Here’s the answer.

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Here are the stats, via BaseballMusings.com -

Player		G	W	L	IP	HR	ERA
Phil Hughes	13	6	5	68	14	5.14
Javier Vazquez	13	4	2	67	14	5.05
A.J. Burnett	13	4	6	74	7	4.99
Dustin Moseley	12	4	2	50	10	4.83
J. Chamberlain	28	2	1	28	4	4.08
Sergio Mitre	10	0	1	24	3	4.07
Andy Pettitte	3	2	0	16	3	3.86
Chan Ho Park	7	1	0	10	1	3.48
Chad Gaudin	15	0	1	26	3	3.46
Ivan Nova		4	1	0	21	3	3.32
CC Sabathia	14	10	3	100	6	2.77
D. Robertson	28	2	2	27	2	2.60
J. Albaladejo	5	0	0	4	0	2.08
Mariano Rivera	25	1	2	23	0	1.90
Boone Logan	25	1	0	16	1	0.54
Kerry Wood	17	2	0	18	1	0.48
Damaso Marte	3	0	0	2	0	0.00

Clearly, for the last two and half months, the good news with respect to Yankees pitching, has been CC Sabathia in the starting rotation and Rivera/Wood/Robertson/Logan in the bullpen. What’s the bad news?

Joba Chamberlain has been good and bad during this time. And, Burnett, Hughes and Vazquez have all thrown to an ERA of five.

Now, keep in mind, this is a period of time that equals slightly more than one-third of a full season – and it’s the most recent one-third of the Yankees season. So, for the last two and a half months, outside of CC and the bullpen, the Yankees pitching has been pretty brutal.

Yeah, I know, I know…”But, we have the best record in baseball!“

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Mets fans couldn’t have written a better ending to this game. The Yankees lose, Frenchy gets hit by a pitch. So rather than focus on this miserably long game and it’s results, let’s try to look at some positives. This game didn’t matter much, after all.

- This might have been the least amount of command I’ve ever seen Mo have. He didn’t really have an idea where his 2 seamer was going, and in the end that’s what got him. Perhaps it was fatigue, having thrown 2 innings on Friday night. If Mo is on the top of his game, the Yankees win.

- Berkman has been hitting like his former self since his DL stint. He’s hitting .500 (11-22) over his last 26 plate appearances. This is exactly what you want going into the playoffs.

- Speaking of hitter’s last 26 plate appearances since coming off the DL, A-Rod his hitting .429 (9-22) with 3 XBH. We’ve seen what a hot A-Rod can do in the playoffs, and hopefully he can carry this team to number 28.

- As little faith as I have in Cervelli’s bat, he’s actually been quite hot as of late. In his last 28 PA, Cervelli is hitting .500/.667/.667. He’s getting hot at the right time, knowing that he might have to catch a couple of games in the playoffs.

- To round out the lineup, Granderson is hitting .294/.385/.618 in his last 11 games (39 plate appearances) with 5 XBH. Teixeira in his last 12 games (54 PA) is hitting .333/.481/.548 with 5 XBH which actually includes an 0 for 7 Friday night. With 4 hot regulars streaking their way into October, I feel good about the Yankees chances.

- Kerry Wood has emerged as the bridge to Mariano with his .48 ERA since coming to the Yanks (18.2 innings, 20 K’s)

- Chad Gaudin shouldn’t pitch much, if at all, in the playoffs.

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Via Bryan Hoch -

Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner expects to have an MRI performed on his ailing right wrist, which has cropped up as a nagging issue recently.

Gardner’s troubles with the wrist date back to a June 27 hit-by-pitch during the Yankees’ Interleague series against the Dodgers, and the speedster mentioned to hitting coach Kevin Long that it has been bothering him again.

“I definitely haven’t felt like it was 100 percent,” Gardner said. “I can’t say one way or the other whether it’s affected me or not, but it’s definitely not helping matters when I’m swinging the bat.”

This could be very bad news – as, this season, Gardner has been just as valuable to the Yankees as A-Rod. See stats below via the Complete Baseball Encyclopedia:

RCAA                           RCAA      OWP      PA
1    Robinson Cano                33     .663      607
2    Nick Swisher                 23     .625      569
3    Mark Teixeira                22     .613      625
T4   Marcus Thames                14     .696      205
T4   Jorge Posada                 14     .612      397
T6   Brett Gardner                12     .583      513
T6   Alex Rodriguez               12     .580      509
8    Curtis Granderson             3     .520      446
9    Lance Berkman                 1     .530       70
10   Chad Moeller                  0     .529       14
T11  Austin Kearns                -1     .431       82
T11  Juan Miranda                 -1     .447       67
T11  Eduardo Nunez                -1     .392       45
T11  Greg Golson                  -1     .000        8
T15  Nick Johnson                 -2     .425       98
T15  Chad Huffman                 -2     .119       21
T15  Colin Curtis                 -2     .378       50
T18  Randy Winn                   -4     .299       71
T18  Kevin Russo                  -4     .158       53
20   Francisco Cervelli           -8     .385      290
21   Ramiro Pena                 -12     .185      155
22   Derek Jeter                 -18     .394      645

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Since August 13th, I’ve seen some things in Yankeeland that haven’t been so great.

At the start of this time period, the Yankees lost 2 of their last 3 games to the lowly Royals. Oh, and, up in Toronto, they lost 2 of 3 to the Blue Jays. Plus, don’t forget, before this current series, they almost got swept, and ended up losing 2 of 3 to the Orioles. And, by the way, have you seen the last two terrible games in Texas?

On the bright side, the Yankees had an 8-game winning streak during this time – bolstered by taking 4 in a row from the ugly A’s in the Bronx. But, take out those 4 wins against Oakland and the Yankees are 12-12 in their other games since August 13th. Not exactly a championship pace, there, is it?

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It was the start of the “Fall Ball” schedule today for my son’s Little League. This was his first time not playing T-ball (and now having to face the coach pitching, instead). The little guy did O.K. and held his own – which was nice to see considering that some of the other boys out there were two, and sometimes two-and-a-half, years older than him.

I got pressed into duty – and served as first base coach during the game. To be candid, I don’t mind that at all – it’s fun being on the field with the guys. And, today, while out there, I heard a beauty of a conversation.

It was the Orioles against the Red Sox in this game. (Rest easy, my guy is not playing for the Sox.) And, here’s what I heard…changing the names because I don’t know the name of the kid playing first for the Red Sox and it really doesn’t matter who the kid on the Orioles was, to tell this story.

Red Sox 1B, Youk (to Oriole base runner, Wiggy, who just reached base): . Hey, I remember you from camp!
Wiggy: Yeah, I remember you too.
Youk: I can’t believe I have to wear the Red Sox. I like the Yankees. Who do you like?
Wiggy: I don’t like the Yankees. I like the Mets.
Youk: The Mets?
Wiggy: Yeah, the Mets.
Youk: Isn’t baseball great?
Wiggy: Yeah, it is.
Youk: Baseball is awesome. I wish I could play baseball all day long, everyday!

And, at that point, the first base coach thought to himself “Kid, I know exactly how you feel…”

As a foot note, for those interested, the O’s beat the Sox this morning, 20-14. At least that’s what the kids told me after the game. I wasn’t counting runs. I was more focused on handing out high-fives after hits and reminding runners to go hard on a grounder and go half-way on anything in the air. But, considering that I probably gave out about 8 or 9 high-fives each inning, it wouldn’t shock me if they did plate twenty in the end.

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Just an abstract question…

Everyone in Yankeeland is concerned about Derek Jeter’s batting average. And, at this moment, Jeter is batting .260 (with an OBA of .326).

But, is that much far off from what Alex Rodriguez is doing this season? A-Rod current batting average is .272 (with an OBS of .339).

Yeah, I know – Alex is a power hitter! But, dig this…

To date, this season, Jeter has 146 Runs Produced (R+RBI-HR). And, A-Rod has 140 Runs Produced. That’s close, no?

Yup, A-Rod was on the D.L. for a bit this season. And, that’s part of it. But, there have also been plenty of games where Alex was active – but, rested. And, Jeter has not been rested as much.

In any event, it’s clear that Rodriguez is having one of his worst seasons ever. Yet, when we listen to YES, just about every game these days, we hear Michael Kay say “Jeter’s batting whatever and he’s never had a batting average that low, this late in the season, during his career.”

Well, how about A-Rod and his numbers, this late in a season, compared to his career? Should we not be as concerned about Alex, as we are Derek, especially considering that he’s the younger player and doesn’t have the excuse of “getting old” (like Jeter)?

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I can’t believe I watched the entire 5 and a half hours of this game, only to be crushed by Nelson Cruz twice. Damn it.

The entire game, up until that ill fated get me over slider by Joba, I was getting ready to write how the Yanks overcame some extremely bad umpiring to win this game. Especially early on, the umpires were making a lot of bad calls in favor of the Rangers. Swisher struck out on 2 balls and  a swing that he checked. Cervelli threw out Ian Kinsler by a mile and Kinsler was called safe.

You can’t even put the blame on Vazquez for this one, as he pitched decently despite having nothing velocity wise. He was averaging 85-88 with his fastball (although I did see a few hit 90, and one I think that hit 92). But his fastball had a great deal of movement. I was particularly impressed with the backdoor, Maddux like, 2 seamers he was throwing early on. He had a lot of bad bounces go against him in this one, and if you listen to the post game you could tell how frustrated he was.

But alas, the game was heart breaking in extras. They had plenty of opportunities to score and couldn’t. Once Moeller was up with the bases loaded, and there was noone that could catch for him as Cervelli was pinch hit for (thus Moeller couldn’t get pinch hit for), you knew the game would be over in the bottom half of the inning. Gaudin didn’t make you wait long, as the first pitch of the inning ended the game. Yuck.

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Lately, here, it seems that when it is shared that the Yankees have some issues to be concerned about, the reply from many is “But, we have the best record in baseball!”

However, with their loss last night to the Texas Rangers, the Yankees now have a winning percentage of .565 over their last 46 games. And, that’s a decent span of games – more than one-quarter, and close to one-third, of their season.

Now, yes, “.565 baseball” ain’t terrible. It projects to 91 or 92 wins over a 162-game season. But, a “91-win” team in the American League is a team that’s barely a playoff contender. And, it’s far from being “the best” team in baseball.

In a way, the 2010 Yankees are now like Michelle Pfeiffer – meaning, at this moment, they’re better looking than most and not bad at all. However, they’re not nearly as hot as they were earlier and anyone who looks at them now and makes a claim that they’re the best in the game is clearly ignoring the current state of things and living off lustful memories.

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Make it 3,287 days now.

Still hurts, nonetheless. Time ain’t gonna make this one go away or feel any different.

It’s nice to see MLB doing something to observe the day, today.  My thoughts are for anyone who now finds this a tough day to traverse each year.

There’s nothing that can really be said to change anything. So, I’ll just offer “Hang in there.” And, I sincerely hope that things are better in the future.

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So, I’m watching Quick Pitch on the MLB Network this AM and they’re showing the highlight of Chase Utley hitting another one into Utley’s Corner last night.

And, all I can think of is:  Man, if ever there was a swing made for Yankee Stadium, ala Nettles and Murcer (and perhaps Damon), it’s Utley.

Someday, some way, they have to get this guy to play in the Bronx.  It may not be until the year 2016 and as a part-time DH/bench player.  But, I would like to see what he could do playing a bunch of games in Yankee Stadium one season.

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Just noticed this story: Mets’ Santana to Have Surgery on Shoulder

Related, here are Johan Santana’s stats since he was traded from the Twins:

.

You really can’t say that Santana has not be a very effective pitcher since joining the Mets. But, at times, he’s raised some concerns about his attitude and, for sure, he has his red flags in terms of injury history.

Did the Yankees, and Brian Cashman, make the right call in not trading for Santana back in the day? I can see where a case can be made for “yes” and “no.” But, clearly, if this latest injury is a bad one for Johan, the answer in the end just may be a more clear “yes.”

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Katie Sharp is rocking with these nuggets today -

[Javy] Vazquez has allowed 29 homers this season. That’s now tied for the seventh-most allowed by a Yankees pitcher all-time in a single season. But this is nothing new for Vazquez, who allowed 33 homers during the 2004 season, which ranks third on the list. The record is 40 by Ralph Terry in 1962.

[Phil] Hughes has allowed seven home runs after an 0-2 count. Since 1988 (when pitch count data is reliable and available on Baseball-Reference.com), only Randy Johnson with eight home runs allowed after an 0-2 count in 1996 has more in a single season.

A.J. Burnett falls to 10-13 on the season with a 5.05 ERA. If his ERA remains above 5.00, he would be fourth Yankee to have 13 losses and an ERA over 5.00 in a single season. The others are David Cone in 2000 (4-14, 6.91 ERA), Melido Perez in 1993 (6-14 , 5.19 ERA) and Roy Sherid in 1930 (12-13, 5.23 ERA).

The Yankees have lost each of the last four starts that Burnett has pitched at least seven innings. Only two Yankee pitchers since 1920 have longer such streaks: Bill Zuber in 1945 and Sad Sam Jones in 1922 each had five-start streaks of at least seven innings that the Yankees lost.

Some starting staff, huh?

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Via Wally Matthews –

General manager Brian Cashman said every Yankees pitcher not named CC Sabathia or Mariano Rivera is “auditioning for a role” in the postseason.

The size of a player’s paycheck, he said, will have no bearing on how or if he is used in October.

That means rookie right-hander Ivan Nova, with all of 24 innings pitched in the major leagues, has as much of a chance of starting a playoff game as A.J. Burnett, who is in the second year of a five-year deal that pays him $16.5 million a season.

“Everything will be decided in these last three weeks,” Cashman said Wednesday night. “The guys who we think give us the best chance to win are the guys who are going to pitch.”

The GM refused to speak about individual pitchers and their status for the postseason. He did say if Nova pitches well over the final 22 games of the season, in which he is likely to make four starts, Cashman would be inclined to trust him with a postseason start.

“Aside from CC, nothing is guaranteed for anyone,” Cashman said. “Some guys who are starters now may wind up pitching out of the bullpen. We’ll make that determination based on how well they perform down the stretch for us.”

Wow. And, to think, all this time, I thought it would be the manager, Joe Girardi, who decided what pitchers would start for the team in the post-season.

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There was nothing but good news regarding Andy Pettitte down in Trenton yesterday.

O.K., on your mark, get set, go: Whew!

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Via George King -

The way Brian Cashman sees it, if Derek Jeter wasn’t going through a deep slump leaving people questioning his value to the Yankees, another name player would be.

“If it wasn’t him it would be somebody else,” the GM said of the captain who is mired in a 6-for-52 (.115) slump across the last 13 games he has played. “Early in the season it was Mark Teixeira and how he has six more years left on the contract. Now it’s Derek Jeter and he doesn’t have a contract (beyond this season). It’s what you would expect.”

Like Jeter and Joe Girardi, Cashman believes Jeter is about to bust out of the slide that has his average at a season low .262 and hitless in the last dozen at-bats with runners in scoring position.

“He is fighting a slump right now, but he will get through it,” Cashman said of the ice-cold hitter Girardi doesn’t believe needs to be removed from the top of the order.

I’m sure there were probably some back in 2002 who thought that Craig Biggio was just in a slump too.

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Via RAB -

For those of you that follow Yankee prospects and minor league affiliates, did anyone else see RHP Dellin Betances’s (Double-A, Trenton) performance last night in Game 1 of the Eastern League playoffs?  He out-dueled RHP Kyle Drabek, arguably Toronto’s best pitching prospect and one of the primary pieces to the Roy Halladay trade.

Dellin Betances: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 2-4 GB/FB, 2 E (pickoff, throwing) – 58 of 92 pitches were strikes (63%) … he was sitting 91-92 in the first, touching 95 … 28-4 K/BB ratio in 20 IP at AA

Wow, nice game for Mr. Betances there.  For those that aren’t familiar with him — and you should be familiar with him because he’s been in plenty of Prospect Hot Sheet features recently — start getting used to the sound of his name.  He’s 6’8″, 245 lbs., Brooklyn-born and turning 23 next March.  The Yankees drafted him in the eighth round of the 2006 draft, paid him a $1M bonus and are now beginning to see his future as a high-ceiling pitching prospect.

Funny side-story to the Double-A playoffs is that Andy Pettitte will take the ball for Game 2.  Imagine how the Blue Jays farmhands must feel: they get mowed down by Betances in Game 1 and now have to face an MLB 240-game winner in Game 2.

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Via Bob Raissman -

Sounding very much like his old boss, Yankees president Randy Levine Wednesday fired verbal shots at an upcoming ESPN documentary on George Steinbrenner, calling it “disjointed” and “the usual news at 6.”

The film, “The House of Steinbrenner,” is produced by Academy Award-winning documentarian Barbara Kopple. It will air on Sept. 21 as part of ESPN’s “30 for 30″ series.

“It was very disappointing to watch the film. She had unbelievable access to the Yankees. She had great access to Hal (Steinbrenner). The interview with him was exceptional,” Levine said. “The rest of the film was the usual news at 6. It was a disjointed effort. I’m not sure where she was trying to go with the story.

“As somebody who is an admirer of hers, I just think she swung and missed at this one.”

Kopple said Levine did discuss “The House of Steinbrenner” with her after watching it at her office.

“I’m sad Randy Levine feels this way,” Kopple said Wednesday. “I feel when people see this film they won’t quite understand what he’s talking about.”

Kopple said her film projects love – love of the Yankees.

“You see a lot of it through the fans and their excitement and their passion for the team,” Kopple said. “You see it in the pilgrimages the people make to (the old) Yankee Stadium on the final day.”

Levine insisted he was just putting on his critic hat and not speaking for the organization.

Geez, I hope, when the Randy Levine Yankeeography comes out, that it meets all his expectations.

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From April 25th through August 15th of this season, Melky Cabrera played in 98 games for the Atlanta Braves and had a BA/OBA/SLG line of .294/.345/.420 in 323 PA. Say what you want about Leche, but, for close to four months, he was performing just fine in Atlanta.

Of course, in his first 16 games of the season and in his last 20 games, Cabrera slumped. But, that happens sometimes, no? Just ask Curtis Granderson…

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Via the Daily News -

Yankees captain Derek Jeter put his Manhattan penthouse on the market Wednesday for an asking price of $20 million.

The All-Star shortstop’s four-bedroom, 5,425-square foot loft on the 88th floor of Trump World Tower in Turtle Bay was listed on the Trump Sales and Leasing website.

Jeter bought the high-rise piece of heaven for $12.6 million from Donald Trump in 2001, shortly after agreeing to a $189 million, 10-year deal with the Bombers.

Officials at Trump World Tower declined to comment on the prospect of losing Jeter as one of their prize tenants.

Jeter, 36, is playing out the last year of his Yankee contract and the sale of his bachelor pad is bound to fuel speculation that he’s ready to bolt Gotham.

“Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own a penthouse on top of The Trump World Tower,” the website listing says, describing soaring 16-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, featuring a panoramic view of Manhattan.

The apartment also has 5.5 bathrooms, a fireplace, an eat-in kitchen, dining room, media room, living room, library, gallery and even a powder room.

Jeter, who dates “Friday Night Lights” actress Minka Kelly, also has homes in Marlboro, N.J., and upstate Greenwood Lake.

In the off-season, he lives in Florida, where he is building a 30,875-square-foot, waterfront mansion on Davis Island in Tampa.

The Greenwood Lake place has been going on for a while – like six years now. I guess between that and the place in Marlboro, he’s covered from April to October and doesn’t need the swingin’ batchelor pad in NYC anymore…

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Mark Simon shows us that Boone Logan has been very good for the Yankees this season.

Then again, Chris Hammond had great stats in 2003 and was a non-factor in the post-season that year. And, we all know that Damaso Marte was a nightmare in the regular season last year and a hero in the post-season. So, you never know what will happen with some relief pitchers come October.

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Nick Swisher saved the Yankees bacon today with a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 9th inning. So, he’s the hero of the day in Yankeeland – and he deserves all the cheers that come his way.

But, what may get lost in the suffle is Alex Rodriguez’ single to lead off the ninth. (Eduardo Nunez pinch ran for A-Rod and scored on the homer by Swisher, as the Yankees won the game, 3-2.)

Without A-Rod’s single, the big fly this afternoon would not have been a game-winner…and would have “just” be a tying blast. Shoot, for all we know, maybe Swisher doesn’t go yard without the pitcher throwing from the stretch because of the runner on first?

Everyone remembers Kirk Gibson’s walk-off homer in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. But, if Mike Davis doesn’t get that two-out walk before the blast, then Gibson never gets to the plate. So, in many ways, the hero of that game was Mike Davis.

Ditto Games 4 and 5 of the 2001 World Series. Everyone remembers Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius and their magic taters in the 9th inning of those games. But, without Paul O’Neill’s single then Martinez may not come to the plate – and for sure his homerun would not have tied the game. And, you can say the same thing about Jorge Posada’s double and the Brosius clout.

I always feel bad for the guy who makes the hero possible and who gets lost, to an extent, when it’s all said and done. And, today, that guy is Alex Rodriguez. Again, it’s not to say that Swisher wasn’t magic – it’s just that A-Rod made it everything that it turned out to be, in the end.

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Via Peter Botte -

Yankees catcher Jorge Posada was unavailable to play today because he was experiencing concussion symptoms after being hit a foul tip in Tuesday’s 6-2 loss to the Orioles.

Joe Girardi said after Wednesday’s 3-2 walkoff win that Posada was still being examined by a neurologist and might not accompany the Yanks to Texas for the upcoming road trip.

My first thoughts? Mike Matheny. I hope this is not as bad for Posada.

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PATHETIC.

The Yankees are losing 2-1 going into the top of the 9th inning after Ivan Nova pitched six strong innings of six-hit, six-strikeout ball.  A two-run HR to Matt Wieters is the difference in this game.

I am utterly disgusted that the Orioles — one of the worst teams in baseball (their record under Buck Showalter be damned) — could come into Yankee Stadium and sweep the Bronx Bummers in such dominating fashion.

The Yanks might still find a way to win the game but I won’t update this post even in the (unlikely) event that they do.  I’m turning off and tuning out the Yankees until next Monday.  Either they’ll still be in first place at that time or they won’t be.  One way or the other, I don’t give a [expletive deleted] for the rest of this week.

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Via the Post with a h/t to BBTF –

Yankee announcer Michael Kay is a real meathead.

And now that local TV anchor Jodi Applegate is about to marry him, she’s desperately trying to figure out how to please a man wedded to only three foods: steak, bacon, and chicken parmesan.

That’s all her fiancé ever wants to eat.

“He will eat a salad, but only if it’s iceberg lettuce, and nothing else, no dressing. So it’s basically frozen water served with a fork,” says Applegate, a self-described foodie wannabe.

“Chicken parm is probably the most exotic thing he’ll eat — and he’ll eat mozzarella cheese because it’s in chicken parm,” said Applegate, who anchors the evening news for cable Channel 12 on Long Island.

On their first date, they ordered a caprese salad to share — but Kay took all the mozzarella and left her the tomatoes.

“I was immediately nervous. I thought, ‘OK, is he just a quirky guy, or is he really OCD about what he eats?’ So I threw a tomato on his plate to see if he freaked out. He just laughed, thank goodness,” she recalled.

She also tried to make him classic French beef bourguignon, which she told him was beef stew. That’s when she learned he won’t eat soup.

Kay says he’ll never give up his three favorites — especially the chicken parm.

Can you say “See-ya!” to good cardiovascular health?

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Nope.

Contrary to reports, the future Mrs. Derek Jeter didn’t freak out when she couldn’t hold her dog during a recent plane flight. However, whether or not she’s freaking over her main squeeze’s .264 batting average is still an open issue.

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The Yankees lost to the Orioles, 6-2.  [Expletive deleted].  Didn’t I just watch this game on Monday, or am I having [expletive deleted] déjà vu?

Once again, the Yankee lineup was completely impotent against an inferior opponent and, once again, the Yankee lineup failed to even register a hit against the Orioles bullpen.  But Yankee hitters alone cannot shoulder the blame, for team ace CC Sabathia (6.1 9 6 5 1 5) had nothing working and put the club in a 3-0 hole before the first Yankee batter could stride to the plate.

Sabathia’s sixth loss of the season ended a run of six consecutive winning startss for him and represented his first defeat at Yankee Stadium since 7/2/09, a stretch of 21 consecutive home starts.  Sabathia still has a good shot to win 20 games for the first time in his career, his next opportunity coming in Tampa on Sunday where the stakes will be much higher.

Finally, a question for Joe Girardi: if Nick Swisher’s knee is so balky that he can’t run the bases hard, maybe Greg Golson or Colin Curtis should be playing RF?  Isn’t that what September call-ups are for anyway?  Golson’s or Curtis’s likely 0-for-4 wouldn’t be any worse than Swisher’s so why force the issue with a vital player such as Swisher?  Give him the time he needs to heal up in advance of October.

Tampa beat Matsuzaka and the Red Sox 14-5, leaving the Yankees with a paper-thin 1.5 game lead heading into this afternoon’s getaway game with the Orioles.  Ivan Nova, you’re the stopper now.  Stop this losing streak before it gets ugly.

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Richard Sandomir writes ‘House of Steinbrenner’ Fails to Convey a Compelling Story.

Bummer. I was looking forward to this one – even if it was scheduled to air against the season premiere of (another) House.

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Saw this on Buck Showalter from Keith Olberman – with a h/t to BBTF:

That’s when Yankee factotum Arthur Richman took me aside: “The manager would like to see you.” I asked Arthur if I had been sent to the Yankees’ farm club in Columbus. “Matter of fact, you have,” he deadpanned. Inside there was second-year boss Buck Showalter, affable and cordial and welcoming. After a few pleasantries he began his soliloquy: “I asked you in here, because when I saw you on the field before the game I was frankly worried for your safety. Some of them truly do not like your style on SportsCenter and I thought someone was going to take a swing at you. These guys claim to ignore the media but every day our newspaper recycling bin is full. Actually, the players refused to come into the clubhouse until you leave. Me, I don’t care, I have a tough skin, you’re a bright fella and you know your baseball and you make me laugh. But I thought Boggs or especially O’Neill might take a swing at you.” Having startled me with this announcement, Showalter asked a question. “Far be it for me to tell you how to do your job, but how much of that job is dependent on access to the players?” I told him that conveniently the answer was none. He was silent for awhile. I told him it was all academic because I would be leaving SportsCenter soon to join our new ESPN2 product. Showalter smiled. “Well, we have a flight to catch but it’s been a pleasure. Sorry I had to be the bearer of such bad tidings about how the players feel about you but I really thought you needed to know.” I left the Stadium quickly, wondering not just about the oversensitivity of the Yankees, but more importantly why they would be worried more about me than about getting shut out by Chris Flipping Haney.

I’m not going to say the story haunted me, but I renumbered it. So at the ESPY Awards of, I guess, 1997, I was more than a little worried as I saw a door open and several Yankees step out. As I tried to look shorter, the outfielder extended a had: “Keith! Paul O’Neill. Big fan!” I rushed through my thanks to tell him the Showalter story. “What? That was you? Nobody was avoiding you. Buck ordered us into the trainers’ room. 25 guys in there like sar-blanking-dines! All he told us was there was a reporter he hated and he wanted to air out and we needed to stay put till he let us back in the clubhouse.” Several beverages and second-hand Showalter stories later O’Neill brought it back up again. “You ever heard of me hitting some BODY? All I do is hit water coolers. That Buck!”

Ever see (?) that scene from All in the Family, where Archie Bunker is reading a comic book and chuckling to himself: “Ha, ha, ha. Oh, that Dennis. He really is a menace. Such a rotten kid. I love him.”

Now, picture me, reading this story on Buck, chuckling to myself: “Ha, ha, ha. Oh, that Showalter. He really was maniacally manipulative. Such a case. I miss him.”

Seriously, I don’t know how Buck does it. I would get tired after a while. But, his motor is always running with this type of stuff.

To be candid, I expected Joe Girardi to be a little more like this – and he’s not. Now, is that a good thing or a bad thing? You tell me.

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