If Alex leaves, we will be compensated
By · CommentsJust read this bit over at Pete Abraham’s blog. It appears that should A-Rod opt out of his contract, the Yankees could (and by that, I mean will) offer him arbitration, thereby receiving a first rounder and a sandwich pick.
There has been much talk about this, and many people referred to the clause in Alex’s contract that says a team cannot offer him arbitration after the deal expires. Apparently — and this comes from Abraham via Brian Cashman himself — that clause does not apply for this opt-out years. It makes you wonder why the Dodgers didn’t offer Drew arbitration (or did Boras stick a “no arbitration” regulation in Drew’s opt-out clause?).
I’ll believe this for now, since it comes from Cashman. However, should it prove wrong, we might want to consider who we have running our baseball operations.
ByTempting to joke about Edwar taking the D train (Get it? Because his name has no D. HAH!), instead, I’ll just tell you that Tyler Kepner reported today on the Yanks’ plans to recall Ramirez as early as today. My guess is that Jeff Karstens of the 8 ER in 6.1 IP recently will be on the next bus to Scranton when Ramirez arrives in Cleveland. · (14) ·
Two days; two doubleheaders; four wins for Scranton
By · CommentsTriple-A Scranton (4-2 win over Pawtucket in Game 1)
Brett Gardner: 1 for 4, 1 K
Bronson Sardinha: 2 for 3, 1 2B, 1 BB
Alberto Gonzalez: 1 for 2, 1 BB, 1 K
Eric Duncan: 1 for 2, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 K
Wil Nieves: 0 for 3 — .194/.212/.194 since returning to Scranton. Good to see things haven’t changed
Steve White: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Edwar: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K — and yet…
ByClemens gets a five-game suspension. Torre gets a one-game suspension. Clemens will appeal. Torre cannot. As I’m in a rush to go, just read the press release from Major League Baseball. · (0) ·
Ladies, look out for Derek
By · CommentsVia The Big Lead comes this gem: An employee of Jessica Alba’s ex-boyfriend Cash Warren claims Alba contracted herpes from Derek Jeter. Where they come up with this stuff, I don’t know. But my sister should be careful if her future plans ever come to fruition.
ByWe’ve got, courtesy of loyal reading Marc Resnick, a Dellin Betances sighting. According to an article a PinstripesPlus.com (subscription required), Betances is set to throw a bullpen session today and hopes to return to Staten Island before the season ends in a few weeks. Hopefully, my unfounded idle speculation surrounding the state of his elbow is just incorrect musings of a wondering mind. · (7) ·
Triple-A Scranton (4-0 win over Pawtucket in Game 1)
Brett Gardner: 0 for 2, 1 BB, 1 K
Bronson Sardinha: 0 for 3, 1 K — that’s not how you respond to a promotion, Bronson
Erubiel Durazo: 0 for 2, 1 BB, 2 K — back to shit after Giambi leaves
Alberto Gonzalez: 2 for 3 — drove in three of the four runs
Eric Duncan: 0 for 3 — a buddy of mine calls him El Busto. I’m having a hard time disagreeing
Wil Nieves: 0 for 2
IPK: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K — Pawtucket…they have this guy named Buchholz…and he might not be any better than IPK
Chris Britton: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K — pleas swap Britton and Karstens ASAP
Christian, at AAA, out for the season
By · CommentsSome Minor League news, courtesy of Chad Jennings, raised an eyebrow this afternoon. Justin Christian is out for the rest of the season with a thumb injury. Christian hurt his thumb on Monday sliding into third base, and he will undergo season-ending ligament surgery to repair the damage.
Christian, 27, is a little too old to be considered a prospect, but he was in the middle of a solid season before this injury. He had been hitting .325/.370/.438 with 10 steals in 169 AAA at-bats. Speculation was that Christian would arrive in the Bronx in September when the rosters expand.
Replacing him on the Scranton roster is Bronson Sardinha, up for his recent demotion at AA. Jennings gives us some insight into Sardinha:
Sardinha didn’t earlier this year in Triple-A, but he was sent down to Double-A at the all-star break and hit .429 with four home runs in 15 games for Trenton. Sardinha called the demotion “a good wakeup call.”
When Sardinha hits, he hits the ball hard. He just needs to hit more consistently. He’s starting in right field tonight and batting third.
Meanwhile, Ian Kennedy’s pitching now. We’ll check in on him later.
ByWe’re hearing that Alex Rodriguez will take the night off and Wilson Betemit will start at third as the Yanks wrap up a series against the Blue Jays tonight. I like this move. The Yanks have already won the series; they have their ace going in Wang; and there’s no reason to further Toronto’s petty ridiculousness by having A-Rod act as a moving target for another season of missed expectations by an overpaid Blue Jays squad. His bat can come off the bench, and A-Rod can rest. Update: This is indeed the way the lineup shakes down for tonight. Also, of note, Jason Giambi is DHing and Johnny Damon is enjoying the game from the bench. · (2) ·
