Time to Get Back to Business

Okay, we had enough of the 3 days of frivolity. Of silly contests and even sillier games, and catching up on our Netflix. Time to start the 2nd half and for the Yankees it's time to start it off with a bang. They have a 4 game visit at the warehouse that's disguised as a ball park in Tampa.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are reeling, having lost 13 of 14 games. That's nothing new in the franchise's history. The team is chock full of good young players. The problem is that most of them are offensive players. The team's pitching, both starting and relieving, stinks. Jamie Shields is having a fine rookie season, but ace Scott Kazmir has been abysmal. How had is the rotation? Once promising prospect Edwin Jackson remains in the rotation despite being 1-9 with a 7.23 ERA.

The bullpen took a big hit when closer Al Reyes went down with a strained rotator cuff. Until a couple of recent rocky outings, his ERA had been under 2.00. Manager Joe Maddon is basically flipping a coin right now to see who will close. Of course you need to have a lead to close.

This is a 4 game series and the Yankees must take 3 if they really want to get back into any kind of playoff race.

Pitching Probables

Thursday - Andy Pettitte (4-6, 4.25) vs. Jamie Shields (7-4, 3.82)
Friday - Roger Clemens (2-3, 3.63) vs. Scott Kazmir (5-6, 4.41)
Saturday - Chien-Ming Wang (9-4, 3.36) vs. Andy Sonnanstine (1-3, 5.36)
Sunday - Mike Mussina (4-6, 4.62) vs. Edwin Jackson (1-9, 7.23)

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