Yanks at Twins

Here is tonight's line up via Peter Abraham .

Christian LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
A-Rod 3B
Nady DH
Cano 2B
Sexson 1B
Pudge C
Melky CF

Sidney Ponson (7-2 4.23 ERA) vs Glen Perkins (8-3 4.38 ERA).

The Yankees need to get on a roll here, because the season is winding down and the playoffs get further out of reach with every loss. Sidney has pitched well against the Twins this season. In three starts, Sidney is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 2o innings. It's surprising to see Johnny get a day off, he was playing well so far on the road trip, maybe his shoulder might be aching. The Yankees are hitting Perkins pretty well. They have a .422 batting average to go along with a .994 OPS, in only 45 at bats.

Pitching Matchups

Here are the pitching match ups for the upcoming series at the Minnesota Twins starting tonight.

Monday - Sir Sidney (4-2 4.23 ERA) vs Glen Perkins (8-3 4.38 ERA)

Tuesday - Mike Mussina (15-7 3.27 ERA) vs Nick Blackburn (9-6 3.60 ERA)

Wednesday - Who Knows vs Kevin Slowey (8-8 4.07 ERA)

Yankees vs Rangers, Aug 6

First off I gotta get back to writing so I'm going to...

Here is the line-up per Peter Abraham:

Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
A. Rodriguez DH
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Cano 2B
I. Rodriguez C
Betemit 3B

Ponson RHP

A few notes:

The Yankees desperately need to run off a string of victories. It is getting late in the year and the Red Sox and Rays are pulling away in the division. It is very disheartening when the Red Sox and Rays BOTH lose and alas, the Yankees lose too. The offense needs to be consistently good from here on out also. They cannot have 3 games scoring 2 runs then explode for 14 in a game. I'd much rather take 5 runs a game over those 4 then 20 runs the other way.

I hate Sidney Ponson. Bring up Aceves, Kennedy, Wright (I know, I know you all hate him because he struggled IN A FEW INNINGS (he pitched well except for a back-back-back-back inning and a few other bad innings), but he is diong great in AAA and deserves a shot, plus he is lefty), but Giese is starting for Rasner so he is not an option. The Yankees are thin in the rotation with Joba going down, which is another reason for my pessimism.

Still no word on Joba, but I am bracing myself for the very worst. Personally I would end his season. This season does not look like it is going anywhere fast for the Yankees and we need Joba to be a LONGGG term starter for us, not a guy we are going to ruin because we went for broke this year, especially when the playoff prospects for us aren't looking too hot.

Those of you who know me know that I have been a Melky fan from the very start. I wanted him up when he was in the minors, through when he was overmatched in Boston, all through last year, and I had very high hopes for Melky this season and beyond. However, Melky needs to get sent down to AAA for a while. He needs to know that he is not guaranteed a spot in the line-up and that if he doesn't produce he is replaceable with either Damon, Christian, or you can bring back Gardner (the Yankees did go on quite a run with Gardner playing, even if he struggled). Austin Jackson might be able to make the leap to the majors next year and the battle for CF should be quite a good one in the preseason.

Joba Update

Joba Chamberlain is being sent down to Alabama to meet with specialist Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion, which cannot be good news. It looks like Ian Kennedy will be brought up to start either Friday or Saturday in Anaheim. If the Yankees loose Joba for any sort of extended period of time they are in trouble. They lost last night after Andy Pettitte didn't pitch exceptionally well, and tonight Sir Sidney is on the mound, the Knight with the 1.66 WHIP.

Some good news coming out of Tampa, Phil Hughes will start Thursday night in Scranton-Wilkes Barre. He will get up to 65-70 pitches, hopefully one or two more starts and he can be brought up and see if he can help this mess of a rotation.

Yanks at Rangers

Here is tonight's line up courtesy of Peter Abraham:

Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Nady DH
Cano 2B
Sexson 1B
Molina C
Christian CF

Andy Pettite (12-8 4.18 ERA) vs Matt Harrison (2-2 7.40 ERA).

The Melk Man gets another day off, which is good considering he is awful lately. Molina is catching Pettitte tonight. As you probably recall, Pettitte pitched terrible his last outing, with Pudge behind the plate. Joba Chamberlain had his MRI today, but the Yankees will not release any information on him until Dr. James Andrews checks out the results. Matt Harrison has never faced any of the Yankee batters.

Joba's Injury

Last night during the 5th inning of the ball game, Joba Chamberlain was removed from the game was a shoulder injury. "He has a little stiffness. We believe it's muscular," Girardi said. "We'll see what the tests reveal. I don't think it's serious. I don't think he'll be shut down a long time." If Joba's injury is serious I think you can kiss this season goodbye. Joba most definitely miss his next start, and barring any changes you are looking at Rasner, Ponson and Giese in the rotation for at least the next week.

The Yankees sent Joba back to New York for tests, so maybe we will know something later today.

Yankees at Rangers

Here is tonight's line up via Peter Abraham :

Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
A-Rod 3B
Giambi 1st
Nady LF
Cano 2B
Pudge C
Christian CF

The pitching match up looks like this : Joba Chamberlain (4-3 2.24 ERA) vs Vincente Padilla (12-5 4.52 ERA)

Some notes : Melky is 3 for his last 23, so it is no surprise that he is getting a night off. He has been really struggling as of late. The Yankees are 4-5 since acquiring Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte. Speaking of Nady, he was named Co-Player of the Week with Mike Aviles, shortstop for the Royals. Nady hit .529 with 3 home runs, 3 doubles and 10 RBI's last week. Some unfortunately news to pass along, Giambi has shaved the mustache.

Yanks vs Angels

Here is tonight's lineup per Peter Abraham.

Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
A-Rod 3B
Giambi DH
Cano 2B
Betemit 1B
I-Rod C
Cabrera CF

Sir Sidney is on the mound, maybe for the last time if he has another outing like his last one. Sidney has to keep runners off base, his current WHIP is 1.66, which is terrible. What is Joe Girardi's fascination with Wilson Betemit, he has been playing god awful lately and yet still manages to find himself in the lineup.