Moseley disappointed, realistic about losing a start
New York Yankees starting pitcher Dustin Moseley catches a pop fly hit by Texas Rangers' Matt Treanor in the fifth inning during a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, in Arlington, Texas. Texas won 4-1 to sweep the Yankees. Credit: AP
Dustin Moseley thought something was a little fishy when he was told the Yankees wanted him to report to the bullpen during the third inning of Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Red Sox.
"I was actually inside taking care of something," he said. "They were searching for me. They wanted me down there."
Moseley called that part "surprising." And it should have been, given that he was the scheduled starter for last night's game.
But Moseley was smart enough to figure it out. With the Yankees suffering a rash of bad starting pitching, they could no longer afford to hold back 17-game winner Phil Hughes from last night's game against the Red Sox, who had closed to within 51/2 games.
"I'm a realist," Moseley said. "You've got to go with your guys and we've got to win.''
Moseley didn't pitch Saturday and was in the bullpen last night. He said he was disappointed but also said, "I understand. I see what's going on."
Said manager Joe Girardi: "Our bullpen has been fried the last few days. We've used just about every long man we had. I couldn't envision Hughsie as the long man and Dustin starting."
Joe's other call
Girardi personally called Red Sox manager Terry Francona Sunday afternoon to tell him of the starting pitcher switch. Girardi decided on the change after Saturday's game and told Hughes and Moseley immediately but did not tell the Red Sox or the media.
"I call sometimes like that," Francona told Boston-area reporters. "Depends what it is . . . Personal touch is nice."
Extra bases
The Yankees went into last night 10-13 in September. They have not had a losing September/October since 2000, when they went 13-18 before winning their third consecutive World Series . . . Derek Jeter was batting .322 (19-for-59) during his 14-game hitting streak and went into last night with a season average of .267.
