GIANTS & YANKEES

THE NEW COMERS FOR THE YANKEES IN 2007
These are some of the new faces for the YANKEES and GIANTS the most promising ones were picked due to space.

Andy Pettitte SP

After a 3-year absence Andy returns to the Bronx.

Andy is 9th on the all time Yankees list for wins (149) and he is 5th on the all time list for SO's (1275).
Kei Igawa SP/RP

Posted a 14-9 record with a 2.97 ERA in 29 starts for the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese Central League...won at least 13 games for the fifth consecutive season (2002-'06)...was tied for the Central League pitchers with 194 strikeouts and three shutouts, ranked second in wins and complete games (eight), third in innings pitched (209.0) and ranked seventh with his 2.97 ERA...Struck out at least 10 batters in a game six times...on 4/14, became the fifth-fastest pitcher in Japanese baseball history to record 1,000 career strikeouts (in 1,058 innings pitched)...Posted double-digit strikeouts in three consecutive starts from 8/15-29...in 10/3 win at Yakurut, tossed a three-hit shutout...in his final game with Hanshin, tossed a six-hit shutout and struck out 10 batters on 10/16 at the Yakult Swallows in a 3-0 victory...Played in the 2006 Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series...made one start for the Japanese All Stars vs. the U.S. Major League All-Star Team on 11/7, allowing 2ER-including a David Wright home run-in 6.0IP (5H, 6BB, 4K)...was posted by the Hanshin Tigers on 11/16...on 11/29, the New York Yankees posted the highest bid and gained exclusive negotiating rights for a 30-day window.
Luis Vizcaino RP

in 2006 Vizcaino was one of the most reliable arms out of the Arizona bullpen, going 4-6 with a 3.58 ERA over 65 1/3 innings. He recorded 72 strikeouts, just behind his career high of 79, which he set in 2002. August was his best month, when he posted a 1.93 ERA over 14 innings.

Brian Bruney RP

As a mid-season addition to the Yankees bullpen in 2006, Bruney developed into one of the team's most consistent relievers...went 1-1 with a 0.87 ERA in 19 appearances across two stints with the Yankees...struck out 25 batters in 20.2IP...opponents batted .189 (14- for-74, 1HR); LH .115 (3-for-26, 0HR), RH .229 (11-for-48, 1HR)...made appearances in consecutive games five times...retired 14-of-19 first batters faced (74%)...prevented 11-of-17 inherited runners from scoring (65%)...did not have a save opportunity...

Began the season with Triple-A Tucson (Arizona), pitching in four games and going 0-1 (2.2IP, 10ER) before being placed on the disabled list on 4/14 with a right elbow strain...was signed by the Yankees to a minor-league contract on 7/1 after being released by the Arizona Diamondbacks on 5/24...Was assigned to the Gulf Coast Yankees (R) and appeared in three games (3.2IP, 2ER) from 7/10-16 before being transferred to Triple-A Columbus...with Columbus, was 1-1 with three saves and a 3.14 ERA in 11 appearances (14.1IP, 10H, 5ER, 8BB, 22K)...limited RH hitters to a .121 batting average (4-for-33)...had contract purchased from Triple-A Columbus on 8/17 and made his Yankees debut that night vs. Baltimore, striking out the side in the ninth inning (1BB)...was optioned back to Columbus on 8/19 after making two appearances but was recalled again on 8/23...Tossed a career high 2.1IP in 8/26 loss at Los Angeles Angels, allowing 1H and 1ER (3K)...on 9/13 vs. Tampa Bay, tossed 2.0 scoreless innings (1H, 2K) to earn his first win as a Yankee...in 9/16 Game-1 loss vs. Boston, struck out a career-high five batters in 1.2IP (2BB)...Allowed only one run in his final 16 appearances of the season (15.2IP from 8/30-10/1)...made three appearances vs. Detroit in the Division Series, allowing 1H and 1ER in 2.2IP (1HR, 0BB, 4K).



Doug Mientkiewicz 1B
Had a solid season with the Kansas City Royals before his season was cut short with back surgery on 8/29...hit .283 (89-for-314) with 4HR and 43RBI in 91 games (82 starts at first base)...posted his highest batting average since hitting .300 in 2003...hit three of his four home runs and drove in 20 of his 43RBI in the month of June...committed just three errors in 794 chances (.996 fielding percentage)...hit .333 (51-for-153) with a .400 on-base percentage at Kauffman Stadium...28 of his 43 RBI came at home...hit .236 (38-for-161) on the road...Hit .306 (19-for-62) in Interleague Play with 10R, 3HR and 15RBI...finished the season by hitting .311 (46-for-148) after May, including a .339 (21-for-62) mark in July...was hitting just .226 (24-106) through 5/14, but hit .313 (65-for-208) over his last 59 games to raise his average to a .283 mark by season's end...tied a career high with three runs scored on 6/29 at Cincinnati, going 3-for-5 with a solo-HR...hit in a season-high eight straight games from 6/29-7/7, batting .424 (.391) with 2HR and 10RBI during the stretch...Was part of back-to-back-to-back home runs with Angel Berroa and Tony Graffanino in the 1st inning on 5/25 vs. Detroit...it was the Royals first back-to-back-to-back homers since 5/31/02 at Texas...was placed on 15-day disabled list on 7/31 (retro to 7/26) with a strain in his lower back...had surgery on 8/29 to remove part of a herniated disc...surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Watkins.
Reuben Droughns RB
In his first season with Cleveland in 2005, Droughns rushed for 1,232 yards, becoming the first Browns back to eclipse 1,000 yards since Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner did it in 1985. But slowed by injuries and personal problems, Droughns was a big disappointment last season, gaining just 758 yards. Droughns missed two games with injuries and had only two 100-yard games in 2006.