Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:24 am Post subject: Yankees Waiting to See How Much Colon Has Left
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In another two starts, Bartolo Colon should surpass the 100-inning mark, which he has not done since 2005. The Yankees were concerned about his durability heading into the season, and his struggles over his last two outings — 13 runs and 16 hits in six and a third innings — raised the possibility that he is nearing his expiration date. That issue has come into focus with the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline less than two weeks away.
¶“I understand what you’re saying there,” Manager Joe Girardi said. “If his stuff would have been real flat the other night, then maybe I would have been worried about that.”
¶Colon was victimized by shoddy defense in Toronto last Thursday, when five of the eight runs he allowed in two-thirds of an inning were unearned, but he also walked two batters and his signature two-seam fastball came in a tick slower.
¶His next opportunity to rebuff the skepticism — and prove that his left hamstring feels fine — comes Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, who battered him July 7 at Yankee Stadium. Another middling start by Colon, who does not speak to reporters the day before he pitches, could add credence to the notion that the Yankees’ staff is not deep enough to win a seven-game series in October. If the Yankees do not bolster their rotation, Girardi said he had confidence in his staff.
¶“This is what we have, yeah,” Girardi said. “This is what we have, and we’ve gotten to this point because of them. They’re throwing the ball really well, and there’s no reason that can’t continue.”
¶Internally, their best option is Ivan Nova, who was 8-4 with a 4.12 earned run average before being sent down to clear rotation space for Phil Hughes. Among potential trade candidates, the Colorado ace right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez is appealing because of his age (27) and favorable contract (owed $4.2 million in 2012 with economical options for 2013 and 2014). But for those reasons, any contending team would be interested.
¶Trading for a left-hander would be palatable, as a way to help neutralize Boston’s left-handed thump, but not many appear to be available. Wandy Rodriguez of Houston signed an onerous contract extension in January.
¶PENA GOES TO D.L. The Yankees lost some flexibility Monday when Ramiro Pena was placed on the disabled list after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. His timetable for a return is unclear, but his ability to play every infield position but first base — and play it well — was of great value to a team playing without Alex Rodriguez for another four weeks.
¶“It’ll be a birthday I’m sure he’ll never forget,” Joe Girardi said of Pena, who turned 26 on Monday.
¶To replace Pena, the Yankees promoted the 23-year-old third baseman Brandon Laird, his first call-up to the majors. Laird’s flight from Columbus, Ohio, was delayed, jeopardizing his availability for Monday’s game, but his pending arrival had no impact on Eduardo Nunez’s job security. Since assuming the starting job at third base, Nunez has committed two errors, including a costly first-inning mistake last Thursday that led to five unearned runs.
¶Girardi said Nunez would remain the starter, but he also takes over the backup second baseman’s job. Laird, despite his ability to play first base and a little in the outfield, is viewed as a backup at third base. He was batting .266 with 10 home runs, 49 runs batted in and a .415 slugging percentage for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre — better production than the catching prospect Jesus Montero, who had 7 homers, 34 R.B.I., and a .406 slugging percentage.
¶How long Laird remains with the team hinges on two factors beyond Pena’s recovery: a potential trade for a veteran third baseman, and the return of Eric Chavez (fractured left foot), who is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment Tuesday for Class A Tampa. Girardi said Chavez would need several games in the minors to build up his stamina, but, if healthy, he would assume that sure-handed, left-handed-hitting reserve role the Yankees could use.
¶LONG NIGHT The Rays used eight relievers Sunday during their 1-0 loss to Boston, which ended after 16 innings and at 1:54 a.m. Monday. “Not an optimal situation” is how their manager, Joe Maddon, characterized it. They reloaded by replacing Adam Russell with Alex Torres, but the Yankees might catch their exhausted staff at a good time. After arriving from Toronto, Joe Girardi said he watched the game until the 13th inning before going to sleep
steriod Freeline skates the next ride
The importance of keeping control of the ball peppered many of the sentiments. Abby Wambach, who scored in overtime and was the only American player to convert in the shootout, said: “We have to keep up with possession battles. And put away games when we have the chance. This game should have been won in regulation.”
Wambach returned home having earned the Silver Ball for being the second-best player in the tournament. Perhaps fittingly, she finished behind Homare Sawa of Japan.
The players said that after defeating Brazil in penalty kicks in the quarterfinal, they began to take note of the surging support back home.
“We’d watch all the YouTube videos and songs with our names in them,” said Christie Rampone, the team captain, who juggled interviews with her 1-year-old daughter, Reece, on her arm. “It just got our team pumped.”
On Tuesday, Solo, Wambach, Rampone and Alex Morgan will go on a media blitz, appearing in various combinations on “Good Morning America,” “Today,” several ESPN programs and finally the “Late Show With David Letterman.”
The final game against Japan drew an impressive 8.6 rating on ESPN, making it second to only the United States-China final in 1999 (13.3) on ABC as the highest-rated women’s soccer game in the United States. The attention clearly energized the players, who see it as a chance to promote the sport.
“We know this has had a big impact, and we just want to keep that inspiration going,” Wambach said.
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