ByAnyone else read Chad Jennings’s Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yanks blog? I seriously check it as often as I check Pete Abraham’s blog. He’s a pretty reasonable dude, too. For instance, in his latest post about what to do with Shelley Duncan when Giambi comes back:
I like Cairo, but I’d rather have a huge right-handed power threat than a utility infielder who’s going to hardly play. Especially when there’s another utility infielder who’s hardly going to play already on the roster.
Bravo, Chad. Bravo. He also adds that Jason Giambi will be heading to Scranton for a rehab assignment:Jason Giambi will make a rehab appearance with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees on Friday during the team’s double header against Buffalo. I haven’t heard whether he will play in both games, but it seems that he will. According to the Yankees, Giambi will be reevaluated after Friday’s games to determine whether he remains with the Triple-A team or returns to New York.
Our team! It’s getting better! · (6) ·
ByJohan Santana is upset the Twins didn’t do much to bolster their club yesterday. In other news, Brian Cashman (and Yankee bloggers everywhere) seen salivating over the checkbook in anticipation of Santana’s looming 2008 free agency. · (16) ·
ByA lot of folks are less-than-thrilled that Kyle Farnsworth is still a Yankee. Considering the boos Farnsworth heard last night upon entering the game and the last-minute trade the Yanks turned down, it’s understandable. But Farnsworth could still be on the move. He’s owed a ridiculous $7.1 million over the next few seasons. With a contract like that, he will definitely clear waivers to be traded before August 31. And if he doesn’t clear waivers, he becomes someone else’s problem. · (1) ·
Maybe Scott Proctor wasn’t the problem…
By · CommentsAround the trade deadline yesterday, as Scott Proctor packed up his stuff and headed west, everyone assumed Proctor was traded because of his inconsistent pitching. He had after all allowed 20 baserunners in this last 10.1 IP and 40 over his last 28.2 IP. It’s amazing he hadn’t been hit harder.
But what if the Yankees traded Scott Proctor to protect the team from Joe Torre? That’s why Tyler Kepner intimates here:
On July 8, the day before the All-Star Game break, the Yankees led the Angels by 10 runs when Scott Proctor was sent in to pitch the eighth inning. To the Yankees’ decision makers, this was an obvious sign that Manager Joe Torre would probably always favor Proctor over a pitcher just up from the minors, no matter how promising that pitcher seemed.
So when the trading deadline arrived at 4 p.m. yesterday, the Yankees took away Torre’s go-to reliever, shipping Proctor to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the utility infielder Wilson Betemit.
At the time, that was Proctor’s fourth appearance in a span of six days, and it was an unnecessary one for sure.
Now, if what Kepner writes is true – that is, if the Yankee braintrust has figured out that Joe Torre’s bullpen management is actually hurting the arms of the relievers – why is the solution to trade the reliever in question? Wouldn’t a better solution be to root out the problem?
Steve Lombardi today notes that, increasingly, coverage of Joe Torre makes him sound like a lame duck manage. I couldn’t agree more. When your manager is hurting your team, it’s time for him to go.
Author’s Note: I could have sworn another blogger noted this last night, but I couldn’t find that post this morning. If anyone has it, drop me an e-mail, and I’ll add the appropriate hat tip.
ByTurns out it could have happened. Take it away, Pete Abraham:
It seems the Yankees could have gotten rid of Krazy Kyle. Atlanta was willing to trade the Yankees Bob Wickman but wanted all $7.1 million of Farnsworth’s salary. That was a no deal for Cashman.
I still would have done it. · (11) ·
ByFrom Baseball Musings:
With Boston losing, New York ends July seven games back in the division, picking up 3 1/2 games in the month. Two more months like that and the division is tied.
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Yanks reveal ’08 All Star logo to fans
By · CommentsA few hours after the press caught a glimpse the 2008 All Star logo, the Yankees held another unveiling ceremony for the 53,958 fans in attendance at last night’s game. While the fireworks would come later in the form of a whopping eight home runs by the Yanks, the logo unveiling was pretty cool.
As I had a great view of the unveiling sitting in Tier Reserve Section 1, I snapped a whole bunch of photos of the event. The slideshow below shows the pomp and circumstance or you can just check out this album on Picasa.
Edwar earns his call-up…again
By · CommentsTriple-A Scranton (3-1 loss to Richmond)
Kevin Thompson: 1 for 4, 1 2B
Justin Christian: 1 for 4
Erubiel Durazo: 0 for 2 — the clock is ticking…
Alberto Gonzalez: 0 for 4
Eric Duncan: 1 for 3, 1 2B, 1 K
Mighty Matt; 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K — there he goes with those walks again (not that he ever stopped)
Colter Bean: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 K — with all the guys returning from the DL, you’d have to think he’s a goner…
Edwar: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K — still sporting a 0.57 AAA ERA
ByOkay, we all know the Yanks aren’t going to follow my advice. But seriously, there are some moves that you just have to make. And to me, the moves that the Yanks have to make from here on our are pretty clear: Get rid of Farnsworth. To be clear, here’s how I would construct the 25-man. C: Jorge 1B: Phillips 2B: Cano 3B: Alex SS: Jeter LF: Matsui CF: Melky/Damon RF: Abreu DH: Giambi/Damon BEN: Betemit BEN: Duncan BEN: Molina BEN: Cairo (because we know he’s not going anywhere) SP: Wang SP: Pettitte SP: Clemens SP: Mussina SP: Hughes RP: Rivera RP: Vizcaino RP: Bruney RP: Chamberlain RP: Karstens RP: One of Villone/Myers/Henn You can add another reliever to that list if you subtract Cairo. But you get the gist. · (10) ·
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Music to my ears… · (20) ·
