Taking a break in the schedule

Bryan, You say Jobe experiment went off without a hitch? He didn't get his 50 pitches under game conditions, most were in the pen. Jobe should have pitched in the game 5/27 10-9 loss.
He would have had more quality innings and better experience if he had. The name of the game is to win, I understand we can't foresee what can and did happen. The point is that he hasn't had enough innings that they planned for him. He hasn't gone more than 4 innings in a game, if that much. Certainly that isn't enough to start next week. He really hasn't stretched out enough.... This is only my opinion!
"GO YANKEES"

Well, he got his pitches in and the Yankees were able to win the game, so they were satisfied with the outcome. Hindsight is 20-20 but sure, it would have been great if Chamberlain faced big league hitters in relief of Kennedy.

YANKEES MINOR LEAGUE SCOREBOARD May 28, 2008

Scranton/WB 9
Pawtucket (Red Sox) 4
W: K. Igawa (4-4, 3.64); L: D. Hansack (2-6, 5.62)
HR: SWB: C. Ransom (8). PAW: C. Carter (7), D. Brown (5).
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_05_28_swbaaa_pawaaa_1&t=g_box&did=milb
New Hampshire (Blue Jays) 5
Trenton 4 (11)
W: S. Stidfole (1-1, 4.70); L: B. Hall (0-2, 2.51)
HR: NHM: J. Butler (5), R. Patterson (5).
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_28_nhmaax_treaax_1
Tampa 0
Lakeland (Tigers) 4
W: D. Below (3-3, 3.43); L: M. Dunn (2-2, 3.30)
HR: None.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_05_28_tbyafa_lakafa_1&t=g_box&did=milb
You may also see http://www.yankeesdaily.com for details.

YANKEES MINOR LEAGUE SCOREBOARD May 29, 2008

Scranton/WB
Pawtucket (Red Sox) 7:05p
---------------------------------
New Hampshire (Blue Jays) 7:05p
Trenton
---------------------------------
Tampa
Lakeland (Tigers) 7p
---------------------------------
Hickory (Pirates) 7:05p
Charleston
---------------------------------
You may also see http://www.yankeesdaily.com for details.

Bryan,

ESPN is reporting Carl Pavano is throwing and wants to pitch. If we told him to stay away in Tampa, is this even worth commenting on, obviously, we won't take him up on his offer, am I wrong?

Do you feel we need to upgrade our bench? I would like to have some pinch hitters who can deliver late in games.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9407EEDF1739F933A05755C0A9669C8B63

In 2000 we needed an bench player/outfielder, we couldn't agree on a 3-5 player deal to acquire Sammy Sosa, we acquired David Justice instead. This year we also need pinch hitting, Sosa was never an option this time around but he decided against replacing Moses Alou for our crosstown rival and announced he only play in WBC and then retire.

I believe we beat the Mets in WS that year and Justice was a perfect piece, better than Juan Gonzalez or Sosa. This year, I don't alot of options, it would be nice to have someone with power. The 2 names that come to mind are both old and injury prone. Gary Sheffield and Mike Piazza. Sheffield likely is priced out but if Detroit signs Bonds, you never know. I highly doubt either. Even Abreu being dealt with Kennedy for CC wouldn't make Sheffield a good outfield option because Damon could move up to RF. Sheff obviously makes too much to pinch hit or DH?

Too bad we gave up Westbrook in the Justice deal. i don't know who Ryan Bradley is. Coincidently, Soriano ended up with the Cubs anyway.

Per MLB.com on the 2000 WS "There was more nailbiting for both teams in Game 2, a game which will likely be remembered for the bizarre occurrence in the first inning when Mike Piazza faced Roger Clemens for the first time since getting hit in the head by a Clemens fastball in July. Piazza's bat broke on a foul ball and the splintered bat headed to Clemens, who then picked it up and fired it toward the Mets' dugout, in Piazza's general direction. Tempers flared, but there were no further incidents the remainder of the game. Clemens was dominant, picking up from his 15-strikeout masterpiece against the Mariners in the ALCS by striking out nine, walking none and allowing just two singles in eight innings. "

You know we should have gone to Detroit today before Minnesota.

Scatch that, we have about 18 days before another day off already.

Mike Piazza announced his retirement a little while ago so no way is he an option. Last thing this team needs to do is to get older, even if it is benchplayers. Old players aren't going to help this team out in any way.

YANKEES MINOR LEAGUE SCOREBOARD May 29, 2008

Scranton/WB 3
Pawtucket (Red Sox) 5
W: J. Masterson (1-0, 1.50); L: D. McCutchen (0-2, 4.91); SV: C. Smith (5)
HR: PAW: J. Bailey 2 (16), C. Carter (8).
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_05_29_swbaaa_pawaaa_1&t=g_box&did=milb
New Hampshire (Blue Jays) 4
Trenton 7
W: M. Gardner (3-3, 3.14); L: B. Camardese (0-1, 22.50)
HR: NHM: A. Mathews (3). TRE: C. Curtis (4).
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_05_29_nhmaax_treaax_1&t=g_box&did=milb
Tampa 5
Lakeland (Tigers) 4
W: J. Valdez (6-2, 2.36); L: N. Martin (1-1, 4.95); SV: J. Schmidt (3)
HR: LAK: C. Iorg (6).
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_05_29_tbyafa_lakafa_1&t=g_box&did=milb
Hickory (Pirates) 1
Charleston 2
W: N. Castillo (5-2, 3.39); L: B. Lincoln (2-1, 2.25); SV: J. Ortiz (15)
HR: CHA: A. Almonte (5), J. Snyder (3).
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_05_29_hicafx_crdafx_1&t=g_box&did=milb
You may also see http://www.yankeesdaily.com for details.

Mike Piazza announced his retirment but still has a desire to play. One of the main reasons for his retirement was because of the lack of job offerings; Piazza is no minor league player. I'm sure he'd accept a back up or platoon role though. Maybe he could DH as well, but these suggestions are long shots. I really don't know how Piazza is doing physically or emntally. He may be out of shape on both sides. Let him stay retired, this team doesn't need older players.

On the Barry Bonds joint, I really thinki Bonds should just retire ( though he claims he has 2-3 seasons in him ). With the baggage he brings, his supposed bad clubhouse attittude and his lack of athleticism, I doubt he'll get more than a year with somebody as a pricey DH. He could just build his value up ( assuming he were signed ) and take it year to year. Possibilities are Detroit, Seattle and Kansas City. Pick your poison Bonds.

Joba Chamberlain is clearly not stretched out far enough to start. IF he does start, the most I see him going is five innings, six tops. The most he's thrown his year 45 pitches ( Yesterday ); He'll need to bring that up to a good 75 pitches to be able to start six-seven innings. What I would do is start him on Tuesday and give him a five-inning limit on a strict 75 count. Another alternative would be to talk to the pitcher who mans the Tuesday start ( Rasner I think ) and limit him to five innings and give the next four to Joba, which would give him plenty of time to reach that 75 pitch mark. These are different scenarios that could be going around the front office right now; We'll see.

We should keep Carl Pavano on a minor-league deal, you never have enough pitching in this game and although us fans ( and the whole media outlet ofr that matter ) make him look bad, we all know how good a pitcher he is when healthy.; He can be two or three slotter easily. I remember back when he was our opening day starter, he dominated the Twins in seven innings of two-run ball. Now, obviously he would have to prove himself and his health. Then again, he may not want to remain a Yankee, change of scenery would be the best move for him. Like I said, a low-risk/high reward move would be to bring him back on a minor league contract and see if he can help the club in the long run.

I expect a lot of criticism from you guys. What else is new...?

BD, Pavano is in the last year of a 4 year $40 Million deal. Probably the worst ever, before Zito to SF. It's not a matter of bringing him back "on a minor league deal." He is under contract.

BTW doubt that he will pitch in MLB this year, if ever again.

The difference between Zito and Pavano is that Zito is actually pitching and giving the Giants innings for the dollars.

I think Zito got sent to the pen didn't he? Or to AAA?? Why do I remember reading that? Anyhow, I am all for Pavano stepping on the mound again. We deserve to get SOMETHING out of him. But the fact is he is worthless in any market. What GM (well, perhaps except crashman) would sign a 32 year old pitcher who has toed the rubber a total of 19 times in the last 4 years??? Much less a pitcher who had only reached 200+ innings twice in his short career? So thats the reason why I say, as the season wears on, he gets thrown out there with a chance to pitch if he's ready.

And lets face it here folks. Honestly, if it's early September and AP or Wang or Moose or someone goes down with injury and Pavano's ready to pitch and comes on and goes 4-0 in 5 starts with a low 3 era including a gem against the SUCHS? Who here wouldn't be cheering? A win's a win and the prize is #27 isn't it? I don't care of a Mon Chi-Chi monkey is pitching.

I say 4-0 in 5 starts with a low 3 era because as BD said, he is capable of doing it. His problem isn't pitching, his problem is staying healthy.

Some fools will give Pavano a deal next year.

Why limit a guy in the rotation to a pitch count just to get Joba some work? Why not use Joba as a long man to "stretch him out"? If a pitcher doesn't have his stuff working and has to be pulled early, bring in Joba. Otherwise, it should be business as usual.

if pavano washed the entire rosters cars, for one month, we would go easy on him.

cano is my problem, he looks weak when he bats, his style is non-threatening, he doesnt read pitches well, usually hits the first thing thrown at him. he really needs to build patience, his non-patience at-bats, lead to outs, which lead to .200 avg. how bad of an april did he have, casue reports show he batted .325 in May.

giambino- all star?
maybe he found some leftover sample' and its wasn't a placebo.

give jeter two days of rest, he will never ask for it, please sit him down for a day or two.

joe, is not making the best decisions in pitching scenerios,
10-9 loss, i agree use joba when score was 8-4
give rasner more confidence, allow him to stay as #4

wang,AP,moose, rasner, joba. five man team, run with it.

CRASHMAN:
WHEN PHIL-HUGHES AND IPK 'GET WELL SOON' THROW THEM IN THE BULLPEN, LET THEM EARN THEIR SPOTS, FEW INNINGS AT A TIME, THEN AND THEN ONLY BRING THEM TO STARTER LEVELS, EVEN IF IT IS 2009.

IF WANG,AP,MOOSE,RASNER,JOBA ,,,fall-out or get hurt, then change strategy.

Maybe Pavano has a future as a relief pitcher? After all, it would be less demanding on his injury laden carcass.

I agree that Joba should absolutely pitched in the 10-9 game. With a 4 run lead, coming in in the 4th inning he had PLENTY of time and a lead to work on his pitches. Could try things and if it got hot, he could go back to throwing flame.

Like Hoch said, hindsight is 20-20. If he pitched that game, would we have been able to use him in game 3 of the series? At least he got used in 1 of those games.

This from Jayson Stark:
• The Kei Market: Kei Igawa isn't quite as buried on that Yankees' depth chart as Carl Pavano, but it's close. And he's already homesick. We've heard from two different baseball men recently that Igawa asked the Yankees over the winter if there was any way he could return to Japan. The Yankees quietly explored their options, got nowhere and gave up. They're still on the hook for nearly $11 million to Igawa through the 2010 season.

Well I guess that explains that. Ok Kei. Pay back the money we blew on you and go home. I'll buy you a ticket.

Just dump Pavano altogether!! Even when healthy, he was never more than a mediocre pitcher. It was a huge bonehead mistake to sign him to a huge contract based on what did on one season alone. Keeping Pavano solely based on what he did in one game is n't a reason to keep him at all. For him to go 4-0 is nothing more than a pipe dream. He has had only one season where he was any good, and that was a fluke. keeping a mediocre pitcher on the roster is a complete waste of space. If a pitcher goes down with an injury down the road then call up another pitcher to fill that spot not one who has shown he is injury-prone or is a mediocre pitcher like Pavano. I don't even want a pitcher like that in the pen.

As for Chamberlain, I think they will start him out with 5-inning outings and then gradually build on his innings total with each start

Just dump Pavano altogether!! Even when healthy, he was never more than a mediocre pitcher. It was a huge bonehead mistake to sign him to a huge contract based on what did on one season alone. Keeping Pavano solely based on what he did in one game isn't a reason to keep him at all. For him to go 4-0 is nothing more than a pipe dream. He has had only one season where he was any good, and that was a fluke. keeping a mediocre pitcher on the roster is a complete waste of space. If a pitcher goes down with an injury down the road then call up another pitcher to fill that spot not one who has shown he is injury-prone or is a mediocre pitcher like Pavano. I don't even want a pitcher like that in the pen.

As for Chamberlain, I think they will start him out with 5-inning outings and then gradually build on his innings total with each start.

Very tough year for Jose Tabta as he continues to struggle with bat hitting only .235, and was benched in the middle of last night's game for failing to back Austin Jackson in last night's game. Second time he has been disciplined this season for unprofessional behavior. He's ruining his standing as one of the Yank's top prospects, if this keeps up he will kill his chances of making the major league roster in the future.

Pavano is capable of going 4-0? Based on what? The same 18-win season he had the Yanks based their decision on to sign him to a large contract? We know what a mistake that is. Pavano has always been a mediocre pitcherexcept for one fluke season. Lets stop dealing with fantasies here, and stay with reality.

Reality is that we have at least 2 (Igawa and Pavano) complete failures that we either need to cut, trade, or get some kind of return on. Since cutting them means paying their salary anyway, trading them isn't an option because no idiot would waste the money, and playing them means watching them suck, what should we do with them?

They won't dump Pavano solely because of financial considerations. If they cut him today, they'd owe him all of his remaining salary. By letting him rehab in Tampa, they get a certain percentage reimbursed by the insurance on the contract.

I strongly doubt he'll ever pitch again for the Yankees, but I can't completely rule out the idea that he comes up in September and gets into a game as a reliever or something. So much can happen between now and then.

In Igawa's case, he's asking to be shipped back to Japan and I can undertsand his decision. He's just not comfortable here in the U.S. and that affects a player mentally, which then carries over to the physical part of the game. The best thing to do is explore all options, cutting him being the last resort.

Cash should shop him around the league to see if he draws interest, even if he gets a minor leaguer in exhange and we have to stay with half of his salary.

If that does't work, there's really no reason to bring him back up here.

So that last resort would be to cut him if all else fails. He could catch a flight back to Japan and that would be that.

I'm sticking to my guns on the Pavano front.

The Yankees are taking early batting practice right now and I heard A-Rod is putting on a show, hitting deep bombs at the Metrodome. Hopefully it will translate into the game today, that would set my weekend off on the right foot!

Switching gears here, there are a good bulk of relievers on the block right now that Cashman BETTER be looking at:

Colorado
Brian Fuentes

San Francisco
Vinny Chulk ( 1.32 ERA )
Tyler Walker ( he's their closer, he could setup for Mo)
Jack Taschner
Erick Threets ( lefty with good stuff )
Brad Hennessy ( 3-1 3.48 in AAA, starting now )

Mariners
Jarrod Washburn
Miguel Batista

Others
Joe Blanton
Rich Harden
Bronson Arroyo
Daniel Cabrera
Jeremy Bonderman ( BIG salary )
Nate Robertson
Huston Street
George Sherrill
Chad Cordero
Jon Rauch
Eric Gagne

Set Up men
Juan Rincon, Jesse Crain, Chad Bradford, Jamie Walker, David Weathers, Matt Herges, Guillermo Mota, Tyler Yates, Vinnie Chulk, Jesus Colome, Frankie Francisco, Joaquin Benoit, Alan Embree, Ron Mahay, Jimmy Gobble, Damaso Marte.

NEW THREAD ALERT!

GREETING FROM MINNEAPOLIS posted at 4:02PM

BDSouth,

FYI Tyler Walker isn't the Giants closer, Brian Wilson is. I wouldn't touch him with a 100 ft pole either. I've seen him pitch here in SF and he is overrated, he's not much. I also wouldn't touch Hennessy either, he was a mess for the Giants this season that's why he is in the minors in the first place.

Whether this team starts,cuts or trades both Pavano, and Igawa, this team will never get their investment back. Both of them are nothing more than mediocre pitchers who were never worth much to begin with. I just don't think having a pitcher like Pavano pitch one inning for this team this season makes any sense solely to get part of this team's investment back, especially when it means this team could possibly go down with the likes of Pavano or Igawa pitching. We've seen that time, and time again. The best option in regards to Pavano is not to use him at all, and hopefully this organization will learn that you don't get what you pay for, especially if you base it on one season. This team has definitely gotten it's money's worth in terms of mediocrity from him it doesn't need to start him just to get more.
As for Igawa, I would at least try to trade him to a West Coast team like it should have done last season when the Padres showed some interest in him. In all reality he has absolutely no trade value whatsoever, who the heck wants a struggling minor league pitcher. Maybe we can trade him to a West Coast team along with Karstens, Betapuke, and a career minor leaguer like Giese for 40 pds of manure to use to plant the grass at the new stadium.

OOOOOOOPPPPPPPPSSSSSSS!!!!!! Forgot to include worthless Pavano in that trade.