Also, watching Al Leiter pitch is the most unpleasant experience on television, on par with every Act II of Fear Factor. THROW STRIKES!

Tony "Quickly Oh For Two" Womack even had a couple hits. Whoo hoo!! (Not to be taken as an endorsement for hitting TW leadoff. Hopefully that's the last time we'll see him start a game this year.)

And didn't the Jays manager get tossed after the Bernie play at home plate? Bernie was clearly safe (and Womack was clearly out on the steal).

I think Sheff is due for a big night. He's brewing.

BP

Clutch hit by Matsui after Rodriguez struck out too. And good for Escalona picking up that single because he was terrible in the previous two at bats.

Anyone else out there like Orlando Hudson? He's a fun player to watch, a really smooth fielder.

(as an aside, another reason my roomates and I sometimes switched over to Toronto home games were the very attractive girls they would have working the area behind the plate - I don't know whose idea that was but they should be given a raise.)

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Mendoza%20&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&did=milb&pid=118947

This could be a very good low $, high impact player for the rest of the season and hey, at the very least could save some innings from the other bullpen arms right?

You are right about the women behind the Blue Jays backstop. I noticed that a few years back and I wondered if they'd sit down during Yankee at bats, so as not to distract the Blue Jays pitching. I seriously thought they did it to distract the opposing pitcher.....but they're always out there.

Much better than looking at some schmuck on his cell phone wave and grin like a drooling idiot. Look maw, Ahm awn the tee-vee. Ah-hyuck-hyuck-hyuck.....

Torre is enjoying this recent stretch of vintage Williams at the plate. He related, with a laugh, how Williams still ignores the lineup card posted in the clubhouse and prefers to ask his manager if he's playing. "He likes the personal touch," Torre said. "I've probably had more conversations with him than any other player and I cherish that relationship with him. He's very deep and he's very caring. He wants it very badly. We've talked about doing it this time of year."

As for what Williams might do someday when summers and baseball are not his time of year, Torre said, "He'll get that guitar and live the life of an artist. I look at him that way. He's a very dignified person. I never met Arthur Ashe, but he [Bernie] reminds me of him, with the elegance of what he does and being soft spoken."

Torre spoke fondly yesterday about how Williams often would walk into the clubhouse, stride right past the lineup card posted on the wall - without looking at it - and then come on into the manager's office. "He'd say, 'Whatdya got?' and I'd look at him like, 'What do you mean?'" Torre said with a chuckle. "He'd say 'Whatdya got?' and I'd be like, 'You're playing' and then he'd say 'OK' and leave. He wanted the interaction. He wanted to hear it from me."

General Manager Brian Cashman said that Chien-Ming Wang, who has missed six weeks with a shoulder injury, was being brought back with the idea of returning as a starter. Wang, who is throwing batting practice every few days in Tampa, Fla., would then progress to pitching minor league games.

"If he gets through all that, September is very realistic," Cashman said. "He's come a long way and has some hurdles to clear, but it would be great to get him back."

Anyone have an update on Kevin Brown? I remember reading somewhere that he might be back in September to be used out of the 'pen. I don't know if I like the idea, but I'm curious nonetheless.

Wright appears to have matured, as he realizes there is a difference between pitching and throwing. I think being injured and questioning his baseball 'mortality' has helped this guy.

When we have an off day, is Torre skipping Leiters start? Is this something that can be done?

Small in the pen is not a bad idea. We need a long-relief guy, and to take some innings away from Sturtze/Gordon. He is also our # '5 1/2' starter, as I believe he will pitch just about everytime Leiter pitches.

I don't know why Bubba wasn't in for Bernie last last night. If we do go to the PS, Torre has got to get the Bench in better shape. Anyone know the story on Sierra?

singledd, Will Carroll says Sierra is starting a short rehab assignment soon. I'd still rather see Andy Phillips . . . only 8 days to expanded rosters, so I guess I can dream.

As for the Wang etc. Mendoza could be handy, but I'm not confident that he'd be any better than Proctor or Small at this stage, and the Yankees might not get enough of a chance to find out.

Obviously a healthy Wang would be huge for this team, though I have some concerns about him coming back too quickly, as I want him to be a part of the rotation next year and beyond.

With Phillips getting the shaft, Sierra is desperately needed, but it seems he's had nothing but set backs. That hamstring tear was a doozy.

Finally: Brown? After Game Seven last year I (among many others) hoped he'd never again throw a pitch for the Yankees. I still feel that way. He did this team no good while active and can do them no good down the stretch. I honestly believe he's thrown his last major league pitch.