Interesting stuff via Joel Sherman -

There was a time in 2007, and even for a good deal of 2008, when the Yankees pretty much could have acquired just about anyone for Joba Chamberlain.

Personnel men were that gaga about his stuff, his mix of pitches and his ability to retain command and velocity deep into games. He projected as a young ace, the most attractive commodity in the game.

But slowly, as he ricocheted between the rotation and bullpen; health and injury; and success and mediocrity, Chamberlain’s value plummeted. Some teams remain intrigued about obtaining him to see if they can reclaim a quality starter, but only if they can buy low. The moment to maximize Chamberlain, however, has vanished.

Are the Yanks on the same loss-of-value path with Jesus Montero? Because the more scouts have seen him this spring, the more dubious they have sounded about his defense.

And while the belief is he will hit for impact as a major-leaguer, his attractiveness in the trade market dims if teams view him only as a first baseman/DH — as some have always. One reason, for example, Seattle chose to trade Cliff Lee to the Rangers rather than the Yankees last July was doubts about if Montero could stay a catcher.

I asked four scouts independently about Montero’s defense the past few days, and none was enthused about his chances to stay a catcher long term.

One scout went this far: “No matter how many different ways you ask, I don’t see a catcher. Just because you have shin guards and a mask, that doesn’t make you a catcher.”

Did you know, before the 2000 season, Nick Johnson was considered the #5 prospect in all of baseball? The Yankees traded him after the 2003 season. Would they have gotten more from him in 2000? Dunno. The fact that Johnson did so well in 2003 kept his stock up – if not made it better. Perhaps the same will happen with Montero? We’ll know the answer in the near future.

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Brian Cashman is not finding Joba Chamberlain to be pleasingly plump this Spring.

In any event, seems like Joba is taking the Brian Bruney career path…and that can’t be good.

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Maybe. Via John Harper today -

In what could be considered ominous news for the Yankees, Robinson Cano is now a client of Scott Boras, perhaps the most notorious agent in sports.

Cano raised his play to superstar level in 2010, finishing third in the AL MVP voting, and no doubt will be looking for a huge contract in the future. Cano is finishing up a four-year, $30 million contract, but the Yankees have two option years on him at $14 million in 2012 and $15 million in 2013.

Boras has a history of taking high-profile clients such as Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira to free agency.

As a Yankee, A-Rod famously opted out of his 10-year, $252 million contract he originally signed with Texas, then re-signed with the Yanks before parting ways with Boras.

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Tom Verducci wonders if Mark Teixeira could be the next Jason Giambi in pinstripes – and he makes some great points. Of course, this is on the field stuff. Tex will never be like the Giambino when it comes to running around off the field.

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Jorge Posada will be 39-years old when he plays for the Yankees this season. But, he’s an above average offensive performer – and has been one for the last 11 years running. However, there’s more to this story.

Posada’s catching skills are now below average. Some would say that they’re terrible – and may have a good case in stating that claim. So, the Yankees plan on using him mostly at D.H. in 2011. And, that makes sense.

Posada is also in his free agent “walk year” this season. And, at no point has Jorge ever talked about this being his last year or that he’s considering retirement – even though he’s knocking on the door of forty. It would not be insane to suggest that Posada wants another contract after his current one expires. Seriously…let’s not forget that Jorge is a very proud and stubborn man.

To me, this all leads to a messy 2011 for Posada in Yankeeland. And, it could get even worse if the Yankees fall out of contention. Jorge has “no-trade protection” in his contract. But, if the Yankees are cooked come July, wouldn’t it make sense to move Posada to a contender who needed a bat – to get a prospect in return – rather than just sit on him until his contract expires?

And, what about when his deal with the Yankees is over? Do they bring him back for 2012? How well are those talks going to be? Think about the treatment that Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter got on their last deals with the Yankees.

Man, there’s a lot of stuff out there to suggest that Posada’s end with the Yankees will not be pretty. And, that’s sad. He’s a near Hall of Famer who has played his entire career, to date, with the Yankees. (Just like Bernie Williams.) That said, it would be nice to see all this end on a high-note. But, it doesn’t look like that will happen – does it?

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Via Bob Klapisch yesterday -

One theory circulating at Yankee Stadium is that Pettitte is spooked by none other than Roger Clemens. Knowing he’s going to be the government’s star witness this summer might be enough to force Pettitte into hiding – especially if Clemens decides he’s going to take his former buddy down with him.

The trial, which is set to begin in July, figures to be a doozy. Unless The Rocket has a change of heart (or tactics), he’s going to swear he never used HGH or steroids. Those who’ve testified otherwise, including Brian McNamee and Pettitte, will be cast as witnesses with bad memories or are just flat-out lying.

Pettitte, however, gave Congress a sworn deposition, during which he said Clemens talked to him about using HGH in 1999, at The Rocket’s home in Houston.

Clemens says Pettitte “mis-remembered” that conversation. Therein lies his defense strategy: for Clemens to prevail, he’ll have to destroy Pettitte’s credibility. One person who’s known the left-hander for many years said: “You think that’s not weighing on Andy’s mind? Who knows what Clemens is going to dig up?”

Indeed, the dual burden of facing Clemens in court and then taking the mound in the Bronx might be too much for Pettitte. After 16 years, he might be thinking there’s no reason to fight two wars, not this late in his career, not at this point in his life.

Since I wrote about this over two weeks ago, I obviously buy into this theory.  How about you?

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Pettitte looks like he’s done. Via Peter Botte -

Andy Pettitte is vacationing with his family in Hawaii, leaving the Yankees little choice but to continue waiting some more while the veteran lefty does his annual retirement hula dance this winter.

After already whiffing on Cliff Lee in free agency, the Yanks are aware there are few other big-name options available to slot in behind CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes in their starting rotation.

“Every day I hope Andy comes back,” Yankees president Randy Levine said at a Times Square press conference Tuesday to kick off festivities for Thursday’s Pinstripe Bowl between Syracuse and Kansas State at the Stadium.

“Andy’s a great Yankee and a great person and I know he’ll give it thought and follow his heart and we’ll respect his decision. But we’re out there, all of us, hoping every day that he comes back,” Levine added. “I think he knows we need him. I think he knows how much we respect him and what a great leader he is.”

Mark Teixeira, a self-proclaimed “huge college football fan,” also was present and called Pettitte “one of my closest friends on the team.” Still, despite trading text messages often with the lefty throughout the offseason, Teixeira also isn’t sure if Pettitte will be back for his 17th big league season, and 14th in pinstripes.

“If he’s leaning one way, he’s probably leaning towards retirement,” Teixeira said. “I think that’s what he’s publicly said, and that’s no secret right now. But in a month and a half, a lot can happen.”

Let’s face it. Banking on CC Sabathia is as safe as banking on any starting pitcher in the game. No one would fault anyone for expecting him to make 30 starts and give you 200 quality innings in 2011.

But, with no Andy Pettitte in 2011, and with Sergio Mitre and Ivan Nova in the back end of your rotation, or someone else just as “iffy” in those slots, Brian Cashman and the Yankees are really rolling the dice that Phil Hughes can repeat or better his 2010 season and that A.J. Burnett can come back from his disaster showing last season.

How comfortable do you feel in making that bet?

I ran some stats on the Complete Baseball Encyclopedia to find pitchers since 1973 who were most like Phil Hughes in 2010. Here’s the numbers:

Pitcher                       YEAR    RSAA     RSAA      GS       IP
T1   Nino Espinosa            1977        7        7       29    200
T1   Pedro Astacio            1993        7        7       31    186.1
T1   Ian Kennedy              2010        7        7       32    194
T1   Bill Greif               1973        7        7       31    199
T1   Glendon Rusch            2000        7        7       30    190.2
T1   Chad Billingsley         2010        7        7       31    191.2
T1   Bruce Kison              1975        7        7       29    192
T8   Rick Honeycutt           1979        6        6       28    194
T8   Phil Hughes              2010        6        6       29    176.1
T8   Sidney Ponson            2002        6        6       28    176
T11  Greg Mathews             1987        5        5       32    197.2
T11  Floyd Bannister          1979        5        5       30    182.1
T11  Bill Laskey              1982        5        5       31    189.1
T11  Yovani Gallardo          2009        5        5       30    185.2
T15  Wilson Alvarez           1995        4        4       29    175
T15  Scott Elarton            2000        4        4       30    192.2
T15  Esteban Loaiza           1997        4        4       32    196.1
T15  Yovani Gallardo          2010        4        4       31    185
T19  James Baldwin            1996        3        3       28    169
T19  Mike Krukow              1977        3        3       33    172
T19  Rich Dotson              1982        3        3       31    196.2
T19  Kyle Lohse               2002        3        3       31    180.2
T19  Horacio Ramirez          2003        3        3       29    182.1

Filter: 1973-2010, AGE BETWEEN 23 AND 25, RSAA BETWEEN 3 AND 7,GAMES STARTED >= 28, INNINGS PITCHED <= 200

Not everyone on this list went on to become a star starting pitcher. So, how can we assume that Hughes will? This makes it even more important for Burnett to be solid in 2011. But, given his issues with command, and the fact that he’s just a 110-100 (W-L) pitcher over his 11 full seasons in the big leagues, what makes anyone – besides Brian Cashman – think that Burnett will be someone who you can count on in the front end of your rotation?

Think the 2008 Yankees had starting pitcher issues? What we see in 2011 from the Yankees may just mirror that…no matter what Cashman says about that:

In the meantime, the Yankees appear willing to go forward with a rotation that some have already compared to the 2008 season, when the club missed the playoffs.

“I think that’s stupid,” said Cashman, who called the comparison unfair. “We have one of the premier starting pitchers in all of baseball in CC Sabathia, we have an 18-game winner in Phil Hughes.”

The Yankees also have more choices of pitching prospects, such as Nova, to help fill the holes. And then there’s Burnett, who in 2010 who suffered through one of the worst pitching seasons in the history of the franchise.

“I just believe he will be alright,” Cashman said. “Clearly, we need him to be.”

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And, at this moment, the Yankees starting rotation is:

CC Sabathia
A.J. Burnett
Phil Hughes
Sergio Mitre
Ivan Nova

I think Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Pettitte can go a little crazy with their X-mas shopping this year. There’s a ton of money waiting on both their husbands in Yankeeland.

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Look at what certain Yankees are sure to be paid in 2013:

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What’s A-Rod going to be good for, come 2013 – maybe 130 games played, 25 homers and a .260 batting average? Almost everyone thinks Jeter will be toast by 2013. How about CC – will all those innings start to show up come 2013 – like the knee surgery he needed after last year? Teixeira will be 33-years old in 2013 and starting towards the back-end of his career. And, don’t even get me started about A.J. Burnett.

And, now, the Yankees want to add Cliff Lee to this mix – at huge dollars? Lee will be 34-years old in 2013.

Granted, sure, look at Andy Pettitte. He aged well. Ditto Mariano Rivera – and, to an extent, Jorge Posada. So, maybe this will all work out for the Yankees? But, for sure, I wouldn’t bet any money on it.

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Via Jeff Passan:

The quickly devolving Derek Jeter negotiations might not be the New York Yankees’ only problem. They’re playing hardball with Mariano Rivera too.

While the free-agent closer is seeking a two-year deal, the Yankees are currently inclined to offer him only one year, according to a source familiar with the team’s thinking. And by doing so, they risk doing to Rivera what they’ve already done with Jeter: muck up talks that could’ve – and should’ve – gone smoothly.

In taking a hard line with their two biggest stars since Mickey Mantle, the Yankees are banking on the greatest leverage they’ve got: the notion that Jeter and Rivera wouldn’t fathom wearing another uniform. It is a canny strategy. For Jeter or Rivera to walk away wouldn’t merely take a contract offer of less than they believe they’re worth. It would necessitate a profound insult, and the Yankees expect the players to interpret the team’s tack as business, not personal.

With Rivera, it could easily remain so. The chasm between one year and two years isn’t insurmountable, and the Yankees are already prepared to give him a raise from the $15 million he made in 2010. Whether Rivera meets the Yankees in the middle at one year with a club option or holds firm at two years and expects the team to honor his contributions and continued dominance will determine whether the negotiations turn as contentious as Jeter’s.

And do not undersell the three-year, $45 million offer the Yankees sent their shortstop’s way as a mere negotiating parry. It was, to the Jeter camp, a declaration – not of war, not yet, but not of an easily obtained, peaceful treatise, either. Between asking Jeter to take a nearly one-third pay cut from last season and spinning in the media that any delay is Jeter’s fault, the Yankees are playing a dangerous game – one fueled by an arrogant belief that Jeter wouldn’t at least entertain the possibility of going elsewhere.

This is a referendum on what two men mean to a franchise – whether the Yankees are the Yankees because of their history or because of who constitutes them at any particular moment. The mystique died in the ’80s when the team was bereft of stars beyond Don Mattingly as well as befallen by a miserable record, so an answer isn’t obvious. If the Yankees don’t bend with Jeter and Rivera, their thinking is obvious: The uniform is more important than those wearing it.

Jeter and Rivera each realize the Yankees don’t want to make another mistake with an aging player, not with Alex Rodriguez and his bum hip contracted for another seven years and, if he breaks Barry Bonds’ home run record, $204 million. The players also don’t want to be penalized for mistakes Yankees leadership made, and if anyone deserves special treatment, it is them.

So their agents counteroffer, and they wait and wonder whether the Yankees will budge. Jeter’s desires are unknown, but they’re surely more than three years and more than $15 million a pop. Rivera wants a second year, and because the news so revolves around Jeter, the Yankees haven’t bothered making an issue of it publicly. Which is, by no means, to say they’re above that.

Jeter aside, betcha there’s a market outside of Yankeeland for Rivera – even at his age. And, I would not put it past him to go somewhere else if Brian Cashman plays chicken for too long on this one.

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Today from Tony DeMarco, a NBCSports.com contributor -

The New York Yankees’ postseason fate has come down to a weekend in Arlington, Texas. Truth is, the only apparent advantage they have is in terms of payroll.

Not only do they have to win two more in a row; the second one will come against Cliff Lee, who completely dominated them in Game 3 in the midst of his historic postseason run.

Five games into this American League Championship Series, the Yankees have been outscored 32-18 — 25-5 in a stretch of three consecutive losses — out-hit .316 to .218, and left behind in the running game, nine stolen bases to two.

Even after the Yankees’ Game 5 victory that sent the series back to Texas, the Rangers’ trip to the Bronx could only be termed a success. They did exactly what they needed to do by winning two of three, stripping away a long-held Yankees’ postseason advantage.

In fact, it was hard to tell what was more alarming — the results on the field, or the change in fan base — read: corporate crowd that bailed early on back-to-back nights as the Yankees were embarrassed in Games 3 and 4.

But a sense of vulnerability also has crept in during this series. The Yankees are operating on borrowed time — every look at the more-athletic and aggressive team in the other dugout has to tell them that.

So no matter what happens this weekend, and the rest of this postseason, the game’s most-successful franchise finds itself in a pivotal transition phase, the impact of which can’t be understated.

It took a decade to work through the transition that followed the 1996-2000 run of four titles. And this time, we’re talking about legendary icons being involved:

The passing of George Steinbrenner and handing over of the team to his sons; the creeping-ever-closer ends for future first-ballot Hall of Famers Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, plus Cooperstown maybes Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada.

Last winter goes down as a failure for general manager Brian Cashman. Coming off the club’s first title since 2000, Cashman chose to tweak, and for the most part failed at that.

He dealt for Javier Vazquez and signed Nick Johnson, and neither made it to the postseason. Curtis Granderson had a just-OK year, and that deal cost Austin Jackson, who might be the AL Rookie of the Year.

It’s going to take a much more aggressive and bold approach this off-season. It’s going to take more than tweaking for the 2011 Yankees to have a legitimate shot at another championship.

Are the Yankees in a “pivotal transition phase” as DeMarco states here? Well, if not, they’re getting close to it. The Core Four ain’t getting any younger. A-Rod is aging as well. Maybe Tex too – sorta/kinda? And, an outfield of Gardner, Granderson and Swisher, while nice, lacks the production that would make up for what the Yankees used to get from other places (which put them ahead of the league in those positions). Hughes still needs to improve his consistency. And, Burnett…well…do I have to say it?

So, maybe DeMarco is right here. What do you think?

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So, here’s the question: Has CC Sabathia been “the same” since he had that pitcher’s duel with David Price down in Tampa? See these stats – with that Rays game, in question, first, and all the starts made by CC since that time – including this post-season:

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If it wasn’t for that game on September 28th, I would suggest that this may be the case. But, for sure, he wasn’t hurting on that day.

In any event, based on the way he’s pitched lately, overall, what kind of performance do you think Sabathia will give the Yankees today?

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My first thought, seeing this moments ago, was: Reminds me of Reggie Jackson in the 1972 ALCS.

My second thought? That’s a Grade 2, and, he’s cooked.

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Via Mark Feinsand -

As if two months on the disabled list with a groin injury weren’t enough, Andy Pettitte has been dealing with some minor back problems this week.

Pettitte’s back stiffened up on him during Friday’s start against the Red Sox, in which he allowed seven runs in 3-1/3 innings. Pettitte said he was “pretty stiff” throughout the game, which could have led to his lack of location.

“The next day, I knew I was going to be fine,” Pettitte told the Daily News. “But you don’t want to have anything going on, especially after what I’ve been through with my groin.”

Pettitte was slated to start Wednesday night, but after the Yankees clinched their playoff spot on Tuesday, his start was moved to Friday night. Pettitte threw his bullpen session Wednesday and said he would have no problem taking the ball against the Red Sox.

Yikes.

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Posada/Cervelli’s throwing…and…Mo?

Joel Sherman makes a great case on these.

For the record, I was all over the catcher’s throwing concerns seven weeks ago.

The numbers, as Sherman shares, on Rivera, are scary, no?

In his last six outings, Rivera has a 9.53 ERA, a .375 batting average against, a 1.032 OPS against, and three blown saves in six tries. He has faced 29 batters in this period and given up nine hits, walked two and hit two batters while striking out just one.

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With their loss to the Rays on Wednesday, the Yankees have now dropped 10 of the last 16 games. And, New York is 23-19 in the last 42 games. Further, they are 27-24 in their last 51 games. Granted, those last two marks are not terrible. But, they don’t suggest that this Yankees team is peaking as it heads into the post-season, do they?

Compare that to a team like the Phillies who have won 22 of their last 26 as they head into October baseball.

So, what do you say Yankeeland, are you concerned about how the Yankees will show up in the post-season this year, given their recent level of play?

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Via Jon Heyman -

Joe Girardi will probably stay with the Yankees rather than go to the home state Cubs (he’s from Peoria and went to Northwestern). But if he leaves, Bobby Valentine likely would be one candidate to replace him in the Bronx.

Well, we do know that Cashman hearts Valentine. So, I guess it’s possible…

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Via Mark Simon and Katie Sharp -

Would the Yankees be better positioned to make a playoff run if they finished in second place?

Even with Tuesday’s win, the Yankees are mired in their worst slump of the season, having just endured their first four-game losing streak and their first sweep of three games or more.

The team that’s been responsible for this poor stretch of games –- the Texas Rangers –- is the same team the Yankees would have to face in the divisional round if they win the AL East title. They’d currently get the Twins if they won the wild card.

The Rangers have one advantage that could doom the Yankees in a potential playoff matchup. They can trot out two quality left-handed starters, Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson.

The Yankees have lost their last five games against left-handed starters and their .259 batting average against them is ranked sixth in the AL. Several key Yankees are really struggling vs southpaw starters (see accompanying chart) –- if it wasn’t for Marcus Thames, the overall numbers would be much uglier.

Yankees BA vs LH Starters
                   2010 Career
Brett Gardner     .198 .227
Curtis Granderson .234 .240
Alex Rodriguez    .244 .289
Jorge Posada      .257 .300
Mark Teixeira     .260 .293
Nick Swisher      .266 .245
Derek Jeter       .274 .322
Robinson Cano     .295 .303
Marcus Thames     .316 .264

Francisco Liriano and Brian Duensing, or, Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson? Either way, the Yankees are going to have to deal with LHP in the ALDS this season. So, which pair would you rather face?

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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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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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Via Will Leitch:

But there is trouble brewing, and it’s best described by a quote that [Brian] Cashman might recognize from his old rival across the country in Oakland, Billy Beane. In Moneyball, Beane confesses, “My shit doesn’t work in the playoffs.” What Beane meant was that for all his work at roster construction, once the strange dynamics of October take over—short series where a hot pitcher or a random bounce can prove decisive—winning is a crapshoot. Anything can happen. It’s a lesson Yankees fans should keep in mind, because one can make a strong argument that this team’s postseason prospects are shakier than anyone is willing to admit.

This season, A. J. Burnett will make more money than Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, and Robinson Cano. His $16.5 million salary makes him the twentieth-highest-paid player in the game and the sixth-highest-paid pitcher. And he has been terrible. His 5.15 ERA is easily the worst of his career, and he’s compiled a 10-12 record, which, on a team that’s more than 30 games over .500, is difficult to achieve even if you’re trying. Girardi has kept him in the rotation for the same reason Girardi makes most decisions—he has a solid enough lineup, and a big enough cushion in the standings, that he can keep sending Burnett out there and hope he figures it out. In October, he will have no such luxury.

Burnett is just the highest-profile symptom of the Yankees’ biggest postseason concern. The rotation is springing leaks everywhere. After CC Sabathia, who has been terrific, the Yankees don’t have a single reliable starter. Andy Pettitte hasn’t pitched since mid-July, and it’s far from certain he’ll look like the old Andy when he returns from his left-groin injury. Phil Hughes was the team’s best pitcher the first three months of the season but has cooled off lately (and is nearing his innings limit). Javier Vazquez has vindicated fans who screamed when the Yankees traded for him in the off-season (funny how Game 7 grand slams given up to the Red Sox don’t fade from public consciousness) and was recently plying his trade in the bull pen. Rookie Ivan Nova has been a pleasant surprise, but he’s still a rookie. Dustin Moseley, Chad Gaudin, and Sergio Mitre are guys you throw in the game in case one of the above pitchers can’t make it out of the second inning.

And that’s it. That’s all the Yankees have as a rotation. A $213 million payroll, and the Yankees have one reliable postseason starter. So much of October comes down to starting pitching—that and Mariano Rivera have been the constants during every Yankees World Series run—and the Yankees, the vaunted Yankees, have no idea who starts Game 2 of a series. Sure, they’re planning on its being Pettitte, but that’s assuming he’s ready and able. If he’s not, the Yankees are looking at Burnett, Hughes, or Vazquez. Never mind Game 3.

This ties into what I mentioned a week and a half ago. As I said then: “…the Yankees starting rotation, excluding #52, is a mess. It’s a shame that the Yankees front office has turned a blind eye to this as it has been unfolding. Because, now, it may be too late to do anything about it.”

There’s no way this rotation carries the Yankees through three rounds of post-season baseball. Maybe, just maybe, it might get them through the LDS – because you only need three wins there. But, come LCS and WS time, it’s going to be a sad time in Yankeeland, should New York make it that far.

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Via George King –

Late last night, Mark Teixeira didn’t sound or look like a player who would be in the Yankees lineup today.

Teixeira had his right hand in a compression wrap after leaving a 12-9 win over the White Sox early in the game with a bone bruise he suffered diving for a ball Friday night.

Teixeira, who came into the day having hit .059 (1-for-17) with runners in scoring position over his previous 15 games, said his early hitting work was affected by the sore hand. So, too, was his batting practice.

“I thought the adrenaline would kick in but I had nothing,” said Teixeira, who fouled out in the first. “I was swinging with one hand.”

Manager Joe Girardi, who moved Nick Swisher from right field to first base, wasn’t sure if Teixeira will play today.

I have a bad feeling about this one…sort of like David Adam’s sprained right ankle in May that turned out to be actually fractured at the end of July.

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Via George King -

Major League Baseball is investigating Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova and minor league hurler Wilkin De La Rosa for allegedly injecting each other with B-12 shots last season when they were teammates in Trenton (Double-A), The Post has learned.

Though B-12 isn’t on the list of baseball’s banned substances, only licensed physicians are allowed to inject medication. And MLB wants to make sure that the shots were indeed B-12.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman said he was unaware of the investigation, and MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said, “We don’t discuss the work of our investigative group.’’

Teammates injecting teammates. Never a good idea…

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Via George King –

Can a bullpen session in late August be considered crucial? When it involves Andy Pettitte’s cranky left groin the answer is a very loud yes.

If Pettitte passes a bullpen test tomorrow in Chicago, the Yankees can start planning on when the veteran lefty will return from the disabled list. If the groin doesn’t allow Pettitte to push off the rubber? How about a dark October?

“I think it will be a good indication,” manager Joe Girardi said of what Pettitte is able to do in the 20- to 25-pitch session. “If he is able to push off [it will be good]. If not, that would be a pretty big setback.”

Try a killer setback.

The Yankees’ rotation is led by AL Cy Young favorite CC Sabathia and has serious questions throughout the next four slots.

Phil Hughes, last night’s starter and loser against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, is 15-6 with a 4.12 ERA but is working on an innings limit believed to be in the 170-175 range. He is at 144 1/3.

A.J. Burnett (9-11, 4.80) has been up and down all year. Dustin Moseley is 4-2 filling in for Pettitte, but the right-hander survives on location instead of velocity, and pitchers like him have to be sharp or they get hit.

Ivan Nova, who will start in the struggling Javier Vazquez’s spot Sunday against the White Sox, will make his second big league start. Nova was very good Monday night in a 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays, but relying on a neophyte down the stretch is risky business.

The current state of the Yankees’ rotation has many baseball executives believing the Yankees will make a play for Dodger Hiroki Kuroda, who is on trade waivers that expire today.

“The way he has been throwing lately he is better than A.J. Burnett,” an NL talent evaluator said of the 35-year-old Kuroda, who is 8-11 with a 3.48 ERA and owed about $2.5 million for the remainder of the season.

As this all starts to shake out, it’s appearing as if Brian Cashman made some critical mistakes with his starting pitching plans this year – counting on the following:

1. Andy Pettitte to avoid injury all season, at his age.
2. A.J. Burnett to pitch like he’s being paid to – meaning like a quality “3rd starter” in a rotation.
3. Javier Vazquez to pitch like he did in 2009 rather than like he did in 2004.
4. Phil Hughes being able to step up and pass Burnett and/or Vazquez in the rotation pecking order, should the need arise, and be a horse in the rotation.

Now, I know that some may say that no one could have predicted Pettitte’s injury, or should have, even with his age, because he’s been a durable pitcher. And, some may say that Cashman wasn’t counting on Vazquez and Hughes to do anything more than what anyone would get from your 4th and 5th starters – and that the combination of their stats meets those expectations.

O.K., if you want to play those cards, I will allow them. However, the matter on A.J. Burnett stands. After having Burnett in house for a year, and seeing what he was all about, the Yankees should have acquired a front-end starting pitcher, either before the season or during this one, to push Burnett into the back-end of the rotation and have another “stud” on the front-end to pair with Sabathia.

Pettitte, before he got hurt, was pitching like that “stud” and it was a blessing – but, now, as King notes, it’s cross your fingers time to see if he can get back to that.

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Nick Coman shares that Michael McCann thinks that Andy Pettitte will be called to testify in the upcoming perjury case against Roger Clemens.

Hopefully, is this is true, it won’t happen while the Yankees are playing games and Pettitte is pitching for them.

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The bottom part of the Yankees starting line-up tonight:

6. Curtis Granderson CF
7. Eduardo Nunez SS
8. Ramiro Pena 3B
9. Francisco Cervelli C

That’s like spotting the Blue Jays a free 12 outs, or more, no?

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Wally Mathews tugs on Superman’s cape, spits into the wind, pulls the mask off the old Lone Ranger, and talks about Derek Jeter’s lousy 2010 season:

But the hard truth is Derek Jeter is no longer the player he once was, which is perfectly understandable at 36. And sometimes, Derek Jeter actually hurts the Yankees — something that a year ago would have seemed perfectly unthinkable.

Derek Jeter was not the only reason the Yankees lost to the Detroit Tigers on Monday night — a 3-1 defeat that came within two outs of being the second night in a row they were shut out by an inferior team — he was only the most obvious, being responsible as he was for those final two outs nipping a burgeoning rally right in the bud.

And he did it on a play that threatens to become one of his trademarks — as much as the jump throw, the shovel pass or the face-plant into the front row seats.

He did it with a double play — an ignominious accomplishment that is rapidly becoming his alone, the way Reggie Jackson owns the strikeout and Vinny Testaverde the pick.

Monday night, he rapped into two of them, including the one that ended the game.

And just like that, a night that looked as though it might have climaxed with a pie in some Yankees’ face instead ended with egg all over Jeter’s.

Anyone can hit into a double play at any time, but few hit into as many as Jeter does. In fact, only two players currently active in the American League — Pudge Ivan Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez — have hit into more of them in their careers than Jeter.

And with two on Monday night, Jeter has pulled within two of Ordonez, who has 232 for his career. (He still trails Pudge by a healthy 45, but Pudge is in his 20th season).

And it’s not just double play balls that are killing Jeter and the Yankees, it is ground balls. Jeter hits more of them, far more, than any hitter in baseball. Two-thirds of his contacts this season have been on the ground. His next nearest competitor, Juan Pierre, hits more than half his balls on the ground.

Jeter is certainly not trying to, but he hits the ball to the shortstop so often you sometimes think his jersey number should be 63.

In some ways, Jeter’s 2010 is starting to look like Steve Garvey’s 1985 or Cal Ripken’s 1998 or Craig Biggio’s 2002. And, that’s not good news for him or the Yankees.

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Via Pete Caldera –

Andy Pettitte did not pitch his simulated two innings as scheduled Thursday, at Tampa, Fla., due to stiffness in his left hip flexor. “I think there’s some concern,” said manager Joe Girardi. “When you don’t stay on schedule as a player, there’s always some concern.”

Girardi spoke by phone with Pettitte, who will attempt his simulated game today. Pettitte did play catch Thursday and felt “pretty good,” according to Girardi. Pettitte has been on the disabled list due to a strained left groin, but “I can’t tell you if it’s related or not related,” Girardi said.

Pettitte first felt the discomfort Wednesday, rising from a couch. If he gets through today OK, Pettitte, 38, would have a rehab start Wednesday.

It this is a problem for Pettitte that lingers, this could be scary. Imagine there’s no Pettitte. Then your post-season rotation is Sabathia, Hughes, and then deciding between Burnett and Vazquez on who will pitch “Game 3.” Yikes.

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Via Wallace Matthews:

Still, there is no more important issue hanging over the final 50 games of this season than the health and durability of the Yankees’ aging core, and no player for whom that issue is more crucial than [Jorge] Posada.

Having caught three games in a row over the weekend against Boston and with the psychologically erratic Burnett on the mound, it was hardly a surprise that Posada was not in a starting lineup that was already missing Mark Teixeira (baby leave), Robinson Cano (head cold) and Curtis Granderson (all-around ineffectiveness).

But it certainly raised eyebrows when, in the eighth inning of a game that had just been tied by Alex Rodriguez’s laser of a home run to dead center field, the Yankees got a runner to third with one out and Francisco Cervelli was coming to the plate.

In that type of situation, you go to the guys who have done it for you before, and Posada was right there on the bench. But Girardi did not go to him, Cervelli got jammed and pushed a soft liner to first base for the second out. Brett Gardner grounded to short to strand the go-ahead run 90 feet from home plate.

It left you scratching your head. Until Girardi dropped the bomb after the game.

“He told me the throw he made [Monday] irritated his shoulder a little bit,” the manager said. “I don’t think it’s anything serious, but I gotta be careful. When Jorgie tells you something’s irritated, it’s usually irritated.”

Jorgie told the media nothing, because he bolted for the first team bus out of Rangers Ballpark before any reporters got into the locker room.

So until about 4:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, we’ll have to make do with Girardi’s assessment of Posada’s fitness. “I could have used him in an emergency,” said Girardi, a description for which the eighth-inning situation presumably did not qualify.

But considering how injury-riddled Posada’s 2010 season has been so far, the real emergency may be going on in his shoulder. Already, he has spent time on the DL with a broken foot, had hamstring problems and missed several games with recurring soreness caused by a cyst behind his left knee.

Plus, he missed nearly the entire 2008 season after having surgery on the very same shoulder. So when Girardi says Posada’s shoulder is “a little cranky,” you naturally start to wonder exactly how cranky, and for how many games.

Certainly, he wasn’t available last night or Girardi would have used him.

Let the Jesus Montero chatter begin…

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Via Joel Sherman today -

The Yankees drew five walks yesterday. In the previous nine games, they drew three or fewer walks in each of them. That was the longest such streak for the Yankees of three or fewer walks since 1992 when they went 12 games from April 26 through May 8. That streak came a month before the Yankees used their first-round pick, sixth overall, to select Derek Jeter. That was the Yankees’ last losing season.

Beginning in 1993 and carrying through the dynasty years and to the present, the Yanks have prided themselves on the long at-bat, forcing starters to tire quickly and getting to the soft underbelly of middle relief.

And even with the recent stretch of three or fewer walks, the Yanks still lead the majors in runs, are second in on-base percentage and third in walks.

However, in those nine games, the Yanks were 4-5 and scored 35 runs, meaning they averaged fewer than four runs a game. That streak occurred against Tampa Bay, Toronto and Boston, all teams with very good pitching staffs, particularly rotations. So maybe other teams could not exploit the Yankees similarly because they do not have the same level of talented pitching.

But it seems to me that the Yanks are not doing near the damage when they swing that they had in the past. Specifically a few older players such as Jeter, Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez are not quite the impact hitters of their past. It has long been the Yankee psyche – since 1993, anyway – that their offense is built around patience. Draw walks, get into favorable counts, tire pitchers, hit multi-run homers.

Now walks do not assure runs, since the Yanks collected five yesterday and managed just one run against the Red Sox. However, I would keep an eye on if pitchers the rest of the way see a few slower bats with the Yankees (add Berkman to that group) and challenge this lineup in the strike zone more than we have been used to seeing over most of the past two decades.

Lately, it does seem like, if Swisher, Teixeira or Cano doesn’t do it, then it ain’t happening for the Yankees offense. Or, is that just me? Related, is that enough – three boppers – to beat the good pitching that the Yankees will have to face in October? Well, if Swish and Tex “show-up” this October like they did last October, then the answer has to be “no.” And, it will be an ALDS and out for New York this post-season.

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