Turn up the Hot Stove

Maybe it will melt the ice from the frozen tundra we had formed by freezing rain overnight. Don't worry with Carl Pavano and Jason Giambi off the market, there's still plenty of big names left out there.

The all-time saves leader, Trevor Hoffman, has been offered similar one year deals by both the Brewers and Dodgers. Jon Heyman believes the Brewers have made a stronger push.

Heyman was on with Mike Francesa yesterday and had some guestimates as to where some of the remaining free agents would end up.

Manny Ramirez - Dodgers reportedly made a 2 year, $45 million offer and aren't likely to increase it. Heyman still thinks another team will jump in.

Adam Dunn - Nationals; teams aren't willing to throw big money at him.

Ben Sheets - Rangers

Bobby Abreu - Still a good possibility of him going to Oakland. We think he could end up with the Angels.

The Rangers are reportedly checking out the medical records on free agent third baseman Joe Crede. Pitcher John Patterson has decided to retire at age 30 due to persistent arm problems.

Ken Rosenthal says the Diamondbacks made an offer to free agent pitcher Jon Garland, but are no longer pursuing him. K-Ros points to Pat Burrell's ($8 mill per year) new contract to show just how difficult it is for the Mets to deal Luis Castillo and his $6.25 mill per year. Like a lot of us, K-Ros also doesn't understand the Angels lack of maneuvering.

According to the Boston Herald, the Red Sox are targeting John Smoltz for the rotation. Of course, most of what is said in the Herald isn't true.

Don't cringe Mets fans, but the Mets have reportedly made an offer to Tim Redding.

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You Can Go Home Again

Especially if your name is Jason Giambi. The former leader of the Oakland A's playoff teams of 2000-2001 has re-signed with the A's after 7 years in New York. Giambi passed his physical, enabling him to put his John Hancock on a 1 year, $5.25 million contract to play for Oakland.

Giambi built his reputation as a slugger, and steroid user, while averaging 35 home runs and 122 RBI from 1998-2001. He won the AL MVP Award his last season in the Bay area before bolting to the Yankees for 7 years and $120 million.

His time in New York was a mixed bag of home runs, walks, strikeouts, injuries, golden thongs, and of course, the steroid scandal. While he screwed up, he still had the backing of his teammates, most notably the Yankees captain, Derek Jeter, and was well liked by the fans and media.

Good luck in Oakland, Big G.

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Vegas Update - Day 11:45 PM EST

No shock here, the San Jose Mercury News rumor that CC Sabathia rejected the Yankees offer was just that, a rumor. Word now is that Brian Cashman has flown to California to meet with Sabathia and his wife.

As expected, the Dodgers have agreed to a 3-year deal with Casey Blake that will pay the free agent corner man/outfielder $17.5 million. The pact includes a club option for 2012.

The Orioles and Reds finalized their Ramon Hernandez-Ryan Freel swap, with the Orioles also receiving prospects Brandon Waring and Justin Turner. The O's are sending cash along with their former catcher.

ESPN's Steve Phillips believes the Brewers are looking to move Prince Fielder, possibly in a deal that would bring closer J.J. Putz from Seattle.

The Rays have met with former Yankee Jason Giambi.

The Orioles are expected to announce the signing of free agent infielder Caesar Izturis to a 2-year deal.

Having already locked up K-Rod, Ken Rosenthal reports the Mets are increasing their efforts to sign Raul Ibanez.

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Vegas Update - Day 1 10:40 PM EST

Tony Jackson of the LA Daily News is reporting that the Dodgers and Casey Blake are close to an agreement that would pay the free agent $17 million over 3 years. The Dodgers became Blake's main suitor after the Twins refused to give him a third year.

Padres GM Kevin Towers says it's up to the Cubs if a Jake Peavy deal is to go down. Reportedly a deal is in place, but the Cubs have to sign off on it. Towers also said there's a greater possibility of bringing back Trevor Hoffman if Peavy is dealt.

Blue Jays G.M. J.P. Ricciardi denied that he had any talks with the Mets concerning B.J. Ryan.

A Rangers official feels that the Rays and Royals are in the lead in the race for Milton Bradley. If the Rangers want him back, Bradley should stay and continue to play for Ron Washington.

Jason Giambi apparently thinks he's going back to Oakland, but Billy Beane isn't moving too quickly.

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Yankees Don't Put Any Stops on Arbitration

The Yankees announced this afternoon they will not offer salary arbitration to free agents Andy Pettitte, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Ivan Rodriguez, Chad Moeller, Carl Pavano, and Sidney Ponson.

The real surprise is that arbitration was not offered to Abreu, who has put up solid numbers in his 2 1/2 seasons in Pinstripes. It's especially puzzling since Abreu would likely get a multi-year deal somewhere, meaning the Yankees would get a pair of draft picks as compensation.

The NY Post reported earlier today that the Yankees made an offer recently to Pettitte that was for less money than the $16 million he earned last season. Pettitte, unwilling to take a pay cut, rejected the offer.

The Post also speculated the Yankees wouldn't offer Abreu and Pettitte arbitration, fearing that the poor economy would cause teams to not offer deals for major money.

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Moose Wins 19th, but Yanks Eliminated

The Yankees hit a high and a low last night in Toronto as Mike Mussina won his 19th game, but the Yankees were officially eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 1993. While the Yankees were beating the Blue Jays, 3-1, the Red Sox were beating the Cleveland Indians, 5-4, in Boston.

It was almost entirely a night of lows when Mussina was hit on the right elbow by a line drive off the bat of Travis Snider. Moose was clearly in pain as he tried to walk it off, with a stressed Joe Girardi looking on. After a couple of warm up tosses, Mussina remained in the game and quickly got Joe Inglett to hit into an inning ending double play.

The Yankees took a 1-0 lead against Jay's starter Jesse Litsch in the second inning when Xavier Nady followed Jason Giambi's single with a double, and Robinson Cano grounded out, with the infield back conceding the run. Giambi made it a 2-0 game in the fourth when he crushed a pitch over the wall in right-center for his 32nd home run of the year, and the 396th of his career.

Mussina showed no ill effects in the fourth and fifth innings, retiring six of the seven hitters he faced, but his elbow stiffened up and Girardi removed him before the sixth inning.

The Yankees added a big insurance run in the seventh when Cano doubled, and came around on a pair of wild pitches. The play at the plate was a close one, and catcher Greg Zaun and manager Cito Gaston argued, to no avail, that Cano was out.

After Phil Coke and Brian Bruney combined for a scoreless sixth inning and the first out in the seventh, Girardi sent for Damaso Marte to face a pair of Blue Jays' lefties. But Adam Lind singled and Marte walked Lyle Overbay to bring the tying run to the plate. Girardi quickly went to Joba Chamberlain, who was greeted by a line drive RBI single off the bat of Scott Rolen to cut the lead to 3-1. Chamberlain struck out Zaun and then wild pitched the tying runs into scoring position. But the hard throwing right-hander struck out Snider swinging to end the threat.

Chamberlain got in trouble again with two out in the eighth after a single by Alex Rios and a throwing error by shortstop Cody Ransom on Vernon Wells' grounder. Chamberlain compounded the issue by walking Lind to load the bases, and went to a full count on Overbay. But a nasty slider froze Overbay for a called third strike and the Blue Jays' threat was done.

Mariano Rivera struck out two of three in the ninth, including Zaun, who got the "Golden Sombrero", for his 38th save in 39 tries.


News and Notes

Mike Mussina won his 19th game for the first time since 1996, when he his finished his second consecutive 19-win season. He also needs just 5.2 innings pitched this season to reach 200 innings for the first time since 2003. Elbow permitting, he's set to face the Red Sox in Boston on Sunday.
Derek Jeter was scratched from the starting lineup after not being able to effectively swing a bat, due to the fastball he took off his left hand on Saturday, during batting practice. He came in as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning, with Cody Ransom sliding over to first base to replace Jason Giambi.

Yankees pitching had 14 strikeouts in the game.

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The Daily Yankeeland - 9/23

What? There's a game tonight? Didn't the season end on Sunday? Oh wait, that's right, the MLB scheduler makers fecked up. The Yankees travel north of the border tonight to visit the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Tonight's game is huge and we're not talking about the fact that the Yankees aren't mathematically eliminated. Mike Mussina (18-9, 3.57) goes for win number 19 tonight. If he gets it, he'll go for number 20 in Fenway Park. Moose will be opposed by Jesse Litsch (12-8, 3.72).

Phil Hughes makes his second start, since coming from the DL, tomorrow night against new Yankee killer, and maybe future Yankee, A.J. Burnett. The series finishes up on Thursday with Carl Pavano going against Roy Halladay, who will be looking for his 20th win.

We waded through many of the reviews of Sunday night's festivities and though most were favorable, there were some definite on-the-money criticisms. The ridiculous re-enactment of the 1923 lineup and of players like Joe D. The complete omission of Joe Torre from the highlights. The inclusion of Jesse Barfield in the highlights.

There was one thing we were quite curious about - who pulled the lever to set the countdown to zero. We saw no mention of it, so we asked Peter Abraham during his live chat yesterday - the answer? Michael Kay. Michael Kay??? WTF. Not even Hal or Jennifer Steinbrenner? By the way, nice of Hank not to show.

Here are some of the good columns we read concerning Sunday's ceremonies and some of the suggestions of what could have made the day better:

Richard Sandomir of the Times.

Joel Sherman of the Post.

Peter Abraham's video chat from yesterday. We asked what Pete would have added and taken away from Sunday's ceremony, how Jason Giambi felt about the possible end of his days in Pinstripes, and about the countdown lever.

Yankees spokesperson Jason Zillo claimed that Torre and Clemens were not intentionally skipped. Yeah, right.

Word has it that Roger Clemens was not invited. Duh. He was reportedly heartbroken over being left out of the montage. Ya reap what you sow.

You knew there were some people who were going to try to purloin some history on Sunday.

As for the business of rebuilding the Yankees. We're not happy about the Yankees considering bringing back Jason Giambi. Remember, this is about winning, and while the Big 'G' is a really likeable guy, it's time to go.

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Pettitte Wins Stadium Finale

Last night's game, in some ways, was anti-climactic in comparison to everything else going on. Perhaps having non-Yankees announcers in John Miller and Joe Morgan was part of the problem. Especially since there times when they weren't saying what was going in the game. Class move by ESPN though bringing in Michael Kay to do a half inning and reminisce. Kay at least did actual play by play.

Andy Pettitte started out shaky and we were thinking, "no, this can't be the way to go out.". Thankfully Pettitte settled down enough and the Yankees bats woke up against Orioles starter Chris Waters.

Trailing 2-0 in the third, Hideki Matsui, who is undergoing knee surgery today, and Jose Molina started the inning off with back to back singles. Johnny Damon then belted his 16th home run of the season for a 3-2 Yankees lead.

Pettitte gave the lead right back on a game tying single by Brian Roberts in the fourth, but the Yankees countered in their half of the inning. Robinson Cano led off with a rare walk and one batter later Molina cracked his third home run of the season on to the netting in left field, for a 5-3 Yankees advantage.

Pettitte gave up a lead off single to Adam Jones to start the sixth and exited to a standing ovation and calls of "An-dy Pett-itte". The fans got their wish, a curtain call, and Jose Veras and Phil Coke combined to strand Jones and Oscar Salazar, who had walked.

The Yankees added to their lead in the seventh with the help of some shoddy Orioles defense. Bobby Abreu stroked a lead off single and easily stole second base. He moved to third on Alex Rodriguez's fly out and scored when Jason Giambi's pop up fell between Brendan Fahey and Melvin Mora for a gift RBI single.

Pinch-runner Brett Gardner moved all the way to third base when Fahey booted Xavier Nady's grounder and scored on Cano's fly to left for a 7-3 advantage. The Yankees went down in order in the eighth, including Derek Jeter. Jeter had a tough night at the plate, bothered by the baseball he took off his wrist and hand on Saturday (he would never admit it of course), going 0-5. He struck out twice looking and both times, argued more than usual with home plate ump/tough guy Angel Hernandez. In the eighth it would get no better, as he grounded to third to end the inning, but appropriately, he was the last Yankees batter in the game.

Joba Chamberlain pitched 1.2 innings and handed the ball over to Mariano Rivera in a non-save situation. But Mo had his wish, he would be the last pitcher to toe the rubber. retired RiveraJay Payton on a grounder to Jeter and Luke Scott on a bouncer to Cano. Girardi then pulled Derek Jeter from the game for another standing ovation and a curtain call to the chants of "Der-ek Jet-er". Rivera then retired Roberts on a grounder to Cody Ransom, who had replaced Giambi for defense at first base.

And just like that, the final game at Yankee Stadium was over. Andy Pettitte got the final win, Brett Gardner scored the last run, Jose Molina had the last home run, and Jason Giambi picked up the final RBI. It was a must win, and for once this season, the Yankees came through when they had to.

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Jeter Makes for a Great Day at the Ballpark

With nothing to play for, Derek Jeter brought excitement to the announced paid crowd of 54,279 (it was a lot less) by tying Lou Gehrig's record for hits at Yankee Stadium and the Yankees toppled the Rays again, 8-4.

Jeter needed three hits to tie Gehrig's record after he got three hits in each game of the day-night doubleheader on Saturday. He started things off with a bunt single in the first inning, doubled to right in the second, and homered to right in the fifth off of Rays' prized prospect David Price. The home run brought the crowd, us included, to its feet for a long standing ovation, that culminated with a curtain call from the Captain. Jeter had a chance to break the record in the seventh, but bounced into a double play. He received another large ovation anyway.

Jeter's first inning bunt single followed a bloop lead off single by Johnny Damon. Jason Giambi then worked a long at-bat against Rays starter Edwin Jackson, pulling several deep flies into foul territory in right field. Jackson finally threw ball four on a 3-2 pitch with the runners moving, and quickly fell behind Alex Rodriguez. After laying in a batting practice fastball for a strike, he threw another fat one that A-Rod drilled into the bleachers in right-center field for a grand slam. It put A-Rod at the 100 RBI mark for the 11th straight season, and also put him over 100 runs scored for the 13th consecutive season.

The Rays came right back in the second inning when Columbia University product, and rookie, Fernando Perez took Carl Pavano deep for a 3-run home run. But that's the closest the Rays would get. Giambi blasted a 2-run shot into the upper deck in right in the Yankees half of the second to extended the lead back to 6-3. It was Giambi's 30th home run of the season and gave him 92 RBI.

Jeter's solo pushed the margin back to four when a familiar sight occurred in the top of the sixth inning. With one on, one out, and an 0-1 count on Eric Hinske, Joe Girardi went out to see Pavano, accompanied by assistant trainer Steve Donahue. Pavano left, with what would turn out to be a cramp in his hip, to a chorus of boos, followed by a smattering of applause.

Hinske singled off of Edwar Ramirez and after retiring Gabe Gross, Ramirez walked Perez to load the bases. Girardi brought on Damaso Marte, who continued his inconsistent time in Pinstripes by walking Aki Iwamura to force in a run. Marte escaped further trouble when Brett Gardner made a charging, diving grab of Jason Bartlett's line drive to center field.

Wilson Betemit's RBI single in the eighth made it a non-save situation, so Girardi brought in Jose Veras to start the ninth. But after a walk to Iwamura and a two-out single by Evan Longoria, Girardi called for Mariano Rivera to face Willy Aybar. The switch-hitting DH worked the count to 3-2 before Rivera struck him out swinging to record his 35th save in 36 attempts. The save tied Rivera with Lee Smith for second place o the all-time list with 478.


News and Notes

Robinson Cano was pulled from the game after not showing hustle on a play in the fourth inning. Cliff Floyd ripped a ball to the right side that Jason Giambi dove for and deflected. Cano was on the move to his right and couldn't reach back for the baseball. He then turned and watched it trickle into right field while Floyd hustled it into a double. It was a smart move by Girardi, but one that should have happened much sooner. He could have taken notice of the manager of the pennant contending teamin the other dugout, Joe Maddon, who pulled B.J. Upton out of an important game in August for lack of hustle.
Brett Gardner made another fabulous catch when he ran down and dove to glove, Evan Longoria's fly ball to right-center field in the seventh inning.

Brian Bruney worked a scoreless seventh inning and has a 2.55 ERA in his 17 appearances since returning from the DL.
David Price, the first pick in the 2007 amateur draft, was making his major league debut. To put it simply, the dude throws hard!

The family that caught Derek Jeter's home run ball, got the chance to give it to him in person. They were also rewarded with tickets to next Sunday's home finale and a signed bat. Jeter's former teammates Paul O'Neill and David Cone were part of the YES broadcast team.

Former Yankees catcher Rick Cerone pulled the lever to lower the number of home games to 7.

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Angels Put Yankees in a Clinch

The Yankees are used to celebrating September clinches and October victories. Yesterday they sat and watched the Los Angeles Angels become the first team to clinch a playoff spot with a combined 4-2 win over the Yankees and an 8-7 Rangers loss to the Mariners.

Things started out all right for the locals, Andy Pettitte had a 2-1 lead entering the fifth inning. Then the Angels loaded the bases on consecutive singles by Gary Matthews Jr., Garret Anderson, and Vladmir Guerrero (the killer 'G's?). Pettitte bounced back, striking out both Juan Rivera and Kendry Morales looking. But Robb Quinlan singled home two runs to put the Angels ahead and Guerrero came home home as well on Xavier Nady's errant throw to third base.

Just like that the Yankees were down 4-2 and rolled over. They managed just a walk over the next three innings and then had to face Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth. The Yankees did have a chance with two outs, as Jason Giambi drew a walk and Nady singled, but Hideki Matsui went down looking for the final out. The save was K-Rod's 56th, leaving him one behind Bobby Thigpen for the most saves in a single season.

The Yankees got off to a good start in the first inning against Angels right-hander Dustin Moseley, but, as usual, couldn't build off it. Derek Jeter drew a one out walk and stole second base. Bobby Abreu followed with a walk of his own and the Yankees were in business. Alex Rodriguez struck out for the second out, but Jason Giambi picked him up with an RBI single to right, for a 1-0 lead. Moseley then balked home Abreu for a second run. Giambi was stranded in scoring position, however, when Nady went down swinging.

The Angels got a run back in the first after a one out double by Matthews. Guerrero struck out, but reached on a wild pitch, with Matthews moving to third. Juan Rivera put the Angels on the board with an RBI ground out.

Box Score


News and Notes

The Yankees struck out 13 times in the game with A-Rod collecting three of them.

Joba Chamberlain threw two scoreless innings in relief, striking out three. It was the first time he went more than an inning since returning from the DL.

Derek Jeter stole his 275th career base.

Robinson Cano is in a 2-25 slide.

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Traveling Again

We'll be traveling again for the next two days, so there won't be much posting. The Yankees trail 3-2, what else is new, right now to Seattle. We know there's no playoff hope, but it would still be nice to win some games. Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi have hit solo home runs.

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Travels and Travails

We were on the road for much of the last two days, so we saw/heard part or none of the latter two games against the Blue Jays. It's just as well. It was 6-2 Yankees last we heard on Saturday and we know how that turned out, and yesterday Roy Halladay became the first pitcher since Chuck Finley in 1996 to beat the Yankees four times in a single season.

The only Yankees runs on Sunday were solo home runs (aren't they always) by Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi. It was A-Rod's 547th, putting him one behind Mike Schmidt on the all-time list.

Andy Pettitte stunk yesterday, giving up six runs in 6.1 innings pitched, putting his teammates in a 4-0 hole after two innings. While it was once a given that Pettitte would be a Yankee next season, if he wanted to return, it is now clearly up in the air. Mike Mussina has been the better pitcher by far this season, and it's not likely that the Yankees would bring both of them back next season.

The Blue Jays' David Eckstein was 2-4 with an RBI in the game and was traded afterwards to the Diamondbacks for a player to be named later.

Since being one game back of Boston in the wildcard race on July 26, the Yankees have gone 14-19 with a 5.64 team ERA.

The Yankees make a one game trip to Detroit this afternoon with Sidney Ponson facing Justin Verlander.

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The Giambino Saves the Day

Jason Giambi has been the Giamnoshow in big spots for over a month, but today he single-handedly provided the Yankees offense in a must needed 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox. The victory moved the Yankees back to within six games, which still sounds insurmountable, but is better than being eight games out, of Boston in the wildcard race.

The Yankees trailed the Red Sox 2-0 with two outs in the seventh inning, when Cody Ransom doubled off Boston starter Jon Lester. Joe Girardi sent up Giambi to pinch-hit for Jose Molina, even though he knew Terry Francona would counter the move with lefty specialist Hideki Okajima. But Giambi made Girardi look like a genius when he hit a laser over the center field wall for a game tying home run.

Then with two outs in the ninth and the bases loaded against Justin Masteron, Francona sent for his closer Jon Papelbon to face Giambi. Again, Giambi came out on top, singling to center for the game winning run.

The game was a classic pitcher's duel as Mike Mussina and Jon Lester put up goose eggs until the fifth inning. But with one out, Jed Lowrie reached on a single and Mussina hit Alex Cora. Jason Varitek, who has struggled at the plate all season, singled to right to score Lowrie with the game's first run. A second Red Sox run would score on yet another mental mistake by Robinson Cano. Jacoby Ellsbury hit a potential inning ending double play ball to Cano, but instead of taking it to the bag himself, he flipped the ball to Derek Jeter, whose throw to first base was not in time to double up the speedy Ellsbury. Cora scored on the play for a 2-0 lead.

The Yankees put two men aboard in the second inning on one out singles by Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu, but Alex Rodriguez struck out for the first of three times on the day, and Xavier Nady grounded out. In the sixth, Damon was hit by a Lester pitch and Jeter reached on another single to put two aboard with no one out. But fly outs by Abreu and Nady, sandwiched around an A-Rod foul out, led to a chorus of boos and no runs.

Mussina was pulled after seven innings and 113 pitches. Brian Bruney got the first out in the eighth and then Girardi sent for Damaso Marte to retire David Ortiz. Mariano Rivera then retired Kevin Youkilis, for a three pitcher, three out scenario. Rivera retired the side after a Jeter error in the ninth to earn his fourth win.


News and Notes

Derek Jeter was 3-4 and 6-13 (.462) in the series to raise his average to .297.

Brett Gardner pinch-ran for Xavier Nady in the ninth and stole his sixth base in as many attempts. Gardner was 37-46 in steal attempts for Scranton.

Phil Hughes had a much better outing for Scranton Wednesday night, picking up the win in a 3-2 game with Buffalo. Hughes allowed allowed 2 runs on 6 hits in 6.1 innings pitched, with 1 walk and 7 strikeouts.

August 28, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0		2	5	0
NY Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	1		3	8	1

Boston	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Ellsbury, CF	4	0	0	1	0	1	2	.262
Pedroia, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.317
Ortiz, DH	2	0	0	0	2	1	1	.265
Youkilis, 1B	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	.316
Bay, LF	4	0	0	0	0	0	3	.293
Kotsay, RF	4	0	1	0	0	1	3	.289
Lowrie, 3B	4	1	1	0	0	1	2	.295
Cora, SS	3	1	1	0	0	0	2	.269
Varitek, C	3	0	1	1	0	1	1	.225
Totals	31	2	5	2	2	6	16
BATTING 2B: Kotsay (18, Mussina). TB: Pedroia; Kotsay 2; Lowrie; Cora; Varitek. RBI: Varitek (37), Ellsbury (39). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cora 2; Kotsay 2; Ellsbury. GIDP: Bay. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Cora (1, 2nd base off Mussina/Molina). CS: Ellsbury (8, 2nd base by Mussina/Molina).

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, CF	3	0	0	0	0	2	0	.311
Jeter, SS	4	0	3	0	0	0	0	.297
Abreu, RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	.296
Rodriguez, A, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	3	4	.307
Nady, LF	4	0	1	0	0	1	4	.327
1-Gardner, PR	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.189
Cano, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	.266
Matsui, DH	3	0	0	0	1	2	0	.307
Ransom, 1B	2	1	1	0	0	1	0	.750
Rodriguez, I, C	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.280
Molina, C	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.228
a-Giambi, PH-1B	2	1	2	3	0	0	0	.251
Totals	32	3	8	3	2	10	12
a-Homered for Molina in the 7th. 1-Ran for Nady in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Ransom (1, Lester). HR: Giambi (27, 7th inning off Okajima, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Jeter 3; Abreu; Nady; Ransom 2; Giambi 5. RBI: Giambi 3 (81). 2-out RBI: Giambi 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Nady 2. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Gardner (6, 2nd base off Masterson/Varitek). CS: Jeter (4, 2nd base by Lester/Varitek). FIELDING E: Jeter (11, throw). DP: (Cano-Ransom).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Mussina	7.0	5	2	2	2	6	0	3.41
Bruney	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2.35
Marte	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4.24
Rivera (W, 5-5)	1.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.50

IBB: Matsui (by Masterson).
HBP: Ransom (by Lester), Damon (by Lester), Cora
(by Mussina), Youkilis (by Mussina).
Pitches-strikes: Lester 119-78, Okajima 16-11, Masterson 26-12,
Papelbon 3-3, Mussina 113-73, Bruney 2-1, Marte 2-1, Rivera 15-10.
Groundouts-flyouts: Lester 3-8, Okajima 0-2, Masterson 0-1,
Papelbon 0-0, Mussina 7-7, Bruney 0-1, Marte 1-0, Rivera 2-2.
Batters faced: Lester 26, Okajima 4, Masterson 5, Papelbon 1,
Mussina 28, Bruney 1, Marte 1, Rivera 5.
Inherited runners-scored: Okajima 1-1, Papelbon 3-1.
Umpires: HP: Gary Cederstrom. 1B: Fieldin Culbreth.
2B: Jim Reynolds. 3B: Tim Timmons.
Weather: 80 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 10 mph, R to L.
T: 3:21.

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Moose Gets No Decision

Mike Mussina came up with another big performance today, two earned runs in seven innings, but came away with no decision. As of this post, the game was tied 2-2 in the ninth inning. Jason Giambi tied things up in the bottom of the seventh with a two out, 2-run home run against reliever Hideki Okajima.

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The Daily Yankeeland - 8/27

Sidney Ponson goes against Paul Byrd in the second game of the series tonight. Unfortunately that means Michael Kay will talk about how much Byrd looks like Kelsey Grammer.

The Boston Herald talked to Mariano Rivera about no longer facing Manny Ramirez on a regular basis.

Joel Sherman says Alex Rodriguez is the Yankees poster boy for failure. We don't disagree.

Jason Giambi continues to prove that the Yankees need a real first baseman.

The Post's Kevin Kernan says Andy Pettitte's big game performances are a thing of the past.

Tyler Kepner has info on Melky Cabrera, Joba's unscripted return, and Jose Molina's nickname.

Quote of the day from The Record's Ian O'Connor. In comparing Tiger Woods, who was at last night's game, and Alex Rodriguez, "Tiger shrinks the moment. Rodriguez? The moment shrinks him."

Jon Heyman has this on Jason Giambi:

Jason Giambi, Yankees first baseman ($21 million option, $5 million buyout): Teammate/good buddy Johnny Damon recently told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that Giambi likes it so much in the Bronx he'd be happy to return for less than that $21-million figure. Damon isn't exactly giving away state secrets, but no matter what Damon or anyone says, the Yankees are more likely to try to lure Teixeira as they try to get younger. The call: The Yankees buy Giambi out and let him go.

Needless to say, the Yankees better NOT bring Giambi back under any circumstances.

LoHud's Sam Borden wonders if this team would have responded differently under Joe Torre.

Igawa continues to earn that Triple-A money.

A man who wrote threatening, racially charged letters to Derek Jeter, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and others, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison.

John Flaherty was elected to the Hall of Fame. No, not that one.

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Yankees Knuckle Under the Pressure

The way last night's Yankees-Red Sox game started out, it looked like whomever batted last would win the game. Only thing is, someone forgot to tell the Yankees. Lead by Alex Rodriguez, they failed in the clutch, Jason Giambi made a huge mental mistake, and Andy Pettitte picked the wrong night to have a miserable performance. The end result was a 7-3 Yankees loss that dropped them six games back of the Red Sox in the wildcard race.

The top of the order did everything they could in setting the table for the big guns that followed, but they flailed and failed miserably. Johnny Damon had a pair of solo home runs on the night, including one that led off the bottom of the first inning to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. But Pettitte gave it right back in the second inning.

In fairness, home plate ump Jim Reynolds was squeezing Pettitte, but he can't be blamed for the poor pitches Pettitte made all night. Pettitte escaped a two on, two out jam in the first inning (yes, we weren't disappointed..."he worked into, and out of, trouble"), but couldn't replicate his Houdini act in the second inning. Two out singles by Jeff Bailey, Kevin Cash, and Jacoby Ellsbury tied the game at 1-1.

The Yankees went back ahead in their half of the inning with a two out rally of their own off of Tim Wakefield. Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano set things up with singles, and Jose Molina delivered a big two out hit up the middle for an RBI single. With a chance for more, Damon grounded out to end the inning.

But this was not to be Andy Pettitte's finest hour. He was greeted in the third inning by back to back doubles by David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis to tie the game, and Jason Bay put the Red Sox on top for good with a single to center field.

The Red Sox added to their lead in the fifth inning with some help from Jason Giambi. Once again Pettitte retired the first two men he faced, but consecutive singles by Bay, Jed Lowrie, and Coco Crisp produced a fourth run. After Crisp stole second base, Bailey hit a high chopper near the line at third, A-Rod fielded it and fired across the diamond to Giambi, but not in time. The only problem was Giambi thought it was in time, and watched as Crisp, who never stopped running, scored behind Lowrie for a 6-2 lead. The play also ended the night for Pettitte, who gave way to Brian Bruney.

The Yankees had a chance to come right back against Wakefield in their half of the fifth inning. Damon's second home run cut the lead in half and Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu followed with one out singles. But A-Rod and Giambi both flied out to let Wakefield off the hook.

The Red Sox added another run in the seventh after Bruney walked the bases loaded (and yet Girardi left him in). Bay's sacrifice fly brought home the Sox seventh run and made a comeback that much more difficult. But the Yankees did have an opportunity against Javier Lopez in the seventh.

Walks to Damon and Abreu, sandwiched around a Jeter single, loaded the bases with just one out. But a chorus of boos would come crashing down from the fans when A-Rod bounced into an inning ending double play against Justin Masterson.

The Yankees tried again in the eighth. Giambi reached on an error and Xavier Nady singled to left. With two on and no one out, Terry Francona sent for left-hander Hideki Okajima. The Japanese import struck out his fellow countryman, Matsui, looking, and retired Robinson Cano on a pop up. Francona then went to his closer Jon Papelbon, who got the final out on a comebacker from Ivan Rodriguez.

The Yankees put a man on in the ninth, but it was apropos that A-Rod struck out to end the game.


News and Notes

A-Rod is 1-10 with the bases loaded this eason.

Johnny Damon's multi-homer game was the 11th of his career and first since 2006.

Dustin Pedroia's misplay in the eighth inning snapped a 61-game errorless streak.
Joba Chamberlain is set to throw another bullpen session on Thursday.

Lou Lamariello pulled the MetLife lever last night to reduce the number of Yankees home games to 15. They couldn't find a former Yankee to do it?


August 26, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	1	2	0	3	1	0	0	0		7	14	2
NY Yankees	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0		3	10	1

Boston	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Ellsbury, RF	6	0	1	1	0	2	3	.263
Pedroia, 2B	5	1	0	0	1	0	5	.315
Ortiz, DH	3	1	2	0	2	0	0	.263
Youkilis, 3B-1B	2	1	1	1	3	0	0	.319
Bay, LF	4	1	2	2	0	0	2	.293
Lowrie, SS-3B	5	1	1	0	0	1	6	.296
Crisp, CF	5	1	3	1	0	1	0	.263
Bailey, 1B	4	1	2	2	0	1	1	.278
Cora, SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.278
Cash, C	4	0	2	0	1	1	2	.229
Totals	39	7	14	7	7	6	20
BATTING 2B: Ortiz 2 (19, Pettitte, Ramirez), Youkilis (35, Pettitte). TB: Ellsbury; Ortiz 4; Youkilis 2; Bay 2; Lowrie; Crisp 3; Bailey 2; Cash 2. RBI: Ellsbury (38), Youkilis (90), Bay 2 (84), Crisp (32), Bailey 2 (3). 2-out RBI: Ellsbury; Crisp; Bailey 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Bay; Pedroia 2; Lowrie 3. SF: Bay. GIDP: Lowrie. Team LOB: 13. BASERUNNING SB: Crisp (16, 2nd base off Pettitte/Molina). CS: Crisp (6, 2nd base by Robertson/Molina). FIELDING E: Pedroia (6, fielding), Lowrie (1, fielding). DP: 2 (Lowrie-Pedroia-Bailey, Cora-Youkilis).

Boston	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Wakefield (W, 8-8)	5.0	8	3	3	1	1	2	3.73
Lopez	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2.92
Delcarmen	0.1	1	0	0	2	1	0	4.25
Masterson (H, 2)	0.2	1	0	0	0	0	0	3.21
Okajima (H, 20)	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	2.77
Papelbon (S, 34)	1.1	0	0	0	0	2	0	1.71

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, CF	4	2	2	2	1	1	2	.313
Jeter, SS	5	0	2	0	0	0	0	.294
Abreu, RF	4	0	2	0	1	0	1	.298
Rodriguez, A, 3B	5	0	0	0	0	2	7	.308
Giambi, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	.247
Nady, LF	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	.328
Matsui, DH	4	1	1	0	0	1	3	.310
Cano, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	1	3	.269
Molina, C	2	0	1	1	0	0	0	.230
a-Rodriguez, I, PH-C	2	0	0	0	0	1	2	.283
Totals	37	3	10	3	3	6	20
a-Struck out for Molina in the 7th.
BATTING HR: Damon 2 (11, 1st inning off Wakefield, 0 on, 0 out; 5th inning off Wakefield, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 8; Jeter 2; Abreu 2; Nady; Matsui; Cano; Molina. RBI: Damon 2 (57), Molina (15). 2-out RBI: Molina. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Damon; Giambi; Rodriguez, I. GIDP: Rodriguez, A 2. Team LOB: 10. FIELDING E: Rodriguez, A (10, throw). DP: (Cano-Giambi).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte (L, 13-10)	4.2	10	6	6	3	3	0	4.37
Bruney	1.1	0	1	1	3	0	0	2.38
Robertson	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	5.76
Ramirez	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	0	3.59
Britton	1.0	2	0	0	0	1	0	4.30

Masterson pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.

IBB: Youkilis (by Ramirez).
Pitches-strikes: Wakefield 80-55, Lopez 9-9, Delcarmen 18-7,
Masterson 9-6, Okajima 14-8, Papelbon 15-10, Pettitte 101-60,
Bruney 33-16, Robertson 13-10, Ramirez 15-8, Britton 18-12.
Groundouts-flyouts: Wakefield 7-7, Lopez 1-1, Delcarmen 0-0,
Masterson 2-0, Okajima 0-1, Papelbon 2-0, Pettitte 8-3, Bruney 1-3,
Robertson 0-0, Ramirez 1-2, Britton 0-2.
Batters faced: Wakefield 23, Lopez 3, Delcarmen 4, Masterson 3,
Okajima 2, Papelbon 5, Pettitte 26, Bruney 7, Robertson 3, Ramirez 6, Britton 5.
Inherited runners-scored: Masterson 3-0, Okajima 2-0, Papelbon 2-0, Bruney 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Jim Reynolds. 1B: Tim Timmons. 2B: Gary Cederstrom. 3B: Fieldin Culbreth.
Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 8 mph, In from LF.
T: 3:22.
Att: 55,058.

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