Kevin Brown

Now that the same team has Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown and Gary Sheffield, it should be renamed the New York Crankies. Dennis Mouradian Long Beach

The New York Yankees bolstered their pitching this off-season by acquiring left-hander Randy Johnson and right-handers Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright. The Yankees' probable starting rotation this season with Mike Mussina and Kevin Brown as the holdovers (statistics are from 2004): *--* 2005 STARTERS AGE IP W L ERA SO BB SHO OBA Randy Johnson 41 245.2 16 14 2.60 290 44 2 197 Mike Mussina 36 164.2 12 9 4.59 132 40 0 276 Carl Pavano 28 222.1 18 8 3.00 139 49 2 253 Kevin Brown 39 132.0 10 6 4.

New York Yankee right-hander Kevin Brown pitched well in the American League division series against the Minnesota Twins, giving up one run and eight hits in six innings of an 8-4 Game 3 victory on Oct. 8, but that didn't give the team's front office any more confidence in the former Dodger. "I have no idea what to expect from Kevin Brown," Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman said before Saturday night's game.

In his second start since coming off the disabled list, Kevin Brown pitched four-hit ball over eight shutout innings for the New York Yankees, who defeated the Oakland Athletics, 5-1, Thursday at Yankee Stadium. Brown (9-1) struck out seven and walked two as he matched the longest outing by a Yankee starter this season. It was only the 10th time a Yankee pitcher has thrown eight innings, the first in 19 starts since Jose Contreras beat Detroit on July 15.

The kid from the Dominican Republic had a great arm, not such a great bat. So the kid became a pitcher, got traded to the Dodgers and emerged as one of the top relievers in the major leagues. That was Guillermo Mota's story. That could be Yhency Brazoban's story too.

Kevin Brown gave the Yankees a boost by pitching into the seventh inning in his first start in more than seven weeks, and Alex Rodriguez homered and drove in both runs in New York's 2-1 home victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night. Brown (8-1), activated before the game after being out since June 10 because of a lower back spasm and an intestinal parasite, allowed one run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two, throwing 88 pitches.

New York Yankee right-hander Kevin Brown probably will return from the disabled list Friday and start against the Baltimore Orioles that night. Brown, sidelined since June 9 because of a lower back spasm and an intestinal parasite, pitched a bullpen session Wednesday and felt good. Brown said he would let the team decide whether he starts Friday's game. He is 7-1 with a 4.13 earned-run average in 13 starts. "The key is to be good enough to give the team a chance to win," Brown said.

New York Yankee pitcher Kevin Brown was diagnosed with intestinal parasites, joining Jason Giambi as the second team member to test positive for the ailment this week. Brown has been out with a bad back since leaving a start June 9, but he also has been ailing "about 3 1/2 weeks or so since we got back from Japan," losing 15 pounds and struggling even to get out of bed each day. "I'd work out and feel weaker the next day, pushing myself down a hole -- that's what it felt like," Brown said.

Derek Jeter's return was a stroke of good luck for the New York Yankees. Now, they're hoping to catch a break with Kevin Brown. Jeter came back from a three-game absence to hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning, and the Yankees overcame Brown's injury by rallying past the Colorado Rockies, 7-5, Wednesday night at New York. Brown was forced to leave after only two innings because of stiffness in his lower back.

Well on the way to his 200th career victory, tough guy Kevin Brown got a bit misty. Blame it on the weather, rather than emotion. Working on a dreary, drizzly afternoon, Brown reached the milestone a game after fellow Yankee ace Mike Mussina and once again led New York over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 5-1, Wednesday at New York. "The mound was definitely slick. It was tough keeping your spikes," Brown said.