:lolBIG:
Washed up Hideo Nomo
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Yankees signed right-hander Hideo Nomo to a minor league contract Wednesday, turning to yet another discarded pitcher to fill their injury-ravaged rotation.
The Yankees claimed the 36-year-old Nomo off waivers from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who designated him for assignment on July 16 after he went 5-8 with a 7.24 ERA.
Nomo hasn't pitched for 10 days, and Yankees manager Joe Torre said he wasn't an option to pitch on Saturday -- a slot that remains vacant.
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</NOSCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>``He's got to get some work in, sharpen up,'' Torre said. ``It's like being on the DL.'' :lolBIG:
With three pitchers from the Yankees' opening day rotation injured -- Kevin Brown (back), Jaret Wright (shoulder) and Carl Pavano (shoulder) -- New York has used 12 starters this season, including injured rookie Chien-Ming Wang.
Al Leiter, making his third start for the Yankees on Wednesday night against Minnesota, was acquired on July 16 from the Florida Marlins after being designated for assignment.
When the Yankees on Tuesday pushed back Pavano's return from his injury and scratched Brown's scheduled start Thursday, New York suddenly became two pitchers short this week.
Aaron Small was told Tuesday night during the Yankees' 4-0 win that he would be making his second start for New York in place of Brown.
``Whatever I can do to help this team when I get the call, I want to do the best I can,'' Small said.
For Saturday, Torre wouldn't rule out using a reliever in a spot start or the Yankees making a trade. The non-waiver trading deadline is Sunday.
``We're going to wait and see,'' Torre said. ``We may do a bullpen thing or we may get help by then. As of right now, we have no starter.''
Tampa Bay was the sixth team for Nomo, the first Japanese-born player to appear in the majors after playing at the top level in Japan. He has a 123-109 record in a career that began when he was the 1995 NL Rookie of the Year for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Despite Nomo's struggles this season, Torre was impressed by his experience.
``That's what we need at this point until we get healthy,'' Torre said. ``We want to have a guy out there that will keep his wits about him and give us a chance to win.''
Torre might not have to wait too long to get back one of his pitchers.
Pavano pitched five innings during a rehabilitation start Wednesday for the Gulf Coast League Yankees, his first game appearance since June 27, and allowed two runs -- one earned -- and two hits, throwing 57 pitches. He had a consistent 91 mph fastball in the 90-degree heat.
``I don't know when he will pitch next,'' Yankees vice president Billy Connors said in Lakeland, Fla.
New York originally hoped Pavano would return to pitch Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels, then decided Tuesday to slow his return.
``We have to wait until tomorrow'' to see how he feels, Torre said. ``It seems like a good sign.''
Torre said Pavano would likely make another rehab start.
``We've invested this much time,'' he said. ``We'll probably make a decision after talking to him and people who saw him.'' Wright threw on the side at the Yankees' complex in Tampa and is to make a rehab start Saturday. Wright has been sidelined since April 23 with a strained right shoulder.
Washed up Hideo Nomo
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Yankees signed right-hander Hideo Nomo to a minor league contract Wednesday, turning to yet another discarded pitcher to fill their injury-ravaged rotation.
The Yankees claimed the 36-year-old Nomo off waivers from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who designated him for assignment on July 16 after he went 5-8 with a 7.24 ERA.
Nomo hasn't pitched for 10 days, and Yankees manager Joe Torre said he wasn't an option to pitch on Saturday -- a slot that remains vacant.
<TABLE cellPadding=1 align=left border=0 hspace="10" vspace="5"><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a == null) document.write("<scr" + "ipt type=text/javascript src=""http://us.js1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/lib/bc/bc_1.7.0.js></scr" + "ipt>");</SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a){yzq_a('p', 'P=5S9p8dhtfvGARmXvQsBBhAaYmKNlC0LoSG4ABZZY&T=13ro9bcc4%2fX%3d1122519150%2fE%3d95861673%2fR%3dsports%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d1.1%2fW%3d8%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d3991472364%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3d5F776DD8');yzq_a('a', '&U=139dljl1e%2fN%3dkbmCZ9ibyhI-%2fC%3d352523.6515938.7494310.1806201%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d2755766');}</SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT>
With three pitchers from the Yankees' opening day rotation injured -- Kevin Brown (back), Jaret Wright (shoulder) and Carl Pavano (shoulder) -- New York has used 12 starters this season, including injured rookie Chien-Ming Wang.
Al Leiter, making his third start for the Yankees on Wednesday night against Minnesota, was acquired on July 16 from the Florida Marlins after being designated for assignment.
When the Yankees on Tuesday pushed back Pavano's return from his injury and scratched Brown's scheduled start Thursday, New York suddenly became two pitchers short this week.
Aaron Small was told Tuesday night during the Yankees' 4-0 win that he would be making his second start for New York in place of Brown.
``Whatever I can do to help this team when I get the call, I want to do the best I can,'' Small said.
For Saturday, Torre wouldn't rule out using a reliever in a spot start or the Yankees making a trade. The non-waiver trading deadline is Sunday.
``We're going to wait and see,'' Torre said. ``We may do a bullpen thing or we may get help by then. As of right now, we have no starter.''
Tampa Bay was the sixth team for Nomo, the first Japanese-born player to appear in the majors after playing at the top level in Japan. He has a 123-109 record in a career that began when he was the 1995 NL Rookie of the Year for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Despite Nomo's struggles this season, Torre was impressed by his experience.
``That's what we need at this point until we get healthy,'' Torre said. ``We want to have a guy out there that will keep his wits about him and give us a chance to win.''
Torre might not have to wait too long to get back one of his pitchers.
Pavano pitched five innings during a rehabilitation start Wednesday for the Gulf Coast League Yankees, his first game appearance since June 27, and allowed two runs -- one earned -- and two hits, throwing 57 pitches. He had a consistent 91 mph fastball in the 90-degree heat.
``I don't know when he will pitch next,'' Yankees vice president Billy Connors said in Lakeland, Fla.
New York originally hoped Pavano would return to pitch Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels, then decided Tuesday to slow his return.
``We have to wait until tomorrow'' to see how he feels, Torre said. ``It seems like a good sign.''
Torre said Pavano would likely make another rehab start.
``We've invested this much time,'' he said. ``We'll probably make a decision after talking to him and people who saw him.'' Wright threw on the side at the Yankees' complex in Tampa and is to make a rehab start Saturday. Wright has been sidelined since April 23 with a strained right shoulder.
