Daily Archives: May 11, 2008

The Yankees’ series finale in Detroit was one of three games rained out on Mother’s Day yesterday. The game will be made up either July 24 or September 1. The former date would result in the Yankees playing 27 consecutive games coming out of the All-Star break.

The rainout gives the Yankees the option of bringing Ian Kennedy back to reclaim the fifth starters spot from Kei Igawa when it next comes due. Igawa was set to start on Wednesday, with Darrell Rasner pitching Thursday, but the rainout allows the Yankees to start Rasner on either Thursday or Friday with Igawa or a replacement starting the other day. Kennedy, who is eligible to be recalled on Thursday, was scheduled to start for Scranton Wilkes-Barre yesterday, but his game was also rained out. He’ll start today, but if the Yankees pull him from the game early, could start on short rest against the Mets on Friday. It seems more likely to me that the Yankees will either start Igawa or a replacement on Thursday and let Rasner face the Mets on Friday.

The most likely Igawa alternate would be Steven White, who is on the 40-man roster and pitching well for Scranton (2.68 ERA, 1.21 WHIP), but White’s extreme fly-ball rate and 4.02 BB/9 suggest he might just be a right-handed Igawa. It would be fun to see converted reliever Dan Giese get the call, but the Yankees would have to create room on the 40-man for him (possibly by calling up Francisco Cervelli and putting him on the 60-day DL, or better yet, by designating Chris Stewart for assignment). Me, I’d DFA Stewart and give the veteran Giese (1.05 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 3.5 K/BB in six starts) a shot on Thursday with Rasner starting Friday.

What would you do?

Ah, a nice tidy win for the Yanks yesterday afternoon in the Motor City. Darrell Rasner may be short on stuff, but he throws the ball over the plate and pitched well enough to earn his second straight win.

“You know who he reminds me of a little bit? Jon Lieber,” Derek Jeter said. “He works quick, he throws strikes; he’s fun to play behind. He doesn’t take too much time between pitches, he has a plan and he goes right after guys.”
(Pete Abe, Lo-Hud)

Kyle Farnsworth relieved Rasner in the seventh. With a man on, Miguel Cabrera singled through the left side of the infield. Watching at home, I was practically convinced Cabrera was going to touch Farnsworth. Gary Sheffield was next and he slapped a double down the left field line. The pitch, a fastball, was at his shoulders, but Sheffield still managed to put a level swing on it and drive the ball. The Tigers were set for a rally. Down 5-2, runners at second and third, nobody out, and Farnswacker on the hill. But then, Edgar Renteria gave away an at-bat by tapping a soft liner to Robinson Cano on a slider out of the zone. Pudge Rodriguez waved through a high fastball (ball four) on a full count pitch, and Placido Planco was retired to end the threat. Joba cruised through the eighth and after giving up a lead-off single to Magglio Ordonez in the ninth (Ordonez is 7-13 lifetime against Mo), Mariano Rivera got Cabrera to hit into a double play (nasty cutter in on the hands), and Sheff to ground out to second. Rivera has ten saves in as many opportunities, and is sporting a 0.00 ERA in 15 innings this year. Derek Jeter hit his first homer of the season, Bobby Abreu added two hits, and Jason Giambi had an RBI double. Poor Wilson Betemit crushed a long fly ball to left center field in his first at bat, and then hit another bomb to straight away center (420 ft) his next turn up, good for a double. But he tweaked a hamstring rounding first and is headed back to the DL. The only drag on a nice Saturday.

Final Score: Yanks 5, Tigers 2.

Bombers look to make it two straight this afternoon with Mr. Pettitte shooting to get his record (3-3) over .500.

Let’s Go Yan-Kees!