Yesterday was the Clippers last game, so there should be some more arms coming up. Steve White did have a no hitter going into the 6th, but that was only because the Mudhens were hacking at bad pitches and not working the count.

Steve, I just had to needle you a bit, all in jest.

Villone said his problem is mechanical, that Guidry picked this up, and they’re working on it.

I suspect that Dotel, though warming up along with Proctor, was sat down once the game was tied. And Proctor kept warming. That after they got a big lead Dotel could not re-warm up, which is why no Dotel in the ninth.

Torre warming Proctor as the game was tied was wholly proper and so was sitting Dotel (if Dotel could even get loose) once they had a 7-5 lead. How could Torre know it would then become a blowout? Once Proctor was fully warmed you might just as well use him.

Yes, Proctor should have been rested last night, but he was fine, and has been getting rest lately.

Vilone…well he may just be going back to career norms. I agree that he needs more rest, but for the past week and a half or so, he has been used, but he was far away from over use (I agree his overall August was too much though). And yet, he still wasn’t doing well.

I think people are too quick to blame Torre for anything wrong with a player.

Dotel – Why is he even here? If Torre is not going to put him to good work. He has the stuff to be more than an inning eater and Torre is flaking on not using him.

AROD – From what I can see, he got a hit, he got a walk. Most Yankees were somewhat off balance today. Maybe it was the travelling. Let’s see what he does tonight.

Proctor – REST the poor kid. God, this is Quantrill all over again. His arm will fall off and he will be worthless in the playoffs. WORTHLESS I tell you, WORTHLESS…

I agree with you about giving Villone some rest down the line. For what it’s worth, in the Post Game Torre said Villone’s woes are mechanical.

Peter Abraham of The Journal News suspects Dotel is hurting.

“If Villone is going back to his normal numbers then you can’t attribute it to Torre’s constant usage, he’s only pitching as he always has.”

I’ll give you that, Villone has been a decent bullpen guy (3.52 ERA, 128 IP, 122 Ks, .218 BA Against… thanks NoMaas) and maybe his numbers are coming back to normal because of how baseball is, but I do think that Villone needs some rest, especially since the Yankees will need him and Proctor down the stretch… and as bailey and Steve have mentioned, we do have Dotel for a reason… right?

Luke Hudson isn’t a journeyman. Though that’s what all the papers in New York seem to think (tabloid rags aren’t big on research). He’s 29 and he’s only been with two organizations. And his numbers are ugly because he spent a lot of time in the bullpen.

Once he was put in the starting rotation, he pitched some good games against good teams (including Boston, Toronto, Texas, Chicago and the Twins). His ERA is bloated because of one truly horrendous appearance where he gave up 10 ER in 0.1 innings pitched (that will kill anyone’s ERA; so in truth his ERA is more around 4, which is respectable in the AL).

Also, he has some nasty stuff. Damon is one of the best contact hitters around, and he couldn’t touch this guy. This team does tend to strike out a lot, but if I was the Reds right now, I would be kicking myself for letting Luke Hudson go.

Torre is blundering once again, in my opinion. With a nine-game lead, why is he still running Villone out there every night when it’s clear the guy needs a break? Just sit him for three days! There are plenty of warm bodies out there. And, as Steve noted, it’s time to get Dotel in a game. If Torre’s “saving” him for important situations, then he’s nuts — because Dotel has only pitched about four innings since coming back. He has to get into shape. And he can’t do it warming up in the bullpen.

Proctor pitching last night was semi-justified because he had been warming, but isn’t it obvious that Giambi is either more hurt than he’s letting on or in a bottomless funk? All this is doing is shrinking his BA to the .240s. Give him some time off. Especially since he’s going to be playing a lot of first come playoff time (with Matsui back).

Wang got screwed in the sixth inning. Robbie can’t field the double play, then the phantom “slide-tag” — it was a major screwjob and it probably cost Wang a win.

And sorry A-Rod lovers — I dig the guy and all, and we need him, but ya boy still can’t hit a fastball.

Before I get killed today, FWIW, the A-Rod comment was tongue-in-cheek.

If Villone is going back to his normal numbers then you can’t attribute it to Torre’s constant usage, he’s only pitching as he always has.

“As his stats prove, Villone is going back to his normal career numbers (4.69), and much can be attributed to Torre’s constant usage of him… “

Lastly, so, A-Rod whiffed half of the time he was up in this game. Does that mean the comeback is over?
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I wouldn’t say that… however, if Posada didn’t hit that HR and if the 10-run inning never happened, some people would speak about A-Rod having a meaningless single, instead of a rally-inducing single, and an useless walk, instead of a rally-continuing walk… it’s crazy how a victory covers a lot of blemishes…

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If Dotel cannot pitch in that spot – then he should not be on the team.
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I completely agree with you, why not use Dotel, instead of using Proctor (which continues his climb to 100 innings pitched)? If Mariano’s injury serves Torre right, continuing to use Proctor and Villone normally throughout the rest of the year WILL hurt Torre more down the line…

As his stats prove, Villone is going back to his normal career numbers (4.69), and much can be attributed to Torre’s constant usage of him… if Torre doesn’t get Villone and Proctor rest, it’ll bite him in the ass later, maybe in the postseason…