GaryMrMets
07-22-2005, 12:46 AM
Yankees Call Up Graman, Send Down Franklin
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
.c The Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Giving up a big home run earned Wayne Franklin a trip back to Columbus. In a move that surprised Yankees manager Joe Torre, New York optioned the left-hander to its Triple-A farm team on Wednesday and purchased the contract of left-hander Alex Graman.
Torre was informed of the move in a telephone call from general manager Brian Cashman, who wasn't with the team in Texas.
``He says we're going to make the switch, and that's what we did,'' Torre said. ``I have a great deal of respect for Brian. When he called and said that this is what we're going, that's what we're doing. ... I work for people like everybody else.''
Cashman didn't immediately return a phone message.
Franklin was 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in five games since joining the Yankees on July 1. He gave up three hits, including Hank Blalock's two-run homer, while getting just two outs in the eighth inning of a 2-1 loss at Texas on Tuesday night.
``It's not like I don't belong here. It's disappointing,'' Franklin said. ``The element of surprise is gone when it comes to baseball.''
Torre said he didn't know if the move was based on how Graman pitched in Columbus, or on what Franklin did with the Yankees.
``I thought he pitched well last night. He had one bad pitch,'' Torre said. ``We used him in key situations. But you make a bad pitch and it negates all the positives that came on with the first three hitters. But that's the nature of the game.''
Graman had been a starter in the Yankees minor league system until they moved him to the bullpen last month at Columbus. After going 4-5 with a 3.38 ERA in 16 starts for the Clippers, Graman made his first relief appearance June 29. He went 1-1 with a save and a 1.64 ERA in seven appearances, allowing two runs over 11 innings with 16 strikeouts.
``They just basically wanted to try me in the bullpen. They saw what I had done as a starter,'' Graman said. ``I had no problem whatsoever when they make the change. I'm to the stage that whatever helps me take the next step.''
Graman, 27, was a third-round pick by the Yankees in the 1999 amateur draft. His only previous major league experience was two starts and one relief appearance last season, when he gave up 11 runs and 14 hits over five innings.
Torre said Franklin needs to work on his command in the minors, but wasn't sure when or if he might be back with the Yankees.
``Down the road, you never know because left-handers are at a premium,'' Torre said. ``He's had some involvement in some key games so it was a good experience for him.''
07/20/05 20:06 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
.c The Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Giving up a big home run earned Wayne Franklin a trip back to Columbus. In a move that surprised Yankees manager Joe Torre, New York optioned the left-hander to its Triple-A farm team on Wednesday and purchased the contract of left-hander Alex Graman.
Torre was informed of the move in a telephone call from general manager Brian Cashman, who wasn't with the team in Texas.
``He says we're going to make the switch, and that's what we did,'' Torre said. ``I have a great deal of respect for Brian. When he called and said that this is what we're going, that's what we're doing. ... I work for people like everybody else.''
Cashman didn't immediately return a phone message.
Franklin was 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in five games since joining the Yankees on July 1. He gave up three hits, including Hank Blalock's two-run homer, while getting just two outs in the eighth inning of a 2-1 loss at Texas on Tuesday night.
``It's not like I don't belong here. It's disappointing,'' Franklin said. ``The element of surprise is gone when it comes to baseball.''
Torre said he didn't know if the move was based on how Graman pitched in Columbus, or on what Franklin did with the Yankees.
``I thought he pitched well last night. He had one bad pitch,'' Torre said. ``We used him in key situations. But you make a bad pitch and it negates all the positives that came on with the first three hitters. But that's the nature of the game.''
Graman had been a starter in the Yankees minor league system until they moved him to the bullpen last month at Columbus. After going 4-5 with a 3.38 ERA in 16 starts for the Clippers, Graman made his first relief appearance June 29. He went 1-1 with a save and a 1.64 ERA in seven appearances, allowing two runs over 11 innings with 16 strikeouts.
``They just basically wanted to try me in the bullpen. They saw what I had done as a starter,'' Graman said. ``I had no problem whatsoever when they make the change. I'm to the stage that whatever helps me take the next step.''
Graman, 27, was a third-round pick by the Yankees in the 1999 amateur draft. His only previous major league experience was two starts and one relief appearance last season, when he gave up 11 runs and 14 hits over five innings.
Torre said Franklin needs to work on his command in the minors, but wasn't sure when or if he might be back with the Yankees.
``Down the road, you never know because left-handers are at a premium,'' Torre said. ``He's had some involvement in some key games so it was a good experience for him.''
07/20/05 20:06 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.