by Brian on June 14, 2008 at 2:46AM
Well, if anyone out there was confident that Kyle Farnsworth would hold a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth, please raise your hand. That's what it came down to for the Yanks tonight in Houston, Joba went six strong (more on this later), Veras dominated for the 7th and 8th, and then Farnsworthless came in and held the lead. Unbelievable.
The Yankee offense, what there was of it, was provided by a two-out RBI single from A-Rod in the first and a solo shot from Jeter in the 8th. Otherwise, Shawn Chacon and a host of relievers blanked the Yanks, which is kind of pitiful.
Anyway, back to Joba. If you had never seen Joba pitch before, and you caught the game tonight, you'd probably say something like, "What's all the hype about?" It was one of those days for the big kid, he couldn't get his slider over, he couldn't spot his fastball, he completely abandoned his curve, his change was non-existent and he was having trouble putting away just about everyone.
Now, if you're like all of us, you know what Joba's stuff usually looks like, you saw him pitch tonight, and you realize that he held a tough lineup to 1 run on 6 hits in 6 innings without anything close to his best stuff, well, then you have to be excited. Games like this were my main concern with Joba as a starter. How would he reacted when he didn't have it? Could he find a way to get batters out when the slider wasn't sharp, or he didn't have his usual pinpoint control? For tonight, at least, the answer was a resounding yes.
Here's Joba's pitch breakdown, inning by inning. Notice how he finished the game throwing nothing but fastballs.
1st Inning (6 total)
Player of The Game: Jose Veras
Team Record: 35-33
Damon: Pending.
The Yankee offense, what there was of it, was provided by a two-out RBI single from A-Rod in the first and a solo shot from Jeter in the 8th. Otherwise, Shawn Chacon and a host of relievers blanked the Yanks, which is kind of pitiful.
Anyway, back to Joba. If you had never seen Joba pitch before, and you caught the game tonight, you'd probably say something like, "What's all the hype about?" It was one of those days for the big kid, he couldn't get his slider over, he couldn't spot his fastball, he completely abandoned his curve, his change was non-existent and he was having trouble putting away just about everyone.
Now, if you're like all of us, you know what Joba's stuff usually looks like, you saw him pitch tonight, and you realize that he held a tough lineup to 1 run on 6 hits in 6 innings without anything close to his best stuff, well, then you have to be excited. Games like this were my main concern with Joba as a starter. How would he reacted when he didn't have it? Could he find a way to get batters out when the slider wasn't sharp, or he didn't have his usual pinpoint control? For tonight, at least, the answer was a resounding yes.
Here's Joba's pitch breakdown, inning by inning. Notice how he finished the game throwing nothing but fastballs.
1st Inning (6 total)
- 5 fastballs
- 1 change
- 8 fastballs
- 1 curve
- 4 sliders
- 7 fastballs
- 1 curve
- 8 sliders
- 20 fastballs
- 4 sliders
- 10 fastballs
- 1 curve
- 3 sliders
- 2 changes
- 14 fastballs
Player of The Game: Jose Veras
Team Record: 35-33
Damon: Pending.
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girardi made the best move of his coaching career today..that was pitching veras 7 and 8 i guarantee there is no one in our pen beides mo who could have retired tejada berkman and lee in the 8th if edwar or farnsworth piches that inning its game over yanks lose so for that i give joe a gold star.. so im willing to overlook cano batting second ... by the way posada better throw some guys out at second or he will have no spot on the team every walk /single by the stros was converted into a double .. overall great game and a miracle win without mo tonight theres not one yankee fan alive who didnt think the stros were tying the game when wiggy walked to lead off the 9th after an 0-2 count .. good job kyle