Poor men want to be rich, rich men want to be king – and Ramiro Mendoza wants to be a starter. The Yankees right-handed reliever will get his wish tomorrow night, when he takes the ball against Boston’s Pedro Martinez.
“I’m not saying it’ll be a regular thing for him, but since we’re this close to making a decision and since he hasn’t worked for a while, he’ll be our best option,” Joe Torre said before yesterday’s 9-4 Yankee win over Cleveland.
Torre sounded less sold on the concept than Yanks GM Brian Cashman, who all but said Mendoza will take Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez’s place in the starting rotation until further notice. The other option was having Mike Mussina face Martinez for the third time in less than two weeks, which Torre didn’t want to do.
El Duque will be examined tomorrow for inflammation of the second toe on his left foot. He is currently on the disabled list, and the Yankees will make a roster move today.
“I talked to someone [Friday] who reminded me when [David] Cone got bit by the terrier,” Cashman said. “That gave El Duque the opportunity [in 1998].
“I’m disappointed for Duque, but there’s two sides of it. It’s time for somebody else to step up. Will it be Mendoza, will it be somebody from Triple-A who surprises us?”
Mendoza, who is 3-1 with a 3.70 ERA in 13 appearances, longs to be a member of the rotation. He’s made 55 starts in 172 major-league appearances, but his versatility has been a double-edged sword. Torre hedged yesterday about using him, saying if there’s an extra-inning or disastrous situation today he might need him.
“I think Joe’s preference when we’ve had other starters is to have him in the pen,” Cashman said, “because he’s been able to go to him so many times and rely on him on an everyday basis rather than once every five days.
“But the time right now is a need in the rotation.”
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Roger Clemens has not been personally told anything regarding a possible start at Shea Stadium two turns down the road. Clemens said, “I don’t care who I pitch against. My next start’s Baltimore [on Thursday].
“I’m concerned with Baltimore and pitching against them,” added Clemens. “If that’s the next game or not, I haven’t even looked that far on the schedule. So we’ll know whenever.”
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Legendary Yankees announcer Bob Sheppard was suffering a bout of laryngitis and Yankees media relations director Rick Cerrone relieved him in the bottom of the fourth. . . . There is a strong likelihood the Yankees will add right-handed pitcher Brandon Knight to the 40-man roster today, and recall him from Triple-A Columbus to take El Duque’s place. . . . With a fifth-inning single, Bernie Williams reached 1,500 career hits.
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Charles Nagy was activated from the DL Friday after having bone chips removed from his right elbow. The right-hander will start today against Andy Pettitte (6-3, 3.04). Game time is 1:05 p.m. on MSG.