Yankee 21
07-01-2003, 10:09 AM
Weaver, Claussen to take turns
Torre to skip the fifth spot in rotation this week
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- Apparently, Joe Torre decided that instead of choosing between Jeff Weaver and Brandon Claussen as his fifth starter, he's going to use them both. Just not this week.
The Yankees will skip the fifth spot in the starting rotation this week, courtesy of an off day on Thursday. As a result, they will send Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina and David Wells to the mound in the four-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium this weekend.
From there, the Yankees head to Cleveland's Jacobs Field, where Torre will get one more look at both Claussen and Weaver before the All-Star break. Claussen will start on Tuesday, July 8, while Weaver will get the start on Wednesday, July 9.
Weaver said he was informed of the decision late Monday afternoon.
"I'm getting another start, so that's good news," Weaver said. "Then I'll gear up for the second half."
Claussen made an impressive big-league debut at Shea Stadium on Saturday, allowing just one earned run over 6 1/3 innings, defeating the Mets in the second game of the day-night doubleheader.
But Weaver, who has battled inconsistency all season, going 4-6 with a 5.59 ERA in 17 games (15 starts), answered with a solid effort of his own on Sunday night. Weaver allowed three runs over seven innings, finishing off the season sweep of the Mets. All three runs came on a first-inning home run by Jeromy Burnitz, but Weaver kept his composure and allowed just one hit after that.
Before Monday's game, Torre said that he would formally announce his decision on Tuesday, after he had a chance to speak with the pitchers involved.
"We have a pretty good idea of what we want to do," Torre said, "but we want to let them know."
Weaver will be available out of the bullpen until Sunday or Monday, when he throws his pre-start bullpen session. Torre has stated publicly that Claussen, who underwent Tommy John surgery last June, will not pitch in relief.
"It's another 10 days," Weaver said, "so maybe I'll get an inning or two out of the bullpen in the meantime."
Claussen said that he hadn't been informed of the decision, but he seemed excited by the prospect of getting another start in the Majors.
"I haven't heard anything. It would be cool if I was (to get another start)," Claussen said. "I really haven't jumped ahead of myself. I'm preparing myself to pitch, and if I don't, I'll be ready for whatever happens."
As a result of both pitchers getting a final pre-All-Star start, the other four Yankees starters will each get an extra day of rest before making their final starts before the break.
Torre to skip the fifth spot in rotation this week
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- Apparently, Joe Torre decided that instead of choosing between Jeff Weaver and Brandon Claussen as his fifth starter, he's going to use them both. Just not this week.
The Yankees will skip the fifth spot in the starting rotation this week, courtesy of an off day on Thursday. As a result, they will send Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina and David Wells to the mound in the four-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium this weekend.
From there, the Yankees head to Cleveland's Jacobs Field, where Torre will get one more look at both Claussen and Weaver before the All-Star break. Claussen will start on Tuesday, July 8, while Weaver will get the start on Wednesday, July 9.
Weaver said he was informed of the decision late Monday afternoon.
"I'm getting another start, so that's good news," Weaver said. "Then I'll gear up for the second half."
Claussen made an impressive big-league debut at Shea Stadium on Saturday, allowing just one earned run over 6 1/3 innings, defeating the Mets in the second game of the day-night doubleheader.
But Weaver, who has battled inconsistency all season, going 4-6 with a 5.59 ERA in 17 games (15 starts), answered with a solid effort of his own on Sunday night. Weaver allowed three runs over seven innings, finishing off the season sweep of the Mets. All three runs came on a first-inning home run by Jeromy Burnitz, but Weaver kept his composure and allowed just one hit after that.
Before Monday's game, Torre said that he would formally announce his decision on Tuesday, after he had a chance to speak with the pitchers involved.
"We have a pretty good idea of what we want to do," Torre said, "but we want to let them know."
Weaver will be available out of the bullpen until Sunday or Monday, when he throws his pre-start bullpen session. Torre has stated publicly that Claussen, who underwent Tommy John surgery last June, will not pitch in relief.
"It's another 10 days," Weaver said, "so maybe I'll get an inning or two out of the bullpen in the meantime."
Claussen said that he hadn't been informed of the decision, but he seemed excited by the prospect of getting another start in the Majors.
"I haven't heard anything. It would be cool if I was (to get another start)," Claussen said. "I really haven't jumped ahead of myself. I'm preparing myself to pitch, and if I don't, I'll be ready for whatever happens."
As a result of both pitchers getting a final pre-All-Star start, the other four Yankees starters will each get an extra day of rest before making their final starts before the break.