on youth, wang, and jason giambi hopefully wally pipp-ing himself out of the lineup.

from the post:

For young players impart two important qualities, especially to a roster as graying as the Yankees': 1) They bring energy, and 2) they subconsciously remind older players they are replaceable.

"It always helps to have youth," Mike Mussina said. "It motivates you a little bit. When you look around and see only guys your age, you fight to motivate yourself to be better. Younger guys do the job to say, 'Let's get going.' "

...Wang allowed two runs in seven innings. He threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of 29 Blue Jays, nicely locating a sneaky four-seam fastball. Fifteen of 21 outs were on the ground, thanks to his two-seamer. He had no strikeouts, walked two and never otherwise exceeded even a two-ball count.

He registered 20 outs in three pitches or fewer and allowed one hit in seven at-bats with men in scoring position, and that was a grounder that nicked off Alex Rodriguez's glove. But the most important number for the Yanks, perhaps, was 25, Wang's age. As opposed to, say, Tom Gordon, 37, who blew a win in Wang's major-league debut. Wang could be a Yankee rarity, a player who has his best games ahead of him.

and from the times:

Wang is a rarity, a homegrown pitcher who survived the franchise's youth-for-stars purge and managed to make a debut for the Yankees.

Wang (pronounced Wong) did well. He was perfect through three innings, had a shutout through four. In all, he pitched seven innings, allowing six hits and two runs in the Yankees' 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Andy Phillips, an infielder, was just as big a story. He was impressive once again, pinch-hitting for the fading, fading, fading Jason Giambi, and reaching base both times he batted.

Wang and Phillips are symbols of a larger story unfolding in the Bronx: baseball's most reviled team has hit a wall that cannot be skirted with money. This wall has to be run through. Often, the only ones willing to run through a wall are upstarts, and the Yankees don't have enough of them.

They have two. Andy Phillips and Chien Ming Wang. Phillips is fearless, Wang is oblivious .

...Jason Giambi is fading before our eyes while Andy Phillips grows in stature. Phillips replaced Giambi in the sixth inning yesterday and doubled. In the ninth inning, he didn't get a good bunt down, leading to a forceout at second, but Torre said he was impressed with Phillips's energy.

...Giambi has to sit, Phillips has to play and Wang has to stay. Youth is the only way the Yankees are going to get through this wall.

yeah, about that phillips bunt. why you'd have a guy who's obviously not a bunter attempt to bunt against a pitcher who obviously couldn't find the plate if i picked it up and whomped him in the face with it is beyond me, but hey, what do i know.

Labels: yanquis