Steinbrenner Blasts Irabu

Hideki Irabu was removed from the Yankees’ pitching rotation Tuesday, a day after owner George Steinbrenner blasted the pitcher following a loss to Philadelphia.

“With Irabu, we’ve been searching for the consistency that will eventually be there because his stuff is there,” New York manager Joe Torre said before Tuesday night’s game against the Phillies.

“He really hasn’t caught up with the rest of our starters.”

Irabu gave up five runs and nine hits in three-plus innings in Monday’s 5-1 loss. He is 4-3 with a team-high 7.68 ERA in eight starts, allowing 33 earned runs, 55 hits and 12 home runs in 38-2/3 innings.

“I’ve got about seven dozen Hideki Irabu T-shirts I am giving to the Little Sisters of the Blind,” Steinbrenner was quoted as saying in Tuesday’s editions of The New York Post.

Torre said Irabu would pitch out of the bullpen to try and regain confidence.

“Really he doesn’t have enough command of what he’s doing,” Torre said.

“From what I’ve seen, I don’t see (him starting again),” Steinbrenner told Newsday. “And I don’t want to hear it was the mound again. I’m tired of those excuses.”