Yankees White Sox/4-22/4-23

[Old Sweater]

Tuesday April 22nd 6:11 MT___TV YES, CSN



U.S. CELLULAR FIELD


White Sox vs Yankees


Jose Contreras 1-1 4.34 vs Chien Ming Wang 3-0 3.81





White Sox: Contreras picked up his first victory in '08 with a show of resounding dominance on the mound and not much offensive support behind him. The big right-hander made Jim Thome's three-run home run in the first inning stand up over seven, as he allowed one run, before giving way to Scott Linebrink and Bobby Jenks after 91 pitches. Contreras struck out six and yielded four hits, but most importantly, he did not issue a single walk. Contreras, who pitched for the Yankees during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, has a 2-4 record against his original big-league employer.





Yankees: It wasn't pretty for Wang on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, where he was unable to make it through the fifth inning during a home game for the first time in his big league career. Facing the Red Sox for the second time this season, Wang couldn't command the strike zone and tied a career high with eight runs allowed in a no-decision. It was just the fifth time in 84 career starts that Wang did not go at least five innings. He is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three career starts at U.S. Cellular Field




Ozzie Guillen

The AL Central-leading White Sox (11-7) return home after a 6-0 win at Tampa Bay on Sunday to take two of three from the Rays.

Jim Thome went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and hit home run No. 512 to tie him with Ernie Banks and Eddie Matthews for 19th place on the all-time list. Following a 5-for-40 slump (.125), Thome has hit .389 (7-for-18) with three homers and nine RBIs in his last five games.

“Jimmy can carry a ballclub,” Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. “He just had to be patient.”

After a strong outing from starter John Danks on Sunday, the White Sox hope Contreras (1-1, 4.34) can build off his most recent effort.

Contreras allowed a run and four hits in seven innings of a 3-1 win at Baltimore on Wednesday. The right-hander, who spent 2003 and part of 2004 with New York, has lost his last four starts against his former team for a 2-4 career mark with a 3.96 ERA against the Yankees.



Joe Girardi

As the New York Yankees look to build off their most recent victory, it’s uncertain if the reigning AL MVP will be there to help.

A leg injury could keep Alex Rodriguez out of the Yankees’ lineup for the first time in 2008 when they open a three-game road series against the first-place Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

Rodriguez strained his right quadriceps running out a grounder on Sunday as New York (10-10) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 7-1 win at Baltimore. The third baseman had an RBI double in the game, but left in the sixth inning.

Johnny Damon homered and combined with Derek Jeter for four hits and five RBIs on Sunday. Jeter has hit safely in all seven contests - batting .387 with 10 of his 11 RBIs during that span - since missing six games with a quadriceps injury.

Even if Rodriguez is unable to play, New York could be in good shape when Chien-Ming Wang (3-0, 3.81 ERA) takes the ball Tuesday.

Wang is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three outings versus the White Sox, and he went the distance the last time he faced them in a 5-1 victory at U.S. Cellular Field on June 6.

The right-hander was dominant in winning his first three starts this season before getting roughed up by Boston on Wednesday, when he matched a career high by allowing eight runs and nine hits in four innings in the Yankees’ 15-9 home win.

Update: Alex Rodriguez has a mild strain of his right quadriceps and will rejoin the New York Yankees on Tuesday in Chicago.



Click for White Sox Stats

Click for Yankees Stats

Click on Teams Name/Pitchers Name/Managers Name, for further info.

[Old Sweater]

Wednesday April 23rd 6:11 MT__TV-ESPN-YES__RADIO WCBS 880-WNSW 1430


U.S. Cellular Field



__________White Sox vs Yankees__________


_______Javier Vazquez 3-1 3.20era vs Mike Mussina 1-3 5.75era_______




White Sox: The right-hander is coming off another solid start on April 18, in which Vazquez scattered six hits and allowed a pair of runs, notching his third victory this season. The two runs Vazquez allowed in the sixth inning stopped a streak of 15 shutout innings. The precise pitcher threw 67 of his 104 pitches for strikes and went 75 batters without a walk, before allowing Rays outfielder Nathan Haynes a free pass in the game's seventh inning.




Yankees: It was a short night for Mussina on Thursday in New York, tagged for five runs in three innings before exiting. He allowed two home runs to long-haired nemesis Manny Ramirez among seven hits, walking none and striking out one in a 77-pitch start. He later kicked himself for poor location. It was Mussina's shortest start since he lasted just three innings last Aug. 27 at Comerica Park, the final straw before he was removed from New York's rotation for a brief period. Joe Girardi said he had no plans to skip a starter with an off-day approaching on Monday, noting Mussina had looked OK against the Blue Jays, Rays and Red Sox in his first trio of outings.


Ozzie Guillen

Vazquez carries a three-game win streak into Wednesday's start against one of his former teams. The White Sox rotation was adjusted slightly to keep Vazquez on regular rest, while Mark Buehrle was bumped back by a day once again.

The right-hander has a 1-3 career mark against the Yankees, with 27 hits allowed in 25 innings. He also has walked 15 against the patient Yankees, but Vazquez has issued a mere six free passes over 25 1/3 innings this year. He has fanned 27.

Paul Konerko drove in his 11th run in the last 11 games on Tuesday. ... Orlando Cabrera has reached base in 18 of his last 19 games and in 15 straight. ... Joe Crede has 19 RBIs in 18 games, compared to 22 RBIs in 47 games in 2007. ... Bobby Abreu has seven home runs over 66 career at-bats against Vazquez


Joe Girardi

Mussina's troubles, he believes, actually began in the April 12 start at Fenway Park, when Mussina campaigned to face Ramirez with first base open instead of walking Ramirez to get to Kevin Youkilis. Ramirez punished Mussina and the Yankees with a two-run double up the gap.

"I thought for three games, it was all right," Mussina said. "Manny hits a double in the gap and since then, it's been a bad three innings and one hitter. And most of it was Manny the whole time anyway.

"Before that, I hung a slider to Vernon Wells and he hit a homer -- he's a pretty good player. I pitched a good game against Tampa [Bay, on April 7], and then Manny has a homer and two doubles. So let's see -- it's Manny and Vernon Wells so far. That's caused me most of the trouble."

Mussina said that he could change his pitch selection to get away from relying on his fastball so much, but he isn't sure that step is necessary at this point. Back in the visiting clubhouse at what is now known as U.S. Cellular Field, Mussina reflected a bit on his Major League debut against the White Sox for the Orioles on Aug. 4, 1991, taking the loss as Frank Thomas homered for the game's only run.

"Eighteen years later, I'm still standing here, so I figured something out," Mussina said.

This will be Mussina's third attempt to record his 252nd career win and break a tie with Bob Gibson for sole possession of 42nd place on baseball's all-time wins list. ... Derek Jeter needs one double to tie Joe DiMaggio (389) for fifth place on the Yankees' all-time list. Jeter also has 1,386 runs scored and needs four to tie the Yankee Clipper for fourth place on the franchise's all-time list. ... Johnny Damon has reached base at least twice in nine of his last 13 starts. ... Alex Rodriguez is expected to rejoin the team on Thursday, attending to the birth of his second daughter at home in Miami.


Click for White Sox Stats

Click for Yankees Stats

[P1NSTR1PES]

I think the Yankees really need to prove something here. Mussina needs to step up and i know he wont. Moose is awful..i hate him. Wang will dominate, i see 8 IP 5 SO..::crosses fingers::

lets go Yanks

[M110fan]

Yeah, this is Mooses swan song already, just call it quits before you go 4-12 and embaress yourself and hurt the organization. You never know with Wang, he looks like he's less of a one trick pony with that sinker than he was the last 2 or 3 years. I think the White Sox are really one of the better clubs in all of baseball. This is a big test for the Yankees to show how they stack up.

[Yoda]

Excellent job with the previews, thanks

[johnnypapa]

Thanks Old sweater for the preview.....Wang and Mussina...I'll take a split

[Old Sweater]

Update on the first update that was a update from another update.

CHICAGO (AP)—Injured Alex Rodriguez was not in the posted New York Yankees’ lineup for Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox.

A-Rod, batting .308 with four homers and 10 RBIs, strained his right quadriceps Sunday at Baltimore. Morgan Ensberg was listed as the starting third baseman against Chicago.

Rodriguez was not in Chicago following the birth of his second daughter and was in Miami, Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo said. Zillo said A-Rod likely will not rejoin the team until Thursday



http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

Why don't they just come out and say that A Rod won't be in Chicago until his kid is born??? I hate it when they just blow smoke at the fans.