The Sommer Frieze

Recap: These are games the Yanks MUST win. When Ponson or Rasner goes out there and gives you seven shutout innings, you MUST win. The Yanks didn’t, as the offense came up empty. A 1-0 loss as once again, Mariano Rivera comes into a tie game and gives up a run. It’s odd how this year he won’t blow the save but when put into a tie game he gives up the run. Once again the Angels have the Yankees’ number. Ponson may have saved his rotation spot, but this one really hurts.

Jeff Karstens ?! threw six shutout innings against the Cubs today. Now he does it.

Moeller was DFA’d when the Yanks got Pudge. Chris “Great in Girth” Britton was sent back to SWB and Brian Bruney was brought up.

The Yanks signed Victor Zambrano to a minor league deal. This, along with the Eric Milton signing, have me head scratching…and not from dandruff. Zambrano, like Milton, is a reclamation project, having thrown 44 1/3 IP since 2005—none this year. 45-44 in his career, ERA 4.64 (ERA + 64).

YANKEES (59-49, 1 game over Pythagorean, 3rd, 4 1/2 GB. OPS+ 105, ERA + 101 (slipping lately))

Nady has a sore quad. Day to day. Note that with 15 HR (13 Pit, 2 NY), Nady has more than anyone on the Yanks except Alex and the big G.

BA-HR-RBI-SB-OPS+ (100=league average)

Damon LF .315-7-46-15-126
Jeter SS .280-6-49-6-98
Abreu RF .287-14-73-13-123 (hot)
A. Rodriguez 3B .326-23-65-15-168
Giambi DH .257-20-62-2-141
Cano 2B .263-9-50-1-83
Betemit 1B .248-4-15-0-78 (125 at bats. 38 strikeouts. Just four walks)
I. Rodriguez C 1 for 3 last night. Overall, Det/NY .295-5-32-6-101. Hmmm. As many SB as Jeter.
Cabrera CF .251-8-35-8-76 (as I wrote earlier, regressing).
Ponson RHP With Yanks, 2-1, 6.08. ERA+ 69
Overall 6-2, 4.59. ERA+ 91.

Ponson pitching for his spot. Cashman mentions Kennedy, Aceves and Hughes (Phil has just started rehab and goes for Charleston tomorrow (Sat.)) as possible substitutes.

No team can boast five catchers the likes of
Dickey .313, 202 HR, HOF
Berra .285, 358 HR, HOF, 3x MVP
Howard .274, 167 HR, MVP
Munson .292, 113 HR, MVP
Posada .277, 221 HR

Now, if only for two months, Ivan Rodriguez is in pinstripes. .302, 293 HR, MVP, future HOF.

Pete Abraham has a list of his blog of Old-timers returning to the Stadium. Check it out (link at right). Some names are interesting.

I will put up a game post tomorrow morning for tomorrow’s game, but won’t be around. I’ll be attending a friend’s wedding.

No score after 3. Ponson looking good. Yanks can’t afford to waste good efforts from him or Rasner.

Bases loaded, 1 out in the 5th and El Sid works out of it. He’s only given up one hit, but he’s had control issues. As mentioned, the Yanks bats have to come alive. They can’t afford to waste a good effort from him or Raz.

7 IP for El Sid. 0 R, 2 hits. No support. Marte in for the 8th. No score.

The Twins released Livan Hernandez today. The Yanks can get him for nada. Do they bite? I’m not a big Livan fan, and he hasn’t been pitching well lately. 10-8, 5.48. ERA+ 74. 199 hits given up in 139 1/3 IP. His stats have gotten worse EACH YEAR since 2004. The media may push for the “name”, but with stats like that I stick with Rasner.
Great 8th for Marte.

No score after 8. Mo in.

Unbelievable. Mo is great when it’s a save situation. Put him in during tie games this year and as I’ve said before, it’s like Superman meeting Kryptonite. He walks Teixeira and Vlad singles. Single by Hunter knocks in a run. He gets a K and DP but the damage is done. The Yanks will have to try to come back vs. K-Rod.

A-Rod whiffs. The Big G flies out. Cano flies out. Game over. Ouch.