Game 80. Yanks win in 12, 6-5, lose Wang.

By: Mike Sommer

Picking up where I left off in the previous post, the Yanks led 3-2 after five and Wang didn’t look bad. I left for a picnic, turn on the car radio, and …

Wang gets an out but gives up a double and a HR to give Toronto a 4-3 lead. Wily old vet Jorge Posada doesn’t miss anything and calls out Girardi and the trainer. Wang is out of there and goes for an MRI. It looks like shoulder bursitis, the DL and maybe a month. 

What a terrible year (outside of the birth of his child) this has been for Wang.

So who may replace him? Forget Hughes and Aceves. Both aren’t stretched out and both are needed in the bullpen at present. Wang’s ERA was 9.64, so I wouldn’t panic too much on losing Wang and going to SWB. Granted the pitchers at SWB are retreads (Mitre, Igawa, Fossum, Towers) but hopefully a retread is better than 9.64.

Looking at SWB, Josh “the Truth” texted me that it could be Igawa. Ugh. He is 6-3, 3.80 at SWB. Pete Abraham suggested Sergio Mitre, 2-1, 3.26 in five starts at SWB. Nice 23 to 3 K to walk ratio there. Josh Towers is 3-5, 4.45. Casey Fossum 3-3, 2.92. George Kontos is 3-4, 3.35 but I think they would go for one with experience, meaning one of the other four. It’s too bad what happened with Ian Kennedy. It would be a good spot for him, or for the rehabbing Jason Johnson (shoulder, now with AA). Most likely Igawa (ugh), Mitre, Towers or Fossum, with Fossum and Mitre showing the best numbers.

Robertson came in and gave up a run. 2 walks. I like Robertson, but he has to cut down on the walks. Bruney pitched a scoreless 7th, but got in and out of trouble himself. 2 hits and a walk.

Damon tied it in the bottom of the7th with a 2-run HR. 16 in half a season, 49 RBI. Who’d have thought? JD a 30/100 guy? So it stayed. Hughes was great again. The new 8th inning guy? Mo went the 9th. Two scoreless for Coke (great lately) and Tomko pitched the 12th.

In the bottom of the 12th, Posada singled in the game-winner. With Boston’s loss, the Yanks are just 1 game out (and that 0-8 vs. Boston hurts).

BTW, the calls for Cano to be dropped in the lineup MUST reach Girardi’s ears. Pete Abe has been on it for a while and I agree (see my proposed lineup with Swisher 2nd (he walks a lot and would see fastballs batting in front of Teix and with Jeter on) and the 16 HR 49 RBI Damon 5th… radical, but hey… Damon 5th right now doesn’t look so bad, does it? I mean, 16/49 in half a year?)  Cano at 5 has been brutal. Girardi, WAKE UP! Cano was 0 for 6 today. 10 men LOB. Drop Cano. Please. His RISP numbers are not good.

Still, great to get a win on a day when Halladay started against you.

Tragic news from the NFL. Recently retired QB Steve McNair was found shot to death in Tennessee. Gunshot wound to the head. A woman was found dead along with the ex-Titan and Raven star. An investigation has begun.    

 

 

    

Sommer Frieze is a blog dedicated (mainly) to the Yankees. I'll touch on other things as well and the blog (as much as possible) will not only have Yankees news but also follow the Yanks' farm teams. Come visit at Sommer Frieze.

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