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The best match I can find is Gerrit Cole who throws hard, is a RHP, a Boras client(wants a ton of money to skip college), and has some makeup questions around him. He has been tied to the Yankees on MLBtraderumors.com and by Keith Law. Here is a breakdown of him on milb.com.
The good;
His projectability and his stuff, with the ability to throw three average to plus pitches, and to throw them for strikes.
Cole was throwing 95-98 mph early and settled in at 92-94 throughout his start.
The bad;
He has some mechanical issues with his delivery, with an arc in the back and a tendency to throw across his body; he gets too emotional on the mound.
Cole is a projectable high school right-hander who compares a bit to Kyle Farnsworth.
Ok the last part might be a plus, Krazy Kyle is a decent ML player with great stuff so finding him in the late first would be a good thing....I guess.
David Schoetz and Richard Esposito:A construction crane toppled onto a New York City street this morning, killing at least two people after ripping open the side of a 23-story apartment building.
At least 100 firefighters and rescue personnel were sifting through the debris for possible victims. At least one person was seen being carried from the site alive."It was like a big crash coming down. A big noise. A lot of debris crashing hitting, coming down," construction worker Vincent Rosado told WABC-TV in New York.
The crane collapsed around 8 a.m. at East 91st Street and First Avenue, crashing more than a dozen stories to the ground, swiping a high-rise apartment and leaving a twisted pile of crane and apartment wreckage.A second construction worker was reportedly injured in the collapse. The person's condition is unclear.
The apartments on the top floors of the damaged high-rise were being searched for additional victims.The accident occurred less then three months after another construction crane fell in Manhattan, killing seven and demolishing a townhouse.
Patricia Lancaster, the city's building inspector, resigned under fire from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- as well as city residents -- for a spike in the number of construction-related fatalities.
Scott Stringer, the Manhattan Borough president, told ABC News that he is stunned."I am at a loss for the fact that we have just utterly failed to get our arms around a safety regimen the protects people in this borough."
City crane inspector Edward Marquette was arrested for allegedly falsifying an inspection of the crane 11 days before the March collapse. Marquette has not responded to the complaint.
According to the Department of Buildings, there were eight crane-related accidents and 10 crane-related injuries in 2007 in New York City. There have already been 13 construction-related deaths in 2008 in the city.
I will be keeping the victims in my prayers. This kind of senseless tragedy needs to stop. Hopefully someone can do something about it before even more people have to lose their lives.
Just got an e-mail from former Yankee publicist, Marty Appel, asking me to pass along some information on a HUGE Yankee baseball card set that has been created to commemorate the final season of Yankee Stadium. This is truly an amazing collection of not only Yankee history, but history in general....Mark-
I wanted to make your readers aware of an Upper Deck card product called Yankee Stadium Legacy – a 6,661 card set, with one card representing every Yankee home game ever played in Yankee Stadium (plus a few extras for Papal visits, boxing, etc.).
It is the largest card set ever produced (Guinness Book worthy), and an amazing research project.
The cards are inserted into various Upper Deck baseball products, and will continue into next year so that the 2008 MLB season is included.
Is it impossible to collect the full set? It’s certainly a challenge.
Fans and collectors can also register the codes on the back of the cards at the website to be included in a Yankee Dream sweepstakes for a chance to win tickets to the All-Star Game, the last regular-season game and the first 2009 home game.
Check 'em out. And if any of you get a really cool one, send me a picture!!!
For More Information:Also, since 1933 the Yankees have had more then one representative every year but four;
So to celebrate The House That Ruth Built we will be overrun by Red Sox. Also, with Jorge out we loose one possible All-Star and are left with Arod, Jeter, Mo and Possibly Wang on the team.
So what do we do? Vote, Vote, and Vote again. Cano is second to Pedoria so he could slip in bad season and all, at first base go heavy on Justin Mourneau, catcher Joe Mauer is our man, and at DH Hideki is 2nd behind Ortiz. I don't typically care about the All-Star game but I couldn't stomach seeing an all red display in the Bronx. So get the word out and rock the vote!
After Andy Pettitte eased his way through the sixth and recorded the first two outs in the seventh, Joe Girardi made what is most likely his last bullpen call ever to the electric Joba Chamberlain.
Chamberlain entered the game and gave up a two-out single to Mora and then walked Markakis, throwing six of his first eight pitches for balls. Joba battled back to strike out Millar to end the inning, throwing 13 pitches to record one out.
After throwing just 28 pitches in the game, Chamberlain ran out to the bullpen before the bottom of the ninth, finishing off his day's work with another 22 pitches.
Chamberlain was scheduled to throw 50-55 pitches Wednesday night, which would line him up to throw 65-70 early next week. With Ian Kennedy on the disabled list, the Yankees could turn to Chamberlain to take his place in the rotation, starting Monday or Tuesday.
Chamberlain came back for the eighth, the inning in which he has made his reputation since entering the league last August. Other than mixing in a couple of curveballs, Chamberlain looked like his vintage self, setting the Orioles down in order, striking out both Ramon Hernandez and Jay Payton to end the inning.
Bryan Hoch/MLB.Com:Jason Giambi homered for the second consecutive game, helping the Yankees' night proceed exactly as planned with a crisp 4-2 victory over the Orioles.For the second consecutive night, Giambi pounded a ball over the right-field wall and onto Eutaw St., slugging a fourth-inning home run off of Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie -- the 42nd ball hit into that area of the ballpark.
Giambi, who leads the Yankees with 11 home runs, also picked up an RBI in the second inning with a single, driving in Hideki Matsui.
Well. I may have been wrong about Jason Giambi. But we will see. Hopefully he can bump the average up a bit while maintaining the power that he has shown. I am crossing my fingers that he can stay healthy and productive.
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Is it a coincidence that the Yankees have scored 43 runs in the six games since A-Rod's return, after managing only 12 in the seven games previous? Joe Girardi doesn't think so."It changes our lineup drastically, it puts people back to where they were hitting most of the time," said Girardi.
Abreu, moved into the three-hole, down from the clean-up spot he occupied in Rodriguez's absence. He is 9-for-his-last 21.
Robinson Cano continued his resurgence again Sunday with a 10-for-19 streak, including game winning and game-tying RBIs in the last four games.
Even Jason Giambi is getting in on the action and now has eight hits in his last 21 at-bats against lefties.
It hurts me to think about where this team would be without Alex Rodriguez.
Kit Stier/MLB.Com:"You really have to stick with what got you here," Rasner said on Sunday before the Yankees departed for Baltimore with a five-game winning streak. "When you start changing is when you fall into a trap. You really just need to stick with what got you here and stay confident with your approach."
The right-hander from Carson City, Nev., looks unflappable when he's on the mound, and he credited his father for his stay-steady approach."I know what I am capable of," Rasner said. "I know what my limitations are as well. I don't try to exceed those.
"My dad talked a lot about that when I was a kid -- not showing emotion, not getting upset with things you can't control. That was a big thing when I was younger. When I was in Little League, we talked about it. So I think it has helped me out until now."
Rasner said his No. 1 priority is to stay healthy, something that eluded him last season.
"If I [can] stay healthy, I know I can compete," said Rasner, who has walked two and struck out 11 in 19 innings. "That's all I'm trying to do is compete -- to go out there and give this team a chance to win. I'm not thinking beyond that."
In his first stint in the majors, Edwar Ramirez simply lost his confidence.Edwar has now pitched 10.1 innings, given up just 6 hits while striking out 12 and walking 5. His ERA is sitting at a beautiful 0.00.The wispy righthander suffered a mound meltdown last July 20 against Tampa Bay - issuing four walks and a three-run homer without recording an out - after going 13 days without pitching, and wept in the clubhouse after he was told he was going back to the minors. He returned later in the season, but never found a niche in the bullpen and was left off the Yankees' playoff roster.
Now, the 27-year-old changeup specialist has found a regular spot in the Yankee bullpen. He is a steady hand who could be considered for the open eighth-inning setup role, now that Joba Chamberlain is leaving that behind to become a starter.
Ramirez earned the win Sunday, taking over for Chien-Ming Wang with the Yanks down 5-2 in the seventh and pitching 1-2/3 scoreless innings to set the stage for the Bombers' 6-5 comeback victory over the Mariners at the Stadium. It was Ramirez's 11th appearance of the season since being called up from Triple-A on April 29, and in 12-2/3 innings, he has yet to allow a run.
"Edwar was real big," Joe Girardi said. "He's pitched very well for us."
It's a dramatic improvement from last year's stint, in which Ramirez appeared in 21 games over the final three months of the season and came away with an 8.14 ERA.
The difference? "I have much more confidence now, much more," Ramirez said. "I think because Dave (Eiland, his pitching coach in Triple-A) is here and I can work with him five or six days a week, that helps a lot. And also because of what I have learned from working with Mariano (Rivera) and Pedro (Martinez), I am much more confident now."
Ramirez said he got a lot of encouragement from Martinez, the veteran Mets righty and fellow Dominican, while working out in Santo Domingo in the offseason. As Eiland had done, Martinez told Ramirez that his changeup was special, but that he relied too heavily on it and wasn't effectively using his fastball to set it up. Most importantly, Martinez encouraged him to take advantage of his position in the Yankee bullpen.
"He told me I should listen to whatever Mariano told me," Ramirez said. "And he said to work every day with my pitching coach."
"He's throwing strikes - we are working on that and he is doing that real good," Rivera said. "When he gets in trouble is when he doesn't throw his fastball. Now, he's throwing his fastball and with that, his changeup is more effective."
The plan is for Posada to play in games on Monday and Wednesday, during which he'll be instructed not to throw. Extended spring games can be controlled, so he won't have to make throws in his first two contests. Then on Friday, it is hoped that he'll play in a game where the red light won't be on opposing runners.
"I think I'm going to play Friday and Monday again, so I can throw then," Posada said. "I'm looking forward to it. I feel good. I'm throwing good."
As with any injury, of course, nothing is set in stone. It'll be a day-by-day process with the veteran, who made 90 throws and stretched out from 120 feet on Sunday.
"When I'm doing the drills, I don't feel any discomfort or anything wrong," Posada said. "I think it's going to come naturally. I think Joe is going to be a little bit careful with me at the beginning. Once I start playing, if I'm not hurting or anything, obviously, I'm going to keep going."Before injuring his should Posada was batting .308, with one homer and 11 RBIs in 18 games.
On May 25 1935, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Babe Ruth went 4-for-4, drove in 6 runs and hit 3 home runs in an 11-7 loss to the Pirates. These were the last three home runs of his career.
Associated Press:David Ortiz is used to the New York Yankees not wanting him around.
Should Ortiz be allowed to take part in this promotion during the last all-star weekend ever held at Yankee Stadium???As part of All-Star game festivities this summer at Yankee Stadium, the Boston Red Sox slugger is slated to take part in a “Call Your Shot” promotion in which a fan gets to pick where they want Big Papi to clear the fence.
That is, unless the Yankees talk Major League Baseball out of letting him do it on the day of the Home Run Derby.
“I don’t know about the Yankees. I don’t really care,” Ortiz said Friday before Boston opened a weekend series against the Oakland Athletics. “It’s good (the promotion). That’s why I’m doing it. … I don’t know if it will happen.”
The event is sponsored by MLB along with State Farm, which finances the Home Run Derby. The Yankees were discussing whether they wanted Ortiz to take part in such a deal—though it ultimately might not be up to them.
“We’ve been in communication with Major League Baseball,” Yankees president Randy Levine said Friday. “We’re having a discussion on the topic.”
Like a colicky baby who’s also battling diaper rash, the 2008 Yankees can’t seem to stop bawling.
Besides a good burp, they also need to grow up.
As if sitting in last place in the AL East were not bad enough, the Bronx Bombers discovered on Thursday that after years of planning for this summer’s All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, they were the last to discover that a new “Call Your Shot” insurance-company promotion would feature the Red Sux David Ortiz mimicking Babe Ruth’s famous called-shot home run from the 1932 World Series.The Yankees are only 5.5 games back. Remember last year when we were 14.5 back and the Red Sux almost blew their lead in the division??? I do.It is almost June. The Yankees are an under-.500 club that has yet to show that its mix of veterans and youth can jell into a serious threat. Their feelings are hurt that a Red Sox known as one of the best sluggers in the game with one of the most winning personalities was chosen for an All-Star Game promotion?
Alex Rodriguez is a ten times better slugger AND player than David Ortiz. David Ortiz is a big floppy goofball.
How “sensitive” are things going to be come July, August and September if it turns out there will be no October for the Yankees?
No October for the Yankees? Don't count your chickens before they hatch buddy. I am going to remember this article come October.It used to be the Red Sox who had the inferiority complex about the Yankees. Now the insecurities are leaking from the Yankees faster than a Woody Allen monologue. It cannot help that the Sox have won two World Series championships in the last four years while the Yankees have been shooting blanks since 2000.
Haha. Two World Series' in the last four years is good for the Red Sux. But increase the sample size by just a few more years and the Yankees have won four. And to go along with those four World Series Championships, the Yankees won the East division title in '96, '98, '99, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, and '06. Notice the missing '97, and '07....those were years the Yankees won the wild card. Oh. And if you want to get historical...26 World Series Championships for the Yankees, 7 for the Red Sux. Way to go Boston!!!As the Yankees found out right afterward, in the 2003 World Series, winning is not a birthright for any organization. It takes a mixture of luck, foresight, savvy front-office moves and an organization willing to open its wallet.
The Yankees are certainly capable of all of the above.
Well he got that right.
Just because they can’t do it yet is no excuse to cry about anything.
The Yankees aren't crying. They just don't want a schlub like Big Floppy trying to impersonate the Great Babe Ruth.
Anthony McCarron/New York Daily News:The whole point of Joba Chamberlain converting from a starter to a reliever in the Major Leagues was so that he could help the Yankees, instead of wasting away innings in the Minors. And on this day, he did just that. Chamberlain pitched two shutout innings in relief of a shaky Mike Mussina, Jason Giambi hit a three-run homer and the Yankees cruised to yet another victory on Saturday, a 12-6 decision over the Mariners.
Chamberlain entered the game in the sixth inning with the Yankees clinging to a one-run lead, and he proceeded to retire the first three Mariners he faced in order. From there, he completed his prescribed workload in stride, pitching two shutout innings in all.
In those two innings, Chamberlain threw 26 fastballs (15 strikes), 11 sliders (seven strikes) and three curveballs (no strikes).
Whether the incident on Thursday night was actually responsible for the Yankees’ eventual 2-1 win or not, it was good to see Joe Girardi show some fire in that situation. Through the first
seven weeks, Girardi had come out of the dugout a few times to protest a call, but he typically pleaded his case for a few seconds, heard the ump’s response and headed back to the dugout.
I’m not suggesting that managers should always act like Billy Martin in these situations, but once in a while, it’s not a bad thing. Girardi slammed his hat down, kicked it, kicked some dirt and did his best Lou Piniella impression after he was ejected, making sure to get his money’s worth.
“It was funny,” Derek Jeter said. “I enjoyed it. I was hoping he would kick it all the way to the dugout like Piniella.”
Whether he intended to or not, he may have taken Orioles reliever Jim Johnson out of his game with the tirade, as Johnson proceeded to walk Bobby Abreu and give up Cano’s game-winner after Girardi had departed.
Girardi was still running on adrenaline when Cano hit his game-winner, and according to the manager, the couch in his office took the brunt of that energy.
“I had a pen in my hand, and I was so happy that I threw it extremely hard into the couch,” he said. “I hope my arm doesn’t hurt tomorrow.”
Well, call it a little bit of a joke, but The Bronx Stop mimicked Hank and said Kennedy needed to pitch like Jamie Moyer after his last start.The dramatic ending to Thursday nights game was made possible by a solid performance by Ian Kennedy, who may have needed the threat of losing his job - again - to get his act together.
One night after it was announced that Joba Chamberlain would be stretched out over the next few weeks before entering the starting rotation, Kennedy gave the Yankees his best effort of the season.
Kennedy allowed just one run on four hits in six innings, matching his longest outing of the season while giving up less than three runs for the first time in seven starts. Kennedy did walk four, but none of them came around to score.
Orioles lefthander Brian Burres denied Kennedy his first win of the season however, throwing 7-2/3 innings of one-run ball and giving up six hits without issuing a walk. Mariano Rivera (1-1) picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief, following similar performances by Jose Veras and Kyle Farnsworth.
The win gave the Yankees (22-25) their first series victory since May 4. They are 2-3 on their current home stand, which concludes this weekend with three games against the Mariners.
Kennedy retired all three batters in the first inning, starting off his night on the right foot. He allowed a leadoff single by Aubrey Huff in the second, but an inning-ending double play off the bat of Luke Scott allowed him to record another scoreless frame.
Again, Kennedy ran into trouble in the third, as Adam Jones singled and Freddie Bynum tripled with one out, giving the Orioles a 1-0 lead. Kennedy proceeded to walk Brian Roberts, putting runners at the corners.Kennedy responded by walking Jay Payton, loading the bases and leaving most of the fans in attendance to wonder if he would make it through the rest of the inning.
But instead of collapsing as he has in similar situations during his first seven outings, Kennedy buckled down and struck out Markakis, then got Huff to fly out to left field, stranding all three men on base.
Anthony Dicomo/MLB.com:Then Girardi leapt out of his chair and hurled his pen across the room.
"I'm not so sure I am decompressed yet," he said just after the game.
That might take some time, considering the magnitude of his argument, and the depth of the slump that had been vexing his Yankees. But now with a well-pitched and downright emotional 2-1 win over the Orioles in tow, perhaps Girardi can finally relax.
Because goodness knows he didn't on Thursday night.
Stuck in a 1-1 game in the bottom of the ninth inning, Girardi lost his cool -- and his seat in the dugout -- when Jason Giambi struck out with one down and Matsui standing on first base. Orioles reliever Jim Johnson had delivered a pitch high and inside to Giambi, who, with two strikes, couldn't yank his bat entirely out of the way. Home-plate umpire Chris Guccione didn't think so, at least, ruling that the ball skimmed the knob of Giambi's bat and deflected into catcher Ramon Hernandez's glove, good for a strikeout.
That's when Girardi stormed onto the field and engaged Guccione in a lengthy argument. Within moments, he was ejected, throwing his hat on the ground and kicking it toward the dugout. Then he picked it up, kicked some dirt, and began arguing all over again.
"Maybe that was the little spark that we need to get us going," Giambi said. "We've been playing good baseball, but not great baseball."
What followed, coincidence or not, was great baseball.
Bobby Abreu, batting with two outs, took a five-pitch walk to advance Matsui to second base, and then Cano drilled an inside fastball into left field to win the game.
"This means a lot," Cano said. "Every time I get a hit to help the team win, it means a lot to me. Because it's not about just the numbers. It's about winning."
Bryan Hoch/MLB.com:"The only thing he can really do better is throw a shutout every time," manager Joe Girardi said before Wednesday's game. "And we know that's not going to happen."
Perhaps not every time. But on this night he did -- and did with a flourish -- blanking the Orioles for seven innings and leading his Yankees to an 8-0 victory in the Bronx.
"He's been great," Girardi said. "He's just been outstanding. He's really taken advantage of his situation."
Rasner's given the Yankees a quiet lift for the better part of a month, pitching without the accolades -- and without the scrutiny -- bestowed on so many of his fellow starters.
Tonight, Rasner allowed just five hits and a walk while striking out six. His fastball and cutter were sharp, allowing him to compensate for a shaky curveball. And so he made mistakes, but as Rodriguez said, "he made them with conviction."That helped him to walk off the mound tonight without a single blemish.
For now, Rasner is in the rotation, and for now, he's been the Yankees' most consistent starter. They'll take that, and certainly so will he.
"It's a great opportunity for me," Rasner said. "With this team, you get an opportunity to win a lot of games. With the offense putting up runs and everything, there's always that opportunity. It's a great situation."
The Yankees began Joba Chamberlain’s transition to the starting rotation on Wednesday, when he worked the final two innings — 35 pitches — of the Yankees’ 8-0 victory against the Orioles.
There’s no announced date, but the plan is under way. Chamberlain will start this season, and he may not even need a minor-league stint to get ready. The Yankees, for now, plan to stretch out his arm in the majors.
In doing so, the Yankees are rejecting the idea of keeping Chamberlain as a setup man and then making him Mariano Rivera’s successor as the closer in 2011, when Chamberlain will be 25. In explaining the move, General Manager Brian Cashman said Chamberlain had always projected better as a starter, a role where he could use his four-pitch repertory. He said there was no input from ownership on the decision, and that this has been the plan all along.
“We haven’t forgotten the ability that he’s shown from one through seven or eight innings as a starter, and how he maintained it,” Cashman said. “It’s hard to forget, if you had a chance to see that. And because of that, we’re sticking with the program we’ve had in place now for quite some time.”
Cashman continued: “Joba was asked to do something for the best of the franchise last year, and he did it exceptionally well. We’re going back to the purpose that we drafted him and the projections that we had on him.”
The phrase that stuck with me of those comments is this: “if you had the chance to see that.” I traveled to Trenton last July and I did have a chance to see Chamberlain start. And I was awed by the possibility of what he could do as a starter.
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Filip Bondy/New York Daily News:
During the ninth inning Sunday night at Yankee Stadium, the lame-duck cathedral sounded as if there were only Met fans left in the Bronx. The visitors were up by nine, on the way to an 11-2 clobbering. The fans with the curlicue N-Y's on their caps stood and cheered, alone, triumphant.
It was hard to imagine a more humiliating moment for the Yanks and their new manager, Joe Girardi. Their two best starters were knocked around like bums for two days by cross-city rivals, who had scored a total of 18 runs in 18 innings - not counting a three-run homer by Carlos Delgado, incorrectly ruled foul by overzealous, overruling umpires.
This is how bad it was: If Joe Torre were still managing here, then he probably wouldn't be managing here anymore.
Funny how a wet, one-sided weekend can change everything. Willie Randolph entered the borough on Friday reeling and rationalizing. He was supposedly losing control of his clubhouse. Two games later, the Mets are one game out of first place, while things are Subway Serious for the last-place Yankees and their beleaguered manager.
"Any game you don't win I take as an embarrassment," Girardi said, downplaying the crisis. "It's not about this week. It's not about 20-24. It's what you do Tuesday. We all have to do better. It starts with me. I'm the leader.
"I gotta find something."
It was never supposed to be this way in the final Subway Series at Yankee Stadium - Met fans hanging around the old park at the end of the abbreviated two-game set watching their team rout the hosts, making more noise than the Yankee faithful.
But this is quickly turning into a dreary Yankee season, one in which a team that once made a dynasty of taking advantage of breaks couldn't make a spark out of an overturned Met home run in the fourth inning. A reversal of a three-run homer for Carlos Delgado - and what would have been a six-run Met lead - should have given the Yankees hope, yet it was reduced to trivia in a humiliating 11-2 loss.
The Mets were the team in disarray when the series started, with infighting in their clubhouse and questions about Willie Randolph's job security. But they looked like a different team while sweeping the rain-shortened two-game series.
The last-place Yankees looked punchless, like they have for most of the season, recording just three hits and only scoring on the Hideki Matsui homerun.
What a lousy, lousy game...that is all I can say. When you can't score runs, you don't win baseball games...I don't blame Wang...I blame the bats...
I am all for patience, but wow...if your going to lose games by a score of 11-2... please don't make it to the Mets, in the last Subway Series game at Old Yankee Stadium.Jeff Karstens, on the DL because of a spring-training groin strain, will pitch tomorrow for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He had been scheduled for Class A Tampa.Karstens likely needs two more outings before he is ready to come off the DL. The Yankees could then option him or keep him as a long reliever or spot starter.
Karsten's has had a rough go at getting his chance to prove that he can pitch in New York.
Karstens, a 24-year-old rookie, was making his second start of the season for New York after missing the Opening Day roster due to right elbow tendinitis. His first pitch was a fastball to Red Sox leadoff hitter Julio Lugo, who ripped a line drive off the hurler's right leg, sending Karstens into a pained crumple on the mound.
"You start the season on the DL, and come back, they give you another shot to pitch, and the first pitch of the game the guy hits a line drive off my leg," Karstens said. "It's a long season though, so I've got to come back and come back strong."
We also have to remember that Karstens pitched really well for the Olympic squad over the winter.
So hopefully Jeff is able to come in and help the Yankees out in any way he can...I think he can, but we will see.Team USA beat Korea 3-1 today in the quaterfinals of the World Cup in Taiwan and the hero was Jeff Karstens.
He allowed one run on five hits in seven innings. He struck out seven without a walk and threw 66 of his 82 pitches for strikes. He was 2-0 in the tournament.
Team USA plays the Netherlands in the semifinals. Cuba and Japan play in the other semifinal.
ROTATION
Chien-Ming Wang: A
Wang has been the most consistent starter without a doubt.
Andy Pettitte: C+
Inconsistency has been the only thing consistent about Pettitte. He’s been Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Mike Mussina: A-
The only reason he doesn’t get an A is Manny Ramirez. Easily the biggest surprise of the season to this point.
Ian Kennedy/Phil Hughes: D
The only reason they don’t get an F is because of their age. You had to figure it was going to be a bit bumpy, no?
Darrell Rasner: Incomplete
First two starts have been solid, but let’s see where he is after another 3-4.
BULLPEN (minimum 10 appearances)
Mariano Rivera: A+
As good as I’ve ever seen him. Period.
Joba Chamberlain: B+
Nobody could have expected him to be as flawless as 2007, but he’s been pretty darn good.
Kyle Farnsworth: B
Most people expected very little from Farnsworth, but he’s been pretty good, especially in the wake of Brian Bruney’s injury.
LaTroy Hawkins: C
His numbers (6.95 ERA) are the result of a terrible handful of outings at the start of April, but he’s been much better of late.
Ross Ohlendorf: B
Logged some long-relief innings for the sake of the team, but has looked good lately in setup-type situations.
Billy Traber: D
Ineffective as lefty specialist, and not doing much better at Triple-A.
POSITION PLAYERS
Hideki Matsui: A-
Matsui has taken to the DH role and been the Yankees’ most consistent hitter.
Bobby Abreu: B+
Leads the team in RBIs and has avoided too many lengthy slumps.
Derek Jeter: B
Power hasn’t been there, but he’s hit well enough and played solid defense.
Johnny Damon: B-
When he hits, they win. When he doesn’t, they lose. It’s a simple yet amazing formula.
Jorge Posada: B+
Was hitting well when shoulder injury sidelined him. Yankees miss his bat almost as much as A-Rod’s.
Alex Rodriguez: B+
The offense has been awful since he’s been out. There’s little question how important he is to their lineup.
Melky Cabrera: B
Was probably the team’s MVP in April, but has wilted a bit in May.
Alberto Gonzalez: B
Defensive whiz has shown he can handle a bat, too. Solid fill-in at the bottom of the lineup.
Robinson Cano: C-
Dismal April has been left behind with surging May. Average finally over .200 – will he get to .300 this year?
Jason Giambi: C-
Still batting (.181) considerably less than his own weight (235), but Giambi’s power stroke has him leading the Yankees in homers and second in RBIs.
Morgan Ensberg: C-
Offense hasn’t been there at all. Could be a decent player, but replacing A-Rod, he doesn’t cut it.
Shelley Duncan: Incomplete
Only 33 at-bats for a player many expected would get a lot more playing time.
Jose Molina: B
Was a doubles machine in early April, but the offense has tailed off considerably. Has done a superb job behind the plate during Posada’s absence.
Wilson Betemit: Incomplete
Two DL stints already have limited him to 26 at-bats.
OVERALL: C
A-Rod's message to those fans? Ramirez's accomplishment has nothing to do with the rivalry, but is rather an historic accomplishment by one of the game's great hitters. "This is bigger than the Yankees and Red Sox," Rodriguez said. "This is baseball history. How many guys have 500 home runs?"
A-Rod also has recorded a similar message for Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr., his former Mariners teammate who stands three homers shy of joining Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa as the only players with 600. When the Red Sox contacted the Yankees to ask if A-Rod would take part in the video message — one of several players around the league invited to do so — team officials took the rivalry into consideration before approaching Rodriguez. Ramirez currently has 498 home runs.
The message? "Manny, I'm going to keep this short because I'm probably getting booed. Congratulations and many more."
Said A-Rod: "I was flattered that they asked me to do it."
Franz Lidz/Portfolio Magazine (hat tip River Ave. Blues):
Bryan Hoch/MLB.Com:MLB.com: What is it about playing in New York that stands out in your mind?
Chamberlain: I think it's the tradition and everything that goes along with being a New York Yankee. You hear about it, and being a baseball fan, you understand. But when you finally put the uniform on, you realize it goes further than this uniform. It definitely makes you feel privileged to wear it.
MLB.com: What do you think has been the biggest influence on your career?
Chamberlain: I think it's just never relaxing. Last year I didn't have that opportunity because I got called up [to each level] a month apart. It was never being satisfied, and trying to get better, and asking questions. It's one thing to get here, but it's another thing to stay here. I try to come in and get better every day and try to learn something.
MLB.com: Any one person stand out in your development?
Chamberlain: I try to take a little bit from everybody. I think I learned a lot from the hitters, too, talking to Derek [Jeter], Jason [Giambi] and Alex [Rodriguez]. I used to hit, but not at this level. You're talking to three guys that have done it, and I have it from a pitcher's aspect of how you stay in your game and do what you do. I think you have to go to the other side and ask those guys what they recognize and what they look for. I don't want to be in that comfort zone of just looking at it from a pitcher's side.Chamberlain: Other than hanging out with [my 2-year-old son] Karter, I like to spend time with my family. I like to travel too. Last year I went to Puerto Rico, Arizona, and Las Vegas. I'd never been to any of them. There's opportunities to talk to kids and sign autographs and enjoy what you did on the field. Hopefully, this year will be my first year traveling overseas. I might get to see Chien-Ming in Taiwan, and my buddy Rick VandenHurk on the Marlins is from Holland. Hopefully, I'll get an opportunity to go spread my wings for a little bit.
Bryan Hoch/MLB.Com:
