Post by johnnyyankee on Aug 12, 2006 11:52:31 GMT -5
:DWe have got to stop throwing games away. The last 4 or 5 games have had our hearts thumping more than normal. Even the Randy near no-no, turned out to be a nail biter. No reasons why we had to struggle with a 7 run lead, but it happened. Last night we had our chances and again did not execute. Let us hope that Wright pitches as well as he did the last time and that Escobar doesn't do a number on us.
NEW YORK -- Last year, Jaret Wright's and Kelvim Escobar's highlights consisted of successful rehabilitation starts and joyous returns from the disabled list.
So it came as no surprise that both were at or near the bottom of their teams' rotations entering this season.
But as the Yankees and Angels make their postseason pushes, it's the two pitchers' recent consistency that has made them more than just cheerleaders on the bench. They aren't the most dominant pitchers in the game, but they have grinded their way to becoming key cogs in their teams' rotations.
So when the two face each other in Saturday's FOX Game of the Week, they will look to prove that not only do their teams deserve a spot in the postseason, but that they deserve to be a part of the playoffs if they do.
The Yankees enter the four-game series with a three-game lead over the Red Sox in the American League East, and the Angels are 3 1/2 games behind Oakland in the wild, wild West.
While these two teams haven't faced each other since early April, they have a knack for delivering tightly-contested games down the stretch. Last year, they faced each other seven times in 11 days in late July, with the Angels winning four. They met again in the American League Division Series, with the Angels taking the matchup in five games.
"Every team in the AL East, every team in the AL, they're all tough," Wright said. "I just try to do what I do and adjust to them."
Wright has adjusted well this season. After missing more than half of last year with a right shoulder strain, Wright has been a fairly consistent arm in the shaky back end of the Yankees' rotation. He has an 8-6 record and 4.38 ERA and hasn't walked more than four batters in any start this season.
Wright is coming off two of his best starts this year. He allowed one run on five hits in five innings to beat Toronto on Aug. 1, logging more than 100 pitches for the first time this season. He then threw 95 pitches in six innings, surrendering just one run against Baltimore on Sunday.
He still hasn't pitched more than six innings this season, often due to a high pitch count, but the Yankees haven't asked him to. All they've asked is for consistency. Armed with a slider and curveball that he's developed better control with under Mike Mussina's guidance, Wright has delivered.
"I'm on the right track, so I want to stay there," Wright said. "The stuff I've had in the past few games, I'll take that any time."
Escobar made three trips to the disabled list in 2005 and had surgery on his right elbow to shave a bone spur and remove bone chips. He returned early enough to work his way into the bullpen and was the winning pitcher in Game 2 of last year's ALDS win over the Yankees.
Escobar notched his first win of the 2006 season in Yankee Stadium, going six innings while allowing one earned run and six hits. But even then, he couldn't truly enjoy it, as he split a nail in the third inning.
"I am very happy to be back in the rotation; I feel pretty good," Escobar said after the start. "I'm going to do everything to stay healthy."
For the most part, Escobar has managed to ward off the injury bug. He went on the 15-day disabled list July 14 for precautionary reasons after doctors found tendinitis in his right elbow. But Escobar was back on the mound July 22 and he's been pitching like he's never felt an ounce of pain in his life.
Escobar has won his past two decisions and hasn't lost since June 25. He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any start since then and has a 2.77 ERA during that time. Throwing 108 pitches, Escobar held the White Sox to two runs in six innings in his last outing to pick up win No. 8 of the season.
"He pitched a heck of a game," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said after the game. "He had a lot of pitches to get where he was, but these guys are patient hitters. ... He had good stuff."
Now it's Escobar who is picking up the slack for other injured Angles starters. Injuries to Bartolo Colon and, as of Thursday, Ervin Santana, have forced Escobar into the spotlight.
But a little extra attention from fans, instead of doctors, is something both he and Wright will gladly take, especially now that their teams are counting on them.
Ryan Mink is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!
NEW YORK -- Last year, Jaret Wright's and Kelvim Escobar's highlights consisted of successful rehabilitation starts and joyous returns from the disabled list.
So it came as no surprise that both were at or near the bottom of their teams' rotations entering this season.
But as the Yankees and Angels make their postseason pushes, it's the two pitchers' recent consistency that has made them more than just cheerleaders on the bench. They aren't the most dominant pitchers in the game, but they have grinded their way to becoming key cogs in their teams' rotations.
So when the two face each other in Saturday's FOX Game of the Week, they will look to prove that not only do their teams deserve a spot in the postseason, but that they deserve to be a part of the playoffs if they do.
The Yankees enter the four-game series with a three-game lead over the Red Sox in the American League East, and the Angels are 3 1/2 games behind Oakland in the wild, wild West.
While these two teams haven't faced each other since early April, they have a knack for delivering tightly-contested games down the stretch. Last year, they faced each other seven times in 11 days in late July, with the Angels winning four. They met again in the American League Division Series, with the Angels taking the matchup in five games.
"Every team in the AL East, every team in the AL, they're all tough," Wright said. "I just try to do what I do and adjust to them."
Wright has adjusted well this season. After missing more than half of last year with a right shoulder strain, Wright has been a fairly consistent arm in the shaky back end of the Yankees' rotation. He has an 8-6 record and 4.38 ERA and hasn't walked more than four batters in any start this season.
Wright is coming off two of his best starts this year. He allowed one run on five hits in five innings to beat Toronto on Aug. 1, logging more than 100 pitches for the first time this season. He then threw 95 pitches in six innings, surrendering just one run against Baltimore on Sunday.
He still hasn't pitched more than six innings this season, often due to a high pitch count, but the Yankees haven't asked him to. All they've asked is for consistency. Armed with a slider and curveball that he's developed better control with under Mike Mussina's guidance, Wright has delivered.
"I'm on the right track, so I want to stay there," Wright said. "The stuff I've had in the past few games, I'll take that any time."
Escobar made three trips to the disabled list in 2005 and had surgery on his right elbow to shave a bone spur and remove bone chips. He returned early enough to work his way into the bullpen and was the winning pitcher in Game 2 of last year's ALDS win over the Yankees.
Escobar notched his first win of the 2006 season in Yankee Stadium, going six innings while allowing one earned run and six hits. But even then, he couldn't truly enjoy it, as he split a nail in the third inning.
"I am very happy to be back in the rotation; I feel pretty good," Escobar said after the start. "I'm going to do everything to stay healthy."
For the most part, Escobar has managed to ward off the injury bug. He went on the 15-day disabled list July 14 for precautionary reasons after doctors found tendinitis in his right elbow. But Escobar was back on the mound July 22 and he's been pitching like he's never felt an ounce of pain in his life.
Escobar has won his past two decisions and hasn't lost since June 25. He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any start since then and has a 2.77 ERA during that time. Throwing 108 pitches, Escobar held the White Sox to two runs in six innings in his last outing to pick up win No. 8 of the season.
"He pitched a heck of a game," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said after the game. "He had a lot of pitches to get where he was, but these guys are patient hitters. ... He had good stuff."
Now it's Escobar who is picking up the slack for other injured Angles starters. Injuries to Bartolo Colon and, as of Thursday, Ervin Santana, have forced Escobar into the spotlight.
But a little extra attention from fans, instead of doctors, is something both he and Wright will gladly take, especially now that their teams are counting on them.
Ryan Mink is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!