Rich, forget it. That guy is just a troll. Every Red Sox player is better than every Yankees player. And every Red Sox prospect is better than every Yankees prospect. Want to know why? Just ask him and he’ll give you a bunch of biased answers. Fun times!

Yeah, it’s just Hank.

So Joba throws 40 pitches, only two innings, and exactly three curve balls. This is getting ready to be a starter? I mean, beyond the fact that was Mussina/Wright levels of efficiency, throwing his fastball and slider that much ain’t going to get it done. Throwing two innings and not seeing anyone twice isn’t going to get it done.

There is a simple problem with the Yankee approach to stretching him out:

He’s still being called upon to get crucial outs in the late innings. So naturally he goes with his strengths. At some point, he has to go out there and throw all of his pitches. There’s a reason why it would be smarter to do it in the minors, and he’d probably get fully stretched out and ready if he did it at SWB. In the minors, you start a game, and you follow your plan – regardless of results.

Otherwise, I am going to predict that Joba isn’t nearly as great Hank thinks he will be.

Andrew, thanks. Once I get my stats update for today, I will post something on this.

Ortiz has 10 homers so far this year.

Alan Embree
Luis Mendoza
Jon Garland
Scot Shields
Dustin McGowan
Todd Jones
Nate Robertson
Jeff Suppan
Carlos Villanueva
Mark DiFelice

Is Ortiz a bum too?

Giambi is currently the best-hitting Yankee, and the second-best hitting first baseman in the AL (and fourth in baseball). There’s really no denying those facts.

I recently read something on FanGraphs about Contreras re-inventing himself with a lower GB rate and that he has had a “ridiculously low 4.3% HR/FB rate.”

Is Santana still thought of as being good?

Rogers, like Santana, is still LH, which is a good sign from Giambi.

Homers are homers, Steve. These guys all pitch in the major leagues.

Giambi has 9 homers so far, now, this year. Here’s who they have come off of:

Mike Timlin (2)
Jose Contreras
Paul Byrd (3)
Kenny Rogers
Johan Santana
Carlos Silva

I think you have to factor that in too.

Giambi’s BABIP and LD% suggested that he had been unlucky, not that I hadn’t lost faith anyway.

Cano has been hitting well since 5/1, but A-Rod’s presence has been the key, imo.