Philips got an AB and had a nice hit (unfortunately caught). We may get to see Chein-Ming Wang.

Jeter's walking at a ludicrous rate.

to answer your question, not really. But maybe this terrible start will allow for some youth to establish themselves. Andy Phillips will obviously get some playing time. It looks like Wright might be DL bound which would likely mean a call up of Wang. Wang, for what its worth is doing good but not super at Columbus. 2-0 with a 4.15 ERA, 16 K and 5 BB in 26 IP. He allowed 12 hits and 4 runs in his last start.

The thing is that Tino is playing too much. When he was signed i thought it was a good signing in mind that he would play on occasion. But he has been all but an everyday player and that isn't very good.

Giambi isn't doing so well. I'd cut him some slack yet but he is mostly a hole in that lineup. Womack is frustrating but doing better than both Giambi and Tino.

It's Only Almost May!!

Brown and Wright seem beyond repair. Whatever happened to that Leiber guy? (Geesh.)

We very badly need Mussina, Unit, and Pavano to steady the rotation. We can deal with some turmoil at the bottom if those goes are solid.

and since i was looking at Columbus' up to date stats, go Cano! .362, 5 2b, 2 eb, 5 HR, 18 RBI, and 5 BB in 69 ABs!

eb = 3b. if i am going to preview i should at least look at it before i post eh?

Here's one good thing: Until today, Yankee relievers had pitched 14 2/3 scoreless innings.

The good:

1) Jeter's walking.

2) The bullpen was looking decent until today.

3) Wang will get his chance.

4) RJ goes tomorrow.

The bad:

Too many to count. Did anyone see that Wright said that he felt something before the game and during the 2nd inning. Why didn't he say something and come out earlier? What a buffoon. Lets just hope his injury isn't serious.

If the Yankees keep playing like this, even the Torre/Stottlemyre apologists will have to throw their hands up. During today's game, Jim Kaat, usually a cordial comrade-in-arms of Mel, gave a thinly veiled but devastating critique of how Yankee pitchers, and particularly Jaret Wright, approach pitching. He reiterated that the side to side, sinker/slider philosophy is useless with today's hitters. Again, he emphasized that changing speeds, changing planes, and tighter spin(he demonstrated grips for the camera)are the ingredients for success in today's game. All things conspicuously missing from any Yankee pitcher's arsenal (except Mussina...but he's got his own issues). Even with an allegedly better bullpen, the Rangers don't match up with the Yankees' staff talent wise. Yet, Hershiser, whose own repertoire was similar to Stottlemyre's in his day -- sinkers, sliders, everything at the knees and corners -- coaches state of the art circa 2005 not 1973. With Mel in charge, it wouldn't matter if Mark Prior HAD signed with the Yankees. He'd be throwing 2 strike gopher balls like every other Yankee pitcher.

Yeah, that was kick-ass analysis by Kitty today. The only question I had - and I don't in any way mean to be flip here - is this:

If these pitchers don't change speeds effectively (and they don't), how come it only really affects them once they don pinstripes?

Also, here's a question I'll pose for anyone interested. Who would you rather see go off into a happy, fulfilled retirement: Mel, Brown, or Kay?

Your question must be rhetorical but...I'll give you an answer anyway. It's not just the changing speeds part of it, it's the Stottlemyre insistence on hitting the corners with slider-speed pitches (as if a strong 6'3" batter can't cover the plate and make solid contact). The change of speed is doubly effective since it can cover up mistakes in location (hey, nobody's a perfect dart thrower like Mel's idea of the prototypical pitcher). Remember Pettitte tipping his pitches? A lot of that came from the predictability of his location, especially when he over-used his cutter. In 1995, pre-Stottlemyre, Andy's best pitch, if you recall, was his changeup.

JohnnyC,

Thanks - and I do recall that whole ordeal with Pettitte "tipping" his pitches. It's just hard to believe that Mel would be so intractable about his misguided and outdated pitching philosophy.

JohnnyC, I'll choose Mel. Kay causes no actual harm. With Wright on the DL the Yanks have to hope Brown can figure it out. Mel, however, should go.

Woohoo Andy!
And if Colter's going to the pen, who's going to start?