Win leaves Yankees feeling youthful

Win leaves Yankees feeling youthful

Chamberlain, Ramirez each dominant for one inning of relief

By Caleb Breakey / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- Three lockers separated the cubbyholes that belong to Joba Chamberlain and Edwar Ramirez. The two relievers stood upright, the lines on their faces shifting as they listened, spoke and grinned.

Packs of reporters, print and broadcast, encircled the pair of pitchers. They had just dazzled a Sunday crowd of 55,071 at Yankee Stadium, combining to help seal a 9-3 win over the Tigers.

Chamberlain stood with a massive sling of ice wrapped over his arm and around his stomach, coloring his skin a shade of red where it touched him and adding to the already thoroughbred look branded from head to toe on his 6-foot-2, 230-pound frame.

Fifteen feet away stood Ramirez, the man manager Joe Torre labeled a thermometer earlier this season, playing off the slenderness of the 26-year-old rookie, who stands 6-foot-3 but rarely pushes a scale's needle past 150.

The two relievers are not related, but Chamberlain and Ramirez share a common trait: They throw nasty pitches -- so deceptive and biting, in fact, that left fielder Johnny Damon took a stab at describing what kind of pitcher the two of them would combine to make.

"Umm... Cy Young?" Damon postulated.

Quite a compliment, that, but the Yankees are more interested in how Chamberlain and Ramirez perform individually and in tandem. For the big fellow, the one who received chants of "Joba! Joba!" in the scoreless seventh inning he pitched, it's all about a fastball that reaches 100 mph.

Chamberlain's slingshot of a right arm explodes the ball from the tips of his fingers, so much so that catcher Jorge Posada said he couldn't compare it with that of any pitcher who has fired heaters into his mitt.

For the afternoon, the 21-year-old Chamberlain got Gary Sheffield to strike out, and then he struck out American League MVP candidate Magglio Ordonez on three pitches.

The next batter Chamberlain faced, Carlos Guillen, a .304 hitter, stayed alive at the plate for just a few more seconds than Ordonez, striking out on four pitches.

Ramirez helped explain what the oomph of the Tigers lineup was up against: "[A] very, very, very, very good fastball. And a good breaking pitch."

Detroit had to be happy to see Chamberlain exit. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Chamberlain's fastball got his hitters so geared up for the heater that they had no chance against the rookie's slider.

Despite some frustration fuming over the Tigers' lack of hitting with runners on base, Leyland spoke some words that seem to already be spreading across the Bronx faster than the subways.

"He's one of those special guys."

Leyland's comment came across clear, but he easily could have been referring to Ramirez -- at least judging from the performance the right-hander turned in after relieving Chamberlain.

Ramirez came on in the eighth and used just 15 pitches to strike out the side. The fastball, which he throws between 89-92 mph, worked well as a setup pitch, skimming the corners for quick strikes.

But Ramirez broke out his secret weapon when he got ahead in the count. It was the pitch he featured in his Major League debut, when he also started an inning by fanning three in a row.

It's the changeup which Torre has studied well.

"That pitch is one of those power changeups," said Torre, who tied Casey Stengel for second place in franchise history with 1,149 wins as a Yankees manager. "It's one of those that, even if you look for it, it's tough to hit it, anyway."

Torre said he and Yankees management are working to take care of the two rookies, most notably Chamberlain, who, at least to this point in the season, is ordered one day of rest for every inning he pitches.

The two relievers don't care so much about the plans, however. They're having fun. They're pitching. They're doing well, and, as Chamberlain said, they may help even each other become better and prove Damon right.

"Hopefully, maybe I can learn [Ramirez's] changeup one day," Chamberlain said, "and I can give him some tips on the slider."

Damon, freshly showered and standing at his locker -- one spot over from Chien-Ming Wang, who started the game and picked up his 14th win -- said the two young guns could surprise teams during the Yankees' run at a pennant.

It all starts on Monday against Los Angeles at Angel Stadium. The Halos will be the first team, assuming they saw Chamberlain and Ramirez dominate the Tigers on Sunday, to make their scouting reports just a little bit thicker.

Either way, Damon, who launched a go-ahead solo home run off Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman, said the Yankees are as solid as they've been all season, and now they have these two guys at the other end of the locker room standing under blue name plates reading "Chamberlain" and "Ramirez."

"They're throwing the ball well and nobody knows too much about them yet," Damon said. "We have a lot of good things going on."

Notes: Farnsworth growing on fans

Notes: Farnsworth growing on fans

Reliever extends scoreless-innings streak with K of Sheffield

By Caleb Breakey / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- There were lots of boos for Gary Sheffield on Saturday afternoon, and then a chorus of cheers for Kyle Farnsworth. The power-on-power showdown in the seventh inning resulted in a swinging strikeout, and all of the sudden, the 54,802 in attendance for the Yankees' 5-2 win over the Tigers ushered the formerly out-of-favor Farnsworth back to the dugout with all the glitz and glamour of a hometown hero.

The crowd rose to its feet when Farnsworth got two strikes on Sheffield, and then exploded into an ovation when home-plate umpire Jeff Kellogg shot his hand up for the out. At that point, Farnsworth walked as casually as ever off the mound, past the first-base line and into a group of pinstriped teammates waiting to give him high-fives.

"That's one thing about these fans," manager Joe Torre said. "They're going to let you know they appreciate you, just like they're going to let you know that they think you can do a better job."

Since the right-hander surrendered a run to the Royals on Aug. 4, Farnsworth has thrown four scoreless innings, while walking just one and striking out four. Over that stretch, his ERA has dropped from 4.87 to 4.47.

Farnsworth has been working on his mechanics with pitching coach Ron Guidry since the All-Star break. Of late, Torre said, Farnsworth has shown a smooth motion off the rubber, leading to better location with his fastball and, even more importantly for the right-hander, his slider.

"It definitely feels like [the ball is] coming out [of my hand] a lot easier," Farnsworth said. "I think that's just being nice and, mechanics-wise, just keeping it quiet and not trying to explode and jump out too fast."

As Torre noted on Saturday, pitchers can't settle into a role that disregards the practical need of getting into games on a regular basis to stay sharp. The skipper said he learned that lesson earlier this season, when Mariano Rivera struggled in save situations because he didn't have opportunities to pitch in those spots frequently. Too many days separated his outings, and as a result, Rivera's ERA skyrocketed to 10.57 by the end of April.

Farnsworth has been through stretches this season in which he hasn't pitched for five consecutive days. He doesn't suggest, however, that regular trips to the mound have keyed his recent success. Instead, he attributes the strong innings to a change in attitude on the mound.

"I'm not fighting myself," Farnsworth said. "I'm just pitching, and whatever happens, happens."

Jeter rests: Derek Jeter, who got the day off on Sunday, resorted, as he often does, to joking with Torre after he found out his name wasn't on the lineup card.

"He always has his tongue in cheek," Torre said of the captain. "He says, 'I guess I've been benched,' and then he walks out of my office -- that type of thing."

Torre noted that, more often than not, it's too easy to put Jeter and his other stars into the lineup every day without a second thought, but given the wear and tear of a 162-game season -- not to mention the fact that the Yankees now have a deeper bench than they did on Opening Day -- the skipper is looking to give his prominent players a day or two off when he can.

"The season catches up with a lot of guys," Torre said. "We ignore both [Jeter] and Alex [Rodriguez] all the time, because we're so used to writing their names in the lineup -- and Robby Cano, too. ... We're just trying to be vigilant there, just try to take care of people before they have a problem."

Torre closes in on Stengel: With 1,148 wins in his managerial career with the Yankees, Torre needs just one more victory to tie Casey Stengel for second place in franchise history, an accomplishment he never would have imagined achieving as a youngster.

"Casey is who I grew up with," Torre said. "When [the Yankees] started that five World Series in a row, I was like 5 years old, and even though I wasn't a Yankees fan at the time, you certainly couldn't help but notice how dominant the Yankees were. Then I got to know Casey personally when he was managing the Mets. He was a colorful character."

With Saturday's victory over the Tigers, Torre recorded the 2,141st win in his career, passing Walter Alston for sole possession of eighth place on baseball's all-time list. That, coupled with his pending tie with Stengel, makes Torre a proud, yet humbled man.

"The number of games I've won is impressive, but the numbers that I've been lucky enough to win as a Yankee means a great deal to me when you start realizing the names you're connected with," Torre said.

Getting to know Joba: Five baseballs sit in Joba Chamberlain's locker, all of them in a perfect horizontal row on the top shelf. One was used in a Florida State League game, another in an Eastern League game, another in the Futures Game, and still another at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

And, of course, the last ball in the row of five is the game ball from his first Major League game against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

"They're just a little reminder of what it takes to get here," Chamberlain said. "[They remind me] of the hard work it took and to not ever stop working hard."

Now that the hard work has been accomplished -- for a cup of coffee, at least, if not much, much more -- Chamberlain is willing to reveal other secrets than the significance of those five balls.

While it may not be top-secret information, Chamberlain was excited to talk about his favorite foods and desserts. Steak tops the list of his main-course favorites, while ice cream and brownies is his choice of dessert.

Coming up: Phil Hughes (2-1, 4.44 ERA) and the Yankees will hit the road to take on Dustin Moseley (4-2, 4.84) and the Angels on Monday for the first game of a three-game series at Angel Stadium. First pitch is slated for 10:05 p.m. ET.

Notes: Chamberlain an apt student

Notes: Chamberlain an apt student

Rookie reliever seeking info, inspiration wherever he can

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- Joe Torre summoned Joba Chamberlain for the ninth inning of Friday's game because the rookie right-hander needed a frame of work, not to satisfy the curiosities of the crowd in attendance.

But once the 21-year-old took the mound, the Yankees' bench seemed to join the chants of "JO-ba, JO-ba!" that have quickly become a trademark at home games. Certainly, Chamberlain's talent has demanded attention.

"What he brings to the table is exciting," Torre said. "He's someone that doesn't come down the pike on a regular basis. [For] his age, he seems to be mature. He really hasn't had to deal with a whole lot yet, but his makeup makes you think that he'll be able to do that.

"There's not much that you really don't like about him, for sure. He's good sized, he's aggressive, and I think people admire somebody who goes out there and says, 'Hey, I dare you.'"

Chamberlain turned in his sixth scoreless inning of work against the Tigers on Friday, surrendering a hit to Magglio Ordonez but otherwise holding Detroit down in the final frame of a 6-1 Yankees victory.

Chamberlain gave credit to the Yankees' infielders and especially catcher Jorge Posada for helping him settle in. In his first Yankee Stadium appearance on Monday, Chamberlain spoke of being too emotionally revved up as he jogged to the mound; Posada calmed his nerves with soothing words that day and repeated that message on Friday.

"He tells me to relax, slow the game down and understand that it doesn't go until you go," Chamberlain said. "I don't care how many times I hear it. You can still get a little [excited] running in and hearing the fans go crazy. It always helps when he comes out."

Chamberlain finished on a high note on Friday, striking out Ivan Rodriguez swinging on a low slider to end the game. The whiff was Chamberlain's ninth punchout in four Major League appearances.

"It was good," Chamberlain said. "I've just got to keep executing pitches. I had a good part of their lineup coming up and kind of had an idea going out of how I was going to approach those guys."

Notable in the inning was the first batter Chamberlain faced, former Yankee Gary Sheffield -- a power-on-power showcase, as Sheffield waved his bat in his furious, familiar stance and Chamberlain challenged him with a fastball. Sheffield just missed the pitch, flying out to left field.

"I made a good pitch to Sheff, and he just missed it," Chamberlain said. "You win some and you lose some, and I got that one. You've got to make sure next time you've got to be a little bit better. It was a learning experience, and it was good to face those guys."

Nicks and knacks: Derek Jeter is ailing somewhat, Torre said, though the captain isn't about to reveal much of what's bothering him.

While Jeter spends a fair amount of time in the trainers' room each day to prepare, a day off is in his near future. Entering play on Saturday, Jeter was hitting .323, but had just four hits in his last 21 at-bats.

"I think he's a little beat-up," Torre said. "He got hit in the leg the other day [against Baltimore], and that's been slowing him a little bit. We'll look to spell him here and give him a day off in the next couple of days."

Rocket fuel: In the hours leading up to Saturday's start, Roger Clemens took time out of his afternoon to whisk Chamberlain aside, conversing in the Yankees' clubhouse over a steaming beverage.

Chamberlain's locker at Yankee Stadium resides in rather select territory, the stall to the immediate left of Clemens', a designation that was certainly not made randomly.

Torre said he was not sure how much Chamberlain and Clemens were sharing information, but Saturday's impromptu pep talk appeared to be an indication of a budding relationship.

"I don't follow him around on a regular basis, but Roger is so open with what he knows and he certainly goes out of his way to help the young pitchers," Torre said. "I know he's done it with [Phil] Hughes, and I don't know how many times they've come together, but Joba isn't shy. He's not arrogant, either, but he's not shy."

Bombers bits: The Yankees have regained Mariano Rivera's services. The closer was available but not needed on Friday. ... The weight room facilities at Yankee Stadium, used by both clubs at differing times, are being sanitized after the Tigers' exit to avoid the spread of the team's flu virus. ... Clemens entered Saturday's start needing five strikeouts to reach 1,000 as a Yankee.

Coming up: The Yankees and Tigers complete their four-game weekend series on Sunday, sending right-hander Chien-Ming Wang (13-6, 4.09 ERA) to the mound opposite right-hander Jeremy Bonderman (10-5, 4.65). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET on the YES Network.