Chien-Ming Wang teetered on the brink of disaster throughout his six innings against the White Sox last night, but somehow allowed only three runs, so in the end -- after the Yankee offense
poked its head out and didn’t see its shadow -- New York
won 9-5. The Yanks are now one game over .500, and at with his fourth W of the season, Wang is the
fastest major league pitcher to 50 wins since Doc Gooden. (Obligatory disclaimer: wins are an extremely unreliable and inaccurate stat, etc. Still, that's impressive).
Starting for the White Sox was old frenemy Jose Contreras, another in the long line of big-money free agent busts in New York who’ve gone on to success elsewhere. (He gets a pass, though, since his family was trapped in Cuba most of the time he was with the Yankees. You can see how that might be a tad bit distracting. What’s your excuse,
Vazquez?). Contreras pitched a solid game, allowing just one first inning run, when Johnny Damon scored on a Matsui ground out, and one inning later a solo home run from the hollow husk of Jason Giambi. Then he settled in and, like many an April pitcher before him, stifled the Yankees’ offense.
Wang, meanwhile, struggled from the start, throwing almost 50 pitches in the first two innings alone as the White Sox put three quick runs up. (He wasn't helped by an error on Morgan Ensberg, who was subbing in for Alex Rodriguez at third base. A-Rod, of course, was on paternity leave in Florida, with his wife and newborn daughter.... or,
as the Daily News would have it, "welcoming a bouncing bambina into [his] pinstriped world"). After that Wang was somwhat more efficient, but also lucky: the White Sox had a plethora of very hard hit line drives and fly balls land just within reach of the Yankee outfielders. And by the end, Chicago had stranded 13 runners.
The Yankees finally got a little momentum going, and loaded the bases in the 7th – single, walk, infield single – which brought Derek Jeter to the plate with one out. He struck out, and perhaps as a result, looked like the happiest man in Chicago one batter later, when Bobby Abreu whacked Octavio Dotel's 2-0 pitch just over the left field wall for a go-ahead grand slam.
In the bottom of the inning, perhaps concerned that things might get dull for the viewers at home, Billy Traber and Brian Bruney worked together to load the bases, which brought in Joba Chamberlain. Joba looked good under the circumstances -- well, aside from walking in a run -- and in the YES booth, David Cone kept gushing about his “moxie,” an excellent word that people just don’t use enough anymore. (Side note: I think Cone’s doing a good job on the whole... but you can just tell he’s dying to curse up a storm, and to tell several dozen potentially libelous stories. I'd love to hear him really cut loose, though I expect the FCC and certain former teammates would not.)
After a three-run homer from Johnny Damon in the eighth – cancel the obit, I think he’s fogging up the mirror! – and another solid inning from Chamberlain, Kyle Farnsworth brought his own special brand of excitement to the ninth inning. But one quick home run, walk, fielder's choice and wild pitch later, the Yankees nailed down the win.
I'm not sure it's even worth bringing up, but in the eighth inning, a black cat ran out of the stands, across the field, and straight into the Yankees dugout. I've decided to simply ignore this, not being the superstious type. (Though once, in college, I was walking across a courtyard at night, when not one but two black cats ran directly in front of me, one after the other… then proceeded to have loud sex in the bushes next to my dorm. I admit, that did give me pause.)
Finally, announcer Paul O’Neill finally asked the big burning question on all of our minds: “How can they wear black socks when they’re called the White Sox? That just doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Next time on YES: Why do we drive on parkways but park on driveways?
I like to think that's how I would have reacted, too, but in my more honest moments I have to admit that I'm too prudish.
Sorry, I'm crotchety on this beautiful morning in Gilroy (Garlic Capital of the World!). Anyway, nice write-up, Emma.
When it comes down to it I sure rather have a pitcher who is lucky and wins than a pitcher who has wonderful stats and loses. When did it become unfashionable to win. I just don't get it.
Does anyone know whom the Yankees will face on Friday now that Westbrook is on the DL?
I am unsure how it happened that I have become a Principal in the 'Johnny Damon's OK' section here, but I'd say he's really doing more than fog the mirror ... the obp (he's a lead off, remember!) is now at career average. Yes, I would rather it be there with a .280 batting average (that means more rbis) but for a dreadful, horrific, dump the bum slow start ... not that shabby. That ball got out FAST last night - and was no Cue Ball to Corner Right Field Pocket shot - for a guy who swings one-handed.
My wish list is now focused on Cano getting it together a month (two?) earlier than last year and ONE of Phil/Ian arriving as tolerable. (Two is pushing it in a wish list, right?) I hope I am wrong, but my expectations for the Giambino are very very limited. Maybe a hot month in there?
I share the bemusement at people wanting Joba kept for the 8th. I did find Cone interesting on the issue of his using only 2 pitches in relief and needing time and focus to bring the other two back. THAT is a good commentator's point. I CAN see a case if both IPK and PKH step up big, there's no urgency to finding him in the rotation except that - as discussed yesterday - he does need to get towards 130 innings or the whole process gets repeated next year. There ARE challenges to competing this year and setting up the future at the same time.
I thought the lovefest with Paulie on the number just outright sucked. I know WHY they were all kissing in the booth, but it was embarrassing. 'I doubt you know this, but Jeter and Posada and Mariano all went to talk to Hawkins ...' 'Thanks, guys!'
Please!
Ouch.
I dunno if I necessarily like Cone yet. He makes me kinda twitchy when he talks; I sense the same thing you do about his restraining himself, but to me it seems like he's a tad bitter about having to do so, and it colors his own commentary a bit. You almost get the sense he'd rather be in the dugout coaching.
Okay, I've found the downside of letting Billy Crystal play; he'll be on the talk show circuit for the rest of his life talking about it, and that will eventually seep into every performance he ever does on stage or film. There're few things more annoying than someone who realizes a dream of theirs and won't shut up about it after it's gotten old.
(Not cranky, just hungry >;)
Michael Kay - just call the game. Leave the other crap to your radio show. Baseball was happening on the field, and you guys were talking about a that crap? Gimme a break.
The burning question for me was why the game was blacked out on EI. Wasn't on WGN either.
4 Have you ever tried explaining "wins" to a sports fan just getting interested in baseball? Watching their brains try and spin their way around that one is pretty comical, and telling. It was back in the 1920s that sports writers first started to realize that "wins" were not the best way to characterize a pitcher, so they came up with Earned Run Average.
On a certain level, though, I agree with you, but probably not in the way you meant. If my team has a pitcher with lots of "wins," that means my team has a good offense (enough that if my pitcher gives up 5 runs in 7 innings he can still get the win); it means my team has a good bullpen (to not blow those 6-5 leads my pitcher leaves with); and most importantly, my team has a lot of wins. For a team, wins are the most important thing, but assigning credit and blame to just one player is downright insane, given the way baseball is set up.
Here's a list of pitchers, since 1993, who have had more than 10 losses with an ERA+ above 150:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/yjpm
Now, here's a list of pitchers, since 1993, who have had 15 wins with an ERA+ below 100:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/EbpG
Tell me.... from which group of pitchers would you like to select your staff?
Separately, I hate to be uncharitable to Contreras, but I think they finally dumped him when, after his family came to the US, he had one brilliant start against the Mets, which he then followed with a 6 start, 5.82 ERA July, including his third terrible start of the year against the Red Sox....
i feel bad for hawkins, and it seems like you can tell that hes the type of pitcher that would be affected by this stuff. either that, or michael kay has said 'he's a nice guy' so many damn times that im convinced of it.
I don't think we had cats on campus, but the squirrels at Union always seemed particularly wild and frisky in the springtime when I was there (late 90s). But, they avoided the bushes and used tree branches instead. Something tells me that's one place not on Chyll's list (or Johnny Cash's either).
Ruth Rodriguez. Now, there's a proud name.
No expectations to live up to there, kiddo!
O'Neill didn't exactly comport himself very well on the issue in my opinion, but it's kinda silly to expect someone who has been hailed as a "warrior" throughout and after his Yankee career to suddenly become magnanimous concerning a piece of his legacy. I'm taking a seat on this one, it's tabloid crap to pay the bills as far as I'm concerned.
Cliff, you need to update the sidebar I think. Isn't Javy going against Moose tonight? Who goes against Hughes tomorrow?
You're my favorite dorkus, Sliced.
Ruth Rodriguez, indeed.
13 It is my preferred location. ;-))
http://joeposnanski.com
Maybe it's me, but given that he had a good 1/2 year, I'd have to say it was an injury of some sort. Something happened in July.
Any report on whether the black cat, upon running into the Yankee dugout, either immediately keeled over and died at the foot of Mike Mussina or jumped into the lap of Carl Pavano, forcing him to go into rehab for a "broken lap?"
In 2000, Vazquez was 23, and threw 217.7 innings. He exceeded 110 pitches in 15 of his 33 starts.
In 2001, Vazquez was 24, and threw 223.7 innings. He exceeded 110 pitches in 14 of his 32 starts.
In 2002, Vazquez was 25, and threw 230.3 innings. He exceeded 110 pitches in 16 of his 34 starts.
In 2003, Vazquez was 26, and threw 230.7 innings. He exceeded 110 pitches in 19 of his 34 starts. 10 times he threw over 122 pitches. He led MLB in pitcher abuse points that year. Wood was second on the list; Prior fourth.
Maybe his arm was just a wee bit tired.
Not in my neighborhood it doesn't... >;)
Then again, what if the two black cats were Wayne Brady and Barack Obama? White cats looooooooooove the two of them!
I'll be at the Nationals game though, so i won't see it.
http://tinyurl.com/2cje4z
"Do you seriously find yourself struggling to imagine anyone ever being good enough to wear PAUL O'FREAKINGNEILL'S NUMBER? I mean, you had Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Ford, Stengel, Reggie — throw Mattingly in there if you want — and you're really booing and ripping a guy trying to honor Clemente because it offends your PAUL O'NEILL SENSIBILITIES?
I'm just in awe. I am. And then I read that Jeter and others may be trying to get Paul O'Neill's number RETIRED? Has the world gone mad?"
___________
Frankly, end of saga, or would be except for the excruciating stuff on air last night. "Thanks, guys!" KILLS me. And I do not think 'on the fence' is a legit position here, this is legacy and the proper assessment of it for a team that defines that. Being a warrior (which he was, though JoPo's funny as hell on that, too) doesn't excuse being delusional long after a career is over. O Neill could have and should have doused this.
I asked if anyone could ever wear #21 again, if it has been retired by beerheads. Someone said 'A Joba type.' But how do you START as a Joba type when you pick your number? And even if, say, a Sabathia came over (last night's version, please) is he going to be idiot enough to wade into THIS muck?
Nope. This sucks. JoPo nailed it.
I answered your question last time, and still maintain my response. Any popular home grown talent or quality free agent would not be booed for wearing #21. The bottom line is Hawkins (or any other journeyman reliever well known for being hammered by the Yankees) was going to be booed regardless...the #21 saga was just a convenient excuse.
http://www.zippyvideos.com/6010942805159246/negrodamus/
Just to say, if there was an inkling that this would be an issue, why not nip it in the bud before it blew up into this crap, hmmmm?
If Hawkins is really such a nice guy (and I believe he is), why would he have been so stubborn about wearing a number that has "universal" sentimentality attached to it, despite not being retired? And if you really want it retired, why not lobby for it after the first incident? I'm just not getting it...
There really is no reason to lobby for #21 being retired because I don't think there is a strong sentiment to see it happen. I just maintain that most fans want the next #21 to be a quality player with plans to be in pinstripes longer than one season.
Frank Thomas
Mark Texeira
Josh Beckett (pre-RS)
...
Only if the cats belong to Dr. Schrodinger.
Only if the cats belong to Dr. Schrodinger.
First half: 10-5, 3.56, 1.15 WHIP
Second half: 4-5, 6.92, 1.49 WHIP.
And to answer your other question:
On 0-2 counts - 69 PA, 3 HR, 23 K
After 0-2 count - 166 PA, 5 HR, 57 K
It works the same way with bad music artists or music artists that have drifted away from their roots who continue to make processed cheese and still go multi-platinum. You play this crap over and over again until you accept it without condition. Neither Kay nor Sterling prevent people from watching or listening to the game, but if they started costing YES or WCBS advertisers, they'd be gone in less than 60 seconds. Such is not the case.
Look at it this way, Weep, there are a lot of programs, artists or other things that I would like to cancel forever, but I don't run the network yet. That's exactly why there's so much turmoil in the TV industry; one person who makes the decisions has a personal agenda that is often mutually exclusive from the fanbase, but the fans have no input unless they mobilize economically, which they rarely do.
Maybe until then we should organize a week-long boycott of the radio broadcast. Or something.
God, they're just unlistenable. You don't even know what's going on in the game!
Sigh.
56 I was thrilled when RJ was dealt here. I didn't mind giving up Vazquez for the best pitcher in the NL.
Cut to Waldman in the wings..."Here'sssss Johnny!"
"I think that's genuine and human. It tells me he loved being a Yankee and was touched by the idea that they and the fans held in greet esteem. I not only don't have a problem with that, I am glad he feels that way."
So the "touched" sentiment is there, with your endorsement.
Having said that, I was allowing myself to get sarcastic, and that should really be directed at O'Neill rather than at you. My apologies.
71 Exactly. Over 900 innings in 4 years, and way too many high pitch counts, particularly as the innings kept going up. I'm sure that moving to the tougher league - no pitchers to face at the least - did not help Vazquez either.
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