Yankees In Talks To Bolster Pen, Sign London 2012 Olympics Mascots

Wenlock and Mandeville will be introduced tomorrow.

Torre Reveals Love For Derek Lowe, Provides Tips For Managing Pitching Staff

In an ESPN article whose headline has the potential to definitely grab your attention, Joe Torre opens up about D-Lowe, love, and how to manage a pitching staff:

"I love Derek Lowe," Torre said. "With him, it's just 'Give me the ball and leave me out there until you think I'm tired.'"

Words to live by, Joe Girardi.

Today's Yankee Call To The Bullpen Brought To You By...

Henn Party

Four hour rain delay. Eleven innings of ball. And once again it all comes down to The Henn.

To Answer Your Question, Alphonso, Sean Henn Is Still With The Team

But Joba got his day off. So that's good.

Previously: Questions From Alphonso

Eric Gagné A Yanké?

That's what they're saying at Pending Pinstripes.

Proctor & Gamble: Some Stats about Scott Proctor

Hate to say it, but... according to baseball-reference.com

SCOTT DOESN’T CLIMB UP OUT OF A HOLE. Twelve times this year he has thrown a 3-0 pitch. All 12 times, it was ball four. Lifetime, he's 35 out of 36.

SCOTT FLUBS THE MONEY PITCH: He's faced 15 batters this year with a 3-2 count. Twelve of them walked. Two struck out. One hit a home run. Lifetime, on a full count, one in 10 hits a home run, and twice as many walk as strike out.

IN CLOSE GAMES, SCOTT MELTS: When the game is tied or within one run, opposing batters hit their highest against him (.354), record their highest on-base percentage (.438) against him, and also their highest slugging percentage (.631) against him. He is at his worst.

So why does Joe save him for those moments?

Proctor Suks So Much Balls: Edwar's MySpace Page

Edwar at MySpace [Link]

Back to Mexico

Our man of the hour, Edwar Ramirez, gave credibility to his past tonight. He has not thrown a strike in anger since his opening 3K debut. He did groove one for Dioner no power, the Tampa catcher, who promptly planted a grand slam in the seats. The first of his life.

The coaching staff, beginning with Mr. Torre, must have forgotten about this young man on more levels than one since his early July debut, for it is clear that he has not eaten in the 3 weeks he has been a Yankee. He was blown toward first base as he brought up his leg in preparation for delivering a ball ( and the ball ) to the plate. Even the reference to an eating surface is distracting to him. I think he threw 27 straight balls.

I have sent him a Greyhound ticket ( only 32 stops ) to Nogales where, on every Tuesday morning, a bus wil leave for the southern desert town of Slingalos, Mexico. The prarie league there remains independent and is open to all those of great heart. Tacos are good and a string band plays at Sunday games. The fan base is sparse, particularly at bean picking time, but they love baseball and regard anyone from the major leagues as a local hero.

Keep up your spirits, Edwar. You made the big time.

Adios and carumba.

Ask Kyle Farnsworth

Q. Kyle, a reader from Syracuse asks--

A. Have you ever pitched out there before? If you think you can do any better, then I'll give you my cleats, my glove and my uniform, and see what you can do. All right? Any more questions? Are we done?

Ask Joe Torre

Q. Do you still have confidence in Kyle Farnsworth?

A. Farnsie's still our eighth-inning guy. No question, he’s very important for us. I favor experience. I'm more comfortable with experienced players. He has the most experience doing what he does for the eighth and the ninth; he was a closer, too. I'd have to see something really bad from him where he was very inconsistent, and I haven't seen that. Plus, he's white. That's huge for us.

Literary Corner

"Ode to the 'Pen"

Farnsworth, Myers, Proctor: O, doctor.
How low can our spirits go?
We’re leading by nine in the last of the sixth.
And we’ll probably have to use Mo.

Farnsworth, Myers, Proctor, O, doctor.
Somebody pass me the Draino.
Our nine-run lead is now down to two.
And, O, God! Here comes Vizcaino.

Joe Torre's Diaries to be Auctioned

EXCERPT:

April 12: Bullpen hurting. Pitched Proctor two innings. Solid.

April 13: Worried about Proctor. Says shoulder hurts. Pitched Proctor one inning. Solid.

April 14: Proctor unable to lift arm. Pitched Proctor two innings. Three runs.

April 15: Proctor unable to stand. Pitched Proctor one inning. Four runs.

April 16: Pitched Farnworth. Four runs. Pitched Vizciano. Three runs. Pitched Proctor. Two runs.

April 17: Gotta rest Farnsworth. Not sure what to do. Pitched Proctor. Two runs.

Update: Ron's empty pants peak at $28.99

Ron Villone's baseball pants, worn during his formative days with the 2002 Pittsburgh Pirates, sold for $28.99 Sunday night on eBay.

Congratulations, Ron. That's two cases of Old Milwaukee!

What's next? Old jockstrap for pack of Winstons?

Ron Villone Pirate Pants for Sale on eBay

ARG! Ron Villone's bulldog body once filled these Pirate pantaloonies!

NOW, THEY CAN BE YOURS ON eBAY.

Current bidding: $28.99 (That's Sunday afternoon, moments after Ron blew the lead against Tampa Bay.)

Can a bid drop on eBay?

Twin Killer

Two in a row?

It's October in July! The closing days of the pennant race!

JOE, JUST SAY TWO WORDS:

"EDWAR RAMIREZ!"

Our Special Specialist

spe·cial·ist /[spesh-uh-list] noun: "a person who devotes himself or herself to one subject or to one particular branch of a subject or pursuit."

When Joe Torre faces a tough left-handed bat, he turns to his bullpen southpaw specialist, Mike Myers!

And this year, the crafty sidearmer has performed at a level unsurpassed by any Yankee.

Left-handed batters are hitting a measily .321 against Mike. That's the highest average they've compiled against any Yankee pitcher on the team!

In his combined 12 innings of pitching to lefties, he's given up 17 hits and 8 walks.

Congratulations, Mike. And thanks for being so special!

CASH HEARS US, BRINGS UP EDWAR!

Shortly after fevered calls on this website reached a boil, lame-duck GM Brian Cashman today announced the promotion of of 26-year-old wisened wonder, bullpen innings-eater Edwar Ramirez.

Scranton's loss is our gain.

GREET OUR NEW MAN: EDWAR "CANNY" RAMIREZ.

AT LAST, THE TEAM IS MAKING BIG ROSTER MOVES AND ACQUIRING TOP TALENT FOR OUR PENNANT RUN.

LET BRIAN BE BRIAN! AND LET CANNY BE CANNY!

An Open Letter To Brian Cashman

Dear Brian,

I think we all know that Scott Proctor and Kyle Farnsworth are better at burning their clothing than throwing strikes.

Brian Bruney is not exactly "lights out" with his command of the strike zone, either. Oops, either is Mike Meyers. As a result, most media people are interviewing you about trades to shore up the bullpen.

Buck Showalter still regrets not trusting Mariano Rivera on the 1997 team (costing him and the team the playoffs to Seattle), and you are not trusting a young man named Enwar something or other, or Edwar something or other, on your AAA Scranton team.

I think his ERA is under 1.00 and all he does is strike people out.

You should go see him pitch. He is likely better than anyone you will trade for in the majors, and you already "own" him. Please bring him up and give him a shot before trading away the few prospects we have at AA and AAA for another, over-the-hill, overpaid player.

Either that or let Bobby Abreu pitch. That way, he won't have to hit.