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Game 91: Blue Jays at Yankees (W)

By Andrew Fletcher | July 16th, 2007

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Toronto Blue Jays (45-46) vs. New York Yankees (45-44)

Josh Towers (4-5, 5.07) vs. Kei Igawa (2-2, 7.14)

Jul. 16, 2007 @ 7:05 @ Yankee Stadium

Toronto Blue Jays

New York Yankees

Proctor (W, 2 - 5) Towers (L, 4 - 6) Rivera (S, 14)

Preview:

The Yankees, coming off a four-game series win against Tampa Bay will open up a four-game series at home against Toronto. Kei Igawa will get one more chance to prove he is capable of pitching in the Major Leagues. The Yankees will face Josh Towers, whom they have had success against.

Key Matchups:

Towers vs. the lineup: Towers is 2-7 in eight starts (12 appearances overall) against the Yankees in his career. He has a 4.62 ERA and has given up 11 home runs in 62 1-3 innings pitched. He also has a 5.54 ERA in Yankee Stadium.
Towers vs. Jeter: Derek Jeter is 12-32 with one home run and five RBIs against Towers in his career. With Johnny Damon hitting poorly (although he has good numbers against Towers), it will be up to Jeter to get on base for Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez.
Igawa vs. the Yankees: Yes, Igawa vs. the Yankees. Coming into today’s game, the Yankees have won eight of their last 11 games. It is up to Igawa to keep the line moving, unfortunately.
The Blue Jays vs. the Yankees’ bullpen: The Yankees are still searching for a viable bridge to Mariano Rivera. Kyle Farnsworth has pitched in two-straight games and was inneffective in both. If the Yankees have a one or two-run lead in the later innings, the Blue Jays could very well come back.

Prediction:

Yankees lose 7-3. Igawa struggles and gets pulled in the third inning. He is designated for assignment following the game.

Recap:

The Yankees were able to overcome another shaky outing from Igawa, as they pulled out a come-from-behind, 6-4 victory against the Blue Jays Monday night. Igawa gave up three runs in five innings, including two home runs to Troy Glaus. He also threw 115 pitches, so at least the Yankees are getting their money’s worth. Scott Proctor blew the save in the sixth inning when he gave up a home run to Alex Rios. However, Andy Phillips was able to get another clutch hit in the bottom half of the inning.

Notable Performances:

Alex Rodriguez hit home run No. 32 in the third inning to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead at that point. Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano also added home runs in the second inning.
As mentioned, Phillips delivered with a two-out, two-RBI single in the sixth. Jorge Posada and Cano singled and doubled, respectively, before the single. John Sterling called Phillips’ RBI hit yesterday “his biggest hit of the year.” I wonder what he called today’s hit.
As soon as Michael Kay said Scott Proctor hadn’t given up a run since his fire display, he promptly served up a home run to Rios. In two innings, he gave up four hits and one run, while striking out one and walking one. He pitched the sixth and seventh innings.
Luis Vizcaino worked a solid eighth inning, helping build the case that he should be the primary eighth inning guy.
Glaus homered twice and tripled. He now has 18 total home runs against the Yankees in his career.

Notes:

Mariano Rivera shut the door in the ninth inning. After allowing a leadoff triple to Glaus, he struck out the next two batters and then induced a ground out.

Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu were the only Yankees to not get a hit tonight.

Matusi’s home run extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Melky Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the sixth inning.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 16th, 2007 at 3:53 pm and is filed under Game Thread / Recap, Off the Facade. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

34 Responses to “Game 91: Blue Jays at Yankees (W)”

mike says:

July 16th, 2007 at 4:15 pm

Towers is 2-7 with an atrocious ERA against the Yanks, and yet you predict the Yanks will score 3 runs in the whole game? Way to be a fan and have some faith, there, Andrew. Completely given up on this team, have ya?

Let’s go Yan-kees!
mike says:

July 16th, 2007 at 4:16 pm

Oh, wait, I get it - reverse-jinx.
Andrew Fletcher says:

July 16th, 2007 at 4:33 pm

Igawa being the starter made me depressed.
Luzz says:

July 16th, 2007 at 5:07 pm

For all those who enjoy the occasional wager. the over is 10.5 for this game. they should be there by the middle of the 4th.
mike says:

July 16th, 2007 at 5:31 pm

Yeah, Igawa the starter will probably make most folks depressed. I’m with you on that, but the Yankees bats should come out as well tonite. Let’s see if the bats can win it.
Jim Johnson says:

July 16th, 2007 at 6:10 pm

Good God… 1 play into the game and he nearly threw the ball away.
Jim Johnson says:

July 16th, 2007 at 6:20 pm

Every inning is like walking a tight rope for Igawa.
Matt says:

July 16th, 2007 at 7:20 pm

i’d be impressed (and depressed) if he could hit 100 pitches after three innings. maybe in his next start
Jim Johnson says:

July 16th, 2007 at 7:34 pm

I think its safe to say he’s not going to get another start. He’s stranded 2, 3, then 3 runners through his first 3 innings. He is incredibly lucky the score isn’t 8-2 already.

I’m guessing we’re going to see DeSalvo in the next start.
Jim Johnson says:

July 16th, 2007 at 7:37 pm

Hmm… Kay made a good point. With the double-header coming up, Igawa will probably stay in the rotation to pitch one of them.

I can’t believe Cano layed off that 1-2 pitch. That was good of him.
Matt says:

July 16th, 2007 at 7:47 pm

I will admit Cano is swinging less at pitches where the opposing catcher is STANDING up.

Igawa just doesnt have major league stuff.
Andrew Fletcher says:

July 16th, 2007 at 8:05 pm

Proctor in the sixth??? What??????
SaltedCracker says:

July 16th, 2007 at 8:07 pm

Nice play by Abreu to keep that to a single.
Tony Gicas says:

July 16th, 2007 at 8:32 pm

Impossible not to be happy for Andy Phillips.

Maybe the enormous career numbers he holds in the minors are FINALLY translating to the majors.
Mike S. says:

July 16th, 2007 at 9:13 pm

Jim: Saturday is a DH. Igawa/DeSalvo scheduled.
Jim Johnson says:

July 16th, 2007 at 9:25 pm

Rivera just showed his moxy.
mike says:

July 16th, 2007 at 10:06 pm

Andrew, want to eat your prediction now? As I said at the beginning of this little thread, have some faith in our bats - 6 runs over 5.2 against Towers. Iggy got lucky he didn’t get lit up, though.
gianthinker says:

July 16th, 2007 at 10:14 pm

I’ll tell you what. When I’m wrong I’ll admit it. I’ve been hard on Andy Philips in the past. Now I see what the Yankees have held onto him for so long for. We’ve always seen him field well. We know he can do that. He’s just never been able to hit in the pro’s. Maybe its been his small amount of playing time in the past. I’m not sure. He’s hit at every level of the minors but just never in the show. Now he’s showing clutch hitting to go along with a great glove. I’ll admit when I’m wrong. Great play Andy. Keep it up. If you do, maybe instead of spending money on 1B this offseason we can buy some young pitching and/or an OF.
Dan S says:

July 16th, 2007 at 10:29 pm

*Wild Card*
Indians: –
Yankees: 7GB
gianthinker says:

July 16th, 2007 at 11:13 pm

Speaking of future free agents. I found a list of guys who will be coming up on free agency after this year. The list has their names, ages and any option they might have in their contracts. I’ll give the link for the full list.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/03/2008_mlb_free_a.html

My two top targets are both starting pitchers.

Carlos Zambrano (27)
Jason Jennings (29)
Andrew Fletcher says:

July 16th, 2007 at 11:33 pm

I’m always afraid of NL pitchers, and I wouldn’t want Jennings even if he was an AL pitcher.
Jim Johnson says:

July 16th, 2007 at 11:33 pm

I don’t see us going after starting pitching in the offseason.

This is the site I use to track free agency:

http://www.mlb4u.com/freeagency.php?
B Mess says:

July 17th, 2007 at 12:21 am

Something tells me that Luzz lozt his bet…
Tony Gicas says:

July 17th, 2007 at 12:52 am

Jesus Montero’s first game in the GCL and he hits a homerun. Don’t know if he’ll be a catcher, but he’s going hit somewhere.
Jim Johnson says:

July 17th, 2007 at 9:41 am

Hey,

Does anyone else have any info about there being *something funny* found in Montero’s urine? The rumor is that his signing bonus got dropped to 1.6m because of it.
gianthinker says:

July 17th, 2007 at 10:20 am

Jim, what do you see us going after? I wouldnt be suprised at all to bring in one starter. We’re consistantly one short. I’m sure we’ll focus on relievers as the main target. OF is an option of course and I’d hope we’d bring in Hunter of Jones. 1B we might look at. But if Melky and Phillips keep playing the way they have we might only end up looking to fill RF and pitching. Thoughts?
Steve says:

July 17th, 2007 at 10:22 am

Zambrano has been saying that he is 90% staying Chicago which appears to me that whoever does take over is getting a sweetheart deal on him. I really dont think the Yankees need to delve into the free agent pitching pool. They have all these kids coming up, not to mention Mussina (why a two year extension?) and Pettitte (i find it hard to believe he would step away from $16 million) and of course Wang. Which leaves two open spots. Assuming Hughes is what he appears to be, he takes one. And then the other may be in the hands of Kei Igawa (because of his price tag) and kids like Joba, Sanchez, Clippard, Jackson, Horne, Kennedy, etc… Hopefully one of them can knock Igawa out, and some of them can fill bullpen spots giving Cashman the payroll flexibility he has been looking for.
Tony Gicas says:

July 17th, 2007 at 11:26 am

Jim:

Where’d you hear about Montero doing steroids? The only place I’ve seen that rumor is online in comment sections. And I thought the drop in bonus was b/c Montero turned out to be about 6 months older than he originally stated.
gianthinker says:

July 17th, 2007 at 11:43 am

Did anyone hear this?
———————————————-
Dan Johnson For Scott Proctor?
Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle believes that yesterday’s Jason Kendall trade could be the first in a series of forward-looking moves for the A’s. Billy Beane doesn’t say it outright, but he seems ready to play for next year. Simmons says rumors have swirled around Dan Johnson, Esteban Loaiza, and Mike Piazza.

Johnson has been linked to the Twins (DH) and Yankees (1B) previously. The idea is to clear some room at first base for top prospect Daric Barton. As a cheap league average 1B, Johnson has decent value. Simmons says a Johnson for Scott Proctor trade is “all the buzz.” However, the teams have not talked in over a week. The 30 year-old Proctor has been worked pretty hard by Joe Torre, but has performed decently over the last two seasons. For a while during the offseason, the Yankees considered using him as a starter. The A’s could go through with that plan in ‘08.

Piazza is said to be a candidate for the same teams as Johnson, plus maybe the Angels. He’d due back in about a week from a strained shoulder. He’ll only be able to DH.

Loaiza has yet to make his season debut due to neck, shoulder, and knee injuries. He recently threw a bullpen session and felt good, but won’t be big league ready until August. He’s owed $7MM in ‘08; not sure if that salary would pass through waivers in August without a claim.
———————————————-
I’d love to have Dan Johnson brought in. I think he’s a solid 1B at a cheap price. I wouldnt want him if the price is Proctor though. If we could get him for Farnsworth then, yes. Meyers, yes. Proctor, no.
Mike S. says:

July 17th, 2007 at 11:53 am

I wouldn’t be surprised if Sanchez misses 1/2 of 2008. That’s how TJ works.

Jackson has been horrible @ swb. ERA over 6.00.
gianthinker says:

July 17th, 2007 at 12:03 pm

Further proof of Torre trying to raise Farnsworth’s stock.—->

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/17/sports/baseball/17yankees.html?_r=1&ref=baseball&oref=slogin

The Yankees could bolster their bullpen through a trade, although Luis Vizcaíno worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning last night as Torre gave the struggling Kyle Farnsworth the night off, citing Farnsworth’s recent workload. Scott Proctor (2-5) pitched two innings for the victory, and Mariano Rivera earned his 14th save.

Vizcaíno has a 1.23 earned run average since May 28, and Farnsworth’s E.R.A. is three runs higher in that time.

But Torre said he had not considered giving Vizcaíno the regular eighth-inning role.

“Farnsie has the most experience doing that for the eighth and the ninth; he was a closer, too,” Torre said. “I’d have to see something really bad from him where he was very inconsistent, and I haven’t seen that.”
————————————————
If he hasn’t seen it he needs to have his eyes checked. Good job by Torre to make Farnsworth more attractive to other teams.
Jim Johnson says:

July 17th, 2007 at 12:13 pm

Yeah, Torre is trying to make Farnsworth look as useful as he possibly can. God knows Farnsworth isn’t giving him much to work with. I’m convinced the reason they keep trotting him out there to give him the chance to build some value for himself on the trade market.

Tony, I can’t remember where I heard that. I just did a google search for “Jesus Montero urine” and didn’t really get any results, so maybe it was just BS that I stumbled across.

Giant… holy crap, the deadline is in 2 weeks. I should probably make a post about our trade options. I’ll probably do that tonight.
Steve says:

July 17th, 2007 at 12:16 pm

There is no way Billy beane is taking Farnsworth’s salary in exchange for a solid first baseman who has a little pop and gets almost no money. I think Proctor would be a good deal. Lets be honest, Proctor is a middle reliever who is over 30 and he has never shown any consistency and has been overworked the last year and a half. I wouldnt mind seeing Johnson come over, and then see what Britton and Ramirez can do. Hopefully it would force Torre to trust some of these guys. As for Myers, if Beane is willing to do that then great but I dont know what the market is for a 38 year old lefty specialist who has given up way too many baserunners for a guy who is theoretically supposed to face one or two guys. Johnson has some value and I’m surprised Beane would even want Proctor in return, rather then a b or c level prospect.
Tony Gicas says:

July 17th, 2007 at 12:45 pm

Yeah.. I had heard rumors about Montero too, but no credited sources behind any of it, so I guess it is just BS. Never know these days, but hopefully that is not the case.