I like your optimism, Alex, but until someone other than Will Carroll notices that Randy seems to pitching hurt, I don't think we're going to see much improvement from the Unit. His mechanics are way off kilter and he's getting rocked in every start.

Where's Enrique Wilson, the Yanks' secret weapon against Pedro, when you need him?

Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Jason Giambi 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Canó 2B
Miguel Cairo LF
Melky Cabrera RF
Kelly Stinnett C
Mike Mussina P

I'm going to be the non-irritating Met fan here today. Mostly because I can't bear to go through the BTF registration process.

To be dead honest, personally, yes with a "but". Wright has looked PRONE to slumping, like he's pressing a bit with all the pressure. His power numbers are down and that at-bat against Izzy was PAINNNNNful. But watching that hit knowing that the placement of Damon was shallow was very sweet.

I called a Yankees fan last night and waxed eloquent on the sound of the torch being passed from one NY dreamboat infielder to another.

What, couldn't think of anybody?

Didn't really look like a bad jump by Damon there, just hit too hard and too far. Thoughts?

I know the idea last night was to play the outfield in for a play at the play. But Damons arms is so weak, short of being on the infield dirt, he's not throwing anyone out.

It sounds like hindsight, but Damon should be playing deeper. Playing based on 'throwing someone out' for Damon is not realistic.

I really like ARod, but for whatever reason, when he feels pressure he plays poorly. I don't want to speak of 'clutch' or 'choke' but some guys step up to pressure (Jeter). ARod, at this point, can't.

This is NOT a slam on ARod, and does not ignor all the great stuff he has done... but I think it's obvious that he has trouble with pressure... mostly self-imposed.

For one, I would bat him 5th.

Damon
Cano
Jetes
Giambi
ARod
... whatever

"I went over to him during the game last night and said, 'What kind of club are you giving me?"' Torre said. "He didn't know if I was serious or not."
"It became almost comical," Torre said. "You shrug your shoulders at it." '

Buck is such a holier than thou pain in the ass. Volume down.

That kick would be a foul in basketball.

That was a pitch.

Can't believe how this lineup has been decimated. I'm really worried about Posada and bereft over the loss of Bubba. Bubba was making his move at the plate, too.

Pitching I'm more sanguine about. There's alot of leeway and choices to be made. RJ's falter here makes the rocket's red glare over NY more of a certainty and in terms of theatre, I love it. RJ and the Rocket in October will be a beautiful thing.

With all our problems, the lack of either Toronto (the real threat) or the hopeless Rsox to make hay is the true story of the season so far.

And what about this potential Hidalgo signing? Any thoughts?

Dude, Pedro's whiff of Jeter was clasic. 3-0, throws a strike, challenges him up and out of the zone, swinging strike two. And then blows a fastball, up in the zone, questionably a strike, and gets his swinging again. Yanks have made him throw pitches. The plan is to keep it close.

C'mon Moose.

Ahhh, those were the days, when Espinoza and I were the, ahem, run-producers in the lineup.

I thought that this game would be way out of hand by now the way it started. Kudos to Moose for hanging tough. He may need to drive in some runs himself.

Those people have kind of shut up since the start of the year.

Anyone else as excited as me for the return of Veronica Mars?

My thoughts exactly. What the fuck?

It just needed to be said, again.

And Scott Erickson is getting loose in the pen!

Scott Erickson should be the MOP UP man, MAYBE. MAYBE. He shouldn't even be on this team. But Joe's going to trot him out there in a close game. Brilliant.

On another note, poor Melky. He'll get it eventually.

That'll get Cairo at least one more start in left. Just watch. Then poje out your eyees with a fork.

Damn it.

Remember, you heard it here first.

But I must admit, I was expecting better defense from him than we've gotten so far. He doesn't seem to track the ball that well.

When do we see him in the Bronx? He's thrown 17 great innings at AAA now.

Great atbat.

It is on you, Stinnett. I believe.

Randolph said meekly, "okay."

Think we get to see Proctor's arm pop out of the socket today?

I really hope he's just one of those guys with an iron arm, like Mo in '96. He'll need it.

Moot point now, at least.

And Erickson warming again!

Hey, Andy!

Rusty huh?

Kind of a sloppy game, but a win's a win!

strikes out swinging
strikes out swinging
strikes out swinging

gotta love it.

Anyone else think this team has more "heart" or whatever you want to call it than last year's version? I'm beginning to think they can win no matter what the odds (ahhh, the good old days of '96).

And they don't have the kind of pressure that, say, A-Rod or Randy Johnson have on them, which probably helps, too.

At least there's a good chance we see Bean tomorrow.

The weak bottom of the lineup turned out to be the guys who won the game for us.

And Joe has some nice things to say about Andy...

And Andy's POTG.

He said they've been wondering if Andy could contribute in that situation. Could be a "yes." ;-)

The leash on Smallie has pulled tight. If he can't deliver tomorrow, he should go to Columbus. Unlike RJ who gets as many shots as he likes. Hopefully he will straighten and fly right (at least before Schilling does).

So, you see Rob, it is all about the money after all.

Ah well great win. espically great that Andy hits and Mo dominates.

1 – 0 Thunder win in 11. Saw some great pitching especially by Justin Karstens who started and went 6 2/3 strong and T.J. Beam who threw 3 1/3 really dominant innings. I don't know what they're waiting for on this kid Beam, he is ready. He has 3 nasty pitches that looked like a moving fastball, slider and a change that he throws off the fastball. On the stadium gun it looked like FB 91 -94 CU 81 – 83, SL 85 – 88. There was one hard hit ball off him, I can't decide which was more impressive: the swings and misses, the strikes 3 looking or the looks that the Bowie guys were giving Beam.

We also saw a couple of really nice defensive plays by Justin Christian and Gabe Lopez. Chritian runs like a cross between a deer and a scared rabbit; flat out fast with an idea. He can go get it in centerfield and he just shakes up the infielders (he reached once on a hurried throw on a chopper between third and short). Bronson Sardinah, who took 3 k's (2 were brutal replacement umpire works of fiction), blasted a 410 foot homer that hit high off a secondary wall beyond dead straight away center field.

Rob G if you want to see a guy who is stuck in a minor league town when he could and should be getting outs at the major league level go and get out to Erie, Redding or Harrisburg and see the Thunder when the come through. This Beam kid will knock your socks off.

Phillies RF Bobby Abreu has just 10 homers in 115 games since winning the HR derby at the all-star game last year.

I don't want Abreu. I like what we have. (And I'll like it even better when Sheff and Bubba get back.)

And on another topic...Josh Beckett hit a homer yesterday. Ye gods and little fishes. He also had an RBI single.

319 I was thinking of trying to get there for a game. Beam's numbers have been outstanding. It's great to hear the scouting.

That's what pisses me off so much about the Erickson situation. If the organization is stocked with anything it's relief pitchers.

No doubt we'll see Bean today. Hopefully he impresses with 2 or 3 solid innings. Unfortunately, those will more than likely come after Erickson gets rocked. I can already taste the bile in my mouth.

I especially love this quote from Mr. Torre who seems to have such a great way with the language when it comes to these moments: "The whole thing with this game is trying to win and not trying to explain why you can't,"

http://makeashorterlink.com/?G1185142D

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The Yankees can forget about the most optimistic scenario for getting Gary Sheffield back into the lineup quickly.

The slugging right fielder was cleared to begin swinging a bat on Friday morning, but had to cut short his first workout that afternoon when he felt pain in his injured left wrist while hitting off a tee.

"He took one (swing), it sort of rolled (the wrist) over and got real sore on him," Joe Torre said. "I don't think it's a setback, we just may have to wait a little longer."

Sheffield, whom Torre described as "discouraged," took no swings of any kind yesterday and GM Brian Cashman said he wasn't sure when the slugger will make another attempt.

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