Yes, a disaster of a series, especially the pitching. The upside? Only 5 games back in the division with Clemens, Wang, then Hughes going this weekend. Of course it would be nice to win those first three because then we got Moose going against Verlander on Monday. So if not the first 3 games then 2 out of the first three at the very least to keep the ball rolling.

Re: Edwar, I think it will be interesting to see if he can make the adjustment to big league hitters who are content to wait on his fastball, which isn't horrible. These aren't AAA hitters.

And I really think that hip hip Jorge needs to start getting some serious MVP consideration.

Well, I'm ready to turn the page on that bitch of a series.

0 "This team needs to start winning some low-scoring games."

If the last 30 days are any indication, little chance of low scores this weekend. Over the past 30 days the Tigers have the ML's worst ERA: 6.01, and WHIP 1.61.
Yankee pitching hasn't been much better over that span: 1.52 WHIP, 5.04 ERA
Yanks should continue raking this series, while the Tigers keep scuffling for runs. I like our chances of taking 3 of 4 with the bats, even if Moose comes up Mouse on Monday.

2 Word: MVPosada. Without him the Yanks are the Blue Jays at best, but his defense hasn't sparkled enough for serious MVP cred, and The Third Baseman is making it easy for fans to leave Po out of the discussion.

Has anyone else heard that part of the reason for Wang's relative ineffectiveness has been a slow- to no- healing cracked nail on his pitching hand?

oh and from PeteAb:

"First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz played his second rehab game for Single-A Tampa last night, going 3 for 3 with two doubles, a walk and five RBI against Lakeland. He is 5 for 7 with seven RBI as he comes back from wrist surgery. Mientkiewicz is expected back with the Yankees around Sept. 1."

5 Hopefully as a defensive replacement only!

6 hopefully as a DFA.

Apparently Bruney has been recalled as well. No idea on who he is replacing, but c'mon guys, Chris Britton. Seriously, its sometimes like living in bizarro world. Britton has already been good at the major league level. What exactly does the guy have to do?

Meanwhile, I predict Bruney will come in, be better than Villone but still walk the park. I love how Joe thinks that now he'll somehow be different. Then again, he does have great "stuff" just like Joe's favorite, Kyle.

8 I don't mind Bruney's call up if it's at the expense of Villone or Henn, but The Invisible Britton mystery sure is baffling.
It's as though he exists only statistically.

8 I'm concerned because if Pete's stats are right, Bruney didn't look good at all in AAA. I'm confused.

ok, just looked up Bruney's stats. He allowed 4 runs in 6 IP. But I will note that he hasn't walked a batter in 4.1IP. Perhaps he is looking better overall.

Why does the phrase "Columbus Shuttle" come to mind in regards to our bullpen this year?

Maybe Joe just likes Bruney against Detroit and Boston.

Bruney has had some success against Boston this year:

.227 BAA in 7 games/ 6 innings, no runs.

He hasn't faced the Tigers since last October, but he did a pretty good job against them in the ALDS.
1 hit, 1 ER, 4K, 0 BB in 2.2 innings.
The run he surrendered was in the final game of the series, but the damage had already been done by Wright, Lidle, and Bonderman.

8 11 Bruney's promotion over Britton is a joke, and a very unfunny one at that.

His impressive 4 inning stretch of control aside, he has walked two and hit one batter in the minors, so I don't take any encouragement that he has overcome his ML career rate of 7 BB/9IP.

You would think there'd be one reported in this town savy enough to really grill Cashman about why Britton toils in the minors despite clearly deserving a recall.

Cliff, is that a Teen Girl Squad reference in there? if so, awesome.

And FWIW, Ramirez has a 0.00 ERA in 5.1 innings against Bal, Min,Det, TB, and an 8.1 ERA in 3.1 IP against the Angels. Small sample yadda yadda yadda, but clearly the Angels are trouble for him...

Something to look out for...the Red Sox have a DH in Chicago today that could be postponed. If that happens, the Sox rotation could really be out of whack for next week. I am doing a rain dance just in case.

15 Edwar gave up 3 runs to Tampa Bay, but I think you have to toss that outing away due to his 14-day layoff.

If Torre is discouraged about Edwar off of his last outing, well, then it only confirms what most of us already fear.

16 NWS is calling for an 80% chance of heavy rain all day in Chicago ;)

5 6 7 (hands over ears) "La la la la la la la la la la"

I can't help it. A small part of me is pulling for Minky.

I can sorta see it now. He catches the final out of the WS, a soft toss from Rivera after Jose Reyes dribbles one back to the mound. After the celebration, as the team walks off the field, Rivera says to him "Don't worry, Dougie. You can keep this one. I've got a bunch already.".

18 Ugly forecast in Detroit too :( Damn it!

19 I wouldn't mind seeing Dougie return, pull a ball around the curve in Fenway and then go spikes high sliding into 3B. Remember me, Mr. Lowell?

21 that collision at 1B with lowell was unfortunate and ugly, but i don't think the guy meant to hurt anybody.

15 I don't even know what Teen Girl Squad is.

23 You may not know them now, but you will win they win the NL Central.

0 In your first paragraph, I think the series would be better described if you finished the quote: "That'll do, pig."

22 I am not sure...Lowell was chippy all game. His collision with Cano was dirty (despite the BS that he was taught as such in the Yankee system) and it appeared to me as if didn't shy away from contact with DM at first base.

26 I thought the play at first was completely clean.

23 A comic that Strongbad writes. The main character always says (picture an internet cartoon man in a wrestling mask doing falsetto), "Soooooo good!"

If you google around you can find it, its pretty hilarious.

26 the play with cano is another matter. (that said, i'd do the same if i were in his shoes.)

i believe doug was trying to grab a somewhat errant toss, causing him to lean a little towards lowell's path. i play in a baseball league every summer, and when i am lucky enough to hit a groundball (i am terrible) i run all out to 1B in as straight a line as i can. i don't usually pay much attention to the play or where the fielders are. i actually ended up giving a poor 1B a knee to his head on a somewhat similar play. i had no intention of doing so. (i did take a pitch off the shoulder my next time up, but i understand that.)

28 Strongbad? Is that still around? I think I was one of the few people who just didn't find that stuff funny. Anyway, no, that was more a reference to something one of my oldest friends likes to say, but I didn't expect anyone to catch that.

The treatment of Britton is really baffling to me, because Bruney isn't even that good or that veteranny or whatnot. Someone here said it a few days back. If they make all the right moves, play the kids and don't make the playoffs, well that sucks but at least we tried our best. If instead we lose with people like Minky, Kyle and Villone in there, well that's just a whole different thing.

30 Not sure if its still around, I haven't looked in ages, but back in grad school, well much physics was not done because of that site. My old advisor should probably sue them.

There is a Yankee who should win MVP, but he plays 90 ft down the third base line from Jorge.

I also wanted to mention, because I saw some comments in an earlier thread that I found to be a bit overly optimistic and delusional. Alex Rodriguez opting out of his contract, and then signing with the Angels, is a real possibility. As Yankee fans we want to believe that on one in their right mind would want to leave NY to go play in Orange County, but I have news for you: The Angels' owner will spend truckloads of cash to get A-Rod, and the Angels are a great team. Also, Southern California is a hell of a place to live. Cashman and Co. better be ready with the purse come this offseason, or the Yankees could possibly lose the best player in baseball. Without Alex, we would be coming on here everyday talking about the offseason, not the postseason. It's that simple.

The Lakers' owner, Jerry Buss, didn't want to pay Shaquille O'Neal $30 million a year, so they traded him. Shaq won another title in Miami while the Lakers have hovered between not making the playoffs and getting their heads handed to them in the first round. The Yankees have a once a generation player who is in his prime. They had better not let him go.

34 i am choosing to tell myself that rodriguez will stay in NY forever. deep down in the depths of my soul, a small part of me realizes that this might not be the case. i bury that part of me, along with my melancholy.

34 Losing Rodriguez would be a tremendous blow, but there's no way you can compare that to the Shaquille situation. To begin with, the influence of one player is radically different in each sport. Second, the Lakers were a poorly built team along for the ride with their two superstars, while the Yankees are increasingly one of the best run teams in baseball. Not even close.

36 Agreed. I remain amazed at how poorly some other franchises are run. The Pirates or Nationals may be the worst of them (the Os are high up there too, but are starting to improve). How you can make a trade for Matt Morris and eat his entire contract is beyond me. Or holding on to Soriano. Yes, the Yankees have more money than other teams, but it helps when the other teams light their dollars on fire for amusement.

28 ,30 Wikipedia has an extensive entry on Strongbad. I'll be giving this serious consideration maybe this weekend (if it's anything like "Unicorn With An Attitude", it's starting with an 'A' already.)

38 If you go, besides teen girl squad, I highly recommend Trogdor the Burninator. Its probably under dragons or something. He has a great theme song.

What is Unicorn With an Attitude?

Said it before, but I'll say it again (until I can come up with a better line, or facts prove otherwise):

A-Rod's outta here like Vladimir.

Too many years of "fans" and media jackals sippin' on the hater-aid.

38 Hey Chyll, I finally got around to working on that Nettles baseball card. It was harder to fix than I thought.
Here ya go (old vs. new):
http://i18.tinypic.com/4ys4t1i.jpg

30 FINALLY! Someone else who didn't like Strongbad!!! I've been searching for years.

42 Get a room you two ;)

40 I disagree. I think he's going to get a cement mixer full of cash.

I said this a couple threads ago, but I think it need another mention. ARod has one thing left on his baseball list. World Series.

Bingo.
Game Over.

He will stay in New York when all is said and done because he knows that the Yanks are his best chances to win one of those puppies. He gets paid no matter where he goes.

41 Great work, Bama! Esp. as you had to add the buttons and belt. Okay, now put him back in his original Indians uni in which the photo was taken. ;)

45 I tend to agree, but don't forget that the Halos have the more recent championship.

40 I think it would be foolish for Rodriguez to leave NY, very much against his own interests. There are a lot of reasons I think that, but here's a nutshell version: given what he's already been through in Texas and NY, why would he want to start that cycle all over again? Let's say the Yankees don't make the postseason this year, but the Angels do; next year the positions are reversed. That could happen even if both teams have the same W-L next year as this - but can you imagine the shite he'd have to take?

Here, he's pretty much weathered the storm. There, it would start all over again.

36 Cliff, the Lakers are a poorly run franchise now, since Jerry West left, but when he was there, they were a very solid team. You don't win three championships in a row by accident. Also, Shaquille has won everywhere he's been in the NBA. When he broke into the league with the Magic, they went to the Finals, losing to a much more experienced Rockets squad. Winning the Eastern Conference is still success though. Then he goes to the Lakers, and they won three titles. He goes to Miami, they win a title.

I will not argue with you at all that the Lakers, under current mgmt., are poorly run, which is why I support Kobe's demand to be traded. But losing A-Rod would be a huge blow to the Yankees, and it would be a colossal mistake on the part of Yankee mgmt. to let him get away. One guy among nine is not going to have as much impact on the field of play as one guy among five, but they can dramatically influence things, especially when they are as gifted as Alex is. I just think it would be a huge error to not make sure he remains in pinstripes. When you have someone like that on your team, you just don't let him get away.

29 Then you'd be guilty of a cheap shot. The rules might allow a runner to run into a fielder holding the ball in the baseline, but they certainly do not permit the runner to propel himself into the fielder with both forearms raised and extended. I think the Lowell play was an ultimate cheap shot and think that if anything deserves retaliation, it's a play like that one. Unfortunately, the Yankees are in a pennant race and can ill afford another suspension, but still, I'd like to see the Rocket send Lowell a little calling card in one of the two series.

50 Moose can hit him with one of his 65mph fastballs ;)

42 Geez, no accounting for taste you two :)
39 Yeah, Trogdor is pretty great. If you really want perhaps the best strongbad email, check out his children's book. Awesome...

Teen Girl Squad is a cut above most of homestarrunner though, which, at least to me, is saying a lot...

48 I agree with 40 . It really isn't in Arod's best interest to move on...again. It's pretty obvious that Arod cares about his place in the game. By remaining with the Yankees, Arod has the opportunity to establish a legacy with the most prominent and successful team in all of sports. If he moves on yet again, his legacy will be that of a mercenary/nomad...a Hall of Famer without a home.

Also, from an ego standpoint, if Arod left, there'd always be the nonsensical whispers that he couldn't handle NY. That alone could drive Arod to stay...I think he wants to not only conqueror New York, but, heaven forbid, also take a good piece of it away from Jeter.

Everyone is harping on the "opt out" possibility, but I don't see it getting that far. Cashman addressed the issue clearly, yet it was still misconstrued. Clearly, the Yankees are going to have to offer him an extension, but it doesn't have to be during the free agency period. There is no reason why Boras will not accept an extension if the price is right, and Cashman has seemed willing to pay the price, as long as the Texas money is still in the mix.

47 True, but I'm sure that ARod's thinking the Yanks will do whatever it takes to bring home a championship next year. I mean look at all the holes they've plugged this year.

Hmmm.... I wonder if we could get a stud pitcher for ARod and put Brosius ver.2 at third. Hell, we have enough offense that it wouldn't really matter.

Alright, I'm kidding... sorta. No really, just kidding...

53 Isn't that disagreeing with 40 ?

53 Nevermind, I see it now. You agree with 40 but you were stating your case as to why he shouldn't leave?

55 Yes...I meant to say I was agreeing with 48 .

I agree with Cliff, Bama, I'm very impressed! We should jam sometime; of course I have to show you what I'm capable of; I'd probably learn a thing or two from you.

39 Unicorn With An Attitude is a series of early Flash animated vignettes starring a cynical teenage unicorn. There is blood and violence involved, but mostly sarcasm. My sister hipped me to this in the early-mid nineties, so it might seem a bit dated, but you like sarcasm, so you'll like it enough (I think it's Twisted Unicorn Productions)

46 Thanks, Cliff. The belt and buttons are courtesy of a nice Johnny Damon picture from a similar angle.
http://i14.tinypic.com/4mufqeo.jpg

Matsui actually has a very similar follow through to Nettles:
http://tinyurl.com/2exfz5
but I couldn't find a good one of him in the road uni.

I also wanted to go with the old school letters (without the white outline) but I couldn't find anything that matched well enough. BTW, I agree with you that the old style numbers/letters (sans outline) look better. I had never really noticed it until you pointed them out, now it really bugs me (thanks ;-)

59 Heh. I was going to say that the card you created was an anachronism, but that's not entirely true. The Yanks went to double knits with the white outline for the 1973 season, which was Nettles' first with the team, so you just slipped in under the wire.

I also preferred the old style numbers. Maybe not the thin, pointed numbers from the days of Ruth and DiMaggio, as the Red Sox are now too closely identified with that style, but the sans-serif numbers from the days of Mantle and Ford.

38 The Strongbad wiki is about twice as long as the D-Day wiki. Jesus.

48 ,53 I agree with both of you, and let me add that A-Rod has proven quite a bit of athletic development as a superstar player during his time here, what with changing positions, enduring the criticism from "peers", fans and media, not to mention maintaining or elevating his production. There are two factors that are worth mentioning that A-Rod will have to address if he really does want to stay, though:

Who's managing the Yankees next year? - Does he stay for Joe if Joe is still here? Joe treated him pretty rough early on, but obviously has come to depend on him more than anyone else, even Jeter I might say. Does it matter at this point to him? If Joe's out, do the Yanks take A-Rod's needs into consideration when choosing his successor?

WWSBD? - He's got the most powerful agent in sports; someone not accustomed to leaving money on the table. I think what Boras intends will be a strong indication of what A-Rod intends, but that could change if we go deep in the post-seasono. Even Bortas would see the benefit$ of A-Rod being an important part of a return to post-season glory for the Yanks, or the potential return if the team makes a long, hard-pitched battle in the WS. Short of that, he'll probably be buzzing the entire league for percentage offers.

I agree, A-Rod deperately wants to be respected, and that couldn't come more than in New York with all that has passed, but the two caveats I mentioned make this really hard to tell what's coming.

58 Thanks for the kind words, Chyll. I'm just a guy who likes to tinker around with photoshop (co-workers usually get a kick out it unless it's their head that you put on someone elses body). I always thought that my niche could be a blog that featured photoshopped Yankee pics, but the guys over at No Maas beat me to it....

34 I agree that ARod is THE most important issue the Yankees face, and while we can still win without him, losing him undoubtable hurts the team a great deal.

In purely financial matters and wheeling & dealing, Cashman is a good man. We have a 30 million dollar advantage over every team. If we think ARod will get a 7/$200m contact, we can offer $210m, costing us $180.

My only issue is if Boras tell ARod he can get sick money that's not out there, and ARod opts out on Boras's word.

However, we keep talking about money here. ARod IS, and will continue to be, the highest paid professional athlete. But HIS WIFE will have more power over his decision then $20 or $30m. His desire to play or NOT play in NY will have more power then $20 or $30m.

Bottom line. If he WANTS to stay and retire as a Yankee, because of the Texas $30m, there is no way we don't sign him. But his decision will not be based on the money.

And while this might be blasphemy, if ARod needs $30m, might we, and our future be better with 3 - $10m players (catcher, BP,
3rd) or 2 - $15m studs?

I personally don't believe any player is worth $30m. Even for the Mutts and CA. teams, that's 25-30% of the entire team payroll.

And this is a career year... not an average year... not what you will get for 8 more years going forward. Would you pay $30m for 2004 ARod? For 2006 ARod? What will ARod be like in 2012?

How about Miguel Cabrera.. with a 1.000+ OPS at age 24? Does $18-20m/yr buy him?

Understand I WANT ARod to finish his career as a Yankee. But we should not get drunk on 2007. There is still a decision to be made on what he's really worth... and how many years, based on his production, you are willing to overpay him for. Any team that goes 7/$200 is facing a potentially very bad move... that might financially restrict that team well into the next decade.

Tom Hicks bought ARod for $25m (at age 25) and sold him for $17m (at age 32). If someone buys him for $28m (at age 33)??????

61 Either someone put a lot of thought into this, or someone has a whole lot of time on their hands.

I'm also intrigued by the obsolete computer aspect. For the longest, my best friend had the Commodore system that was mentioned. He still has it, but as an antique. I actually came across an Intellivision game console not long ago, with games including MLB Baseball, NFL Football, NHL Hockey and Donkey Kong among a whole bagful of others. I would have bought it if it had included Snafu and BurgerTime.

64 "ARod IS, and will continue to be, the highest paid professional athlete. But HIS WIFE will have more power over his decision then $20 or $30m."

Toronto need not apply >;)

61 Come on. D-Day is just sooooo 20th-century.

For our Banterites based in Japan, if you see a man wearing a brown suit and yellow shirt talking about the Yankees chances of catching the Red Sox, that's me. While on my lunch break, I was corralled into an interview for Japanese TV. In retrospect, I regret not making Dice-K and Matsui the heart of my comments.

68 Brown suit and yellow shirt?

69 I know...I usually don't get that colorful, but it's a light yellow.

68 Very cool! way to represent! (Those of you in Japan also should take note, Roy Kroc is dead; so no, this is not the guy who invented McDonald's or the San Diego Padres...) >;)

68 Is this you?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidgb/492557879/
;-)

72 That's the idea.

71 Now that I think about it, the combination does resemble a cheeseburger.

73 I was thinking along these lines: http://tinyurl.com/22xv2h

63 ,72 Please, hit me with an email man! There's definitely a place for you if you're interested (you know where to find it...)

74 My favorite player in the eighties, and coincidentally 73 owned two-dozen Burger Kings at one point.

I would just like to point out that Prince Phil's matchup on Sunday is against Jair Jurrjens. Yes, that is spelled right. He's from Curacao...

75 I couldn't find your email address over at your blog...

77 I am going to guess that most people don't pronounce that correctly on the first try.

79 "Yare Yur-Yens"? That would be a trip.

Meanwhile, looks like ol' Respect The Game isn't respecting the strike zone...

80 You beat me to it, fair-and-square >;)

78 Ack! You're right! Shoot Alex B. an email and ask him to forward it to you. I'll tell him it's okay. I hope he checks it soon...

80 Meat's thrown 57 pitches in 2 innings of work. Looks like he's not long for the game.

82 If he's Meat, is the other one now Meatless? (or Meat-Less?)

Nice work AJ, you big jerk.

81 That's why they call me Quick Draw. Because, you know, I type fast.

Anyone notice that Josh Phelps is hitting .432 with 4 HR's and 14 RBI's in 44 AB's with Pittsburgh (after .263 with 2 HR's and 12 RBI's in 80 AB in New York)....I certainly get the perils of small sample sizes, but jeez.

81 If you want to cut out the middle man, feel free to drop me a line at:
bama_yankee2 AT yahoo

Beckett now up to 72 pitches after 3 innings.

85 You mean given a chance he's a reasonably decent PH and 1B? or could be a DH? Nah...no one would have expected that, bring back Mink the Stink!

The White Sox have all the looks of a team that has completely quit on the season.

Garland falling apart in the fourth.

89 I agree. IMHO, that's reason enough to fire a manager. (I know they won't, though.)

5-1. i hate all sox. i should just go bare foot. feh!

I hate to say it, but absent a 5-1/6-0 run against the Boston, the Red Sox' schedule looks way to easy for the Yankees to overtake them. In many ways, the significance of the Boston series is that they are a tough opponent whom the Yankees have to face twice.

75 Chyll, where's your blog at?

93 Wowzers, I thought you knew!
http://seriousconsideration.blogspot.com

94 You've been bookmarked as essential reading.

Didn't I see Garland's name associated with the Yankees at one point around the trading deadline?

(wheeeeeeeewwwwwwww).

95 I'm honored, and I will not fail you >;)