Aug. 1, 2006: N.Y. Yankees 5, Toronto 1
Looking at the box score, this looks like an easy win. It wasn't. Somehow, it never is when Wright is on the mound. His line looks good, but it doesn't show how hard he labored to get it. He threw over a hundred pitches in five innings. He'd get two strikes, then be unable to put 'em away. He came within a couple of feet of giving up a grand slam.
And it seems like Wright is always like that. He always seems to be struggling, and whether he pitches five quality innings or gets lit up and driven from the game after two innings is mostly luck.
Bubba did not get in the game last night, on offense or defense. Though I did see him on the field at the end of the game, congratulating his teammates on the win.
The Newsday Yankees blog, On the Yankees Beat, reports that the Yankees don't feel comfortable with only 11 pitchers. They will likely go back up to 12 in a couple of weeks, which means DFA'ing either Andy Phillips or Bubba. They're asking which one you'd keep. You know my answer!
And I honestly think Bubba would be more useful to the team. Craig Wilson plays 1B as well as Andy, and hits better. We still have Cairo and Giambi as additional backups. True, Andy can play 3B and 2B, too - but not very well. While Cairo plays them quite well.
The only other backup CFer we have is Bernie, and he really shouldn't be in the field any more. Bubba is the best CFer we have, at least defensively. Plus he's got speed and can pinch run. Given how often Damon is injured, I'd really like to have a better CF backup than GOB.
I don't know if Joe will see it this way, though.
Craig Wilson originally came up as a catcher. He's our third catcher now. I wonder if we can make him our second catcher, keep both Bubba and Andy, and DFA Sal Fasano?
Hey, I can dream, can't I?
