Left field D

This post would have made more sense had the Yanks not scored 17 runs tonight. When the game was 7-5, the difference in left field defense between the teams was what allowed the Yanks to even have a lead at that point. Johnny Damon made two tremendous catches in LF, which may have saved as many as three runs - Matsui probably doesn't make either catch. Meanwhile, playing LF for the injured Carl Crawford was Johnny Gomes, who's basically a DH-type. His poor play gave the Yanks about four runs - Crawford almost certainly makes the plays that he couldn't. That's a seven run swing right there.

And guess who's second on the team in wins? If you said Luis Vizcaino, you'd be right. He picked up both wins today, and has eight on the year.

Amidst blow out, Yanks acquire Molina

As announced on YES during tonight's game, the Yanks traded Jeff Kennard (of Double-A Trenton) to Anaheim for backup catcher Jose Molina.

Kennard, who turns 26 in four days, has posted for his career:
2.99 era, 329 k, 188 bb, 1.32 whip.

Molina is a weak-hitting but very good defensive catcher. He turned 32 in early June. His career (that spans just 372 games): 63 OPS+, .238/.276/.339. But his D is outstanding - for his career, he's caught over 41% of potential base stealers. Nieves, on the other hand, has caught just 24%.

Odd that during the game that a new backup catcher was acquired, Wil Nieves had probably his best (offensive) game of the season - he went 2-3 with two doubles, but also made two errors...

Good move, but nothing groundbreaking. I just hope Kennard doesn't turn into another Scot Shields.

Help me out here

It was nice to find out the Yanks won game 1 - and that Shelley Duncan had his first major league home-run. But then I found out that Duncan is not in the lineup for game 2, but Damon and Matsui are! This would make sense were a righty pitching for Tampa Bay, but it's JP Howell, a southpaw. So Duncan (a righty) hits a HR in game 1, and the next game against a lefty he sits in favor of a lefty. Someone help me out and explain this move. Damon is hitting .230-ish, and Duncan (including the last few Scranton games) is hot right now. Then add in that he'd be a righty facing a lefty and move looks inconceivable, nevermind the fact that Damon is starting in CF over Melky. Now that's really asinine.

Move Matsui (or Damon) to LF, Melky to CF, and DH Duncan or stick him at 1b. It's not complicated.

This is one game

I'm glad I missed. I was in the car and listened to the horrible third inning that Moose surrendered. After Upton's bomb, I shut off the radio.

Having not seen the game, I can't comment in detail, but here goes:
- Mussina's nibbling is extremely annoying. In the inning I listened to, it seemed like every batter was down 0-2 before Moose tried to hit the corners (and missed), bringing the count to 3-2. The hitters then, of course, proceeded to rocket balls all over the field. Moose only gave us 4.2 ip, a horrible start the night before a doubleheader, especially where both starters are unlikely to go beyond five innings.
- Edwar pitched terribly. What was it, two strikes and 19 balls? I put most of the blame on Joe however. Edwar hasn't been used in two weeks, what did he expect? I suppose he can now say, "See, I was right. I can't trust a rookie." When Mo doesn't pitch for two weeks, he's rusty too. At least if Edwar is sent down, he'll get regular work.

But overall, it's just one game. Remember last year's 19-1 rout by Cleveland? That jumpstarted the Yanks. Hopefully tonight's game will do the same...

And in other bad news, Joba Chamberlain was shelled, allowing three homers and seven runs in 4.2 innings - his worst start of the year.

Shelley Duncan finally promoted

Shelley Duncan was promoted from Triple-A Scranton to the Yanks today. He will (hopefully) replace Damon as the primary DH. He has a lot of power (he's big at 6'5", 215), and can also play a little 1b and OF. He's having the best year of his career at 27: .295/.380/.577, 25 HR, 79 RBI, 45 BB, 82 Ks.

I hope he actually gets to play, because the last minor leaguer to get called up was Edwar Ramirez, and Torre hasn't used him in two weeks...

Unlucky 13

The Yanks held a 2-0 lead for six innings, then Toronto put a 3-spot on the board, and there's the game. I had a bad feeling when the offense scored two in the 1st, but failed to score again after that - it seemed like their rallies were either snuffed out by double-plays, or they seemed overconfident in Wang to continue holding Toronto scoreless.

A winnable game that wasn't won. The left 13 runners on base. 7-1 in the lineup killed us: 0-13 with one walk.

And of course, 13 days and counting for Edwar riding the bench...

In case you missed it

The Tampa Yankees used three pitchers to complete a no-hitter tonight. Kevin Whelan went five, David Robertson and Josh Schmidt went two apiece. Congrats to them!

- As for the big boys, Mike Myers was lucky because Lyle Overbay hit that grounder hard, but right to Andy Phillips. His one out 'earned' him the win.

- Both Proctor, Bruney and Villone failed in their late game relief attempts. That's why Mo had to be called on to get five outs. Hence, he's probably unavailable for tomorrow's afternoon game.

- Clemens was lucky to escape most innings unscathed. I think the Yanks poor luck from the first half is finally turning around (knock on wood).

- Edwar went a 12th straight day of riding the bench.

- That was an unsually hard ass-slap that Arod gave to Mo after the game.

- And guess who the closer will be tomorrow? That's right, everyone's least favorite reliever, Kyle Farnsworth... Hopefully the Yanks are up 10-1 when he comes in.