Fans of nomaas.org have probably noticed the "Torre Losses" feature. Yesterday's game goes down as the second (the first was 4/4 at the A's).

Assuming a "Torre Loss" is a game that would have or could have been won except for blatant mismagament, Joe is on pace to lose 6 or 7 games for the Yanks this year.

Over/under on Torre losing 7?

It could be my imagination but Wang doesn't seem to have the proper techniques of pitching in a cold game.. i.e rubbing his hands or puffing on it a lot to keep it warm. That would explain why he havn't been able to throw his breaking stuff much in all but in game (the indoors game) so far this year and in this game he pretty much went with just the 2 seamer.

Even consider that he was basically throwing 1 pitch, he still faired alright for a young pitcher pitching in the biggest baseball rivalry ever, the Ortiz RBI single in first just can't be helped, it was as pefect as a low and away pitch as it can get with good velocity and he still bloops one the other way. granted that if he didn't walk the first guy it wouldn't have been a run... but still.

The 5th was also a couple of bit of lucks strung together, a bunt hit.. a broken bat hit .. .a force out that probably coulda been turned for two... none of the hits were really anything hard, (but the few hard onces was probably saved by the wind..)

I still think that by late May Wang will start to look sharp and by the summer times he will be pretty good.

I'm not sure about Small, we shall see with more innings on him, but at least a guy with control and decent breaking stuff should be a good edition and more reliable than the "electric stuff" guy that have almost 1/3 of his hits going out of the park.

By the way, this game seem to have a horriblly scary resemblence to the dirt dog's report on that Farnsworth vs Papelbon video game.... where Farns send in Sturtze in a tied game in the 9th and promptly got murdered.... and then Farnsworth closed the game.

With all being said and done though, you have to give Boston some credit for several piece of great hitting tonight espically on Ortiz's part. while quiet a few of our big guns continue to struggle and made even less impact than Bubba did ths game at the plate... I really think that even without the moronic decision on Torre's part this one probably woulda went to the Sox.

Folks, its May 2nd. Will Cashman step in again and save this team from itself/Joe Torre by designating Tanyon Sturtze for assignment? He can't bring Smith back (10 day rule) but Rasner could be promoted - he's pitched well in his 4 starts for Columbus. Shoot, at this point I'd rather see Rasner as the 5th starter and Wright in the pen.

Wang did okay, and I'd have left him in awhile longer. He sometimes pitches even better when he's a little tired.

He's a contact pitcher, so the low strikeouts don't bother me too much. Would be nice to have more 8K outings from him, but I don't expect it every game.

I think the difference between games where he gets 5 to 8 K with onces like yesterday is pretty obvious, in the games where he can actually throw more than one of his other pitchs with some command (so far he showned at least a change up a slider and a few split finger...) he will strike people out.

But in many of the recent games he just havn't been throwing anything except some sort of fast ball variation with different location and speed. which seem to suggest he is not in command of feel pitches for one reason or another (weather seem to be the most logical explaination so far) and if he throws nothing but fastball he is going to get nothing but contact or walks.

On the bright side, even if the coaching doesn't catch up with the obvious ... the weather itself will fix the problem by mid to late May.

Tough night for the Yanks, though it seems as if the Sox could have really broken it open early. Bunch of tough breaks, as hard two well-struck balls by Giambi, and another by Miguel Cairo were snagged for outs. The Red Sox caught a good call when Jeter was doubled off second as well.

As painful as it was to see Sturtze enter the game, the four pitch walk to Cora is what killed me. The worst hitter in the line up and Small, who had done well to that point, walks him, then hits Youklis. It just felt scary right then and there. I wonder if Farnsworth and Rivera had not pitched the day before if we would have seen one of them come in--at least Farnsworth.

What can you say about Ortiz? He missed a 2-2 fastball that was on a tee, but didn't miss twice.

Frustrating loss for the Yanks, nice one for the Sox. It's supposed to be cold, windy and rainy tonight as the Yanks throw soft-tosser Chacon against the hard-throwing Josh Beckett who is coming off his one poor performance of the season. Think he'll be amped up?

The Yankees could have also broken it open if they hadn't hit so many balls right at fielders.

When is Torre ever going to order that Ortiz be brushed back (not beaned)?

As Shaun said, Sturtze must be DFA'd to save Torre from himself.

The Yankees' bench is awful. Starting Cairo and Crosby in a such a "big" game is an embarassment.

Or how about the Yankees employ some of the creative thinking on defense that we have seen from Tampa and Boston. The shift against Giambi took away two hits from Giambi.

The shift that Tampa employed against Boston really freaked Ortiz out and ended up having him bunting!

Crosby isn't that bad for a fourth/fifth outfielder. Cairo is a decent utility guy. I guess the problem is the Yanks don't really have anyone on the roster who can both field and hit like a major league first baseman.

(Arguably the Red Sox don't either.)

I think to this point you have to be pretty pleased with how the Yanks have played. They've played the best of any team in the AL East to this point. And while having played the best to this point doesn't necessarily mean they'll play the best the rest of the way, it's better than all the other alternatives.

And it's gonna rain all week here. There's very little chance there will be an actual game tonight. I suspect the Red Sox will call it at some point this afternoon.

Not for nothing, but this sounds like classic second-guessing to me. What lost the game last night was execution by the pitchers he brought in; the moves themselves were sound. Myers made a bad pitch to Ortiz, and Sturtze.... he's just done.

Last night's loss will hurt a lot less if it's a step towards Sturtze being put out to pasture.

9 SteveF is right - it is pouring here in Mass right now, not supposed to let up. If they get a game in tonight I will be shocked.

10 I agree with you on Myers - you have to bring him in to face Ortiz. That was the right move. But Sturtze should never face batters in a crucial situation ever again, and having Small throw a single pitch after walking Cora is inexcusable to me. I don't know how 4 straight balls to Alex Cora (career .244/.311/.349, 163 BB in 2234 ABs!) doesn't scream "I'm done, get me out of here!" Wang was removed for having done less, fer cryin out loud.

My favorite moment last night comes from the YES announcers. Looking at the bullpen, Kay and Singleton are figuring Torre's plan. They believe that Sturtze is coming in to face Loretta and Myers will face Ortiz (and Proctor ManRam). Kay asks Singleton something like, "You know what that means don't you?" Singleton's response: "The game is on the line." I then commenced to turn off the TV. Well, I should have at any rate.

Didn't we learn the Sturtze lesson with this dandy of a line from the 7-2 Friday loss to Toronto?

1.0IP 3H 2R 2ER 1HR

While that game was 5-2 at that point, it certainly didn't help to bring Tanyon back into good graces or give me the impression that he was one the crucial guys.

His next appearance was mop up duty. So raise your hand if you thought you'd see Sturtze in a tight game in Boston. Yet there he was again.

No, this vampire of the night will continue to suck the life from me.

Great headline Cliff. And thanks for the links to the Minor League club. One stop shopping for all things Yankee.

Crosby is a horrible fourth OFer. His career OPS is .559. That stinks.

Cairo's career OPS is .684.

This is a team with a $200 million payroll. It's absurd to have a bench like that.

Andy Phillips is a much better option at 1B than Cairo.

Sturtze is shouldering an unfair portion of the blame here this morning. He did his job. If his glove (or Cano's) is a half-inch longer, today's thread would be about how Cano owns the Sox.

That's just the way the ball bounces (pun intended). The game ended when Small walked Cora, who wouldn't have gotten a hit had he been allowed to use a tee and a Fungo bat.

Rich, I agree with your Ortiz comment. The Yanks need to pitch inside to him. Repeatedly. Make him jump around and move his feet for crissakes.

A conversation:
(Tanyon Sturtze walks into George's office)

Tanyon: I saw what you did.
George: What do you mean?
T: The body. I know where it's burried.
G: What do you want?
T: To pitch for the Yankees. In close games.
G: Are you any good?
T: Does it matter?
G: I guess not.

This is the only way I can imagine that Sturtze has stayed with the team. I'm not really sure who Steinbrenner killed, but it's the only thing that makes sense.

I too don't understand why they don't brushback Ortiz. I mean, how many Yanks have gotten beaned, yet those guys get settled in every night. And why even pitch to Ortiz, oh right, all the walks. Manny is not the threat that he once was while Ortiz is still killing it. DON'T PITCH TO ORTIZ.
Sturtze needs some time in AAA.

Is there any which way Torre returns next season.. hes got one year on his contract.. win or lose i just dont see him back.. and i have the right candidate for managing our millionares.. Ron Gardenhire.. who apparently close to moving on..

Brush back?? U mean make ur opponent think or work?? remember Game 6 04 ALCS.. did anyone try bunting to make Schilling run... yeah like our players do these intelligent things..

Myers's first pitch to Ortiz was up and very in.

1 I've seen that. I don't think it's fair to say that the Yankees would have won these two games if not for Torre's Jeff Weaver Syndrome. But I do think you can pin the loss on Torre's bullpen management.

3 There's always Colter Bean (rim shot).

7 Crosby and Cairo both made key defensive plays that kept the game from being broken open. Cairo has a good history against Wakefield and hit the ball hard each time up, just right at someone. And due to Sheffield's injury it was Crosby or Bernie. I think Torre made the right choice. Though you're right to point out that he should have a better choice to make.

8 The Yankees did shift on Ortiz, and he got two singles to left, one directly through where Jeter normally plays. Oops.

10 Is it second guessing if it's further evidence of a pattern of bullpen usage in tie games on the road that I've criticized many times in the past?

Looking back over the season thus far, Torre actually did the same exact thing in the game after the Scott Proctor game in Oakland. In a tied game on the road, he left Jaret Wright, who had just pitched two scoreless innings, in to start the eighth and Wright gave up the go-ahead run. Only then did he turn to Myers and Farnsworth. I made excuses for Torre in that game, just as I did on the game thread last night. But I've since realized that Jeff Weaver Syndrome doesn't just mean going to a lesser pitcher in a tie game on the road, but also means sticking with a lesser pitcher in a tie game on the road.

The Yankees have been tied entering the bottom of the eighth inning on the road three times this season. They've lost all three games and Mariano Rivera has not pitched in any of them. Kyle Farnsworth has only appeared in one, but after the lead had already been relinquished by Jaret Wright

10, 12, 16 Leaving Small in was indeed Torre's biggest mistake. But seeing as it was a classic symptom of Jeff Weaver Syndrome, I blame Torre, not Small.

20 Don't even start that. Torre will finish his contract. He's not getting fired, and he's not quitting.

"quite obviously performing over his head during his stint with the club last year"

At what point does a guy get certified with you, Cliff? I think Aaron Small proved he was the real thing and if he's ready to go, why not use him? Made perfect sense to me.

Who does Dotel replace in the bullpen? Is he long relief like Small/Wright or part of the Farnsworth/Sturtze bridge to Mo?

Bubba made a critical catch last night that Sheff wouldn't have had. And he will hit, last year proved how streaky he was. Bubba is our best defensive outfielder.

Looking back over that Jaret Wright game, it's frightening how much it echoes last night. Wright gave up a lead-off triple to Milton Bradley start the eighth, putting the go-ahead run on third, but Torre stuck with him. Not only that, he stuck with him for three more batters, perhaps because he was eyeing a spot to use Myers further down the order, which is what he eventually did, but after the tie had been broken.

This is something to watch as the season goes forward. Does Torre stay with lesser pitchers too long because he's got a lefty matchup down the order for Myers and doesn't want to burn one of his better relievers to just get a couple of outs? That's dangerous stuff. I'd much rather see Farnsworth or Rivera in there and have him leave them in to pitch to the lefty. We all feared that Torre would let Myers pitch to too many righties. Could be we were right to be fearful about Torre's use of Myers, but for the wrong reasons.

"Does Torre stay with lesser pitchers too long because he's got a lefty matchup down the order for Myers and doesn't want to burn one of his better relievers to just get a couple of outs?" But, Cliff, what's the point of Torre insisting on a 12-man staff? Isn't it so he can have a 7 man bullpen? Why am I asking a logical question of Torre's managing style? BTW, I will continue to pass along questions about Torre's dubious decisions from Lon Trost and Randy Levine. Someone's got to do it since he won't talk to Kim Jones.

24 Dotel will be a set-up man with Farnsworth and I'm hoping he'll replace Sturtze on the roster. Of course I'd like Matt Smith to replace Smith on the roster, but . . .

As for Small, there is an established history of older pitchers having fluke seasons like Small did last year and then reverting to their journeyman forms (Steve Goldman wrote an excellent column about "the other Aaron Smalls" sometime last year). As far as I'm concerned Small's performance last year was a combination of luck and fluke until he proves me wrong. Walking three of his last six batters last night didn't convince me otherwise, though I will admit I expected far worse.

Got to agree with Shawn Clap re: Cano. Actually, though he made a few nice plays, I was upset that Cano did not get a glove on that seeing-eye single. I know he was shuttling back and forth at that moment, but that's a play he's got to make--if not being able to record an out then at least preventing that ball from going into center. Dive, don't strech, jocko.

As Cliff said, no way Torre quits or gets fired. WIth the majority of the world, he has carte-blanche. I just think that whatever free passess he built up from 199-2000, he has since used up in 2001-2006, so the people who come in here so insulted ans shocked that we could cdare to critique Joe, well, its been 5+ seasons now of underachieving.

I think Cashman really needs to make himself felt and shakeup the bullpen. As others have said, DFA Sturtze, call up Russ Johnson or K. Thompson to take his place, or, if Joe insists, call upp Smith/Rasner/even Erickson

Maybe its just me but Small made Ortiz look silly during his at bat. I don't care what he did as with his control and walks later on, but to be back on your first day from the DL and accomplish what Stanton, Quantrill, Gordon, Sturtze and Myers couldnt accomplish the past two years against Papi is something to look forward too. Plus, it was freezing out there, I was even suprised Small was even considered that night considering his ailment that put him on the DL on the first place could have tighten up again on a awful night like that.
Small gets two thumbs up for a change up that was lethal. He deserves to be in the starting rotation considering what we have lingering in the 5 hole at this moment.

So, guys, Myers KO'ed, should we try Villone, then Farnsworth, Dotel and then Matt Smith in the order against Ortiz and see who gets lucky? It's like a firing squad out there. Quantrill and Stanton did not know what hit them. Forget pitching inside to him and making him dance. Let's just face it, give him credit and accept Ortiz can't be pitched to. Is he not worthy for an intentional walk now and then? I think I would have taken my chances with Ramirez in that situation last night due to his slump. Worse situation out of Ramirez, something other than a homer. How come that's not even being considered???

The majority of the world are not Yankees fans, Zack, and that's the problem with their POV on Torre. Any other franchise and, yes, the guy could manage the team until he drops because of the 4 rings but...what does that mean for a franchise with 26 rings and a $200 million payroll? I'm not being unfair to hold him to a much higher standard. The Jeff Weaver move alone would have had him fired in any other organization. (Grady Little, people) And the built in alibi he's conveniently used of not being part of the personnel decision-process is just bogus. What? Tampa forces him to use Sturtze, play Bernie in the field, start Cairo at 1st base instead of Phillips, have the worst bench in baseball every damn year?

If Clueless Joe Maddon can figure out something against David Ortiz (his exaggerated shift and pitching him consistently inside and above the hands frustrated Ortiz so much he tried to bunt for a hit at one point this past weekend), don't you think this "all-star" coaching staff can? Yes, the Yankees shifted against Ortiz but then tried to pitch him down and away. Which he promptly deposited in leftfield, thank you. Good thinking.

Walk him everytime...every single spit in the hands and clap time.

27 I don't necessarily agree about Small - first off, you have to give him a few games slack because of the injury and layoff. Second, I've argued on other sites that he's a much better starting rotation candidate than Wright - simply because he seems to have more motion on his pitches.

Agreed with the others - Sturtze has gotten too many 'last chances' in big spots to warrant any more of them. I'm sure there's a few mop up games he'll be useful in over the course of 2006, but I too will be turning off my TV when he happens to enter a game with anything less than a 7-run lead.

I think that might be my policy with Yankees/Sox games in general, as I was up until 2am last night playing Battlefield 2, trying to wind down from the aggravation...

Deja vu-Volume 2. Re last year's MVP debate. Their MVP candidate goes three for four with a bomb and two hits against the shift. Our guy, takes his patented batting tee swing and withers in yet another big game. ARod, FHeart.

Small pitched well last night, until the Cora at bat, it was like he fell apart in an instant.

But I blame Myers more than anyone, he gave in to Ortiz, and you just can't do that.

I dole out the blame thusly:

30% Torre for not having Mo, Farns, or even Proctor out there.

70% Myers for throwing a get over fastball to a lethal fastball hitter.

Everyone seems to be ignoring the fact that Ortiz's home run was meaningless, much like Giambi's on Sunday. The winning runs in the last two Yankee games were driven in by Mark Loretta and . . . hey, look at that, Alex Rodriguez.

so much for Mike Myers' top secret plan to retire Ortiz, eh?

36 i think you are a little hard on myers. He is our LOOGY, but he is Mike Meyers. The dude can only pitch up to his capabilities. I think based on his abilities and control he did the best he could do. Ortiz is just too good of a hitter.
And we may just have a mediocure LOOGY. Plus, you are blaming a guy for runs that were scored after the fact the lead was lost due to Sturtze's inabilities.

If you are going to blame anyone it should be Torre and I think we established that with all the posts today. Torre made a bad decision that broke the tie. Ortiz and Meyer matchup was just icing on the cake. Has nothing to do with the outcome of the game.

I dole out the blame thusly:

100% Ortiz

Let's give him credit already and walk the dude.

1. blame torre, not small.

2. myers was the right move, we just got the wrong result.

3. i would rather see papi on bases than rounding them. walk him or peg him. furthermore: it's a damn shame that despite all the "great minds" on our coaching staff, we haven't come up with one creative, "outside the box" solution for ortiz. maddon's shift in-and-of-itself was ridiculous, but it's indicative of the KIND of thinking it takes to neutralize hitters like this. i cant help but respect papi's prowess in the batter's box, but the only thing that stings more the mornings after a loss to the sox, is the amount of times its been at the hands of ortiz and i've had to hear about it from everyone i know.

4. i dont have rivera on my fantasy team, but if i did, i would pay big money for torre's home address so i could stand outside screaming until he comes outside and explains where it is written that Mo may only pitch in a save situation.

37 39 That's rig