River Avenue Blues

Thursday Night Open Thread

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Off days are always better on the heels of a six game winning streak. Everyone’s feeling great about the Yankees, the weather outside is wonderful, and dudes are taking the ol’ water-propelled jetpack out for a flight over McCovey Cove. Pretty much a normal Thursday, no?

Anyway, here is tonight’s open thread. Game Two of the NBA Finals starts a little later tonight (9pm ET on ABC), plus MLB Network will carry a game as well (teams depend on where you live). Talk about whatever you like here, have at it.

Yankees activate David Robertson, option David Phelps

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The Yankees have officially activated David Robertson off the disabled list, the team announced. David Phelps was optioned to the minors to make room on the roster. He’ll get stretched out with High-A Tampa before joining Triple-A Empire State.

Robertson has been on the shelf for a little over a month, and his return will help lighten the late-inning load on Cory Wade, Boone Logan, et al. Those guys did a great job in his absence. Phelps had recorded one out and thrown a total of nine pitches sine May 28th, so it’s not a surprise he was sent down. He needs regular work and this is the best way to get it.

Gardner out 3-4 weeks after PRP therapy

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The Yankees announced that Brett Gardner will miss another 3-4 weeks after receiving platelet-rich plasma therapy on his strained right elbow. He also received a cortisone shot. The official diagnosis is a bone bruise, joint inflammation, and a muscle strain.

Gardner did no long-term damage to his elbow, it just hasn’t healed entirely. All three doctors — Ahmad, Andrews, and Kremchek — confirmed the diagnosis. Joe Girardi suggested Brett might not be back until after the All-Star break a few days ago, and that seems pretty spot on right now.

2012 Draft: Yankees sign nine more picks

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Via Matt Eddy, the Yankees have signed nine more draft picks: RHP Derek Varnadore (9th round), 1B Matt Snyder (10), LHP Caleb Frare (11), LHP James Pazos (13), LHP Tim Flight (17), LHP Dietrich Enns (19), OF Danny Oh (27), LHP Eric Erickson (34), and RHP Charles Basford (37). A recent tweet by RHP Nick Goody (6) indicates that he’s close to signing as well, if he hasn’t already. Frare is the only high schooler in this group, everyone else comes from the college ranks.

The Yankees have already signed (or agreed to sign) OF Austin Aune (2), RHP Taylor Garrison (7), OF Taylor Dugas (8), RHP Andrew Benak (14), and 1B/C Saxon Butler (33). First rounder RHP Ty Hensley is supposedly in Tampa for a physical, so he should be signing soon as well. All of the team’s draft picks can be found at Baseball America, and their draft pool status can be found on our 2012 Draft Pool page.

Yankees scouted Ben Sheets recently

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Via MLBTR, the Yankees were one of several teams that recently watched Ben Sheets throw at his home in Louisiana. He hopes to help some team down the stretch. The Phillies, Braves, and Angels were also in attendance.

Sheets, 34 next month, hasn’t been an effective pitcher since 2008. He missed all of 2009 and 2011 with various elbow surgeries — Tommy John and flexor tendon stuff — and pitched to a 4.71 FIP in 119.1 IP for the Athletics in 2010. Sheets is one of the most underappreciated great pitchers of his generation, but it’s hard to think he has something to offer a big league team at this point. I’m sure the Yankees were just doing their due diligence.

Heyman: Yanks don’t see Carlos Quentin as a fit

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Via Jon Heyman, the Yankees don’t see Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin as a fit should Brett Gardner’s elbow injury turn out to be a long-term thing. He says they would likely seek a speedy outfielder similar to Brett should they explore the trade market.

Quentin, 29, is off to a monster start with San Diego — .591 wOBA and 291 wRC+ — after missing the first six weeks of the season with a knee problem. It was his fifth DL stint and third surgery since 2007. Quentin can straight mash from the right side, but he’s a defensive liability and obviously a health risk. He’s also scheduled to become a free agent after the season. I like him but there are obvious reasons to be skeptical.

Another Update: RAB Goes To Washington Drink Up 6/16/2012

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(Photo via billy-ball.com)

Hello all!  Just wanted to give you a quick update on our plans for Saturday’s Drink Up!

I have received word from The Big Hunt that they will be open Saturday at 5 p.m.  So, let’s shoot for about that time or after (barring the game doesn’t go 22 innings).  We do not have anything too organized there, but I have asked them to save a table or two for us, so it’s all pretty informal.

If using WMATA’s Metro from Nationals Park, you can take the Green line to L’Enfant Plaza, transfer to the Yellow or Blue lines to Farragut West and then walk. Or you can take the Green line to Gallery Place then transfer to the Red Line to Dupont Circle and walk.  The walk from Dupont is slightly shorter, but because of the WMATA’s weekend work, the ride on the Red Line may take much longer.

Hope to see you all there!  Even Mike!