Remember when the wild card was said to be nigh impossible because the Yankees had to catch like six other teams?

ha

I have a feeling that Ohlendorf is in the AAA rotation for the rest of the year.  Considering that he was THE big piece of the Johnson trade, and also that he missed significant time with an injury, I think the Yankees are going to give him every opportunity at AAA this year.

Considering that he was THE big piece of the Johnson trade, and also that he missed significant time with an injury, I think the Yankees are going to give him every opportunity at AAA this year.

obviously you are correct about Ohlendorf, but right now Vizcaino for RJ straight up wouldn’t look like a bad trade.

this team would be in deep doo-doo if they had kept RJ and had not been able to get Clemens.

but right now Vizcaino for RJ straight up wouldn’t look like a bad trade

I agree 100%.  I’m guessing you saw that article on ESPN that there is a chance Johnson’s career is over?  I know people wanted more for Johnson, but considering there was exactly one place he could be traded, I think Cashman did a fine job.

Robinson Cano is really, really good.

Other then that, it’s good to see Cervilli is waking up again.

Also, it seems like I just started hearing about Jackson hot streak and all of a sudden it’s over. I guess that’s always the way with prospects when you don’t have your ear to ground.

As stated before, the fruits from trades will bear in 2009....The only immediate impact player from both those deals ( which were excellent for the Yanks I believe ) was The Viz......A few years from now, when the Stadium opens, we’ll all look back and comment on what Cashman pulled off in November / December 2006......Hell the RJ deal has proven already to be a good trade......

On that subject, anyone else notice how well Alberto Gonzalez has been doing in Trenton?  If he keeps hitting like that, I have to imagine he’ll be back at Scranton in a few weeks.  There’s still hope for him.  I don’t know if he would ever be an “A” level SS like ARod, Jeter, etc.  But I think we get spoiled and forget just how poorly most SS hit.

Also, notice how at every level except for A (.5 games out) and SS A (6.5 out), a Yankee affiliate is leading their division in the minors.  Bodes well for the future.

Hi guys, got back for KC last night. Went to the first two so I got to see the club playing pretty well. Last night I happened to sit with a crew from NY that is filming a reality show On the YES network. They are filming some young people that are going to EVERY Yankee game this year. Apparently these folks are either self employed, very well-heeled or have a flexible boss that supports them being gone for six months.
My impressions from the last two nights. Wang was just awful by his standards. Cano is locked in and loaded. Looks like his old self except he’s different in the sense he is taking some walks. Melky makes a huge difference in the OF defense. Phillips is really good with the glove and has some good abs. Vizcaino looked tremendous on Monday. Can’t believe he’s the same stiff that was out there in April. The Royals were intent on not pitching to A-rod. He had very little to swing at the first two nights, but thankfully Matsui picked up the team. I think BTW, I would flip Posada into the 5th spot to take away some of the lefty on lefty situational matchups. Tough call right now as Matsui looks pretty good, but I would consider it. Abreu and Damon too, are playing with new vigor as well. The bad news is: Our starters for tonite and tommorrow. We may have a lot of trouble taking the series because if our offense lets down we may be hurting. I can’t believe how far Mussina has fallen in terms of effectiveness and Igawa, lets hope this is the last time we see him this year in the majors. Boston has regrouped-their pitching is lights out right now.

Thanks for the insights, joeln.  As for the next two games, I agree that the Yankee offense remains the key to this series.  Traditionally, Meche has given them fits, so Mussina needs to be decent tonight.  They ought to be able to light up tomorrow’s starter though, which is good, given that Igawa will be on the mound and sooner or later his luck over the past two starts is due to dissipate.  Luckily, he will be replaced by Hughes for August and September.

Gammons seems pretty high on Ohlendorf mentioning him and Joba as pitchers who might be able to pitch the 7th or 8th inning for the Yankees this year.

has gammons ever been right about anything?  just saying…

Phillips is really good with the glove and has some good abs.

All those sit ups are paying off.

What happens if the Yanks trade for Garland…

Is Garland that much better than Igawa and the rotating cast of AAA starters?
I’d take my chances with Phil and save prospects unless somebody offers a salary dump trade for major league pitching.

And has Baseball-Reference been painfully slow this week or is it me?

The Yanks don’t need Garland unless it’s a Bobby Abreu-type trade.  Even then, they should probably spend their money elsewhere given the fact that Hughes will be ready in a week’s time and Karstens, Kennedy and Joba will be waiting in the wings if need be.  Personally, I believe Cashman is waiting to see whether Daniels will relent as the deadline gets near and accept lesser players (i.e. Kennedy, Clippard etc.) in return for Teixeira.  To my mind, Daniels is dealing from a position of weakness given the fact that Teixeira will almost certainly refuse to sign an extension.  In any event, the Yanks don’t really need to make a deal - esp. if Phillips keeps playing well.

I love this quote from Damon on LoHud:
“This has been the worse (sic) season of my career, but it’s not over yet.”
I know what he means, but I definitely read it a different way first.

Great to hear Hughes is doing well, and isn’t far away.  Back to the minors, Kei!

I’m definitely rooting for Frankie Cervelli.  Great name.

Moose needs to pick it up tonight.

I don’t think Daniels is in a bad position.
Are the Rangers hurting for money that much?
If they don’t move Tex, they have another year and a half of him plus a 1st (sandwich?) round draft pick when he walks.
Joba is probably a fair asking price.
Not that I’d make that move.

I wasn’t saying Daniels was in a bad position.  Rather, I was just emphasizing that Teixeira’s trade value is lowered by the fact that he is essentially a 1.5 year rental, especially given his desire to play in Baltimore.  He would still add a tremendous amount of value to a team (particularly the Angels), but most GMs, Cashman included, want more than a year and a half of Teixeira in return for their top prospects.  For example, is 1.5 years of Teixeira worth 6 years of Saltalamacchia or Joba?  If Teixeira were willing to sign an extension, the answer to that question may very well be different.

Assuming Hughes comes back who does Garland bump Clemens, Petitte, Wang, Hughes or Moose?  Moose would be the only candidate and I just don’t see the Yanks bumping him from the rotation.  Since Moose is signed for next year nd assuming Joba a/o Kennedy and less likely Sanchez are in our plans where does Garland fit next year?

The latest entry of “Will’s Mill” over at BP made me smile.  Basically: the Yanks aren’t trading the young guys, period.  End of story.  In fact, all indications are that they will stand pat (which is what I want).  Of course, there have been big trades with no warning before.

joeln:

You sat next to the YES Ultimate Road Trip people last night?  Wow, I sat two rows behind them on Monday night (wasn’t at the game last night). 

Vizcaino looked awesome, I agree.

Obviously Austin Jackson was due to cool off, he was hitting over .400 for 80 AB’s or so. He is still batting .350 with 7 HR’s in 120 or so AB’s in a tough league. Fabian is a little carried away regarding this ‘slump’. If it had started from .290 than it might be worth a mention.

Elsewhere, Carlos Urena has struggled with the DSL 1 Yankees ( .225, 102 AB, 8 BB and 34 K’s) and was demoted to the DSL 2 Yankees. He struggled in extended spring training so this is a disappointment. However, he won’t turn 18 until November so it isn’t all bad.

I think it makes sense for the Yankees to be aware of Garland, but only trade for him if an injury occurs to one of the top 4 in the next week.  E.g. if Moose blows out his elbow tonight, it may be better to trade for Garland (assuming the price is reasonable, which it may not be) rather than rely on Karstens, or one of the recently promoted AAA pitchers.  But like IE said, even then I’d be wary unless it was an Abreau type trade.

Not Marv- Funny thing last night is that I didn’t have any tickets prior to the game. I have been down there before over the past dozen years and they normally get a Yankee crowd of 25-28,000. So I found out that they had a near sell out and we went and bought the best I could find-nosebleeders. It was hot so my wife and I walked in at the lower level early on and found some seats down low to watch batting practice. We just figured sooner or later we would have to move but these guys walked up-about the third inning and were quite considerate-maybe because I had my Yankee hat on- but they started visiting with us and said some of the others aren’t here yet-so sit still-and we did. Eventually the guy with the camera sat right beside me and we ended up staying in those seats until we left around the sixth. I had a three hour drive to make so we left early.

I am against the Garland idea. He’s always pretty good against NY, but I think some others like Boston have their way with him-at least recently they have hit him. Certainly wouldn’t trade the good youth to get him.  I agree that Texiera likely won’t be a Yankee soon for all the reasons stated above. Pete Abraham’s column today makes a lot of sense as to this speculation. The GM Daniels has made some really bad moves and can’t afford to explain to reporters that he has received four mid-grade Yankee prospects for a guy of this caliber. He has to reel in something substantial this time around. To get quality it’s not unfair to ask for the same.

I just finished playing 9 with a gent that I’ve known for roughly 10 years or so who works for the central scouting bureau.....He was saying that Paul Konerko could be had which will only drive down the price for Texiera....The soft spoken word is that many players in the W.S. clubhouse are growing tired of Ozzie’s b.s. act.....He also went on to say that he cannot see the Yanks starting 2 rooks in next years rotation......Not including Hughes as a rookie, but his reference was aimed towards Ian & Joba.....He’s been the local scout here in Orange County for over 30 years, and watched both Ian & Phil as they grew up among many....Angels love Konerko, as he’s a local guy, came up with the Dodgers and actually wasn’t that impressive back then.......

FAN:Giambi to start rehab assignment Friday at Tampa-leaving Torre with lots of playing time decisions.

"FAN:Giambi to start rehab assignment Friday at Tampa-leaving Torre with lots of playing time decisions.”

Anyone else foresee Melkly getting squeezed?

Melkly?  Melky.

Fukudome in 2008?

Kosuke Fukudome is a FA OF and no posting necessary. The [last] name cries out for abuse in the States, poor guy.

http://www.armchairgm.com/index.php?title=Kosuke_Fukudome

Melky probably will get squeezed a bit when Giambi comes back.  I’m not sure how much I mind though.  Melky has played outstanding OF defense but needs to slug over .400 to be viable as an everyday player.  In the end, Melky will find his way into games, if only because Torre will rest Damon and Abreu on occasion.  Also, Giambi remaining healthy is no sure thing either.

I rather have a robust defense and can live with Melky’s slugging.  But with either Melky, Damon, or Abreu on the bench, subbing Giambi late in games (as is Torre’s want) for pinch runners ain’t as awful as it was in the past.

I like the lineup a lot better with Melky in CF and Damon in LF. I’d go with Damon and Matsui sharing LF and DH most of the time.