Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Before Randy Johnson came out to pitch the six inning, the YES cameras spotted his glove with a big wad of chewed bubble gum on it resting on the ledge of the dugout. I don't know if he always does this, but it was notable because Johnson had a no-hitter through five. That gum looked nasty, but you don't want to mess with a man's routine, right? The Twins' ninth-place hitter Juan Castro broke up the no-no with a two-out single in the sixth--I called it--but Johson was absolutely dominating tonight. His slider was sharp (even the ones that were out of the zone had a bite that his breaking pitches simply did not have earlier in the year) and the Twinkies looked as if they didn't have a chance. Johnson pitched eight innings, throwing 97 pitches (71 went for strikes), and striking out 11. He allowed just two hits and didn't walk a batter.
While the Big Unit worked quickly, the normally efficient Brad Radke was in-and-out of trouble against the Yankees. Radke entered the game with just ten bases on balls on the season, and he walked Jason Giambi twice (to be fair, the second pass came with a runner on second and just one out...Radke was pitching around Giambi as much as Giambi earned the walk). Still, he left the game after six trailing just 2-0. But in the seventh, the Yanks loaded the bases against Jess Crain, before Hideki Matsui singled home two runs off J.C. Romero as the Bombers cruised, 4-0 (Flash Gordon pitched a one-two-three ninth). Alex Rodriguez, Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter and Matsui each had two hits apiece for New York.
It was a big win for the Yanks what with Al Leiter and Johan Santana pitching tomorrow. Kevin Brown was scratched from his Thursday afternoon start (Aaron Small will likely take his place) and he may not be available for a while. Carl Pavano won't pitch Saturday either, so the Yanks really needed this game. (I think we can count on Cashman making a deal for another starter by the end of the weekend; according to the Post, the Yanks will sign Hideo Nomo after he clears waivers later today.) The Twins are not an impressive offensive team, but Johnson would have likely been rough for any squad to handle this evening as he turned in one of his best performances in pinstripes. Let's hope he stays grouchy.
I think the Yankees will likely sign Nomo, who has cleared waivers, by the end of the week.
I also echo the above thoughts with regard to Clement.
I was in Tokyo for a couple of days and missed some good Yankee action. At home in the North of Japan I can settle in with my morning coffee and watch the Bombers in peace.
In Tokyo, I was hustling to meetings and had that high paced city life thing in the way of my Yanks.
A couple of things....
1. alasky's responses to my posts a few days ago were very good, and while I think we'll agree to disagree on a few things, it's all good and I like the tone of this community much more than any other bulletin board I've been a part of....Thanks.
2. Loved the post on Matsui and Whiting's book. There's a good Japanese baseball site run by Michael Westbay at:
www.japanesebaseball.com
Check them out.
3. Great pitching by our aces. I love the fact that RJ went deep into the game and saved our arms. More is needed. Let's hope that Al Leiter can hold Minny to 3 or 4 and we can get one big inning out of the troops against Santana.
4. Anyone see that Bernie plans to play again next year...according to Scott Boras? Thoughts? I love Bernie. He was my favorite player for years, and I have an old faded t-shirt with "51" on the back, but I think he should hang up the spikes and concentrate on music next year. Tino is actually a more viable player right now because his glove is still gold.
I'm hoping that Clement is okay, also... I want him to be perfectly healthy when we beat the crap out of the Red Sox. Nothing worse than excuses-making Red Sox fans.
And amen on Clement, I hope he doesn't have any lasting career changing problems.
Nice line in the NYTimes this morning:
"Chien-Ming Wang had been pain-free while exercising but would not begin throwing on flat ground until Aug. 1" Maybe we'll have him for September. Meanwhile, any chance of talking Kaat and Blylevyn out of the booth?
How come I keep hearing from the papers that the Yanks and Seattle are scouting each other and the Yanks are looking at Meche, Villone and Winn. But the Yanks are not willing to part with Sean Henn whom they turned down when Colorado was offering Chacon.
I never favored the Henn for Chacon rumors, Because I feel Chacon is wild and erratic, but what does Henn have that we think he is so valuable?
All his starts this year did not impress me. Not because he is a rookie and they were all loses, but looking at his abbreviated throwing motion, his mound presence and location problems he seems like he is not ready for several years. I know all this can be remedied in the minors, but does Henn really have any stuff worth keeping and waiting other than a lefty in the rotation? He doesnt look like he has any major league stuff when he played against tampa and the mets. I remember when he pitched last against the DRays, Kaat was saying the reason for his awkward short armed motion is because he has had arm problems in the past and had to adjust his motion. Correct me if I am wrong here please. Arm trouble is always a scary thought especially with the arm problems we have currently with our rotation
Can someone enlighten me on why we are not pulling the trigger for Meche for Henn, or Villone and Winn for Henn and someone else?
Who is gonna argue that we could use Meche this season and for the next couple. He's young and has alot of upside. I don't see that with Henn compared to Halsey, Westbrook and Claussen of the past.
But if the deal goes through, we are stuck with him, maybe there is a chance he can give us some quality starts. As you all know we need a couple the next couple of weeks from nowhere. It cant come from Brown, Wright or Pavano thats for sure. Are Matsui and Nomo friends at all? Matsui can be a "mentor" just like Sierra is to Cano. Ok I am pushing it.
Don't think anyone is overjoyed about the prospect of Nomo but beggars can't be choosers (see Al Leiter).
As for Bernie, gotta believe there is a large market out there for a veteran DH/4th OF'er, particularly on a young team.
On the 'cowboy up' front, gotta love Schilling getting smacked around in relief again last night. If not for that Damon catch against the wall, he blows back-to-back saves. Couldn't happen to a nicer blowhard. Watch though, they'll re-insert him into the starting rotation and he'll be lights out again.
Nomo on the cheap for a couple of starts might not be awful. He did pitch well for the Sox a few years ago. At least he and Leiter have a pedigree. Chacon? Meche? I'd hate to give up a prospect for a mid-level never-was.
I know Jorge DePaula's pitching pretty lousy right now in Columbus, but he does have MLB experience. He might be worth a try.
192 IP, 82 BB, 133 K, 188 hits
WHIP 1.41
http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mechegi01.shtml
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