Odds and Ends

- Brian Bruney and Phil Hughes are making slow progress returning from injuries. We could see Bruney as soon as late July, and Hughes as soon as early August.

- Not to be forgotten is the (potential) gem of the Sheffield trade, Humberto Sanchez, who has thrown 3.2 innings for the Gulf Coast League Yankees down in Rookie Ball. Management will look to move him slowly (coming off Tommy John surgery), but I expect he'll finish the year with Triple-A Scranton. Both him and Melancon could be huge additions to 2009's bullpen.

- The big move this team needs to make in the off-season is acquiring C.C. Sabathia. He's not having a great season, but his numbers have been skewed by a terrible start. After his first four games (18 ip, 32 h, 14 bb, 14 k, 13.50 era), he's been his usual dominant self: 104.1 ip, 85 h, 20 bb, 109 k, 2.16 era). And best of all, he'll be just 28 next year, still in the heart of his prime. A top three of Sabathia, Wang and Joba would be sweeeeet. But he's not worth a two-month rental and the loss of our top prospects.

- A win might be nice today, then we could salvage a split tomorrow. If there is a bright spot, it's the bullpen, which has allowed just three earned runs in it's last 29.1 innings.