Oh Oh... Andy out for a month

[ndebord]

Andy pulled his groin in yesterday's game and will be out for at least a month. Mitre is the shortterm relplacement for him, but rumors are swirling that Lilly is up for sale by the Cubs and that the Bronx Bombers are interested in him.

Meanwhile we took 2 out of 3 from the Rays, even with less than stellar pitching.

And Jeter looks like his slump is receeding!

[Mike Landi]

Andy pulled his groin in yesterday's game and will be out for at least a month.

This is very, very, VERYbad news...that may herald the last year of Andy's career. He was on track for 20+ wins......

[ndebord]

This is very, very, VERYbad news...that may herald the last year of Andy's career. He was on track for 20+ wins......

Mike,

I don't know... in a strange way this might help him for the postseason, as he has had trouble in the second half with a tired (hurting?) arm... he will be back sometime in August, in time for the stretch run.

As you say, it is a pity that he can't get 20 wins, but the way he has been pitching, if he can do it again in the late summer and fall, I'm betting he'll be back next year. Just a guess, but sitting somewhere in the back of his mind is how Moose went out with 20 wins and he is so darn good that if he stays injury free next year, he could get there then.

P.S. Not to forget that if Petitte wanted to, he could be like Dickey for the Mets. Posada said, some time ago now, that Andy had one of the very best knuckle balls in the Bigs!

[Mike Landi]

Posada said, some time ago now, that Andy had one of the very best knuckle balls in the Bigs!

I've heard this a few times. Wouldn't it be great to see Andy break that out in the middle of a game?

[ndebord]

I've heard this a few times. Wouldn't it be great to see Andy break that out in the middle of a game?

Mike,

Or....! Andy vs Dickey in the world series! <ggg>

[Judy G. Russell]

Wouldn't it be great to see Andy break that out in the middle of a game?Oh yeah. Big time.

[Judy G. Russell]

Andy pulled his groin in yesterday's game and will be out for at least a monthCouldn't have been AJ who got hurt, could it...

[ndebord]

Couldn't have been AJ who got hurt, could it...

Judy,

C'mon goil, you know better than that. Fate is a fickle mistress! <g>

It also seems that Hughes is more like Moose than you'd like. They pulled him from a start to "preserve" his arm and since then his control has been sh*t. And he is gonna run up against "Hughes" rules soon... Max. innings for him are supposed to be 170. All kinds of suggestions on how to handle it, including only letting him pitch 5 innings for the rest of the season (assuming that he can get to five innings the way he is pitching right now) but that beggars the question: is the stressed bullpen up to the job(a)?

;-)

As for that bullpen, Robertson (a long-time favorite of mine) has been pitching extremely well and unlike Joba, has an even keel. The buzz is to keep him in the late innings, which begs the qustion of what to do with Joba.

On the hitting front, the Captain has been so bad, that Girardi finally put Gardner in leadoff, probably not permanent, but... And as for wins and losses by recent Yankee pitchers, one could (once again) argue that the return of Posada behind the plate has been a most mixed of blessings.

[Judy G. Russell]

Jone could (once again) argue that the return of Posada behind the plate has been a most mixed of blessings.And especially tonight...

[ndebord]

And especially tonight...

Judy,

And yet another night, most interesting, or as the pundits said: "bizarre throw" by Posada.

[Judy G. Russell]

And yet another night, most interesting, or as the pundits said: "bizarre throw" by Posada.Between Posada and Mitre, this wasn't a good series.

[ndebord]

Between Posada and Mitre, this wasn't a good series.

Judy,

But what are the choices for the spot starter until Andy comes back?

Mitre (who has the excuse of being rusty after a long layoff), Gaudin (who did poorly as a starter earlier this season before the Yankees picked him up for long relief) and Mosley, the wild card from AAA ball who has done well for a raw rookie. At AAA there is Nova, who has an electric fastball and recently seemingly discovered control (the knock on him coming up through the minors) and has shown a couple of other pitches that seem to work for him. But Nova is probably a year away from making it to the Bigs.

Who else is there at AAA?

[Judy G. Russell]

But what are the choices for the spot starter until Andy comes back?This sort of question is what's been plaguing the Yanks for years. We don't have nearly the depth in pitching that we should have.

[ndebord]

This sort of question is what's been plaguing the Yanks for years. We don't have nearly the depth in pitching that we should have.

Judy,

Well, after last night, I am breathing a sigh of relief. Javy was magnificient and his ERA in the last month has been good. If Hughes can get his act together and avoid the pitfalls of "Hughe's Rules" we have a good starting lineup, even if it is only four starters deep. As for relief, Robertson has made his way up the ladder into the possible replacement for Joba in the 8th inning. As Girardi said, situational decisions will be made, but you have to look at why Joba wasn't used. It was a one run lead and Joba has spit the bit in those kind of games. Robertson came in and immediately got a double play ground ball. Nice. And Logan did what you want from a left-handed specialist, got his one out. Mo was Mo in the 9th inning.

Hitting... the Bronx Bombers are not averaging the kind of runs they did last year, but are still in first place. Grandy has been on fire, but uneven throughout the lineup. Both Cervelli and Gardner have cooled off. The platoon of Cervelli and Posada has not worked out for either of them. Posada has continued to show defensive weakness and Cervelli ain't hitting at the moment. Jeter is having the worst season in years, although he is showing moments where you could hope his slump is over. Tex is starting to hit. A-Rod will hit once he gets his 600th home run. Swisher is amazing, as is Cano and the bench is improved with Curtis.

And Lee will probably be a Yankee, but that is for next season!

[Judy G. Russell]

Well, after last night, I am breathing a sigh of relief.You spoke too soon, I'm afraid. We've lost our lead over the Rays, at the moment we're losing this game, and the Rays are winning theirs. Sigh...

[ndebord]

You spoke too soon, I'm afraid. We've lost our lead over the Rays, at the moment we're losing this game, and the Rays are winning theirs. Sigh...

Judy,

Well, we knew they were in it to win it and although they won 2 out of 3 at home, I am not in a panic (yet). We've got to hit more than we have recently. Missing Godzilla a lot as DH. Cervelli has slumped and so too Gardner. Tex and A-Rod have not hit up to their historical levels and Granderson has yet to settle in. The 3 new guys... to early to see. Park is gone, replaced by Wood, so that is a good thing and Andy is ahead of schedule to come back, another good thing.

But we gotta hit better and CC is not himself after the All-Star Break and AJ is, to say the least, unpredictable. You never know who is gonna show up.

Who would have thought that Javy and Hughes were the two best pitchers on the current starting roster?

[ndebord]

There it is... on the day that A-Rod hits his 600th home run, Phil Hughes was both dominant and subject to Hughes Rules as he went 5.1 innings and gave up 1 run. Logan pitched to two batters and got both, but then it was Joba in the 7th, Robertson in the 8th and Mo in the 9th, giving up zero runs. Looks like Joba is now the 7th inning guy!

[Judy G. Russell]

Who would have thought that Javy and Hughes were the two best pitchers on the current starting roster?Sure wouldn't have been me!!

[Judy G. Russell]

There it is... on the day that A-Rod hits his 600th home run, Phil Hughes was both dominant and subject to Hughes Rules as he went 5.1 innings and gave up 1 run. Logan pitched to two batters and got both, but then it was Joba in the 7th, Robertson in the 8th and Mo in the 9th, giving up zero runs. Looks like Joba is now the 7th inning guy!And we got back our share of the AL East lead too!

[ndebord]

And we got back our share of the AL East lead too!


Judy,

Got it all back ( 1/2 game up on Tampa), as Minnesota was good once again. Meantime, Beantown acomin'

Friday
RHP Javier Vazquez (9-7, 4.61)
vs.
RHP Clay Buchholz (11-5, 2.59)
7:05 p.m., YES Network

Saturday
LHP CC Sabathia (13-5, 3.19)
vs.
RHP John Lackey (10-6, 4.48)
4:10 p.m., FOX

Sunday
RHP A.J. Burnett (9-9, 4.93)
vs.
RHP Josh Beckett (3-1, 5.70)
8:05 p.m., ESPN

Monday
RHP Dustin Moseley (1-1, 4.13)
vs.
LHP Jon Lester (11-7, 3.07)
2:05 p.m., YES Network

[Judy G. Russell]

Meantime, Beantown acomin'Ain't good at the moment... but Toronto is doing just fine for us (fingers crossed!!).

[ndebord]

Ain't good at the moment... but Toronto is doing just fine for us (fingers crossed!!).


Judy,

Lose 1, Win 1; and Tampa slumping... Let us see if the new DH (?) can hit in the American League. Cervelli and Gardner are both struggling, as is the Captain, so we're not hitting at all like last year.

My take? Put Gardner in lead off and see if that shakes him up and drop Jeter down... don't know who for the No. 2 hitter.

Pena done good tonight as an emergency replacement for A-Rod, who is just bruised up on his shin bone.

CC was efficient and good and goes to 14 wins!

Looks like Tampa has the post-Yankee letdown.

[Judy G. Russell]

Looks like Tampa has the post-Yankee letdown.Now if only the sons of guns would KEEP slumping!

[ndebord]

Now if only the sons of guns would KEEP slumping!

Judy,

Yes and if only we would start HITTING!

[Judy G. Russell]

Yes and if only we would start HITTING!Well, yeah, there is that too...

[ndebord]

Well, yeah, there is that too...

Judy,

Hints... Long is a genius... looks like he's got Grandy hitting.... Jeter is coming out of his slump and I hope too Gardner. A-Rod? Just OK... I think that hip has hurt him this year. The new DH is starting to hit and the new pickups seem to be working out OK... Kearns, Woods.

Overall, IMO, an off year for the hitters. Godzilla and Damon were more key to the chemistry than I realized.

[Judy G. Russell]

Godzilla and Damon were more key to the chemistry than I realized.Sigh.......

[ndebord]

Sigh.......


Judy,

Minor details: Jeter was dropped to second (I would put him even further down the lineup) as he has been hitting routinely into inning ending double plays. Gardner is leadoff and is on fire in that position. Pena is hitting a ton in his temporary assginment at 3rd base while A-Rod recovers from his calf injury and Posada is adapting to p/t catching. Cervelli has come back to earth after an astouding start, so look for Montero next year... he's not polished and I think they're pushing him too hard, but if he can't make it as a catcher, he is one heck of a DH. Yakees have two other catchers in the pipeline with Romine closest to AAA and Sanchez behind him... Catching is a position that the Bronx Bombers don't have to worry about. As for Cervelli, although he came back to earth, this is his first full year and some say he has worn down. His early hitting gives him the chance to be the full-time catcher next year, but if he struggles again for long stretches, he will be the back-up catcher behind somebody else. They always have a Mueller type as insurance.

DH???? Nobody great there, but the platoon works somewhat.

[Judy G. Russell]

Overall, Nick, the team looks pretty good -- sure picking up the slack with the injuries. But I'd sure appreciate it if the Mariners play dead and Oakland goes on fire.

[ndebord]

Overall, Nick, the team looks pretty good -- sure picking up the slack with the injuries. But I'd sure appreciate it if the Mariners play dead and Oakland goes on fire.

Judy,

Me too... I think we're not as good as last year, but perhaps good enough. Lots of kludges in place here and there. Let's see what happens with the callups.

P.S. With both Javy and AJ diving like sub-prime loans, the Yankee starting rotation is in a bind. Andy won't be back for another couple of weeks (maybe) and A-Rod just hit the 15-day disabled list. Kearns is the newest DH and seems better than the other guy whose name escapes me (also on DL for a sprained ankle).

Ivan Nova is the callup pitcher, with quite a lot of hype attached. Let's hope he is special, because right now its CC and Hughes and pray for rain time for the Bronx Bomber's rotation.

[Judy G. Russell]

Ivan Nova is the callup pitcher, with quite a lot of hype attached. Let's hope he is specialHe's okay... but not good enough.

[ndebord]

He's okay... but not good enough.

Judy,

I disagree. I think he'll do just fine and he will replace Javy this year in the rotation. He got beat tonight by the home run leader Bautista with a 2 run shot and Robertson was victimized by him again as the Yankees lost 3-2.

It was a thing of beauty to watch his 97 mph fastball... <g>

[Judy G. Russell]

I disagree. I think he'll do just fineI hope you're right. I just HATE being tied for first...

[ndebord]

I hope you're right. I just HATE being tied for first...

Judy,

The hit machine that was so aggressive and opportunistic last year is no more; two parts Damon and Godzilla are gone and nobody has replaced them. Jeter is in a year-long slump, as his inside out swing has deserted him. I don't know the stats, but I doubt he has hit into as many double play balls in the past as he has this year. A-Rod is perhaps not as healthy as all would wish to believe. That hip surgery yielded mixed results and, after all, he is 35.

Kearns and Woods seem to be major pickups that are doing well, but the other pieces? Not so good. Grandy had to rework his swing from scratch! Thank God for Long. Gardner is finally leading off, where he should have been all along and there is no killer instinct in this year's team... too many one run defeats.

Pitching. Yikes.

[Judy G. Russell]

there is no killer instinct in this year's team... too many one run defeats. Pitching. Yikes.Sigh...

[ndebord]

Sigh...

Judy,

Having said that, they are trying to get to that sweet spot, but I worry that they haven't completely jelled as a great team should. They're in first place, but their record against other top teams is around .500 and they need to get that fire in the belly they had last year.

Having said that, Moseley was good tonight and Nova looks like he has replaced Javy in the starting lineup, at least for now. AJ??? Who knows who will show up? He is truly Jekyl/Hyde.

[Judy G. Russell]

AJ??? Who knows who will show up? He is truly Jekyl/Hyde.And that's one of our biggest problems.

[ndebord]

And that's one of our biggest problems.

Judy,

I think Moseley and Nova are remarkable mid-season pickups and so am not panicking, but I don't think this team is as good as last year's.

Aside: Arizona is winning games at a remarkable .391 clip.... which makes Ian Kennedy's 8-9 record all the more remarkable. Tonight he won by going 7 innings and giving up only one hit and he had 12 Ks.... With a decent team, he'd be among the league leaders.

To give you an idea of just how bad this team is, their closer is Heilman (yes that ex-Met relief pitcher).

[Judy G. Russell]

I think Moseley and Nova are remarkable mid-season pickups and so am not panicking, but I don't think this team is as good as last year's.It definitely is NOT as good as last year's, despite its record at the moment.

[ndebord]

It definitely is NOT as good as last year's, despite its record at the moment.

Judy,

O.K... now I'm panicking. AJ, 3 1/3 innings, 8 hits, 9 runs, 3 bbs... SHEESH.

Can you say a starting lineup of CC, Hughes, Moseley, Nova and Mitre? As AJ imploded yet again tonight, this scenario is not something out of the Twilight Zone.

And Andy didn't throw at 100% in his bullpen today, so nobody knows if he is well or not.

[Judy G. Russell]

AJ, 3 1/3 innings, 8 hits, 9 runs, 3 bbs... SHEESH.The guy is hopeless. Get rid of him!

[ndebord]

The guy is hopeless. Get rid of him!

Judy,


Not hopeless, just a dunderhead. If he only had a brain... should be his refrain. He can be great, but...

[ndebord]

The guy is hopeless. Get rid of him!


Judy,


Dr. Hyde showed up yesterday... they oughta bronze Dave Eiland's head and send it to Cooperstown. He also tweaked Javy's windup and lo and behold, the guy now has a 92 MPH fastball once again and is back in the rotation, with Moseley moving back to the bullpen.

AND.... Andy's groin didn't bark at him when he aired it out in his latest bullpen workout. A simulated game, maybe a minor league start and he should be back in 2 more weeks, just in time for the stretch run!

[Judy G. Russell]

Dr. Hyde showed up yesterdayIt's Dr. Jeckyl, Mr. Hyde. And whatever he is, he isn't consistent.

[ndebord]

It's Dr. Jeckyl, Mr. Hyde. And whatever he is, he isn't consistent.

Judy,

Brilliant and a Dunderhead! <sigh>

Meanwhile, Cashman's philosophy seemingly is working wonders with this team. Nunez, Pena, Gardner, Cervelli, Nova... the list goes on and on. The Yankees are now using their muscle to promote from within, instead of trading all the time and the farm team is providing really good talent.

Gardner lead off, Grandy in 2nd.... Nunez and Pena both contributed and the team suddenly became "run rabbit, run" just like a National League team and they did a job on Toronto (most home runs in the league) that looked like a deer in headlights.... the bullpen WOW Robertston, Joba, Woods, Logan are pitching incredibly well right now. Joe said he could use two of three (Joba, Woods, Robertson) on any one night and save the other one for the next. And then you have Gaudin and Mitre too and now Moseley.

And Petitte should be back soon.

With Gardner leading off and Grandy behind him, the team has speed to burn... Jeter is in a career slump this year and the team hasn't even blinked.

I'm beyond impressed at this point. Let's hope they keep on a roll right through October!

[ndebord]

- B. Logan relieved D. Robertson
- L. Scott struck out swinging
- F. Pie struck out looking

That's what I'm talking about: The leftie specialist Logan came in and struck out two lefties and the Yankees escaped from the possibility of a sweep by Baltimore, with a 3-2 victory against that most dreaded of opponents... Showalter, who has serious cause to dislike the Steinbrenners and has the credentials to grab a losing team by the throat, shake it hard and produce a most unlikely winning team at the end of the season. Baltimore? Who knew!

[ndebord]

Well, our 5th pitcher, Javy, wasn't paticularly sharp, but left with a 5-3 lead... Texas chipped away at it to 5-4 and who else (Joba) gave it up and the game was tied until the 13th when Gaudin gave up a home run and Texas won 6-5.

But it was the 12th inning which set the tone for the game for me. Jeter did what he has been doing all season long... he grounded out... The good news? At least he didn't ground out to a double play, in which he is leading the Yankees this season. The bad news? There was a man on third base! with one out and the Yankees did not get him home. And Joe Girardi won't drop Jeter down in the order. I've seen that with Gardner leading off and Grandy hitting second, the offense has been better, but with Jeter leading off or batting second, the offense sputters and for good reason. You can't have your leadoff or second batter flailing at pitches and hitting weak grounders into the infield all the time.


Top 12th: NY Yankees

- C. Moeller doubled to right
- B. Gardner sacrificed to third, C. Moeller to third
- D. Jeter grounded out to first
- C. Curtis struck out swinging

[Judy G. Russell]

We ain't doing so well right now either...

[ndebord]

We ain't doing so well right now either...

Judy,

Why would you say that? Just because we dropped 8 of 10? <weak grin>

[Judy G. Russell]

Why would you say that? Just because we dropped 8 of 10? <weak grin>And blew a game to the Orioles tonight???

[ndebord]

And blew a game to the Orioles tonight???

Judy,

Mo is beginning to worry me, or I'm turning into a nervous wreck. Take your pick. He has given up game-losing home runs in what? Two or three games recently?

Fly balls are not what he normally gives up. Gotta find out what his speed has been and if there any rumors out there. It sure would help (I know, I'm carping on this one) if he would finally use that "mythical" changeup that is supposed to be so good. IF he is losing speed on his cutter or if he is just missing his spots, a nice change that came in looking like either his fastball or his cutter at 75mph certainly couldn't hurt.