RJ Ready to go for Game 3

[knickfan23]

Per Kim Jones on YES pregame


Threw his bullpen today. 41 pitches
Asked if he is the NYY Game 3 starter, Torre responded "Yes".
RJ "cautiously optimistic"
Torre seemed very satisfied
Guidry : "He got through everything mechnanically. Had better command then expected.'
Had a little stiffness, but RJ feels he can pitch with that. No pain reported.
Team will monitor how he feels tomorrow.

[4bronxbombers]

Really? wow. I'm going to be on pins and needles on this one. Thanks for the update.

[keithf1]

I really hope this is the right decision.

[pre73]

I really hope this is the right decision.

Me too... He is a competitor and wants to pitch but I really hope that he is honest regarding the whole situation

[kan_t]

I have ZERO confidence in him. Moose and Wang better win the first two game.

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

I have more confidence in him than any of our other options, so this is good news to me...

[b_joseph]

Good...I hope he is being true to himself though. Health is more important than a game.

[Krall]

I would rather have Karstens on the post-season roster then 'The Big Let down'. I fear a David Wells '03 scenario with Johnson going for us

[flymick24]

honestly, who thought he wouldn't pitch? the guy is a competitor, but as others have said, let's hope he's being honest with himself.

[Boogiedown Bomber]

whoa...talk about a 180 from yesterday. i truly hope he is ready for the playoffs.

[NelsonMuntz]

I have a real bad feeling about this. If he's not healthy he shouldn't be pitching.

[-tz]

Good luck, Randy! Lidle, be ready!

[NelsonMuntz]

I would rather have Karstens on the post-season roster then 'The Big Let down'. I fear a David Wells '03 scenario with Johnson going for us

Or a Randy Johnson '05 Game 3 scenario.

[Matt]

I really hope this isn't David Wells part 2.

[spyglass]

I hope he is not just being a competitor and that he's actually ready to do this. If he can't pitch or is only going to implode, then I would rather take someone else in his place.


ETA: But if he's ready to go and capable of pitching well, then that's good news and I'll take it.

[mitch300]

Good news. Lidle would have pitched in his place so you know if Randy starts off bad Lidle would be called in.

[longtimeyankeefan]

The real answer will occur tomorrow. If RJ is not twisted into a pretzel by his back issues, then the Game 3 start looks good. If he is twisted, look for him to be left off the ALDS roster.

[nnysiny]

terrible news. "cautiously optimistic" sounds like RJ will go out to the mound with no confidence and will get lit up again. this sounds like another bad Torre playoff move

[wardsp]

He has never been our #1 starter, but hes a decent #4, maybe #3. So this is good news as he is slightly better then Cory Lidle.

[montrealer]

Hummmmmm. Need to go 2-0. Not feeling the love for RJ right now.

[Fabien Brandy]

Let's pray this isn't a 2004 game 7 Kevin Brown situation. We all remember how that turned out.

[-tz]

terrible news. "cautiously optimistic" sounds like RJ will go out to the mound with no confidence and will get lit up again. this sounds like another bad Torre playoff move

So he should start Lidle and hope for the best, instead of starting Johnson and hoping for the best ... with Lidle ready to take over as soon as he's needed?

[MatsuiFan55]

I have no confidence in Johnson whatsoever, especially since he'd be pitching on the road in the first round. I honestly hope that he truly is ok and feels he can help the team and won't go out there and get hit like a pinata.

[Davios]

Well, I am certainly mroe encouraged than I was when I first recieved the news of the disc.


Randy Johnson threw 41 pitches in a bullpen session Sunday and appears likely to go in Game 3.

Johnson was only supposed to throw 25 pitches, but he felt good enough to go for his uniform number. "It was surprisingly good," Johnson said. "Everybody was more pleased than I was, so I guess that's a good thing. My only concern is a stiff back." Manager Joe Torre said he was happy with Johnson's session and was confident the Big Unit will pitch against Minnesota or Detroit.

-per rotoworld

[knickfan23]

I really hope this isn't David Wells part 2.

This is not the same thing. We had no clue about Wells until David Delucci found his way into the on deck circle. However, according to Mad Dog, who was at Game 5 doing their show from Miami, Wells' wife told him before the game that he was experiencing back issues. And since he had been pitching as recently as Game 1 of the WS, no one could see it coming

In this case, we know the deal going in. The man is hurt or experiencing some sort of pain. We know he is going to pitch, but we dont know how long. He could go 6 innings, or he could go 2. But at least we know what the deal is and we have planned accordingly just in case. Back in "Game 5 Miami" the Yanks immediately had to go to Contreras for long relief despite the fact he had pitched the day before and the result was disaster.

We have Lidle in reserve specifically for this purpose.

[nhyankeefan]

I think Karstens or Rasner should be added to the roster in the place of Villone at this point. Our bullpen could be toast if RJ's back flares up and the Wright bombs in game 4. I don't think Lidle is enough of a reserve.

[DON'T KNOCK THE ROCK]

I feel confident that RJ will be able to pitch. After all, this is not the first time he's needed a shot of something in his back. I do however feel carrying Villone is a waste of a roster spot as he has been out of gas for well over a month. I'd rather see Rasner on the playoff roster.

[Jeter Kid]

Awesome news. Lidle and friends will be there just in case.

[CallOfTheCrow]

I don't see how you go from a herniated disc to all of a sudden being fit to start let alone start an important game such as this in such short time.

[BroadwayBomber55]

RJ in a LDS start? Bad record + ineffective start = Lucy squeal...

[drjeckyl]

I'm with Jeter....... That's GREAT!!! (that RJs ready for game 3)

[genius-24]

Per Kim Jones on YES pregame


Threw his bullpen today. 41 pitches
Asked if he is the NYY Game 3 starter, Torre responded "Yes".
RJ "cautiously optimistic"
Torre seemed very satisfied
Guidry : "He got through everything mechnanically. Had better command then expected.'
Had a little stiffness, but RJ feels he can pitch with that. No pain reported.
Team will monitor how he feels tomorrow.

Good news. I knew/had felling this was gonna happen. btw thx for updating on playoffs knickfan...keep up the good work

[ymike673]

Randy pitched one of his best games this year in Detroit so if he's healthy this is a plus.

[nnysiny]

so Game 3 is RJ vs. Rogers? i like those odds now

[Chacon]

Luckily the Tigers are throwing Rogers and we know how he is in the post-season from personal expierence

[dabomb2045]

Good thing about this is that RJ doesnt need to be lights out. 5-6 innings, 3-4 runs.

Thats good enough cuz Rogers will get killed like he always does in a big game.

[berriYankee]

Please do not count your chickens before they hatch regarding Kenny Rogers. I hope the yankees hit him well, but one never knows what will happen. This is jinxing the yankees.

In regards to RJ, I do not think that he will be allright for the third game, back stiffness does not sound good at all too me and as much as I hope he pitches and pitches well, I do not think he will pitch well in game 3. I wish that Karstens would be available just in case.

Just me thoughts and observations.

[genius-24]

Please do not count your chickens before they hatch regarding Kenny Rogers. I hope the yankees hit him well, but one never knows what will happen. This is jinxing the yankees.

In regards to RJ, I do not think that he will be allright for the third game, back stiffness does not sound good at all too me and as much as I hope he pitches and pitches well, I do not think he will pitch well in game 3. I wish that Karstens would be available just in case.

Just me thoughts and observations.

I think your being little too much pessimistic. We own detroit. It will be them who will be scared. Kenny hasn't done good lately and there are no jinx in postseason. Everything u see is real. Now regarding RJ, to me he is a warrior out there when he is fighting against his injuries and against his age. He will be fine.

[In Mo I Trust]

Not feeling very confident in RJ, Torre better have a quick hook.

[SheffRocks11]

I have more confidence in him than any of our other options, so this is good news to me...

same here... I hope he doesn't hurt himself though.

[JDPNYY]

Thanks Randy.

[Sam18]

Eh nothing's really changed. We're still throwing a bad pitcher out there.

[yanksphan]

I think Randy gets it done.

7IP, 2ER, 6K, 0BB, W

[PittsburghYankeeFan]

RJ's MO for the past five or so games is to pitch a perfect game until the 4th to 6th inning, then collapse (likely due to back stiffness). Now that we have Lidle in long relief, with the lineups we're facing, he can be pulled.

I am much more concerned about Villone and Farnsworth. Bruney will be OK, as will Proctor. Myers will do his thing as well, and Mo is Mo, likely for a lot of 2 inning saves if needed, given his amount of rest.

Hate to say it, but its not RJ, its Villone and Farnsworth that have me hoping for a lot of big 7th innings for the Yankees in the playoffs.

[Won Gien Ming]

I sure hope Randy feels better by the time he's gotta pitch. If he's hurting that day and pitches like crap that day, we gotta take him out asap or it may get ugly for us.

[obsessedyankeefan]

I hope RJ is truly ok and is not just trying to be a hero because it's the postseason. If I'm Torre I would clutch a very short leash and have Lidle ready to go at the first sign of a problem.

[RollingWave]

Steve from WASWATCHING sumed it up well.

He's either going to be this year's Curt Schillin or Kevin Brown...

let's hope it's not the later..

[Annie418]

Rest easy everyone. A good outing is in the stars for RJ .

http://astrology.yahoo.com/astrology...virgo/20061006

Daily Career for October 06, 2006
Provided by Astrology.com	Weekly Career

You are feeling especially vigorous and energetic right now. You might be able to pull off an extra shift or some other, equally impressive stunt if the situation calls for it. You'll make a good impression.

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[NYYRocket]

Great another worry for me this playoff season

[Pinstripedbass]

Per Kim Jones on YES pregame


Threw his bullpen today. 41 pitches
Asked if he is the NYY Game 3 starter, Torre responded "Yes".
RJ "cautiously optimistic"
Torre seemed very satisfied
Guidry : "He got through everything mechnanically. Had better command then expected.'
Had a little stiffness, but RJ feels he can pitch with that. No pain reported.
Team will monitor how he feels tomorrow.

Oy Vey! Unit's gonna pitch Gm. 3? ALL HANDS ON DECK!!!

Why do I get the feeling his line at the end of that night will read:

5IP, 5R, 8H, 3K, 2BB with 3 of those hits being HRs?

Seriously, I wish I could be more optimistic about him. He's still a better option than Lidle. And the thought of Jaret Wright pitching Gm. 4 already has my stomach upset. Better keep the Pepcid nearby.