Friday, May 16, 2008

This just in: hell freezes over

The Yankees are in the AL East cellar and the Tampa Bay Rays, who just took three out of four from the Bombers, are laughing at them from the top.

Don't believe me? Yeah, I wouldn't believe me either. (Click)

"Simply amazing." -John Sterling

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Moose

Can't say enough about the way Mike Mussina is pitching right now.

Just when you think the series with the Rays is over, with two losses coming off starts by Andy Pettitte and Chien-Ming Wang (your two "aces"), Moose goes out there and continues his recent dominance, giving up one run over six and a third.

With four strikeouts and just one walk, Mussina's control, which has been his bread and butter over the years, is back. He has never been, and never will be, a power pitcher, so he needs to place his pitches to be successful.

Moose's ERA is down to 3.99 and he has only suffered nine earned runs in his last 5 starts, a 2.78 ERA in that span. The Yankees have won the last five games Mussina has started, as the old-timer raised his record to 6-3.

The Yankees will try to salvage the 4-game series with Tampa Bay tomorrow, sending Ian Kennedy to the mound for his first start since being sent down to Triple A.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Correction:

The Yankees have announced that Kei Igawa will go to the bullpen, Ian Kennedy will be recalled and will start Thursday, and Darrell Rasner will take the mound at home against the Mets on Friday. (Source)

A blessing in disguise?

With the Yankees coming off a big win Saturday on the strength of a second strong start from Darrel Rasner (click), Sunday's rainout against the Tigers seemed like a bad thing. One good thing has come out of it though: The Yankees now have the ability to skip Kei Igawa the next time around in the rotation. (Source)

Andy Pettitte is the scheduled starter tonight in Tampa, followed by Chien-Ming Wang tomorrow and Mussina on Wednesday. To finish up their four-game set with the Rays, the Yankees may be able to skip Igawa's start and throw Rasner on Thursday.

Another scenario has Igawa throwing on Thursday (due to a horrific lack of arms) against the Rays, then Rasner pitching the first game of the weekend series with the Mets.

The last option is to start Rasner on Thursday, then send Igawa down to Scranton and bring up either the reborn Ian Kennedy or another starter to fill in. (Source)

Sunday, May 11, 2008

The ten types of Yankee fans

Why do editors let Boston fans write things like this? Click.

Calling all third basemen

Wilson Betemit is joining A-Rod on the disabled list after pulling his hamstring while legging out an RBI double today against the Tigers. That leaves Morgan Ensberg to hold down the hot corner for awhile.

I'm just spitballing here, but what if Ensberg finds a way to injure himself? I don't see why the Yankees shouldn't just throw Kei Igawa over there to play third. Way I see it, he has to be better at third than he is on the mound. He is robbing the Yankees blind, might as well try to get something useful out of him.

Maybe I'll send a letter to the front office with a few suggestions.