So...

Sorry it has been so long between updates, life has a way of interfering with blogging…anyways. Here are some thoughts:

1. The Yankees have largely lived up to our post All-Star Break plan, taking 3 of 4 from the 6 of 8 from Tampa Bay (2 series), 3 of 4 from Toronto, and 3 of 4 from the Royals. When you couple that with the pre-All Star Break series wins against the Angels and the team had a nifty little streak going. But, that somewhat ground to a halt when Baltimore took 2 of 3 over the weekend (I’m discounting the already won game, the teams completed Friday night). While one doesn’t want to overreact to one series loss, the weekend was bad. In order for the Yankees to make up ground on Boston and the Wildcard they simply cannot afford to lose series against losing teams. The Yanks have the next 6 against the White Sox and the Royals – anything less than 4 wins could be devastating.

2. The Yankees finally got rid of Will Nieves. I can’t tell you how excited I was watching Jose Molina collect 3 hits in his first game against Kansas. In fact, I was so thrilled by the prospect of having an actual living, breathing ballplayer back up King Jorge that I didn’t care that the Yanks lost. I can’t believe it only took Brian Cashman half of a season of watching a guy hit below .200 with no power before he thought about replacing him.

3. Phil Hughes comes back on Saturday, August 4^th – cue the angels singing and the golden lights.

4. Joba Chamberlain is coming up to help the pen. Part of me likes this move, Scott Proctor and Kyle Farnsworth are awful. Joba throws in the high 90s and can be dominate. Furthermore, there is a blueprint for success here – look at Johan Santana and Francisco Liriano. Of course, neither of those pitchers were managed by Joe Torre. Torre is awful when it comes to managing his bullpen and the thought of what he might to do poor Joba’s arm is horrifying. However, this could provide the Yanks with a strike out pitcher from the pen, other than Mo, something the teams sorely needs.

a. Actually, I take that entire paragraph back. There’s such a likely hood that Torre will irreparably harm Joba that I think the team needs to hold off till Torre leaves – it is just not worth it.

5. Trade Deadline Thought: I kind of hope the team stands pat. There’s not a whole lot out there, I don’t think adding Eric Gagne is going to make a tremendous difference (and it will kill one of my Fantasy teams) and Texas wants too much for Mark Teixeira. Moving Kyle “disaster walking” Farnsworth or Scott “home run” Proctor would be addition by subtraction and if the team can get some live young arms, or better yet, some young hitting prospects, I’m all in.