As Yanks Chase Seattle, Torre Looks for Ways to Bend the Joba Rules

As we descend into late August and look toward September, many Yankee fans are feeling apprehension that is usually saved for other teams.

Here the Yanks are, playing solid baseball, 30-15 since the All-Star break, but the teams in front of them keep winning. Certainly catching the pitching-rich Red Sox after falling behind by 14 ½ games is virtually impossible…but now the wildcard is getting tenuous since Seattle does not seem to lose. (Actually, the Mariners are 15-7 in August so far.)

Of course, these are American League races, where you can go 15-7 over a 22-game stretch and lose ground. It's not like the Yanks are chasing the Brewers, Cubs, Phillies or any other imposters from that other blighted league.

The three-game series at the Stadium against Seattle in early September now looms very large. After those three games, the Yanks' September schedule gets fairly manageable with series against Tampa, Toronto, Baltimore and Kansas City. (Plus three more with the Red Sox.)

The Mariners play the Angels seven more times this season, and conceivably could overtake Los Angeles for the Western Division lead.

As the Yanks continue their valiant run, it should come as no surprise that Andy Pettitte is coming up aces. Throughout his career, he has been stronger in the 2nd half and this year is no exception:

Andy Pettitte's last five starts:
35 innings
32 hits
8 earned runs
2 walks
28 strikeouts
5-0 W-L
2.06 ERA

Pettitte is also 12-6 in his career against the Angels.

Since Andy follows Mussina in the rotation, he is often following up a loss with a win, further proving his worth. If the Yanks do force their way into the post-season, it will be on the back of Pettitte. With Wang shaking off recent troubles, at least there are two dependable starters. Clemens has been grinding out starts, but also giving up lots of runs. Hughes still looks like a rookie, and of course Moose has been serving up batting practice.

Curiously, Joe Torre is choosing not to use Jason Giambi very much, despite the fact that he is crushing the ball on the rare occasions in which he does play. Jason's high OBP and SLG percentage are being sacrificed for Damon's perceived ability to bat lead-off. This bears watching as we get into September.

Meanwhile, as expected, Torre is rumbling about the Joba rules. Torre told reporters that he and Cashman may be re-evaluating the rules, particularly in situations when he needs a day of rest after only 9 or 10 pitches the night before.

"I am not saying it will change, but that's up to [Contreras]," Torre said. "I think it's been talked about. I have great respect for Nardi Contreras."

Think about how amazing that statement is…if one ever wanted further proof that the Yankee organization is aware that Torre burns out young arms, it is this: They distrust Torre so much that a minor league pitching instructor has to tell him when he can and can't use the prized Chamberlain arm.

As the games get more critical in September, you just know that Torre will ignore the rules and give Joba the Proctor/Sturtze/Quantrill treatment-tantamount to a kiss from Michael Corleone. One can only hope and pray to the Patron Saint of Torn Ligaments that Chamberlain will get through a month or so of Torre's abuse.

Also, in the beat-the-dead-horse-because-the-horse-is still- pissing-me-off department, Torre's bizarre insistence in almost always pitching his relievers for one inning at a time has twice resulted in losses during this road trip because the game landed in the lap of Sean Henn.

It's mind-boggling that Henn continues to get chances when Chris Britton wastes away the season in the minors:

Sean Henn's career numbers:

51 IP
62 Hits
10 HR's
35 BB's
32 K's
6.97 ERA
1.87 WHIP

Chris Britton's career numbers:

58 IP
47 Hits
5 HR's
18 BB's
43 K's
3.22 ERA
1.10 WHIP

Yes, it helps to have a lefty in the pen, but if the lefty is ineffective, what is the point? Britton should have been in the Bronx all summer.

In fact, the New York Post reports that "Brian Cashman was on the phone with Torre at 4:45 yesterday morning wanting to know if the manager felt he needed a fresh arm in the bullpen after the Yankees employed six relievers Friday night-Saturday morning.

"Joe said he felt we were OK," said Cashman.

That's further evidence that Britton is Torre's for the asking. The grudge Torre has against Britton that stems from Spring Training must be something fierce. I'm not saying that Britton would come in and be another Joba, but the man deserves a chance, surely he will perform better than Henn, Brower and some of the others who have been banished, such as Mike Myers.

On the saber beat, Magglio Ordonez has now tied A-Rod for the league lead in RCAA.
(Info below courtesy of Lee Sinis)

AL RCAA

LEADERS
T1   Magglio Ordonez       62
T1   Alex Rodriguez        62
3    David Ortiz           45
4    Ichiro Suzuki         37
5    Carlos Pena           36
T6   Jack Cust             32
T6   Vladimir Guerrero     32
8    Jorge Posada          31
9    Brian Roberts         29
T10  Curtis Granderson     28
T10  Alex Rios             28

Check out Carlos Pena and Jack Cust, these are two feel-good stories about guys who would not quit. And Curtis Granderson is certainly becoming a bonafide star player.

AMERICAN LEAGUE TEAM TOTALS
1    Yankees                     119  
2    Tigers                       73  
3    Red Sox                      48  
4    Devil Rays                   33  
5    A's                          22  
6    Mariners                     21  
7    Twins                        -9  
8    Indians                     -15  
9    Blue Jays                   -31  
10   Rangers                     -33  
11   Angels                      -41  
12   Orioles                     -49  
13   White Sox                   -98  
14   Royals                     -115