Randy Johnson's next start is in doubt

[riverside sluggers]

Johnson's next start in doubt

 

August 7, 2005

TORONTO (AP) -- Randy Johnson's next start with the New York Yankees is in doubt because of a bad back. "He's really uncomfortable,'' manager Joe Torre said. ``If it was like this yesterday, he wouldn't have pitched.'' Johnson lasted just four innings in Saturday's 8-5 loss, allowing six runs for the second straight start. The 41-year-old left-hander started having back spasms while covering first base in the fourth inning. He didn't come out for the fifth. "It's real tight right now. It's hard to move,'' Johnson said. ``I'm going to continue to get treatment. Hopefully, it will be day to day.'' Johnson will be examined by team doctors when the Yankees return to New York on Monday. Torre said they should know by Tuesday if he will be able to make his next start. Torre didn't sound optimistic.

 

"We'll have to wait and see,'' Torre said. "If he feels the way he does today, he can't pitch.'' The Big Unit isn't happy with his first season in the Bronx. The five-time Cy Young Award winner is 11-7 with a 4.29 ERA. The back has been bothering him for some time, but he's yet to miss a start because of it. The Yankees are already missing injured starters Kevin Brown, Carl Pavano, Chien-Ming Wang and Jaret Wright. Pavano and Wright, however, could be back soon as both are making minor league rehab starts this week.

[GabeKaplerluver19]

it's because he's old, all old people have bad backs, exspecially if they do stuff.

[BoSox21]

so the moral of this story is, old people shouldn't do stuff

[GabeKaplerluver19]

No, the moral is........ I don't know.

[YankeeDoodle]

Please, RJ, please, let you not be Kevin Brown, part two. I don't know that this organization can handle any more bad pitching aquisitions...

 

Moral of the story, Empire is dealt another blow. Pitching injuries. Backaches. Tell me something new.

[MC Hammer]

Again Moose is the only Yankee starter, from the begining of the year, that is still healthy.

 

How are we only 3.5 games up?

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Again Moose is the only Yankee starter, from the begining of the year, that is still healthy.

 

How are we only 3.5 games up?

Cause we've made how many errors ? ( 6) in the last 3 games. Moose has been steady, but not a stopper. As far as RJ goes, that is not unexpected since he's not only had back problems before, had surgery, and was told surgery could not be repeated.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

it's because he's old, all old people have bad backs, exspecially if they do stuff.

At what "old age" do ALL OLD people have bad backs ( that do stuff ) ? Would that be 18, 25, 30, 40 , or anyone over 13 ?

[YankeeDoodle]

The Yankees have made fugly errors (some that weren't scored as such) throughout the entire year. Physical and mental. Matsui baiting the runner to steal is only funny because it didn't lose us the game.

 

That said, I'd rather be competing in the AL East, because there is no way in the Central or West this team would have a shot.

 

I read an article where RJ sounded pretty ticked about things, and he hasn't been feeling 100% in a long while, but given the situation, the last thing the Yankees could afford is to lose another starter. If Pavano and Wright come back, if Small and Chacon continue to have quality starts, maybe, maybe Johnson can skip a start, but that's not likely.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

The Yankees have made fugly errors (some that weren't scored as such) throughout the entire year. Physical and mental. Matsui baiting the runner to steal is only funny because it didn't lose us the game.

 

That said, I'd rather be competing in the AL East, because there is no way in the Central or West this team would have a shot.

 

I read an article where RJ sounded pretty ticked about things, and he hasn't been feeling 100% in a long while, but given the situation, the last thing the Yankees could afford is to lose another starter. If Pavano and Wright come back, if Small and Chacon continue to have quality starts, maybe, maybe Johnson can skip a start, but that's not likely.

Jeez Yankee, no offense but that sounds like a guy that says, " If, I hit my lucky number, I can pay back my mom , my best friends, insurance, rent, etc and take my girl friend our this weekend ". I think you're smarter than that.

[YankeeDoodle]

Interesting stat:

 

To begin the season the following 5 starters:

Johnson

Mussina

Pavano

Wright

Brown

 

The combined stats of these 5 now are 31-22, for a winning percentage of 58.5%. The combined ERA is 4.85.

 

The next 5 starters in terms of innings pitched are:

Wang

Small

Leiter

Chacon

Henn

 

The combined stats of these 5 are 11-9, for a winning percentage of 55%. The combined ERA is 4.32.

 

So 2004 offseason didn't pan out. Nice job of plugging in the holes, Cash? :dunno: Cheap is the way to go?

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Interesting stat:

 

To begin the season the following 5 starters:

Johnson

Mussina

Pavano

Wright

Brown

 

The combined stats of these 5 now are 31-22, for a winning percentage of 58.5%. The combined ERA is 4.85.

 

The next 5 starters in terms of innings pitched are:

Wang

Small

Leiter

Chacon

Henn

 

The combined stats of these 5 are 11-9, for a winning percentage of 55%. The combined ERA is 4.32.

 

So 2004 offseason didn't pan out. Nice job of plugging in the holes, Cash? :dunno: Cheap is the way to go?

Aah, you've become an A's fan.

[YankeeDoodle]

Jeez Yankee, no offense but that sounds like a guy that says, " If, I hit my lucky number, I can pay back my mom , my best friends, insurance, rent, etc and take my girl friend our this weekend ". I think you're smarter than that.

Umm...and that was an intelligent response? <_>

 

Edit: Are you referring to the Johnson remark I mentioned? If so:

 

Randy: I'll pitch, so leave me alone

 

The Big Unit quickly became annoyed. He does not like being asked about his health and likened the media to his children - constantly asking the same thing.

 

"You're like kids in the backseat: 'Are we almost there?'" Johnson said. "'Are you healthy?' I'm telling you, I'm going to be out there."

 

"Disneyland is 15 minutes away. We're almost there."

"They're more cautious with me than I am," Johnson said. "I haven't been 100% since high school, yet I'm still out there among the league leaders in innings pitched and games started. It doesn't mean I'm completely healthy, but I'll be out there."

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Umm...and that was an intelligent response? <_>

Sorry, but what do you think, all of the guys you mentioned will come back from the DL and pitch better than they did before ? Are you serious ? You sounded smatter then that. My analogy, was simply there's not a chance in hell of it happening.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

" read an article where RJ sounded pretty ticked about things, and he hasn't been feeling 100% in a long while, but given the situation, the last thing the Yankees could afford is to lose another starter. If Pavano and Wright come back, if Small and Chacon continue to have quality starts, maybe, maybe Johnson can skip a start, but that's not likely."

 

Sorry but that's alot of ifs.

[YankeeDoodle]

Ahh, no need to apologize.

 

First off, yeah, would love to have Rich Harden signed cheaply for the next couple years, but that's not happening. And when Billy Beane can not regret letting Jeremy Bonderman go, because he has young pitching studs in the wings - the Yankees hardly have that luxury.

 

Second, the "sample-size" of Wright and Pavano wasn't impressive. But Wright might be useful in long relief, and Pavano hasn't earned the right to assess his "situation", because he's hardly pitched. Of course I'm not expecting a Cy Young run by anyone on this team, but each pitcher can play his part, keep the offense in games, then that should suffice. Should.

 

I am realistic about the 2005 Yankees. 95 wins, hopefully they can achieve that mark, but it's still going to be something of a struggle. And while I can be wary of this team, I'm not giving up until we're uhh...hypothetically, "mathematically eliminated". Gone through too much crap to just throw in the towel. Unless it's Kevin Brown, who can retire and give back all the money due so Cashman can find more pitching... <_>

 

Edit: YES, I know it's a lot of "ifs", but we couldn't catch a break ALL YEAR with injuries (or performance). I don't know where Yankee fans would go if we didn't have anything, or at least, hope for anything that can boost this team.

[Sizzlin22]

Please, RJ, please, let you not be Kevin Brown, part two.

It looks like he will be, is he really worth the 15 million per for the next 2 years? Not with that s***** slider.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Ahh, no need to apologize.

 

First off, yeah, would love to have Rich Harden signed cheaply for the next couple years, but that's not happening. And when Billy Beane can not regret letting Jeremy Bonderman go, because he has young pitching studs in the wings - the Yankees hardly have that luxury.

 

Second, the "sample-size" of Wright and Pavano wasn't impressive. But Wright might be useful in long relief, and Pavano hasn't earned the right to assess his "situation", because he's hardly pitched. Of course I'm not expecting a Cy Young run by anyone on this team, but each pitcher can play his part, keep the offense in games, then that should suffice. Should.

 

I am realistic about the 2005 Yankees. 95 wins, hopefully they can achieve that mark, but it's still going to be something of a struggle. And while I can be wary of this team, I'm not giving up until we're uhh...hypothetically, "mathematically eliminated". Gone through too much crap to just throw in the towel. Unless it's Kevin Brown, who can retire and give back all the money due so Cash.man can find more pitching... <_>

 

Edit: YES, I know it's a lot of "ifs", but we couldn't catch a break ALL YEAR with injuries (or performance). I don't know where Yankee fans would go if we didn't have anything, or at least, hope for anything that can boost this team.

Okay peace. Thought maybe you needed a reality check.... carry on.

[YankeeDoodle]

It looks like he will be, is he really worth the 15 million per for the next 2 years? Not with that s***** slider.

...and 15 mil is the amount Bad Back Brown's due this year. Hmm.

 

No kidding; will the disappearance of RJ's slider follow the disappearance of KB's sinker? It's like the ball goes into the Bermuda triangle or something. <_>

 

Roger Clemens was mediocre his first year with NYY. Well, he was 41 when left; RJ's going to turn 42 this season.

 

Age ain't nothing but a number? :dunno: NL West can be very, very misleading.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

...and 15 mil is the amount Bad Back Brown's due this year. Hmm.

 

No kidding; will the disappearance of RJ's slider follow the disappearance of KB's sinker? It's like the ball goes into the Bermuda triangle or something. <_>

 

Roger Clemens was mediocre his first year with NYY. Well, he was 41 when left; RJ's going to turn 42 this season.

 

Age ain't nothing but a number? :dunno:

Yea, but an inoperable back problem is.

[Sizzlin22]

No kidding; will the disappearance of RJ's slider follow the disappearance of KB's sinker? It's like the ball goes into the Bermuda triangle or something. <_>After watching this year I think his slider is already dead. He'll be a one pitch pitcher for the next two years. Have fun with that.

[MC Hammer]

On Mike and Mike on ESPN radio, Buster Olney just said that Pavano is done for the year.

[YanksHater213]

Haha, the s*** is finally hitting the fan with their old/over-paid/injury prone players.

[soxie thefangirl]

Wow. So no Johnson? Or Pavano? Yanks have like one good pitcher. Mussina. He's the only playoff pitcher I see in that rotation.

[MC Hammer]

Wow. So no Johnson? Or Pavano? Yanks have like one good pitcher. Mussina. He's the only playoff pitcher I see in that rotation.

You don't think Small can get the job done in the playoffs? Come on be realistic

 

Anyway, they don't really need playoff pitchers, because they're not going to be there.

[riverside sluggers]

I agree, I see the Angels or A's taking the Wild Card, with Yanks being 1st season in awhile with their season ending at the regular season mark i cant wait me and my friends are gettin tickets for the Oct 2 finale game of sox vs yanks, chant yankees suck! and all that jazz

[riverside sluggers]

lets see how their pitching staff deals with the team that has the best record in baseball, White Sox starting tonight

[GabeKaplerluver19]

At what "old age" do ALL OLD people have bad backs ( that do stuff ) ? Would that be 18, 25, 30, 40 , or anyone over 13

 

I don't know, like whoever old RJ is.

[riverside sluggers]

Mound of hurt

 

There are 52 games (just about one-third of the season) left on that free Red Sox pocket schedule that has been burning a hole in your wallet ever since you grabbed it off your local pizzeria counter way back in March. And while it is just 3 1/2 games separating the Yankees and Red Sox in the standings, in reality it might as well be Quechee Gorge. That’s not burying the Yankees by any stretch, as we’re sure that they’ll enjoy trying to fend off the A’s and Angels for the wild card. But good luck. The A’s remain the hottest team in baseball, have pulled into a first-place tie with Los Angeles in the AL West, and all of a sudden are tied for the second-best mark in the league. Remarkable. In the AL East, the Red Sox are by no means Team Perfect, but for all their many problems, just be glad they aren’t those of the Yankees.

 

If the Red Sox don’t get an effective Keith Foulke back into the closer’s role, the longer they have to wait to get Curt Schilling back in the rotation. And sorry, if you’re the Red Sox and have David Wells and Matt Clement opening the playoffs against Barry Zito and Rich Harden, most everyone without the rosy shades is going to favor the latter. For all the mixed feelings surrounding the cantankerous closer this season, Foulke remains Boston's X factor, and so far this season there has been nothing to suggest that he can effectively repeat what he did last fall. Foulke will throw this week, and then decide whether he will break down and demean himself with a rehab assignment. Boston can win through September with Curt Schilling closing games. But I doubt they can win in October without him starting games.

 

But while that is Worry No. 1 in New England, 200 miles south they’ve got continuing problems with their Cyclone starting rotation. Carl Pavano, who was supposed to make a rehab start tonight in Trenton, is heading to Alabama, presumably for some good ol’ fashioned BBQ (and James Andrews), and the Yankees do not expect to see him for the rest of this season. According to the New York Daily News, “Team officials are ‘exasperated’ over Pavano's condition, according to one source, since the Yanks have given him a battery of tests and found nothing substantially wrong with his shoulder.” Pavano has been on the disabled list with shoulder tendonitis and has not pitched since June 27.

 

And once again, if you’re still keeping score, mark one off in the Matt Clement column. Meanwhile, Randy Johnson, who pitched just four innings Saturday in Toronto, admitted yesterday that his back hurt and is questionable for his next start Saturday. If that’s not bad enough for Yankees fans, Hideo Nomo is lined up to start Thursday, and Jaret Wright, making a rehab start tomorrow, will soon enter the starting rotation mix again. Yikes. By all accounts it has been a disaster for New York pitching this year. But it inconceivably keeps getting worse. In July you can deal with an aching Johnson, and a hurt Pavano. Chien Ming Wang and Kevin Brown are already gone, and then you learn your top pitching free agent signee is also gone for the year. Now you’re counting on the likes of Hideo Nomo, released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for God’s sake, to be a savior. Fans have to throwing their arms in the air and asking how in the world it came to this.

 

Meanwhile, the Red Sox have built their lead on the Yankees, Blue Jays (seven games) and the now-defunct Orioles (10 1/2 games) by virtue of their eight-game winning streak, two snapped in Minnesota. But they return to Fenway Park beginning tonight to kick off another six-game homestand against the Rangers and White Sox, the AL team with the best mark (72-38), who begin the week in the Bronx before heading north. You’ve heard it before, but the Red Sox play 30 of those final 52 games at home, including 21 of their final 33 at a place where they are playing .647 ball in 2005.

 

It’s going to be odd for sure. The first baseball postseason without the Yankees since 1993, when Robinson Cano was just 10 years old. If the Red Sox do win the East, it will be the first October they have played in without their ancient rivals since Roger Clemens smeared the eye black and swore at Terry Cooney with his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle laces. Fifteen years later that same guy is 11-4 with a 1.39 (1.39, your eyes are fine) ERA for the wild card-leading Astros, after beating the Giants yesterday, 8-1. It was Clemens’ fourth straight win. Teammate Andy Pettitte is 9-8 with a 2.64 ERA, better than any other Yankees starter with more than two outings (unless you think Shawn Chacon will keep that 1.50 ERA) Meanwhile, David Wells is 9-5 for Boston. All three will likely be in the postseason in 2005, two years after they together patted down the Babe with bubbly, courtesy Aaron Boone.

 

The guys who took their uniforms, Johnson, Pavano, and Brown, in the end, are no comparison. And if you need one singular reason why New York will be sitting at home, it does not get any more elementary than that.

[YankeeDoodle]

Now Bernie may be injured. What's next - the bubonic plague?

 

Bernie's shoulder is in jam

 

At the end of a brief interview, Williams shrugged and said, "I'm not worried - yet."

First off, with a bad shoulder don't do any "shrugging". And second, I would be if Torre plans on putting Womack in center. Take cover.

Yankees rotation:

RJ (leaving him on the board until he's officially DL-ed; hope it's not that bad...another roster spot on "Brown's Buddies")

Moose (0-2 in last two starts, rectify that against the White Sox, would be dandy)

Chacon (leaves team in position to win)

Small (ditto)

Leiter (more guts than Brown...and much less compensated)

 

Hello postseason? :dunno:

 

Left out Pavano because his return is in serious doubt. Wright, if and when he gets back, will be used in the bullpen first by all reports. And I don't want Wang to be rushed...see you in 2006.