>> The Yankees are carrying 13 pitchers. They'll probably bring up two from Triple A Columbus today, and drop Ponson and Brian Bruney, who pitched an inning Thursday and 12/3 innings Friday. Candidates for promotion include Jeff Karstens or veterans Jesus Colome, Mark Corey and Aaron Small.

Randy Johnson is starting today, so the Yankees are hoping he can go long enough to get to Mariano Rivera, who pitched only one inning Friday. <<

I kind of doubt it will be Small. He just started the other day, is coming off an injury, and was lit up. OTOH, Joe does love those familiar faces.

I hope our thin bench doesn't come back to bite us.

Here's hoping the Sox hitters are more hungovah than the Yanks today.

Here's hoping the Yanks pop the cork on a bottle of vintage Unit, not the box wine variety we've seen enough of.

Of course that would mean Torre trusting Melky to play all 3 outfield spots.

1. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
2. Mark Loretta, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Javy Lopez, C
6. Mike Lowell, 3B
7. Wily Mo Pena, RF
8. Gabe Kapler, CF
9. Alex Gonzalez, SS

P. Josh Beckett

The Yanks have not posted theirs yet. Still trying to decide if Giambi can DH, probably.

Ponson to be DFA'd.

Cashman says he'll call up one of these four: Ramiro Mendoza, Steven White, Kris Wilson, Colter Bean.

Here's what I see happening: the Yankees win today, then lose to Schilling and Boomer. Then next week's papers/Sportscenter are all about those scrappy Sox and their momentum. Yeah, we'll have the games, but I'll still hate hearing that crap.

Apropos of nothing: he really should be Boomer Wells, Jr. It was Greg's name first, David was just named after him.

Anybody else see that the Star-Ledger is reporting that Sal Fasano has indeed influenced several Yankees to grow mustaches, including Giambi? Ron Villone, Johnny Damon, and Jaret Wright are also in on it. They tried to get Jeter but he wouldn't do it. This is way cooler than the typical "everyone shaves their head" team unity thing.

http://tinyurl.com/mpry8

I assume that means Farnsy's on the DL.

Melky = 145 games in OF
Matsui = 114 games in OF, 31 games DH
Damon = 114 games in OF, 31 games DH
Abreu = 114 games in OF, 31 games DH
Giambi = 76 games 1B , 69 games DH
??? = 86 games 1B

That's everybody playing 145 games. With injuries and rest that's a reasonable target. If Matsui, Damon, or Abreu (or all 3) can put on the first baseman mitt you will have no problems with playing time. Somewhere a Royal fan is reading this and wishing for such problems.

Melky, Cano, Wang....Hughes soon...it does feel good to get back to the homegrown talent pipeline...

1. Johnny Damon, DH
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Jason Giambi, 1B
5. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Jorge Posada, C
8. Bernie Williams, CF
9. Melky Cabrera, LF

P. Randy Johnson

Giambi at first. Guess his groin's okay.

26 any confirmation on Farns to the DL. If it's true I'd rather they brought up a second arm rather than Guiel. Although maybe he's a bat to replace Andy on the bench?

>>The Yankees designated Sidney Ponson for assignment and optioned Brian Bruney to Columbus. OF Aaron Guiel and RHP Jeff Karstens were called up from Columbus and made 7:30 a.m. flights to Boston. <<

I'm happy about Guiel, but very surprised. I thought they'd go with another pitcher, at least until this weekend was over. But we really need a backup OFer who is not Bernie Williams.

Now we have a LIDR for Bernie. Maybe. I'm not sure Joe would put Guiel in CF.

Joe, you have a perfectly good CF in Melky! Remember, it was supposed to be the corner outfields that were the adjustment for him, the corner outfields for which his offensive numbers were inadequate. He's ideal for center field.

And it's not like you need a defensive virtuoso in Fenway LF. The Sox hide Manny there. It seems tailor-made for GOB.

You really want to see Melky cut his MLB CF teeth in Fenway? It's a tough CF to play.

Papelbon: 0.89
Timlin: 3.86
Delcarmen: 4.19
Tavarez: 4.79
Foulke: 5.29
Snyder: 5.64
Hansen: 5.90
Van Buren: 10.80

Post All-Star break:
Papelbon: 1.80
Timlin: 6.46
Delcarmen: 5.17
Tavarez: 5.52
Foulke: 0.00 (2 innings, both last night)
Snyder: 5.68
Hansen: 6.75
Van Buren: 27.00 (1-1/3 IP)

Baseball Prospectus Adjusted Runs Prevented:
Papelbon: 32.3
Timlin: 4.9
Delcarmen: -1.4
Tavarez: -7.8
Foulke: 0.8
Snyder: -1.9
Hansen: -1.2
Van Buren: -1.8

Without doubt, they all blow except for Papelbon.

Alex - I think it's only a beaning when you get hit in the head.

The Red Sox and Yankees play their first game today at 1 p.m. ET, and within the next 99 hours or so, they will play five draining games, with high tension, optimal focus, maximum scrutiny. Because the doubleheader in this series is today, it's almost a certainty that the bullpens of both teams will be worked into exhaustion through the weekend.
Which makes the decisions made by Yankees manager Joe Torre during Thursday's game against the Orioles all the more puzzling.

Look, the Yankees' '96-01 dynasty does not happen without Torre, without his calming effect on the players. He's headed to the Hall of Fame. But he seemed to have a really poor day managing Thursday, and there will be ripple effects throughout the weekend.

The problems started with Jaret Wright, who works hard and battles, and who is, generally speaking, the kind of pitcher Joe does not like to watch. Wright does not throw a lot of strikes. He falls behind in the count constantly and he takes a long time between pitches, spitting and chewing and mulling, and he had a particularly bad day against the Orioles on Thursday.

Wright allowed a run the first two innings and came out for the third inning and got an out. And then he walked Brian Roberts on five pitches.

Wright walked Nick Markakis on four pitches.

He walked Melvin Mora on five pitches.

By the time Wright finally rediscovered the strike zone, Baltimore had tacked on three runs and had a 4-2 lead through three innings. With Rodrigo Lopez -- a right-hander who has allowed more hits and runs than any other AL pitcher -- pitching for the Orioles this was hardly an insurmountable lead, and you couldn't blame Torre for thinking about going to his bullpen early. Hold down Baltimore, tack on some more runs against Lopez, and you finish the home stand with a win.

But here's the thing: The Yankees are going to need at least 16 innings from their pitching staff in Friday's doubleheader, depending on whether they win or lose or play extra innings. Wright's pitch count for three innings was a whopping 75 pitches, but what Torre needed to do was shackle himself to the dugout and make sure that Wright threw 100-110 pitches and perhaps got through five innings, no matter how ugly. If Jaret Wright was going to take a beating, well, then so be it. These are the kind of sacrifices you make over a long season.

Instead, Torre called on lefty Ron Villone, who has been extremely effective in middle relief for the Yankees. This was Torre trying to win Thursday's game and ignoring the realities of the next 99 hours.

Villone threw two innings, which means his availability will be limited Friday or Saturday, depending on when he's needed.

After Villone departed, Torre still needed 12 more outs from the rest of the pen, and next he gave the ball to Octavio Dotel, who is coming back from elbow surgery and was just called up from the minors Wednesday.

Dotel pitched Wednesday and got a couple of outs yesterday; that means Torre almost certainly has to give him a day off today, during the doubleheader. It would make no sense to have a guy recovering from surgery pitch on three straight days.

But after Dotel departed Thursday's game, Torre still needed 10 more outs from his bullpen, and next he turned to lefty specialist Mike Myers, who typically comes in for one to three batters in a game.

Not in this game. Myers faced nine hitters, and threw 2.1 innings. To put that in perspective, the last time Myers got seven outs in a game was June 12, 1999, when he was a member of the Brewers, when he was 29 years old.

He's 37 now, and you have to figure his stuff will be compromised today, and Villone's stuff will be compromised, for both games of the doubleheader. And, by the way, the Red Sox do have a fairly accomplished left-handed hitter against whom you might want to use matchup lefties like Myers and Villone in virtually every game. The guy's name is David Ortiz.

The last inning went to Brian Bruney, who was called up from Class AAA Columbus before the game.

If the Yankees had an 8-1 lead in the fourth and Wright had started to collapse, then you could see the logic behind summoning the relievers. But the Yankees were behind when Torre started going through his relievers, for the last 18 outs, and they got blown out 12-2; so the bullpen was taxed needlessly.

We'll see if the Yankees pay a price for these choices over the next 99 hours.

Joe, remember that game changing catch Damon made yesterday. Bernie will stand there and watch that ball fall down then lob it back to Jeter standing 3 feet away from him. Argh!

Sox vs. Randy:
Youkilis: 3/7, hr, 2 bb, k
Loretta: 6/44, 3 bb, 14 k
Ortiz: 4/23, bb, 6 k
Manny: 10/40, 4 hr, 3 bb, 11 k
Lopez: 9/39, 2 hr, 10 k
Lowell: 6/35, hr, 3 bb, 13 k
Pena: 0/9, bb, 6 k
Kapler: 0/5, 2 k
Cora: 1/3

However, the Elias Sports Bureau tends to stop such battles dead in their tracks.

And Bernie is 1/4 with 3ks? Joe, put in Guiel, he hits righties well, remember?

http://tinyurl.com/fmvtz
http://tinyurl.com/ktcqs

58 Bob, has the Elias Sports Bureau ever changed its mind on anything?

Wish I could have been on the Banter yesterday, but was actually in NY apartment hunting. It was fun listening to Game 1 on the radio on the way up. Then catching some of Game 2 at a bar in Wash Hts while eating Indian. In my adult life I've never been to a bar before where the men were so excited about a regular season game. I loved it. It reminded me of being in Barcelona watching a Barca match.

Unfortunately.

I still don't know if I'll get the Yankee game or the fucking Cardinals.

http://foxsports.foxnews.com/other/story/5619630

As frustrating as it can be to watch him play defense nowadays, it occurs to me that Bernie's probably played significantly more games in CF at Fenway than Coco Crisp has... I don't know, maybe he'll surprise us. Something I seem to have in common with Joe Torre is an inability to let silly things like logic or reason interfere with my outlook on that guy.

Whoa. Francona looks like death warmed over.

my view is that we take 1 more and leave having them burnt 5 games at home and we depart 1 game up....

yea...there goes his off season modeling gigs

I meant than when we came in...we will have gained another game...

if he could attach a 2nd glove to it, perhaps

Meanwhile, apparently playing the game right involves avoiding strikes like the plague. Who knew.

Also, Giambi is now officially scary-looking again. Good to see.

FOX Guy: "A-Rod's struggles continue."
Asswipe, he raped the Red Sawx yesterday and has been hitting over .350 for two weeks now.

But seriously, A-Rod and Jeter screwed us there. Jeter with the bunt and A-Rod with the DP.

I am old enough to remember a strike above the belt getting called

:)

I love ya buddy.

you just have to LOVE Melky

I love this.

Hey. The Angels have the rally monkey, the South has Rally's restaurant, and the Yankees have the rally killer.

And to cap it off, the Sawx boards are going off on how Coco Chanel was 0 for 5 in game 1 yesterday and saw something like 9 pitches in the 5 at bats.

Well, Beckett has nothing today and we lead 2-0. But that Jeter bunt and A-Rod DP still loom large here.

"Loria, sitting behind the plate at the Aug. 6 game, was berating the umpire when Girardi told him or asked him to stop, witnesses said. Loria angrily left his seat and confronted Girardi in the manager's office after the game."

Yes. I know, but there is some drama going on I guess.

I heard what started it was the owner arguing balls and strikes with the umpire. Girardi basically told him to STFU, and he didn't take it kindly.

It's too bad, because he's been great for the Marlins. But it seems more and more likely he won't be back.

it is baseball in Florida ! that is a death sentence and as soon as he can get out the better...

The Marlins are counting the concession workers in their attendance these days

However, they did say that bereavement leave must be approved, and this use of it was. That it's exactly the type of situation bereavement leave is for.

I heard someone say it would be hard for Wilson to just jump in and catch in the AL ?

is it the umps ?

They need to look at that because Fasano is not going to work and is spreading that stache shit through the clubhouse like some sort of Millar type

I heard someone say it would be hard for Wilson to just jump in and catch in the AL ?

is it the umps ?

They need to look at that because Fasano is not going to work and is spreading that stache shit through the clubhouse like some sort of Millar type

it is the Yankee clubhouse not some group of "idiots" or some cinderella team...

he is a good clubhouse guy, if he could just remember to use more bleach with the whites and extra jalapeno jack cheese for the spread

I am laughing because I scalped mine with the pedal down trying to make the first pitch....too funny...glad you took your time

small lot...wish I had one now...we moved down to Athens, GA and have a large lot which I (being a kid from the Bronx) thought would be great....I want to pave it now and park cars on it....

Time for Robbie to move up to the 5 spot, that's what time it is.

2 hole or 6, but certainly not 3, 4, or 5.

he is a fragile mental type by all appearances

"Randy, it's your turn to pitch."

"oh...sorry."

There doesn't seem to be much downside to keeping him around through next spring. At least he is more durable than Pavano.

he also will never get the love because everytime he speaks he kills himself even further with the

"are you talking about Jasons HR ? everytime I hit a Hr I am happy"

this after the back to back garbage time HRs last week

This kind of stuff is low class in my book, as well as laughable.

he may not even make a viable starter in the Aruban League

the guy has more talent that possibly anyone in the game...FACT

he has been in a season long slump...FACT

approaching career highs in K's and E's...FACT

does not have to carry the team as it is loaded....FACT

if it is not physical...although he whined like a bitch about injuries the other day.....and Torre bascially told him to shut up....

If it is not mental...what is it ?
astrological ?

Man, I love how Fox is showing sport fishing here instead of ANY baseball, I mean, more people will totally watch that than the Yanks-Sox, right? Morons...

Also, 249 - find me one fact, one bit of data, one small piece of evidence that shows Cano and Melky have been more valuable offensively than A-Rod. A single stat. Other than all that very trustworthy anecdotal evidence you're citing.

Markets Zack could be in:
Albuquerque
Anchorage
El Paso
Fairbanks
Fresno
Las Vegas
Phoenix
San Diego
Santa Barbara
Tuscon
Yuma

where are you that FOX is showing fishing ?

We should've knocked this clown out in the 2nd inning and scored 7 or 8 runs.

they are both batting higher than he is...glad you took D out of the equation

What? We will win this game. RJ just has to settle down and the bats need to see some pitches next inning.

Double play...this could have been a lot worse

1)Randy Sucks.

2)Ump can blow me.

3)We really should have knocked out Beckett to the tune of 10 ER in 3 IP and not this.

that is not a error on A Rod, tough play...

And the offense needs to do something here.

So, seeing as how Melky and Cano can slap more singles into the outfield they are more valuable. I am glad you are not the GM of the team.

Try AVG. with RISP, 2 outs, men on base, RBI (you will by runs, not singles), etc etc.. BA is not a tool with whisch to show worth to the team winning.

However, I will not try and confuse you with the facts.

Bernie throws out a runner at home.
Wright pitches into the 7th.

oh crap!

How . . . sschtooopid.

if you think of the roles on this team, Cano and Melky (especially him..) have both fufilled their roles (at 300k per)

Can you tell me that O and D wise A Rod has ?

The guy is the best player in the game, he is having a career bad year...the 3B part is hard to understand or watch...

He makes things harder on himself every time he speaks, I feel for him a bit as he is not Jeter, Mo, Bernie, etc...and never will be...

I will be interested to see how and when (hopefully soon) he bounces back...he has never had to deal with adversity and is just so talented...

The guy is a HOF and top ten all time type...but A Rod apologist get all pissy when someone points out his career year in Ks and E's....

yea...but he may have to cover a TE in the red zone

One season does not a "great pitcher" make.

That's quality analysis.

Ugly.

Nope. You have to trust your stuff. He got lucky today actually. 8 walks and only 6 runs through 6. It could have been a lot worse for him.

Except when it comes to backing up home plate or making plays at 1st, yes, he does the right thing.

Can he maybe not THROW those pitches anymore?

Are you his dad ? if so...your boy, although the best player in the game is having a shit season...get him into his therapist in the off season and take him fly fishing to decompress...

all I am saying is that he is having a shit season...Melky and Cano are not....

Is A-Rod having the worst season of his career? Probably.

Is your analysis of where his value to the team lies in comparison to everyone else in the lineup based on absolutely nothing? Definitely.

And BTW, there is more than rumor that Joe G. will take the soon to be vacated Chicago job in the offseason, he has an out in his contract just for that job...

Hell Fucking Yes!

dude, not whining but laughing at the ARod apologists...

yikes

Now that's "playing the game the right way."

agreed, would really like to see Papelbon cop a beating and knock some of that hype around him stop...as someone said before a 1/2 great season with interleague play does not a career make....

Beckett extension
Riske trade
Seanez DFA for Van Buren
Jason Johnson

Power and speed. They don't always go together. You can have speed, doesn't mean you can hit the ball out of the park. You can have power, doesn't mean you can run well.

Are we misssing anything?

agree about Sox young arms...all we are looking at is Saint Hughes to arrive and they have multiple young arms

lol!

Doubleheader yesterday that goes past midnight. And Fox insists on an early game today. Snakes on a flippin' plane.

everything I have read about Cox is that he is not a ML closer and a bit of a fraud..

Clippard looks good...

The Sox talent is all closer to the surface and the Yanks (Hughes,Tabata, Jackson, etc..) is all at the lower levels...

the Dodgers farm system is better then both, the yankees buy everybody they don't need a good farm.

agree completely...the Cano, Wang, Melky success can only be a positive for realising that it is the way to go...vs... Pavano, Wright, etc...

As far as I can tell, the pitching well is run dry at the upper levels for them, and then they've got the 2b kid in AAA -- who they can't be that high on, as they tried to trade for Lugo and put him at 2nd last month -- and the cf in AA. Anything else?

Another clutch at-bat!

there most be a "Sturtze" plan going on...Villone and Proctor are getting ragged out

5 run lead...let RJ out there to start the 8th as the big two are not coming up...

I mean, i know we all knock Torre's BP management, but this is just rediculous...

Sal Fasano would be catching all 5 this weekend is my guess

Yeah, right, who am I kidding, one guy gets on and its right to EDSP...I really feel for the guy

Fine, if not Randy, then Beam...Or Dotel...

Welcome to Boston, Jermaine.

The Yankees did NOT give Cano the second base job out of spring training in 2005. That went to the wonderful Tony Womack.

agree RJ at this point in his career did all he can do....no issues with him

NESN broadcasters made the same error last night. Facts shmacts, welcome to 2006 media.

you said wang! [chuckles]

I got Tecate beer from my local grocery store early today (nice & sunny here in L.A.)

It's Wright's throw day, so why not use him in this situation? The pen's exhausted.

Looks like Wright will be getting lots of work.

My virgin ears have been exposed.

You can handle it. You live in LA like I do. Wasn't it you who was yelling "sit the fuck down" at me when I was stading up cheering the Dodgers when they were down 1 with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out in the ninth.

Oh wait, that's every game at Dodger Stadium. Worst, least knowledgeabe, least involved fans in the game. I would rather take a nap in the rain at Griffith park than go watch a game with those morons.

It takes back to back grand slams to get you people out of your seats.

"I'm not even angry. I'm stunned and horrified."

I thought you were an angry New Yorker i guess you're an agry Angelino.

Maybe they'll claim him off waivers...

Angry transplant. I tried to pull for the Dodgers after I moved out here. I figured, they're in the NL, what's the harm? But the games are so boring, the fans so lethargic, I just can't anymore. I'd still rather the Dofgers win the West than the Padres, but I just cannot spend good money to head over to the Ravine anymore. It's bad too, because I live in Echo Park and can walk to the Stadium through Elysian Park.

I don't see the Yankees going far in the playoffs (if they make it) with this kind of pitching so I hope that the starters get better and more consistent.

Actually I think it needs to hit 710.
to do that.

Is it more fun crushing the Red Sox, or is it
more fun watching Red Sox Nation have a total
meltdown?

I'm guessing its a tie.

678 Crushing the Sox.

But the meltdown is fun, too. Someone posted this poll at SOSH...

Who has the worst arm:

A Damon
B Williams
C Lopez
D Beckett

ROFL!

Alex, do three blow-outs count as a massacre??

What a great 46th birthday for me. Got to watch the game with my 75 year old parents down here near Tampa on vacation. Wow, what great games. Unfortunately, my parents have the slowest computer ever made and dial up.

Let's just say I'm looking forward to reading the "Banters" over the past 2 days !

Let's Shell Shelling tommorrow.

Columbus 2, Toledo 20

Mendoza, Butto, and Cosme didn't do much better than Depaula. All 20 runs given up were earned.

One the bright side, Bubba was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. :-/

Dreaming here, but imagine if Carmona and the Indians hadn't melted down 4 nights in a row - the Yanks would have an 8 and a half game lead right now!

I also can't believe the Banter is this close to 700 posts, after two 1000+ post threads. It will take ages to read them all, but I'm looking forward to it!

1 out of these next 2 would be satisfactory, but no denying what we all really want...

Another Phil Hughesian line:
5.0IP 2H 1R 1ER 1BB 3K

Actually a fairly lame performance by his standards, only three ks?

What a weekend so far and in keeping with rbj at 679 … By the waters of Boston, there we sat down and we wept when we remembered Mickey, Willie, Thurman, Reggie, Chambliss, Lou, Roy, Heath Cliff and Buckey.

"Thank God you are leaving the mound!! YAY YAY YAY"

703 Thanks, MFD - I haven't seen the Nott in too long. If you're ever up in Schenectady for homecoming or reunion, let me know - my wife (a fellow Dutchwoman ;) and I have been talking about heading out to old U one of these days . . .

I look forward to another good game tonight!