So Eric Gagne blew two games this weekend against the Orioles. Meanwhile, the Yanks took the season series from a very passive Cleveland Indians team. The Yanks find themselves just four games out (and with a better Pythogorean record than the Red Sox). So the Yanks are arguably a better team right now. I think they can find a way to overcome a four-game deficit before the end of September. Time for a great pennant race.
The Attorney General has a career day
And 2 weeks later, they’re calling him “Eric Gag-me” in Beantown.
Triple-A Scranton (9-4 loss to Buffalo)
Brett Gardner: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K – 6 hits in his last 4 games
Alberto Gonzalez: 4 for 4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB – I see hitting in the 3-hole agrees with him…it’s even more impressive when you conisder that the opposing starter was this guy
Erubiel Durazo: 0 for 5, 1 K – 3 for his last 21
Eric Duncan: 0 for 4, 1 R, 1 K
Bronson Sardinha: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 K
Ben Kozlowski: 3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 Balk – he’s having such a good year, it’d be a shame if he didn’t get a Sept. call-up
Colter Bean: 1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 WP – guess he cleared waivers…
TJ Beam: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Jose Veras: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP
No use for a title
Update: We have a former Yankee sighting. I’m chillin’ out watching the Little League World Series on ESPN, and guess who’s the head coach for the squad from Chandler, Arizona? None other than Clay Bellinger. Awesome, just awesome.
There’s a rumor floating around that the Yanks and first round pick Andrew Brackman have either agreed to, or are close to agreeing to a deal worth $3M, which would be $2.1M over slot. Again, this is just a rumor.
Triple-A Scranton (4-1 loss to Rochester)
Brett Gardner: 1 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K – picked off second
The Kevin’s: combined 0 for 7, 1 RBI, 3 K – Thompson drove in the run
Angel Chavez, Erubiel Durazo & Alberto Gonzalez: all 1 for 4
Eric Duncan: 2 for 4, 1 R – too little, too late my friend
The Ghost of Kei Igawa’s Ghost: 6 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 8-3 GB/FB – well, at least he’s smiling in his SWB mugshot
Brian Bruney: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 WP – king of the 3-ball count
Chris Britton: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K – in other news, Kyle Farnsworth has a 1.59 WHIP
Padres working on deal for Igawa
Kei Igawa, the most disappointing Yankee pitcher since Carl Pavano, may be donning the San Diego fatigues soon. According to numerous reports such as this one on ESPN.com, the Padres, who tried to acquire Igawa in July, have put a waiver claim on the lefty. The Yanks hope to acquire relief pitching for Igawa who is just 2-3 with an ERA a tad under 7.00. Let’s hope the Yanks can make this happen.
Update by Mike: I was just thinking…the Pads recently DFA’ed old friend Boomer Wells, would anyone be down with an Igawa-for-Boomer deal? If nothing else, it gives us a starter to cover Clemens’ start on Tuesday without having to finagle the 40-man roster or throw Jeff Karstens out there. Maybe he could even suck it up and serve as a lefty out of the ‘pen for the rest of the year. Random musings on my part…
Update by Ben: Joe and I were talking about Mike’s suggestion late last week when the Padres DFA’d Wells. Wells, we noted, is persona non grata in the Bronx following the 2003 World Series and comments Boomer made upon leaving New York. He’s not coming back. But he also wouldn’t be a bad influence on Hughes or Chamberlain as someone noted in the comments. If anything, Wells is a bit of a buffoon off the field but on the field, he’s always been a top competitor.
Joba is a beast
2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K. Nuff said.
Move over Edwar, here comes Steven Artz
Six strong from Hughes…2 perfect from Joba…Mo for the 9th…could you script it any better?
Oh, and Eric Gagne coughed up a 4 run lead tonight. He’s now allowed 11 baserunners in 3.1 innings for the Sawx.
Triple-A Scranton (7-6 loss to Rochester)
Brett Gardner: 0 for 4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Bronson Sardinha: 0 for 5, 1 K – 3 for 19 since returning to Scranton
Kevin Reese: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB – threw a runner out at 3rd
Alberto Gonzalez & Chris Basak: both 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 RBI – the Attorney General doubled
Eric Duncan: 0 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 E (missed catch)
Matty D: 6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 12-5 GB/FB
Sean Henn: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Edwar: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K – what, no Ks?
Phil vs. Fausto
Thanks to tonight’s pitching matchup, you can file this one under “games I wish I was going to.”