Sox and Pinstripes | Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees – The Greatest Rivalry in Baseball

The Yankees officially sign Gary Sanchez and two other players

Yesterday was the first day of the international free agent period, so let's get started. Which prospects did the Yankees sign?

Gary Sanchez - Catcher, 16 years old

The much anticipated signing of Gary Sanchez is finally official. Sanchez signed somewhere between $2.5-3 million. This is clearly the best guy the Yankees got today. He has plus tools all around as a catcher, although he is a slow runner. Nonetheless he was one of the best in this years class, Baseball Prospectus had Sanchez ranked as the second best player to Miguel Angel Sano. He's a pretty exciting prospect that I will keep track of over the next few years.

Chris Cabrera - Right handed Pitcher, 16 years old

This kid sounds like a bargain to me, since the Yankees have reportedly signed Cabrera for only 400k. Here is a scouting report on Cabrera that I put up yesterday: Cabrera has some more polished stuff (for a 16 year old) and has drawn plenty of interest around the league. He sits in the low 90's with his fastball and has touched 94. He also offers a slider and change up that could potentially become plus pitches and throws with decent command.

Damian Arredondo -  Shortstop, 16 years old

Arredondo was reportedly signed by the Yankees for 850k. From what I hear he projects to able to stay a shortstop, his defensive ability is a plus, and his speed is a plus-plus tool for him.  All of his tools project nicely. I guess that means the Yankees just have to make his tools successful, but that's always easier said than done for all prospects.

The Yankees budget in the international market was said to be 4.5 million dollars. If you do the math, 400k+850k+3mil= 4.25 million dollars, which means the Yankees are probably done signing players this year.  I expected another big name to be here. Granted things can change, there are several players left on the market. Due to the economic climate most teams are waiting for price tags on players to drop a bit. This means we might be hearing about the Yankees signing another player sometime in the next few days or in a week or two.  Miguel Angel Sano didn't sign with a team yet because of an ongoing investigation about his age. His top suitors are said to be the Twins, Orioles, and the Pirates.  I would say the chances of the Yankees signing Sano at this point is around a 10% chance. You can never truly count the Yankees out, however I doubt they sign Sano.

I'm still wondering if the Yankees will sign Cuban defectors Noel Arguelles and Jose Iglesias. The Yankees have been strongly linked to these two players. If they sign Arguelles, and Iglesias, this signing period would have been a great success, not that it isn't already a good one.

Another highly regarded player defected from Cuba yesterday by the name of Aroldis Chapman, you may remember Chapman from the WBC.  The left-hander was throwing heat, touching as high as 102 mph against international competition. His agent has recently said he could have defector Aroldis Chapman signed, in shape and ready for next spring training ready to play for a major league team. He is only 21 years old and the Yankees have already openly expressed their interest in him. However scouts are already saying that they don't expect Chapman to be major league ready right away. He will likely need some more polishing in Triple-A ball. It has been noted that Chapman lets his emotions run too high when things aren't going well, and he also has been said to have little respect for his managers.  It sounds like he has some maturity issues, but his talent is unquestionable. A lot of scouts say he would have probably went 2nd overall in this years draft behind Strasburg.  I wonder high this bidding war will go during the offseason. The Yankees are likely to be right in the middle.

A plethora of Red Sox major league and minor league thoughts and observations on a much-needed off day

Jason Bay is in the midst of a monster slump that has seen his average plummet from .286 on June 2 to .262. Yesterday, while the Red Sox staged a four-run rally to tie the game in the ninth and then take the lead in the 11th en route to a remarkable win, the right-handed slugger was 0-for-5 with five strikeouts. In the Baltimore series, he was 0-for-15, and he has just two home runs in his last 15 games.

That said, Bay definitely needed today's off day. He put baseball aside today and was one of 360 people to be sworn in as an American citizen at Faneuil Hall in Boston. Bay is a proud native Canadian, but his wife and daughters are Americans, and he has looked forward to this day. His debut as an American citizen at Fenway Park will take place Friday night against Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners.

Sox sign first round draft pick Reymond Fuentes

Reymond Fuentes has been compared to a young Johnny Damon and Jacoby Ellsbury. According to Baseball America, the 18-year-old was the third fastest player among high schoolers available in this year's draft. Boston selected Fuentes in the first round and announced yesterday they had reached terms with the outfielder out of Puerto Rico for a reported signing bonus of $1.13 million. The cousin of Carlos Beltran will report to the Gulf Coast League Red Sox in Ft. Myers. In the next month, I will be in Ft. Myers interviewing some of the newest Red Sox minor leaguers for Sox and Pinstripes and the column I write for Comcast SportsNet New England's Wicked Good Sports web site.

The Red Sox are collecting speedy outfield prospects. Ryan Westmoreland and Pete Hissey were high-profile picks in last year's draft. Che-Hsuan Lin and Ryan Kalish, one of my favorite prospects, are two others.

Sox represented well at Double-A and Triple-A All-Star Games

Clay Buchholz, who is 5-1 with a 1.90 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP at Pawtucket, and Fernando Cabrera, who has a 1.03 ERA and 16 saves for the Paw Sox, were named to the International League All-Star Team. The IL All-Stars will play the Pacific Coast League All-Stars on July 15 in Portland, Oregon.

Most Red Sox fans are familiar with Buchholz, who will likely open the 2010 season in the Red Sox starting rotation. As for Cabrera, he is a pleasant surprise. The 27-year-old right-hander has major league experience, but injuries have hampered his career. Now he is healthy, and chances are he will join the Red Sox bullpen when roster expand on September 1, or possibly before if an injury arises to a current Red Sox reliever.

Earlier this week, I wrote that Junichi Tazawa (World Team) and Casey Kelly (USA Team) will play in the Futures Game, which will be held in St. Louis as part of the All-Star Game week. Tazawa is also one of four Portland Sea Dogs named to Northern Division Team in the Eastern League All-Star Game. The 23-year-old right-hander, who was signed as a free agent out of Japan last off-season, is 7-4 with a 2.92 ERA and has showcased the poise of a veteran. First baseman Lars Anderson, third baseman Jorge Jimenez and right-handed reliever T.J. Large (3-0, 0.893 ERA, six saves) are the other Portland players selected to participate.

Sox set to sign several high profile international free agents

The Red Sox are perennial World Series contenders and boast one of the game's deepest and most talented farm systems because of their superb player development personnel and their commitment to spending money on high schoolers and college players in the major league draft, and international free agents. Better to open your wallet for prospects you can develop and keep under cost-effective team control than take a risk at spending $80-plus million and committing long-term contracts for established major leaguers.

The major league draft is an exciting time for the Red Sox because of all the shiny new presents that are placed under the tree. The international free agent signing period, which opens today, is reason for more exhilaration among Red Sox die-hards who closely follow the farm system. According to multiple media outlets, the Sox will sign Dominican shortstop Jose Gregorio Vinicio to a $2 million bonus and Dominican left-handed pitcher Victor Payano to a $900,000 bonus. Jorge Arangure of ESPN The Magazine reported that Boston has reached an agreement with Dominican right-hander Raul Alcantara.

According to SoxProspects.com, "Boston also appears to be the front runner to sign Max Kepler, a German centerfielder considered to be the best player to come out of Europe in years. Kepler is a potential five-tool player that has displayed a lot of maturity for a sixteen year old, both physically and mentally. He's fluid athletically, has a nice looking swing, and a potentially plus arm. While he has above average speed now, it may teeter down to average should he really fill out. He speaks fluent English."

The Red Sox have a plethora of highly regarded pitchers from Latin America who are ascending the minor league system. Left-hander Felix Doubront, right-hander Stolmy Pimentel, right-hander Roman Mendez and left-hander Manny Rivera (who was Boston's Minor League Latin Program Pitcher of the Year in 2008) are players to watch.

Trade rumors start to escalate

Now that July has arrived, the volume of trade rumors will gradually increase as the July 31 trade deadline draws nearer. Like it is during the Hot Stove League, some rumors will be credible while others will make no sense at all. Many are based on speculation. According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Arizona Diamondbacks are scouting the Red Sox. He writes that the Sox could be interested in corner infielder Chad Tracy (who just returned from an oblique strain) if Mike Lowell's tight hip takes longer to heal than expected.

Seems to me that, if the Red Sox bring in another left-handed hitter, Kansas City's Mark Teahen would be a better fit because he plays the corner infield and outfield positions. Garrett Atkins, who hits from the right side, would be ideal, too. The Rockies are reportedly interested in Takashi Saito.

The odd man out on any deal would be Rocco Baldelli, who had a game-tying two-run single in the ninth inning yesterday. Baldelli, who cannot play full games on consecutive days because of his channelopathy condition, has posted decent numbers in a reserve role for the Red Sox. He is hitting .289 with four home runs and 13 RBI in 76 at-bats, and he provides proficient defense in the outfield. Though Baldelli hits from the right side, he is more vulnerable to being replaced than Mark Kotsay because Kotsay is more versatile and can spot start, if needed, at first base and all three outfield positions.

Yanks Keep On Rolling

Well, I left off last night saying that Pettitte needs to go out there tonight and just keep the line moving. He did exactly that. Pettitte, who has complained a lot this year about pitching at Yankee Stadium, came out tonight and threw one of his best games at home so far. For 7 innings, Andy had all his pitches working, and other than a HR by Griffey (a mistake that was made to him 620 times before), he kept the M's off balance all night. He threw 63 of his 98 (64%) of his pitches for strikes striking out 5 and walking just 1. At least for one night, I guess Andy will not be complaining about pitching in the new Yankee Stadium.

Pettitte was followed by 2 innings of perfect relief by the new and improved Yankees bullpen (no 10 run blowups for this 'pen). Aceves got the one batter he faced out, then for the second straight night Phil Coke was brought in to face the 2 lefties at the top of the lineup. For the second straight night, he got the job done. Of course, the 9th was all Mo's, who set the M's down in order for his 502nd career save. It's great to see pitcher after pitcher come in and get the job done (last night aside, this is what Sox fans have been used to all year.)

On the other side of the ball, the Yanks did leave some room for improvement. They started off the game by getting 2 runners on in the first and second innings, but both innings ended in rally killing double plays. They scored 4 runs, all on home runs. Damon started it off with a solo HR in the 3rd; then Melky had a solo of his own in the 5th. Melky's home run was contested by the M's as it flew almost right over the top of the foul pole. However, after a two and a half minute review, the umpires confirmed that the Melk-man had indeed delivered. Then in the 6th A-Rod continued his hot hitting by crushing a 2 run HR to dead center. As a point of reference, it probably would have hit off the front of the black in the old stadium. 

Well the Yanks are now a season high 13 games over 500. Pettitte got the championship belt for the night. Things are looking good right now. Everyone is in a good mood these days. It really looks like Girardi getting himself thrown out last Wednesday really may have fired up the Yanks. In fact, they have not been trailing in a game since the 6th inning of that game. I guess you never know what's going to get your team going. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but kudos to Girardi for sensing that something had to be done to wake up his team. 

On the injury front, it looks like Nady is going to have Tommy John surgery, again. Nady has most likely played his last game as a Yankee as he will be on the shelf probably until 2011. Good luck X-Man. We hardly knew thee. 

The International Free Agent Signing Period is Today

July 2nd is the first day that international prospects are able to sign with a professional team. In a few posts earlier this month I wrote about two of the top prospects on the market, Miguel Angel Sano and Gary Sanchez.  Sadly there hasn't been enough solid information going around to be able to write a solid article about who the Yankees might acquire. However this is what I do know. A source told me that pitching prospect Victor Payano has signed with the Boston Red Sox for $900,000 dollars. This was later reported on Baseball America's site. Payano's velocity ranges between 87-90 mph, while advertising an average slider, and change-up with solid command. He is 16 years old in case you were wondering. Most prospects that are signed in this period are 16 years old. I'm just going to throw around information that I've heard, enjoy!

Gary Sanchez reportedly signed with the Yankees for 2.5 million. He was one of the best prospects in this market. He has plus tools across the board as a catcher, besides his speed which is considered a negative.  The Yankees kept their desire to attain Sanchez hardly a secret. He was said to be in the Yankees facilities an awful lot, so the Yankees know what they're getting, more so than anyone else. 

The Yankees have also reportedly showed interest in more prospects than any other team, since they apparently had almost every good prospect in their facilities at one time or another.  Here are some of the top names: 

Guillermo Pimentel-CF

Pimentel is among the best prospects in this crop of talent.  He is an advance hitter for his age. Pimentel’s swing is short and direct to the ball, and he has very good power for a 16-year-old kid. He will likely command a little less than Gary Sanchez. The Yankees have been loosely connected to Pimentel, and the Rangers have supposedly already signed him for 2 million dollars. However nothing is official until July 2nd. Contracts fall apart sometimes.

Chris Cabrera-RHP

Cabrera has some more polished stuff (for a 16 year old) and has drawn plenty of interest around the league. He sits in the low 90's with his fastball and has touched 94. He also offers a slider and change up that could potentially become plus pitches and throws with decent command.

Jean Carlos Batista-SS

Batista has a projectable frame and solid athleticism that hints at the ability to stay at SS. His swing shows some power with the potential for it to turn average-above average in the future. Batista has 5 tool skills and he's been showing a solid swing from both sides of the plate. He's a very exciting talent because few July 2 guys have all 5 tools in a package such as Batista does.

Cuban Defectors Noel Arguelles and Jose Iglesias

Here is a scouting report from Baseball Prospectus:

"[Noel]Arguelles is considered a better prospect than Iglesias, as a left hander standing 6'3, tipping the scales at 210 lbs., and hitting 93 mph with his fastball. Arguelles has a solid curveball, changeup, and command, along with a recently-added slider that some scouts say has quickly become his best off-speed pitch. Some scouts saw him sitting at 88 mph recently and said Arguelles was out of shape, but other clubs have recently watched him hit 91 mph and say his body isn't a big concern. Every team I've spoken with is comfortable with his talent, given his consistent international performances. Executives agree that Arguelles would have been a late first rounder or sandwich pick in the recent draft, if he entered the draft rather than become a free agent."

"[Jose] Iglesias has a similarly strong tournament record, drawing attention for his flashy glovework at shortstop, with one scout grading his fielding as an 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale. His arm is enough to stick at shortstop, but his range is somewhat limited by his fringe-average speed. Iglesias makes the most of his ability, with instincts that enhance his tools and excellent makeup. He bats from the right side and while his overall offensive package leaves a bit to be desired, most scouts agree Iglesias will hit enough to allow him to profile as a big league regular. He has decent pop in his 5'10 frame, at a maxed-out 180 lbs., though he can get pull-happy at times. An international scouting director called Iglesias' total package, "Ryan Theriot with better hands." Iglesias is a defensive-oriented overachiever and executives say he would be more of a 2nd-3rd rounder if eligible for the recent draft."

Arguelles and Iglesias are both 19 years old. Arguelles is also believed to only be 2 to 3 years away from major league ready. The Yankees are said to be heavy favorites to sign BOTH of these players.

Players who have supposedly signed already

Wagner Mateo OF – St. Louis ($3.1 million)
Gary Sanchez C – Yankees ($2.5 million)
Guillermo Pimentel OF – Texas ($2 million)
Jose Vinicio SS – Red Sox ($1.5 million)
Rossel Herrera SS – Rockies ($1 million)
Alex Pharma OF/1B – Mariners ($1 million)
Victor Payano P – Red Sox ($800,000)
Juan Urbina LHP – Mets ($800,000) – son of Ugeuth Urbina
Jurickson Profar RHP – Texas ($700,000)

The international market is the one place that Yankee scouts seem to thrive in.  It's one of the main reasons the farm system is no longer pathetic. I can't wait to see who the Yankees get, even though I know most of these players won't make much of an impact on a major league team in the future. 

This is what I know and what I've heard up to this point. Hopefully many of you are happy with this information. Either way I will be updating tomorrow to let everyone know who the Yankees have signed and a scouting report to go along with it. 

If you are still hungry for more information, here are the links to what I wrote about prospects Gary Sanchez and Miguel Sano:

http://www.soxandpinstripes.com/sox_and_pinstripes/2009/06/the-yankees-signing-miguel-angel-sano-seems-unlikely-.html

http://www.soxandpinstripes.com/sox_and_pinstripes/2009/06/the-international-free-agent-period-gary-sanchez.html

Enjoy! Comment on anything!

Red Sox deliver a miracle of their own in dramatic comeback over Orioles

Can you recall a more bizarre turn of events over the course of back-to-back games in modern Red Sox history? I can't. A day after the Sox coughed up a 10-1 lead and Baltimore walked away with a stunning 11-10 win, they shocked the Orioles by plating four runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Julio Lugo delivered a seeing-eye single in the top of the 11th inning that scored Jacoby Ellsbury, who led off the frame with a double, and Jonathan Papelbon retired the O's in order in the bottom of the inning to secure an eventful victory and pass Bob Stanley for the top spot on Boston's all-time saves list with 133.

Today's comeback was not quite as dramatic as the Mother's Day Miracle of 2007, but it was similar. For eight innings, the Sox were shut down by Baltimore's starting pitcher over eight innings. In 2007, it was Jeremy Guthrie. Today, it was rookie right-hander Brad Bergesen, who allowed a run and four hits. In 2007, Boston scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth to earn a walk-off win at Fenway. Today, it rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth inning, two of those runs coming with two outs. Then the bullpen did its job, the Sox scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th and Papelbon did his job in the bottom of the inning at Camden Yards.

Today's stunning come-from-behind victory eases the sting of last night's shocker that saw the Orioles score 10 runs and 13 hits in the final two innings off Red Sox relievers. This afternoon, Josh Beckett was reached for five runs and six hits through the first three-plus innings. After Beckett served up a solo home run by Ty Wigginton to lead off the fourth, he retired the final 12 batters he faced. Then Daniel Bard (two innings), Ramon Ramirez (one inning) and Papelbon (one inning) combined to dismiss all 12 batters they encountered.

Baseball is an intriguing game, indeed. After Beckett allowed Wigginton's dinger, Red Sox pitching had allowed 15 runs to Baltimore in six innings, and the O's scored at least one run in six consecutive frames. Then Beckett settled down, looking like his usual dominant self, the bullpen looked strong, and the Sox retired 24 hitters in a row.

Entering the top of the ninth, it appeared that the Sox would go down without a fight. Bergesen's lone belmish over eight innings was a two-out RBI double by Dustin Pedroia in third, and Pedroia ended a potential rally by getting thrown out at third base. Boston offered a glimmer of hope against Baltimore when Pedroia walked and Youkilis clubbed his 14th home run of the season off Jim Johnson, trimming the deficit to 5-3. George Sherrill entered and fanned Jason Bay, who struck out five times today, and David Ortiz, who was fooled by a nasty curve ball. Ellsbury extended the inning with a base hit, and then Sherrill had trouble throwing strikes. He walked Jeff Bailey and Jason Varitek to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli tied the game by grounding a single past the diving shortstop Robert Andino. The Sox loaded the bases again when J.D. Drew walked, but Danys Baez relieved Sherrill and got Pedroia on a pop out.

While Bard retired the side in the bottom of the ninth and Ramirez did the same in the 10th, the Sox finally reached Baez in the top of the 11th. Ellsbury ripped a double down the left field line that barely caught chalk. He advanced to third on Bailey's fly out. That's when Lugo grounded a perfectly placed ball through the drawn-in infield for the go-ahead run.

Papelbon has been drama prone in 2009, but today he recorded a routine save. Felix Pie led off the bottom of the 11th and was dismissed on a pop out. Nick Markakis, who belted what would be the game-winning two-run double last night in the bottom of the eighth off Papelbon, was retired on a harmless fly out. Aubrey Huff ended the game on a pop out to Lugo.

Especially after last night's debacle, 48-30 and no worse than a 2.5-game lead over the Yankees is much better than 47-31 and the chance that Boston would see its' American League East lead shaved to 1.5 games. The Sox won their seventh consecutive series, and now they have a much-needed off day on Thursday before opening a 10-game homestand (Seattle, Oakland and Kansas City) leading up to the All-Star break.

Can you remember a more unusual two-game span in your lifetime as a Red Sox fan? If so, I would like to know.

Yankee prospects Jesus Montero and Austin Jackson hitting for power

I'm a little upset right now since the post I just wrote was deleted by my computer's stupidity. Time to re-write it.

Yankee prospects, Jesus Montero and Austin Jackson are starting to hit for power in they're respective leagues.

Montero is only 19 years old and was recently promoted to Double-A Trenton for his outstanding hitting ability.  I was wondering how long would it take for Montero to hit his first home run in Double-A ball. In case some of you don't already know Single-A to Double-A is said to be the biggest transition in the minor leagues, because the talent pool in Double-A is a lot better.  It took 18 games for Montero to his first home run and it looks like he's starting to heat up. Montero hit 2 home runs in yesterday's game! Montero has always been known for his outstanding hitting ability, so this doesn't surprise me at all.  When the Yankees signed Montero in 2006, a lot of scouts said Montero was the best prospect to come out of Venezuela since Miguel Cabrera. Believe the hype, that's all I've got to say. Here is Montero's stat line:

Catcher-Jesus Montero

High-A Ball: 48 Games/.356BA/.406OBP/.583SLG/8HR/37RBI

Double-A Ball: 19 Games/.304/.377OBP/.478SLG/3HR/11RBI

Jesus Montero might be playing in Triple-A Scranton next season at only 20 years old! The only mock on Montero is his ability behind the plate. Montero hasn't been a good defensive catcher thus far, but that can change as he continues to improve. Montero is a big guy, which makes it hard for him to maneuver defensively, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him playing a different position when he makes it to the big leagues.  I think Montero will likely be the right or left fielder for the Yankees in the future. With his bat-potential there is no way the Yankees will trade him. This guy is the future franchise player for the Yankees, that's how good he is.  I would expect him to be in the big leagues by 2011, so don't get too excited.

Now it's time to talk about Austin Jackson. Jackson has been highly criticized for the way he has played this season. Critics will say through thorough statistical analysis that Jackson's batting average is more of a tribute to luck. Now as much as stats mean to baseball, when it comes to minor league prospects I would rather listen to people that watch them on an everyday basis. Jackson's critics are way to pessimistic for my taste. 

I've read a lot of news on how Jackson has played this season, particularly on what his teammates and coaches have to say about him. From their stand point, it sounds like he is playing very well, spraying the ball to all fields, strong defense, and a great personality.  Jackson is 22 years old in Triple-A and the main worry fans have about him is his power shortage this season. Let me repeat that, Jackson is 22 years old! The last tool to come to young players is usually power.  In Jackson's last few games it looks like his power has started to come, no one should be surprised. The Yankees minor league ball-parks are all said to be pitcher' stadiums, which has probably attributed to Jackson's lack of power. He still has the potential to hit 10-15 home runs in the majors. The most alarming statistic this season for Austin Jackson is his strike-out total. He has struck-out 74 times in only 72 games. This leads me to believe that Jackson will likely need more seasoning in the minors. I would expect Jackson to be the starting centerfielder by the middle of the 2010 season for the Yankees. Granted if he continues to hit for power and can cut down on his strike-out totals a bit this season, then he will likely be the starting centerfielder on Opening Day. Here is Jackson's stat line this season:

Centerfielder-Austin Jackson

Triple-A Ball: 72 Games/.320BA/.386OBP/.444SLG/3HR(all this month and 2 in last 3 games)/29RBI/13SB/0CS

Did I mention that Jackson is probably a better defender than Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera? The future is exciting for these two Yankee prospects.

Later today I will write about what prospects are the Yankees pursuing in this years international market. Tomorrow is the day that international prospects can sign with teams, should be pretty interesting to see who the Yankees get, because they have been linked to the most players.

Enjoy the post!

Not a Pretty Win, But Yanks Take Their 6th In A Row

Another game, another win for the Yankees. Doesn't it seem like forever ago that the Yanks were losing some awful games to the Nationals and Marlins? Well after looking so bad just a little over a week ago, the Yankees have now turned out a 6 game winning streak and are back to within 2.5 games of the Sox and have a 1.5 game lead in the Wild Card (I still think it's too early to really scoreboard watch, but how can you not?)

Tonight, the Yanks, behind a shaky performance by Joba, managed to hold on for an 8-5 victory over the Mariners. Joba was not bad tonight, but he did not have the control he showed against Atlanta in his last start. He was taken out after 5 1/3 with a runner on second after throwing 98 pitches. Once again, Joba walked too many people and just had trouble putting hitters away. Of course, it doesn't help when you do not throw many first pitch strikes. For the record, I am a Joba-as-a-starter guy. I would like to see him get sharper, but I have no problem being patient with him. He is still only 23 years old and the way he fits into the Yank's rotation, he really is only the 4th or 5th starter and while I know he is a better pitcher than that, that's really all the Yankees need him to pitch like at this point. 

The Yankees offense was there again tonight. Clearly they are out of the doldrums we as fans suffered through last week. Every starter had a hit tonight, and while they started off the game stranding a lot of runners and not hitting with RISP, they turned that around and managed to string together hits in the late innings and score some runs. It's especially good to see A-Rod heating up again. Like him or not, as he goes, so do the Yanks. They need him to be the hitter everyone knows he is. 

The bullpen tonight was good, except for Bruney. He is trying as hard as possible to make sure he loses the 8th inning role. He has spent most of the season on the DL, but the 8th inning was always reserved for him as long as he could stay healthy. However, recently, he has not been able to get through innings too cleanly. With Phil Hughes and Alfredo Aceves coming out of the pen and mowing people down, if Bruney cannot straighten himself out, it's only a matter of time before someone else is pitching the 8th. 

Let's hope Pettitte can go out there tomorrow night and keep the line moving and get the Yanks to 7 straight wins. 

P.S. The Yankees honored Mo tonight for his 500th save (and 1st RBI) by having him throw out the first pitch. As Michael Kay annoyingly kept pointing out, this made Mo the first person to throw out the ceremonial first pitch and also the non-ceremonial final pitch of a game. Whoopee, I say. 

Red Sox implosion against Orioles is a stunner

Sometimes, I wonder if I'm too immersed in Red Sox baseball. My emotions tend to flow with the team's fortunes during the season. I sleep well during a winning streak and I toss and turn in the midst of losing stretches. The Sox aren't on a losing skid by any means, but after last night's debacle that saw them cough up a 10-1 lead and fall to the Orioles, 11-10, I am sick to my stomach.

For a six-week period, I am taking rowing lessons on the Halifax River in Daytona Beach. I wake up at 5 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and hit the water for a vigorous early morning workout. Usually, I am solely focused on technique and form, but today all I could think about was how such a reliable bullpen could allow 10 runs in two innings.

John Smoltz pitched four solid innings - allowing a run and three hits - though his start was interrupted by a 71-minute rain delay. Justin Masterson took the mound when the game was resumed. The Sox held a 9-1 lead and stretched it to 10-1. Masterson retired the first six batters he faced, striking out four, then the pen imploded.

It was appropriate that Jonathan Papelbon served up a two-run double to Nick Markakis that gave Baltimore an 11-10 advantage with two outs in the eighth. Every other Red Sox reliever who stepped to the mound was knocked around, so why not the closer? Masterson allowed hits to five straight batters in the seventh, including a three-run dinger by pinch-hitter Oscar Salazar. Masterson was charged with five runs. The Orioles sent 10 batters to the plate and plated five in the seventh, and they did the same in the eighth. Hideki Okajima was charged with four runs and five hits in one-third of an inning. Takashi Saito surrendered a run and though Papelbon was not charged with the runs that scored on Markakis' double, he did not get the job done.

This loss is monumental. It is Baltimore's biggest comeback since 1956. Yet it is only one game. If the Sox win this afternoon, when Josh Beckett faces Brad Bergesen, they will take their seventh series in a row, and they will have a better feeling as they open a 10-game homestand leading up to the All-Star break. If they lose today, the sting from last night's collapse will linger.

There were some bright spots last night. Smoltz looked strong. Without the rain delay, he likely would have given the Sox six or seven innings. Instead, he went four and pitched well. Jeff Bailey, who was recalled yesterday to fill Mike Lowell's roster spot, was 3-for-4 with a triple and a walk. The Sox actually had a chance to tie the game in the ninth. Bailey led off with a single and was lifted for pinch-runner Nick Green. Baltimore closer George Sherrill struck out Julio Lugo and got Dustin Pedroia on a fly out, but Kevin Youkili reached base when he was hit on the forearm. Jason Bay had a chance to tie the score or give Boston the lead, but he struck out to end the game.

Lowell placed on the DL, Bailey summoned from Pawtucket

Better to give Mike Lowell's tight hip rest during a soft schedule leading up to the All-Star break than try to squeeze a few more games out of him before the second half. Apparently, that is what the Red Sox thought when they placed the third baseman on the 15-day disabled list today. The move is retroactive to June 28, so Lowell can rejoin the team when it travels to Toronto for a three-game set to open the second half of the season on June 17.

Lowell was replaced on the roster by Jeff Bailey, who is in tonight's starting lineup at first base. The 30-year-old first baseman/outfielder hit .188 in 23 games for Boston earlier in the season. After a prolonged slump at Triple-A Pawtucket, Bailey recently started to produce at the plate. Leading up to today's return to Boston, he was in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak (12-for-34, .353) that increased his average to .259. He has seven home runs and 13 RBI in 36 games. Bailey, who was the International League MVP last season, will see time at first base and right field for the Red Sox.

Lowell's absence should not hurt the Sox lineup short term. They can start Kevin Youkilis at third and Mark Kotsay at first. If Jed Lowrie returns before the All-Star break, he can play third and Nick Green can play shortstop. Green can even play third. Doctors told Lowell that the tightness is to be expected, so he should be healthy for the second half, especially if Terry Francona gives him the occasional day off. If the condition of Lowell's hip worsens; however, the Sox will undoubtedly need to make a trade.

Even if Lowell's hip is fine, I will be surprised if they don't acquire someone who can play third. Hank Blalock of Texas is a possibility. So is Kansas City's Mark Teahen. Colorado's Garrett Atkins is another option. If Baltimore is open to trading within the division, Melvin Mora would be a good fit with the Red Sox. I've read where Aubrey Huff could also be traded, but he is not defensively sound. I like the idea of Teahen in a Red Sox uniform, but Mora is appealing, especially since he hits from the right side.

As for tonight, Francona has loaded the lineup with right-handed hitters since the Sox are facing Baltimore left-hander Rich Hill. Here is the starting lineup:

1. Julio Lugo, SS
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
4. Jason Bay, LF
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Jason Varitek, C
7. Rocco Baldelli, RF
8. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
9. Jeff Bailey, 1B

Starting Pitcher - John Smoltz

Yankees deepen bench by acquiring Eric Hinske

Are the Pittsburgh Pirates the Kansas City Royals of this generation? The Yankees seem to have designated their favorite trade partner of late as they agreed once again in a deal with Pittsburgh sending two Single A players to the Pirates in exchange for Eric Hinske.

The deal isn't team-changing, but it's certainly a nice additional piece, especially considering they gave up Casey Erickson (who had a 2.25 ERA but more than a hit an inning in three starts) and 23 year old Eric Fryer (who hit .250 for Staten Island and was in the Chase Wright DFA deal).  It's an OK deal for Pittsburgh because they get two more prospects and at this point that's their best bet towards competing in the long term (albeit these two prospects are not top-notch). This also works for the Yankees, which get a veteran left-handed bat with some power off the bench and an additional utility guy. Hinske was above average for Tampa Bay last year while playing everyday and is .255 with 10 extra base hits and 11 RBI (in 106 AB) for the Pirates in 2009.

New York can go in a few directions here. They now have to find two spots for: Cody Ransom, Francisco Cervelli, Ramiro Pena, Jose Molina and Hinske. Shelley Duncan is now guaranteed to continue clubbing long balls in Scranton. I would prefer Hinske and Pena to join one of Cabrera/Gardner/Swisher and Molina on the MLB bench, but Pena playing everyday to continue to grow at 23 years old in Scranton or Trenton isn't the end of the world. Cervelli will almost certainly be sent down to make room for Molina who will finish out his tenure in a walk year with the pinstripes. I would prefer Pena because I can see Brett Gardner playing everyday and Pena would then provide a utility defensive glove, a bunter, and speed in late game situations. Instead the Yankees will probably opt for Ransom who has some pop and an inadequate glove, but also speed and the ability to play anywhere in the infield.

Obviously whoever isn't in right field between Swisher and Cabrera (and sometimes Gardner) is on the bench. So Cabrera/Swisher, Molina, Hinske and Ransom will provide the Yankees with someone capable of playing every position on the diamond off the bench, speed, power from both sides and defensive ability in the former two names.

Rumor also has it Pena will work on playing in the outfield to boost his value to the team and will probably return as a super-utility player in 2010. This move gives the Yankees plenty of offensive flexibility and Hinske has demonstrated he can play effectively for long periods of time without breaking down in the event of injury. It's safe to say this was the answer to the loss of Xavier Nady and considering what was given up, I can't say I have an issue with it. Hinske should be able to rediscover his power with a short porch in right. Now the Yankees have pop, speed, defense, and a nice core of veterans off the bench, and already a slew of young, homegrown and effective names ready to come to add support in September and next season.

A study of American cities (rivalry style) and a special date for Saturday

Just for giggles, TravelAdvisor.com has been running a survey and recently published results on a series of questions. In case you were interested, of all the cities in America, Boston was voted to have the most annoying accents and New York city, the city popularly targeted for its rudeness and arrogance, was voted to have the most helpful people. Bias aside, I think Providence, Rhode Island,  has the most annoying accent in the country, and I agree with the New York title. I remember when September 11th happened, there was no group of people who came together more efficiently and affectionately and I know from countless visits as long as you use your head there are 10 millionish people who are your friends, not your enemy. It's the straight-off-the-dock tourists who stop in the middle of a crosswalk or hold hands at a standstill in the middle of a street during rush hour who are treated rudely by people trying to make a living or get to their destination.

To me, that's their own damn fault for being so stupid. It's not a matter of New Yorkers not respecting tourists and their desire to sight-see because if you did it properly there wouldn't be an issue. It's a matter of going about it in a bone-headed fashion which understandably upsets some people. Oh and by the way, most of those "rude" people going to work, aren't native to New York City to begin with. If you give proper respect to natives of any area and don't insult their intelligence, you're going to get proper help and kindness, I truly believe that, and in my personal experiences, that's been nothing but accurate.

Other notable accolades: Detroit was voted the least likeable and dirtiest city, and Cleveland was voted the most boring, while Portland, Oregon, was voted the most underrated.

Finally, as you all know on this site I like to write about my live experiences at Yankee games. Well this Saturday we're going to get a special treat.

If you remember last August, my final Yankee game at the old stadium was accompanied by two of my female friends, both of whom were Red Sox fans as it was a Yankees-Red Sox matchup which the Sox won (the start of a nine game winning streak and my bad luck live at games).  Well this Saturday I will be at the Yankees-Blue Jays game, which, barring a miracle, once again will feature Wang as the starter (which, if you recall, I was at the 22-4 loss he started against the Indians earlier this season). Lucky for me, Halladay goes today so he will start Friday in the Bronx and not when I'm there.

This time, my sociological experiment will get a new wrinkle. I'm bringing my girlfriend to this game (my first ever date to a Yankees' game) and she will be wearing a Youkilis T-Shirt, seeing as she has bad taste in baseball teams and grew up in Maine. I will be wearing my new Mark Teixeira shirt she bought me on Sunday for my birthday, so it will be rival first basemen day at the Stadium on the 4th of July. I'll let you know how it all turns out.

Drew's bat, Lester's pitching fuel Red Sox to 4-0 win over Orioles

J.D. Drew is the type of player that Terry Francona can put anywhere in the lineup. He has enough pop to hit No. 3 or No. 5, and he has the plate discipline to bat in the tablesetting spots (No. 1 and No. 2). Since the veteran right fielder is more of an on-base percentage guy than a run producer, I think he is best suited for the top of the order. Tonight, Francona moved Drew to the leadoff spot with positive results. He opened the game with a triple and scored moments later on Dustin Pedroia's RBI single. In the fourth, he ripped a two-run home run off Baltimore starter Jason Berken. Drew's bat, and Jon Lester's arm, guided the Red Sox to a 4-0 victory in the first of a three-game series at Camden Yards.

Lester tossed seven shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out eight with no walks. He improved to 7-6 and lowered his ERA to 4.35. Boston starting pitchers have surrendered just two runs in the last four games, which is good news since the Sox' bats have mustered 10 runs in those four games. Because of the exceptional starting pitching, Boston is 3-1 in that span.

The bullpen continues to be a position of strength for the Sox. In the last three games, Boston relievers have tossed eight scoreless innings. Tonight, Manny Delcarmen (two-thirds of an inning), Hideki Okajima (one-third of an inning), Ramon Ramirez (two-thirds of an inning) and Jonathan Papelbon (one-third of an inning) held the Orioles scoreless. Papelbon's 19th save of the season tied him with Bob Stanley for the team's all-time saves mark at 132.

After retiring the first two batters in the ninth, Ramirez encountered trouble when Ty Wigginton grounded a single and Melvin Mora walked. Since the game-tying run was on deck, it was a save situation for Papelbon, who threw three pitches and got Matt Wieters on a game-ending fly out made possible by a diving catch in shallow left field from Jason Bay. If not for Papelbon allowing a solo home run to David Ross in the ninth inning of Boston's 4-1 win at Atlanta on Friday night, the Sox would have three shutouts in four games. Two shutouts in four games, and three runs allowed in the span, is an acceptable consolation.

In his first game back in the No. 2 spot, Pedroia was 1-for-3 with an RBI, two walks and stolen base. He is clearly more comfortable at No. 2 than in the leadoff spot. Since Drew is a high on-base percentage guy, the Sox are better with him batting leadoff if Francona keeps Jacoby Ellsbury at No. 7. Ellsbury, by the way, was 1-for-3 with a run and two stolen bases (he now has 33 on the season).

On Tuesday, John Smoltz will make his second start in a Red Sox uniform, opposing Baltimore right-hander Rich Hill (3-2, 6.03 ERA). Smoltz's pitching line (five runs and seven hits over five innings) last Thursday against the Nationals was not as bad as the numbers indicate. He was fueled with adrenaline and couged up four runs in the first inning. He looked impressive in the final four frames. Expect a more polished outing from Smoltz Tuesday night.

Notes and observations

• Mike Lowell received an injection of the lubricant Synvisc and had fluid drained from his hip today. He will miss the series in Baltimore. Terry Francona mentioned the Lowell could go on the 15-day disabled list, which I think would be an excellent idea. Mark Kotsay is filling in admirably for Lowell. Kotsay was 2-for-4 tonight and is batting .310 and providing strong defense at first base. Kevin Youkilis, of course, is a solid defensive third baseman. The Sox need a healthy Lowell for the second half, so it makes sense to give him a rest through the All-Star break. That Lowell is experiencing discomfort in his surgically repaired hip is no surprise. Doctors told him this would happen. He will likely not return to full strength until next season, but he has proven he can be productive this year, thus the reason that he should get a breather for the 10-game homestand leading up to the All-Star break against Seattle, Oakland and Kansas City.
• That Boston defeated Baltimore is nothing special. The Sox are 5-0 against the Orioles this season and have won eight in a row over the Birds. A shutout of the Orioles; however, is impressive. Since June 9, Baltimore leads the majors with a .309 team batting average, and the lineup can score runs. Pitching is the Orioles' Achilles heel.
• A recent Twitter post from Peter Gammons indicates that Boston is one of the team interested in Kansas City's versatile Mark Teahen, who plays the infield and the outfield. Since Lowell could use off days in the second half, Teahen would be useful for the Sox since he plays the corner infield spots. If the Sox acquired him, he would replace Rocco Baldelli on the roster. Mark Kotsay would serve as the backup center fielder, and J.D. Drew can play center, too. Teahen is proficient in right field. Nick Green can play right field as well. Teahen, who is hitting .281 with nine home runs and 28 RBI is 27 and hits from the left side. Adding Teahen would make the Sox bench loaded with left-handed hitters since Kotsay and George Kottaras also bat from the left side. When Nick Green moves to a utility role upon Jed Lowrie's return, he would be the lone right-handed hitting bat off the bench.

All the pieces could be coming together

Often times on this site we have talked about how baseball has many twists and turns throughout the span of a 162-game season. It's impossible to know anything is for certain. The majority of predictions we make in the pre-season will look foolish by November if we only went back and checked up on them. Last year not even any ESPN "experts" chose the Phillies OR the Rays to make the World Series. Baseball, perhaps more than any other sport, is completely unpredictable because the sport is twice as long as anything else. That's why in April we could feel like this team was no different than last year, in May we could feel like the Yankees will win the division and the World Series and in June like Girardi should be fired and the core blown up from the Bronx Bombers.

Statistics don't always tell the story either. For instance, the Yankees are 11th in team ERA in the American League right now, yet second in Batting Average Against. Though much was made of their poor play against the Marlins and Nationals, and though much has also been made of Red Sox dominance against the NL in recent years, the two teams finished within a game of each other in 2009 during interleague play (the Sox were 11-7 and the Yankees were 10-8). The Yankees are first in long balls given up by the bullpen, but their bullpen has seen the likes of: Marte, Albaladejo Ramirez, Veras and Claggett all come and go, and those names being the biggest culprits of such poor bullpen numbers. Alfredo Aceves, Brett Tomko, Phil Hughes and Dave Robertson were all not on the Opening Day roster, and yet they comprise more than half the names of Yankees' relievers in the present day. Tomko is the long man and is interchangeable, you won't see him here by the time September comes around. In fact, it would shock me if there wasn't a name from outside the organization here to help out by the trade deadline because bullpen depth is the one place there is a glaring weakness on this team. It doesn't hurt so much when the good Burnett is here, the team scores runs when Pettitte pitches, the real Wang is on the mound and Joba and Sabathia are throwing well, nor is it as dangerous with Aceves and Hughes back there, but it's still a weakness nonetheless.

Anyway, New York has made improvements yet still ranks as one of the worst bullpens in the league despite their current pitchers having these numbers:

Rivera: 2.93
Hughes: 1.50 (as a reliever in 12 innings)
Aceves 2.16
Robertson: 2.60
Bruney: 2.84
Coke: 3.31

Just as the Sox did with Javier Lopez, the Yankees will cut ties with Tomko, whether that means a Melancon or Dunn callup, or an external acquisition, Brett Tomko will not bring down this bullpen in big moments. Other than him, you're talking about six healthy arms presently throwing the ball well. They've found their groove, Bruney is healthy, and Robertson and Coke seem to be building from their experience last year. As I have said repeatedly and all along, as soon as these guys had designated roles, they would throw the ball well. Now you see Bruney in the eighth inning, Hughes and Aceves in the sixth and seventh, Tomko in long relief and mopup, Coke against lefties in big spots and Robertson as the swingman while Rivera closes and all of a sudden these guys seem confident and effective. It's not a science, relievers are creatures of nature, when they have a routine, they thrive. It's that simple. One more arm will turn this initial weakness into an overwhelming strength. Of course, this also depends heavily on the health of the rotation. If Wang and Chamberlain go down like last year, you're taking Hughes out of his effective bullpen role and converting him back and maybe Aceves is coming with him. Then there's issues again. Hence another reason they could use another arm. For now, Hughes has been a major addition and if Bruney struggles to throw strikes they may flip-flop in their roles, Hughes is that good.

Which brings me to my next point: Notice how this all comes full circle. It was a matter of time before foolish Yankees fans and probable critics started raising the question whether Hughes should become a reliever from now on. Here's a newsflash in case you missed it the first eight million times: Good starters make great relievers. Their velocity improves, their numbers improve, their adrenaline raises. Instead of pacing themselves for seven innings, they only need to face three to six batters on a normal night, and logically, all three of those variables come into play. Any great starting pitcher or pitcher with the potential to be a great starting pitcher, whether it's Hughes, Chamberlain, Beckett, Lester, Santana, Halladay or anybody else, would make an excellent reliever. That's why you saw John Smoltz and Derek Lowe strive as closers. But remember this: Eighth inning guys are much, much, easier to find than front of the rotation starters.

Hughes and Chamberlain don't have ace numbers yet, but as you can see, they were both improving as starters and both are under 24 years of age and not in their primes yet. Yankee Universe will be much happier with Hughes and Chamberlain joining Sabathia as a three headed monster, than suring up the end of close games, trust me. For now, when Joba is having mechanical issues or Hughes is giving up long balls to begin games, naysayers are going to think they are brilliant. Anytime Brian Bruney blows a one run lead, people will panic, but in the long run, if you have any foresight, if you have any knowledge of how baseball works, you will realize championships are won from the guys who begin games, whether it's a starter or a position player, not by the guys who finish them, whether it's a reliever or a bench player.

And speaking of those bench players, isn't it nice to see the Yankees start to get a taste of what Sox fans saw in 2007 with their own team? A little rebuilding from within, a coming of age season? Ramiro Pena, Brett Gardner and Francisco Cervelli may not be in the majors for long this season, and especially won't be starting in the lineup. None of them may even end up as longterm starters, period. But isn't it nice to see three homegrowns make an impact to this team? Pena's glove and pesky hitting has been invaluable this year, particularly with A-Rod not being 100% and Ransom being injured and ineffective. Cervelli replaced Molina so well, some people are reluctant to let the best backup in the game get his job back.

Others are even unhappy when Jorge Posada starts at this point. Brett Gardner, like at every other level of the franchise, is proving he just needed time to adjust as he has turned into a .290 hitter with a mid-3 OBP and a tenacity for stealing bases (17/19 this season). He was a desperate move last year, failed, gained his job back with a huge spring, failed again, and now has taken his job back once more, but this time he seems like he can stick. Regardless, it wouldn't shock me if Gardner was on this team for the longterm in some capacity with Nick Swisher the next few years and someone like Melky Cabrera, who is young, has rebuilt his trade value and has had some clutch hits, gets traded for a team need.

Outfield isn't the problem even with Damon and Matsui gone next year, because at worst you're probably looking at Jackson, Gardner and Swisher in the mix in 2010, if not other names too. I am not one of the people on board with Pena and Cervelli both getting sent down now that Molina and Ransom are healthy. In fact, I think Pena can find enough at bats for when Cano runs into his slumps, Jeter needs a day off down the stretch and A-Rod needs his day off weekly where his at bats can be justified at the MLB level (remember when people were concerned Swisher wouldn't get enough playing time?) and he can stay with the big club. Cervelli, I've come to terms with should be sent down so he can get regular playing time and Pena can also act as the late-inning pinch runner, which is another reason you need one to stay here. Gardner will be playing everyday more than likely which makes the bench: Cabrera/Swisher, Molina, Ransom and Pena. That makes a switch hitter, two righties and a lefty. You can add Shelley Duncan for power if you wanted for days when Swisher is starting. Regardless, the fact of the matter is all those names you kept hearing about (and some you didn't) are starting to get old enough with enough experience where they are making impacts in the majors. It's a day long resented by critics of the farm system, but one inevitably bound to happen. WIthout: Cervelli, Pena, Gardner, Cabrera, Robertson, Hughes, Chamberlain and Coke, this team would have failed already in the wake of injuries.

It's conceivable the following names will be on this team in some capacity long term: Teixeira, Cano, Pena, Cervelli, Gardner/Cabrera (the other will be traded, you can mark it down), Jackson, Sabathia, Robertson, Hughes, Chamberlain, Aceves. Obviously there are variables: Jackson hasn't had a MLB at bat yet, maybe Cervelli or Pena falls below MLB bench caliber, perhaps Robertson doesn't cut it. Those are possibilities, but at this point I wouldn't say realistic ones. If you believe all of those names can play some sort of role, that means 11 roster spots are sewn up for the conceivable future. This list doesn't include: Jeter, A-Rod, Rivera, Posada, Bruney or Coke, who we don't know exactly how long they can still play, at what position, or if they will be traded. I have to believe out of this list, four years from now maybe one of them is playing where they are right now, and in this uniform.

June 28th, a day to truly remember

At some point in my life it was bound to happen. True, I was at Dwight Gooden's no-hitter and technically share a portion of Yankees' lore, but now my birthday will be remembered forever. Decades down the road the date of Mariano Rivera's 500th save will remain the same day I was born 22 years ago. In a baseball sense, I had a flawless anniversary of my entrance to the world. Rivera recorded his 500th career save, becoming just the second closer ever to reach the plateau, the Yankees swept the Mets, won their fifth game in a row, gained a game on the Red Sox, remained undefeated at Citi Field, Rivera had his first RBI of his career, K-Rod was embarrassed on national television and Chien-Ming Wang recorded his first win of the 2009 campaign. It was easily the most memorable and noteable game of the year and I'll always be able to remember what day it took place.

Trevor Hoffman will end up with the most saves in the history of Baseball, but like K-Rod's single season saves record, the definition of a closer will be Mariano Rivera and nobody else. Combining what he has accomplished in the regular season, All-Star Games against the game's best, playoffs, World Championships, and as both a closer and a setup man, it is unquestionable who the greatest reliever and specifically closer is in the history of the game. Mariano Rivera might be the most consistent professional on the face of the earth. He has made the biggest playoffs impacts, overcome adversity and probably recorded the greatest regular season for a pitcher ever (1996 when he wasn't actually a closer). He won't have the longest streak of saves, the most in a year, the sexiest stuff, or the ego normally connected to a player that wealthy and successful, but he is the most valuable Yankee of the last 15 years and possibly the most valuable pitcher in New York of all time. Yesterday might have been the final culmination of everything he has done right in the sport and with the game unless he gets to close out another World Championship.

Unfortunately, the day wasn't all positive. Continuing the inexplicable trend of recognizeable names passing away, Billy Mays joined the list early yesterday morning. At last check, he died of heart failure just days after a turbulent landing from a plane. What many don't know is Mays represented the American dream, rising from a humble Pittsburgh beginning, building his own empire, reaching levels of eight figures of worth and becoming a household name by himself while maintaining a loving marriage and relationship with his three year old daughter. Many people will remember him for his yelling nature during his marketing shtick on TV, not many will realize Mays was so good at what he did, it cost $50,000 a minute for his services by the time of his death. There's a lot of options for who to feel the worst for passing away recently, but count me part of the group truly envious of Billy Mays the person, and truly sorry for his untimely passing.

Red Sox unable to complete sweep in the finale for a third consecutive series

I shouldn't feel so greedy, but I can't help myself. Though I'm satisfied that the Red Sox have won six consecutive series, I would have felt ecstatic if they had completed three-game sweeps of Philadelphia, Washington and Atlanta. The Sox were in position to do just that after winning the first two games of all three series, but they were unable to win the finale. On Sunday, Boston's offense mustered just one run - a ninth inning RBI single by Jason Varitek - in a 2-1 loss to the Braves. Give rookie right-hander Tommy Hanson credit. He pitched a spectacular game. Still, the Sox had their chances but did not capitalize.

That the Sox won two out of three in Atlanta is a remarkable feat considering they scored six runs in the series. If not for oustanding outings from Josh Beckett (seven innings, no runs, six hits, six strikeouts and no walks) on Friday and Tim Wakefield (six innings, no runs, three hits, one strikeout, one walk) on Saturday, they could have been swept by the Braves. Instead, four runs was enough for a 4-1 win on Friday and Mark Kotsay's RBI single in the sixth inning on Saturday lifted Boston to a 1-0 victory.

Yesterday, Brad Penny pitched well. He limited the Braves to two runs and six hits over six innings. Chipper Jones' solo home run in the first and Garret Anderson's solo dinger in the fourth were the right-hander's only blemishes. Most times, the Red Sox will win when Penny allows just two runs. The problem on Sunday? They could not solve Hanson. The phenom, who improved to 4-0 with a 2.48 ERA, held Boston to no runs and two hits in six innings. Four Atlanta relievers closed the door, though the Sox did threaten in an intriguing top of the ninth.

Kevin Youkilis opened the frame with a base hit, but closer Mike Gonzalez retired Jason Bay on a called third strike. David Ortiz followed with a bouncer to second that appeared to start a game-ending double play. Youkilis stopped running, forcing Johnson to throw to first to get Ortiz. This left Youkilis in a rundown, and he slid in safely to first base, giving Boston another chance. Moments later, Youkilis advanced to second on defensive indifference and then scored on Jason Varitek's base hit. Jacoby Ellsbury spoiled a dramatic ending for the Sox by striking out on three pitches.

It was Ellsbury who cost Boston a rally in the seventh. Facing left-handed reliever Eric O'Flaherty, Varitek hustled his way to a one-out double on a grounder that deflected off second baseman Kelly Johnson's glove into shallow right field. Johnson misplayed Ellsbury's grounder, allowing the speedy center fielder to reach first. Peter Moylan, a right-hander with a slow delivery to home plate, entered to face Nick Green. With runners on the corner, one out and the Sox trailing by two, Ellsbury should have stolen second on the first pitch to prevent a double play. Green took a ball on Moylan's first pitch, and then he grounded into an inning-ending double play on the second offering.

Now 46-29, the Sox saw their American League East lead trimmed to three games by the Yankees, which completed a three-game sweep of the Mets last night. Boston finished interleague play at a respectable 11-7. Thankfully, interleague action is now over, and the DH returns. Though I like interleague play, I believe it would be more interesting if the National League adopted the DH.  think that a small percentage of baseball fans actually like watching pitchers hit.

After Boston's bats were quieted by Braves pitching, the Sox are probably ecstatic to open a three-game set against the pitching-starved Orioles in Boston's home away from home - Camden Yards. Tonight, Jon Lester (6-6, 4.68 ERA) opposes Jason Berken (1-4, 6.32 ERA). Is a seven-run eruption from the Boston offense too much to ask?

Notes and observations

• Funny how feelings change swiftly in the course of a 162-game baseball season. It seems like a short time ago when Brad Penny's days were numbered in Boston. Now, the right-hander is one of the key members of the rotation. Though he was tagged with the loss yesterday, Penny had another quality start and is 6-3 with a 4.79 ERA. On Sunday, he struck out just two, but he did not walk a batter, and he allowed two runs and six hits in six innings. In five June starts, Penny is 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA. Over his last four outings, he has allowed 0, 1, 3 and 2 runs. Penny's trade value is high, and the Sox could probably fetch a top prospect from the Phillies, which desperately need a reliable starting pitcher, but it is doubtful that Boston would trade Penny now. Though the Sox have depth with Justin Masterson, Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden, there are two fortysomethings (John Smoltz and Tim Wakefield) in the rotation, so it is better to keep as many formidable arms available as possible.  

Wakefield's Mysterious Improvement

Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield has reached 10 wins faster than at any time in his career.  The 42-year-old is getting better, not worse, as his career reaches its twilight.  Does this not send red flags out to anyone else?

He went 10-11 last year and battled injuries.  The Red Sox stocked the starting rotation with 7 pitchers over the offseason with a couple of studs developing in the minor leagues.  Wakefield’s status on the team was tenuous.

And he’s coming off the controversy of the last few years when it was revealed that he was tipping his pitches.  Some batters saw things that led them to know exactly when Wake was going to throw his patented knuckleball.  One giant clue was when he took the hill to pitch.  Another was when he threw the ball toward home plate.  It was a devastating blow to Wakefield’s pitching arsenal.  

So now Wakefield has as many wins by the All-Star break as he had all of last year.  

Obviously, Wakefield reacted to what was the game passing him by, unwilling to relinquish his role and $4 million paycheck on the team.  He was driven to passing Roger Clemens on the all-time Red Sox list for games won.  And with batters on to his pitch selection, that would seriously jeopardize this.

The most damning evidence is that his knuckleball is being clocked regularly at 78 mph whereas his whole career, it averaged only 77.8 mph. Is it just a favorable tail wind in some of the newer ballparks?  Is it a longer finger nail on his index finger?  Or is it, dare I say, performance-enhancing drugs?  

It makes total sense.  His career ERA is down from 4.32 to an anemic 4.18.  How?

I think we cannot continue to turn our backs to this type of irresponsible behavior by major leaguers, nee role models, trying to get a couple more miles out of worn tires.  

Well, it’s worked for Tim, for what it’s worth.  Batters no longer seem to know when he's going to throw the knuckler.  He's winning games consistently now when in the past, he used to win and lose games.  But at what cost?  We’ll surely figure out his deception once the baseball comes in touch with a humid night, a stiff breeze or, the batters get more practice.  Then what?  The ERA will skyrocket back to the career average and the witch hunt will begin, leaving Timothy Stephen Wakefield a broken man who had only won 178 games before this year and stolen at least 10 more this year -- a tainted frame in an otherwise consistent career.  Where have you gone, Joe Dimaggio?

How will Tim be able to look himself in the mirror after -- What’s that?  Knuckeballer and Hall-of-Famer Phil Niekro won 85 games after turning 42? . . . Hm. . . Go figure. . . Okay, y’know what? . . . forget what I just said. . . Tim Wakefield deserves the All-Star game as a reward for his hard work and consistency throughout the years!

 

Boston native Andy Wasif studied sports journalism at Syracuse University and then spent a couple of years traveling the country performing stand-up comedy. Now he resides in Los Angeles where he is focusing on his screenwriting. His literary works include "How to Talk to a Yankee Fan" and "Red Sox University," which was recently released. For more information, visit www.dirtywater.tv.  

Jesus Montero and Manuel Bannuelos get the call for the 2009 Futures Game

Catcher Jesus Montero and pitching prospect Manuel Bannuelos are going to showcase the Yankees in the 2009 Futures game. I'm sure plenty of Yankee fans know about the power-hitting Jesus Montero who I will talk more about the next few days, but how many of you know about Manuel Bannuelos? I'm guessing not many, which means it's time for me to tell you some things you might want to know about this guy.

Manuel Bannuelos is an 18 year old left handed pitching prospect out of mexico. He was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted Free agent on March 30, 2008. I've paid close attention to Bannuelos since the Yankees have signed him, partially because he was born in 1991 like myself.  Bannuelos has surprised me this season playing in Low-A ball for the Charleston River Dogs, maintaining an ERA just over 2.50, while compiling 58 strike outs and 14 walks in 61.0 innings.

Bannuelos already possesses a low 90's fast ball and two quality secondary pitches, a curveball and a change-up with some fade attached to it. He is said to pitch with the composure of a college grad, only with much better command. That's saying something for a guy who only turned 18 years old this year.  His velocity will obviously improve as his body continues to mature and his other pitches will likely follow.  He has been compared to Tom Glavine, when it comes to his future ability.

"He has a great idea out there when he's pitching," RiverDogs pitching coach Jeff Ware said. "He's always in control when things are going good or when things are going bad. He's an even-keel type guy. Not too many peaks and valleys. He goes out there, competes really well and he knows what he has to do to get better."

Bannuelos has a pretty high-ceiling, but I don't expect him to make it the big leagues anytime soon. It looks like the Yankees are going to take it slow with Bannuelos. What's the rush? He's only 18 years old, there's no point in ruining his psyche by trying to make him fly through the minor leagues. These are the type of signings that the Yankees will need to continue to make in the International Market to improve their farm system, because of their late picks in the First Year Player Draft.

In case anyone doesn't know what the Futures Game is, it's when the top young talent of the United States faces off against the top young talent of the rest of the world. To put that in to better perspective, that means a prospect like Mannuel Bannuelos who is mexican will play for the World team. Only minor league prospects of major league teams may participate, if some of you are a bit confused.

What do you think about Manuel Bannuelos? If you want to know about a particular Yankee prospect leave it in the comments!

What Will The Yankees Look Like in 2014?

I thought this would be an interesting topic to talk about. What will the Yankees look like in 2014? I picked 5 years from now because I think its not too soon, and also not too faraway.  I've thought about this topic for a while since the Yankees are extremely trigger happy when it comes to signing free agents to long term deals.  Alex Rodriguez received a 10 year deal to begin the 2008 season, which is one of the most ridiculous things a team can do. Why sign a player who is already turning 32 years old during the season to a 10 year deal? No other team in baseball even wanted to sign Alex because of his price tag and the Yankees, like always go ahead and out bid themselves. Now that I'm done venting about that stupid signing by the Yanks, lets look at the roster pieces that are practically locks to be a Yankee at the beginning of the 2014 season.

Starting Rotation

CC Sabathia- 34 years old, 3 years left on contract

By this time I expect Sabathia to be passed his prime and that doesn't mean he won't pitch well by age 34 because he will likely still give you over 200 innings and a decent ERA, but nothing mind blowing.

AJ Burnett- 37 years old, 1 year left on contract

I don't know what to expect from Burnett by the time he is 37. Burnett has had an injury bug through out his career which he thinks he has fixed, however with age his body may breakdown. AJ is interesting because he doesn't have a lot of innings on his arm at age 32 due to all his injuries in the past. Maybe he will still be a valuable asset to the Yankees by 2014, he can go either way.

Joba Chamberlain- 28 years old ( A new contract will likely be established by this time)

Joba will be in the prime of his career, and will likely be the ace of the New York Yankees. I don't think I have to say anything more than this. A bold statement by a bold fan.

Phillip Hughes-27 years old ( A new contract will likely be established by this time)

Yankee fans will love the combination of Chamberlain and Hughes, as Hughes will be a legit number 2 or 3 starter by this time. With age comes maturity, both of these guys are too smart and talented to not get better over the next five years.

5th Starter- Angelo Roldan-22 years old, 10 days left on contract

Angelo will prove almost nothing to the Yankees during his brief tenure with them. Angelo brought the intensity and energy of two lions, which had proved useful over his first few days as a Yankee. The Yankees then started the season by winning their first four games thanks to Angelo "The Fierce Beast" becoming an energizer in the locker room. Eventually Yankees brass realized that Angelo could not consistently repeat his delivery, and that his fast ball only clocked at around 60 mph with no control whatsoever. This then lead to the loss of his nickname "The Fierce Beast" and the loss of respect from his peers. By day 10 Angelo had been called a Pavany ( A Pavany is a creature that resembles a former Yankee player by the name of Carl Pavano), which was an absurd remark because at least Angelo stayed healthy. 

Starting Line up

Catcher- Austin Romine- 25 years old ( contract isn't established in 2009)

Austin Romine will have a decent year as a backstop, with decent power and strong defense behind the plate. Life after Posada isn't horrible Yankee fans, the Yankees have a good crop of talented catchers in their farm system.

First Basemen- Mark Texeira- 34 years old, 4 years left on contract

Texeira will continue to be an above average first basemen on offense and defense, while proving that he was worth the money.

Second Basemen- Robinson Cano- 31 years old, ( a new contract will likely be established)

Cano will be in the prime of his career, as he continues to establish himself as one of the best second basemen in all of baseball. All this while batting third for the Yankees.

Shortstop- ???

Someone will hopefully emerge. At this moment there are no clear cut top prospects that the Yankees have that can play this position, and although I think Ramiro Pena is a good back up and very strong defensively, I do not think he will be able to make it as a starting shortstop in the big leagues. I could be wrong though. I think Jeter might retire in 2013, if not then he might be the starting right fielder, or maybe, although doubtfully the starting shortstop.

Third Basemen-???

I do not think that Alex Rodriguez will be playing third base by this time. Alex will likely be a designated hitter and occasionally playing first and third base. I wonder who will be playing third base since the Yankees do not have a top prospect for this position either.

Center field- Austin Jackson- 27 years old

A-Jax will become one of the better center fielders in baseball, but not the best. He will have good numbers across the boards in every department and might win a gold glove around this time. Is 10-15 home runs, .300 BA, and 20-30 stolen bases what you expect from Jackson? Because those are the type of numbers he is capable of giving the Yankees on a consistent year to year basis.

Left field- Jesus Montero- 24 years old

Montero will already have established himself as one of the best young hitters in the game, however he will not be able to do that as a catcher.  He will become the best thing the Yankees had seen since Derek Jeter, and that's a fact. I don't know how much I can stress the fact that this guy is very talented.

Right field- ???

No clear answer here either, time will reveal everything. There are a few prospects in the minor leagues that intrigue me, that might be able to fill this void in the future. Granted they are very far away from major league ready but by 2014 they might have a shot at being the starting right fielder for the Yankees. Here are a few interesting names that you might want to keep tabs on: Eduardo Sosa, 18, Kelvin De leon,18, Ramon Flores,17 and Yeicok Calderon,17. Three out of the four names that I just mentioned are playing in the Gulf Coast league for the Yankees and the other is playing in the lowest minor league levels. They are all said to be very talented, but as we all know that doesn't always translate in to success.

Designated Hitter- Alex Rodriguez- 38 years old, 5 years left

Alex will still hit 30 home runs a season, but will become to old to play third base. First base would have been an option, but that position is vacated by Texeira. He will only play third base if there are no other options, or to give the starting third basemen a rest. If he's the starting third basemen then Alex will just be a liability defensively.

Bullpen- NOBODY KNOWS!

 

Well isn't that interesting. Cano might be the only hitter in his prime on the Yankees at this time, along with a mixture of younger and older players. Alex will probably clog the DH slot for the final 5 years of his career thanks to Mark Texeira.  Chamberlain and Hughes will make the Yankees look great, while Sabathia sits as the number 2 or 3 starter by this time. I still wouldn't expect much from Burnett and for good reason. The future of the bullpen is unknown, but I'm sure a few names will arise.

Surprisingly the Yankees look better than I thought they would five years from now.  The offense looks like it will still be producing, and the Yankees will have at least three legit starters. If a closer emerges somewhere in the next five years, you  have a play-off caliber team.  Who would've thought that? Not me, that's for sure. Of course this is just me taking educated guesses at what the future holds for the Yankees. I am not using statistical data or any formula to predict this so I could be wrong. However I am a very knowledgeable Yankee fan, and hopefully you will agree with that statement.

I'm sorry if this wasn't as in-depth as you guys would have liked, I have had a bad cold the past couple of days.

What do you think about the future of the Yankees? If there are any guys like, Austin Romine, Jesus Montero, and Austin Jackson that you would like to know more about, leave it in the comments!

Junichi Tazawa and Casey Kelly to participate in Futures Game

Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden remain the two most talked about pitching prospects in the Red Sox organization, but Junichi Tazawa and Casey Kelly are not far behind. Tazawa, who was signed as an amateur free agent out of Japan in the off-season, and Kelly, Boston's first round pick out of high school last year, were selected to participate in the 11th annual Futures Game. The contest, which features a team composed of American prospects against  top minor leaguers from the rest of the world, will take place on July 12 in St. Louis, a few days before the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

After starring in the amateur leagues in Japan, Tazawa selected Boston over major league teams that offered more money (such as Atlanta and Texas) because of his admiration for Daisuke Matsuzaka. At Double-A Portland, his first taste of professional baseball, the 23-year-old right-hander is 7-4 with a 2.92 ERA in 14 starts. He has 71 strikeouts and has allowed 64 hits in 77 innings, holding opposing batters to a .225 average.

Kelly, who will soon reach his innings limit and will transition to shortstop for the rest of the season, posted a 6-1 record with a 1.12 ERA in nine starts at Single-A Greenville. He was promoted to advanced Single-A Salem (Va.), where he is 1-2 with a 2.51 ERA in five starts (28.2 innings, 20 hits, 24 strikeouts, three walks, .192 batting average against). Kelly, who is 19, threw a one-hit shutout in his last outing. In his second start for Salem, he did not allow a run or a hit in six innings of work. Kelly has good command and features a low 90s fast ball, a devastating 12-to-6 curve ball, and a sinking change-up.

Understandably, Tazawa and Kelly have shot up the Red Sox prospect rankings. SoxProspects.com has Kelly at No. 2 behind Lars Anderson (the site does not consider Buchholz a prospect anymore because of his major league service time) and Tazawa at No. 4. I disagree with the site's take on Buchholz. He is still a prospect because he has not seen enough time in the big leagues. I rank Boston's Top 10 prospects as:

1. Clay Buchholz, RHP
2. Lars Anderson, 1B
3. Michael Bowden, RHP
4. Casey Kelly, RHP
5. Junichi Tazawa, RHP
6. Josh Reddick, OF
7. Nick Hagadone, LHP
8. Ryan Kalish, OF
9. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP
10. Anthony Rizzo, 1B

A few notes about this list:

• Do you notice the depth of pitching? Buchholz and Bowden are going to be productive major league pitchers. They both have high ceilings. Kelly, Tazawa, Hagadone and Pimentel do, too. Hagadone was Boston's first round pick out of the University of Washington in 2007, underwent Tommy John surgery and returned to the mound in May. So far, the power lefty has a 3.86 ERA in four starts at Greenville. Pimentel, who is just 19, has a 2.27 ERA in 12 starts at Greenville.
• Just missing the top 10 list is 21-year-old left-handed starter Felix Doubront, who spent little time at advanced Single-A and opened the season at Double-A Portland, where he is 4-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 13 starts.
• Lars Anderson struggled earlier in the season in his first taste of Double-A ball, but the left-handed hitting first baseman has increased his average to .256 with seven home runs and 35 RBI. Rizzo, who at 19 is two years younger than Anderson, was recently promoted to advanced Single-A Salem after pounding the ball at Greenville. Rizzo is also a left-handed hitter and plays a decent first base. In a few years, Anderson and Rizzo could share first base and DH duties with the Red Sox.
• Josh Reddick and Ryan Kalish compose two-thirds of the Portland outfield. They are both highly regarded and are proficient on defense and at the plate, though the 21-year-old Kalish is slowly adjusting to Double-A pitching with a .210 average in 138 at-bats since his promotion from Salem. This is not a surprise because many baseball people believe that the jump from Single-A to Double-A is the most difficult transition that a minor leaguer faces.

Beckett and Ortiz power Red Sox to series-opening win in Atlanta

Though the calendar indicates the month is June, it has already been a tale of two seasons for Josh Beckett and David Ortiz. Beckett opened the season like a No. 5 starter struggling to remain in the rotation and since returned to ace form. Through May and into early June, Ortiz looked so lost at the plate that many baseball pundits thought his days as a productive slugger were finished. Now he has clubbed seven home runs in his last 47 at-bats and is hitting .311 this month with seven dingers and 17 RBI.

It was Beckett and Ortiz who guided the Red Sox to a 4-1 victory last night in the opener of a three-game series at Atlanta. Ortiz broke a scoreless tie when he led off the top of the fifth with a mammoth home run to right-center off Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens. In his last 17 games, Big Papi has a .796 slugging percentage and 14 RBI. He has homered in three of his last four games. Overall, Ortiz has eight home runs, 16 doubles, 35 RBI and a .218 average. Most importantly, his swagger has returned, and he is hitting fast balls, including the Jurrjens offering that he crushed last night.

As for Beckett, the right-hander tossed seven shutout innings, allowing six hits while striking out six and walking none. Want proof that Beckett is back to his ace-caliber ways? How about this. Dating back to May 23 (when he allowed one unearned run and five hits over eight innings against the Mets), Beckett has not permitted an earned run in five of seven starts. Including last night's performance, he has not allowed a run period in three of those starts (including the outing tht saw him limit the Yankees to no runs and one hit over six innings on June 9 and the complete game shutout against the Braves last weekend at Fenway Park). Beckett has logged 16 scoreless innings in his last two starts - both against Atlanta - and the ERA that was 7.22 on April 30 is now 3.48. In June, he has 35 strikeouts and four walks in 35 innings. He has not walked a batter in his last three starts, which have spanned 22 innings.

Boston, which is now 45-28 and holds a four-game lead in the American League East over the Yankees, will send Tim Wakefield (9-3, 4.47 ERA) to the mound this afternoon against right-hander Javier Vazquez (5-6, 3.18 ERA), who leads the majors with 112 strikeouts and has surrendered two runs or fewer in seven of his last nine starts.

Notes and observations

• Mike Lowell is nursing a tight hip and is not expected to play against the Braves this weekend. The third baseman is expected to receive a lubricating shot of Synvisc, perhaps on Monday, which he hopes will allow him to return to the lineup by Tuesday against the Orioles. According to Lowell, the discomfort is not remotely as severe as what he experienced in the second half of last season. Apparently, doctors say this is all part of the recovery process from the hip surgery Lowell underwent last October.
• Considering that Lowell will likely need some days off in the second half of the season, the Sox should consider acquiring Mark DeRosa from Cleveland. Of course, Boston will have more options when Jed Lowrie returns from the disabled list. Lowrie can proficiently play third. So can Nick Green, who will remain as the utility man. The Sox can also slide Kevin Youkilis to third and start Mark Kotsay at first. DeRosa would give the team added flexibility since he can play multiple infield and outfield positions. If Boston trades for DeRosa, or an outfielder like Colorado's Ryan Spilborghs (who can adequately play all three outfield spots), that would mean the end of Rocco Baldelli's tenure with the Sox. Baldelli has played well. He is hitting .286 with four home runs and 11 RBI in 70 at-bats, but he is unable to play in back-to-back games because of his channelopathy and the Sox might want to bring in someone more durable.
• Spilborghs is an ideal fourth outfielder who is productive enough at the plate to spot start, but I would rather see Boston bring in DeRosa. He is proficient in the field, and he can hit for power. With Lowrie, Green, DeRosa and Youkilis on the roster, the Sox would have a lot of versatility. Remember, Green can play right field, and Lowrie can play all four infield positions. DeRosa is most comfortable as third base, left field and second base.