason's return: Jason Giambi will likely be back in the lineup on Tuesday, when the Yankees host the Cardinals at Legends Field.
Giambi, who has been out for six days with a strained left calf muscle, participated in team workouts on Saturday and Sunday. Torre contemplated taking Giambi to Bradenton on Monday, but without the DH rule, he decided to wait another day.
Special visit: Bob Feller stopped by the Yankees' dugout during batting practice on Sunday, asking the Yankees manager to sign a dozen baseballs for his Iowa museum.
After Feller left, Torre remembered the first time he met the Hall of Fame pitcher. It was during the early stage of Torre's career, in 1960-61, and Feller was trying to sell him an insurance policy -- which he bought.
Said Torre: "Who wouldn't buy one from Bob Feller?"

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Chacon pitches through wildness

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:17:00 +0000

03/12/2006
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Shawn Chacon's pitching line wasn't the prettiest thing to look at on Sunday, but the right-hander continued to do what he has done all spring -- keep the opponents off the scoreboard.
Chacon threw three scoreless innings against the Indians, though he allowed two hits, walked four batters and hit another.
"I was very, very inconsistent; I had no command," Chacon said. "It was the worst three-inning shutout I've ever thrown."
Despite the rocky outing, Chacon extended his streak of scoreless innings this spring to eight. As one of three starters competing for the final two spots in the rotation, Chacon has certainly done nothing to make anybody think he won't capture one of them.
"I don't figure anything; I'll just wait and see," he said. "I know I get a start every fifth day here in spring, and until I'm told different as to what I'm going to do, I keep going out with the same mentality."
The Yankees will actually only need four starters for the first couple of weeks of the season, but with Carl Pavano likely to start the year on the disabled list, Chacon, Chien-Ming Wang and Jaret Wright will are battling to stay in the rotation.
"That's a decision I'm not making; the guys that get paid to make those decisions are making it, so I'll let them do it," Chacon said. "The only way I can help myself is to go out and pitch well."
"Right now, we're just digesting all the information and hoping everyone gets through all these games without a problem," said manager Joe Torre. "Chacon seems as relaxed as I've ever seen anybody I've ever seen in Spring Training."
Sunday, Chacon loaded the bases before recording an out in the first inning, but he escaped by getting Travis Hafner to fly out and Ben Broussard to ground into a double play.
He loaded them again in the second, hitting one batter and walking two others, but once again, he got through it without allowing a run. He issued another free pass in the third, but retired the other three batters, finishing his day with 62 pitches.
"It was definitely one of those days," said Chacon. "I threw a lot more pitches than I should have. I need to go back to the 'pen and find that rhythm."
"The thing I really get a kick out of with him is that when he gets in trouble, he finds a way to wiggle out," Torre said. "It's not always going to happen, but he doesn't melt. That's important."
Despite his uncertain status, Chacon isn't letting any of the rotation talk get inside his head. After all, a year ago, he was in Colorado, preparing for a season in which he knew his team had virtually no chance to get to the postseason.
Instead, he's taking the competition for a spot in the rotation as a challenge.
"I'm always out there competing," he said. "I think I'm cheating myself, cheating the game of baseball and cheating anybody who is watching if I don't go out there with the mentality that I'm competing. Whether it's against another team or if I'm fighting for a pitching spot on a staff, I take it all the same.
"It's still a privilege to play Major League Baseball, so I don't come out there taking anything for granted," he added. "You never know when your last day on a mound might be."

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Early runs don't hold up

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:16:00 +0000

03/12/2006
Indians at the plate: The Indians got on the board with a four-run fourth inning against left-hander Sean Henn. Jhonny Peralta and Jason Michaels both hit RBI singles, and Travis Hafner knocked in a pair of runs with a double to center. Todd Donovan, a non-roster invitee to camp, hit a solo home run and Ben Broussard added a two-run single in the eighth.
Yankees at the plate: The Yanks took advantage of an Andy Marte throwing error to put up three runs against C.C. Sabathia in the second. Russ Johnson reached on the error and knocked in Kaz Matsui. Felix Escalano knocked in a run with a single.
Indians on the mound: Sabathia said he felt a bit more comfortable on the mound after giving up three runs, only one of which was earned, on two hits in his four innings of work. Guillermo Mota and Bob Wickman each worked a scoreless inning.
Yankees on the mound: Right-hander Shawn Chacon didn't give up any runs in his three innings, but he did allow two hits, walk four batters and hit one. Henn had a rough go of it in the fourth and fifth innings, giving up four runs on four hits and walking four batters.
Grapefruit League records: Indians 10-3; Yankees 6-6.

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Cabrera and Thompson thriving

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:15:00 +0000

03/12/2006
TAMPA, Fla. -- There weren't many autographs to be had before the Yankees game against the Reds in Sarasota on Friday. But where there weren't recognizable faces, there was opportunity.
The Minor Leaguers at Yankees camp have been taking advantage of the opportunity to play while several of the team's superstars are participating in the World Baseball Classic. The periodic absences of Jason Giambi (calf), Gary Sheffield (hamstring) and Hideki Matsui (knee) have provided even more opportunities for youngsters.
"You're getting a chance to look at these kids with the number of at-bats they're getting early in the game compared to what they would be getting if you had your whole team healthy and here," manager Joe Torre said. "It's a little bit different, but you're getting to find out a little bit more than normal."
Melky Cabrera and Kevin Thompson are two examples of young players thriving in the situation, while starting center fielder Johnny Damon is playing in the Classic. Cabrera is hitting .333 with two doubles, while Thompson is hitting .409 with a double.
On the move: Pitcher Matt DeSalvo has been solid on the mound this spring. The right-hander, who spent 2005 with Double-A Trenton, pitched three shutout innings in a start against Philadelphia. In five scoreless innings of work, DeSalvo has a win and a save, while yielding just one hit.
They're No. 1: At the beginning of camp, 19-year-old right-hander Philip Hughes (23rd overall in 2004) was getting a lot of attention focused on his powerful fastball and mature-for-his-age attitude. In 3 1/3 innings split over two games, Hughes is 1-0 and has allowed just two runs on four hits, with three walks and two strikeouts.
Hughes was reassigned so that he'd be ready to join his Minor League team prior to Saturday's game against the Braves.
Corner infielder Eric Duncan (27th overall in 2003) is hitting .316 with 19 at-bats with a grand slam, two doubles and five RBIs. Catcher David Parrish (28th overall in 2000) is hitless in seven at-bats, with four strikeouts.
Class of '05: Pitcher J.B. Cox, the only member of of the Yanks' 2005 draft class in Major League camp, has appeared in three games this spring. The right-hander has one save and has allowed just one run in three innings, with a walk and two strikeouts.
Down and out: Infielder Russ Johnson is 0-for-9 in five games.
Stat machine: Infielder Danny Garcia is batting 1.000 after his first two games. The second baseman, a member of the Mets organization the last two seasons, is 4-for-4 with a walk. Garcia was also reassigned Saturday.
What they're saying: "I guess if [the Yankees in the World Baseball Classic] get back here, they're going to have to work their way back into the lineup. They'll have to wait their turn." -- Torre on how well his young players have played in the absence of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Damon and Bernie Williams

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Thompson understands role with Yanks

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:13:00 +0000

03/13/2006
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees' outfield currently consists of three players making $13 million each, which doesn't leave much room for a prospect such as Kevin Thompson.
Thompson knows this, so he's taking his experience at Spring Training for what it's worth -- a chance to show Joe Torre and the Major League coaching staff what he can contribute to the team.
"I think about it all the time," Thompson said of his future. "I don't know where I'm going to fit in, though, because there are no spots open. I have to just go out, play hard and do my best. Hopefully someone will see something that will open their eyes and I'll get my break."
Thompson, 26, has impressed several people this spring, with his latest splash coming on Monday. Thompson jacked a two-run home run in the Yankees' loss to the Pirates, showing some pop to go along with his quick feet.
In 12 games this spring, Thompson is hitting .400 (10-for-25) with a homer, four RBIs and five runs scored. He was happy to contribute with a long ball on Monday, but trying to go deep is something he has shied away from over the past year or two.
"I quit trying to hit the ball out of the park all the time; I'm just playing my game," Thompson said. "I play with guys like Mitch Jones and Shelly Duncan, and it's their job to hit the ball out of the park. My job is to get on base for those guys. I'm not trying to do too much."
Selected in the 31st round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Thompson has spent six years in the Yankees organization.
He combined to hit .297 with 14 homers, 71 RBIs and 43 stolen bases last year between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Columbus. He led all Yankees Minor Leaguers with 45 doubles and ranked second in steals, representing the organization at the Futures Game during All-Star week in Detroit.
Torre was speaking with Larry Bowa recently, and the third-base coach compared Thompson to veteran center fielder Marquis Grissom, a two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner.
"He runs hard, and he looks like he's a player that is going to be in the big leagues," Torre said. "He's going to make himself necessary. He does a lot of good things and he's aggressive in a lot of ways."
"It's always a vote of confidence when people speak highly of you -- it feels good, but you have to take it with a grain of salt," Thompson said. "You can't let your head get too big. I just go out and play hard every day, and hopefully the situation will happen for me."
In addition to opening the coaching staff's eyes, Thompson has taken advantage of the presence of some of the veteran players in camp, chatting with Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield and Bernie Williams about different aspects of the game.
Thompson said that his talks with Sheffield and Williams were particularly helpful, as he discussed hitting with Sheffield and some of the finer points of playing center field with Williams.
"It's been fun," he said. "I've enjoyed talking to some of the big-name guys in the [clubhouse]. It's an experience you can't get anywhere else. I'm glad to be a part of it."
Although Thompson doesn't appear to fit in the Yankees' plans in 2006, he can take solace in the fact that neither Robinson Cano nor Chien-Ming Wang figured into the club's plans in 2005, yet both players made a big impact before the end of last season.
"When guys get called up, you want to see them do well, so that some day, the same opportunity will be there for you," Thompson said. "You always have to feel like you can contribute. I feel like I can, but it's up to them what they want to do. I can't control anything, so I just have to play as hard as I possibly can."

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Notes: No Classic concerns for Torre

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:12:00 +0000

03/13/2006
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Johnny Damon was taken out of Team USA's starting lineup for the second-round opener against Japan, as the center fielder went just 1-for-6 in the team's first three games.
Damon, who was replaced by Randy Winn, is no sure thing to be back in the regular starting lineup for the U.S., though he did pinch-hit in the win over Japan. Yankees manager Joe Torre isn't concerned about how often Damon -- or Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez, for that matter -- plays, as the trio will have at least 10 days of spring games after they return from the World Baseball Classic.
"He'll have plenty by the time we get out of here," Torre said. "My feeling is that position players need about 10 days of Spring Training, as long as they're in shape."
Torre typically plays his entire starting lineup during the final week of Spring Training, and this year will be no different.
"The way I look at it, by the time they come back here, that's the time of the month when everybody is usually in shape and they're ready to leave," the manager said. "Maybe it will be different -- it will seem brand new again.
"They can come back, get all of the bragging out of the way. The problem is, we may have to separate Jeter from Bernie [Williams], because they may be at each other's throats."
From the bullpen: Both Carl Pavano and Tanyon Sturtze felt fine after throwing on Sunday, as they continue to work their way into shape for April.
Pavano, who is expected to start the season on the disabled list, will take an extra day off before throwing a 50-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday.
His next step would be another bullpen, in which he will throw 25 pitches, sit down for a few minutes, then throw another 25 pitches. After that, his next step would be a batting practice session.
Sturtze, who threw a scoreless inning in his first appearance of the spring, hasn't been scheduled for his next outing, though it should come on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Torre said that Sturtze wasn't very open with the club about his health last season, but the pitcher has been honest this spring as he works his way back.
"He was still pleased this morning, which is good," Torre said. "It didn't hurt. We don't know to what extent the discomfort was last year, but evidently, it was pretty regular."
Liking the lefty: The addition of Mike Myers to the Yankees' bullpen has given Torre something he hasn't had since 1996 -- a reliable left-handed specialist.
"Myers is probably the [specialist] we haven't had since Graeme Lloyd," Torre said. "It's a necessity, but it's a luxury because there aren't that many guys available. You can count them on one hand."
Painful day off: Robinson Cano was scheduled to make the trip to Bradenton on Monday, but the second baseman missed the game to undergo a root canal back in Tampa.

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Wright headed in wrong direction

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:11:00 +0000

03/13/2006
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Jaret Wright hasn't been spending much time worrying about the competition for the final two spots in the Yankees' starting rotation, but after Monday's outing against the Pirates, that may soon change.
Wright allowed eight runs on 11 hits in just three innings, as the Pirates battered him with one hard-hit ball after another.
"It was just a dead day," Wright said. "I didn't have anything and I got beat up pretty good. You just have to keep throwing, try to stay composed when things are going bad. You just pitch until they come get you."
"He just didn't locate," said manager Joe Torre. "It didn't look like he could throw anything for a strike other than a fastball, and he was up with a number of pitches. It was just a bad day."
Wright is battling Shawn Chacon and Chien-Ming Wang for the final two spots in the rotation, though with Carl Pavano expected to miss the first few weeks of April, all five of them could start until Pavano is ready to return.
The Yankees won't need a fifth starter until the third week of the month, though, so one of the five healthy arms will be in the bullpen to open the season.
Wright said that he tries not to think about the rotation competition, though human nature makes it nearly impossible to forget about it all together.
"It's one thing you think about," Wright said. "You want to pitch well -- you're competing for a spot, so if you don't pitch well, it's frustrating. ... I'm trying to take care of what I need to take care of. Today, I'm sure, doesn't help that out."
"I don't think they can do two things at once," said catcher Jorge Posada. "You've got to go out there and pitch, make sure that you're healthy and just go out and compete. If you put that extra pressure on yourself, you're not going to have a good spring."
Wright is now 0-1 with a 12.91 ERA, placing him behind Chacon (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and Wang (1-0, 5.40) through three starts.
"He's an adult -- he knows what's going on here," Torre said. "I'm sure he's disappointed with this outing, because he couldn't do with the ball what he wanted to. He's a mentally tough young guy, so that part I'm not worried about."
Both Wright and Torre say that the pitcher has no physical problems, so his problems on Monday were more about mechanics and feel than anything else.
"It was real tough," Wright said. "Just about everything [went wrong]. The ball was up, the sinker was kind of flat, the curveball wasn't doing what it was supposed to. It seemed like everything I was throwing was at hitting speed today. It was up and right in the zone, and they weren't missing it at all."
Wright knows that his future could include a stint in the bullpen, but for now, he's not thinking that far ahead.
"When it comes down to that, if that's the way it plays out toward the end, I'll definitely do anything to play," Wright said. "Right now, I'm throwing in five days and still trying to start."
"Certainly, you'd rather have him pitch great, but it doesn't count yet," Torre said. "He has to be sharp when we start the season."

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Jones homers twice, but Yanks fall short

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:09:00 +0000

03/13/2006
Pirates at the plate: It was a big day for the middle of the Pirates' lineup. Sean Casey, Jason Bay, Jeremy Burnitz and Joe Randa combined to go 7-for-10 with two home runs and six RBIs. Randa's three-run home run in the third inning ricocheted off the palm trees behind the left-field fence and landed on the roof of the Boys & Girls Club.
Yankees at the plate: Bubba Crosby led off the game with a home run to right field to give the Yankees their only lead. Mitch Jones paced the Bombers' offense by going 3-for-5 with a double and two home runs. Back-to-back long balls by Kevin Thompson and Jones in the ninth inning capped a five-run New York rally that came up just short.
Pirates on the mound: Two pitchers vying for the two openings in Pittsburgh's starting rotation had impressive outings. Lefty Sean Burnett settled down after surrendering Crosby's home run and held the Yankees to just one run on three hits. Right-hander Ian Snell blanked New York with three scoreless innings of relief.
Yankees on the mound: Starter Jaret Wright had an afternoon to forget for New York. The right-hander was tagged for eight runs on 11 hits and a walk in three innings. He allowed at least two runs and three hits during each of the first three frames. Ron Villone and Ramiro Mendoza each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
Grapefruit League records: Pirates 9-5; Yankees 6-7.

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/