There aren’t many baseball scenarios in which the end result is positive for Kyle Farnsworth.
Even before his tenure with the Yanks, he built a reputation for melting down in key spots, blowing saves and holds with the fervor of a religious zealot, and for pretty much giving games up every which way. In short, he has made incompetence an art form.
Now in his third year in pinstripes, he has done nothing to change the perception that he is over-paid and over-valued. If ever there were the modern equivalent for the phrase “million-dollar arm and ten cent head,” it would be our delegate Kyle Lynn Farnsworth.
Going into last night’s game with Houston, Yankee fans were no doubt apprehensive upon learning that Manager Joe Girardi was giving Mariano Rivera the night off. It was the right move, since Mo has been used an awful lot lately and obviously the Yanks need him for the long haul. But for this night in Houston, they would have to make due without him.
Surely, many a Yankee fan foresaw a state of affairs in which Chamberlain would pitch light’s out for 6 innings, only to see Farnsie ruin things later in the game.
With Joba Chamberlain and Shawn Chacon locked in a tight pitcher’s duel, the game went to the 7th tied at 1. Jose Veras pitched the 7th and 8th for the Yanks, retiring 6 straight Astros, 3 on Ks. Meanwhile, Derek Jeter’s homer put the Yanks ahead 2-1. Now every Yankee fan’s nightmare was about to unfold: Enter Kyle Farnsworth in an attempt to protect a 2-1 lead in the 9th.
The ninth inning started out as pure Farnsworth. He gets Ty Wigginton 0-2, then he nibbles it out to 3-2. Then he hits Wigginton, putting a man on 1st base and no one out.
“Yep,” most Yankee fans were now doubt saying. “That’s Farnsie in a nut shell.”
Next up for the Astros was Michael Bourn. Granted, Bourn is having trouble hitting at the major league level. His batting average of .230 and OBP of .286 does not scare anyone (although, as an aside, both are higher than Robby Cano’s .217/.260, but that’s another subject). With Bourn’s speed, he was not likely to hit into a double play. And if he did hit into a force out, at least from the Astros perspective, they would have the speedier Bourn on base rather than Wigginton.
Here the Astros are down to their last 3 outs. Anyone that watches Farnsworth knows that you can basically sit back and let him self-destruct. If Manager Cecil Cooper just lets the game play out, there is a real good chance that Kyle will do just that. However, if you bunt Bourn here, you are giving the Yanks an out, and Kyle only has to earn two outs to save the game.
That’s exactly what Cooper did. Bourn popped up a bunt right to Farnsworth. The gift logged into Kyle’s glove and Wiggy stayed at first.
One out, courtesy of small ball.
Bourn told Houston reporters: "It was a little high, but still, that's an execution failure, I put that one on me. You're supposed to sacrifice right there. I can get it done. I just didn't get it done in that particular situation."
Next up for the Astros was Geoff Blum. He’s got a little pop, not a great hitter but he is certainly competent. During his at bat, something truly astonishing happened: Ty Wigginton attempted to steal second. Here is a guy who has stolen 7 bases in the last three years, while being caught stealing 6 times. He has never been called “fleet of foot.” With Jose Molina now behind the plate for the Yanks, it was no contest. Molina gunned down Ty Wigginton.
Two outs, courtesy of small ball.
If Earl Weaver were watching the game somewhere, he’d be cussing Cooper out from head to toe.
What Cecil Cooper essentially said was: “We’ll give you two outs. You just need to get one. Not only that, but one of the outs we give you will be our baserunner—the tying run.”
Is there any other way that Farnsworth was going to get his first save of the season? No, not unless it were gift-wrapped by a small ball mentality.
As a former key member of Harvey’s Wallbangers, Cecil should know better than this. No, he did no have his thumpers Berkman, Lee or Tejada up in the 9th, but so what. He took away his team’s chance to tie or win the game, particularly with Farnsworth on the mound.
With 2 outs and no one on base, Farnsworth then struck out Blum. Game over.
While watching the recap of this game, I couldn’t help but think that when Earl Weaver gets to heaven, he’s going to kick Gene Mauch’s butt.
Phil is a staff writer for NYYFans.com, and he writes a weekly column for the website of WCBS News Radio 88, the home of the Yankees. You can reach him at PhilAllard27(at)hotmail.com.
