The Yankees are in it to win it this year. All it took was an 8-game winning streak and GM Brian Cashman was ready to make some moves, some serious moves. With Thursday's 4 pm trade deadline looming Cashman seems to be working 24-7. As a result, the Yanks went from being left in the dust to serious heavyweights.

On Wednesday afternoon the Yankees traded reliever Kyle Farnsworth to the Detriot Tigers for Ivan Rodriguez. All I can say is wow. This is an excellent trade and Brian Cashman once again shows why he's one of the smartest men in baseball. This is the second major trade that the Yankees have pulled in less than a week. With less than 24 hours away Cash may have one more trick up his sleeve. Is that going to be Washburn? We'll find out before Thursday's deadline.

It's a great move and came at the right time. It addresses the catching issue that needed to be addressed and it doesn't interfere with Jorge Posada and his surgery. Both I-Rod and Farnsy are in the last year of their contracts and both address needs to their new respective teams. The Tigers need a set-up man with Joel Zumaya injured and Fernando Rodney named the new closer, and the Yanks need a stable catcher because Jose Molina just isn't an everyday player.

Rodriguez will be just as solid as Molina behind the plate but he will give the offense a boost. He batted .295 5 HR 32 RBI this season. An upgrade over Molina's .230 0 HR 11 RBI. Molina is best suited as a back up and his defense is superb so you have to look at this as a win-win situation for the Yanks.

Farnsworth has been on a role of late and became of one Joe Girardi's reliable guys out of the bullpen BUT the main factor in this is....he can't be trusted. In Friday night's 1-0 win in Boston over the Sox, Farnsy came into the game in the 8th, surrendered 2 hits and was immediately taken out for Mariano Rivera. To be fair, Kyle just had a bit of bad luck that night because he wasn't hit hard but Girardi wanted to take no chances of a possible mental breakdown so opted for Rivera to finish off the 8th and eventually the 9th. That move right there should've told you that no matter how good Farnsworth pitches, he can NOT be trusted in big spots. So the move was made, Pudge comes to the Bronx and Farnsy goes to Motown.

Pudge helped the Marlins get to the World Series in 2003 and the Tigers in 2006, both times it was his first season with the team. Let's see if he can bring that success to the Bronx.

With Klye gone from the 'pen, it nows leaves the question of who fills in the late inning roles. The 8th inning set-up job appears to be going to Jose Veras who has become a reliable option in the late innings. Edwar Ramirez will probably be your 7th inning guy. I have to say this is a gutsy move on the Yankees part but I like it. Brian Bruney is rehabbing his injured foot and is slated to rejoin the bullpen in the coming weeks so he could also fill one of the late inning spots if the men in front of him don't perform. With the addition of Demaso Marte last week, the Yankees bullpen is looking good and that will be a key factor down the stretch. The pieces are falling into place now and I like it. With Manny Ramirez apparently on his way to Florida, you got to think that the Yankees have a serious shot at October.

The recent dynastic run of the late '90's was the result of a strong core and a combination of a deep bullpen, good starting pitching, productive offense and a mold of solid all around players. My friends, the Yankees are one trade away from returning to form....a trade that appears to be on it's way tomorrow afternoon. If that doesn't happen, Chien-Ming Wang, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Carl Pavano all may make a return before year's end. If you're a Yankees fan, you have to like your chances now....if not, Brian Cashman's got a trick up his sleeve for sure.

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Tags: Baseball, Brain Cashman, Chien Ming Wang, Demaso Marte, Edwar Ramirez, Ian Kennedy, Ivan Rodriguez, Joe Girardi, Jorge Posada, Jose Veras, Kyle Farnsworth, Phil Hughes, Yankees

Did Sidney Ponson pitch his last game as a Yankee last night? It's very possible. The Yankees have been lucky with Ponson thus far but last night's performance is a reminder of how much of a risk he really is.

The winning streak eventually had to come to an end and the Yanks did take 2 of 3 in Boston, but it was still a game the Yanks needed to win. A win last night puts the Yanks into a tie for the Wild Card with Boston and they gain a game on the Rays leaving them 2 out. But Ponson started in a big game spot. I'll excuse him for the fact that he was due to get hit around at some point. He has given the Bombers more than they could've imagined so I'm not upset with him. It does however raise some questions abouit Sir Sidney in big spots. The much rumored-to-be-Yankee Jarrod Washburn pitched 8 innings and gave up one run in his start yesterday. Does this accerlate the talks between the Mariners and Yanks? I don't know but I would rather Washburn in the rotation than Ponson.

The Yankees are willing to pick up the remaining 14 million on Washburn's contract but Seattle wants a top level prospect. I think Seattle is asking for a little too much and they should lower their asking price before Thursday's trade deadline so they can drop some salary and put that money towards other pieces needed for them to compete again.

I wrote yesterday how the Royals and Yanks have discussed a Melky Cabrera for Brian Bannister trade. It looks like the Yanks aren't too serious about that unless the Washburn deal falls through.

It also appears that the Florida Marlins have interest in Kei Igawa (oh my gosh!). They think he could be a dependable 4th or 5th starter in the National League. Good luck with that idea.

Overall, this was a good week for the Yanks. They went 5-1, gained ground both in the divison and the Wild Card races. Let's hope the upcoming 7-game homestand proves to be just as productive.

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Tags: Baseball, Melky Cabrera, Sidney Ponson, Yankees

Boy is my face red. Last week I wrote how the Yankees need more than luck to make the playoffs. Well, they haven't lost since I wrote that article.

Since my post was written, the Yankees have been on a winning streak of 8 straight, they've made one trade that filled two big needs and it appears they are not done. Reports have the Yanks ready to acquire Jarrod Washburn from Seattle and this morning the Kansas City Star is reporting a potential deal with the Kansas City Royals that could bring Brain Bannister to the Bronx for Melky Cabrera.

Well, it appears the Yanks are going for it. Why wouldn't they? They're the Yankees. I didn't sense a fight in this team and now they are red hot. The winning streak comes at a time where the Tampa Bay Rays have faltered a bit and the Red Sox are slip and sliding their way down the divison as well. The Yanks have won 13 of their last 16. They now trail the Wild Card leading Red Sox by one game.

While there is still about two months of baseball left and anything can happen, you still have to rub your eyes when you look at the AL East standings. The Rays are in first place and the Yanks are a season high 13 games over .500. Now consider some of these facts:

(Thanks to Peter Abraham for his always helpful info )

At the moment, the Yankees have 11 players on the roster who weren’t there on Opening Day. That’s not counting Andy Pettitte, who was on the DL for the opener but made a start on April 5.

So what happened to the original 2008 Yankees?

On the DL: Chien-Ming Wang, Phil Hughes, Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui, Brian Bruney.

Demoted: Shelley Duncan, Ian Kennedy, Billy Traber.

Released: Morgan Ensberg, LaTroy Hawkins.

Demoted then traded: Ross Ohlendorf.

The only players who have been on the roster for all 103 games are: Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Robinson Cano, Jose Molina, Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera. That’s seven players.

Don’t forget, Melky Cabrera and Kyle Farnsworth missed games because of suspension and Joba Chamberlain was on the bereavement list. A-Rod was on the DL, too.

I have to say Joe Girardi has done a great job keeping his team together. How much can the Yankees build off of this run? They have erased an inconsistent first half, answered critics for questioning the lack of "big" moves, and questions about the team's status due to the rash of injuries that have hampered them.

I think I'm going to have to lay low on the predictions for awhile as I seem to always eat my words. Well, I'm glad for once it's working in the Yanks favor. If the Yanks can close out the sweep tonight in Fenway, they would be in a tie with Boston for the Wild Card, have won 9 straight (all against Wild Card contending teams, ex: Oakland, Minnesota, Boston), and retool the team that is in position to go deep into the October night.

Now all that is needed is for the Rays to finally fall on their face. But I'll leave the predictions for another time where I know I can't go wrong.

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Tags: Baseball, Joe Girardi, Melky Cabrera, Yankees

Shelley Duncan is here! How do you know that? Here's how:

Friday night: 1 for 4, 1 RBI.

Saturday (Game 1): 1 for 4, 1 HR 2 RBI, Yankee Stadium curtain call.

Sunday: 2 for 4, 2 HR 4 RBI, another curtain call.

Via ESPN.com:

"It's a crazy experience," Shelley said. "You kind of get frozen in the moment."

That was the weekend Duncan had, and that's why you know who he is. Not to mention fist pounds and high fives that would take your arms off. He's the brother of St. Louis' Chris Duncan and son of Dave Duncan , pitching coach of the Cardinals. He was drafted in 2001 by the Yanks out of Arizona. His infectious manner in which he plays the game has brought a sense of life and enthusiasm to the team and to the ballpark. A factor that the Yankee Stadium crowd did not let go unnoticed. On Sunday, he recieved curtain calls after both of his home runs and recieved a standing ovation upon his third at-bat.

Via Bill Madden, NY Daily News:

"He's not just up there hacking and that's important," said Joe Torre ."He knows who he's facing and maybe it's a benefit to have a father who's a pitching coach teaching you about preparing and focus."

What seems to be Shelley's claim to fame is his overjoyed emotion, "It's fun until after he scores," Derek Jeter said, laughing "He gets a little physical when he gets excited." Asked about his aggressive high fives after Saturday's Game 1 win, Shelley offered YES Network reporter Kim Jones a sample. A sample that surprised her as well as her colleagues in the booth.

Should we be surprised with Duncan or is this a preview of things to come? Torre is going to have to find a way to get him in the lineup, a problem that is certainly a good thing for Torre and the Yanks.

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Tags: Baseball, Derek Jeter, Joe Torre, Shelly Duncan, Yankees

With the 2008 All-Star game behind us, the second half of the season is upon us. This is where the contenders show their worth and the pretenders fade away. The Yankees have been known as a good second half team over the past few seasons but this might very well be the toughest second half of recent memory.

The Yankees are 51-45 and 5.5 games out of first place. 66 games to go. Now granted this is no reason to be alarmed, BUT do you really think Sidney Ponson is going to continue to pitch effectively throughout the second half? Do you think Richie Sexson will be that much of a help in the lineup? Those two are replacing ace Chien-Ming Wang and slugger Hideki Matsui. Mighty big shoes to fill. How much longer is Mike Mussina going to pitch like its 1999? All of these are BIG questions going into the second half. How about Melky Cabrera in CF? When the heck is he going to hit? Robinson Cano, when does he show us that talent that makes him so untouchable? My friends, I think these Yanks are in serious trouble.

The Yankees were 49-46 after 95 games last season. They ended up winning 94 games. I am a fan and sometimes that alters my thinking of the team and what's realistic but this time, this year I don't see the fight in this team. I don't sense it. I want to believe the Yankees will be playing October baseball but I just don't believe they have it in them. I will admit despite all the injuries (Wang-September, Matsui-Out for the year?, Phil Hughes- September?,Ian Kennedy- ?, A-Rod- 3 weeks, Jorge Posada- 6 weeks, Johnny Damon- a few weeks) the Yanks have done a good job in staying in the race. The Tampa Bay Rays will give the Yanks and Red Sox a run for their money this summer but will eventually fade out. It's the Yanks job to gain ground as the end of the season approaches.

The reason for concern is the .254 hitting with runners in scoring position (heading into last night's game). They hit .293 in similar situations last season.

"It's something that's hard to make sense of," general manager Brian Cashman said. "I have to have belief that these guys will hit because that is what they have done in the past. I have to go on what their track records have been."

But again, this is not Joe Torre's Yankees, it's Joe Girardi's team now. We will now see how much of the last few season was Torre's doing or was it the players? The Bombers have 35 games left on the road, 43 games against teams with a record over .500. Things have to get going now. I've said it all season that I will wait until at least the All-Star break to look at where the Yanks are and what their situation is and what lies ahead of them. Well, at this time, things don't look good in the Bronx. I don't want to count them out just yet, but they're not showing me anything worth believing October baseball is in the future.

In order to reach 94 wins the Yankees will have to go 44-23. It's possible and I hope they do make it. But I predict a 39-27 second half. The result of injuries, inconsistent play and lack of clutch hitting. This will leave them with a 90-72 record. I honestly think even that is a stretch for this team but I'm trying to be as realistic as possibe. The Yanks don't take the divison, the wild card is certainly a possiblity because how many AL teams are going to finish with 90 wins?

"I think we can get it done with the players we have," Derek Jeter said. "There's enough talent on this team to get it done."

Is the captain speaking out of confidence or is he speaking like someone who just happens to always say the right thing?

"It's time for us to get going" Girardi said.

I couldn't agree more. I hope the Yanks prove me wrong.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Ian Kennedy, Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Melky Cabrera, Mike Mussina, Phil Hughes, Richie Sexson, Sidney Ponson, Yankees

The 2008 HR Derby was one for the ages. If you didn't see the first round you missed the whole show.

Texas Rangers' Outfielder Josh Hamilton hit an amazing 28 HR's in the first round. Josh's 28 HR's was the most ever in the first round. Bobby Abreu previously held the record with 24, set in 2005. It was quite simply an outstanding performance. Some of the HR's he hit went places you didn't think were possible. He hit them 5oo feet on several occasions, he hit them all the way in the cheap seats in the right field upper deck. He went deep into the black seats in center, he hit the Bank of America sign in right, and he almost hit the 4 train! (ok, he really didn't but it looked like he sure was aiming for it, and came close).

"If the balls had been juiced, I would have had it," said Hamilton, whose teammates had been prodding him to knock one out of the Stadium. "I was close, right? I was trying to hit the subway."

The rules of the HR Derby nowadays make no sense to me. They combine the HR's for the first two rounds to determine the finals. Then, in the final round the total is wiped out. So in the finals we have Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins vs Josh Hamilton. Mornaeu ended winning the Derby because of his 5 HR's to Hamilton's 3. Hamilton stole the show and hit enough to win next year's HR Derby. This is something MLB should look into.

The attention is still on Hamilton. He at one point hit 11 HR's in a row. I was working right across the street from Yankee Stadium yesterday and couldn't see all of the Derby but after getting dinner from McDonalds, I found time to sit down just in time to see the 11 in a row. I finished my dinner before he made an out. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Neither could anyone else who was watching with me. It was so good the sell out crowd in Yankee Stadium were chanting his name.

"Standing at home plate and having Yankee Stadium chant your name," Hamilton said. "Is there a better feeling?"

After a performance like that, there aren't too many better.

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Tags: Baseball, Bobby Abreu

Bobby Mercer has passed away due to complications from brain cancer. It's a sad day in the baseball world because Bobby touched so many people in so many different ways.

The Yankees were informed of his passing after the game. Here are some quotes regarding Bobby:

Michael Kay:

“Bobby was one of the finest human beings I’ve ever met. He handled his battle with a grace and class that was hard to fathom. For me personally, it’s an incredible loss. He was my idol growing up. I was lucky to work with him as a broadcaster, and it showed me that I had great taste as a kid. He was everything that you’d want in someone that you once looked up to. He lived up to every ideal that a little boy set for him. I’m going to miss him a lot. I miss him a lot already.”

Ken Singleton:

“I will cherish all the wonderful times I had with Bobby in the booth. He was a real treasure, and it was amazing to witness the special relationship Bobby had with New York and with Yankees fans. I will miss him greatly. He was one of a kind.”

Kimberly Jones:

“I will never forget how kind Bobby was or how much he cherished every day. Back in March 2005, in one of my first interviews with Joe Torre, he first declined to answer a harmless question then asked me to hold his gum. I extended my notebook and Joe placed the wad on the top page. I had no idea what to think. Two seconds later, Bobby was howling in laughter, as was Joe. It was through a practical joke that Bobby figured he would help the newcomer break the ice. And it was something Bobby and I laughed about many, many times in the years to come. He was always smiling, always upbeat and his spirit was undeniable. Everyone loved Bobby and we will miss him dearly.”

Bob Lorenz:

“My greatest impression of Bobby is not as a player or broadcaster, but as a human being. He was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word, and that’s not a word we hear enough these days. He always treated people warmly and his positive, upbeat personality just made people he came in contact with feel better instantly. His presence had that kind of impact. I know when he walked into the studio at YES, there was a different kind of energy. We all knew we were in for a great day.

“After Bobby was diagnosed in December 2006, I could not believe how positive he remained and how he immediately accepted not only his condition, but the challenge of overcoming it. And he handled it with such grace and, no surprise, in his usual positive manner. And I’ve thought ever since, if Bobby can maintain that kind of positive attitude in the face of such adversity, we all should learn from that. And if we don’t, then we’re not paying attention to the lessons of a great man.

“Bobby’s loss as a broadcaster is immeasureable. As a lifelong Yankee, the stories and history just flowed out of him and captivated Yankees fans. His loss as a friend is even greater. His positive attitude rubbed off on you and made you a better, happier person every time he was around.”

Joe Girardi:

“He was a great Yankee, but more importantly, he was a great friend to all of us. He always put others first, he cared about the game, and he cared whether we won or lost every day. He wore his emotions on his sleeve whether he was in the booth or as a player, and he played the game the right way. Bobby was the type of man that, I believe, got what life was about—trying to make life better for people around him. As a kid, I used to watch Bobby Murcer, and he was one of my heroes.”

For more quotes you can visit Peter Abraham's Lohud Yankees Blog.

Personally, I loved Bobby Mercer. I loved his enthusaism behind the mic and how he handled his situation with brain cancer and how he was so upbeat. It teaches everyone to never take anything for granted and always appreciate what you have. a true gentleman and class act Bobby will be remembered to many people for many different reasons. I know him mostly for being an announcer. Some will always remember him for delivering a moving eulogy at Thurman Munson's funeral and going out and driving in five runs leading the Yanks to victory the same night.

I always loved watching him on Old-Timer's Day and see how much fun he had.One of the games I remember the most about Bobby was July 1, 2004. It was the Yanks vs Sox and it was truly one of the greatest games I have ever seen played. I was also working at Yankee Stadium at the time and was by a tv throughout the night because that game had a postseason feel. It was the night that Derek Jeter dove into the stands for a pop out and came out bloody, the Yankees almost turned a triple play, one team scored and the other responded, it went into extra innings and the game had everything you could ask for. Bobby said that he seen those type of games before and he said don't leave, there's more to come. Boy was he right. The game is usually on YES on Yankee Classics. If you never watched this game, I think you should. At the end of the game when the Yankees came back to win in the bottom of the 13th on John Flaherty's walk off single, Bobby was so upbeat and repeated how he told us that he seen games like this before. He gave you a reason to believe that night and he didn't let us down.

It's a great loss that he has passed. If only he could've made it to this week's All-Star festivies. But he will be there in spirit and he will be watching. Here's to Bobby Mercer, a Yankee in every sense but most importantly, a great human being. He will be missed.

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Tags: Baseball, Bobby Mercer, Yankees

The rosters for the 2008 All-Star Game were announced yesterday afternoon. The hometown Yankees are going to be represented by 3 of the game's best. The crosstown Mets, however have only 1 representative. Let's take a look at the rosters.


AMERICAN LEAGUE STARTERS:
First base: Kevin Youkilis (Boston)
Second base: Dustin Pedroia (Boston)
Shortstop: Derek Jeter (New York)
Third base: Alex Rodriguez (New York)
Catcher: Joe Mauer (Minnesota)
Outfield: Josh Hamilton (Texas)
Outfield: Manny Ramirez (Boston)
Outfield: Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle)
DH: David Ortiz (Boston)

RESERVES:
J.D. Drew (Boston)
Jason Varitek (Boston)
Joe Crede (Chicago)
Carlos Quentin (Chicago)
Grady Sizemore (Cleveland)
Carlos Guillen (Detroit)
Justin Morneau (Minnesota)
Milton Bradley (Texas)
Ian Kinsler (Texas)
Michael Young (Texas)
Dioner Navarro (Tampa Bay)

PITCHERS:
Mariano Rivera (New York)
Scott Kazmir (Tampa Bay)
George Sherill (Baltimore)
Roy Halladay (Toronto)
Jonathan Papelbon (Boston)
Justin Duchscherer (Oakland)
Joe Nathan (Minnesota)
Joakim Soria (Royals)
Cliff Lee (Indians)
Francisco Rodriguez (Los Angeles)
Ervin Santana (Los Angeles)
Joe Saunders (Los Angeles)

NATIONAL LEAGUE STARTERS:
First base: Lance Berkman (Houston)
Second base: Chase Utley (Philadelphia)
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez (Florida)
Third base: Chipper Jones (Atlanta)
Catcher: Geovany Soto (Chicago)
Outfield: Ryan Braun (Milwaukee)
Outfield: Alfonso Soriano (Chicago)
Outfield: Kosuke Fukudome (Chicago)

RESERVES:
Brian McCann (Atlanta)
Aramis Ramirez (Chicago)
Matt Holiday (Colorado)
Dan Uggla (Florida)
Miguel Tejada (Houston)
Russell Martin (Los Angeles)
Nate McLouth (Pittsburgh)
Albert Pujols (St. Louis)
Ryan Ludwick (St. Louis)
Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego)
Cristian Guzman (Washington)

PITCHERS:
Aaron Cook (Colorado)
Tim Lincecum (San Francisco)
Dan Haren (Arizona)
Ben Sheets (Milwaukee)
Carlos Zambrano (Chicago)
Brandon Webb (Arizona)
Ryan Dempster (Chicago)
Brian Wilson (San Francisco)
Edinson Volquez (Cincinnati)
Kerry Wood (Chicago)
Brad Lidge (Philadelphia)
Billy Wagner (New York)

A few interesting things here. Jason Varitek and his .215 batting average? Joe Crede and his .260 average? One can make arguments about leaving the reinvented Mike Mussina and his 11-6 record. Jason Giambi and his 18 HR and 53 RBI. A disappointing fact here is that there is only one Mets player on the NL team. You would've thought they would've played better and had a couple more representatives but that hasn't been the case this season. It's possible we see David Wright in the game if he's voted in by the fans as per the final vote. Same goes with Giambi for the AL team. Mussina could get in as a replacement.

I don't have any issue with the selections other than Varitek, but the players voted him in. Maybe having them vote players in is not such a good idea, neither is having the fans being able to vote 25 times. It's more of a popularity contest than a showcase of the game's best all around players. Even with the fans doing the voting, NOBODY watches the game! For whatever the reason nobody pays attention to it. I don't watch it past the 2nd or 3rd inning. Once I see my guys in the game, that's enough for me. I could care less that the winner of the game determines home field advantage in the World Series. The game means nothing to me, I see it more as just an honor of respect to those who are there. I might be at Yankee Stadium for all of the All-Star Game festivies that weekend. I'm sure if I am, it will be an amazing expirence. If only the game lived up to the hype.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Mariano Rivera, Mets, Mike Mussina, Yankees

Mariano Rivera is still the best closer in baseball. Sometimes it takes a near disaster like the 9th inning yesterday, to make you realize how good Rivera is.

With the Yanks up 2-0 and Rivera on the mound you thought the game was going to over. One thing you learn from watching Yankees-Red Sox is that it's NEVER over until the final out is recorded, no matter what the score is and what the situation is. That's what makes baseball so great. That's what makes this rivalry so great. So Rivera hits two guys, gives up two hits, one run and the bases are loaded and no one out. He strikes out Coco Crisp, gets Jason Varitek to pop up, and strikes out Julio Lugo. He did all that with the same calm, expressionless demeanor he always carries.

For a moment in the 9th inning you could see Rivera was worried. Dave Eiland came out and spoke to the Yankee closer and the rest of the infield. Whatever was said during that trip to the mound, it apparently worked. What makes Rivera so great is he is never afraid. His mental approach is what seperates him from the rest. Instead of panicking, he faced his situation and went toe-to-toe with the next three Red Sox hitters. The end result...a Yankees victory and another save for Mariano.

It's easy to take Rivera for granted for everything he does. He makes it look so easy and he's done it for so long, you just expect him to flawless. He's as close to automatic as anything you've ever seen in baseball, so you should never worry about Mariano. Sure, if the Yanks lost that game yesterday, then it would have been probably the most devastating loss of the year. I, for one did not think Rivera could possibly blow that game yesterday. Even with the bases loaded and no one out, I knew Rivera would get through it. Why? Because once you get past the panic and the nerves, you realize that Rivera is the game's best, not just now....but of ALL TIME. Maybe Eiland reminded Mo of this, maybe Mo reminded himself, but he got the job done. He made it exciting but never doubt the game's best.

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Tags: Baseball, Mariano Rivera, Yankees

As if Game 1 wasn't bad enough for the Yankees, in Game 2 of the doubleheader they called on Sidney Ponson to lead the way. Oh boy....

You know what, Ponson wasn't bad at all. Thank goodness. He gave the Yankees excatly what they needed. A quick turn-around after Game 1's disaster. He gave them 6 shutout innings. You couldn't ask for more. Bobby Abreu also helped the Yank's cause with a 4 for 4, 3 RBI performance.

This, from the Yankees stadnpoint was the type of game you wanted. Good pitching by Ponson, a good performance by the offense and good work by the bullpen. Pedro Martinez starting for the Mets was ineffective. He gave up 6 runs, walked 5 in his 5.2 innings of work.

"I'm not doing my job," Martinez said. "It's time to be getting better, not getting worse."

With the 9-0 win by the Bombers, it gives them their first win of the 2008 Subway Series. The Mets had won the previous three meetings, all at Yankee Stadium. With the final out of Game 1 recorded at 6:03 pm, it left little time to regroup and travel to Shea Stadium in time for Game 2, which was slated to begin at 8:10. According to the always lovely Kimberly Jones on the YES Network, the Yanks arrived at 7:11pm.

"It almost felt like you were in high school or a summer-league team, scrambling to play the second game," Joe Girardi said.

A memorable day in New York baseball. If you're a fan of either team then yesterday was a great day. Yanks-Mets coverage ALL DAY. Can't get any better than that. Well, of course if both teams make it to the World Series, then that would be better.

I'm all baseballed out. I'm not sure if thats even a word, but I'll run with that. Both teams are back at today at 3:55pm on FOX. Andy Pettitte vs Johan Santana, get ready it's going to be another great game. I'm looking forward to it, it's the main attraction of the series pitching-wise. Can't wait to see what happens.

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Tags: Baseball, Bobby Abreu, Joe Girardi, Mets, Sidney Ponson, Yankees

Yesterday was quite the day for New York baseball. One of those days that rarely happen, which makes it more memorable. Both the Mets and Yankees didn't disappoint as both teams won a game to split the home and home twinbill.

Game 1:

Carlos Delgado was the story. He hit 2 HR's and had a Mets franchise record 9 RBI. The same Carlos Delgado that the NY Post wanted out of town. Make no mistake about it, Delgado still has something left in him, or was it a result of the bad pitching he faced? Whatever the case may be, his 2 HRs were some of the longest HR's you will ever see hit at Yankee Stadium. If you have not seen them, then I'd suggest you make it to business to YouTube it or turn on ESPN. I'm not sure those balls Delgado hit have landed yet.

Dan Giese got the start and pitched poorly. He threw 100 plus pitches in 4 plus innings. He got into trouble in the fifth when he walked Jose Reyes and Luis Castillo. David Wright then followed with a base hit and the bases were loaded. Exit Giese, enter Edwar Ramirez. Two batters later Delgado followed with a 2-run double.

"It was like every time I came up, I had a lot of guys on base," said Delgado, who is hitting .462 (6-for-13) with two homers and 11 RBI in his first three games against the Yankees this season. "I got good pitches to hit and I was able to drive them. It's nice to go out and get a good game."

Boy did Delgado make the Yankees pitching look bad. I mean he got the hits off of Giese, Ross Ohlendorf, and LaTroy Hawkins. Not excatly top of the line pitchers but Carlos got the job done. The end result was a Mets 15-6 victory in Game 1 of the split stadium doubleheader.

"It doesn't matter if it's Yankees-Mets or whoever is playing," Jorge Posada said. "It's all about executing pitches, and today, that wasn't the case."

This game showed how much the Yankees lack pitching depth and if I were Brian Cashman, I'd look at that game and get on the phone quick. There's no way you can keep running these guys out there. Giese got released by the Giants, Ohlendof wouldn't be in the majors if the Yanks didn't lack depth, and Hawkins....well I don't know why he has a job. Enough said.

Nothing you can take positive out of this game if you're a Yankee fan. Maybe Alex Rodriguez' 3 for 4 day, with a HR and 2 RBI. The Yanks were 4 for 14 with runners in the scoring position by the 4th inning! You can't win games with stats like that. Just a bad overall performance by the Yanks and a good game for the Mets.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Brain Cashman, Dan Giese, Edwar Ramirez, Jorge Posada, Mets, Ross Ohlendorf, Yankees

One thing that makes baseball so great is second guessing. It happens almost on a nightly basis, some situations prove to be more vital than others. During last night's Yankees-Reds game, this was a case where the situation being second guessed cost the Yanks the game.

Over at Peter Abraham's Yankees Blog he breaks down the situation. As always, Peter tends to provide us with information that helps us better understand certain situations.

Situation: It was 1-1 with two outs and a runner on third.

Jay Bruce: The rookie had driven 12 runs in his first 23 games and was 7 for 19 with RISP. However, Bruce was 8 of his last 43 with one RBI as he came to the plate. He had yet to be intentionally walked. He was 1 for 2 against Mussina in the game, hitting the ball hard both times.

Jolbert Cabrera: He was 2 for 2 against Moose to that point and 3 for 5 in his career. One of the hits last night was a bunt, the second a clean single. But he had only 15 ABs against RHPs all season. He had not yet had an AB with RISP.

Other factors: Bruce is a lefty. Lefties are hitting .235 against Mussina this season. Cabrera is right-handed. They are hitting .308 against Mussina.

The decision made was to let Mussina walk Bruce to get to Cabrera, who was already 2 for 2 on the night. The problem was Moose didn't get to decide what to do in this situation.

“I didn’t get to choose. It was the path they chose. That was it,” Mussina said. “You saw what I saw. Held up four fingers; I throw four balls.”

Earlier in the year, the infamous Manny Ramirez at-bat during a Saturday afternoon game at Fenway, Mussina was given the choice to pitch to a red-hot Manny or to walk him. Mussina chose to pitch to Ramirez and that decision led to a Yankee loss. Last night's decision also led to a Yankee loss. Seems like Joe Girardi doesn't have the right touch yet.

It's also interesting to note that Johhny Damon misplayed a line drive in left field to start the rally. It was a ball that appeared he could've caught, it did hit off his glove. But Moose decided not to place blame on that. In any event, the Yanks and Girardi will learn from their expirences and hopefully led them to making the right ones down the stretch.

I feel that the right move goes according to the gut feeling you have in that situation. Girardi, who is a by the numbers kind of guy will no question go for the intentional pass. Right move, but when you're in the heat of battle, you have to look at the situation. If Girardi looked at the numbers above then I don't think he calls for the intentional walk. I understand it's probably impossible to have those numbers on the spot like that but the fact that Bruce is a rookie and struggling and Cabrera was hot last night, it should've made it a no brainer. I'm not faulting either Girardi or Mussina for what happen, but sometimes you should go with your gut (if only I went with my own advice....).

Good job by Peter Abraham for the breakdown, bad job by the Yanks in that situation. What do you think was the best thing to do in this situation?

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Tags: Baseball, Joe Girardi, Mike Mussina, Yankees

Sometimes there are times where there are things I feel I need to address. Today, I feel the need to take something to task. Here is what I'm referring to:

Via NY Daily News:.

In a Sports Illustrated survey of 495 Major League Baseball players in its June 23 issue, Derek Jeter was voted the most overrated with 10% of the vote. Struggling Giants lefthander Barry Zito was second at 9%, while Alex Rodriguez and Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew were tied for third with 7%. Mets third baseman David Wright and Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis tied for fourth at 4%.

Now how in the world is Jeter overrated? Sure he doesn't deserve to be paid $18 million, but neither does anyone else for that matter. So how else is he overrated? What are you judging him by? He's a leader, he's consistent, he's clutch, and he's a proven winner. What else do you want from the guy? He is deserving of all the fame he has because he earned his success. He hutles on every play, he shows up to work and goes about his business the right way and does everything that is asked of him. He ALWAYS has a team first mentality, something lost on the game these days. So how is he overrated? Let's look at some of his awards:


- 8-time AL All-Star (1998-2002, 2004, 2006 & 2007)
- 4-time NY Yankees Player of the Year (1998-2000, 2006)
- 3-time AL Gold Glove Award (SS) (2004-06)
- 2-time Baseball America 1st-Team Major League All-Star (SS) (1999, 2004)
- 2-time AL Silver Slugger (SS) (2006-07)
- South Atlantic League All-Star (SS) (1993)
- Florida State League All-Star (SS) (1994)
- Baseball America 1st Team Minor League All-Star (SS) (1994)
- Minor League Player of the Year (1994)
- NY Yankees Minor League Player of the Year (1994)
- Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year (1994)
- Florida State League Most Valuable Player (1994)
- International League All-Star (SS) (1995)
- AL Rookie of the Year (1996)
- All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (2000)
- World Series Most Valuable Player (2000)
- TSN Award (SS) (2006)
- Hank Aaron Award (2006)
- This Year In Baseball Awards Top Hitter (2006)

Honorable Mention:
- Placed second in 2006 in the AL MVP voting
- Has a Major League Baseball record in career postseason hits, singles, at-bats, runs scored and strikeouts (yes I even included a negative).

The timing of this poll is questionable. It is taken at a time when the Yankees were struggling, Now if this poll had been conducted in October, when Mr Jeter has been playing for the last 13 years then I think the results would be different.

I think that a lot of this is based on jealously. Jeter is THIRD on the Yankees ALL-TIME hit list. Now think about that. Think of everyone who's put on the pinstripes and think how Derek is only behind Ruth and Gehrig. That's amazing. But according to most people this is a feat that just any ol' joe can do. But then again jealously rears it's ugly face again. Why? Because he plays in New York, plays for the most storied franchise in professional sports, has fame, fortune, looks, women and the list can go on and on. I'm jealous of Derek too but I don't think he's overrated. Maybe I'm still living off the Yankee dynasty of the late 90's, but he's still here and still performing. Maybe it's the fact he gets to live out his boyhood dream of playing shortstop for the Yankees. Maybe it's because he's dated women such as Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Mariah Carey, Vanessa Minillio. Maybe it's because he has his own cologne.

Whatever the case may be, everyone should get off the Hater-ade. It just makes you sound ignorant and like you have no idea what you're talking about. If he's overrated then please tell me who's better and who has a resume in today's game better than Jeter?

I've stated this many times in the past..Derek Jeter has the best life in the world. He plays for the New York Yankees (his boyhood dream), makes millions of dollars, has a list of women that would put any man to shame, is still young, he performs at a high level and enjoys what he does. Doesn't get any better than that. Yep, I said it, he has the best all around life of anyone you could think of. Now try and debate that.

He's still got a lot of baseball in him and there's no question he is a sure future Hall of Famer. The day he gets inducted in, we'll remember him for so many things: hitting the first HR in November, being the first to be named MVP of the All-Star Game and World Series in the same season (2000), making one of the most memorable plays in postseason hisoty (The Flip), the guy that was face of the latest Yankee dynasty but most importantly..he will always be remember as a Yankee. Now I know that makes people jealous.... but he earned it.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Derek Jeter, Yankees

I think there's been way too much Mets coverage lately and I would like to fix that.

As the Mets were heading to the west coast and firing their manager and coaches, the Yankees lost their ace, and have quietly won seven straight.

Joba Chamberlain pitched 5.2 innings in his fourth big league start. He recorded a career-high nine strikeouts and threw 100 pitches. He was able to get out of big jams and keep his composure as he helped the Yanks to victory.

It was a pretty quiet afternoon in the Bronx. Not much going on except for Joba-Mania. The offense did just enough to secure a win. What was interesting to note in this game, is that the Yankees managed to steal four bases. Derek Jeter led off the sixth inning with a base hit then promptly stole second. He then took third base on a grounder and eventually scored on an Alex Rodriguez single to left. They used small ball to get them an extra run. An extra run that proved to be decisive.

Mariano Rivera pitched for the third consecutive day and recorded his 20th save in as many chances. The bullpen pitched 3.2 innings while striking out six. Three of those went to Rivera. With that being said, in the three-game series against the Padres he struck out 7 of the 9 batters he faced. Wow. How good is this guy? He's been as consistent as anyone has ever been on the mound.

The Yanks continue to ride their hot streak against the National League this weekend as they face the Cincinnati Reds at the Stadium for the first time since the 1976 World Series. That year the Yanks were swept by the Big Red Machine. The Yanks hope for a different outcome this weekend.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Derek Jeter, Joba Chamberlain, Yankees

One of the things that made the Yankees great over the years was they knew who was playing centerfield. Bernie Williams was their centerfielder and there was no doubt about him. He could run, he could hit and he could field. Ok so he couldn't throw but with all the upside, the throwing aspect of Bernie's game was his only downside. Nowadays Melky Cabrera mans CF. But there's some debate about if he should be the man out there.
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Many people, such as myself are Melky Cabrera fans. I love the guy's arm. When there's a ball hit to him and he's getting ready to try and throw out a runner don't tell me you don't start to get excited. His arm is incredible. His fast start this season mad you wonder can Melky be a top notch CF? Does he have ther power to go along with his arm? He's a decent .280 or .290 hitter. He runs pretty well, he's not slow. But since that quick start this season Melky has cooled off. He's only had three extra base hits in his last 30 games. He's missplayed a few flyballs that have caused a few unearned runs. So shall we ask the question, is Melky Cabrera the Yankees CF of the future? or is he holding that spot warm for highly touted prospect Brett Gardner?

Gardner was selected in the third round of the 2005 draft. Down in the minors everyone is raving about him. He has a career .387 OBP since he started playing in the Yankee organization. He has a .290 average to go along with 141 stolen bases. Now for the stuff that are making people in the organization drool, hrough 60 games he’s tripled his homerun total of the previous two seasons combined. He's slugging .454, 80 points better than his career average. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Now he doesn't have the arm Melky does but those offensive numbers to go along with his speed surely raise the question of who's better suited for CF.

Gardner is only a year older than Cabrera. The Yankees have a good dilemma on their hands. I can see both of these guys running flyballs down in the outfield for years to come. In the near future why not have Melky in left and Gardner in center.

I believe Gardner will one day take over the Yankees CF job because of all the hype we've heard about him. Melky is a solid baseball player. He will improve with time. I can't wait to see them side by side out there. Until then I like Melky in CF but I want to see what Gardner can do at the major league level. Hopefully by the end of the year I'll get to see the future of the Yankees right before my eyes. Who do you think should be playing CF?

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Tags: Baseball, Bernie Williams, Brett Gardner, Melky Cabrera, QUITE FRANKLY, Yankees

Johnny Damon returned last night to Oakland. A place he used to play in 2001. In the last few weeks, Damon has returned to being "Johnny Damon". He's playing the way he is know for, being an offensive sparkplug.

His batting average has gone from .265 to .325 in his recent surge. That placed him third in the American League at the start of play last night. His OBP is .392, a stat that is very important now that Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada are back in the lineup.

"Last year, I wasn't healthy for at least 100 games," Damon said last night before the Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 3-1. "You could definitely tell. But things have gone OK so far this year."

He's also growing a mustache. Jason Giambi has been sporting it and has seen his numbers go up as well. Maybe there is something to the 'stache. Damon has also been very vocal about the team's moves and inconsistent play.

"We've had some great comebacks the last couple of days. You think it would help us out the next day and it hasn't. We haven't been able to build off the momentum. There's a lot we need to figure out.
We definitely think we can get on a run. But we need to do it now. Last year was just an amazing comeback that we had," he said. "But with our division being tougher, that's going to be tougher to do."

I agree. I feel like Damon is speaking for the fans. Damon is addressing a lot of issues that Yankee fans want answers to. Joba's move to the rotation and the inconsistent play are some prime examples. I hope his teammates are listening to him and will respond with playing well on the field. Last season when Posada questioned the heart of the team and they responded. Let's see if Damon's recent "rants" lead to any change in play. Let's hope so.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Yankees

Joba Chamberlain is expected to be the ace of the Yankees staff one day. The shut down kind of ace that Boston had last year with Josh Beckett. He's expected to send the Yanks to the promise land on the strength of his blazing fastball and sweeping slider. Right now, he's expected to reach his pitch limit and get himself mentally prepared for a starter's role in the majors.


After his first start, Joba admitted to having some nerves about his first major league start. That could explain his 38 pitch first inning. It resulted him lasted only into the third inning. On Sunday Joba got into the fifth. Chamberlain allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits. He walked one while striking out five. He threw 78 pitches (53 strikes).

"I think he went out with the intention of being aggressive and getting some quick outs," Joe Girardi said. "He was real aggressive Sunday with his fastball, which I love."

The difference between Tuesday's start and yesterday's start raise more questions to the debate of Joba as a starter. His next outing is going to be Friday against the Houston Astros. His pitch limit in that game will be about 90-95. After that you think he would be able to go as far as he allows himself to go. The Yanks will get a better idea of how Hoba will be as a starter when he's able to pitch with no restrictions (surely they won't let him get to 120 pitches either on any start but you know what I mean).

"It's good to see it's going up, going up and going up," Chamberlain said of the well-publicized calculations. "Hopefully after one or two more, it will just be, 'Go out there and wherever it falls, whether it's 50, 80 or 140, go out there and do everything you can.' "

It'll be interesting to see how he responds to the increased workload. It'll be interesting to see how he fares against teams he faces a second and third time around. He has the stuff to be a good starter. An ace? I dont think you can determine that just yet, without seeing him pitch in pressure situations (ones where he can't use his 100 mph fastball most of the time).

If he Yanks can find a guy to fill the set-up role that Joba left, then it makes the move to the rotation even better and strengthen the team overall. Yes I stated the obvious, but the Yanks have not perforned to the level we have expected them to,at this point anything can be viewed as a positive.

Joba's going to be fine. This weekend was a good sign as the Yanks once again fought back and got a come from behind win. Yesterday's win was a team effort. They need more of those type of wins. I like what I'm seeing. I just hope they can be consistent with this.

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Tags: Baseball, Joba Chamberlain, Joe Girardi, Yankees

The New York Yankees (30-30) start a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals (23-37) at Yankee Stadium tonight. After yesterday's improbable win, the struggling Royals come in at just the right time for the Yanks to feast on. Here are your matchups this weekend.

Tonight - 7:05 p.m., YES
Kyle Davies - RHP (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Darrell Rasner - RHP (3-2, 2.67 ERA) NOTE: Davies served up A-Rod's 500th HR last season.

Tomorrow - 1:05 p.m., YES
Brian Bannister - RHP (5-6, 4.60 ERA) vs. Andy Pettitte - LHP (5-5, 4.21 ERA)

Sunday - 1:05 p.m., YES
Zack Greinke - RHP (5-3, 3.56 ERA) vs. Joba Chamberlain - (1-2, 2.42 ERA)

Monday - 1:05 p.m., YES
Luke Hochevar - RHP (3-5, 5.13 ERA) vs. Mike Mussina - RHP (9-4, 4.01 ERA)

Prediction: Yanks win 3 of 4.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Baseball, Darell Rasner, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Joba Chamberlain, Mike Mussina, Robinson Cano, Yankees

Michael Kay said it best when he said "this is the biggest win of the season". No question about it, it surely was.

Chien Ming Wang was awful again and goes winless for the sixth consecutive start. Melky Cabrera didn't help his cause either by dropping a flyball that helped jumpstart the Toronto offense.

Kyle Farnsworth did his usual, give up runs. The Yankees have had many leads this season that have quickly disappeared, something that is occurring too often in my opinion.

But the Yankees fought back. On the day they got Jorge Posada back in the lineup, we saw life from the New York offense. Wilson Betemit slugged his second homerun in as many days and Jason Giambi on a sore foot hit a game winning two-run homerun into the upper deck to send the fans home happy. Yes, the 'stache is working.

Whatever powers that come from the 'stache or the gold thong, Giambi has been hitting the ball well in recent weeks. Today, with two outs and two strikes he hit one far into the afternoon sun. And so as a result, the Yanks are back at .500 and won the series from Toronto.

I, along with many people (Kay and ESPN's Tim Kurkijan) agree that this is the biggest win of the year and this should be the point where this 2008 season takes a turn for the better. It's no coincidence that with Posada back in the lineup, the offense got going. We'll see what the Bombers do from this point forward.

You had to see it coming. In the bottom of the 8th, Johnny Damon (another guy donning the 'stache) almost gave the Yanks the lead. With two outs and runners at second and third Damon drove one out to deep right center where Lyle Overbay made a great catch to save the game. Gotta give Overbay some love for his "web gem."

On the downside of things today, Wang was not himself. It's getting to the point where you have to start wondering what's wrong with the Yankee "ace". Wang says his arm slot is not there and thus causing him to elevate his slider but now having gone six straight outings without a win, something is wrong. If it's an injury, the Yanks will keep that tight lipped. If it's mechanics, then Wang needs to tinker around with them during his bullpen sessions. One would think that Wang's leg injury that had him get an extra day of rest a couple weeks ago is the root of the problem.

I'm no doctor but the Yanks better find out what's wrong with him and find out soon. You're not going to have games like today every fifth day so if Wang is injured, then rest him and have him miss a start if need be. But if Wang continues to struggle like this then the Yanks can kiss their playoff hopes goodbye. There's no calavary on the way this year, unless you view free agent David Wells this year's impending savior. Joba's in the rotation now, so now is the time to get it together and win.

Today was a huge win for the Yankees for so many reasons. It's time to build off of it and run with it. Time is ticking...but you have to believe this team is about to hit their stride. I can only assume for now...I just hope they don't make me look bad for being so optimistic.

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Tags: Chien Ming Wang, David Wells, Jason Giambi, Joba Chamberlain, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Melky Cabrera

It seems as nothing comes easy to the Yankees anymore. Last night the Yanks were on the verge of losing but held tight and pulled out a 7-6 win over the Minnesota Twins in 12 innings.

Chien-Ming Wang didn't look like the ace he was in May as he had another rough outing. You have to wonder if this is something worth some concern. He's is 0-2, 5.67 in his last five starts.

"When he's off, it's not like he gives up 10 or 12 runs," Joe Girardi said. "He's not going to be on his A-game all the time, so you have to give him credit for battling and keeping us in there."

The Yanks came close to falling to defeat a couple times in the extra frames. In the bottom of the 10th Ross Ohlendorf served up a double to Mike Lamb that appeared to being heading out of the park but bounced off the baggie in right field instead. After an intentional walk to Nick Punto, Ohlendorf went right at rookie Carlos Gomez. He struck him out on three pitches.

"He's pretty aggressive," Ohlendorf said. "I felt pretty good about my slider tonight, so I just threw him sliders."

The go-ahead hit came in the top of the 12th, Bobby Abreu singled home Johnny Damon and the Yanks never looked back. For the second straight night the Yankees were looking in the face of defeat but victory prevailed for the Bombers. They have taken the first two games of the four-game wrap-around series against Minnesota.

"Hopefully we're not done," Damon said. "Hopefully we can come out here (today) and put together some more good at-bats. It could have gone either way today, but our bullpen showed its strength and we showed some perseverance. No quit."

Two good wins for New York and good signs. Ohlendorf got himself into and out of trouble by being aggressive. A sure confidence boost for the youngster. They're going to need him this season in big spots and last night was an example of how good this kid can be.

The Yankees have pulled to a game over .500 for the first time since May 4th. Another good sign as it points to the Yanks heading in the right direction. The starting rotation gets a boost from Joba Chamberlain on Tuesday so things are definately looking up in the Bronx.

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Tags: Baseball, Bobby Abreu, Chien Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, Joe Girardi, Johnny Damon, Ross Ohlendorf, Yankees