ByJust a heads up, tonight’s SI Yanks-Brooklyn Cyclones game will be airing on Snigh, first pitch is set for 7:00. Luke Greinke should be taking the mound for SI, but Pat Venditte will likely get the day off after tossing 3 scoreless frames yesterday. Ike Davis, the Mets’ first pick in this year’s draft (#18 overall), should be in the lineup for Brooklyn. (h/t MetsBlog) · (11) ·
ByPer Tyler Kepner, both Phil Hughes and Shelley Duncan will make their triumphant return to Triple-A Scranton this week follow short rehab stints in the lower minors. Hughes will slot into the rotation sometime this weeked, likely taking the spot currently occupied by Billy Traber. Shelley should return to the lineup in the next day or so. You may remember that he separated his shoulder making a diving catch in the outfield a few weeks back. (h/t to loyal reader Gurpreet for the email) · (56) ·
ByAs reports of Manny Ramirez’s exploits in Los Angeles filter through the Boston/New York East Coast media bias sieve that we know and loathe, we’ve seen photos of Manny wearing not his customary 24 but rather the slightly absurd 99 on his back. Turk Wendell he is not. Scott Miller, writing for CBS Sports, tells us why: The Dodgers have retired 24, and while Manny requested 34, the Dodgers will not reissue Fernando Valenzuela’s old number. “It’s been retired in our hearts,” Mitch Poole, the team’s clubhouse manager, said to Miller.
I, for one, am glad to see the Yanks aren’t the only team retiring people’s numbers in their hearts but not in reality. As Shysterball opines, perhaps some standard for retired numbers and unissued but non-retired numbers should be put forth. It’s all just a little silly. · (19) ·
Looking at some possible waiver acquisitions
By · CommentsAs we’ve discussed before, the one thing the Yanks didn’t nail down at the non-waiver trade deadline was another starting pitcher. They’re not looking for much…just an upgrade over Ponson and Rasner. Ian Kennedy might be the remedy for the latter, since their starts line up. In fact, if I were a betting man I might place a few dollars on Kennedy getting the start against the Angels Friday night.
Still, can we trust Ponson to stay effective in the rotation? For every start like he had against the Angels on Friday night, he’ll have one or two like he had against the Rangers earlier, or against the Red Sox on that gloomy Sunday night. If you can find a more stable piece, you have to make the move.
Where would we find one? Tim at MLB Trade Rumors takes a look at the American League waiver trade candidates. Clearly, there are no guarantees here; it’s just another place to look for scrap heap options. Tomorrow he’ll have the NL up, and we’ll take a look in that direction.
Unfortunately, there are slim pickings in the AL. Kevin Millwood’s contract makes him a bit prohibitive. He has a guaranteed $11 million coming his way next year, and a conditional $12 million for 2010. He has to pitch 540 innings from 2007 through 2009, 360 innings from 2008 through 2009, or 180 innings in 2009. Clearly, he could just hit that 180 mark next year and it’ll vest. He’s got 281 innings between last year and this year, and 108.1 this year. He’s been on the DL since June 26, retroactive to the 24th, with a groin injury. Given all this, I think we can put a resounding NO stamp on Millwood.
The Rangers also have Vicente Padilla, though he’s got $12 million guaranteed for next year, plus a $1.75 million buyout of his $12 million club option for 2010. He’s pitching to a 4.52 ERA over 127.1 IP this year, and really hasn’t been good since the 2003 season. There’s no reason to waste nearly $17 million on this guy.
Then there’s Jarrod Washburn, but it appears that ship has sailed. Miguel Batista also makes Tim’s list, but he’s rather horrible. Hey, Carlos Silva would probably clear waivers, too, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to make a deal for him.
While we haven’t seen the NL list of waiver trade candidates, it looks like this cupboard will be bare. It’s best that the Yanks make the best of what they’ve got.
ByBesides the poorest excuse for a center fielder on a playoff-contending team, Jason Giambi earned the rare distinction as the only Yankee starter without a hit on Sunday. To that end, Jason Giambi opted to shave off the ‘stache. Long gone is the 1970s porno facial hair. This decision to shave couldn’t have come a moment to soon; since July 18, Giambi is hitting .216 with six extra-base hits. A hot streak any time soon would be most welcome. · (17) ·
Kennedy makes his case; Charleston’s offense explodes
By · CommentsBrian Foley at The College Baseball Blog ran down the Eastern Division pitchers he saw last weekend at the Cape Cod League All-Star Game. Check it out, most of those guys are going to premium draft picks next year.
Triple-A Scranton (5-2 win over Pawtucket)
Brett Gardner: 0 for 5
Berne Castro: 3 for 5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 CS
Matt Carson: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 SB – another year, another .800+ OPS
Juan Miranda: 2 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Cody Ransom: 0 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K – 1 for his last 20 (.050)
Ben Broussard: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 K
Chris Stewart: 0 for 2, 2 BB, 1 K – picked a runner off first with a snap throw
Eric Duncan: 0 for 4, 2 K
Chris Basak: 1 for 3, 1 R
IPK: 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HB, 5-9 GB/FB – 67 of 96 pitches were strikes (69.7%) … he’s ready to take a spot from Ponson/Rasner
Scott Patterson: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
ByIn the bottom of the eighth with two outs and the bases loaded, Edwar Ramirez remained in the game to face Mark Teixeira. Yankee fans all over raised a collective eyebrow as Mariano Rivera sat in the bullpen. Now, we learn that he’s simply going through his routine August injury period. Rivera is day-to-day with back spasms. The future Hall of Famer says he first felt the pain after losing Friday’s game and couldn’t get loose before the game today. He along with the rest of us hopes to get back on the field tomorrow. · (20) ·
ByWhile the Yanks managed to win a game despite their pitchers’ best efforts, the Tigers weren’t so lucky, and the Yanks were the ones to pay the price. Heading into the eighth with a 3-1 lead, the Tigers called upon Kyle Farnsworth to shut down the Rays. Well, six batters later, the Rays had scored three runs on home runs by Eric Hinske and B.J. Upton, and two innings later, Tampa walked away a winner. So there you go; Krazy Kyle had that meltdown we’ve all been waiting for, and it’s impacting the Yanks’ playoff chances. · (44) ·
Game 111: I hate Brett Favre
By · CommentsMan, just freaking stay retired. I can’t sit down and watch 30 minutes worth of SportsCenter over a bowl of cereal these days without hearing some nonsense about how he’s going to be reinstated, how he’s working out at a high school field, how the Pack don’t want to trade him within the division; the stupidest, most unimportant and uninteresting details possible. It’s ridiculous, and ESPN ate it right up. Props go out to the Low-A Augusta Green Jackets for having a “Brett Favre flip-flop night” promotion.
As for the Yanks, they’re are still 10-5 since the break despite their recent slump, and they’ve picked up three big games in the Wildcard chase, leaving them 2.5 GB of Boston. Division titles are nice, but the MLB playoffs have turned into the NCAA Tournament – just get in and we’ll figure it out then. Four of the last 10 World Series winners have been WC teams, and 9 WC teams have played in the Fall Classic since 1997. Just get in.
Darrell Rasner has new battery mate today, even though he’s been most successful with the recently DFA’ed Chad Moeller behind the dish (4-3, 4.38 ERA with Moeller; 2-5, 6.87 ERA with everyone else). Maybe Pudge can squeeze the best out of Ras like he did Ponson the other night. Halos’ starter John Lackey threw a near no-hitter in Fenway his last time out, but he does have a 6.06 ERA and .825 OPS against in his last 5 starts, Fenway outing included.
1. Damon, DH
2. Jeter, SS
3. Abreu, RF
4. A-Rod, 3B
5. Giambi, 1B
6. X(BH) Nady, LF
7. Betemit, 2B
8. Pudge, C
9. Melky, CF
And on the mound, the Nightmare from Nevada, Darrell Rasner.
Notes: Cano’s hand is still sore, so he’ll get another day off … the Yanks head off on a 10-day road trip after the game today, going from Texas to Anaheim to Minneapolis with no off-days … after today, the Yanks will play 16 of their next 19 games on the road …
