Andrew Savulich/ New York Daily News/New York Daily News
Hiroki Kuroda will likely start Game 2 of the Yankees set with the Rangers against countryman Yu Darvish.
BOSTON - Joe Girardi joked that there will probably be a lot of baseball fans in Japan late for work Wednesday and hes probably right.
Thats because Sundays rainout a t Fenway set up what likely will be the highest-profile pitching matchup of two Japanese hurlers ever in the majors.
The Yanks Hiroki Kuroda will face Texas rookie Yu Darvish Tuesday night in the second game of a three-game series in Texas.
Pretty exciting. What time will it be (in Japan), eight oclock in the morning? Girardi asked. They should make it a day off. Its pretty neat.
Itll also be the Yanks first look at Darvish, the man replacing C.J. Wilson in the Rangers rotation. Darvish is 2-0 with a 3.57 ERA but has been wild, issuing an AL-leading 13 walks in 17.2 innings.
Girardi has watched film of Darvish and said, Fastball, sinker. Hes got a four-seamer. Hell sink it. Hes got a cutter. So theres three different fastballs. Hes got a curveball, a slider, hes got a split. And he has a change. I have not seen a change in the first two games. (As a catcher) youve got to have a lot of fingers."
The last time two Japanese starters met w as June 19, 2009, when Atlantas Kenshin Kawakami beat Bostons Daisuke Matsuzaka. Tuesday would be the sixth time two Japanese pitchers have started against each other.
CATCHING PERFECTION
Girardi watched the final play of Philip Humbers perfect game Saturday with a particular interest - he knew how White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski must have been feeling as the third strike skipped past him. Girardi, after all, caught David Cones perfect game on July 18, 1999, and didnt want to be the one who bungled it.
I wouldve felt really bad for A.J. if the guy wouldve been safe, Girardi said. I know for me (in the Cone game), that was a huge fear for me that Id be the one that would stop him from having a perfect game. I felt really good for both of them.
Did Girardi actually have a close call during Cones perfecto?
I dont remember, he said. I probably tried to block that out.
SWISHS SWINGIN START
Nic k Swisher says he felt pressure last season during a poor start because he had a looming contract option, which the Yankees eventually picked up. This year, Swisher is enjoying a hot start in a contract year, leading the American League with 20 RBI and recording a fine slash line of .283/.371/.583.
At the same point last season, Swisher had a .309 slugging percentage and no homers. He says he doesnt feel any pressure this time and Girardi says he hasnt seen any signs of strain either season.
0 comments on Yankees-Red Sox rainout impacts Far East :
Post a Comment