"a six-game winning streak in which they've scored a minimum of seven runs in every game"

That's just remarkable.

1 These are the good times.

Yeah, but that Randy Johnson trade still irks me:)

Okay, probably should stay away from that Pandora's Box.

This is the best I've felt about this team all year. What an offense.

3 Imagine if Giambi hadn't gotten hurt . . . and consider that they could add Giambi and Hughes in the next week or two.

4 Are you convinced Giambi will imrprove the team, Cliff?

I'm ambivalent.

3 It does feel great, but (not to jinx anything) I felt this way before Colorado, too...

Just saying.

5 I'd like to see what Giambi does in his rehab starts. If he's really healthy, you bet they're better off with him. The only question, since Melky would likely be the odd man out (unless Giambi played 1B, then it'd be Phillips), is whether Damon goes back to completely sucking after he's pushed out of the DH slot.

But if that happens it's Damon, not Giambi, who's hurting the team while Melky rots on the bench.

6 I think Melky has won the CF job outright.

{2] 1998 was the good times.

But I'll savor this anyway.

6 For some reason, this touches a nerve with me. On Planet Logical, Giambi's return and Melky's playing time would be mutually exclusive. Melky has earned the CF job in every possible way, with timely hitting (upping his OPS to pseudo-respectability for a CF'er), situational hitting, and stellar defense.

Back here on Earth, however, Melky will likely be bumped to fourth outfielder status upon Giambi's return. And we all know how poorly both Melky and the team played when he was a part-time player. Must've been a coincidence, though.

I realize that this will infuriate and/or bewilder a lot of people, but Melky Cabrerra is a better complement to the rest of this team than is Giambi.

9Just to clarify, by "situational hitting," I mean to imply that he's done exceptionally well lately advancing runners with his bunting, sac. flies, etc.

6 I'll take a Giambi that sees 12 pitches per AB, lifts a few into the short porch, and gets nabbed at second by 10 feet for whats a standup triple by anyone else, God bless him...

The Damon/DH/Melky/CF dynamic does beg the question, though. I dunno, hopefully Melkman will be in there enough to keep him sharp at the plate, and at least at the right times when D is critical. It's gonna be an interesting juggling act...

8 1949-53 set the bar for 'good times'. Five straight rings. Wish I coulda been there ;-)

7, 9 Melky has won the starting job. He'll also be benched when Giambi comes back. But when that happens it will be Damon taking at-bats away from Melky.

I know it's doubtful that there even is such a thing, but we should all appreciate a healthy Giambi re-entering the lineup. Don't blame losing Melky on a boon like that, blame it on Damon's contract being too big to bench him instead.

The Yankees have 62 games left.

Roughly 75% of those will be against RH pitching, 25% LH pitching. Damon and Giambi should sit against LH pitching with Duncan and Phillips playing DH/1B. Against RH pitching Torre should rotate days off for Damon, Abreu, Matsui, Giambi, and Melky giving them all about 9 games off (vs. RH) the rest of the way. Melky plays 53 of 62 games. Add in PH duties and subs and everyone is happy and fresh. It's not rocket science. Let people know their roles and concentrate on making the playoffs without filling out lineup cards by "gut".

4 I think that's THE reason not to make any moves. They're adding a top caliber bat and pitcher that other teams crave. The only question is if they can add a Gagne or Lidge. Swapping out Flame in the process would be a bonus.

Otherwise, Melky just has to keep hitting, and things will take care of themselves. Him starting in CF, over a healthy Damon, was the big Torre hurdle. I think (or pray), for once they'll be willing to bench the overpriced guy with lower skills over the youngster with still developing skills. And Damon has a .670 OPS in July while Melky is at .834.

Speaking of Torre (via NoMass):

Yesterday's organizational meetings in Tampa, Fla., focused more on the Yankees' need to change the personnel in their bullpen and obtain a versatile, utility-type hitter who could play some first base until Jason Giambi gets back.

Many in the organization favor seeing if Andy Phillips and Shelley Duncan can provide the offensive answers. And there are also many in the organization who worry that manager Joe Torre could stand in the way of the improvements they try to make. Torre was opposed to the team's efforts to acquire outfielder Milton Bradley when the A's put him on waivers, and he opposed a possible deal for Houston infielder Morgan Ensberg.

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1185337563294500.xml&coll=1

13 They do need to start seeing what they have against LHP. The Tigers have two LH starters (Robertson and Rogers) as do the Sox right now. Indeed, the reason I think the Sox rushed back Lester (besides Taverez sucking) is to see which of him or Gabbard is more likely to be Yankee kryptonite while the other could end up as a one to two inning guy in the pen. Yankee bats go very quiet against LHP and Okajima plus Gabbard/Lester (esp when Shrilling returns) could be a formidable late inning matchup problem (Giambi loses 132 points of OPS against LHP; Abreu loses 202 points; Matsui loses 87 points; Damon - 48) It would be nice if they kept Duncan on the bench, and even better if they could play him in the corner OF slots.

FWIW, in the three years prior to this one Giambi went .243/.388/.484 against LHPs in 345 ABs and .252/.416/.518 against RHPs in 782 ABs. And those totals include his horrible 2004. This year, in 46 ABs he's gone .283/.327/.522 against southpaws and .252/.400/.398 in 103 ABs. I would guess that the reverse split is a bit of an aberration.

In any case, and to be honest (I know that everyone is high on Duncan right now), but I don't see Shelley Longball putting up numbers either set of numbers against any type of pitcher once he's exposed. And he will be.

16 whoops, Giambi's .252/.400/.398 in 103 ABs line is against righties, natch.

15 I wouldn't mind seeing the Yankees trade for Sammy Sosa as a platoon DH vs. LH pitching. He's hitting a sweet .333/.436/.615 this year vs. lefties. Add Phillips and Duncan at 1B and one corner OF spot and all of a sudden lefty pitching isn't so troublesome.

Here's why we've heard certain names mentioned:

Career OPS against LHP:
Ensberg - .927
Bradley - .825
Wiggy - .843

compare:

Damon - .750
Abreu - .763
Matsui - .800
Giambi - .858

Decent lefties on contending teams (bold = starters right now):
Tigers - Rogers, Robertson, Seay
Indians - Sabathia, Fultz
Red Sox - Lester, Gabbard, Okajima

Questions are: Would Torre ever start Duncan in the OF? Would he ever pinch hit him for Abreu or Matsui?

Sorry for the sobering thoughts - it's my nature...

18 Woo-hoo! They could slowly acquire an entire Balco All-Star team, then go on a barn storming tour.

18 Problem is, it looks like the biggest sinkhole without a net is Abreu. Can Sosa play RF?

Jermaine Dye works:
.856 (career)/.837 (2007)

But that's not much of an upgrade. Duncan might actually be better.

Anyway, let's see how Giambi does in his rehab start. I'm still sceptical. On the other hand, if he does come back for real, probably no team is going to make a midseason acquisition for a player of equal caliber. The ABs will work thmselves, too. Torre did bench Damon for Shelley Duncan after all, albeit for two days.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, if A-rod hits a home run in the suspended Baltimore game on Friday his home run last night will statistically become his 500th.

It will technically be a June home run so that would retrospectively increase his totals. Weird huh?

I like how pissed Rodriguez was when he whiffed on that fat slider against Dotel. What has impressed me about A Rod is that he recovers very well from bad swings, bad at-bats, even a bad game or two. Everytime I think he's going to go into a real slump...he doesn't. Hopefully, he'll hit 500 shortly, be done with it, and continue his march to 50 dingers. I just think it'd be so cool to see a Yankee hit 50 homers in a season.

That is weird. Actually, I've been thinking about that make-up game. Who, exactly, do you pitch in a game like that? You need two innings. Do you use a starter on his rest day? Or a reliever? Relievers aren't used to pitching early in the evening. Curious...

Hmm. My initial sorta silly reaction is to say "Mariano."

I can't see using a starter for 2 innings, especially since the 2nd of said innings is Mariano time.

So, provided they are properly rested (never a sure thing), I'd go Viz-Mo.

There is an article in the Times today with George Brett praising Alex Rodriguez..."He's the best player I've ever seen," Brett had said. "He really is."

24 50 is a lot of home runs. I remember Tino's monster 1997 and Alex Rodriguez may match that total by the end of August. I forgot but Tino Martinez was second in MVP voting that year (to Junior Griffey).

"Once, there was a time when it was possible to trade for Randy Johnson at the trading deadline. Or Bartolo Colon. Or, at the very least, Brad Penny. Boy, those were the days.

But now those days seem as long gone as legalized spitballs, the seven-balls-for-a-walk rule and those old gloves that looked more like pingpong paddles.

'All we want,' said one NL executive this week, 'is a starting pitcher who's at least an upgrade. But they're just not out there. If we're sitting here waiting for Steve Trachsel to come off the disabled list, thinking that's a big deal, I mean, it's time to slap ourselves in the head. But that's where we are.'

You could see this storm cloud gathering two years ago, when Shawn Chacon (yep, Shawn Chacon) was the most impactful starting pitcher traded before the deadline."

A little more CashAss kssing for me.
Man... I am sooooooooooooooo glad we are developing our own pitching. I think 4 years of chasing pitching and basically failing on all accounts, has left it's impact on Cashman.

While we were able to use our financial advantage to help 'buy' some quality teams over the last ten years, ultimately a true dynasty must come from the Farm. It we put the majority of our money into scouting and developing youth, we will be unbeatable.

When this happens, the luxury threshold will no longer be an issue, and MLB will have to come up with another way to try and stop the Yankees. Should be fun.

Meanwhile... I would like to know if anyone here believes we will NOT make the PS. Speak out.

19 This should be obvious.

Career BFOG+
Ensberg 89
Wiggy 83
Bradley -20
Damon 342
Cairo 11281

So, as you can see, there is no need to trade for the top two players. You really need to check the BFOG database before logically discussing trade proposals involving the Joe Torre Yankees.

30 Damon's BFOG+ may not match Cairo but his CFOS+* is off the charts.

*calves full of sexy

5 Giambi can definitely be an asset if Torre uses the added flexibility to be creative. Melky can still play 50 of the last 60 games, while Matsui, Damon, Abreu and Giambi revolve around the OF and DH spot. The older men down the stretch could use the rest anyway. Now that Ryan Thompson is no longer the first man off the bench, you can do that. Also, the return of Giambi could actually mean the Yankees have a decent bench.

In other words, it all depends on how Torre handles the lineup. If he reverts to formula, it's his fault, not Giambi's.

14 If Torre really blocked a deal for Ensberg, that's awful. really awful.

24 I think Alex was pissed because he tried to hit a home run. Had he not forced the issue, he probably would have belted Dotel's hanging slider into the fountain.

25 Well...it is Wang's throw day.

29 I still think there's a stronger chance than I would like that the Yankees fall short. The Sox easy schedule still has the division a little too far from reach at this point. The Yankees probably have an easier schedule than the Indians over all, but there is a late August monster stretch that features 14 straight games against the Tigers, Red Sox and Angels. I think we'll have our answer at that point.

24 Dare we dream of A-Rod hitting 55? That would be the most ever outside of Babe and Roger.

All I know is, I'm TiVo'ing every game until he gets to 500. It would be fitting if he did it today, as de la Rosa gave up A-Rod's 400th home run too.

And let's see if Giambi's "imminent return" isn't just posturing on the part of both Giambi and the Yanks to facilitate a trade.

35 "most ever by a Yankee"

32 First off, I'd take that little item with a grain of salt. It sounds like someone with an axe to grind, whispering to a reporter. In fact, I'm a little confused, since Torre seems to be standing in the way of two entirely opposite approaches that "many in the organization" want - getting Morgan Ensberg or Milton Bradley, and giving Phillips and Duncan a chance.

Anyway, what's the fascination with Ensberg? Since coming back from a shoulder injury a year ago he's been absolutely awful: .229/.349/.367. The walks are nice, but they are absolutely the only thing he provides on offense. On top of that, he's a third baseman, nothing else, so what's he supposed to do?

If Torre prevented them from getting Ensberg and Bradley, I say more power to him.

32 Am I not getting something here, but Torre blocked a trade for a player who is doing the following:
.226/.3135/.3665

How is Torre awful for blocking that? Shouldn't we be praising him for wanting Miguel Cairo's white brother?

Why is NoMaas on a Milton Bradley kick now, too? I can't believe people are pissed that Torre didn't want a Bradley type of player in the clubhouse. The team doesn't need that type of distraction from such a malcontent.

I guess it's easier to support an a-hole like Bradley than someone who has done nothing but win since he got here.

Oh, when the teams won it wasn't because of Torre. SORRY...forget about that fact, I think all of Torre's wins as manager should be erased and only his losses be tracked. It will be easier to remember his legacy that way.

I think amongst some of you Hitler would get a more positive response than Torre.

Are people just looking for reasons to get on Torre? I guess since the team is winning they can't go off on the Yanks for losing, so in order to remain consistent they have to find other things to say about the man.

If this ends up being his final year, why can't people let him go in peace at least?

29 Things are looking good indeed for the playoffs. So much so that I'm looking ahead to the post-season.

What I find unbelievably frustrating is that the parts are there (now), but I just can't see Torre using them correctly, just as in the past.

2004 - Bernie is the CF while Lofton is the DH; Gordon gets abused down the stretch

2005 - Bubba is the CF in Game 5 of ALDS after barely playing there in the second half. Huge error...

2006 - Shef comes back and they try to shoehorn him into 1B while pulling Melky and without finding a way to rotate through Abreu and Giambi.

2007 - Giambi comes back. Can they rotate through Damon, Melky, and/or Matsui appropriately? Do we have to wait until next year to see Duncan play the OF, especially against LHP?

34 I agree. Right now they're looking like a juggernaut against bad teams. That's fine; they're beating the teams they're facing, and whom they should beat. But their pitching has hardly been overwhelming, and they're not going to keep scoring eleventy-seven runs a game. They're doing what they have to do right now, but there's still a long row to hoe.

38 This is how this line should have read: Shouldn't we be praising him for NOT wanting Miguel Cairo's white brother?

39 Get up, you damn horse! WHACK! WHACK!

37 38 Take a look at 19 then don't be surprised when a Yankee lineup of:

Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi DH
Matsui LF
Posada C
Cano 2B
Phillips 1B

gets shut down by the likes of Kason Gabbard, Join Lester, and Nate Robertson in August.

42 Here's a horse for you, jackass:

vs. LHP:
.314 .414 .550 (Career)/ .280 .412 .573 (2007)

Gar-y Shef-field. [clap clap, clap-clap-clap]
Gar-y Shef-field. [clap clap, clap-clap-clap]
Gar-y Shef-field. [clap clap, clap-clap-clap]
Gar-y Shef-field. [clap clap, clap-clap-clap]

43 How do you know they are gonna get shut-down? Hasn't Torre been putting players like Duncan in the lineup and sitting Abreu whenever they are facing a tough lefty?

I still don't get what you think Ensberg can do to help the Yanks with this line against lefties:
.253/.319/.422

And Bradley, are you guys REALLY serious? If Sheffield didn't think Torre was fair with black people, what kind of asinine shit will Bradley come up with?

Seriously, are you guys serious?

45 Hey, I'm not saying THOSE were the players, I'm just saying I can understand why they were being discussed.

Bradley for his splits and ability to play any OF position.

Ensberg because Miguel Cairo was the starting 1b for two weeks for Torre.

As for Duncan, I'll hope and pray. But I wouldn't be surprised to see him sent packing when Giambi returns. And Torre has yet to play him in the OF. If you really look at the splits in 19, this should be the lineup against LHP:

Melky CF
Jeter SS
Giambi DH
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui LF
Posada C
Cano 2B
Duncan RF
Phillips 1B

What chance you see that happening?

Inconceivable that we're lamenting Sheff's loss. He wanted to be traded! He basically demanded it. There was no position for him on the team! Not sure what else to say about it, but that questioning why the traded him is the height of second-guessing.

I don't understand NoMaas's point. Milton Bradley could be useful I suppose but he's a huge injury risk and kind of has clubhouse issues. And Morgan Ensberg? Are they serious. He's been awful for a while now.

47 Ha! 42 Nick fell for it.

Jim, you're getting personal again. You accused me of cheating on stats yesterday, when you didn't look up a single one yourself. Then you started making snide comments about my job, which is really crossing the line. You want to criticize my arguments, even if you do it with nothing but smoke and mirrors, blustering and bullying, that's fine. You start insulting me, calling me names, denigrating my life and my work - that has no place here, and I'd politely ask that you stop.

49 From the one who first told me to "Go to hell"?

Brilliant. Really. Is your glass house comfortable at least?

Can't we all get a Long? Terrence Long maybe? Nah..his splits vs. LHP suck.

50 Yes, I did. That had on