Wright wins debut as Yanks bomb Tribe, 10-3

by anaconda on Apr 18, 2007 2:30 AM EDT in News Comment 36 comments

Chase Wright did everything the Yankees could have asked from an emergency starter who was pitching for Double-A Trenton just last week and facing one of the best lineups in the AL. Outside of some jitters and control problems to the first two hitters of the game, Wright was solid in his major league debut and showed good movement on his pitches -- allowing 3 runs in 5 innings while throwing 104 pitches.

Of course, it is a lot easier to keep your composure when your teammates spot you an 8-1 lead after 2 innings.

My guess is that Wright has bought himself at least one more start (perhaps vs. Dice-K on Sunday night) before Wang and Karstens return from the DL. However, I'd be very surprised if Wright stayed in the rotation for any extended period of time unless they continue to be hampered by injuries.

On the offensive side of the ball, we saw another great performance from A-Rod -- who is in a zone that we haven't seen from him since his 2005 campaign when he won the AL MVP. On a side note, I just hope Yankees fans enjoy watching him play this season because I fear he will be donning another uniform in 2008. And the way the idiots have treated him during his tenure in Pinstripes, I wouldn't blame him one bit.

In addition to A-Rod, Minky and Posada also went yard in the 6-run 2nd inning and pretty much put the game away early.

The bullpen was excellent again and threw another 4 scoreless innings. The defense was also solid tonight as we watched the other team commit 3 errors for a change.

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I think Arod

is even more in the zone than when he was in 05. To me, this is a completely different player, even from that year when he did very well.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 18, 2007 8:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

eye of the tiger

Totally agree I've never seen Alex have this type performance for the Yankees.

Alex has a confident grace at the plate. He may have been a confident hitter for the Yankees before, but he never looked at ease at the plate like he does now.

I don't care about next season right now, I'm just digging watching Alex do his thing.

by collink on Apr 18, 2007 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

So he's definitely gotta be on the juice.

by Willton on Apr 18, 2007 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, Arod

obviously is not a good player like Kendall, the first ballot hall of famer.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 18, 2007 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What is

Wright projected as? A number 2 or 3 starter?

Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f*** the prom queen.

by Edwantsacracker on Apr 18, 2007 9:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Um, no

try "reliever." He could be a 5th starter if he continues to improve but I think he will end up in the pen. He is nothing special really. See Halsey, Brad.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 18, 2007 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh I didn't

realize he as old as he is... What was he doing his first 4 years in the minors that he turned it around so dramatically?

Or whats he doing now that wasn't? Sheffield give him one of his care packages during his rehab.

Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f*** the prom queen.

by Edwantsacracker on Apr 18, 2007 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus

We already have an expensive Japanese version of Chase Wright, who squirmed his way through five innings against a lineup that had Bobby Kielty batting 3rd.

by matthaggs on Apr 18, 2007 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thank the bumbling idiot

who is our GM

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 18, 2007 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

He dodged a lot of bullets last night.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 18, 2007 9:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey Wright is no savior,

but he's no Sidney Ponson. No waiver wire, no trading for Cory Lidle, no Jaret Wright... I am at peace with the Yankee pitching

Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f*** the prom queen.

by Edwantsacracker on Apr 18, 2007 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trading for Cory Lidle

is a little bit misleading. More like "agreeing to take him in the Abreu deal." The Yankees chose to take on salary instead of give up prospects. They didn't go out and get Lidle.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 18, 2007 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now I thought from what Cashman said that it was

the opposite... He went in asking for pitchers, got into negotiations for Lidle, and then they said only if you take Abreu off our hands.

I remember that because at the time I thought it was very backwards.

Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f*** the prom queen.

by Edwantsacracker on Apr 18, 2007 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I could be mistaken

I just thought that Lidle was the throw-in, but I wouldn't put it past Cashman to lock his sites in on a shitty pitcher as his prime trade target.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 18, 2007 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If I'm Joe Torre,

I'd find someone else to pitch Sunday and let the kid pitch next Tuesday at TB.

I think they would be putting too much pressure on the kid having to pitch against Dice-K at Fenway on Sunday night.

The good thing I've noticed is that Dice-K can get pretty wild, so here's hoping he throws 100 pitches by the 5th inning.

by anaconda on Apr 18, 2007 10:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The video

in Al's latest diary has the end of a Matsuzaka clip on it. He's tied with Tim Hudson for the quickest to 25 Ks, El Duque is just behind them at 24. I wonder if that comparision (great start, but just good after the league has a few years to figure them out) will hold out?

We're reaching the point where you can either be a truly dedicated, state-of-the-art fan or you can have a life. Take your pick.

by jscape2000 on Apr 18, 2007 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is no one else

unless Igawa pitches on 3 days rest, which would be a lousy idea on about 15 different levels.

It's either Chase Wright or another kid from the minors, and hopefully Karstens on Saturday.

Never in a million years did I think I would be saying "hopefully" Karstens will be healthy enough to pitch in Fenway. Good god.

by matthaggs on Apr 18, 2007 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't Desalvo

the one who was red hot at the beginning of last season, got promoted to AAA and got the stuffing smashed out of him? After he got demoted back to Double A I thought he got the crap kicked out of him too.

What would make him an excellent choice? <- not sarcasm

Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f*** the prom queen.

by Edwantsacracker on Apr 18, 2007 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe he started in AAA

Got rocked, was demoted, and was rocked again.

But 1) it was a hiccup and 2) he was facing personal issues.

He dominated the FSL, and he's back to his dominant ways this season.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on Apr 18, 2007 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wright's promotion

was largely do to his presence on the 40 man roster. None of these other guys we're talking about currently reside there as far as I know.

So when you're talking about two starts then back to the minors, it makes sense to go with Wright.

by matthaggs on Apr 18, 2007 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So many injuries

There's a chance they may need a starter on a longer term basis. With the fragility of our pitching staff, and the ineffectiveness of Igawa, they may well need another pitcher. In other words, if they called up Hughes now, he could easily stick for the rest of the year.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on Apr 18, 2007 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

but his point was "too much pressure". I was only saying the starter will be this kid or another kid with zero major league starts.

I would have preferred someone else last night, but now that he survived it I don't see the point in jugglng the roster around to get another kid up here for what will likely be one start.

Just hope whoever it is survives the first few innings so we can a look at the real Dice K.

If Karstens is healthy he is a no-brainer for Saturday.

by matthaggs on Apr 18, 2007 1:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ok

but you're not just screwing around with the 25 man roster, you're screwing around with the 40 man roster, which is much bigger can of worms.

If this was a five or ten start situation I could see your point. But this is two starts max. Again, I have no problem with using someone other than Wright last night, but now that they have already used him, just use him again and send him on his way after the game ends.

The best prospects are normally called up at times when there are no plans to send them back. When everyone believes Hughes is ready, he'll be here to stay barring some disaster.

by matthaggs on Apr 18, 2007 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree about languishing in the minors

I languished, and look at me. Okay, bad example. I had exactly 0 major league starts, and exactly 0 major league appearance over my 6 year minor league career.

Here's my take. Normally I'd agree, however, anytime you have a lefthander you give him more time. Lefties are a commodity, but it's been my experience (being a lefty, and coaching lefties) that they sometimes need additional time to learn the game and how to pitch--especially if they don't have overpowering stuff. Lefties tend to struggle with control more than righties. Lefties throw with natural movement. With Wright, I see a guy who probably is alittle LD and delusional (likening himself to Tim Hudson), but progressing. He's now arrived.

Rather than dwell on his past (granted his train was slow to leave the station), he's won a game against a strong team. I'm willing to build on that.

by Ronster22 on Apr 18, 2007 2:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why?

I've never understood the lefty obsession in baseball. Lefty hitters somehow have a "sweet swing" just from being a lefty.
I would think that if it seems that lefties struggle with control more than righties, it's because everyone loves a guy just because he's a lefty and push him along farther on less talent. You need a lefty in your pen, so you call up a Sean Henn instead of a Tyler Clippard (for instance).
Have you seen something quantifiable in the way lefties throw, hold the ball, prepare for games that would delay their advancement? Are they so used to having an advantage from being lefties (when most guys hit off of righties) that they're underprepared to face hitters who can make adjustments? And wouldn't that negate the whole Casey Stengal platoon/ matchup argument?

We're reaching the point where you can either be a truly dedicated, state-of-the-art fan or you can have a life. Take your pick.

by jscape2000 on Apr 18, 2007 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes... I think

I was told by several MLB pitching coaches including Leo Mazzone that lefty pitchers do indeed struggle more with their command due to a right dominant eye. I'm no scientist (and neither are they) but most people are right eye dominant. Therefore, if a person is right-eye dominant, their angle of pitching would be more "straight on". Lefties who are RED have to overcome the angle the dominance causes.

I know it sounds bizarre, and I don't know that I totally buy it, but I actually spoke to Mazzone personally on this matter during a pitching camp here in VA, and he's a believer. He also added that it's the eye angle thing that causes the natural movement--not the grip, not the release.

by Ronster22 on Apr 18, 2007 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm going on a mission

I've got a 15 year old kid--a righthanded pitcher who throws in the high 80s. He's a true prospect in my opinion except for the fact that when he throws the ball he has no freaking idea where it's going. Oh, the catcher presents the target, it's just that the kid can't get the ball to it with any consistency.

In fact, he actually pitched the ball over the backstop at a recent game. His line: 5ip 1 hit 12 k's 9 bb 4 runs

If any righty is a candidate for this theory it's him. I'm going to make some calls and see what I can turn up. If nothing else it is fascinating--at least to me.

by Ronster22 on Apr 18, 2007 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting

I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the explaination.

We're reaching the point where you can either be a truly dedicated, state-of-the-art fan or you can have a life. Take your pick.

by jscape2000 on Apr 18, 2007 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A-Rod's April

Yes, A-Rod is in a great zone, and it is fun to watch. But, with A-Rod it will never be about April. It's about October. So, let's see what happens. http://valentinesviews.blogspot.com/2007/04/rods-april-wont-mean-anything-in-end.html

by ETVal on Apr 18, 2007 2:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

True/false

To mediots, his April won't matter. To fans who understand the nuances of baseball, we realize that the leg work Alex is doing now actually, you know, counts. The wins he's helping deliver now are just as important as those in September. After all, if you run away with the division early, you can afford some late-season slumps (see the White Sox in 2005 and Tigers in 2006).

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on Apr 18, 2007 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You have too much faith

in the plethora of idiots who fill Yankee Stadium on a regular basis. Getting them to understand that each game represents 1/162nd of the season. Hell, even the smart ones like Haggs, expect superhuman things from A-Rod and boo at a moment's notice, so what do you expect from the blue collar dregs that don't know shit about baseball?

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 18, 2007 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn

I knew I was gonna get dragged into this.

I certainly won't be doing any booing, but if his hot start goes skidding off the tracks against Boston you can bet he'll hear about it.

And it would be understandble for him to cool off, because he's not Superman, and because Harden is the probably the only pitcher he's faced so far that can match up with Schilling, Dice K, the '03 Beckett and Papelbon.

I just hope he cranks the shit out of them for obvious reasons, not the least of which would be to stop talking about this bs for a while.

by matthaggs on Apr 18, 2007 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was actually throwing you a compliment

I disagree with your opinion on A-Rod, but I acknowledge that you know what you are talking about, which is way more than can be said for the drunk asses who do most of the absurd booing.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 18, 2007 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I miss the drunk assed booing

I haven't been to the stadium since the last WS. I really miss the drunk assed booing. I go to minor league games here in Tidewater, VA, and everyone is so damn polite in their booing approach. It's almost un-American.

by Ronster22 on Apr 18, 2007 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then again

the drunk asses also do the loudest cheering.

They love the longball.

by matthaggs on Apr 18, 2007 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've been to two games this season

and I know I shouldn't be complaining about being at two games already, because most seasons I only make it to two games, but both games I think the crowds have sucked. I want standing up and cheering with two strikes, chanting, booing, celebrating...

All I got was a couple half assed lets go yankees...

I know its cold, but jeez!

Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f*** the prom queen.

by Edwantsacracker on Apr 18, 2007 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs