Shawn Chacon rolled into Yankee Stadium Friday afternoon, put on a new pinstriped uniform and prepared to meander through what has been a revolving door at the back of the rotation.
Chacon is scheduled to start Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels. After that, who knows?
When Chacon fires his first pitch, he will be the 13th starter the Yankees have used during a patchwork season. They will surely add to that unlucky number, because Hideo Nomo is apprenticing with Class AAA Columbus while General Manager Brian Cashman is dialing the telephone as if he were a caffeinated solicitor.
PHOTO: AP
Joe Torre, the Yankees' manager, said that if Cashman had not acquired Chacon from the Colorado Rockies for two minor league pitchers Thursday, Torre would have waited as long as he could have Saturday and then "put the ball in someone's hand and say, `Here.'"
In some ways, it seems as if Torre has already been taking that desperate approach. The Yankees have been beset by injuries to starters Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Kevin Brown and Wang Chien-ming (
After Chacon's start, the Yankees will have used 10 starters in July. That list includes Sean Henn, Tim Redding and Darrell May and equals the most starters the Yankees have used in a month since August 1959. With Randy Johnson slated to start Sunday, the Yankees would finish the month stuck on an imperfect 10.
"You play the game and you manage the game a day at a time," Torre said. "You don't have a chance to look up. That's basically what we've been doing."
Cashman was scrambling for a starter for Saturday, so he was relieved when the Rockies accepted the same proposal that he had made two weeks ago. Chacon was 1-7 with a 4.09 earned run average in Colorado. The Yankees are confident that he is a better option than pitching the game with several relievers. He was an All-Star in 2003, but he has gone 2-20 since then.
Chacon said he had not closely followed the Yankees' pitching misfortunes and their attempts to camouflage the problems, because he never envisioned being traded to New York. But now that he has been thrust into the ever-changing rotation, he said, "It's an opportunity for me to run with it."
How long can the Yankees survive with two reliable starters? Johnson and Mike Mussina, who lost Friday night to the Angels, are the only starters the Yankees think could start for them if they reach the postseason. Al Leiter, Aaron Small and Chacon could be one terrible start from being shoved through the other end of the revolving door. When the Yankees heal, Small and Chacon may end up in the bullpen.
"I know the atmosphere we're in, and I know George could order them to make a big trade," said Leiter, referring to George Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the Yankees. "They could do that and tell four of us we're gone. I'm looking at this as I'm start to start."
Pavano (right shoulder tendinitis) will make a minor league rehabilitation start Wednesday, and the Yankees hope to activate him five days later. Wright is slated to throw Saturday, and Wang will follow with a session Monday. Brown (lumbar strain) was examined by Dr. Robert Watkins on Friday in California, with Watkins recommending that he rehabilitate for two weeks and then be re-evaluated. Brown may not pitch again this season.
"If I could snap my fingers to get it back on track to where we'd have a healthy Wang, a healthy Pavano and Wright and a healthy Brown, I'd do it," Cashman said. "It's not part of the process right now. We are where we are."
While Cashman refused to handicap if the Yankees would add another pitcher by Sunday's 4pm nonwaiver trade deadline, he was doubtful about the chance of adding a center fielder. Cashman, who had talked to the Rockies about Eric Byrnes and to the Seattle Mariners about Randy Winn, called it "unrealistic" to think he could acquire an outfielder. Byrnes was traded Friday night to Baltimore.
Torre was not surprised the Yankees gained in the standings while using their potpourri of pitchers. Still, the team would like to end the uncertainty that has clouded the rotation.
John Olerud hit a grand slam and Bronson Arroyo allowed three runs and five hits in 7 1-3 innings to lead Boston to its third straight win, 8-5 over Minnesota on Friday.
Minnesota Gold Glove center fielder Torii Hunter sprained a tendon in his left ankle trying to scale the outfield wall in the first inning and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. X-rays taken at Fenway Park showed no fracture.
"It was pretty scary. We know it's not good, but we'll hope for the best," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.
Arroyo (9-6) held Minnesota scoreless for six innings before allowing Joe Mauer's solo homer.
With the Red Sox leading 4-3 in the eighth, Olerud hit Boston's club record 10th grand slam of the season. The home run was the 250th of Olerud's career. Curt Schilling retired the final two batters for his fourth save in five opportunities.
Angels 4, Yankees 1
At New York, Garret Anderson hit a two-run homer and Bengie Molina added a solo shot in the second inning as Los Angeles ended a four-game losing streak and beat New York for the sixth time in eight meetings this season.
Los Angeles was coming off an 18-inning loss in Toronto on Thursday night, and didn't arrive in New York until 4 a.m. Ervin Santana (6-4), who warmed up in the bullpen during the 18th against Toronto, won for the first time this season on the road, allowing six hits in 6 1-3 innings. Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his 25th save. He is 5-for-5 in save chances against New York this season.
The second-inning homers were off Mike Mussina (10-6).
White Sox 7, Orioles 2
At Baltimore, Paul Konerko and Carl Everett both homered and drove in three runs to back a strong pitching performance by Orlando Hernandez and lead Chicago past Baltimore.
During the game, the Orioles traded outfielder Larry Bigbie to Colorado for outfielder Eric Byrnes.
Konerko put the White Sox up 4-1 with a three-run drive off Erik Bedard (5-3) in the third, and Everett made it 6-2 with a two-run shot off Todd Williams in the seventh.
Hernandez (8-3) gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings in his first win in three starts since returning from the disabled list.
Miguel Tejada went 4-for-4 with an RBI for the Orioles, who have lost 11 of 13 to fall to .500 (51-51) for the first time since April 10.
Aramis Ramirez had a pinch-hit RBI single with one out in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Chicago Cup past the Arizona Diamondbaks 4-3 on Friday.
Ramirez's bouncer eluded Diamondbacks third baseman Troy Glaus and trickled into left field. Jose Macias scored from second for Chicago's fifth Major League Baseball victory win in seven games.
Roberto Novoa (3-3) pitched 1 1-3 innings for the win. Bruney (1-3) blew his fourth save.
"To be a successful closer in this game, you can't walk the leadoff guy, ever," said Bruney, who has issued 28 walks in 38 innings. "My team battled today, came back and gave us an opportunity to win the game. I let them down today."
Marlins 4, Nationals 3
At Miami, Josh Beckett reached 10 wins in a season for the first time, pitching 6 1-3 innings as Florida beat slumping Washington.
Paul Lo Duca doubled home three runs in the first inning for the Marlins, who have won three straight.
Beckett (10-6) allowed two hits in the first six innings, then tired in the seventh. He struck out eight, walked none and allowed three runs. Three relievers completed a seven-hitter.
Astros 5, Mets 2
At Houston, Morgan Ensberg, Lance Berkman and Craig Biggio homered, and rookie Wandy Rodriguez had his third straight solid start as Houston downed New York.
The Astros won for the 12th time in 13 games and 21st time this month, breaking a club record set in 1976.
Biggio hit a solo shot off Mets starter Kris Benson (7-4) in the first, then Berkman added a two-run homer in the third. Ensberg's two-run homer in the sixth made it 5-2.
Rodriguez (6-4) shut out the Mets over the first five innings. He gave up two runs and four hits in six innings.
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