Game 90 vs. Tigers: CC vs. Verlander

This afternoon's game was quite the pitcher's duel between CC Sabathia and Justin Verlander. CC struggled a bit early and didn't have control but the got rolling. It was a tie game going into the bottom of the 7th when Alex Rodriguez hit a solo homerun that just went over the wall in right center. They would pick up one more run on a Melky Cabrera RBI infield single.

Seven shutout innings would be it for CC and they brought on Alfredo Aceves. He allowed a solo homerun to Marcus Thames which just went over the leftfield wall. Mariano Rivera would close the game with a perfect 9th.

Fantastic job by CC and the Yankee offense to manage two runs against one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Tomorrow will be another afternoon game which will feature Joba Chamberlain facing off against Edwin Jackson. Joba is going to have to be on top of his game tomorrow.

The Royals Continue to Show Baseball Why They Are Embarassments...

A few days ago I destroyed the Kansas City Royals for their decision to trade two prospects (who were considered more than just fringe prospects) in exchange for Yuniesky Betancourt. Now, I show you why this will embarassment them even more, and I did not even know it at the time. You see, the Royals could have acquired a vastly superior shortstop (although not great by any means) for two seasons at the league minimum rather than part of Betancourt's $10 million dollar contract.

Julio Lugo.

The Red Sox were reportedly telling teams that they would pay all of his contract and all they would require was basically nothing. (Basically, they wanted a bag of baseballs.) They needed to add Jed Lowrie to the roster and they couldn't DFA Nick Green (who has done a respectable job this season), so they just designated Lugo for assignment, meaning unless he was claimed (not happening), the Sox would be responsible for the rest of his contract, less the amount he signs with another team for.

Had they traded for Lugo, they could have had him for two years at basically the minimum, But it now appears, since he will be a free agent, that Lugo will sign with the Mets to be a temporary replacement for Jose Reyes.

Lugo cannot really field, but is hitting .284 with a .352 OBP. He's nothing special clearly, but I'd rather have "Cheap, Mediocre guy that can't field" rather than "Expensive, Terrible guy that can't field."

Sergio Mitre to Start Tuesday

The Yankees announced that RHP Sergio Mitre will be called up Tuesday and start against the Baltimore Orioles. Mitre, 28, was signed this offseason after undergoing Tommy John Surgery.

In seven starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Mitre went 3-1 with a 2.40 ERA, allowing only five walks while striking out 35 in 45 innings.

From Yankees.com:

Girardi remembers Mitre from his one-year stint managing Florida in 2006. That season, Mitre went 1-5 with a 5.71 ERA in 15 games, featuring a sinker, curveball and changeup. But despite their rather lack- luster history together, Girardi saw a pitcher that season who has the ability to contribute to the Yankees now.

"He's going to throw a lot of strikes, and he's going to get a lot of ground balls when he's throwing the ball well," Girardi said. "I've always thought he has kind of a bulldog attitude. When you look at him, he's a pretty thick guy. I never thought he shied away from contact, and he loves to take the ball every fifth day."

I don't really know if his success in the minors is genuine improvement or not. An encouraging sign may be that this was the lowest walk rate that he has had in his career.

Alfredo Aceves will return to the bullpen to make room for Aceves in the rotation.

Minor Leaguers Living Up to Expectations

We've taken a look at those minor leaguers who have drastically exceeded expectations and those who have have played well below them. Now let's take a look at those who have played for the most part to those expectations.

Austin Jackson: He is really hitting for average (.324) and is walking at a decent rate (.389), but has way to many strikeouts (79) and has only shown little power (4 homeruns.) He also stealing 15/16 bases and has 27 extrabase hits though.

Mark Melancon: He's doing his job in Triple-A; 2.50 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 39.2 innings; this has yet to translate to the majors though.

Kanekoa Texeira: He is doing an okay job in Double-A this year. He has a 2.92 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.

Kevin Whelan: His walk rate has dropped but it is still high. He is walking a little over 4.5 per 9 innings while having a 2.84ERA a K-rate over 9.

Michael Dunn: His ERA is okay (3.71) and his walk rate is poor (32 in 53.1 innings), but his K-rate is exceptional (76 in 53.1 innings).

Austin Romine: He is having a solid year in Tampa. He is hitting .284 but has a dreadful .315 OBP. I am, however, thrilled with the 35 extra base hits including 11 homeruns. He is really developing power. If he can turn more of those doubles into homers...

Pat Venditte: Absolutely destroyed Charleston. But he should considering his age and the fact that he almost always has the lefty/righty advantage.

David Adams: He had a .779 OPS with 25 extrabase hits in Charleston, but had no homers. Solid season.

In the Minors: the 17th of July - Jairo Heredia Returns

AAA
The was suspended and will be finished another time; I will post the lines when it is finished (likely tomorrow). But here is the box score.

AA
Austin Krum, Eduardo Nunez, Kyle Anson, Marcos Vechionacci: hitless
Reegie Corona, Chris Malec: 2-4, Corona doubles
Noah Hall: 1-3 2B BB
Richie Robnett: 3-4 2B .327
Ryan Pope: 4IP 6H 3ER 4BB 2K 5.40
Eric Wordekemper: 3IP 3H 1BB 2K 1.54
Jason Schmidt: 2IP 2H 1BB 2K 1.16

A+
Dan Brewer: 1-4 .250
Matt Cusick: 2-3 2-BB .292
Austin Romine: 1-5 .284
Kevin Smith, David Adams: 2-5
Jack Rye, Mitch Hilligoss: 2-4 2B, 3B
Lance Pendleton: 5IP 8H 4ER 4BB 3K 2.85

A-:
Jose Pirela: 2-4 .301
Abe Almonte, Mike Lyon: 1-3
Corban Joseph, Mitch Abeita: 1-4
Garrison Lassiter, Addison Maruszak, Taylor Grote: hitless
Andrew Brackman: 5IP 6H 5ER 3BB 0K 6.16

SS A Staten Island
Carmen Angelini: 1-3 BB
Neil Medchill: 1-4 2B .344
Adam Warren: 6IP 0H 1BB 5K 1.59

Rookie GCL
Jose Mojica: 1-4 3B .282
Eduardo Sosa: 1-4 2B .206
Jairo Heredia: 3IP 3H 1ER 2BB 3K Very glad he is back - this was his second rehab appearance of the year. Hopefully he can remain healthy.
Manny Barreda: 1IP perfect He is returning from Tommy John surgery

Game 89 vs. Detroit: Zoom Zoom Zumaya

Wow, four days without Yankee baseball sure is a long time isn't it? How do we ever get through those offseasons without it? Especially with me being semi-bed ridden due to my knee surgery last week; the All-Star break basically fell at the wrong time for me.

However, I was only able to get home in time to see the last two outs of this game; a very nice play to the left(!!!) by Jeter and a Marcus Thames pop-up.

A.J. Burnett apparently had very little control of his pitches tonight - but like usual, he is able to manage a quality start. He allowed three runs in six innings. Then Hughes came in and was able to strike out six over two scoreless innings. Then a rain delay, and then Mo finished the game for his 24th save in a 5-3. Remember when during the beginning of the season people were saying that Mo was done? Well even with that bump he has a 2.37 ERA.

Teixeira was the hero tonight. With the Yankees down 3-2 in the 7th he launched a three-run homerun off of Joel Zumaya into the right field stands. Tomorrow wil be a terrific matchup with CC Sabathia facing off against Justin Verlander. I have a gut feeling that Verlander will actually be hit well tomorrow.