Great recap as always, Cliff, thanks. C. Wright (seriously, typing that name still gives me chills so I've decided to add the C) made a much better debut than Henn, and that's encouraging.

The tribute is interesting to know.

More than anything else I liked his poise, and loved the shot of Chase's dad snapping his picture as he walked off the field smiling, eligible for the win.

It was by no means a brilliant performance, but I thought it would have inspired better headlines than it received in the papers this morning. I mean, haven't we seen enough "Wright" puns?

Going to bed last night I was thinking:

Major League Chaseball

The AA-mazing Chase (double A, get it?)

The Thrill of The Chase

Another way to go would have been photo of Chase in action on left, photo of Pavenison rehabbing on right with the words:
Chase - Lounge (rimshot please?)

I'm not saying Michael Kay owes S.I's Jon Heyman a root beer or anything but --
yesterday afternoon Heyman was on Kay's radio show, and mentioned that the Cincinnatti Reds were his sleeper pick to win the NL Central.

Last night during the game, Paul O'Neil was talking about teams that could surprise, and he asked Kay if there was a team he thought could be this year's Detroit Tigers. Kay responded quickly, and with authority: The Reds.

Had to laugh because I don't think I've ever heard Kay mention the Reds on his radio show.

Then again, maybe it's best for Sheppard to not open the new Stadium because he is so much a part of the old one. Along with Robert Merrill and Eddie Layton, Sheppard really added to the Yankee Stadium experience. Soon, all three, as well as the Stadium they served, will be gone.

Not to get too sentimental, but there is one other figure that I have a special place for in my Yankee heart…Gene Monahan. Over the past 30+ years, Geno has pretty much had a front row seat to Yankees history. Chris Chamblis' HR in 1976, Monahan was there. Reggie's three bolts in 1977…Monahan was there. The Munson tribute…Geno was on the bench. Rag's no-hitter, every version of Billy Ball, Donnie's prime, Jeter's rookie season and the four championships under Torre have all been witnessed by Monahan. Starting with the team in 1973, Monahan even serves as a link to the old Stadium.

In a very overlooked way, Gene Monahan has been a constant in nearly 35 years of Yankee history. Not even the Boss trumps him in service time as both came on board in 1973. Considering George's penchant for personnel changes, Geno's run seems even more amazing. Furthermore, his tenure in the Yankees organization actually goes back 44 years to when he was 17. More than anyone, I think you can say Gene Monahan is a Yankee. If I was a publisher, I would assign my best writer to the task of hammering out a book with Monahan…I think it could be one of the most fascinating baseball books in history.

Careful now on the criticism of puns in sports writing, Sliced. I still remember Cliff's headline when Chien Ming Wang took over Jared Wright's spot in the rotation a couple years back: "If this is Wang, I don't want to be Wright"

I want to apologize for predicting Chase's first victory yesterday would be an 11-4 score. I had a case of the hiccups that day and everything was a little off. Here's hoping for a little Quest Support today, too.

In the midst of a move so don't have my MLB package currently but enjoyed the DiceK meltdown in Toronto. The lil' feller seethes when he doesn't get a call at the plate and then proceeds to walk the next three or four. It was Toronto so eventually someone came up to the plate swinging to help Dice regain his composure. Never would have happened at the Stadium.

Japanese baseball fans bring out horns and drums and the whole place turns into a group cheerleading experience. Drowns out the occasional "You Suck DiceK." I have a lot of sympathy for Dice. He's out there all on his own. Nobody to give him any advice when his mechanics break down, just a bunch of dumbass gaijin coaches chattering nonsense and that neanderthal Tek who covers only the basics (Tek knows how to point and grunt).

To say this bears watching (along with trying to hold back giggles) is the least a helpful Yankee fan can do at these times. God, I love this game.

With all the terrible news lately (there was also a death in my wife's family yesterday) I feared the worst about Bob Sheppard when I turned on the pregame show last night.

As they were showing and playing his first lineup announcement I thought he might have passed away. Then, I saw the date and realized it was an anniversary celebration. Whew.

Amazing how his voice and cadence of speech have not changed since 1951. Consistency and longevity are perhaps the most celebrated baseball traits, and Sheppard and Monahan embody them like few others in the game.

Great call on the final score yesterday, by the way, jayd!

The Ian O'Connor Show is every Sunday, 9-10 a.m., on 1050 ESPN Radio

Wow! Who twisted this guy's panties? "A spoiled generation of their fans?" See what happens when redsawks fans get slapped around at an early age? We need more kindness and understanding of those who are the most challenged among us.

At least it's nice to know what part of the dial to avoid on Sunday nights...

Anyone else see that Jeff Weaver got knocked around, yet again. Is pitching really that thin, that he still has a job?

With all due respect, that math makes my head hurt. Yesterday was the 56th anniversary of Sheppard's first day, totaling 56 years. He has just begun his 57th year.

13
I was actually thinking a few times in the past couple years that missing the playoffs wouldn't be the worst thing in the world- could clear out some of these odious front-runners, if only to make it easier to get tickets. But with the Stadium on its last legs, and a new one on the way, it don't matter anymore. The Yanks could go 62-100 the next 4 years and it'd make no difference b/c the park would be the main draw anyway...

April 17, 1951 - Debut (1 year)
April 17, 1952 - 1-year anniversary (2 years)
April 17, 2007 - 56-year anniversary (57 years)

I didn't much like the idea of starting C. Wright yesterday. I thought it was terrible when they did that to Sean Henn; you don't ask a kid from AA to take one for the team, you tell the bullpen to suck it up and get through a game somehow. But I recognize this was a tougher situation - bullpen overworked already, and no one else on the 40-man roster who could start.

OK, they got away with it. But here's the problem: C. Wright may not have pitched particularly well, but he also didn't get traumatized. That being the case, he'll get Sunday's start in Fenway, and that could be really, really ugly. I feel bad for the kid.

Similarly, I was actually sorry to see Mntkwcz's homer yesterday. That bought him at least three more weeks of everyday play.

Last Friday, I actually heard this exchange:

Neanderthal: Why do you keep getting up to go the bathroom?
Neanderthal's girlfriend: Because I keep drinking beer.
Neanderthal: Then stop drinking beer.
Neanderthal's girlfriend: Then what would be the point of coming to the game.
Neanderthal: You're right (moves to the aisle to let her out of the row).

A few years of losing would calm everyone down for awhile. Apparently Knicks fans have even been subdued of late. Bet they're missing Ewing - another favorite target of boos.

See, I feel good about last night - probably more than I should rationally. They beat a decent team when, on paper, it could have easily ended up in touchdown territory.

Hopefully Igawa keeps it coming tonight. If they can make it through this next week a few games above .500, I'll be mighty pleased. As it is, they'd be tied with Boston if not for the pole job in Oakland. Not bad when they've played sloppy and have started

Sunday's start against the DiceK (?)... Look, man, this is Chase MANIA we're talking here. Get with the program, please :)

Second that emotion on Minky's HR.

As long as Ortiz and Manny are still hitting .214, there is a shot this weekend. Pressure is on the Sawks to get us while we're down. Better this than Pavano reinjuring himself before the less than sympathetic Fenway Faithful

Meanwhile, this particular Chase we are talking about is starting against Matsuzaka on Sunday. Big break, huh?

I see it differently. Chaser, and probably everybody else already know that Boston is a tough team to beat. So, high hopes aside, it won't be a shocker if he didn't fare too well on his first outing againt Boston. In Fenway, no less. Thus, the situation alone prevents itself to become a confidence wrecker for him if he fails.
Now if he were to face a truly horrible hitting team and lost --even for a AA pitcher as he is -- it could prove to be more traumatizing to him.
So, essentially, I'm glad that he's going up against THE MONSTER early on in his career. If he stinks, it won't be because he, er, truly stinks. And if he wins, let's rock'n'roll!
So, I can only see this as a win-win situation for him career-wise. I mean, this is a match-up his peers would cream themselves over! And with no burden!
But then of course, this scenario only works if he's a tough sport to begin with, which from what I gather, he just might be. We shall see.

27 That's what I think. When Chase loses to Dice-K in Fenway, he'll just get a pat on the back for taking one for the team, and that will be that. And if, by chance, he wins...

A less encouraging comp is fellow Texan LHP Randy Keisler, a 2nd-round pick who debuted at age 24. Keisler, in his debut, shut down the Red Sox at Fenway (joining Clemens and Pettitte for an all-Texan whitewash). He has done nothing notable since.

I'm hoping the kid hangs tough, but I gotta' say that I see starting him in that situation as...less than ideal.

The result of the two previous games in the series will also be a big factor...

Figure Igawa, Rasner, Karstens, and Wright can handle about 5 innings each at this point, and Pettitte's good for 7. That covers 27 of the next 45 scheduled innings (Wed. through Sun.), leaving 18 frames for the 'pen. In other words, the bullpen will probably cover at least 2 of the next 5 games.

Hopefully, Igawa (tonight) and Rasner (tomorrow) will benefit from being mysteries to the Indians.

Hopefully, Farnswacker can get back on track.

Hopefully, Rodriguez and Posada can keep carrying the team with their bats through Sunday night.

It's early. I just keep on looking at the calendar -- and feel this harsh weather -- and remember that the season is still in its infancy. Let the Sawx take the first three games against the yanks and let their obnoxious fans immediately proclaim the season ovah. It just makes the rest of the season taste that much sweeter...

I'm still feeling very good about this team. In fact, I'm pumped about this bullpen and very happy to see Alex Rodriguez finally play like, well, AROD!

But it's going to happen. It happens to the best of pitchers. It might even happen next month when he's back pitching at AA.

This should be something he learns to deal with rather than thinking maybe it won't happen if he can throw strikes all the time.
Of course, he should/must try to avoid getting knocked around at all cost, but that would be like a lesson half learned.

If he can't take a loss in an overmatched fight with no pressure to win, then I'd say he's too fragile even for his tender age -- ultimately no good for a position in the roster even as a #5.

I'm with you in that I also hope the kid hangs tough. As a matter of fact, that's all I ask. We haven't had a chance to really root for a young one this year, so him showing up (even as a spot starter) is very exciting to me.

That's a much better way to use a young pitcher than throwing him into the cauldron. (cf. Weaver's Eighth Law)

A couple of strong innings from Henn should come in handy against Cleveland's lefty-laden lineup. Yesterday's big lead allowed the Yanks to save Henn for today. The lead also allowed them to risk leaving Myers in against righties.

Actually, Gator didn't have so many bullpen appearances, as Billy Martin's 10th pitcher was kind of like Joe Torre's 12th. Guidry had nine relief appearances, all mop-up situations (late innings, team way down) between July 27 and September 16, 1975, before making his first start on September 22. On May 20, 1976, he was called up and placed into a semi-preassure situation (2 on in the eighth, trailing Boston by 2) and punched himself a quick return ticket to Syracuse. He was recalled in August and had just 6 mop-up appearances. In 1977, he had 5 relief appearances before starting on April 29 and 1 more before joining the rotation for good on May 12.

So he did spend plenty of time "sitting in the bullpen." Is that where he learned Sparky's slider? I had always heard that it was at Spring Training in '77.

I don't know anything more about Chase Wright than what I have read here, and I didn't get to see him pitch, but that has to be pretty cool. I have no baseball skills, but I'm a true baseball romantic, and I can't even being to imagine the feeling of being a young guy, never pitched above A ball before this year, and getting called up by the New York F'ing Yankees to pitch in Yankee F'ing Stadium. And then, to top it off, step off the plane and turn in 5 innings of solid work for a W. Even if he blows up in Fenway over the weekend, he gets to tell people for the rest of his life that he pitched for the New York Yankees. That's just awesome.

Makes me think of that line in "Bull Durham": Yeah, I was in the show. I was in the show for 21 days once - the 21 greatest days of my life. You know, you never handle your luggage in the show, somebody else carries your bags. It was great. You hit white balls for batting practice, the ballparks are like cathedrals, the hotels all have room service, and the women all have long legs and brains.