Wang Confident for Opening Day

Our boy "The Wanger", Chien-Ming Wang had, to put it politely, a miserable post-season. He hasn't exactly had the best spring training either. But after yesterday's 5 inning, 4 run performance, he felt confident as he prepares for his opening day start on Monday. And his manager Joe Girardi felt it was his best appearance of the spring.

Fair enough. Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez both blew double play balls that would have meant just a 1 run inning instead of 4 runs. And all the runs were earned since you can't assume double plays.

Wang has tried some new things this spring, including a new change up and came out of yesterday's game realizing he has to throw inside more on hitters so they're not so comfortable up there.

It used to be we didn't worry about The Wanger at all. But we are a bit worried at the moment. Wang has always been a cool customer. He seemed to effortlessly win 8 games in 17 rookie starts and followed that up with a fabulous 19 win season in 2006.

But even though he won 19 games last year, Wang struggled at times, especially in the second half. His two playoff appearances, were to put it politely, awful. (It also makes a question Ron Guidry's ability to help a pitcher make adjustments). Wang has always been a cool customer. "He just never gets rattled", were words often used by Joe Torre.

But after getting thrashed by the Blue Jays for 8 runs in 2.2 innings last August, Wang was clearly rattled. He was 6-1, 3.15 w/ 2 no decisions the rest of the way, but he struggled with his control, walking 3 or more batters in 5 of those last 9 starts. The 3.15 ERA was a bit misleading too as he escaped a lot of jams and went long in a lot of counts.

We've always felt confident in The Wanger, but we are concerned. It is tempered a bit though by having Dave Eiland as the pitching coach. He seems to be able to quickly recognize issues as he did earlier this spring after Wang didn't make it out of the 1st inning against the Reds.

Hopefully the real Wanger is here all year. The Yankees NEED him.

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The Weekend Yankeeland

Dave Eiland would never have been mistaken for Joba Chamberlain when he was playing. Eiland didn't have the greatest stuff, but worked hard to get to the majors. After an up and down playing career, he's made the big time as the Yankees pitching coach. The Star Ledger's Ed Price has a wonderful piece on Eiland and the influence his late Dad had on his life and his work.

Former Yankees great Graig Nettles has revealed he is suffering from prostate cancer.

"A pretty good scare," Nettles said. "They said I may have had it a few years. So there wasn't any urgency. I always thought there would be an urgency of getting it out of your body, but they thought it wouldn't matter a couple months."

Nettles was diagnosed last November, but doctors told him surgery could wait until after spring training. Nettles served in his usual role as a special instructor for the Yankees. Our thoughts and prayers go out to "Puff" for a speedy recovery.

In case you missed it the other day, Chien-Ming Wang got the official nod that as the Yankees opening day starter. The Wanger was supposed to start last year's opener, but pulled a hamstring muscle. It's still hard to believe that Carl Pavano made that start.

Speaking of Pavano, he was once again added to the 60-day DL to make room for Morgan Ensberg on the 40-man roster.

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Farnsworth Happy About Fresh Start

Kyle Farnsworth always seemed to have some excuse for the failings he suffered in his first two seasons in the Bronx. It included blaming Joe Torre for having a lack of faith him in. But which came first, the poor pitching or the lack of faith, and did one feed off the other?

Well Farnsworth can relax now. Big bad Joe T is 2,500 miles to the west, and Joe Girardi is giving Farnsworth a clean slate. So has pitching coach Dave Eiland, who told Farnsworth that he doesn't know or care about what happened before. Eiland has also made some adjustments to the big right-hander's mechanics, getting him to take the baseball out of his glove sooner during his delivery. Eiland feels it will keep Farnsworth more balanced through his delivery and will make him much more accurate in hitting his spots.

"It went pretty well," he (Farnsworth) said yesterday after walking a batter, who was caught stealing, and getting a strikeout. "Everything I was missing was down."

"Today everything felt nice and easy and free."

Girardi, who helped Farnsworth out when they were teammates on the Cubs, has also constantly praised the reliever this spring. Having Girardi in his corner hasn't been lost on Farnsworth who caused Torre to get in his face after he stormed off the mound in a game last season.

"I was a young kid coming up," Farnsworth said. "He looked out for me, took me under his wing."

Farnsworth also feels better physically and more mentally prepared than he ever has since coming to New York. Now he's got to prove it to his manager, pitching coach, teammates, and oh yes, the fans.

Source: Ed Price - Star Ledger

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Lets Go to the Video Tape, Part Deux

More spring training reports from the YES Network.

Kyle Farnsworth



Tony Pena


Dave Eiland

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The Daily Yankeeland

Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News has a feature on the new, and hopefully improved, Brian Bruney. As we've previously mentioned, Bruney dropped 18 pounds in the off-season; he's also dropped an attitude where he was afraid to fail.

"With Torre - and I'm not trying to bad-mouth anybody - sometimes you would go out there and try to be so good because you were scared of doing bad," Bruney said. "You can't pitch like that. (Joe) Girardi understands that you make mistakes - and I'm going to make them."

Bruney is glad for a fresh start with Joe Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland, whom he formed a good rapport with while spending part of the '07 season at Scranton.

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The Week Ahead

The Yankees will play an intrasquad game today, before facing the U. of South Florida on Friday. Then it's a home and away series with the Phillies over the weekend. Per Peter Abraham,

Mike Mussina will pitch two innings for the “home” team in the intrasquad game today. He’ll be followed by Darrell Rasner, Dan McCutchen, Sean Henn, Jon Albaladejo, Mark Melancon for one inning each.

Jeff Karstens will go two innings for the “away” team with Scott Patterson, Steven Jackson, Billy Traber, Edwar Ramirez, Ross Ohlendorf to follow.

And from the Star Ledger's Lisa Kennelley,

Chien-Ming Wang will pitch Saturday against the Phillies in Clearwater, Pettitte at home against Philadelphia on Sunday, and then Mussina again on Monday in Kissimmee against the Astros. Hughes will start Tuesday at Dunedin against the Blue Jays on short rest since he will only pitch one inning against South Florida.

* * *

Andy Pettitte is back focusing on his pitching and his 8 a.m. daily workouts. He's gotten Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Ian Kennedy to join him. They in turn got Alan Horne to join the routine.

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"This isn't a zoo!" barked Roger Clemens at reports and photogs yesterday when he arrived at Houston Astros camp. Columnist Mike Vacarro disagrees and tells the Rocket its time to close the zoo.

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Day 7 Photos

Andy my man! Thanks for taking the focus off of me!

Seriously, I love you man!

Work it girl

El Capitan

Because you haven't seen enough
Pettitte pics yet

Must have seen Giambi's hair

"Cash, I need to take you clothes shopping"

Really, like one of the fancy stores you go to?

Jorgie, A-Rod, and Andy share a laugh

We don't even want to know

1/4 of the 1st Base Contingency

Now remember to release the ball

Giambi will play a lot of 1st. What was I thinking?!

Stylin'

Why is he looking at the camera?

Johnny D.

The other guy is Eduardo Nunez

When will they stop taking my picture?

No question its good to have Damon in shape

A-Rod getting a jump on spring

Yankees newest millionaire, Robinson Cano

A little self promotion

How did I strike out with Sienna Miller?

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Day 4 Photos

Enter Sandman

Old and new pitching coaches watch Joba

Shelley Duncan shares a laugh with the newest hall of famer

Lefty contender Billy Traber

Godzilla

Edwar "K-Ram" Ramirez signs autographs

Jazz Hands

Farnsworth, Andrew Brackman, and IPK stretch

Plenty of relaxation in Feb.

New Joe watches Moose warm up

Godzilla signs autographs

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The Daily Yankeeland

Mike Mussina has stepped up during spring training to school his young teammates. Ian Kennedy already had a locker next door, but Moose asked the clubhouse guys to switch Billy Traber with Phil Hughes.



Because of how much money they have invested in Kei Igawa, the Yankees are not giving up on the struggling left-hander just yet. To provide better communication with their Japanese import, Joe Girardi and new pitching coach Dave Eiland sat down with Igawa and his interpreter for a 30 minute chat yesterday.

“It was a very friendly talk,” Igawa said through his interpreter. “Definitely, communication is the first step we want to take.”

For some reason, statistical obsessives are obsessed with showing what a poor fielder Derek Jeter is. The hallowed ivy league halls of the University of Pennsylvania is the latest.

The Bergen Record has a meet and greet feature on Dave Eiland.

Jorge Posada has never been afraid to express his opinion, but as a senior member of the club, he words carry more weight now. Posada said, if asked, he thinks Joba Chamberlain should stay in the bullpen.

"I think he's capable of starting and he's done it in the past, but with his makeup and his body, I think he just looks like a reliever to me," Posada said. "If they asked me, I'd tell them. But I think I'm the last guy they ask."

Joe Girardi caught Kyle Farnsworth 73 times when the two were members of the Cubs from 2000-2002. The new Yankees skipper is confident he can help turn Farnsworth around.

"I believe in Kyle Farnsworth because I've personally witnessed it," said Girardi. "I know he can be an outstanding pitcher. I know he has the ability to strike out people in tough situations.

"I expect big things from him."

The Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times has a nice piece on their hometown boy Scott Patterson, who is in his first big league with the Yankees. The 28-yr old right-hander has been from pillar to post trying to pitch at the big level. With the uncertainty of the Yankees' pen, Patterson has as good a chance as anyone.

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Gator Gone?

The NY Daily News is reporting that Larry Bowa and Tony Pena will remain in their current positions should Joe Torre come back as manager. However, it appears that Ron Guidry will get the axe as pitching coach. We can't honestly say whether or not Gator is doing a good job (we are more than amused at some fans reactions who think he is clueless. How do they have any idea?), but it's tough to see because of his link to the past and his love of the Yankees organization. That being said it looks like Dave Eiland would take over as pitching coach and he has done a wonderful job with the Yankees youngsters at the minor league level.

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