Yankees vs. Pirates - June 26

The rubber game of the series is tonight in P-burgh and the Yankees need to take this series. You can't be losing back t0 back series to the Reds and Pirates, and expect to go anywhere. Mike Mussina (10-5, 3.93) goes for the Yankees while the Pirates trot out another left-hander, Paul Maholm (5-5, 4.41).

Moose has faced the Pirates once, tossing a complete game shutout in a 9-o win on June 14, 2006 at Yankee Stadium. Four current pirates - Jason Bay, Jack Wilson, Ryan Doumit, and Freddy Sanchez - were in the lineup.

Pirates vs. Mussina

Bay 2-4
Doumit 1-4
Michaels 1-4
Mientkiewicz 4-18
Nady 0-3
Rivas 0-9
Sanchez 0-3
Wilson 0-3

Paul Maholm's one career appearance results in a loss to Roger Clemens, in his first game back, last June 9. Maholm allowed 5 runs, 3 earned, 6 hits, and 5 walks in 5.1 innings pitched.

Yankees vs. Maholm

Abreu 3-7
Cabrera 0-2
Cano 1-3 1 RBI
Damon 1-3
Jeter 1-2
Matsui 0-2
Moeller 0-3
Posada 1-2 1 RBI
Rodriguez 0-2 1 RBI


News and Notes

Andy Phillips designated for assignment by the Reds last week, was claimed on waivers by the Mets last night.

Mark Feinsand of the Daily News reports that Phil Hughes threw 25 pitches from 60 feet in his first day of throwing since going on the DL.

Johnny Damon doesn't think his sore arch will require a trip to the DL.

It's official, Sidney Ponson will be starting the nightcap of Friday's twinbill with the Mets.

Tyler Kepner of the Times has a story on Jorge Posada's appreciation of Roberto Clemente's legacy.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has a story on, former Pirates player and current Yankees coach, Tony Pena's return to Pittsburgh.

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Lets Go to the Video Tape, Part Deux

More spring training reports from the YES Network.

Kyle Farnsworth



Tony Pena


Dave Eiland

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Batting Lead Off, Joe Girardi

Perhaps if Bob Sheppard is feeling better, he can announce each managerial candidate as they step up to be screened. First up today is Joe Girardi, widely favored by the Yankees fans who are looking for more experience than Don Mattingly. Though Girardi only has 1 year in MLB managerial experience, he has the cachet of having been a major league catcher. Whether accurate or not, former catchers are quickly deemed good managerial prospects.

Donnie Baseball will go in for his interview on Tuesday, with Tony Pena following sometime there after. Whether or not any other candidates (i.e. John Farrell) will be looked at, remains to be seen.

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The Process in Progress

From PeteAbe:

Just spoke to Brian Cashman. He said he reached out today to three candidates to become manager: Joe Girardi, Don Mattingly and Tony Pena.

Cashman said the process could be culiminated swiftly. But he also warned that it could take until after the World Series. “I’ll expand the pool of candidates if that is what I need to do,” he said.

At the same time, he said, he will be negotiating with the in-house free agents. He does not yet know whether the departure of Joe Torre will make that more difficult.

“Nobody has told me that,” he said. “We’ll find that out.”

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Odd Rumor of the Day

From the NY Post via Yahoo Sports. Tony Pena is being considered for the Houston Astros job. Pena refused comment when asked about it. Okay, that's now the odd part. Here it is.

The rumor is based on the fact that Pena is the godfather of one of Tim Purpura's children. I guess the Post didn't get the memo that Purpura was fired as GM when Phil Garner got let go.

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