Game 53: Yanks VS. Orioles

Here’s the lineup (via PA):

YANKEES
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Moeller C
Cabrera CF
Pettitte LHP

Andy Pettitte will face off against Jeremy Guthrie. I have tickets, yet again, to the Sox-Mariners game (I’ll be right along the 3B side) and I’ll be checking in on that, but they usually show the game at Safeco until the Mariners start playing so I can hopefully watch the Yankees win before watching Boston lose (Bedard is on the mound).

David Wells Job Hunting

From Jerry Crasnick (ESPN):

“David would still love to pitch,” said his agent, Gregg Clifton. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed every day. But obviously as time goes on, I have to think we’re not going to get a get phone call.”

So what’s on the horizon? Wells is an avid golfer and hunter, and owns a 1,300-acre ranch in Michigan with close friend Kirk Gibson. He recently appeared on Fox’s “Best Damned Sports Show Period,” and Clifton thinks he could easily transition into broadcasting or even managing.

Wells seems like he would be the type to drunk dial the bullpen, calling for Whitey Ford or maybe even Satchel Paige. Then again, if Ozzie Guillen still has a job as a manger, then maybe there’s a place for Boomer.

Abreu & ______ For C.C. Sabathia?

From Ken Rosenthal (FOX Sports):

Dunn, Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu, Mark Teixeira — any of those potential free agents would lift the Indians’ sagging offense. Teixeira, the only plus defender, is by far the most appealing. Then again, as badly as the Tribe is going, a little creativity might be required.

Dunn and Burrell would be difficult fits; neither can play right field, and their defensive shortcomings would partly offset their offensive contributions.

Teixeira would not be available unless the Braves were desperate for starting pitching and positioned to deal for a suitable replacement at first base.

Abreu? An interesting thought, considering that the acquisition of Sabathia would give the Yankees exclusive negotiating rights with the pitcher until he reached free agency. But the Indians surely would want more than a fading 34-year-old right fielder for a 28-year-old ace.

Second baseman Robinson Cano, 25, would be more intriguing, but the Yankees can control Cano through 2013 and would not trade him unless they received younger pieces such as left-hander Aaron Laffey and outfielder Ben Francisco in addition to Sabathia. For the Indians, who need young players to balance their payroll, such a deal would be self-defeating.

OK, what about Abreu to satisfy short-term objectives plus one or two of the Yankees’ better young pitchers to satisfy long-term needs?

Such possibilities are worth exploring, at the very least.

Trading Sabathia for multiple prospects only would make sense if the Indians fell out of contention, which is unlikely in the surprisingly mediocre AL Central.

But keeping Sabathia, then losing him for draft picks, only would make sense if the Indians looked poised for a World Series run. At the moment, they hardly resemble that kind of a team.

As of now, the Yankees seem like they could use a right-handed bat instead of a left-handed ace, but then again, it’s a 28 year old left-handed ace, so who wouldn’t want that? If such a trade were to occur (Ian Kennedy is starting to look expendable), the Yankees could shift their outfielders if they wanted to play Matsui at LF or give Shelley Duncan a shot at an everyday job in RF.

Unlikely but interesting.

Recapping Last Night’s Loss

Last night the Yankees lost a tough one to Baltimore and it was just one of those games where you could throw a dart at the roster in order to find someone to blame. Whether it was Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, LaTroy Hawkins or Ian Kennedy, the Yankees lost this one as a team so at least they’ve got that unity thing going for them. This loss is particularly important as it will actually end up changing the complexion of the team and there’s a lot that will likely happen as a result.

First, Ian Kennedy will go to the DL with a lat strain after injuring himself last night. Now, I like Ian Kennedy and have always supported the decision to use him as a starter, however, at this point what you see is what you get with IPK, meaning that you have NO IDEA what to expect. He has effectively pitched his way out of the rotation and as a result, Joba Chamberlain will probably end up taking his spot while he rehabs and pitches the rest of the year (likely) in AAA. It’s a sad outcome for Kennedy but he has to give his team a chance to win ballgames and he didn’t do that last night and hasn’t demonstrated that he’s able to do that consistently (he has zero wins, remember).

Next up, you have to wonder about LaTroy Hawkins’ future. He’s been terrible for NY and last night, while I sat at the Mariners-Red Sox game and watched a live box score on my cell phone for the Yanks-O’s game, as soon as I saw that Hawkins was pitching (he had allowed a man to reach first base), I just turned off my phone and waited for the final result–a loss–which was not at all surprising. The bullpen has essentially been exposed as Hawkins’ is fairly useless in any context and Ross Ohlendorf has been stretched to the point of no return. It’ll be interesting to see what the Yankees do and who they may call up in order to straighten things out.

Finally, something will likely happen with the Yankee bench in the next few days. There has been no production from the bench at all, and the team is trying to figure out the best mix. Maybe a bench shakeup is in order as it’s certainly possible. Yesterday Yankees signed Ben Broussard to play first base in Scranton and, although I doubt he’ll get the call, maybe Jason Lane will end up in NY. Last night at the Sox-Mariners game, I watched Sean Casey, a bench player for the Sox, hit any and everything (Youkilis had a sore hand so Casey was at 1B) and it would be nice if the Yankees had a guy like that (someone who can simply get on base).

So, as you can see, yesterday’s loss was significant for a variety of reasons and hopefully Andy Pettitte can salvage what’s left of what has already been a miserable series in Baltimore.