ByHideki Matsui’s 10 home runs this month are tops in the AL. For July, he’s hitting .340/.402/.701, and you gotta believe his wrist is healed. Matsui’s month, one of the best of his MLB career, is one of the top reasons why the Yanks are 4.5 behind Cleveland and 6.5 behind Boston as we head into the dog days of summer. · (8) ·
BySo far during the 2007 Tour de France, two teams have quit due to failed drug tests, four stage winners have be ousted and now the overall leader has been fired from his team and the Tour for lying about his whereabouts during a drug test. With Curt Schilling calling out Bonds and McGwire for their silence in the face of steroid accusations, Jason Giambi is starting to look almost saint-like these days. · (1) ·
Joba’s makin’ it look easy
By · CommentsIn his AAA debut tonight, Joba Chamberlain made it look easy. He went 5 innings, giving up 4 hits and 1 walk. He allowed no runs and 10 of his 15 outs came via the good ol’ strike out. So that line looks like this: 5, 4, 0, 0, 1, 10. So much for that three home run start in Trenton last week. For on-the-scenes reporting and analysis, check out the game post at the SW-B Yankees blog. Now the Yanks have two pitchers at AAA who are better than Kei Igawa.
Down on the Farm: Jo-ba! Jo-ba!
By · CommentsThe Joba lovefest can be found here. Chamberlain was damn impressive tonight, and we can all say we knew him when. On to the rest of the farm, courtesy of Alan Hirsch.
With all eyes on Joba tonight, Alan Horne issued his own “Here I am” call. He went 8 innings and gave up 1 run on 5 hits.
Scranton (def. Louisville 6-3)
Justin Christian 2-5, R
Eurbiel Durazo 1-3, 2B, R
Chris Basek 2-4, 2R,
Eric Duncan 1-1 2B, 3 BB
Joba Chamberlain 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K. Brilliant debut by Ace # 2.
Scott Williamson .2 IP, 3 H, 3 R. 1 BB, 2 K. Not a good debut. Not a good way to persuade the Yanks that they could jettison Farnsworth.
Edwar Ramirez 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB & K. Let’s get back to the show.
Trenton (Erie def Trenton 4-1)
Only 4 hits by Trenton in a 10 inning loss
Juan Miranda 1-4, RBI
Cody Ehlers 0-3
Alberto Gonzalez 0-4
Alan Horne 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 7 K Don’t forget about me….
Michael Gardener 2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 K Losing pitcher
Tampa (def Clearwater 7-4)
Austin Jackson 3-4, 3B, R, CS Rumors of his slump are premature.
Jose Tabata 1-3, 2 R, K
Edwar Gonzales 2-3, 2B, 2 R
Marcos Vecchionachi 1-3, RBI, BB, CS
Francisco Cervelli 1-3
George Kontos 4 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Jose Veras 1 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 1 K
David Robertson 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K Keeps on rolling
Charleston (def Greenville 7-5)
Mitch Hilligoss 0-4, R
Seth Fortenberry 0-3
Kyle Anson 1-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
James Cooper 2-3, 2B, R, BB, K
Michael Dunn 5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K. Not his finest outing, but Dunn’s 12-3.
Staten Island (def Oneonta 9-5)
Damon Sublett 1-4, 3B, R, RBI
Braeden Pruitt 3-5, HR, RBI
David Williams 2-5, R, RBI, 2 K
Taylor Holiday 1-4, 3B, RBI, R
Ryan Pope 3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Jason Stevens 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
GCL Yanks (5-2 Yanks def GCL Blue Jays)
Abe Almonte 0-5, 2K
Zolio Almonte 0-5
Jesus Montero (C) 0-4, 1 SB against
Ryan Wehrle 1-3, 2B, R, 2 BB, K
Brandon Laird, 2-5, RBI, R
Melky Mesa 2-4, R, 2B, RBI, K
Casey Erickson 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Jacinto Gonnel 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K
Giambi ready to rehab
By · CommentsAccording to Pete Abe, Giambi will begin his rehab assignment Friday in Tampa. He’ll play DH in the games on Friday and Saturday, after which he will be re-evaluated. Giambi hopes to be back in the Yanks lineup next week.
I really don’t understand the negative sentiment of Giambi’s return expressed by some Yankees fans. If he hits, the team will be better. That’s it. You can argue some chemistry factor, but it’s not like Giambi being in the lineup will make everyone else stop hitting.
Of course, how he plays depends on how healthy his heel is. But if he’s producing, he’ll help.
ByCould Joba Chamberlain’s impending AAA stint simply be a tune-up for a Bronx appearance? The Daily News today has a notebook piece on some future plans for the Yanks’ young pitching stud. Brian Cashman and Joe Torre both seem to think that Chamberlain could make an impact in the Yanks’ beleaguered pen sooner rather than later. Yankee concerns over Joba’s health and trade deadline moves by the Yanks will probably be the deciding factors here. · (14) ·
ByTo the person in China who found River Ave. Blues by searching for Ground broken wang, I have this to say: That probably hurt quite a bit. · (7) ·
ByYankee fans will long hold Randy Johnson close to their hearts. His time in New York was filled with loving tenderness and great success. So as Luis Vizcaino puts up a sub-1.00 ERA over two months solidifying a shaky bullpen, Randy Johnson admits that he may never pitch again. That sure was a good trade. · (27) ·
