Heathcott’s hot hitting continues

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One more day of bullet points…

  • Triple-A Scranton won. Jesus Montero didn’t play because of his bruised forearm, but Chad Moeller went 3-for-4 with a double in his place. Kevin Russo, Reid Gorecki, Chad Tracy, and Chad Huffman all had multiple hits as well. Ivan Nova was very strong, allowing one earned run in 6.1 IP of work. Mark Melancon managed to throw two complete innings without allowing a run.
  • Double-A Trenton lost. Brandon Laird went deep for the third time in his last four games. Rene Rivera singled twice in the place of Austin Romine, who was resting the day game after a night game. Hector Noesi had his worst start of the year, allowing six runs 4.2 IP. Wilkin DeLaRosa and Kevin Whelan combined for three rock solid innings of relief.
  • High-A Tampa lost. Corban Joseph, Bradley Suttle, and Melky Mesa all went 2-for-4 with some kind of extra base hit. Zoilo Almonte hit his first homer at the High-A level. Craig Heyer walked three guys in five innings, raises his season walk total to four. His BB/9 rose from 0.18 to 0.67.
  • Low-A Charleston won. Slade Heathcott knocked another two hits, and is now 13-for-31 (.419) since his little biceps issue. Kelvin Castro, Jimmy Paredes, Rob Lyerly, and Emerson Landoni all picked up two hits and at least one double. Hector Rabago went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a homer in what had to be the best game of his career. Jose Ramirez allowed two runs in five innings, but walked four and struck out just three.
  • Short Season Staten Island won. Eduardo Sosa singled and walked while Kevin Mahoney doubled. Kyle Roller picked up three hits in three at-bats, including his third homer of the season. Nothing exciting on the pitching side of things, just another two inning save for Chase Whitley.
  • Rookie GCL Yanks were off.

A-Rod OK after leaving game with hand injury

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Update (7:30 p.m.) In the bottom of the 8th with the bases loaded, Blake Wood hit Alex Rodriguez on the left forearm with a pitch, and the Yankees’ third baseman and cleanup hitter went down in pain. While A-Rod walked gingerly down to first base, the Yankees had to remove him from the game for a pinch runner. After the game, Yankees manager Joe Girardi downplayed the injury. The skipper said he could have left A-Rod in to run but had planned to take him out anyway. “He’s fine,” Girardi said. “He could squeeze fine…It kind of grazed his hand. We got lucky.”

As A-Rod could squeeze with no problems, the Yankees have no plans to send A-Rod for X-rays. A-Rod said he has a slight purple bruise in the padding of his hand but is otherwise doing just fine. “I have pretty much full strength so I should be ok,” he said. The slugger said he would be able to play tomorrow in Cleveland, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him sit out a game or two early this week. The Yanks dodged a bullet this evening, and the quest for 600 will continue soon enough.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Kathy Willens

Open Thread: Busy afternoon

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"Wait ... for Joe Saunders?!?" (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

There’s been some breaking news within the last hour or so, so let’s round it up here:

So there you go. Talk about that stuff, or whatever else you want in this open thread. The ESPN Sunday Night Game features the Cardinals and Cubs (Carpenter vs. Dempster), about the 13th consecutive week the 45-53 Cubs have appeared in the Sunday night game (or is it just me?). Have fun.

Angels acquire Dan Haren

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Well, so much for that idea. The Angels have acquired Dan Haren from Arizona for Joe Saunders, prospects Patrick Corbin (ranked 12th in the Halos’ system by Baseball America), Rafael Rodriguez (22nd), and a player to be named later. The PTBNL is not Mike Trout, arguably the best prospect in the game, but instead a list of players the D-Backs can choose from. I have to say, I find it very hard to believe that Joe freakin’ Saunders headlined a package for Haren, but so be it.

GM Brian Cashman can now focus on his stated goals of improving the bullpen and bench, though another starting pitcher never hurts.

Heyman: Yanks made ‘big proposal’ on Soria

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In a piece that incorrectly labels the July trade market as one for the buyers, Jon Heyman leads with some Yankee dirt. He says the team is looking to be in on some big names this week and writes that the team has made “a big proposal” to the Royals for Joakim Soria. The Yanks want to upgrade their bullpen this week, but Soria won’t come cheap. He’s emerged as one of the game’s best relievers, non-Mariano division, and is under contract through 2011 with three club options with innings pitched escalators that total $22.75 million. Heyman also notes that the Bombers “have been in touch” with Washington over Adam Dunn but have so far found the price to be “prohibitive.”

Aceves to join team on upcoming road trip

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According to Joe Girardi‘s pregame press conference, the sorely missed Al Aceves will join the Yankees on their upcoming seven game road trip. His back is getting better, and he’s expected to throw several bullpen sessions during the trip. This doesn’t mean Aceves is close to returning, however. He’d still need to throw full mound sessions with no pain before going on a minor league rehab assignment, so Ace is still several weeks away from rejoining the team. Still, this is better news than what we’ve been getting.

Game 97: Is today the day?

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(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The Yankees head out on the road for the seven game road trip after today’s game, so if Alex Rodriguez wants to hit his 600th career homer in front of some friendly fans, he better get it today. Personally, I’d just like to see him get a curtain call and cheered and a video montage and all that jazz when he hits it, so I’m pulling for him to hit it today. I don’t want to see A-Rod get this milestone homer in front of 16,000 people in Cleveland, half of whom have no idea what just happened.

Today’s pitching matchup is a rematch of Tuesday’s, before Sean O’Sullivan was traded from the Angels to the Royals. According to Kim Jones on the pregame, he’s the first pitcher to ever start against the Yankees twice on the same homestand for two different teams. Remember guys, he’s probably throwing a changeup. Here’s the lineup…

Jeter, SS
Swisher, RF
Teixeira, 1B
A-Rod, DH
Cano, 2B
Posada, C
Granderson, CF
Gardner, LF
Pena, 3B

And on the bump, it’s Phil Hughes, who could really use a dominating start.

First pitch is set for 1:05pm ET, and YES will carry it. Apparently there might be a rain shower in the mid-afternoon. Enjoy the game.