toga
02-26-2006, 03:02 PM
After the first week of ST, several pitchers throwing BP to our positional guys, it was inspiring to see our surprise TBA of 2005 for to pick up where he left off. Not an egomaniac after the success coming to the Yankees but a guy who wants get the ball whenever the Manager calls his number and deliver quality pitching in hopes of helping his teammates pick up that ring in the fall. ;) He has the right attitude to make it in the Bronx:
New year, new ballgame for Chacon
By Jennifer Royle
YES Network Online
February 25, 2006
http://www.yesnetwork.com/images/content/250x200.jpg (http://www.yesnetwork.com/yankees/spring06.asp)
TAMPA, Fla. — When Shawn Chacon walked off the mound Saturday afternoon at Legends Field after throwing his second batting practice of the spring, 2,000 fans in attendance gave the right-hander an ovation he never would have gotten with the Colorado Rockies, at least not during spring training workouts.
Chacon’s presence in New York gives new meaning to the phrase “whole new ball game” for the right-hander, who went from Rockies pitcher to Yankee savior in just three months. Chacon not only helped the Yankees win Game 4 of last year’s ALDS against the Angels, he was one of the reasons they got that far. Now in his second year with New York, Chacon is more than prepared to take the most high-profile mound in baseball, one he knew he was born to stand on throughout his career.
“I don’t think I exceeded my expectations last season,” said Chacon, who went 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 14 games for New York. “I think I met my personal expectations, but exceeding them would have been the team getting to or winning the World Series.
“I never would have expected to have gotten traded and pitched as well as I did, especially in the postseason given it was the first time. I expected to do well, but you have no clue what it's going to be like.”
http://www.yesnetwork.com/images/content/chacon-inline-022506.jpgChacon went 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 12 starts last season.
The one thing Chacon didn’t expect was the sold-out Yankee Stadium crowd to boo when Joe Torre replaced him with Al Leiter in the seventh inning of Game 4 after he gave up just four hits, two earned runs and struck out five. Being the first postseason game of his career, Chacon didn’t want to get taken out of the game, wanting to savor every moment of the big spotlight.
"It was a decision I felt I had to make," Torre said after the game. "Certainly it wasn't popular and the last thing I wanted to do was go get him, and I understand that."
"Chacon was outstanding," said Mariano Rivera. "I really, really wanted him to win the game." We wanted to win, that was the most important, but Chacon was tremendous. And in his first time being in the playoffs, doing it at Yankee Stadium facing elimination, it was tremendous, and I'm proud of him."
Regardless of the way the season ended, Chacon got more personal satisfaction out of his three months with the Yankees than he had in his whole career. Not only was he auditioned in the toughest market in baseball, he passed with flying colors and feels his teammates make up the best pitching staff he’s ever been a part of.
“Any time you got Randy (Johnson), (Mike) Mussina and Carl (Pavano) on your team,” Chacon said. “Not to mention what Smally (Aaron Small) did, Jaret (Wright) and (Chien-Ming) Wang. It’s by far the best. I’ve played with good pitchers but I don’t think I’ve ever played with any Cy Youngs or any 20-game winners
“It’s pretty amazing.”
"I don’t think I exceeded my expectations last season...I think I met my personal expectations but exceeding them would have been the team getting to or winning the World Series."
— Shawn Chacon
After five years in the majors, Chacon admitted he’s nervous every time he takes the mound, even when throwing batting practice. But once he’s warmed up, “nothing else matters. I can just block out everything and just pitch,” Chacon said.
With the uncooperative weather in Colorado — where Chacon resides during the offseason with his two sons — the right-hander threw just twice outdoors and the rest of the time on a portable indoor mound. However, even though he spent most of the winter relaxing with his family and friends, he feels he’s exactly where he needs to be at this point in camp.
“Definitely,” said Chacon who claims he’s throwing more than he ever did at Rockies’ camp. “I really didn’t get much work, so for me I just need to get my arm strength back up. I’m pretty much the same.”
During Saturday’s workout, Chacon concentrated on the command of his fastball, one of the hardest things for him to master at the beginning of the season, saying his breaking ball is always ready. Torre was impressed with the way Chacon threw the ball and believes he’ll be a big piece of the Yankees’ winning puzzle in ’ 06.
"It's an honor to be part of such a great history over here,” Chacon said. “You want to come in and you want to put your own mark on the Yankees organization. When they show all those videos during batting practice, you can kind of see yourself up there and them talking about you that way."
New year, new ballgame for Chacon
By Jennifer Royle
YES Network Online
February 25, 2006
http://www.yesnetwork.com/images/content/250x200.jpg (http://www.yesnetwork.com/yankees/spring06.asp)
TAMPA, Fla. — When Shawn Chacon walked off the mound Saturday afternoon at Legends Field after throwing his second batting practice of the spring, 2,000 fans in attendance gave the right-hander an ovation he never would have gotten with the Colorado Rockies, at least not during spring training workouts.
Chacon’s presence in New York gives new meaning to the phrase “whole new ball game” for the right-hander, who went from Rockies pitcher to Yankee savior in just three months. Chacon not only helped the Yankees win Game 4 of last year’s ALDS against the Angels, he was one of the reasons they got that far. Now in his second year with New York, Chacon is more than prepared to take the most high-profile mound in baseball, one he knew he was born to stand on throughout his career.
“I don’t think I exceeded my expectations last season,” said Chacon, who went 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 14 games for New York. “I think I met my personal expectations, but exceeding them would have been the team getting to or winning the World Series.
“I never would have expected to have gotten traded and pitched as well as I did, especially in the postseason given it was the first time. I expected to do well, but you have no clue what it's going to be like.”
http://www.yesnetwork.com/images/content/chacon-inline-022506.jpgChacon went 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 12 starts last season.
The one thing Chacon didn’t expect was the sold-out Yankee Stadium crowd to boo when Joe Torre replaced him with Al Leiter in the seventh inning of Game 4 after he gave up just four hits, two earned runs and struck out five. Being the first postseason game of his career, Chacon didn’t want to get taken out of the game, wanting to savor every moment of the big spotlight.
"It was a decision I felt I had to make," Torre said after the game. "Certainly it wasn't popular and the last thing I wanted to do was go get him, and I understand that."
"Chacon was outstanding," said Mariano Rivera. "I really, really wanted him to win the game." We wanted to win, that was the most important, but Chacon was tremendous. And in his first time being in the playoffs, doing it at Yankee Stadium facing elimination, it was tremendous, and I'm proud of him."
Regardless of the way the season ended, Chacon got more personal satisfaction out of his three months with the Yankees than he had in his whole career. Not only was he auditioned in the toughest market in baseball, he passed with flying colors and feels his teammates make up the best pitching staff he’s ever been a part of.
“Any time you got Randy (Johnson), (Mike) Mussina and Carl (Pavano) on your team,” Chacon said. “Not to mention what Smally (Aaron Small) did, Jaret (Wright) and (Chien-Ming) Wang. It’s by far the best. I’ve played with good pitchers but I don’t think I’ve ever played with any Cy Youngs or any 20-game winners
“It’s pretty amazing.”
"I don’t think I exceeded my expectations last season...I think I met my personal expectations but exceeding them would have been the team getting to or winning the World Series."
— Shawn Chacon
After five years in the majors, Chacon admitted he’s nervous every time he takes the mound, even when throwing batting practice. But once he’s warmed up, “nothing else matters. I can just block out everything and just pitch,” Chacon said.
With the uncooperative weather in Colorado — where Chacon resides during the offseason with his two sons — the right-hander threw just twice outdoors and the rest of the time on a portable indoor mound. However, even though he spent most of the winter relaxing with his family and friends, he feels he’s exactly where he needs to be at this point in camp.
“Definitely,” said Chacon who claims he’s throwing more than he ever did at Rockies’ camp. “I really didn’t get much work, so for me I just need to get my arm strength back up. I’m pretty much the same.”
During Saturday’s workout, Chacon concentrated on the command of his fastball, one of the hardest things for him to master at the beginning of the season, saying his breaking ball is always ready. Torre was impressed with the way Chacon threw the ball and believes he’ll be a big piece of the Yankees’ winning puzzle in ’ 06.
"It's an honor to be part of such a great history over here,” Chacon said. “You want to come in and you want to put your own mark on the Yankees organization. When they show all those videos during batting practice, you can kind of see yourself up there and them talking about you that way."