Blogging Yankees Universe

Recently we added our blog to the Blogging Yankees Universe. Its a site that collects posts from different Yankees blogs and publishes them there. You can see our posts there as well as a number of other Yankees bloggers. The link to the blog is: http://yankeesbloggers.blogspot.com/.

Its the perfect place to check out some other blogs, and get a sample of their work.

Yankees Sweep White Sox, Roberto Turns to Britain

The Good

Alfredo Aceves was exceptional in relief of Joba, pitching 3 scoreless innings allowing 2 hits with a strikeout. From there, a string of relievers kept the White Sox scoreless until Coke came in and gave up a bomb. Marte-Robertson-Hughes combined for 2 innings of scoreless baseball.

The offense was alive and well with homeruns from Damon and Teixeira while Yankee captain Derek Jeter went 2-3 with 3 runs scored.

The Bad

Joba Chamberlain was only allowed to pitch three innings yesterday, and he was more efficient than usual using just 35 pitches to do so. However, he did give up 2 runs in those 3 innings, which isn't exactly good. The question of who will be our 4th starter in the post season is a very important one. Is Mitre really the answer?

The Ugly

Tomorrow I will be driving my brother to JFK to fly off to merry ole England where he will be living for the next few years. Though Roberto may not post much while he settles in, I believe that once he starts his disertation, he'll be posting multiple times an hour. I also suspect he'll pick up a drinking habit.

But seriously, we'll miss him here at the RJG headquarters. We hope you settle in well, and get back to posting real soon.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. Damon and Teixeira both hit homeruns last night to put away both the White Sox, and unhealthiness in children. We thank you two contributors. This homerun also matches Damon's career high, which he hit in his first year with us. Here's hoping he reaches 30 by years end.

Jorge Posada 17hr = $17.00
Hideki Matsui 23hr = $23.00
Derek Jeter 17hr = $17.00
Mark Teixeira 32hr = $32.00
Nick Swisher 21hr = $21.00
Robinson Cano 21hr = $21.00
Johnny Damon 24hr = $24.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 23hr = $23.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 2hr = $2.00
Total = $201.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

I Really Like Tea

On Tuesday my wife and I will be moving to England where I will be doing doctoral work for the next few years. While I will continue to post regularly, it will be a little tougher without regular access to the team and far more regular access to pubs. I'll try to keep tabs on everyone's favorite GM, though he may be less pleased now that I'm calling him at all hours of the night due to the time difference. Bucky may see more regular posting duty as a result, but he drinks a lot more on the job than most security guards . . . actually, about the same, so he may not post as much as he'd like. Anyway, I just thought I should let you all know in case you don't hear from me for a little while as we get settled out there. Once I have internet access up and running I'll make sure to resume regular posting.

Why Does Chicago Even Bother Anymore?

The Good

0-10 final score is pretty good. But the story here is Sergio Mitre, who threw 6.1 innings of one-hit baseball and would've pitched more had he not taken a liner off his catching arm.

The Bad

Remember when the Chi-Sox took three of four from us a couple weeks ago? WTF?

The Ugly

Chicago pitching takes this one, and that cheating Pierzynski who hit poor Mitre in order to force him from the game.

Single-Payer System

A-Rod continues to love the kids, hitting his 23rd home run against the dreaded Black Sox. Chants of "1919" erupted throughout the game.

Jorge Posada 17hr = $17.00
Hideki Matsui 23hr = $23.00
Derek Jeter 17hr = $17.00
Mark Teixeira 31hr = $31.00
Nick Swisher 21hr = $21.00
Robinson Cano 21hr = $21.00
Johnny Damon 23hr = $23.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 23hr = $23.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 2hr = $2.00
Total = $199.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Correction: Mitre was hit on his throwing arm (his right), not his catching arm. Thanks a lot Suzyn Waldman and John Sterling. They literally watched the replay from the booth and repeatedly stated it was Mitre's left arm that was hit. Wow.

Yanks Win in Extras

The Good

Cano won the game with a three-run home run in the bottom of the tenth, made only sweeter when he did it again in the bottom of the eleventh. CC went seven strong innings, giving up only two runs.

The Bad

Buerhle also only gave up two runs. #$%&@ him.

The Ugly

The famous Yankee Stadium jet stream was blowing the wrong way today, and knocked 2-3 would be home runs out of the air.

Out of the Parkers

For those who say our offense is too dependent on the long ball, we only hit three home runs, but scored five times, so there. Jeter, Damon, and Cano each had one.

Jorge Posada 17hr = $17.00
Hideki Matsui 23hr = $23.00
Derek Jeter 17hr = $17.00
Mark Teixeira 31hr = $31.00
Nick Swisher 21hr = $21.00
Robinson Cano 21hr = $21.00
Johnny Damon 23hr = $23.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 22hr = $22.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 2hr = $2.00
Total = $198.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

My Brother's Worst Nightmare

CNNSI is reporting that the Angels are nearing a deal with the Rays for Scott Kazmir. My brother has always wanted the Yanks to find a way to acquire Kazmir, but now he's on the verge of being traded to one of the Yankees' toughest competitors and likely postseason rivals.

Strong Effort from Burnett Can't Save the Yankees

The Good

Burnett pitched 6 innings of 3 runs ball and struck out 12 in the process. Alfredo Aceves pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Teixeira went 2-5 with 2 RBI's.

The Bad

Relief was just plain awful. Coke came in the game and gave up 3 runs while only recording 2 outs. Robertson put in 1.1 innings of work allowing a homerun. That's 4 runs over 2 innings from our bullpen.

The Ugly

The offense went soft yesterday with the Yankees amassing a total of 6 hits and 2 runs. However, I suspect they'll be fine.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. No homeruns last night. The Yankees are set to publically apologize to sick children everywhere.

Jorge Posada 17hr = $17.00
Hideki Matsui 23hr = $23.00
Derek Jeter 16hr = $16.00
Mark Teixeira 31hr = $31.00
Nick Swisher 21hr = $21.00
Robinson Cano 20hr = $20.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 22hr = $22.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 2hr = $2.00
Total = $195.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

The Real Problem with Posada

Recently we've been treated to a bevy of stories about Posada's supposedly rocky relationship with AJ Burnett. We've also heard a lot of commentary over the course of the season about Joba's tendency to shake Posada off (used to be seen as a virtue, not so much anymore).

What has stuck out to me, however, is the fact that both of the pitchers who supposedly don't care for Posada's game calling are guys who lack control. That is, they don't hit the target, or anywhere near the target, that Posada sets up and then they blame Posada's pitch selection. Hence Girardi's recent comments about execution.

Take Joba for instance. He pitches like a little b****, and probably shakes Posada off because he rather not throw strikes, and Posada rarely calls for intentional walks. These things happen, but the story becomes how hard Posada is to work with.

Burnett has great stuff, but no control. Think more talented Jose Veras. He misses all over the place, gets hit, then has the balls to wonder why Posada called this or that pitch (note: he didn't call for it right down the middle).

So, in conclusion, the problem is the inability of these guys to hit their spots, not Posada's inability to call a game. Sure Posada can be a bit stubborn and rough around the edges, but Burnett and Joba can't locate their pitches, and that's a much bigger problem.

Tim Wakefield Should Fire His Agent

I was on Cot's Baseball Contracts, a great site by the way, doing some research on baseball contracts when I came across an interesting deal that the Boston Red Sox made with starter Tim Wakefield. Wakefield signed a contract in April of 2005 that secured him $4 million for the 2006 season. The way the contract works is that there is a recurring club option for $4 million each season that will end when the club finally doesn't pick up an option. So basically, Tim Wakefield is signed for $4 million a season until he retires or the Red Sox don't want him anymore. Now, its hard to complain about making $4 million, because its more than the average bear would make, but among MLB starters its a crap contract. Not to mention, that he took a paycut from his $4.64 million he made in 2005 to sign this deal.

Now Wakefield isn't a front line starter, but he's a known commodity. A solid 3 or 4 guy who will give you some good starts down the stretch. Here are his stats since 2005:

2005 - 16-12/4.15 ERA/151 strikeouts/63 walks/225.1 innings pitched
2006 - 7-11/4.63 ERA/90 strikeouts/51 walks/140 innings pitched
2007 - 17-12/4.76 ERA/110 strikeouts/64 walks/189 innings pitched
2008 - 10-11/4.13 ERA/117 strikeouts/60 walks/181 innings pitched

He signed his contract during the 2005 season when money was plentiful, and free agents were still signing crazy deals. Just to give you an idea of how terrible this deal is, take a look at what some players with similar numbers as Wakefield signed for:

John Garland - 2009 Contract: $7.25 million with a $2.5 million buyout if club turns down mutual option.
Andy Pettitte (Who had a terrible 2008 season) - 2009 Contract: $5.5 million guaranteed with incentives that could bring it up to $12 million.
Vicente Padilla (Recently Released by Texas) - 2009 Contract: $12 million.
John Smoltz - (Recently Released by Red Sox) 2009 Contract: $5.5 million.
Brad Penny - (Also Recently Released by Red Sox) 2009 Contract: $5 million.
Oliver Perez - 2009 Contract: $12 million.
Jose Contreras - 2009 Contract: $10 million.

Now, not all of these are fair comparisons since contracts were signed at different times, and some of these are lefties, who tend to be in high demand regardless of their numbers, but in general these are pitchers with similar levels of success during the same period of time as Wakefield.

So basically, there are plenty of starters out there, with comparable or worse numbers than Wakefield who make a considerable amount more than him. His agent worked out a deal that was very friendly to the Red Sox, and Wakefield actually signed it. All I'm saying is that Wakefield needs to fire his agent for working out this deal. I know the Red Sox are stingy when they want to be, but c'mon.

Yankees Blow Out Rangers, but Not Without a Scare

The Good

Yankees won 9-2 behind strong efforts from Pettitte (7 innings, 2 runs) and Posada (1-3 with a 3-run homerun). Coke and Bruney pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief, though Bruney made it an adventure.

The Bad

Bruney's adventure. He is no longer capable of having a clean inning. 2 hits and a walk to load the bases, but got the double play to bail him out. That part was good, but his effort as a whole, not so much.

The Ugly

Posada took a ball off the lip of his glove and immediately reacted in pain. When a catcher reacts to pain in their hands you know it has to hurt pretty bad, seeing as their job is to catch 90+ mph objects. He's day-to-day with a bruised joint in his ring finger.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. Last night Posada and Jerry Hairston Jr., the greatest trade deadline acquisition since David Justice, hit homeruns to sink the Rangers.

Jorge Posada 17hr = $17.00
Hideki Matsui 23hr = $23.00
Derek Jeter 16hr = $16.00
Mark Teixeira 31hr = $31.00
Nick Swisher 21hr = $21.00
Robinson Cano 20hr = $20.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 22hr = $22.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 2hr = $2.00
Total = $195.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Cash Gets A Call

I thought I'd take a break from an ugly game to give good friend of the blog, Yankees GM Brian Cashman, a call via satellite video phone. The following is a transcript of our conversation:

BC: Hello?

RJG: Watching the game, Bronny?

BC: Well, it's sort of my job...

RJG: Me neither. Oh well, you can't win 'em all. What a team you've put together! They're really getting it done.

BC: Yes, we've been playing well. Like I've said all along, we knew we had the pieces right here.

RJG: You're right. And when you're right you're right. Your off-season pick-ups have really paid off. Hey, how'd you get Chicago to trade Swisher for Betemit? Did you use your ninja skills, or did you call Kenny Williams on the day of his daughter's wedding, knowing he could refuse no request for a favor?

BC: No. I just called and said, "You will give Nick Swisher and the Wookiee to me." He was all like, "Your Jedi powers will not work on me, boy. Just kidding, yes they will. Take Swisher." Then I was like, "Take Betemit." And he was like, "I will take Betemit. Jaba no bother." Then I hung up.

RJG: Are you serious?

BC: What? Do you think I called him up and said, "How about Swisher for Betemit?" and he said, "Yes"?

RJG: Good point. Well, you also did a great job signing Teixeira. He's really been a difference maker.

BC: We've had our eye on him for a while. We knew back in 2005 that he would be a free agent in 2008, so we got to work. We announced that we were building a new stadium, then we built it's dimensions so that they would be Teixeira friendly. When he became a free agent, he was all like, "Boston's made a good offer." So I was like, "Look closely at these blue prints. Look at the right field walls. Closely." Then he was like, "Oh sh-t! I can hit home runs there." Then I showed him a picture of Youkilis, and he was like, "Oh sh-t! I'm going to have to look at that guy all game if I sign with Boston." Check mate b-tch.

RJG: Wow. Everything you say sounds made up. Are you high?

BC: I'm high on life b-tch.

RJG: Can you stop calling me that?

BC: Can you stop calling me?

RJG: It's not all about you, Bronny.

[Click]

There you have it folks. We have to learn to trust the GM when he says we have the pieces in-house to be successful.

I Don't Even Want to Talk About It

The Good

Four runs in the ninth to bring it within one. This team has a lot of fight. The Rangers needed 10 runs to win this game. That says something about this Yankees offense.

The Bad

Remember when we used to debate whether Joba was better suited to be a starter or reliever. I'm voting ball boy now.

The Ugly

Popping up a bunt? WTF Swisher

Homer Happy

Posada and Cano both had home runs because they're nice like that.

Jorge Posada 16hr = $16.00
Hideki Matsui 23hr = $23.00
Derek Jeter 16hr = $16.00
Mark Teixeira 31hr = $31.00
Nick Swisher 21hr = $21.00
Robinson Cano 20hr = $20.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 22hr = $22.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $193.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Cashman Got Served

Do you remember back in 2007 when there was this big right handed phenom who could reach triple digits, and be major league ready in a year? His name was Andrew Brackman, a Boras client, and its now looking like Boras sold Cashman a used car at new car prices without the $4500 clunker discount. Brackman was certainly worth a chance, even though Cashman knew he would need surgery as soon as he signed. Well, at least I hope he knew that. Anyways, Cashman signed Brackman to a 4 year $4.55 million major league contract back then. A major league contract? Yes, a major league contract. This means that the Yankees have to carry Brackman on the 40-man roster and he gets to accumulate major league service time without actually throwing any pitches at the major league level. So far, Brackman has about a year of service time under his belt, and hasn't thrown a pitch above Class A. What does this mean? Well, it basically means that he will be a major league free agent much sooner than he should be. Brackman has about half as much service time as Melky Cabrera, who is playing his third season in the majors. That seems wrong, no?

But its not just that. Currently, Brackman is playing for the Charleston RiverDogs and holds a 1-12 record with a 6.52 ERA, and it appears that he's been pitching in relief of late. He did strike out 94 batters in 96.2 innings, but he also walked 76. Now this wouldn't be all that concerning to me if he was just another prospect working out the kinks. But Brackman isn't just another prospect. He was supposed to be big league ready by this year. We probably won't even see him until 2011, and by then he'll have 3 years of major league service under his belt, holding onto a spot on the 40 man roster. What was Cashman thinking? Did he just accept the first deal Boras gave him?

I'm Too Tired to Write a Post

I'm exhausted right now, and creative juices are failing to flow. I'm only halfway through a giant mug of coffee and its yet to kick in. It could be a long day. What makes it even longer is that the Yankees had an off day yesterday, which leaves me with little material to write about. Instead of sitting back and waiting for a story to come to me, I decided to call several Yankee players and see what they did with their time off. Here are the answers I got:

"No seriously, how did you get this number." - Jorge Posada

"All interview requests have to go through my agent, but just out of curiosity, how did you get my cell?" - AJ Burnett

"Que?" - Melky Cabrera

"Call this number again and there will be trouble to pay!" - Hank Steinbrenner.

"I flew to Texas for the Texas series, but then realized that we were playing them at home. So now I'm hoping on a plane back to New York." - Nick Swisher

"Umm, can you repeat the question in Japanese?" - Hideki Matsui

So there you have it. Here's for a great start for Joba.

Yankees Donate Yesterday's Game to Children's Health

The Good

Sabathia's final line of 6.2 innings, 4 runs (3 earned) and 8 strikeouts was good, but it was deceptively good, because he wasn't all that sharp (more on that later). The offense came alive including 5 homeruns, 2 from Matsui who has given his knees the middle finger and has been hitting with reckless abandon. Hughes and Mariano were unhittable.

The Bad

Sabathia battled and finished with a good line, but it seemed like he really struggled. He worked the count full on many batters, and couldn't seem to put them away. On the flip side, he didn't walk any so that's pretty good. So basically, this section is more like the "Kind of good, but signs of concern", rather than "The Bad" section.

One bad was Melky Cabrera. 0-4 last night. Since he hit for the cycle he's batted .170. Not pretty. He did have a big game Friday, but it doesn't seem to carry over.

The Ugly

Robinson Cano. Enough said.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. Where do I start? Well, first Josh Beckett wanted to throw a first pitch strike to Jeter, but Jeter doesn't play that, so he jacked the first pitch into the Red Sox bullpen. In the second inning, Beckett tried it again against Matsui but Matsui doesn't play that either. Cano hit a homerun, as did A-Rod, and then later, still fuming that Beckett tried to throw him a first pitch strike earlier in the game, Matsui came up and hit another one. All around, a great day for Children's health.

Jorge Posada 15hr = $15.00
Hideki Matsui 23hr = $23.00
Derek Jeter 16hr = $16.00
Mark Teixeira 31hr = $31.00
Nick Swisher 21hr = $21.00
Robinson Cano 19hr = $19.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 22hr = $22.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $191.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Well, At Least Swisher Showed Up

The Good

Swisher provided the Yankee offense yesterday going 3-5 with a homerun.

The Bad

Not that Burnett gave us much of a chance, but Aceves and Robertson combined for 3 innings and 5 runs in relief. Not very helpful. Also bad, the Yankee offense. They had 12 hits with only one run scored. Really?

The Ugly

It looks like Burnett and Posada really do have a communication issue. 9 runs over 5 innings is not a good performance and it seemed like they were having trouble getting on the same page. All around, an ugly game for the Yankees as they lost 14-1. Good thing it only counts as one loss.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. One homerun from Nick the Swish gave the children hope, if nothing else.

Jorge Posada 15hr = $15.00
Hideki Matsui 21hr = $21.00
Derek Jeter 15hr = $15.00
Mark Teixeira 31hr = $31.00
Nick Swisher 21hr = $21.00
Robinson Cano 18hr = $18.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 21hr = $21.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $186.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Jim Rice is a Moron

I was reading some articles about the game this morning and came across this piece by Peter Abraham about some comments that hall of fame player Jim Rice said about Derek Jeter. While talking to players at the Little League World Series, Rice said that Jeter, along with some other players, were not fit to be role models for these kids because they were too focused on personal milestones and making money. Rice said: "You see a Manny Ramirez, you see an A-Rod, you see Jeter ... guys that I played against and with, these guys you're talking about cannot compare". He then went on to say that guys like Ichiro, Thome and Griffey were worthy of the hall of fame.

So let me just break down how many ways Jim Rice is a moron. First of all, he argues that they're just trying to make money. Really? Because I thought players did this for charity. Its not like Ichiro's making $17 million a year right? He also argues that they're more focused on personal accomplishments. Derek Jeter has come up with the big plays when it matters, and has consistently played hurt throughout his career. Jeter has been known as a team player, and has consistently helped this team win. So what personal accomplishments is Jim talking about? You're going to tell me that Thome and Griffey aren't concerned about their homerun legacy?

Next, I'd like to point out this mystery line: "You see a Manny Ramirez, you see an A-Rod, you see Jeter ... guys that I played against and with, these guys you're talking about cannot compare". Umm, Jim, you never played against any of those guys, nor did you play with any of them. May I suggest laying off the bottle while talking to little leaguers.

I also like how Rice sees fit to talk about who belongs in the Hall of Fame, when he barely made it himself. All of this I submit as evidence to Jim Rice being a moron.

Here's the truth. Rice wasn't half the player Jeter is. Jeter will be a first ballot hall of famer, and will go down as one of the top players of his era. Jeter has helped his team win when it matters, and Rice is just going to have to deal with never winning a ring. The smartest thing Rice can do going forward, is to shut up and keep other players names out of his mouth. Especially when it took 15 years for hall of fame voters to decide that he should get in. Jealous much Jim?

Yankees Blast Red Sox

The Good

Lots of good with the offense. Matsui went on a rampage, hitting two homeruns and driving in 7 runs. Jeter went 3-6 with 2 RBI's, and A-Rod went 4-4 including a triple. Two other players had at least 3 hits: Melky Cabrera and Mark Teixeira. Marte came into the game and got two outs without any problems. That's good.

The Bad

Bruney and Mitre were plain awful. Bruney because he was walking in runs as he went 1.1 innings, with 3 walks. The two runs he allowed were Pettitte's but I still blame him. Mitre handled the 8th inning fine, but then he gave up 4 runs in the 9th.

The Ugly

Pettitte was cruising through the first four innings, but then he hit a wall. He finished with 5 innings and 7 runs, 5 earned. The pitching was awful yesterday, it just so happens that the Red Sox pitching was even worse.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. Last night, Hideki Matsui was on a mission for the children. He hit two homeruns to keep the kids healthy.

Jorge Posada 15hr = $15.00
Hideki Matsui 21hr = $21.00
Derek Jeter 15hr = $15.00
Mark Teixeira 31hr = $31.00
Nick Swisher 20hr = $20.00
Robinson Cano 18hr = $18.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 21hr = $21.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $185.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Early Season Misconceptions

We've reached a point deep enough into the season that certain "truths" and "norms" can be questioned and debunked. Here are some of the RJG's favorite myths that were prominently accepted early in the season:

The Toronto Blue Jays are Winning the AL EAST!

Toronto got off to a hot start this season, and quickly shot into first place. However, they never had the pitching behind Roy Halladay to keep that up, and alas they fell to 4th place.

The Red Sox are the Best Team

I never fully understood this sentiment that seemed common back in spring training. The Red Sox added Rocco Baldelli, Brad Penny and John Smoltz over the winter, and everyone thought these were smart moves. What I really didn't get was how the Red Sox could be considered the best team when they did little to improve themselves and finished in second place the last season. Was Baldelli, Penny, and Smoltz all they needed to beat the Rays last season? Either way, people slept on the Yankees early on despite their adding two big arms, and a big bat. Suckers.

The Mets Will Compete in the NL East

Injuries made any hope of this untenable, but what can you do? You can challenge your minor league team to a fist fight, but that doesn't always work. The Mets would have needed to do a lot to compete with the Phillies this year, and they just didn't do it. They missed out on every good free agent starter, and finished the off season bringing back Oliver Perez. That's what I call an off season failure.

Tampa Bay is a Perennial Contender Now

Even we thought they could be a power house team in the AL East for years to come. David Price showed a lot of promise throwing out of the bullpen in the post season, and Evan Longoria proved to be a legitimate power threat. But this season has proved rough for the Rays and even though they're still in contention for the wild card, they haven't shown the dominance that defined their 2008 season.

Press Release from MLB Network: Interview With Former Yankees Pitcher Jim Bouton

MLB NETWORK’S BOB COSTAS TO HOST Q&A WITH FORMER MLB PITCHER & BALL FOUR AUTHOR JIM BOUTON ON AUGUST 23

Interview to discuss Bouton’s MLB career and his memoir Ball Four

August 20, 2009 – MLB Network’s Studio 42 with Bob Costas will host a conversation with former Major League pitcher and author Jim Bouton on Sunday, August 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET on MLB Network. Throughout the interview, Bouton discusses his MLB career as well as his relationship with Mickey Mantle, his reason for writing the controversial memoir Ball Four, the reception the book received and what led to his return to Yankee Stadium for Old Timers’ Day in 1998.

Highlights of the interview include:

ON WHY BOUTON WROTE BALL FOUR

I really wanted to share the fun in baseball. That was my purpose for writing it. It wasn't really a tell-all book. I didn't have racial comments, all the sexy stories are anonymous. It really was a great environment to be part of, a Major League Baseball team. I got lucky, I was with the right bunch of guys and I kept good notes.

ON WHY BALL FOUR CONNECTED WITH PEOPLE IN 1970

It was a time in our history where people were questioning things, questioning authority, doing things in different ways. You had the Vietnam War, you had men landing on the moon that year, and it [the Seattle Pilots] was a wonderful team. It was an expansion team, the Seattle Pilots. These guys were getting to know each other because they haven't played with each other. They were always telling stories about their careers and I was sitting there with my notepad.

ON THE WAY MICKEY MANTLE IS DEPICTED IN BALL FOUR

I don't think it makes Mickey Mantle look bad at all. He hit a home run with a hangover. It was more a story about what a great ball player he was than about what an awful thing it was.

ON RETURNING TO YANKEE STADIUM FOR OLD TIMERS’ DAY IN 1998

I got into the clubhouse and the players were great. It was a really good feeling. I spent so much time in the clubhouse that I got onto the field late. I didn't get a chance to run around the field and get that feeling. But it was some day.

Prior to the interview, MLB Network will re-air episodes of Studio 42 with Bob Costas featuring Major League Baseball umpires Don Denkinger, Bruce Froemming and Steve Palermo at 3:00 p.m. ET and Cal Ripken Jr. at 4:00 p.m.

About MLB Network

MLB Network launched on January 1, 2009 as the largest debut in cable television history and is currently available in approximately 53 million cable and satellite homes. With live games, original programming, highlights, classic games, and coverage of baseball events, MLB Network is the ultimate television destination for baseball fans. For more information and to find MLB Network in your area, go to mlbnetwork.com.

Gaudin Passable in Yankee Win

The Good

Although Gaudin didn't qualify for the win, he did give the Yankees 4.1 innings of scoreless baseball. He walked 5, and it seemed like every batter worked a full count, but he got the job done. Jeter got another pair of hits last night. It does seem like Jeter heats up in August. Last season, he was struggling in the .270 average range until he turned it on in August. He finished at .300.

Marky T drove in all 3 runs yesterday with an RBI groundout and a 2-run homerun.

The Bad

Aceves gave up a couple runs going 2.1 innings in relief. However, he did avoid the big blow when he releived Gaudin in the 5th with 1 out and bases loaded, and got the double play ball.

The Ugly

Cano went 0-3 with 3 strikeouts. Not a good game for him.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. Marky T hit a roundtripper to put the Yankees ahead for good. MVP anyone?

Jorge Posada 15hr = $15.00
Hideki Matsui 19hr = $19.00
Derek Jeter 15hr = $15.00
Mark Teixeira 31hr = $31.00
Nick Swisher 20hr = $20.00
Robinson Cano 18hr = $18.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 21hr = $21.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $183.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Marty Appel Answers Questions on Munson

Recently, we at the RJG were able to ask Marty Appel, former PR Director of the Yankees and author of "Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain", some questions about his book, and his time with the Yankees. We hope you enjoy the interview:

1. Munson had a rough upbringing particularly in his relationship with his father. Do you think Munson could have been the player he was without this upbringing?

Probably. He was remarkably athletic and very competitive. I don't think his relationship issues fueled either one enough to make the difference between being a big leaguer and not. But it's interesting to speculate on it I suppose.

2. You were the PR director when the infamous "wife swapping" incident occurred with Yankee players Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich. Tell us a little bit about that and how you handled it.

I have to say it handled me, not the other way around. I hadn't really been trained to deal with wife swapping by players. Mostly I just fielded calls and said, "the Yankees do not condone such things, but we prefer to consider it a private matter between the parties." The tumult lasted a week, then settled down. Not like it would be today.

3. In your book, you talk about Munson's general dislike of Boston catcher Carlton Fisk. Can you sum up the reasons for this dislike?

Thurman was upset with the attention lavished on Fisk in the '70s, when Pudge was hurt for long stretches almost every year, and Thurman never once went on the D.L. He felt his value was greatly diminished by that, yet he kept earning plaudits. He thought Curt Gowdy on the NBC Game of the Week overdid praise for Fisk - even leading to his winning all-star elections when Thurman was clearly having a better year.

4. Thurman Munson spent his whole life calling his wife the wrong name (he was off by a letter). How'd he get away with that? Because if I did that, I'd be toast.

She was Diane to everyone back then, and it somehow changed to Diana later on. Those of us who knew her way back when still say Diane, although sometimes by mistake. Either way, she's a great lady.

5. Munson was not exactly warm with the media, generally didn't answer questions, and wasn't big on signing autographs. He was nonetheless a beloved player. That seems almost impossible in today's media saturated age, where player's actions are dissected on and off the field and privacy is hard to maintain (particularly when you play in NYC). Was there something different about the media coverage in the 70s, or was there something about Munson that made him so beloved
despite the distance he tried to keep from the media/public? How do you think Munson would fare if he were playing in New York today?

There was something about playing in New York that made it work for him. The fans saw around the bad press and just loved him the way he was. He was 'our guy.' Media coverage has changed a lot - lots more forms of media, lots more people. He would have hated them all. But the fans would have loved him even if Mike and the Mad Dog roasted him.

6. You were with the Yankees when the Boss took over after purchasing the team from CBS for $10,000 and a pack of smokes. How different do you think Hal's management of the team is?

Unless Mr. Steinbrenner's sons get more involved, and that could evolve, it's night and day. Mr. Steinbrenner rewrote the script for how owners get involved. Except for Bill Veeck and Charlie Finley, who had very small operations, owners let the GMs run the baseball side and talk to the press. All that changed with the arrival of The Boss.

7. Do you have any stories about George Steinbrenner you'd care to tell us?

It's easier to tell them far removed from the day to day. He could be terribly difficult to work for; you never thought you were getting it right. But in retrospect, he made me a better executive and a better publicist, and hey, it was exciting to know that by the end of the day, we'd be involved with something that would get us on the back page of the Daily News the next morning. if you're in PR - that's pretty good. I look back on him with fondness.

8. What player today reminds you most of Thurman Munson and why?

Jorge Posada has seemed to take on his leadership skills. He's a general behind the plate. He didn't mature into the role as quickly as Thurman did, but I can see it there now. And he's clearly earned his spot in that photo of great Yankee catchers, with Dickey, Berra, Howard and Thurman.

9. On page 75 of your book on Munson, you said that writers referred to Munson's 1971 season, in which he hit .251, the sophomore jinx. Was this the first time that phrase was coined?

No it was probably in 1877, the second season of the National League, after everybody's rookie season. Some guys must have had bad years!

10. From a PR stand point, how did you feel about David Ortiz's recent press conference about his failed drug test?

Big Papi has built up a lot of good will in the fan bank over the years. That's not a bad thing at all. Popular hometown players have a chance to ride this out I think. They loved Barry in SF. Pettitte was forgiven. If A-Rod just plays baseball and stays out of controversy, New York will cheer him too as he heads for the home run record.

Many thanks to Marty Appel for answering our questions! His book "Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain" is on sale now!

Jeter Setting the Bar Too High for Future Shortstops

The Good

Jeter appears bent on setting the all-time hits by a shortstop record so high that no one will be able to reach it. He went 3-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Sabathia pitched 8 innings of 2 run ball.

The Bad

Though it didn't end up hurting the team, Teixeria came up with bases loaded, one out, and swung at the first pitch to hit into a double play. C'mon Marky T. That's little league.

The Ugly

A-Rod got hit in the elbow yesterday near where he got hit a few days back. Sabathia doesn't play that, so he threw behind Oakland catcher Kurt Suzuki. Didn't hit him mind you, just threw behind him. Anyways, Suzuki took the next pitch deep for a homerun. We really failed at making a statement there.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. No homeruns last night, just hard doubles.

Jorge Posada 15hr = $15.00
Hideki Matsui 19hr = $19.00
Derek Jeter 15hr = $15.00
Mark Teixeira 30hr = $30.00
Nick Swisher 20hr = $20.00
Robinson Cano 18hr = $18.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 21hr = $21.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $182.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

That Was Pretty Embarrasing

The Good

Burnett pitched a complete game allowing 3 runs, which should really be enough against Oakland. Jeter went 3-4 further surpassing Luis Aparicio, and setting the bar high for all shortstops in the game.

The Bad

A-Rod stepped up to bat with the bases loaded and 1 out and grounded to the pitcher for a double play. That's the kind of game the Yankees played yesterday.

The Ugly

The Yankees were dominated by former teammate Brett Tomko who pitched 5 shutout innings. Its a good thing we DFA'd him. How did we not win last night? AJ Burnett vs. Brett Tomko, and we lose? That is ugly.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. Last night, the Yankees hit 0 homeruns, as they were up against perennial Cy Young contender Brett Tomko.

Jorge Posada 15hr = $15.00
Hideki Matsui 19hr = $19.00
Derek Jeter 15hr = $15.00
Mark Teixeira 30hr = $30.00
Nick Swisher 20hr = $20.00
Robinson Cano 18hr = $18.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 21hr = $21.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $182.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

A Message From Net Raffle

Currently we are raffling off 10 Monster Seat tickets to the August 23rd game against the Yankees (Sunday @ 1:35pm). The prize package includes the 10 tickets along with a pre-game tour of Fenway, dinner before or during the game, a private wait staff throughout the game and a special Red Sox gift bag. The prize also includes a cash prize to mitigate taxes as a result of winning the raffle.

Proceeds from this raffle go to benefit the Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation. Mark, a former BU Hockey player and NHL Assistant tragically lost his life on September 11th, 2001, as he was one of the passengers aboard United Airlines flight 175 which struck the south tower of the World Trade Center. The foundation has been set up in his name to continue aiding young men and women.

Tickets for the raffle start at just $2 a piece with a minimum purchase of 5 tickets. The entry deadline is August 20th, 2009 @ 11:00am EDT.

Tickets can be purchased at www.netraffle.org

I Don't Mind That They Lost, It Was The Way They Lost That Bothers Me

The Good

Derek Jeter went all out to tie, and pass hall of fame shortstop Luis Aparicio for all time hits by a shortstop. When you think about it, its truly amazing. Back in the 90's wouldn't you have thought that A-Rod, Tejada, and Nomar would be right there with him? But alas, two were on 'roids, and the other probably was too.

The Bad

Joba was back in pre all-star game form, going 5 innings and giving up 4 runs. His last two games would appear to be a digression from the dominance he was previously showing.

The Ugly

Aceves and Gaudin combined for 4 innings of 6 run ball. I'm kind of glad we lost though, because we were starting to rely heavily on late game offense, which is a good tool to have, but we can't rely on it. We need to learn how to take the lead early in a game and hold it. Against a team like the Mariners it shouldn't be too hard. The problem comes when we face actual contenders. When we face a team with an actual bullpen I'm afraid the late inning heroics will diminish, and we won't be able to rely on the walkoffs like we have been.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. Yesterday, it was Nick the Swish who fought the campaign for Children's Health with his 20th homerun of the season.

Jorge Posada 15hr = $15.00
Hideki Matsui 19hr = $19.00
Derek Jeter 15hr = $15.00
Mark Teixeira 30hr = $30.00
Nick Swisher 20hr = $20.00
Robinson Cano 18hr = $18.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 21hr = $21.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $182.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Its Been a Long Time Coming

So about a month or two ago it was suggested that we add a section to our blog with some of the RJG greatest hits. We thought it was a great idea. So great, that we spent the last two months working on it. Well, its finally up. Underneath our beloved advertisers you will find a list of some of the RJG classics. Now, we didn't put up all the ones you suggested, and if there are any that are not there that you feel really should be please let us know. One thing I didn't want to do is put game reviews up there since they're too contextual and people may not really get so far removed from the game in question. Either way, I hope you enjoy them, and always feel free to suggest any ideas you may have for us.

Seven and One-Half

The Good

The Yankees have taken the series and are now 7 and 1/2 games over the Red Sox in the AL East. Both Swishetty Cricket and Jeter hit monster home runs that left SafeCo Field, even though the roof was up. Pretty crazy. Additionally, the bullpen was filthy. Robertson and Coke both came into some tough spots and got the job done.

The Bad

Mo allowed two base runners in the ninth. Not the worst thing that ever happened but I had to write something.

The Ugly

Ichiro was picked off in the eighth inexplicably trying to steal third with two outs. Weird. Also, everytime Jason Varitek looked over to first base today he thought, "there's my replacement." He also thought this each of the eight times the Rangers stole a base on him. The Red Sox "retaliated" for the steals by pluncking one of the rangers. Since when can you retaliate for steals?

So This Is What It Sounds Like When Doves Cry

As mentioned before, both Jeter and Swish hit home runs today. Home runs so powerful they tore through the roof at SafeCo Field and landed in Canada. Let's just say that Stephen Harper is pissed about the blatant violation of his nation's airspace.

Jorge Posada 15hr = $15.00
Hideki Matsui 19hr = $19.00
Derek Jeter 15hr = $15.00
Mark Teixeira 30hr = $30.00
Nick Swisher 19hr = $19.00
Robinson Cano 18hr = $18.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 21hr = $21.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $181.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Yanks Take Second Game From Seattle

The Good

Mark Teixeira and Andy Pettitte. Pettitte gave us a strong six innings while Teixeira hit a go-ahead solo shot in the top of the ninth. With Mo as your closer, that was the end of the game.

The Bad

The Yanks were not able to muster more than two runs off of Seattle pitcher Rowland-Smith (I think that's his name). They were off balance all night, and if Seattle had a more competent offense, this may have been a very different game.

The Ugly

Texas needs a closer. WTF Texas? Six runs allowed in the top of the ninth? Seriously? Go home and think about what you did.

That Warm and Fuzzy Feeling

Only one pro-child baseball player in last night's game, Marky T.

Jorge Posada 15hr = $15.00
Hideki Matsui 19hr = $19.00
Derek Jeter 14hr = $14.00
Mark Teixeira 30hr = $30.00
Nick Swisher 18hr = $18.00
Robinson Cano 18hr = $18.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 21hr = $21.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $179.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Yankees Heed RJG Advice, Win Cleanly

The Good

CC Sabathia went 8 innings allowing just 1 run, while Hideki Matsui went 4-5 with 2 homeruns and 5 RBI's. The Yankees scored 11 runs against the Mariners. Finally, the Yankees won a game without having to come from behind, or hit a walk-off in extra innings.

The Bad

No bad. I know, its rare, but there was literally nothing bad about it.

The Ugly

Alex Rodriguez missed the game with a sore elbow after being plunked in yesterdays game. Toronto needs to fall.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. Derek Jeter hit his 14th homerun of the season, while Matsui hit two homeruns to show how much he cares about children's health.

Jorge Posada 15hr = $15.00
Hideki Matsui 19hr = $19.00
Derek Jeter 14hr = $14.00
Mark Teixeira 29hr = $29.00
Nick Swisher 18hr = $18.00
Robinson Cano 18hr = $18.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 21hr = $21.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $178.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Beat Writers: Stop Twittering Your Conversations

I've noticed an interesting pattern while monitoring internet communication technologies.

First this from Brian Hoch on Twitter: "Why were the Yankees interested in Ian Snell again?"

Then this from Tyler Kepner, also on Twitter: "Just throwing it out there, no basis for this: wouldn't Seattle be a great spot for Matsui next year?"

But then Feinsand tweets: "Remember when people thought the Yankees should trade for Ian Snell from the Pirates? They're probably happy that didn't happen, eh?"

We'd already heard that from Hoch. Then I click over to Abe's blog, and I read, "Wonder if Matsui ends up here next season?"

It would seem that the Yankees beat writers are all controlled by some sort of uberbrain, possibly in a jar, that makes them all independently think the same thing. Either that or whenever someone makes a clever point in the press box everybody goes ahead and steals it.

Looking for Starters Next Season

Although this is a little early, I was thinking about the make up of our rotation going into next season. We have Sabathia, Burnett and Joba locked, while Pettitte will become a free agent, and the 5th spot will be open. Its likely that Hughes will be asked to fill that role. Whatever road the Yankees want to take they should really consider one Scott Kazmir. The Rays made Kazmir available for trade at the deadline, and no doubt they were guaging the interest in him. He's having a rough season this year. As of today he stands with a 6.50 ERA a 6-7 record and 70 strikeouts in 91.1 innings. My guess is that Kazmir is injured, or suffering the residual effects of his previous injuries. The Rays would be smart to move him seeing as he's due $22.5 million over the next two seasons (that includes a club option pay out). If Kazmir is ineffective, that's a lot of money the small market Rays will have wrapped up in him. The Yankees would be smart to take a gamble on him, because of how succesful he's been in the past, and because $22.5 million over two years really isn't a risk to them. I know they want to decrease payroll, but there is a lot of potential in that arm, and may be worth the risk. Of course, to determine whether the deal is worthwhile, we would need to know what the Rays want in return for Kazmir. If the cost in prospects isn't too high, I think it would be a worthwhile investment.

On the other hand, the Yankees will be on the market for a left fielder, and as one commenter posted in an earlier post, the Rays may want to move Carl Crawford who would become a free agent in 2011. Perhaps there is a deal to be worked out here. Perhaps not. All I know, is that those are two players to take into consideration. Personally, I like Damon, but that will depend on his asking price and years.

Another Walk Off Win Takes Series From Blue Jays

The Good

Though it was Cano's mess up on a double play ball that cost us the first game of the series, it was his walk-off single in the 11th that won this one for us. He also hit a homerun earlier in the game.

The bullpen pitched 5 scoreless innings with new member Chad Gaudin going 2 innings with 3 strikeouts. Burnett wasn't his sharpest, but gave us a quality start.

The Bad

Jorge Posada seemed clueless behind the plate yesterday. Though it was ruled a wild pitch, Posada should have blocked the ball that allowed the tieing run to score. He also had a rough time at the plate going 1-5 with 3 strikeouts.

The Ugly

The Yankees have mastered the come from behind win, which is good, but it'd be nice if we could take the lead early and hold onto it. Here's for a nice clean win tonight at Seattle.

The Really Ugly

Jeter and A-Rod both got hit pretty hard. Jeter had to leave the game in the second inning. Next time we see Toronto, Vernon Wells better get one in the ribs.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. Damon and Cano hit homeruns last night. It was the 22nd of the season for Damon. Seems like he can still play baseball.

Jorge Posada 15hr = $15.00
Hideki Matsui 17hr = $17.00
Derek Jeter 13hr = $13.00
Mark Teixeira 29hr = $29.00
Nick Swisher 18hr = $18.00
Robinson Cano 18hr = $18.00
Johnny Damon 22hr = $22.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 21hr = $21.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $175.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Tomorrow's Game

My Brother and I will be at the park tomorrow, meaning no game update til perhaps Thursday morning. For those following on Twitter, I may try to download a phone application in order to make a few tweets during the game, but not sure yet. See if I'm around come game time.

Yankees Even Series at One Apiece

The Good

The Yankees won by ignoring Joba's oh so effectiveness and outslugging the Jays. Matsui hit a home run so that he wouldn't have to run particularly hard. Then Posada hit one just to prove a point. Nobody is sure what that point was.

The Bad

Joba did not pitch particularly well. Lucky for him, he plays for the Yankees.

The Ugly

When Scutaro struck out to end the ninth, tears welled up in his eyes. A seemingly drunk Tom Hanks, sitting in the Legends Seats, yelled, "There's no crying in baseball!" Scutaro, however, disagreed and curled up into a fetal position on the field and cried loudly for five minutes. It made for very awkward post-game interviews on My9.

The RJG Deficit

Thanks to drying up ad revenue, we have no idea how we're going to pay all the money we owe to charity. As of right now we're thinking ponzi scheme. Matsui and Posada both had home runs today. Kudos on your love of children.

Jorge Posada 15hr = $15.00
Hideki Matsui 17hr = $17.00
Derek Jeter 13hr = $13.00
Mark Teixeira 29hr = $29.00
Nick Swisher 18hr = $18.00
Robinson Cano 17hr = $17.00
Johnny Damon 21hr = $21.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 21hr = $21.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $173.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Did Yanks Miss Out On Rios?

It was fairly surprising to see the Blue Jays essentially dump outfielder Alex Rios and the remaining 6.5 years of his 7 year contract on the White Sox. The Blue Jays ended up saving about $60 million on this deal, and the White Sox got a relatively young productive player. Some people wonder if the Yankees missed a golden opportunity to upgrade over either Melky or Swisher. The answer is not really.

Over the last two seasons I would have told you that Alex Rios was a great addition to our outfield, and that at his price tag, the Yankees would be crazy not to take him. This was back when Abreu was getting paid $16 million to botch plays in the rightfield, Damon was habitually injured, and Melky was little more than a 4th outfielder about to give way to Brett Gardner. This season Rios stands at .264 with 14 homeruns, .317 OBP, and 19 stolen bases (his stolen base game is highly underrated). In 2007, he was at .294 with 24 homeruns 85 RBI's and a .354 OBP. This was when he looked to be a breakout player. Homeruns, RBI's and OBP were all career highs for him that year. His 2008 year wasn't bad, but with the exception of his base stealing (32 that year) he didn't build upon what he did the season before.

Right now, Rios looks to me like Cano did last season. A lot of potential and natural ability, but fails to put it all together. Rios could one day be a .300 hitter with 25+ homeruns, but you never pay now for what could potentially happen in the future, which brings us to the original question. Did the Yankees miss an opportunity with Rios? Not really. With roughly $60 million left on a back loaded contract, the Yankees would have effectively replaced Melky (whose having his best season), or Swisher (whose signed through 3 more seasons at an average price of $8.67 million). Not to mention that although Swisher's batting average is lower than Rios', Swisher is hitting for more power, and getting on base more often. Basically put, I don't think he'd be that big of an upgrade, and for $3 million more per year on average, I just don't see it worth our while. It could turn out that Rios reaches his potential down the line, but its too risky an investment, and the players he'd be replacing have been very valuable to this team.

Yanks Snap Win Streak

The Good

Cashman put Ace on the roster, good move, because he's really come in handy. Mitre is settling in nicely into the 'automatic loss' role formerly occupied by Yankee greats such as Jaret Wright and Sydney Ponson.

The Bad

A less than perfect throw to Cano by Mitre led to an error by the second baseman which led to two unearned runs, the ultimate difference in the game. The throw was bad, but the error was Cano's, he should've caught it even if it pulled him off the bag. The throw wasn't that off.

The Ugly

After the game, Girardi said Mitre would make his next start. He then brought Mitre into his office to let him know that start would be in Scranton.

Charity Warms Our Hearts

Three home runs couldn't hold off the mighty Jays. Jeter, Hairston, and Cano each had one. It was Hairston's first as a Yankee. Only 650 or so to go before he catches Babe Ruth.

Jorge Posada 14hr = $14.00
Hideki Matsui 16hr = $16.00
Derek Jeter 13hr = $13.00
Mark Teixeira 29hr = $29.00
Nick Swisher 18hr = $18.00
Robinson Cano 17hr = $17.00
Johnny Damon 21hr = $21.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 21hr = $21.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Jerry Hairston Jr. 1hr = $1.00
Total = $171.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Embracing New Technologies

We here at RJG believe in embracing new technological advancements, no matter how stupid. In that vein I have started a Twitter account at twitter.com/robbie_fingers. Don't bother to look it up now as I have yet to tweet. I'm thinking of using it for the purpose of commenting during games. I'm not really sure how Twitter works but I assume people can comment on tweets which would allow us to essentially have live conversations during games. Granted, if I'm wrong about that I've simply become another shameful person who has a twitter account. Let me know what you think of the game comments idea.

Yanks Sweep the Sox

The Good

Brian Cashman has Girardi-proofed the Yankees. Back to Back home runs by Damon and Teixeira in the bottom of the eighth, plus an additional two-run cushion thanks to Nick Swisher, saved the Yankees from a terrible decision by Girardi in the top of the eighth. Oh yeah, having Mariano Rivera as your closer helps too.

The Bad

With a one-run game on the line, Girardi decided to have Phil Coke pitch the eighth inning, even though Phil Hughes has only faced two hitters in the last two games. As soon as I saw Coke in, I thought to myself, "This guy is okay, but he tends to give up home runs. Where is Hughes?" Sure enough, Coke served up a two-run bomb to Victor Martinez, obliterating Andy Pettitte's win. Thanks for that Girardi.

The Ugly

Every time Jason Varitek catches a pitch he thinks, "Oh man, my replacement is over at first base." Also ugly, tonight's winning pitcher was Phil Coke. That's bull$#!%.

1-8-7-7 Kash for Kids, K-A-S-H Kash for Kids

A-Rod, Damon, and Tex each had one, in that order.

Jorge Posada 14hr = $14.00
Hideki Matsui 16hr = $16.00
Derek Jeter 12hr = $12.00
Mark Teixeira 29hr = $29.00
Nick Swisher 18hr = $18.00
Robinson Cano 16hr = $16.00
Johnny Damon 21hr = $21.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 21hr = $21.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Total = $168.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Yanks Take Series, Better Go For Sweep

The Good

Sabathia went 7.2 innings allowing 0 runs and was pulled after throwing over 120 pitches. He struck out 9 batters. Hughes and Robertson closed the game out. Derek Jeter, who has looked awful this series, hit a 2-run homerun to put the Yankees ahead 5-0. Nick Swisher went 0-1 with 2 walks, one of which was with bases loaded and earned him an RBI.

The Bad

Cano went 3-4, which is good, but the one at bat he did nothing with was a bases loaded situation where he grounded out. The only good thing about that at bat was that he didn't hit into a double play, and just got the force out at home. Cano is an absolute catastrophe when it comes to pressure situations. Its a shame for an otherwise talented hitter.

The Ugly

How we only scored 2 runs off of Clay Buchholz is beyond me. We had several opportunities to knock him out of the game, but we failed to execute them.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. Derek Jeter hit a "just made it" homerun to right field yesterday.

Jorge Posada 14hr = $14.00
Hideki Matsui 16hr = $16.00
Derek Jeter 12hr = $12.00
Mark Teixeira 28hr = $28.00
Nick Swisher 18hr = $18.00
Robinson Cano 16hr = $16.00
Johnny Damon 20hr = $20.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 20hr = $20.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Total = $165.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

There Better Be Media Outrage

Remember when A-Rod was outed as a PED user and he admitted to a three year time period during which he used steroids, told us how he got them, how he administered them, that he used an energy drink in Seattle that is now banned, and had a press conference by himself, like a man, and admitted all this, and then all anyone could write about was how full of $#!% A-Rod was and how he left all these questions unanswered? Ortiz better get hammered over this press conference.

First, he didn't even have the cojones to answer questions by himself, he had his babysitter from the MLBPA do it instead. He denied ever using steroids and said it must've been some over-the-counter supplement that triggered the positive result, but of course we have to take him at his word because he doesn't actually know what he tested positive for, but we can trust that it wasn't a steroid because he's such a nice guy.

If the press doesn't bury Ortiz for the way he has handled this whole mess, I will be livid. It's bad enough I have to deal with all the sanctimony about steroids from guys like Massarotti who turned a blind eye to an obvious steroid problem when home run chases were driving newspaper sales and now act like they were duped, I will not tolerate certain players getting hammered when it comes out that they were PED users and others getting a pass.

Also, with regard to the whole over-the-counter supplement excuse. It may very well have been an over-the-counter supplement, but that doesn't mean he didn't take steroids. The New York Times recently reported that the FDA has issued warnings against a number of popular OTC supplements because they contain steroids. (Article 1, Article 2). Now, that is not the same as going to Angel Presinal and saying, "Hey Angel, get me some steroids." But if we can't believe that A-Rod didn't use Primobolan properly because athletes always know what they're putting in their bodies (the official media line after Alex's press conference), then we shouldn't accept that Ortiz was taking OTC supplements without knowing what was in them.

Looks Like Ortiz Will Duck His PED Use

Two days ago it was announced that David Ortiz would hold a press conference, along with the new president of the MLBPA, regarding his PED use. At the time I thought that was kind of weird. Why did the MLBPA need to be there? I started to suspect that the MLBPA would be there to give Ortiz cover when he dodged the issue and claimed ignorance as to what he took (hint: they were steroids). Now the MLBPA has released a statement indicating that they cannot share with outed players whether or not they are on the list or what they took. Bull$#!%.

The most telling part of the statement, which you can read in it's entirety over on Abe's blog, is the following:

First, the number of players on the so-called “government list” meaningfully exceeds the number of players agreed by the bargaining parties to have tested positive in 2003. Accordingly, the presence of a player’s name on any such list does not necessarily mean that the player used a prohibited substance or that the player tested positive under our collectively bargained program.

Second, substantial scientific questions exist as to the interpretation of some of the 2003 test results. The more definitive methods that are utilized by the lab that administers the current Drug Agreement were not utilized by the lab responsible for the anonymous testing program in 2003. The collective bargaining parties did not pursue definitive answers regarding these inconclusive results, since those answers were unnecessary to the administration of the 2003 program.

Is the MLBPA serious? Are they really still trying to convince us, themselves, MLB that the number of players who tested positive was under the 5% required to institute mandatory testing? These guys are completely out of touch. I realize they are a union and that their role is to advocate on behalf of players, but an advocate has to know when pressing a particular point actually does more harm than good. This is such an instance. The Boston Globe has been visibly pissed at Ortiz since the NY Times article was printed. If his explanation today is, "I can't say anything, they won't let me" [pointing at MLBPA Prez], they are going to rip him a new one. Not to mention, the story won't die.

The MLBPA also spends much of the statement criticizing the Times for trying to uncover information on a list sealed by court order. Ummmm, yeah, that's what journalists do so that the public can be informed. Congrats MLBPA, you are the world's greatest collection of douche bags. It's bad enough that you try to impugn journalists for doing journalism, but you're essentially blaming the Times for your f*#k up. Remember when you had a chance to destroy the list but didn't because you wanted to stop PED testing at all costs? Well, this is the cost @$$holes.

Yankees Win Longest Game Ever

The Good

Burnett was nasty, and A-Rod hit a two-run home run. Hopefully that overshadows Ortiz trying to blame him for Ortiz's PED use tomorrow at 12:30pm.

The Bad

15 f-------g innings?! It's bad enough that nine innings takes these two teams 4 hours on average, but 15 f----------g innings?!

The Ugly

During the YES Network postgame, Paul O'Neil punched Michael Key in the face for referring to him as 'Paul' as opposed to 'Mr. O'Neil,' thus adding more fuel to the fire that he does indeed 'roid rage.

The Winning Play

A-Rod won the game with a two-run home run, the only run driving hit of the game. He clearly loves the kids more than anyone else on the team.

Jorge Posada 14hr = $14.00
Hideki Matsui 16hr = $16.00
Derek Jeter 11hr = $11.00
Mark Teixeira 28hr = $28.00
Nick Swisher 18hr = $18.00
Robinson Cano 16hr = $16.00
Johnny Damon 20hr = $20.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 20hr = $20.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Total = $164.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Jerry Hairston Jr. Sees Rivalry Up Close

The Yankees newest utility player, Jerry Hairston Jr. was able to see and even participate in sports greatest rivalry. In yesterdays game against the Red Sox, Hairston drew a walk and scored a run, but his experience with the rivalry started even before that.

"I wanted to get a feel for the rivalry. Everyone says that there's nothing like it anywhere. A unique experience they tell me. So to really submerge myself in it, I drove over to Boston in my Yankee uniform and challenged everyone on the streets to a fist fight."

Hairston explained that the rivalry was alive, and well, and probably some of the fiercest he had ever seen.

"I was fighting the locals for like 3 hours. Half were drunk, the other half hung over. It was like fighting zombies."

Because they were slow and non-receptive to pain?

"No, because they kept trying to eat me, it was really kind of strange."

The melee lasted until Derek Jeter showed up in his Ford Explorer and began signing autographs for the locals.

"(Expletive) Youkilis! I have Derek Jeter's autograph!" Explained Boston native and frequent bar brawler Robert Collins.

"Seeing Jeter was the greatest experience of my sober life." Said local resident and frequent bar brawler Kimberly Fitzpatrick.

Did Jerry Hairston learn anything from his experience?

"Well, I feel like I really got a taste for the rivalry. I'm glad I did it. At one point I had one of the Kennedy's in a head lock, and I was swinging a broken Guiness bottle at Deval Patrick, and I just really felt like I connected with the rivalry at that point, you know? At the end of the day, Jeter bought us all a round of Sam Adams, and we laughed it off. Myself and the 4 dozen Bostonians I fought. Good man that Derek Jeter."

Indeed.

Yankees Fear of Red Sox Ends

The Good

13 Runs! Every starter had a hit, and 4 Yankees hit homeruns. Then, after scoring 13 runs, we didn't let the Red Sox score 14 like we normally would this season. Great relief efforts by Robertson, Coke, and Melancon.

The Bad

Poor Anthony Claggett.

The Ugly

Joba was pitching so well until this game. 5 innings and 4 runs was basically his standard line prior to the All-Star break. A trend we did not miss.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. 4 homeruns to help unhealthy children everywhere. Many thanks to Posada, Teixeira, Damon, and Melky.

Jorge Posada 14hr = $14.00
Hideki Matsui 16hr = $16.00
Derek Jeter 11hr = $11.00
Mark Teixeira 28hr = $28.00
Nick Swisher 18hr = $18.00
Robinson Cano 16hr = $16.00
Johnny Damon 20hr = $20.00
Melky Cabrera 11hr = $11.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 19hr = $19.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Total = $163.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Yankee Bats Come Alive Against Blue Jays, Pitching Stays Asleep

The Good

Johnny Damon had quite the offensive game last night going 3-5 with a homerun and 3 RBI's. Swisher also had a homerun and a 2-5 night, and Cano hit two doubles. Hughes and Robertson each had an inning of work with two strikeouts a piece, and no runs.

The Bad

Aceves pitched well in relief, but gave up a solo homerun that takes away some of the sweetness.

The Ugly

Mitre went 4.1 innings allowing 3 runs. His ERA is at 7.50. Do we not have anyone better?

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. Last night, Nick Swisher and Johnny Damon hit homeruns for the cause.

Jorge Posada 13hr = $13.00
Hideki Matsui 16hr = $16.00
Derek Jeter 11hr = $11.00
Mark Teixeira 27hr = $27.00
Nick Swisher 18hr = $18.00
Robinson Cano 16hr = $16.00
Johnny Damon 19hr = $19.00
Melky Cabrera 10hr = $10.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 19hr = $19.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Total = $159.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

WTF Tom Massarotti?

In today's Boston Globe, Tom Massarotti wrote a column about how long it has taken Ortiz to address his failed drug test. Based on what I've read in the Globe since the revelation of Ortiz's PED use, the Boston media is genuinely pissed at Ortiz, as though they felt that Ortiz had duped them all this time with his affable personality. Understandable. But the trauma of Ortiz's outing as a PED user has led to the following senselessness from Massarotti in today's column:

"All we can hope for, at this stage, is that Ortiz does not adopt Rodriguez’s approach when it came time to answer questions and fill in the blanks. We don’t need to know merely what Ortiz tested positive for and when he used it. We need to know what else he has taken, if anything, and we need to know why.

"We have yet to hear a single player stand up and tell us the complete truth, that the game was out of control, that players felt the need to keep up, that things became twisted and out of control. That the line between right and wrong did not grow fuzzy - it disappeared entirely - and the game became one muddied mass."

Ummm, didn't A-Rod in his interview with Gammons and at his press conference not only say what he tested positive for, when he took it, that he did it because he felt pressure to live up to his contract, and that he also used to consume an energy drink during his Seattle days that is now banned? Didn't A-Rod tell us that back then more or less anything went (loosey-goosey = game out of control), that he was trying to keep up? Neither A-Rod nor Ortiz can speak for the whole game, they don't know what other player's motivations were. They can only speak to why they did what they did.

This passage by Massarotti not only misrepresents what Alex said regarding his PED use, it seems utterly confused. If anything, that first line should read, "All we can hope for, at this stage, is that Ortiz adopts Rodriguez’s approach when it came time to answer questions and fill in the blanks."

I'm going to forgive Massarotti on this one. I'm sure he's still in shock. But when Alex came out and admitted to three years of PED use, how he got the drugs, how he used them, all the media could do was say "he's hiding something." Get over it guys. He gave you the dirt. I understand being cynical, but at some point you're just being unfair to A-Rod. It's okay to be upset that Ortiz hasn't talked about this issue yet (it certainly didn't take A-Rod this long), but don't take it out on A-Rod. This is about your guy, Boston media, not ours.

Yankees Flex Muscles Against Halladay of All People

The Good

A-Rod and Pettitte stand out in my mind. Pettitte for his 6.2 innings of one run ball, and with Halladay as your opponent, you can't afford to do less. A-Rod because he basically got us going in the first inning against Halladay, and was apart of the first two runs scored. With Damon on first, A-Rod hit a double that scored Damon. Then Matsui hit a grounder to first that Halladay bobbled and dropped when Millar threw to him for the out at first. Seeing the dropped ball, A-Rod sprinted for home. Halladay threw to catcher Rod Barajas, but A-Rod kicked the ball out of Barajas glove on the slide. Barajas complained about something to the ump, but A-Rod just gave him his glove back and went back to the dug out. No controversy for A-Rod.

Oh, we also hit 3 homeruns off Halladay. Damon, Teixeira and Matsui were the culprits.

The Bad

Hughes gave up 2 runs, though in reality it was Mariano who gave up the double that scored Hughes' runs. Relief pitching was not at its best last night.

The Ugly

In the 13th inning of the Rays and Red Sox game, Evan Longoria hit a walkoff homerun giving us back a 1.5 game lead in the standings. With us facing Halladay last night, it really is more than we could have hoped for.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog joined Johnny Damon's home run club, which raises money for the Children's Health Fund. We are pledged to donate $1.00 for every homerun the Yankees hit this season. Yesterday, Damon, Matsui, and Teixeira all hit homeruns off Roy Halladay.

Jorge Posada 13hr = $13.00
Hideki Matsui 16hr = $16.00
Derek Jeter 11hr = $11.00
Mark Teixeira 27hr = $27.00
Nick Swisher 17hr = $17.00
Robinson Cano 16hr = $16.00
Johnny Damon 18hr = $18.00
Melky Cabrera 10hr = $10.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 19hr = $19.00
Brett Gardner 3hr = $3.00
Francisco Cervelli 1hr = $1.00
Eric Hinske 5hr = $5.00
Total = $157.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.

Yankees GM Discusses Trade Deadline

With the trade deadline now behind us and a less than impressive weekend performance in Chicago, we thought it was time to speak to good friend of the blog Brian Cashman via satellite video phone. Below, for your consideration, is a transcript of the conversation:

BC: Hello?

RJG: [singing] I'm a barbie girl, in a barbie woooooooooorld...

BC: What the f...

RJG: Come on Bronny, don't you want to be a barbie girl too?

BC: No, I do not.

RJG: Yeah, I guess you're more of a material girl.

BC: What?!

RJG: Easy Bronny. Let's get down to business. The trade deadline has passed and we only picked up a utility infielder despite our clear need for another starter. In fact, with Joba eventually needing to return to the 'pen because of his innings cap, we need two starters. WTF?

BC: We were close on some players, but ultimately we were unwilling to trade our best prospects for them.

RJG: Bull$#!* Bronny! Tell that cheap bastard you call your boss, Hal, to open up his sizable wallet and spend some money on his team.

BC: That's not the issue.

RJG: Yes it is.

BC: No it's not.

RJG: Yes it is. Say it Bronny, Hal's a cheap bastard.

BC: No, I won't.

RJG: Say it. I know you want to.

BC: Okay, okay, Hal's a cheap bastard! He wouldn't even take on Washburn's measly $3.5 million in additional salary. But Hal says I can't sign anymore players until we sell some more Legends Seats. That ain't happening.

RJG: Have you ever considered strippers in the Legends Seats? That might move some tickets.

BC: Hal refuses to pay for them. I hate that guy.

RJG: Well I thank you for your candor.

BC: No. I thank you.

RJG: It's not all about you Bronny.

[Click]

There you have it folks, the Yankees are committed to lowering their payroll.

Rosenthal Got Owned

A few months back, writer Ken Rosenthal wrote an article saying that any speculation concerning David Ortiz and PED use was unfair. Since we were at that time speculating that David Ortiz had used PED's, we took Rosenthal's article personal, and wrote a response. Now that it has been revealed that David Ortiz did in fact fail a drug test, I beleive sir Rosenthal owes us an apology. Here's my favorite excerpt from Rosenthal's article:

"Here's one thing I do know: Before steroids, players actually declined as they got older. Ortiz is 33. Maybe he is losing his skills."

Right.

I can't say that this recent revelation about Ortiz's PED use makes me happy as a Yankee fan. However, I can say that I'm glad that the picture is now balanced. Senator Mitchell's joke of a report was centered in New York, and largely reported on New York PED users. Then A-Rod got leaked this last year. With Ortiz and Manny getting leaked off that 2003 list, we have the first big players of the Red Sox to fall. Then Bronson Arroyo basically said that he's on that list, and Nomar has been so up in arms about the leaks that it wouldn't be a big surprise that he was on the list too. By the way, Nomar has been complaining about testing since day one.

A friend of mine who is a Red Sox fan asked me if I thought this nullified the championships the Red Sox won. I definitely don't think it does. I do think it cheapens them though, especially since it was the first time in 86 years they won one. Its shaping up to be an ugly era for baseball, and the quicker we move past it the better. For this reason I think its essential that they release the list. Names are going to continue to be leaked, and a story that should really be over in a couple months will be spread out over years. Why do that? The truth will set us free.