4.10.07 - NYY @ MIN: All Pregame Info & Discussion

[TheBamTino24]

For the first time in roughly 2 years, Carl Pavano resembled the pitcher the New York Yankees assumed they were signing in December of 2004. Pavano was absolutely brilliant over 7 IP, allowing just 6 hits, 2 ER, 2 K, and did not walk a batter. What's more, Pavano threw just 79 pitches in those 7 innings, a great barometer to how effective he actually was.

And given the circumstances Pavano was facing given the first run through the Yankee rotation, this was a considerably big start.

Brian Bruney and Kyle Farnsworth each got an inning of scoreless/hitless work in to close the game as they extendeded the 2007 bullpen's dominance thus far.

Tonight, NYY sends Andy Pettitte (0-0, 3.60) to the mound - in hopes of continuing a new streak started by Pavano - against Boof Bonser (0-0, 3.00) of Minnesota.

Bonser has faced just 1 Yankee player, Doug Mientiewicz, who is 1/2 off of him.

Pettitte vs. MIN:

HITTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Jeff Cirillo	34	17	1	1	2	5	5	3	.500	.564	.765	1.329
Torii Hunter	20	5	1	0	0	6	1	8	.250	.261	.300	.561
Jason Tyner	19	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	.158	.158	.158	.316
Luis Castillo	9	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	.222	.222	.222	.444
Rondell White	6	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	.333	.333	.500	.833
Michael Cuddyer	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.200	.200	.200	.400
Mike Redmond	1	1	0	0	0	1	2	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000
Totals	94	31	3	1	2	12	8	16	.330	.375	.447	.822

[BRNXBMRS]

I cant believe Jeff Cirillo is still in the league, Lets go Andy!

[dont_ya_know24]

let's go yankees!

[TheYankee]

Well I'm gonna miss most of this one thanks to an inturmural softball game I believe. Pull us all through guys...

[EvanJ]

Lucky for Pettitte, Cirillo went on the disabled list and will have arthroscopic surgery.

[destiNY]

I expect a much more stronger Pettitte today...

[BHawe]

I am hoping for another EFFICIENT start tonight... that is all I want - well that and a win!

[trapper700]

I am hoping for another EFFICIENT start tonight... that is all I want - well that and a win!

same here, lol
we need some vintage pettitte

[JeffWeaverFan]

Like Pavano, we need 7 (strong) innings from Pettitte tonight.

[Ducky]

I expect a much more stronger Pettitte today...

I agree. He needs a good game tonight. I also like the way he seems to be mentoring Pavano. He is a great presence in the clubhouse.

[spyglass]

Like Pavano, we need 7 (strong) innings from Pettitte tonight.

I agree. I think if anyone, Pettitte will step up.

[TheYankee]

Andy looked strong in the single inning of relief work... let's hope he can take that into today. This offense simply makes me think we can be in any game, but we do need continued starter resiliance. Kudos to Pavano for being the first to step up.

[BostonYankeeBoy]

Let's go Andy. Let's hope this team can get on a roll for this roadtrip.

[PYanks]

The heat in MIN really helped. Pavano set the bar for the starters, and was quite efficient. Pettitte looked fine in his inning of relief work, and perhaps that's just what he needed coming out of a spring training in which he didn't get all the work he needed. What is Pettitte lifetime in the dome? Melky needs to get going, but otherwise, the offense is doing well. Doug Mientkevicz had some good plays at 1B last night!

[dont_ya_know24]

let's build off of yesterday.

[4bronxbombers]

Damn....I'm gonna miss this.

[yankeesnumber1]

I can see Andy having a nice start and giving the pen a rest again. I would also like to see Bruney not pitch everyday...hahaha

[LeapsNbounds]

Doug Mientkevicz had some good plays at 1B last night!

This is a fine point, Dougie has looked a bit better at the plate than phelps and his defense is FAR superior.

I think he should be in the lineup more often than not. If he can hit .250-.280 in the 8-9 hole and continue the incredible defense, phelps might be shown the door.

[groovitude]

This is a fine point, Dougie has looked a bit better at the plate than phelps and his defense is FAR superior.

I think he should be in the lineup more often than not. If he can hit .250-.280 in the 8-9 hole and continue the incredible defense, phelps might be shown the door.

It looks to me like Phelps is very impatient and is constantly swinging for the fences. I agree; if Minky can hold up his D, Phelps might be back to Baltimo'.

[EvanJ]

What is Pettitte lifetime in the dome?

http://www.baseballmusings.com/cgi-b...8&PlayerID=840

[GIAMBISMYIDOL25]

lets not forget pettitte pitched an inning in relief on wednesday i think, i am confident he will step up but i wouldnt be shocked if he ran out of gas in the 5th/6th

[SoCal Pinstriper]

Hoping the Yankees can shake off the fog that sometimes blankets the bats against a starter that they are seeing for the first time.

We need to do our damage against Bonser. The Twins pen is tough on paper.

[Pickwick12]

lets not forget pettitte pitched an inning in relief on wednesday i think, i am confident he will step up but i wouldnt be shocked if he ran out of gas in the 5th/6th

Yes, but he only threw 13 pitches and cancelled his throwing session, so it's not like he got more work than he normally would in a day.

I have a jersey covering my bedroom mirror. It's a signed Pettitte jersey that says, "Andy Pettitte 4x Champs." I hope he pitches like it tonight.

[TheBamTino24]

Some interesting points made by Peter Abraham today regarding Bobby Abreu's impact on Alex Rodriguez:

So what’s changed? The addition of Bobby Abreu to the lineup. Having the ultra-patient Abreu in the lineup, usually in front of Rodriguez, has helped him see better pitches. Abreu has a .422 OBP as a Yankee.

Rodriguez talked about it last night, saying what a difference it takes.

Read it all at: http://yankees.lohudblogs.com/2007/0...u-helps-a-rod/

[PYanks]

http://www.baseballmusings.com/cgi-b...8&PlayerID=840

Thanks! That's an interesting website. He does fairly well at the Dome. Let's see if that can continue.

[Spiker101]

Some interesting points made by Peter Abraham today regarding Bobby Abreu's impact on Alex Rodriguez:



Read it all at: http://yankees.lohudblogs.com/2007/0...u-helps-a-rod/

This is sheer nonsense. ARod mostly hit behind Giambi last season and Giambi is not appreciatively less patient than Abreu. In fact, Abreu if I remember right was first in pitches taken and Giambi was third. Besides, people have studied the hell out of this issue of whether hitting in front or behind certain players makes a difference. There's no evidence it does.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out why ARod is hitting well right now. He's relaxed and balanced at the plate, while last year there were long periods when he was lunging and parrying like a fencing master.

[Tabata Road]

*insert boof related joke*

[Spiker101]

Thanks! That's an interesting website. He does fairly well at the Dome. Let's see if that can continue.

Other than Hunter is there a single player on the Twins now who played the last time Pettitte pitched at the Metrodome?

[PYanks]

BTW: The Yankees faced Bonser in a spring game during the last week of spring training. In it, "Twins starter Boof Bonser gave up two runs and four hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two."

Recap of the game at: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270327109
Box score at: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=270327109

Yankees lost that game in the bottom of the ninth. Interestingly, Cano, Abreu, and Phelps each had two hits in the game, and Melky had one. Hard to tell who they came off of.

[PYanks]

Other than Hunter is there a single player on the Twins now who played the last time Pettitte pitched at the Metrodome?

Good point.

[YankeeStripes]

I am predicting a great game from pettitte tonight. He has been pitching in Houston, he wasnt used to that 30 degree stuff last time....72 degrees will suit him much better.

[Brooklyn Yankee Fan]

I expect a much more stronger Pettitte today...

Agreed. I think for Pettitte, and even for the starters for the rest of the series, will have a better performance. The fact that we are inside a dome, which brings warmth, will be a boost to the starters. It helped Pavano last night, didn't it

Tonight should be a good game. I hope the offense and defense plays just as well as last night.

[Toaderly]

Damn....I'm gonna miss this.

Ditto that - unless, someone comes up with some magic digits.

[TheBamTino24]

Tonight's Lineup:

YANKEES
Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi DH
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Doug Mientkiewicz 1B
Melky Cabrera LF

Andy Pettitte LHP

http://yankees.lohudblogs.com/

[ajra21]

all i want is 7 innings from pettite. good defense. and melky to draw a walk or get a hit.

[destelle]

Just like my wish from yesterday (which was granted - yea!)...
Hoping for a quality start from Pettitte, good defense, relaxed players, Yankee Win....
The boys looked great as a whole yesterday ... want it to continue.

[ajra21]

Just like my wish from yesterday (which was granted - yea!)...
Hoping for a quality start from Pettitte, good defense, relaxed players, Yankee Win....
The boys looked great as a whole yesterday ... want it to continue.

all i asked for was pavano to go 7 and to get good defense ... looks like we got it.

gonna keep making these wishes.

[TheBamTino24]

All I ask that the Yankees do not allow Boof Bonser look like Roger Clemens. We had so much trouble with unproven/unseen youngsters in 2006.

[JeffWeaverFan]

all i want is 7 innings from pettite. good defense. and melky to draw a walk or get a hit.

Add on a win to that too and you've got what I want.

[YankeePride1967]

If we can get 7 innings from Pettitte and at least 6 from Mussina tomorrow, with the day off on Thursday our pen should be fine. It shouldn't be that bad now, but it would be good to put an end to the inept streak now before it does become an issue.

[BillBuckner]

I think, like last night, the 70 degree temperature will make a world of difference for Andy.

[EvanJ]

Minnesota's lineup is the same as yesterday except Josh Rabe is batting seventh instead of Jason Kubel.

[texasyankee]

Didnt Boof Bonser pitch a good game against us last season? Other than his odd name, he definitely sends up red flags.......

[YanksForLife]

Didnt Boof Bonser pitch a good game against us last season? Other than his odd name, he definitely sends up red flags.......

M-z is the only Yankee with an AB against Bonser, so no.