toronto blew

What a wreck the Yankees were in Toronto.  A bunch of our pitchers inflated their ERAs, A-Rod extended his precious hitting slump, and Joe Torre seemed to just let it happen.

The Blue Jays really fed off their Hillenbrand feud, it seems.  The Yankees didn't feed off anything.

They're two and a half games behind both the Red Sox and the White Sox.  That's correct, astute reader, the White Sox are in a different division.  The one that the Detroit Tigers are leading.

big dig in the bronx

The AL central will likely earn the wildcard this year.  Here's what the Yankees should do just to keep pace.

Giambi will get lots of time in August at the DH spot.  Bernie Williams may play once a week at most - he's going to heat up in September and October.  A-Rod could take the bench against some of the important teams, waiting for a late turn as a pinch-hitter.  

From the bullpen, Farnsworth will get regular appearances to keep him sharp and solidify his setup role.  For wider-margin scores, Farnsworth may get a two-inning closer opportunity if Rivera works too much.

That's all fine and good.  Right now, I have the sense that the Yankees are anxious about trade news.  Who's going to come in and give them that little boost that they need to topple Boston?  Imagine that such a trade doesn't happen.  The current roster is it; they have the talent to get it done.  But is their fire lit?

ozzie's bronx spanking

If you look like this in the 9th inning, you're not winning:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/photo?slug=ceb0af0307004627b3ef5c3e57c24d60.white_sox_yankees_baseball_nyjj118&prov=ap

what's the difference

Gary Sheffield, sidelined until perhaps September, says that he wants to be the difference.

Well, talk is cheap, jackass.  All we want you to do is mend and deliver.

subway ribbies for a-rod

This is a great time for Alex Rodriguez to load up on RBIs.

Of course, the best time for Alex Rodriguez to load up on RBIs is anytime that he is batting for the Yankees.

randy's future in the bronx

The New York Yankees are desperate to shelf aging rockstar Randy Johnson.  Voiding his contract is not possible, and neither is a trade.  The only option being whispered in Tampa is
a "vacation in Delaware," which is slang for the disabled list.

During the month of July, expect the Yankees to seek a trade, likely involving two other teams, in which a young right-handed pitcher comes to New York.  The Yankees are seeking a pitcher not over the age of 28 who can be a long-term contributor in their starting rotation.  Johnson, who has added over two points to his ERA in the past 2 years, has struggled against mediocre opponents this year.  Randy is not injured now.  But the team might encourage him to make a slow recovery, should he find himself on the DL this season.

The team will focus its rotation on Mussina, Chacon, Wang, and a player to be acquired later.  Wright has the fifth spot in the rotation as long as Pavano remains inactive.  Although the Yankees do not have long-term plans for Wright, expect him to hang on even if he relocates to the bullpen in September.