Almost at the 1/3 point. Next game.
YANKEES (31-21, 1st by 1 game)
The Yanks are 2 games better than their Pythagorean record, OPS+ 119, ERA+ 94.
BA-HR-RBI-SB/total att./OPS+
Jeter SS .319*-7-25-10*/11-127 (Jete’s been hot)
Damon LF .301-10-32-5/5-135
Teixeira 1B .279-16*-44*-0/0-153* (as has Teix)
Rodriguez 3B .250-7-20-0/0-148
Cano 2B .310-9-32-2/4-118
Posada C .313-7-25-1/1-159 (amazing for a catcher. .338 in 2007, .313 now at age 37.)
Matsui DH .268-8-22-0/0-122
Swisher RF .236-10-31-0/0-128
Gardner CF .270-2-9-10*/12*-94
Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (5-1, 4.10). ERA+ 111
Andy is 2-0 at home this year, but the ERA is 5.57. On the road, 3-1, 2.59.
Amazing, other blogs. Girardi has them in first and people are still ripping him. I have issues with the guy sometimes, but give credit where credit is due. Torre is in LA. Yes, LA is doing fine. Let it go.
I wonder if the same people who bitched about no Swisher, why Gardner are saying no Melky, why Gardner today? Meanwhile all the Yanks have done is win 16 of their last 20.
I swear, some people on some blogs.
Rain could be an issue tonight.
Randy Johnson goes for #300 tonight.
Update: Pete Abe is reporting that Wang is starting tomorrow. CC on Friday. Hughes to bullpen for now (temporary (italics mine) bullpen fix).
With Hughes (for now) and Aceves, there is a little flexibility in the bullpen now. We’ll see how it works out.
More later.
Update: New lineup. Apparently Teix bruised an ankle on the takeout slide last night. He’s day to day. Interesting lineup (if they play…rain). Swisher’s patience and walks at #2, Damon drops to 3.
New lineup
Jeter SS
Swisher 1B
Damon LF
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Cabrera RF .314-5-20-4/6-117
Gardner CF
I heard conflicting reports on the original lineup, of whether Melky or Gardner was in CF. Whatever. Both are in now.
Apparently it was supposed to be Melky.
Andy starts badly, giving up 3 in the first and another in the 2nd. A-Rod singled in a run in the 1st scoring Swisher who had doubled. Pettitte had trouble in the third but K’d the side after putting the first two guys on.
I wonder if Pettitte’s back is ok after the trouble down in Texas last week. Maybe it’s bothering him.
If you haven’t heard, the Rangers are looking to dump Padilla. Meanwhile the Braves have released 305 game winner Tom Glavine and made a trade with the Pirates to acquire Nate McLouth.
Bases loaded, one out in the third. A-Rod up. Great shot to do something here. Nope. GIDP.
It stays 4-1 into the 7th. Posada hits his 8th hr. #229 ties Eric Chavez on the all-time list. 4-2 Texas.
That’s all she wrote though. Andy went 5, took the loss. Tomko (3) and Robertson (1) held it at 4-2 but the bats weren’t there.
The Sommer Frieze 
How are you feeling, Mike?
I see Hughes starting again sooner or later but, if not, it’s a good sign–that the starters are effective and the team is winning. Kudos to Hughes for stepping in, up, and doing pretty well.
The team has it going on right now, no question.