Yankees Send Irabu Down for a Fix-up

The Yankees couldn’t wait for Hideki Irabu to get to New York. Now they want him to get out of town--for a while anyway.

With expectations falling short every time the Japanese pitcher takes the mound, the Yankees optioned Irabu to the minor leagues Monday in hopes he can regain his confidence.

“This is just trying to get him fixed so he can help us,” New York Manager Joe Torre said. “ . . . The biggest part of this is that he can get away and then come back.”

Irabu, hit hard in his last three games, will join triple-A Columbus later this week after stopping for a few days to workout at the Yankee training complex in Tampa, Fla.

The right-hander is expected to start in Columbus on Friday night against Rochester.

“He’s going to Columbus to get things ironed out in a less strenuous atmosphere,” New York General Manager Bob Watson said in a hastily arranged news conference at Yankee Stadium.

In his last start Saturday against Seattle, Irabu, whom the Yankees signed to a $12.8-million contract after lengthy negotiations, gave up six runs and four hits in only two innings of a 9-7 loss to the Mariners.

Irabu had trouble with his location from the first pitch, and threw just 41 before being booed as he left the mound with Seattle leading, 6-0.

Following the game, Torre said he thought Irabu looked preoccupied and seemed to be distracted, possibly by the intense scrutiny placed on him by the media and Yankee fans.

Torre’s original plan was to have Irabu skip his next start and pitch out of the bullpen. But after the Yankee brain trust suggested a trip to the minors might help, Torre gave his OK.

Torre said he was involved in making the decision along with Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, Watson and pitching coordinator Billy Connors.

“It was just a matter of talking,” Torre said. “The bullpen was one option for us, but when we started discussing what our options were, we decided that this would be best.”

Irabu spoke through his interpreter for about five minutes before leaving the stadium Monday before the Yankees played host to the Oakland Athletics. He appeared calm and seemed to understand that the Yankees were demoting him for his own good.

“There are so many things I have to work on right now,” he said.

Was he embarrassed by the demotion?

“Of course I’m not satisfied with the result or the way things happened,” he said. “But in the last couple of weeks I have learned a lot.”

After a winning debut against Detroit on July 10, in which he struck out nine and won over Yankee fans with his impressive fastball, Irabu was hit hard by Cleveland in his next start but still picked up the victory.

Indian outfielder David Justice said Irabu’s pitches were “just average” and several other players wondered what all the hype was about.

In a nationally televised game July 20 in Milwaukee, Irabu got his first loss and showed signs of the temper he was known for while pitching in Japan.

During a 6-2 battering by the Brewers, he kicked a resin bag and stomped around in frustration. When he was pulled, he appeared to spit toward Milwaukee fans who chanted “Overrated” at him as he walked off the field. He later explained he was spitting toward the Brewer dugout instead.

Before his start Saturday against Seattle, Torre spoke to Irabu about controlling his emotions.

But by the time the Mariners had finished with him, the 28-year-old’s earned-run average had reached 7.97 and he looked confused.

“By no means are we giving up on him,” Watson said. “We would like to see him pitch up to his capabilities. . . . We’re going to give him a chance to get his confidence back.”

Irabu, who some have called the “Nolan Ryan of Japan,” has struck out 16 in 20 1/3 innings. But despite reports that his fastball has been clocked at 100 mph overseas, he has struggled to reach the mid-90s with the Yankees.

He missed spring training while holding out from the San Diego Padres until they traded his rights to the Yankees. He made six minor league starts for the Yanks after they signed him in late May.