Yanks Lift Ban On Sunscreen

For whatever reason, the Yankees believe our personal safety in a post-9/11 world is contingent upon containers of sunscreen, therefore, the team had actually installed a sunblock ban in Yankee Stadium. If you brought your own sunscreen, security guards would typically confiscate it before you entered the park. Then, when in the park, if you wanted sunblock, you could then purchase a 1 oz. bottle of sunscreen for, that’s right, $5 (WTF?).

Well, since the NY Post has written a story on how stupid the ban is and how greedy the Yankees look for charging fans an unnecessary amount for a product (a small product at that) that can supposedly prevent cancer instead of letting them bring their own into the ballpark, the Yankees have actually lightened their sunblock blockade and will allow people to bring their own, once again. The Yankees are such a strange bunch sometimes. Seriously.

I’m a very brown man so I’ve never even thought about sunscreen at Yankee Stadium. But, I can definitely understand how this could harm my light skinned brothers and sisters.

Washburn Rumor Growing Legs

Buster Olney reports that the Yankees are indeed interested in Jarrod Washburn and even speculates that Kei Igawa could be part of any trade for him. Hmm, Kei Igawa? I’m sure Mariner fans love that one. That’s almost as bad as giving Kenji Johjima a 3-year deal (this year). Doesn’t Nintendo own the Mariners? Yikes, maybe they should stick to video games and not baseball games (just kidding Wii fans).

Anyway, I actually saw Washburn pitch last night against the Red Sox (at Safeco) and he did a fairly decent job, although he ran his pitch count up way too early. I think he’ll be the guy the Yankees get before the deadline. He’s a good enough fix for a number 4 or 5 starter and it’s basically a salary dump.

A-Rod Trying To Expand His Empire

Alex Rodriguez has signed with the William Morris Agency LLC to extend his image and to further develop his identity as a commercially viable brand. Basically, he wants more endorsement and sponsorship deals and as one of the highest paid athletes in sports, he’s looking to globalize his name. Nothing wrong with that. For some reason, it reminds me of the season finale of Entourage (see below).

Not A Victim

Remember when Jonathan Papelbon was complaining about the treatment he and his wife received during the All-Star Parade? He complained (whined is more like that) that New Yorkers verbally assaulted he and his wife and that he was an innocent victim who had simply been misquoted. Well, it seems as though Papelbon was outwardly flashing his WS ring during the parade and taunting New Yorkers. If this is true, and it looks to be that way, why would you complain about the verbal abuse? You were flashing your WS ring at New Yorkers and you’re not a Yankee, so what do you expect is going to happen?

Papelbon is absolutely clueless. He constantly compares himself to Mariano Rivera yet he doesn’t garner the same respect (he doesn’t deserve it, first off), nor does he exhibit any of Mo’s classier qualities as an elite player and role model within the game of baseball. I’ll never forget the way Rivera reacted after the Red Sox won the 2004 WS. Fans at Fenway obnoxiously cheered for Mariano in 2005 after their team got to him in the playoffs, and he just tipped his cap and laughed it off. It was such a great moment for both sides. When asked about the mock cheering, Mariano said the following:

“I felt honored,” Rivera said. “What was I going to do? Get upset and start throwing baseballs at people? You just roll with it.”

When is Papelon going to stop comparing and actually learn something from Mo?

Yo Lowe

George King III reports that the Yankees have been scouting Derek Lowe, of the LA Dodgers. Lowe has been on the Yankees’ radar for a little while now, and while he’s a solid pitcher, I’d be surprised if the Dodgers parted with him. Unless they could acquire a power-hitting outfielder (which King notes is what they want) to compliment the Ethier, Pierre, Jones, and Kemp combination, I don’t see a deal happening. Also, I would think that they would hold on to their pitchers, especially since they’re doing well in the NL West.

A Good Fit?

The Seattle Times is reporting that the Yankees are somewhat interested in Seattle’s Jarrod Washburn. Washburn is the very definition of a back-end starter and he’s been performing well for the past two months. He is owed over $10 million into 2009 and the Mariners are looking to dump that salary, which is something that probably entices Brian Cashman. If he were traded, he wouldn’t require many prospects (of high value) as long as the other team takes on a sizable chunk of his salary.

That has Brian Cashman written all over it. A consistently mediocre starter (current 4.75 ERA) who can give you innings and will come on the cheap (talent-wise), is what Cashman is looking for. Plus, he’s a lefty with good numbers at Yankee Stadium. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the move Cashman makes by the deadline. It’s not the sexiest move he could make, but it does makes some sense.

Life Without Jorge Begins

The Yankees turned it up a notch tonight, scoring 12 runs against a pretty solid Minnesota pitching staff. You couldn’t ask for more, especially with the depressing news about Jorge Posada. The Yankees will likely lose Posada for the year (after he has surgery to correct his shoulder), but they can make do with Molina’s terrible production as long as everyone else in the lineup steps up. Cano is already doing that and Melky is doing what he can. However, the DH spot will be integral to what happens to the Yankees for the rest of the year. The club needs another hitter. That’s a fact, not an opinion. A lineup that features both Wilson Betemit or Richie Sexson (DH/1B), Melky Cabrera, and Jose Molina will not take you very far, even if the rest of the lineup can truly hit (every out matters). Cashman has told us that he doesn’t expect much from the market and that the Yankees need to perform up to their abilities, yet you can’t place all of the pressure on 6 guys. This isn’t the National League and there shouldn’t be easy outs in the bottom 1/3 of the order.

If this team expects to journey into the postseason and then have a chance when there, they’ll need two things. A quality starter to displace the extremely lucky Sidney Ponson (28 hits in 22 IP, with 11 BB) or the adventure that is Darrell Rasner (at least until Hughes or Kennedy can pick up the pieces). And, the team will probably need another bat. Remember that Bobby Abreu and Corey Lidle (RIP) deal? Something similar to that package would be nice, albeit I’m not sure if such a deal is out there. There’s a lot to like about the Yankees right now, but they can’t expect Jose Molina to go 3-for-4 every night, and Brett Gardner doesn’t look like he’s figured it out yet. The team has Damon back and Matsui is trying to come back (instead of undergoing advised surgery), but another bat still seems like a good idea.