I just got back from the game, and all I can say is what the fuck was Torre thinking when he brought in Farnsworth??? I can understand pitching Proctor in the 7th because Lidle was clearly done and Villone had a long outing yesterday. I don't like it but I can understand it. Farnsworth had no business in a 7 run game yet there he was and he got drilled with a liner. Just brilliant. My main thought was this though: I can't believe that the Yankees lineup is so deep. Having to work through Damon, Jeter and Abreu a pitcher can be at 30 pitches after a 1-2-3 first inning. When Cano and Posada are in the lineup the Yankees offense can be unreal.
Tomorrow SHOULD be a great game for the Yankees. Bruce Chen is a joke. However, Johnson is unpredictible to say the least.
My friend right next to me caught Giambi's HR ball out in the bleachers. I haven't seen the replay yet, but I bet I'm way off, because I tried to lean and one hand it.
Abreu has been huge. He was down 0-2 with 2 outs and no one on, works the count to 3-2, and on the EIGHT pitch of the at-bat, he hits the opposite field double that starts the big inning. With Matsui now falling a week or so behind in his rehab, it just shows how truly huge it was getting Abreu. As far as bullpen management, how can anyone be surprised... that they're surprised... by what Torre does? The smart thing would have been to bring Lidle out for the 7th, and if he was in trouble, bring in Ponson. It was 8-1, it's not like the game was up for grabs. But then again, common sense doesn't fly with Joe. Despite Torre's usual inept managing, the sweep is complete. Now, for the sweep in Baltimore...
Does anyone have any info on Farnsworth? He looked like he wanted to keep pitching, but you could tell he hurt his fingers. It actually looked like he was nursing a blister when everyone was talking to him on the mound. That would really suck. He is so freaking on right now, it would be a big loss if he is out for a week. (The only thing I could find was the notes on the game on ESPN. Torre says he thinks Farsworth will be fine, but who knows? I guess that means at least nothing is broken.) Ponson looked pretty comfortable coming out of the pen. He still doesn't look great, but he looks better than I thought he would. Did anyone hear the broadcast? They were saying he says he now substitutes ice cream for drinks. He better live on that stationary bike! On a very good note, Cleveland finally helped us out last night. We are now a game up in first. As a final thought, if Randy can finally settle down and pitch like I know he can, we can be in really great shape. This lineup is totally insane. I was a big fan of leaving Giambi in the third spot, but his RBI chances are going to be through the roof in the 5. Plus, that's only going to make A-Rod's life a lot easier. I would really like to get Matsui back, but I am not disappointed giving Melky the chance to stay in the lineup. I really can't wait for Cano to return. That's going to be huge. The more I think about it, the more I have to agree with you guys that said the Abreu deal was an absolute steal for the Yankees. I wasn't disappointed, but I had wanted pitching. However, Lidle really showed me something yesterday. We look really good right now. I just hope it keeps up for 3 more months! Bring on Baltimore! Then Chicago and then the Angels. It's going to be a very interesting week for us!
Info on Farnsworth. Kyle Farnsworth was hit in the right thumb by a ball off Lyle Overbay's bat in the eighth inning yesterday, but the Yankees think the reliever will be fine, even though he was immediately removed from the game after feeling pain on some warm-up tosses. X-rays on Farnsworth's thumb were negative, the righthander said, and he thinks he'll be available tonight when the Yanks start a series in Baltimore. "I hope so," he said. "It'll be day-by-day. I'll probably have to ice it. "I knew I didn't break anything, or at least nothing other than a blood vessel." "We think he is okay," Joe Torre said. "He was fighting us to stay in the game, but I didn't see any reason for that." Farnsworth got two outs in the eighth before he was relieved by Sidney Ponson, who allowed two hits and no runs over the final 1-1/3 innings. Why the fuck was he even in the game with a 7 run lead?
Because he knew nyjunc would agree with the move, no matter the result. It was incredibly stupid, and just another mark in the history of Torre's managing of this ballclub.
