On the Yankees beat

1. Sounds like Hal and Cashman kind of picked yesterday to stop asking Posada if he wanted surgery and told him that he was having it.

2. As I said on the last string, this is the problem with Mussina. If you're not fooled by his change of style then he's going to get hit and hit hard. This is the second time this year that Baltimore has punished him.

3. I think Cashman would love to add Washburn and hopes that it unfolds just like the Abreu deal did. In that case Cashman stayed firm to his decision that if the Yankees were taking back so much money they would not part with any talent. Philly balked at that too and tried to sway the Yankees, but in the end they realized that getting rid of the money was more important than taking back talented prospects - I think that's what he's counting on this time too.

4.There is a rumor about the Yankees going after Brian Bannister if they can't get Washburn.

"close to the CHEST"????

Jim,
Kat's young and "close to the vest" is an old expression, she just updated it. I like her version better!

Chip,
I hope the Yanks pass on Bannister, he is exactly what they already have: A RHP who lives high in the strike zone and carries an ERA of around 5. Ponson/Rasner/Bannister: Three of a kind.

If the Yanks are going to make a trade and it's one we have heard about I'd have to go with Washburn, at least he's lefty and has been pitching well lately.
As much as I don't like the idea of the Yanks getting either of these guys, I can't see the Yanks getting to the playoffs with Rasner and Ponson at the back of the rotation and Moose resorting to Bad Moose.

Jim and Jim A.....

Wouldn't we ALL rather be played "close to the chest"?
Especially when the likes of Jessica Biel, Erin Andrews, Dolly Parton and Morganna the Kissing Bandit are involved?

Vest are BRUTAL on razor burns

Yes Isle, I wouldn't mind that at all. Although with Dolly and Morganna you taking your life in your hands (unless you are on a boat, then you are good to go in case of an accident).

505, take it to TFS. :)

Yanks need Washburn - Give up Steven White, or Marquez. I do not see a problem with this. Throw in Lane as well. And even though we got our butts kicked last night, we got lucky because Bosox and Devil Rays also lost. Could have picked up a game, guess it will be a little more difficult than that.

At least I called Nady going yard yesterday! (Missed Joba's K count by one - called 10 and Joba got 9).

My prediction tonight: Possible bench clearing brawl and a narrow victory. 4-3 Yanks with Mo saving the day.

Lets Go Yankees! Gotta grab the Washer.

Brooks....

Don't you know that certain dogs are no longer permitted to walk on the The Vinal Flore?

On a politically correct perspective (finally, it's been a tough morning for blogs).......

There will be no Washburn unless Seattle picks up Igawa's lofty salary.

We are more likely to get a chest, er Vestburn.

Just my opinion.

OFF TOPIC

Brooks...you work at #17? ASU?

Have you seen 505 JR out there?
Last I heard from him he is doing his utmost to get ASU into the top 10.
Let this be a warning as well....he is taking English, Communications, Journalism and "writing" classes.
Whoever said "Apples don't fall far from the tree" had it wrong.
Apples get picked....it's rotten apples that don't fall far from the tree.

mussina got obliterated last night yes, but its definitly not the end of the world and definitly not something that should push us to dump top-mid level prospects on a guy who, while is pitching who has had an ERA of under 4 only 4 times in his career the last time being 2005 in his 12 year career...would i take on his salary in a SALARY DUMP + a c level prospect? yes..anything more no... kennedy is pitching very well apparently and i think solving this problem internally is a better solution...an upgrade over what we have now yes, but at what price? Back to mussina for one last second...wouldnt you take a ratio of 6-1 good games to bad games in the regular season? i would.....

big test for moose is saturday vs angels. yanks do need to upgrade their pitching. maybe we'll be surprised by a big trade. but with hughes and pavano on the horizon i doubt it. maybe pavano is included in a deal.

I don't want to see the Angels at all right now, they are looking really good. Torii Hunter is heating up and they have been pitching very well. Maybe K-Rod's arm is about to fall off or something and it will start when they face the Yanks.

Mike from Jersey: Agreed, it's time to pick up a pitcher who can at least be solid. After all, wasn't that the consensus of the "Yanks need an ace" discussions of a while back when people (like me) were saying the Yanks needed a top of the rotation stopper but others said the Yanks could do fine with serviceable starters who would at least give the team six or seven quality innings every night?
If the Yanks get Washed, and he stays hot or at least decent, we're looking at a rotation of:
Joba
Pettitte
Moose
Wash
Rasner/Ponson/Hughes/Kennedy/Pavano (just having fun with that last one).

I'm on board w/ getting Washburn and I'd even say the Yanks should say they will give the Mariners a low level prospect along with Igawa and offer to pay a lot of Igawa's contract- anything to be rid of him!

Jim A., thanks for agreeing on this. I don't think Washburn is Cy Young but put in a pennant situation, he might be the goods. Can't be any worse than Ponson or Rasner and is potentially going to be much better. We can figure out who stays or goes in November/December. Right now, we gotta go for it. It would be ironic for Washburn to pitch against his former club. Make it happen Cash! Marte and Farnsworth should SHARE the set-up role, depending on who leads off.

We can catch these Bosox and Devil Rays! To quote many Adam Sandler movies - Yankees - YOU CAN DO IT!

WOW, Moose got hammered, it happens.

Nothing so far on the Washedup sweepstakes, I like what Im reading about our offer though....

Jul 28 The New York Post's Joel Sherman reports the New York Yankees have offered to take Seattle Mariners SP Jarrod Washburn and the $13 million owed to him through next season. However, they won't give up more than a "Grade C" prospect, which the Mariners have declined.

==============

There was some good news today from the farm, our prized RP prospect Mark Melancon was finally promoted!!! Here's that and some more =

Mike Ashmore has the news on several organizational moves. Reliever Mark Melancon and starter Chase Wright moved up to Scranton to fill the spots vacated by Jeff Karstens, Ross Ohlendorf, and Dan McCutchen. Steven White was also demoted to Trenton, Wilkins Arias was promoted to Trenton, and Eric Wordekemper was demoted to Tampa. The big news is really the Melancon promotion, which seems to indicate that he has a good shot at being a September callup, and possibly on the postseason roster if needed.

Alan Horne, who last pitched a month ago, struggled tremendously in his return to the Scranton rotation. The 25 year-old gave up 5 runs on 2 hits and 5 walks in only 1 inning of work. These struggles are likely due to rust, and he will get himself back together in due time.

Chris Britton was great through 3 innings of scoreless relief, giving up 3 hits and a walk and striking out 5. While his line looks good, he did allow 2 runners inherited from Horne to score, showing that you can’t always trust the box score.

Scott Strickland pitched a perfect 8th, striking out 1 and lowering his ERA to 2.19 on the season.

Juan Miranda was 1 for 3 with a walk, raising his average to .291.

Cody Ransom was 2 for 4 with his 20th homer of the season. He's on his way to breaking the Scranton HR record....Crash Davis? Is that you???

Kevin Whelan struck out 2 in 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and gave up a hit and a walk.

Phil Coke, pulled from his last start because he was originally in the Nady/Marte trade, struck out 3 in 2 perfect innings from the bullpen.

Action Jackson went 1-4...currently hitting .295

The GCL Yanks were rained out.
Because of the GCL rainout, Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano will instead pitch their rehab outings tomorrow in Charleston, and will likely go about 2 innings each.

In the DSL, our 17 year old OF prospects continue to do their thing. CF Eddy Sosa hit a 2 run HR, he is leading off and hitting .326 on the year. Sosa is Slugging .503, has a .918 OPS, has swiped 21 bases, scored 40 runs and drove in 30 in only 47 games. The other stud OF prospect, Kevin Deleon is hitting .290, SLUG .494, has an OPS of .882. He leads the team with 6 HR in 162 AB's ( month and a half ), plus 4 SB's, 30 runs and 30 RBI's. Again the DSL is a galaxy away from the Bronx, but the two kids are doing very well.

Also, Mike Ashmore reports that Phil Coke did not fail a physical with the Pirates, as had previously been speculated. It is possible that it was Kontos who failed the physical, or else the Pirates got cold feet on the package at the last minute, and wanted the Yanks to give them McCutchen.

Enjoy the game tonight!!!!!

GO YANKS!!!

Thanks for the info DRU. As always, DRU Rules!

Lets Go Yankees!

Damon back to CF, Giambi to DH, Tex to 1B. A real thumping line-up. What would it take to get him?

1B side:
Too much I'm afraid considering he is a FA at the end of the season. The Yanks will just have to go after him in November and it will cost them nothing but a draft pick. I don't see them being able to pick Tex up this year because it would take away a lot of the "blue chip" prospects.

Just my opinion....

we have arms in the wings - haha

Eric Milton

Vic Zambrano

pavano