This Week’s Pitching Story….The Arrival of Wang & Hughes

We can all agree that this season has been a pitching nightmare for the Yankees, if its not unproductive outings its injuries, if its not injuries its blown saves…However, this week, both Chien-Ming Wang and Phil Hughes are making their first starts of the season…

I dont know how much longer this awful pitching can continue..Igawa has been garbage, Pavano and Mussina are hurt, ,Wright just got chased out of town after 4 consecutive solo shots in Boston, Karstens and Rasner….well, its Karstens and Rasner, need I say more? Proctor is “a gamble” as he is begining to remind me of Tanyon Sturtze, Kyle Farnsworth is basically worthless since Torre never uses him, Vizcaino, Bruney, and Myers are overworked and their outings are showing it, and Rivera is yet to record a save!

What is going on???

A-Rod?? More Like, A+Rod

Another Yankees loss last night, but I still can not believe my eyes when I watch Alex Rodriguez….

Going 4 for 5 with 2, yes another TWO home runs, A-Rod now leads the league in:
Average (.400)
Home runs (14)
RBI (34)

Read that again….

Average (.400)
Home runs (14)
RBI (34)

the dude is batting .400!! He has 30 hits…9 singles, 7 doubles, and 14 home runs…A-Rod is on pace for 126 home runs and 306 runs batted in.

200 for No. 20

Last night, Yankees veteran catcher, Jorge Posada, hit his 200th homerun.

Now that I think about it, 200 is a lot of homeruns and I was pretty suprised Jorge reached that milestone. But then again, Posada is easy to forget when you have a line-up with players like Giambi, A-Rod, Matsui, and Jeter.

Paul O’Niell last night commented during the game saying how Posada is a very under-rated hitter and I will have to agree. As a catcher, specially during the first weeks of the season, it is very hard to focus on hitting. Most catchers are too worried about their pitchers and how to call an effective game. Posada however has been able to both produce as a defensive catcher and one of the games top hitting catchers. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at Red Sox captain Jason Varitek, he used to be a pretty good hitter but lately I think I can produce better at bats then him.

Another thing to remember, Jorge Posada bats sixth in the Yankees order, thats the equivalent to clean-up on the D-Rays. So obv Posada can hit. At 200 career home runs he’s only 52 behind his manager, Joe Torre.

New Kid on the Block has the Wright Stuff

Just came up with that title in French class, no big deal.

Anyway, last night, SP Chase Wright made his MLB debut vs the Indians as the Yankees won, 10-3

After lots of speculation on Joe Torre’s desicion on whether or not to bring up the 24 year old lefty, the Yankees were able to witness first hand in his abilities.

Wright started off a bit shakey, which is totally understandable for a 24 year old making his pro debut in Yankees stadium while having the eyes of Joe Torre, Ron Guidry, Alex Rodriguez and countless Yankees fans watching and judging. However after settling down, Wright was able to pitch pretty well. His final line:

5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3BB, 3 K

It seemed like during the first several innings, Wright’s worst innings, he was rushing his pitches and just too caught up in the atmosphere to really be able to focus. However, after the Yankees offense produced a solid 8 runs the pressure died down and Wright was able to throw strikes, letting his defense take care of the rest.

I was pleasantly suprised with his performance and I think that with some more development and confidence he can become a nice lefty starting pitcher for the Yankees in years to come.

He showed a nice little curveball and even though he doesnt throw too hard he still has time to improve on his velocity and power.

All in all, I liked what I saw, and as a Yankees fan you really cant expect much more from a 24 year old AA call-up. Now, if Wright is able to pitch just as well to the Red Sox, in Boston, then we know the Yankees may have something very promising in Chase Wright.

Ortiz Rockin the NY

I have a large amount of friends who are Sox fans so it was pretty funny seeing the reaction they had when they saw their beloved hero, David Ortiz, put on a Yankees hat in a new ESPN commercial.

Its a pretty dice commercial, and the actin between Ortiz and Wally is funny…check it out –

click the picture for the video –

By the way, whats up with ESPN’s recent love for Jorge?

Bruney is Ballin’

Brian Bruney is pitching like a champ these days. At 25 years old, Bruney is a rare breed of pitcher who many teams are lacking. This intimidating 95 mph fastball pitcher is making a name for himself this season out of the Yankees bullpen and his numbers tell the story….

In 7 innings pitched this season, Bruney has a deeeece 11 K’s and only 1 earned run…. I know its early into the season but this guy is pretty impressive. I can only hope he keeps it up and someday make his way as set up man or even closer when Rivera retires.

It’ releaving to have someone like Bruney in the Bullpen…he’s young, throws heat, and strikes out batters like its no big deal. Hopefully he keeps it up.

Disabled Arms

Great news From NY as the Yankees have placed both Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano on the disabled list to join fellow starters, Chien-Ming Wang and Jeff Karstens.

Missing so many starters for the next following weeks is really going to test the Yankees pitching staff, and the young prospects who are about to be called upon.

With so many injuries to the pitching staff here is who the Yankees will be starting the next following games:

Tuesday – Chase Wright – Just called up from AA Trenton, his pitching has been pretty impressive from what I’ve heard but who knows.

Wednesday – Kei Igawa – He’s been shakey at best…

Thursday – Darrell Rasner – Solid outing last game vs. Oakland going 5.1 scoreless innings…

Friday – Andy Pettite (@ Boston) – Yankees most reliable pitcher so far, hopefully he has a solid game on Friday in the first Yankees/Red Sox battle of 2007.

So, I mean, I can sit here and tell you the Pitching situation could be a lot worse, but I’ll tell you another thing it could be a lot better…

The more and more I read other blogs the more I see how upset some people are the Yanks called up Chase Wright, I think the intention was not to rush up Hughes, who hasnt even been pitching up to par in AAA ball this season.

This next week should be real interesting…

A-Rod, a “True Yankee” at Last?

Last night, Alex Rogriguez homered for his third straight game, putting his season total to 5; tops in the MLB.

A-Rod’s homer made him the first player ever in team history to hit 5 homeruns in the first six games.

Most homeruns in Yankees history through the first six games:

2007 Alex Rogriguez 5
1961 Mickey Mantle 4
1957 Moose Skowron 4
1956 Mickey Mantle 4
1932 Babe Ruth 4

Six games into A-Rod’s 4th season with the Yankees, I think its safe to say A-rod has finally earned his stripes.

Pav Finally Gets the Job Done

In the warm confines of the 72 degree Metrodome, five games into the season, the 2007 Yankees starting pitching finally heated up.

For the first time since May 22nd, 2005, starting pitcher, Carl Pavano regestered a win as the Yankees smacked the Twins 8-2.

“Some days it feels like yesterday, and some days it feels like a lifetime,” Pavano said. “I’m glad to have all that behind me and move forward.”

Not only did Pavano get the win, but he pitched like the pitcher the Yankees envisioned when they signed him to a $40 million deal back in 2004. Allowing two runs, six hits, and no walks, Pavano lasted until the 7th inning giving the Yankees bullpen some much needed rest.

In Pavano’s brief Yankees career, up to last nights victory, Pav had only pitched 7 innings five times in eighteen starts, making last nights victory a great performance to build on. It’s quite clear that last night was a big night not only for Pavano, but for the entire Yankees starting staff as Pav set the bar for Yankees starter expectations.

A-Rod: “It’s something about New York, that I love it here”

After A-Rod’s game winning grand slam the world got to see perhaps the happiest man on the face of the earth.

So happy that after the game A-Rod said “It’s something about New York, that I love it here.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, now playing for the Yankees, number 13, Alex Rogriguez, number 13.