From The Record:

As a result, the Yankees have considered the possibility of re-signing Ruben Rivera out of the Mexican League, while keeping an eye on Colorado’s Eric Byrnes and the Texas Rangers’ Gary Matthews Jr.

At 31, Rivera is said to still possess the skills of is still considered a very good defensive outfielder, which is the Yanks’ primary requirement.

Rivera last played in the majors in 2003, with San Francisco.

Great. Psssst, buddy. Wanna buy a Jeter glove? Just great. Maybe Michael Kay has ESP or something?

I just caught 5 minutes of the S.I. Yanks game on YES tonight. And, who was up? None other than Tony Roth!

He dropped a beauty of a bunt to advance a runner and reach himself. I’m telling you, this kid can play.

Bob Lorenz and Homer Bush, who were doing the game on YES, said that he was only playing because injuries opened up a spot in the line-up. Gosh, just let the boy play.

They also said his nickname was “Sunshine” because of his blonde hair.

I’m beginning to think that Sunshine Roth is going to become my fav Yankee busher this year.

From the Seattle Times:

A recent report that the Yankees had a scout here watching Winn is not exactly correct. New York had two scouts at Jacobs Field all of last week, watching Grady Sizemore, among others, on the Cleveland club.

But a man from another club that has interest in Mariners pitchers noted that “the Yankees paid a lot of attention when Winn came up to hit.”

The New York Post ran a story yesterday headlined, “Just Winn, Baby.” It reported that the Mariners had scouts Dan Evens and Bob Harrison watching the Yankees in Anaheim. Harrison and Evans are based in Southern California and watch a lot of teams play the Angels.

Sizemore is a blue-chipper. And, he could be the Yankees answer to CF for the next decade. But, what would the Yankees have that the Indians would want? And, why, oh, why would the Tribe deal him?

UPDATE: One of my Tribe fan buddies just told me about this:

On Wednesday the Yankees had three scouts at Jacobs Field. Desperate for a center fielder, there was plenty to see -Grady Sizemore and Coco Crisp from the Indians and David DeJesus, Emil Brown and Chip Ambres of the Royals.

From the S.I. Advance:

– the Yankees seem to be slanting their trade talks toward pitching. They had two executives in Cleveland on Saturday to see Seattle starter Gil Meche and lefty reliever Ron Villone. And the Mariners sent a scout to Anaheim specifically to watch the Yankees for four games.

At best, Meche is a below average pitcher. Villone, being a lefty, could be of some service. But, why are the M’s looking at the Yankees big league team? Who on the current roster would the Yankees trade for two so-so pitchers? This is somewhat distressing.

From the Journal News:

While Randy Johnson turned what should have been a 30-second exchange with reporters into a 10-minute sarcastic tirade that needed a club security official to break up, Kevin Brown traveled to Denver yesterday for physical therapy on his back.

“They are more careful with me than I am,” Johnson said. “I’ll be out there. It doesn’t mean I’m completely healthy, but I’ll be out there.”

Johnson said he’s always among the league leaders in starts and innings pitched, and that his status shouldn’t be a constant issue.

“When I’m not out there, then it’s an issue,” he said. “I’m fine. I’ll be out there.”

It became apparent that Johnson’s frustration level was beginning to bubble over when he compared the questioning about his health to his kids on a long car trip.

” ‘Are we there, yet? We’re almost there. Disneyland is 15 minutes away. We’re almost there.’ You’re like my kids,” Johnson said with full sarcasm. Then, his voice turning to disgust, he uttered, “This place is unbelievable.”

At this point, the best thing Randy could do is pull a Pedro/Carlton and take a vow of silence with the media. Oh, and, he could go out ‘there’ and pitch like an ace for a while too. That would be nice.

From The Journal News:

Brian Cashman is breaking down every roster looking for a center fielder who can track down balls in the gaps and hit ninth. Mike Cameron is the ideal fit, but the Mets won’t make that move unless they get Robinson Cano in return. Randy Winn (Seattle) or Eric Byrnes (Colorado) would come much cheaper.

Cashman has vowed that the Yankees will not add considerably to their payroll or trade any of their best young players, such as Cano or Class AA third baseman Eric Duncan. It’s a brave stance considering Cashman is in the final year of his contract.

“How many people in his position would do the same thing?” Boston GM Theo Epstein said. “You have to respect what Brian is doing.”

IIRC, Theo’s contract is up at the end of the year, like Cashman.

And, from the Palm Beach Post:

As Baltimore backed out of the Burnett talks Saturday, the Red Sox were said to be making a serious push for the right-hander. Sources say Boston General Manager Theo Epstein wants Burnett badly enough that he is willing to give up right-hander Bronson Arroyo and highly regarded right-handed prospect Anibal Sanchez.

This week could be the real Boston-New York Poker Challenge.

Ask not why the Yankees passed on David Wells this winter. Just read the Boston Globe:

The Boston Globe quotes a source as saying that Red Sox left-hander David Wells is being paid $130,000 to wear a PokerStars.com cap and T-shirt to postgame news conferences that the New England Sports Network (NESN) televises. It just goes to show, once again, that money can’t buy class.

NESN should pull the MTV routine and use the computer to blur it out.

That plane ride back from the West Coast just got a tad easier with the win today. And, the off day tomorrow should be somewhat better now, than it might of been, as well. Thank you Moose, Matsui, and Mo.

Truth be told, the minute the news on Wang broke, if you told me that the Yankees would split their games against Boston and L.A. on this trip, and win the series in Texas, I would have signed on for that – so, in the end, a 6-5 road-trip is not all that bad. It just stings a little because it could have been a 8-3 trip, just as easy as it was a 6-5 trip.

One week left until the trading deadline. And, the loss by Boston today means the Yankees are 1.5 back of first with 65 games to go. The travel day on Monday could be the perfect day to break the news of a trade.

I know that I mentioned yesterday that it’s been a long road-trip, and we know the Angels are a good team who has been hot lately. But, then, you see the Red Sox go into Chicago to play the White Sox and have little problem beating the Pale Hose, and you have to say “Maybe the Yankees don’t have what it takes? Maybe they just caught Boston and Texas at the right time, got lucky with a few wins on this trip, and they’re not as ‘good’ as the really good teams?”

To the game, this was another one of those where I could not stay awake. I fell asleep in the 5th, then woke up in the 7th, and went to bed, even though the score was 8-6 at the time. I was hoping to wake up to a surprise comeback victory and watching the highlights on ESPN this AM. But, no luck on that.

During parts of the game on YES, that I saw, Bobby Murcer and Michael Kay were going on and on about how much time/work/treatment that Brown needs – just to get to the point to be able to toe the rubber for a start. Is it worth it at this point? If Brown is still this bad by mid-August, it’s time to DL him for good, or tell him that he can retire. Yeah, he has guts for going out there like this – but, he’s not helping the team.

Do you remember the “Brand New Day” that started a week ago?

Well, since that day, the only Yankees to hit are A-Rod, Cano, Jeter, Giambi, and Tino. On the flip side, Posada, Bernie, and Sheffield have tanked. Matsui has been OK.

On the pitching-side, TanGorMo and F-Rod have been fine. And, Unit and Moose have pitched well. Everyone else has been stinkweed.

I hope Mussina can keep it up today and that maybe some of the slumping bats can wake up before they come home.

Back in January, the Yankees were looking at Tom Goodwin and Doug Glanville as back-up CFers, to give Bernie a rest, etc.

They opted for Glanville, and ended up cutting him in Spring Training. Goodwin went to camp with the Devil Rays and also ended up getting cut.

Tom eventually signed with an Independent League team in AC. And, so far, he’s doing very well there: Through 7/22, his BA/OBP/SLG is .304/.380/.436 in 195 ABs.

Granted, yes, this is the Atlantic League and not the bigs. But, guys have gone to the Atlantic League and been able to use that to get back to the majors – just ask Ruben Sierra.

Now, there are bad sides to Goodwin. He cannot hit lefties – at all. And, he’s 36. And, he does not have the arm that you want a CF to have for you. But, he can run and he can chase down fly balls. And, if you wanted him, he would cost you nothing.

If the Yankees end up focusing on the Endy Chavez and Eric Byrnes types for their CF needs, why not just take Goodwin instead? Yes, it’s not the perfect answer. But, it’s an answer as good as they will probably get – and it comes at a bargain price.

From the LA Times:

Whether it’s Troy Percival coming up and in with a fastball against Derek Jeter or Francisco Rodriguez showing a little too much emotion after an exhilarating save, something about Angel closers seems to rub the New York Yankees the wrong way.

For years it was Percival and his knack for backing Yankee hitters off the plate — former New York bench coach Don Zimmer once called Percival a “headhunter” — that raised the ire of the Yankees.

Thursday night, Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez seemed to take exception to Francisco Rodriguez’s postgame celebration — a pirouette off the mound, a number of fist pumps and repeated salutes to the sky — glaring at the Angel closer as he walked off the field.

Were there harsh words between the two?

“Nope, just watching,” Alex Rodriguez said Friday. “No talking on the field. Never. I don’t do that.” Then, with a sly smile, the Yankee slugger added, “I enjoy watching him. He’s a great player. Wow. It’s something.”

Francisco Rodriguez, who escaped a runner-on-third, one-out jam by striking out Jason Giambi and getting Jorge Posada to ground out, saving the Angels’ 6-5 come-from-behind victory, appeared to bark at Alex Rodriguez but said after the game that no words were exchanged. Still, the 23-year-old closer took exception to A-Rod’s stare-down tactics.

“If Alex has something to stay to me, I’m right here; he knows where I am,” Francisco Rodriguez said. “I was probably a little more pumped because the tying run was on third with one out, and I went with everything I had…. But I’m not trying to be a hot dog. I work hard to do my job, and that’s my passion for the game.”

Rowdy Rod-ers Piping.
I wonder what my true love will send to me on the next day of Christmas?

Well, at least the bullpen is rested for today. I give Leiter some credit for that.

If anything, this should tell you that Sheffield is a huge key for the Yankees. He’s 1 for 16 in his last four games, and the Yankees have lost three of those contests. I’m not blaming Sheff for the losses. I’m just saying that when he hits, it’s a whole different team.

This was another game where I could not stay awake. I passed out in the 3rd inning and the woke up around the 7th and threw in the towel and went to bed.

From what I saw in the last two games, I would say that the Angels are pumped. K-Rod in the 9th, after the final out, on Thursday, and the Molina brothers, in this game, after scoring in 2nd, acted like this just won the World Series (at least to me).

Heck, the Angels always play the Yankees like it’s the World Series – and their record shows it. I just wish they played this way against Boston in the ALDS last year instead of rolling over like a submissive poodle.

Now, many might see this as an excuse, but, I blame this road-trip for most of what we’re seeing in Cali. It’s an insane trip and shame on MLB for doing this. Eleven games in 11 days, three stops, each in a different time zone? Between the stress of playing in Boston, and then the heat in Texas, and now the time change on the West Coast, no wonder the team has looked a little flat the last couple of games.

They’re going to need that off day on Monday.

Ah, there’s nothing like snatching a defeat out of the jaws of victory! It’s a shame, standalone, and even more so in the bigger picture – as the only ‘real loss’ on this road trip so far is that game where Redding and May fed the lions. What could have been!

I’m 9 and 1/2 months older than Randy Johnson. So, when I tell you this, it’s from experience. This is always the way it’s going to be for him. Stuff is going to pop-up – esp. with the back. I know, trust me, I know. That’s the most frustrating part about being this age, with respect to doing anything physical, like sports, when you least expect it, something happens that will prevent you from performing at 100%, or even 90%, and it’s almost always nagging. For me, it’s the back, or my neck muscles, or the Achilles Tendon, or tendonitis in the elbow/forearm, or a chest pull. It’s just no fun getting older, when it comes to sports. And, all the titanium jewelry in the world is not going to make a difference.

Now, to the game, I fell asleep just as Proctor came into the game and woke up in the 8th inning. So, I was spared most of the bad news, in terms of getting it first hand. But, I think, at least I hope, that we will soon see the last of Scott Proctor. It’s just not working for him at this level.

And, despite Groom’s night, I’m not giving up on him. I think the issue there is how he’s being used. If you just use him as a LOOGY, he should have value. If you think he can be a bridge pitcher, you’re wrong (Joe).

And, I know that Giambi hit two bombs last night. (By the way, four homers and five runs? These Han Solos are killing the Yankees.) And, I know that Jason has his BA up to .288 after being left for dead. But, I’m sorry, if you’re going to be The Man, then when you’re up in the 9th, down by a run, with a runner on 3rd and there’s only one out, you have to make contact in that situation. It’s the difference between being an Aaron Boone and a David Ortiz.

Lastly, if only Posada’s ball in the 9th had been 8 feet to the left or the right……..it was that close. Sooooo close. Darn, darn, darn, darn, darn.

From The Herald:

Responding to a request by the Minnesota Twins to expand a potential trade, the Red Sox are in discussions to acquire starting pitcher Joe Mays and reliever J.C. Romero for third baseman Bill Mueller and first baseman Kevin Millar, league sources said yesterday.

Mays and Romero? Think the Twins would take Andy Phillips, Tony Womack, and cash (as in dough, not the G.M.) instead? It would be a better fitting deal for Minny, dollar-wise, for sure.

Throw in a Matt DeSalvo type if you need a sweetner to make it happen.

This AM, the Yankees team ERA is 4.69.

If you take out the collective ~100 IP of Jason Anderson, Jaret Wright, Sean Henn, Wayne Franklin, Darrell May, Tim Redding, Steve Karsay, Paul Quantrill, and Mike Stanton, the team ERA drops to 4.06.

It’s true that just a few bad apples can spoil the whole bunch.

From The Record:

With three starting pitchers on the disabled list and another, Kevin Brown, already counting the days to retirement, the Yankees finally have accepted that the path to the postseason will be through sheer-force offense. But the Bombers are dreaming of a second renaissance of pitching in 2006, which, according to their grandiose wish list, includes a new philosophy and a new guru – Leo Mazzone.

According to a person close to the Braves’ legendary coach, Mazzone has been informally and indirectly contacted by members of the Yankees’ hierarchy, asking if he’d be interested in succeeding Mel Stottlemyre. Mazzone has told the friend he would come to the Bronx “in a minute” for the right offer.

Earlier this year, J.C. Bradbury did a good study on Leo.

That said, I’m not sure if Mazzone would be the right fit for New York. It’s such a different world here.

I’d much rather get a guy like Jimmy Key, or David Cone, or John Habyan, or Jim Kaat, or Dave LaPoint, who you know has some insight on what it’s like in the Bronx. That said, Rags would be the perfect guy.

From the News:

The Bombers had some interest in Pittsburgh’s Tike Redman, a 28-year-old shifty outfielder, but have had little success in discussions with Pirates GM Dave Littlefield.

Did you know that Redman is from Tuscaloosa?

One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don’t know. Then we tried to remove the tusks. The tusks. That’s not so easy to say. Tusks. You try it some time. As I say, we tried to remove the tusks. But they were embedded so firmly we couldn’t budge them. Of course, in Alabama the Tuscaloosa, but that is entirely ir-elephant to what I was talking about.

Yeah, I’m in that kind of mood today.

I’m happy about the win tonight. To be honest, I thought (coming into this game) that today’s game entry, once the contest was in the books, would be:

And, if you would have told me, for fact, that A-Rod, Sheff and Godzilla would go oh’fer in the game, then perhaps even worse thoughts (if that was possible?) on the game outcome would have come to mind.

So, yes, obviously, the “W” was unexpected and is very much appreciated.

This all said, I don’t believe that “Small came up big.” In his career, before tonight, he averaged allowing 15.52 base runners per 9 innings pitched (BR/9). And, this evening, for this game, his BR/9 mark was 15.21. Folks, WYSIWYG. And, what I see was not something overly impressive – outside of the way Aaron Small handed the ball to Torre in the 6th (as I thought he did that hand-off like a classy pro).

On July 7th, I said that the Yankees would have to go 13-8 over the rest of the month to show “us” whether or not they were a good team. Since then, the team has gone 8-3 and only needs to split their next 10 games to make that 13-8 score. I like their chances.

From the news last night:

At Columbus, Ohio, Mike Vento had an RBI single and three Columbus pitchers combined for an eight-hit shutout, leading the Clippers to victory over Buffalo in the International League.

Columbus (54-42) right-hander Kris Wilson tossed four innings, allowing four hits. Pete Munro (7-6) then struck out three hitters in three innings. Alex Graman worked the final two innings for his first save.

Make that a save and a ticket to The Show. Wayne Franklin is looking for a new ho…..me.

Yes, that’s Alex, lifetime 19.80 ERA, Graman.

Seeing some of the comments that many have on how the game last night was handled has me thinking back to something that I thought about Joe Torre, coming into this season.

In terms of his “Yankees Ledger,” this year is Torre’s chance to get back into the post-season black, in my opinion.

If you look at 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000, it’s clear, Joe Torre met the firm’s mission statement. The Yankees won the World Series.

But, when you look at those years, you have to consider what happened in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 as well. There are events in most of these non-ring post-seasons where one could point to the team’s overall readiness to play and/or a dugout decision that brought cause for the Yankees failure therein. If you give Torre the credit for 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000, then he also has to take the hits for 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

So, in terms of the mission statement “Ledger,” Torre has 4 wins and 5 losses. And, that’s why, with this season, Joe has a chance to even the score at five each.

I wish I felt confident that this will happen. But, if you look at all of the years, you see a trend in that the last four years are full of bad calls (WS Game 7 in 2001, WS Game 4 in 2003, and lots of stuff in the 2004 ALCS). Basically, if you take out the first WS ring, 1996, in which you can say the team was very hungry, a case could be made that the Yankees only ring wins in post-seasons were where they “steam roll” – and, that when it’s a close series (like 1997, 2001, 2003, and 2004), eventually, in most cases, a call will be made to cost the Yankees the series.

I know, let’s wait and see if the Yankees even make the post-season this year. Still, if they do, based on what we know, if the series they’re in is a tight one, there should be attention paid to how Torre handles it – it might just be his ultimate Yankees legacy.

Yesterday evening, Michael Kay had A-Rod on his ESPN Radio Show in NYC. Sure, there was some stuff that just reeked of host genuflection; but, I found one thing that A-Rod said to be interesting. Basically, it went to the tune of this: I believe one of the best ways to beat the Boston Red Sox is to throw left-handed pitching at them. It takes Nixon out of the game. It neutralizes Ortiz and Damon, and, it makes Mueller and Varitek bat right-handed.

At the time, hearing this, I thought “Well, the Yankees were very right-handed last year, maybe there’s something here?” So, today, I decided to look at the numbers. Yes, as we all know, Trot Nixon is such a push-over against lefties that the Sox will not even run him out there most of the time against a southpaw. There’s not much to look at there. But, what about the other four Sox that A-Rod singled out?

Actually, both this season, and over the last three years, Johnny Damon hits lefties and righties about the same. Makes no difference to him in terms of what you throw. And, this season, David Ortiz is killing lefties just as well as righties. Granted, in the past, LHP and Ortiz were not friends. But, for now, as far as the stats go, facing LHP is not hurting the Dominican Shrek.

Bill Mueller, on the other hand, has been a weaker hitter against LHP – both this season and over the last three. So, here, you get something.

This leaves Jason Varitek. And, with him, it’s the complete opposite of what A-Rod thinks. Varitek, this season and over the last three, kills LHP pitching. He feasts off it. Given the choice, there is no way that you want him batting right-handed, when playing you.

So, in summary, when you throw lefties at the Sox, you take away Nixon and Mueller. There is no impact, at least this year, to Ortiz and Damon. And, you really help Varitek. Oh, and, by the way, when you throw a lefty at the Sox, you also help Renteria (by a lot).

But, here’s the strange part: You, at least this year, hurt Manny and Millar with lefties on the hill. But, outside of this year, Ramirez tattooed LHP. So, who knows what’s up there?

Maybe you can look at it this way: You know that Damon, Ortiz, and Manny are going to hit. So, you just take them out as a given problem. Then, it’s a matter of: Do I want to help Nixon and Mueller or Renteria and Varitek? That seems like a push, no? Lefties or righties, the Sox are going to score runs. There’s no advantage to what you throw, at the end of the day. And, A-Rod was wrong with his idea.

From the Seattle Times:

With the Yankees desperately seeking help for faded Bernie Williams in center field, New York officials are believed to have renewed their interest in Randy Winn.

Thus, it seemed fitting that Seattle officials reversed course on Sunday’s decision to activate veteran Dave Hansen from the disabled list and send down outfielder Chris Snelling, who rejoined the team here yesterday.

Yet the Mariners are saying there is no connection between Snelling’s return and speculation about Winn, and that they simply changed their minds.

Winn will hit .290, steal some bags, walk some, whiff once every six times up…….if he can man CF, I’d be happy with him on this team, batting 9th.

There’s a story about me, and the book, in the current edition of the Middletown Independent.

Click here to see the story.

Ah, the recent legendary gaggle of “next great pinstriped LOOGY” hopefuls……

Randy Choate
Chris Hammond
Felix Heredia
Gabe White
C.J. Nitkowski

And, now add Wayne Franklin to the list.

As Steven McCrosky would say, looks like the Yankees picked the wrong night to bring a 0-0 game into the 8th inning – on a day when their pen was on fumes.

Shoot, for what it’s worth, I’m shocked that Felix Rodriguez didn’t blow the game when he showed up. (And, is it just me, or, is Felix the bastard love child that Jose Contreras and Felix Heredia left behind?)

At least they went down kicking and scratching in the 9th.

I’ve read where Tyler Kepner suggests that the Yankees could make Endy Chavez a CF-help target.

At first blush, this screams out Holy Omar Moreno Batman!

But, if you look at Endy’s splits for the last three years, something is interesting.

After the count is 1-0 or 2-0, he’s actually a useful batter. But, his rep is that he swings at the first pitch that he sees, most of the time. Could he be someone that maybe Luis Sojo and Donnie Mattingly could work with – to get him to try and take more pitches?

Yeah, it’s a reach. Never mind.

I don’t understand the Yankees fan buzz on the internet to have New York call up minor league OF Kevin Thompson.

He’ll be 26-years-old this September.

He was in A-ball until he was 23. He was stuck in Double-A until this year.

Sure, he hit .282 lifetime in Single A. But, in AA, he’s batted .278 (in his career) to date. And, as of yesterday, he’s been a .239 hitter (albeit in just of handful of games) in AAA.

Notice, as he moves up the chain, even at the incredibly slow pace that he’s using, his numbers go down. Considering the huge talent gap between Triple-A and big league pitching, there’s every reason to believe that he would be over-matched in The Show – and would be of no more use to the Yankees than, say, Bubba Crosby.

Do the Yankees need two Bubba Crosbys?

From The News:

Leiter has fit in quickly. He worked out with strength and conditioning coach Jeff Mangold yesterday – “I’ve known him for years,” Leiter said – and took advantage of the Yanks’ scouting videos. He said it was “pretty cool” how his new teammates embraced him right away, noting that Gary Sheffield gave him a helpful word about tipping his cut fastball. Sheffield told Leiter to make sure he came over the top with his delivery, rather than throwing from the side, since that allowed Sheffield to see the ball sooner when he was facing Leiter.

That Sheff, he really does have some eye!

Dave Studeman of THT has the numbers tell us what we already know.

Gary Sheffield is clutch.

And, note Encarnacion’s name in there too. Maybe I was wrong on him as a hitter?

FYI, a review of the book is now available over at Baseball Musings.

Click here for the review.

Many thanks to David Pinto of Baseball Musings for taking the time to check out the book!

Imagine a no-pitching, back and forth, game so ugly and long that the YES cameras went on strike for the bottom of the 9th!

But, regardless of the fact that this game was not the one to show to outer-space aliens (upon their landing on earth) to explain the game of baseball, the important thing is that it’s a win!

And, the Yankees are in first place!
Happy Birthday Joe.