Source?

Legit source.  Pete Abraham confirms as well (although we posted before he did).

So, Johnny to DL?

Or Edwar gets sent down or a trade? plus Yanks will have to make another move when Desalvo comes up.  Anyway if Damon is not DLed what’s the odds Torre will give Duncan any ABs?

Options:
1. DL Damon (sensible, but unlikely).
2. Send down Kevin Thompson (not very sensible, but given Joe Torre, may lead to getting rid of unused part).
3. Send down Ramirez (nonsensical, but will likely happen).

If Yankees use this opportunity to get rid of Ron Villone/Mike Myers, fantastic, but they won’t do it, we know that.

Abraham: “Duncan has hit right-handers fairly well this season (.305/.394/.578)”

If that’s “fairly well”, I wonder what one has to do to hit plain well.

Even if it’s Edwar, this is one of the best rooster moves, scratch that, it’s the best rooster move of the year. Let’s face it, Ramirez wasn’t going to get a chance unless Torre fell in love with him in Spring Trading.

Could be in case of Melky too.  He had that ab twinge yesterday or something, no?

Shelley Duncan is a rooster? They might also think of bringing Henn back up in that case, just to keep him company.

Sam, you beat me to it.

Bringing up Duncan is a good move if he actually get a fair chance to play which I doubt.

I hope it’s Damon going to the DL because (1) being in the lineup is only hurting this team, as he is playing presently and (2) Damon coming back with a vengeance after resting for 2 weeks is certainly a possibility and (3) if Duncan is legit, he’s a RH power bat and makes the lineup tougher to get through in the later innings.

I guess this would move Melky into the lead off spot?

I guess this would move Melky into the lead off spot?

Probably, although it should be Jeter leading off.  Melky has an even worse OBP than Damon, if you can believe it.  And only Cano has a lower OBP of all the regulars.

Abreu would be a pretty good leadoff hitter at this point.  I think (and studies have shown) that lineup order isn’t all that important and I think “Inside The Book” basically said bat your 5 best hitters in the first five spots and that is good enough.  So how about…

RF Abreu
SS Jeter
LF Matsui
3B ARod
C Posada
2B Cano
1B Phillips
CF Melky
DH Duncan

The order of the bottom 4 can basically be drawn from a hat everyday.

jeter should definitely be leading off. I don’t care how good he is in the number 2 spot. He can hit anywhere in the top third of the lineup. The Yanks are at the bottom in avg for #1 place hitter (thanks Johnny). Interestingly though they are at the top in 7th place and 9th place hitters. Reminds me when we had the best 9th place hitter ever (brosius 98).

Jeter should lead off, if only to cut back on his bunting.

I’m betting Damon is playing and leading off but I agree Jeter should lead off so he can’t bunt.

What’s the over/under on Duncan’s games started?  I’ll bet anyone a 6-pack he gets no more than 2.

What’s the over/under on Duncan’s games started?  I’ll bet anyone a 6-pack he gets no more than 2.

He’s got one tonight.

Taking me up on it, Jonathan?

Taking me up on it, Jonathan?

I’ll bite.  I’m sure Duncan will get a start in one of the games on Saturday, too.  So its at least a push.

Sadly, Damon has effectively replaced an ineffective Bernie Williams.

1. Torre puts him back at CF under any excuse? Check.
2. Batters go from first to third at will on him? Check.
3. Hits poorly? Check, although Bernie’s production in his last year was far better than what Damon is producing now.

At least when Jeter bunts he has a chance of getting a hit. Abreu has not yet perfected that skill…

I don’t know about the bet.  If Duncan strikes out more than once in his debut, he’s destined for the Andy Phillips Treatment.

Torre’s telling the FAN that the idea was to have Duncan replace Damon for “a couple days”.  I’ll be happy to lose this bet if in fact Damon sits for a while.

How will Damon sit when he’s playing CF tonight? And tomorrow? Who knows about the Melky injury, is it merely day-to-day or is it worse?

Torre also says Edwar gets some appearances this weekend fer sure.  I’ll believe it when I see it.

Torre also engaging in a lot of double talk about why Edwar is not pitching.  He almost pitched him in Tampa but he hadn’t pitched in a while and he’s been reluctant to use him since, since he hasn’t pitched in a longer time.  Seems to me that he might be very tough against lefties with his changeup.

A couple of notes I read. Gammons just going on and on about Chamberlain being a guy who throws 95-7 for seven innings. Says he could be the Yankees stretch run version of Zumaya and says a lot of scouts comparing him to Verlander. That sounds good to my heart.  Abraham just posted that Cash is going to watch Joba tonite and speculates that he may have something up his sleeve. Anyway, lets hope he’s outstanding tonight and impresses.  Gammons also goes on to rave about the new pitching blood the Sox have that could also impact the pennant drive.

Chamberlain has given up 3 HRs in 2 innings of work so far.

Oy.  Bad timing, Joba.

Peter Abraham is saying that Damon can’t be put on the DL because he isn’t “hurt,” and that “not being able to hit is not an injury.”  Maybe so, but it’s a great reason not to be in the lineup, especially when you consider how god awful his defense has become. 

If Melky can’t man up and play tonight, I’d much rather see KT (yes, I know he was optioned down) in LF and Matsui in CF (ugh).  Damon is approaching Nieves-caliber levels of suck.