Ian Kennedy was scratched from tomorrow's start. In his side session Wednesday, his upper back "spasmed up" and remained tight. The Yankees have decided to go the safe route and have him skip this start. He said he feels like he could throw today. Instead, he will throw on flat ground tomorrow. Roger Clemens will start tomorrow, as the Yankees had an extra starter in the rotation, so he had been pushed back. It's the first start Kennedy has missed in his life, he said.
Jason Giambi feels better and did regular batting practice and fielding. He's not in the lineup, but feels ready to play.
It sounds very much like Joe Torre has already decided upon the foursome of Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Chien-Ming Wang and Mike Mussina (though not in any particular order) for playoff starters, should the Yankees get there. Torre said today: "Pettitte, Mussina, Clemens, Wang, you've got four guys that could be your No. 1."
A note courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau: Melky Cabrera leads the major leagues with 12 assists as a centerfielder. He has 14 assists (two in leftfield).
15 of Bobby Abreu's last 20 hits have been for extra bases (13 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homer).
Joba Chamberlain's father, Harlan, is here. Continental Airlines made special arrangements to fly him in (he suffered from polio as a child and rides in a motorized scooter). It's his first time east of Chicago, and he is ecstatic to be here. Said Chamberlain "To be here in Yankee Stadium, I mean, my God. That's just part of this ongoing dream come true, another chapter."
Torre on Vernon Wells not playing: "I'm sorry that he's hurt. I understand he's going to get that surgery. He's one of the premiere young players in the game for certain. It's like Manny 's being out for the Red Sox. He's an explosive player."
And here's the lineup:
Blue Jays
Johnson RF
Stairs 1B
Rios CF
Thomas DH
Hill 2B
Adams 3B
Zaun C
Lind LF
Olmedo SS
Halladay P
Yankees
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Mientkiewicz 1B
Cabrera CF
Wang P
Comments (22)
This is when having six starters feels so cozy.
Marianne,
I remember when being a full week ahead of you guys and having 4 solid starters and 2 solid relievers felt cozy
My standards for cozy might be on the low side. I'm comparing this with how it felt when we had two guys we knew could start. What's an antonym for cozy? Whatever it is, we had our picture in the dictionary by it...
My standards of cozy include me and my wife at a nice warm inn overlooking the Pacific Ocean... but that is too much information
The Mets are already losing.
Wow
Mets aren't making the playoffs. Willie comes back to the Yankees as a coach, where he belongs.
And Dusty Baker joins the Mets?
I could see that.
Too bad for the Mets Acta is in Washington. He could've been a good possible replacement.
Let the Mets actually FALL OUT of first before you throw Willie under a bus!
It's just a matter of time!
In the mean time, I hate how pitchers like Halladay and Lakcey always seem to shut us down yet Boston beats them up.
I gave my first "Oh for GOD'S SAKE" of the night with the Blue Jays not scoring with a runner on 3rd and nobody out.
I know I am not supposed to talk about the other league...
But the Phillies are winning and the Mets and Marlins are tied
Wow
OK Yankee land...
Sox and Rays are tied while there's no score in the Bronx
And Sully is leaving work
Talk to you tomorrow
Halladay isn't even breaking a sweat. He's thrown 32 pitches over 3 innings.
Yanks have to start looking for that first pitch fastball.
Wang has thrown 44 pitches over 3 innings.
Wow 0 to 0 ... will we win?
On Yahoo! Homepage, Not Yahoo Sports there is an article, the main article on why the Sox will collapse. Why is this news considering the plight of the planet? Something is very wrong.
Anyway, I hope we win this game ...
Do we play the Angels or Cleveland?
Chewey,
I'd rather play the Tribe.
We need to start stringing some hits and get some guys on base now.
Anyway, how are ya Ant my friend?
If the Yanks don't find a way to get Halladay's pitch count up he'll be in line for a complete game.
Time to HIT, Guys!
Cano has some pretty good numbers:
.302, 18HR 87 ribbys
Posada's got the right idea.
First pitch changeup; base hit.
Well, that was dumb!
Bad base running really screwed us up in yesterday's game. If Damon didn't get caught stealing in the 1st, we would have had at least more runs and would have won because Damon scores with Jeter's double and Jeter scores with A-Rod's sac fly with two outs. Then Posada makes an out at home on a foul pop-up practically behind the plate. What the hell were they thinking by sending him on that play?