GM News.

Apparently Theo Epstein is out in Boston, headed for the Cubs where he will have more power. An official announcement is to be made in the next 24-48 hours.

Meanwhile, before the Yankees get down to offseason business, they have to take care of their G.M. Brian Cashman’s contract is up at the end of the month. Cash has been the G.M. since 1998. He’s easy to criticize, but he has made some nice pickups people don’t give him credit for (Wade, Colon, Ayala, Garcia) while holding on to some top prospects. Expect a deal to be done soon to keep Cashman as Yankees G.M. That is the first order of business. Get a G.M. in place to have an offseason plan.

 

FROM LOHUD:

The Yankees announced three player moves this afternoon.

• LHP Aaron Laffey was claimed off waivers by Kansas City.

• LHP Raul Valdes elected free agency in lieu of being outrighted off the Major League roster.

• RHP Scott Proctor also elected free agency in lieu of being outrighted.

The Yankees 40-man roster now stands at 37 with Boone Logan as the only left-handed reliever. Laffey and Valdes were added as late-season left-handed depth.

 

Game 162. Playoffs set. Shocking finishes!

The collapses are complete for the Red Sox and Braves. The Rays and Cardinals are in and the playoffs are set.

In the AL, the Yankees got off to a 7-0 lead. An error let in a run in the first, Mark Teixeira hit a grand slam in the 2nd (38), and a solo shot in the 4th (39). Andruw Jones (13) 420th Hr put the Yanks up 7-0 after five. Down 7-0 in the 8th, Tampa Bay scored six runs, highlighted by a three-run Shot by Evan Longoria. But the Rays were still down by a run and down to their last strike. Two out, Two strikes on Dan Johnson, and he homered to tie the game off Cory Wade. In the bottom of the 12th, good old Scott Proctor (I knew he was good for something—breaking Boston’s heart) gave up a HR to Longoria, and the Rays had a come-from-behind 8-7 victory and the wild card—moments after Boston shockingly lost again.

Quick notes: Jeter finished at .297, 3088 hits. Teix 39 HR, 111 RBI. Cano at .302. Leaders later (Gardner SB, Granderson R, RBI…) in another post.

Betances 1st MLB start 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 walks, 2 K. ERA 6.75
Kontos 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk, 0 K. 3.00
Laffey  1 1/3, 0R, 0 H, 0 Walks, 1 K. 3.88 combined
Hughes 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk, 1 K. He ends 5-5, 5.79.
Valdes 1 IP, 0 R, 1H, 1 walk, 1 K. 3.00
Burnett 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K. He ends 11-11 5.15.
Brackman 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walks, 0 K. 0.00
Logan 1/3, 3 R, 2 H, 0 walk, 1 K. 3.46
Ayala 1 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 walk, 1 K. 2.09
Wade 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 walk, 0 K. 2.04
Proctor 2 2/3  1 r, 3 H, 2 walks, 3 K. Overall combined 2-6 7.14.

The last few games are the only times in my life I wanted the Yanks to lose…to stick it to Boston. They sure did tonight, blowing a 7-0 8th inning lead.

Mo didn’t pitch. His ERA was 1.91, and this is the ELEVENTH season his ERA is less than two…and he’ll be 42 soon. No other closer has had more than SIX of those seasons.

The Yankees will play the Tigers in the ALDS. Meaning the dangerous Verlander. They’ll have to find a way to beat him. The Rays get Texas.

Boston meanwhile, can blame themselves. They took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the 9th in Baltimore and Papelbon got the first two guys out. Then double, double, single and the Red Sox lost. What were they, 7-20 in September? Choke…the official drink of the Red Sox. They were 9 up on the Rays going into Labor Day weekend.

Meanwhile in the NL, the Braves took a 3-2 lead into the 9th. … and blew it. Single, K, two walks and a SF. They then lost it in the 13th. Meanwhile, St.  Louis crushed Houston 8-0 and as a result won the wild card. Atlanta’s fold was as shocking as Boston’s. They were up 8 1/2 on the Cards at that same time. They went 9-18 in September.

The NL matches up the Phillies with the Cardinals, and the Brewers against the Diamondbacks.

Game 159. Proctor (why is he on the team?) blows it in 14th, gives Boston life 7-4.

Boston has to be worried. Their wild card lead is down to 1/2 a game, and they have John 6.49 ERA Lackey on the mound vs. Nova tonight.

Different cast of characters for Game 2. Starters for Game 1 (except Dickerson) get a rest.

Nunez SS .266-5-30  21SB/27 att  OPS+ 84
Granderson CF .268-41-119  24/34 143  MLB leader in R, RBI
Cano 2B .305-27-116  8/10  131
Teixeira 1B .244-37-104  4/5  113    need to get him going
Swisher RF .263-23-84  2/4  119
Chavez 3B .263-2-26  0/0  80
Montero DH .346-4-12  0/0  172   18 for 52
Dickerson LF    13 for 47, 0 for 4 in Game 1
Romine C    2 for 11 in MLB career 

Nova P 16-4, 3.62  ERA+ 122

Yanks get 3 in the first. Granderson walks, Cano singles and Teix doubles home two. Teix to third on the throw home. Varitek tried to get Teix at third and threw the ball into LF. 3-0 Yanks.

Nova was great for four innings. A triple and single cut the lead to 3-1 in the fifth.

Boston gets another run in the sixth. 3-2. A lucky play, man on 3rd, WP, but the ball comes right back to Romine at the plate and he tags out Pedroia. I would have pulled Nova here.

Girardi doesn’t and it cost him. Nova, who in the sixth was clearly losing it, is left in and gives up two runs. I gotta question Girardi there. I would have pulled Nova after six.

Nova 6 1/3, 4 R, 8 H, 0 walks and 3 K. ERA to 3.70. He’ll finish the year 16-4, 3.70.

Chavez singles, Gardner PR, SB #48, groundout and a SF by Dickerson tie it in the 7th.

Then…a war of attrition, with the desperate Red Sox needing it more.

Logan 2/3 IP, 0R, 0H, 0 Walk, 1 K, 2.83.

Soriano 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walk, 0 K. 3.52.

Mo the 9th. 1 IP. 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk, 1 K. 1.92.

In the bottom of the 9th, the Yanks had the bases loaded, two out but Romine struck out.

The desperate Red Sox, needing the win, had to use Papelbon for 2 1/3.

Valdes 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K. 3.00.

Good job by Wade. 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 2 K. 1.88.

Laffey in.

…and to the 13th. By now, the Yanks lineup isn’t too hot. Nunez, Granderson, Cano, Golson, Swish, Gardner, Montero, Pena and Romine. I wonder if Jeter or A-Rod are even in the ballpark anymore. Martin? Heck, Romine is catching, Montero DH and Posada was already used.

Montero got intentionally walked. After less than 60 MLB at bats, already he strikes some fear.

Girardi gets tossed in the 13th for arguing that the umps blew three calls in the game already.

13th inning. So much for starting the game at 6:30 in order to have both teams travel. May as well just have made it an “old-time” DH.

With one out in the 13th, walks to Cano and Golson. Yanks don’t score. The lineup they now have? Pathetic. Like I said, I don’t even think Jeter or Alex are even in the ballpark anymore.

To the 14th. Laffey gets an out, and the Yanks go to the bottom of the barrel. Proctor.

Laffey 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 walks, 1 K.

Proctor: Single, walk. Any surprise? Out. 1st and 3rd, two out. Really. WTF is Proctor doing here?

3-run HR. I don’t know what to say anymore. He’s here. Pendleton isn’t. Really. I’d like to accost Brian Cashman and ask why. WTF were they thinking? I mean it. Proctor? Really? Between him and Mitre…

Proctor. 2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 walk, 1 K. ERA, 7.41 overall; AS A YANKEE: 12 R, 10 ER in 8 1/3.

WTF were they thinking?

Really. Bringing him and Mitre back? Cashman has made some good, unexpected moves. Wade. Ayala. Garcia. Colon. j

But Mitre and Proctor? ONCE AGAIN, all together now:

WTF are they thinking?

Game 156. Colon a worry after awful start. Two rookies make MLB debuts. Yanks crushed 15-8.

You expect a hangover after the celebration last night.

The Yanks lineup had Montero C, Posada at 1B, Laird at 3B, Golson in CF. Jones, Swish, Posada (1B) were in. Teix DH. Jeter in. Granderson, A-Rod, Gardner, Martin, Cano all out.

So you didn’t expect much. Still, you wanted to see Colon show something for the playoffs.

Nope. Instead he looked like he’s run out of gas. Is it me, or was that injury (groin strain) when he started going down?

Tampa Bay scored in each of the first five innings in taking a 13-0 lead after five.

Colon 3 IP, 7 R, 5 ER (2 errors by Jeter, another by Swisher, Dickerson made one later. Hangovers?) 7 H, 1 walk, 1 K. Now 8-10, ERA 4.02. 1 HR given up.

Then Proctor. Honestly. For the life of me, why did the Yanks bring him back? It’s as bad as bringing Mitre back. They have him now and not Lance Pendleton? Proctor 6.81 ERA. They DFA’d Pendleton, who had a 3.12 with the Yanks and 3.10 at AAA. I know I’ve been harping on it, but WTF?

The Yanks need to dump Proctor. NOW.

Proctor: 1 IP, 5 R, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 walks, 2 gopher balls.

Laffey 1 2/3, 1 R, 4 H, 0 walks, 1 K. 4.14.

Andruw Jones hit a 2-run HR (12, career 419) in the 6th.

Andrew Brackman got the last out in the 6th, pitched the 7th. MLB Debut. 1 1/3, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk, 0 K. 0.00

The Yanks got four in the seventh. Ramiro Pena singled in a run, Jones singled one in, and Montero doubled in two. 13-6.

Dellin Betances made his MLB debut in the 8th. Ugly. After a flyout, three straight walks and a HBP. SF. Another walk. 2/3 IP, 2 R, 0 H, 4 walks, 0 K and a HBP. 27.00. Kontos gets the last out of the inning. 15-6 after 7 1/2.

The only good thing for the Yanks: Montero 3 for 3, 2 walks, 2 RBI.

Pathetic? Hilarious? Manny Ramirez wants to be reinstated and will now serve his 100 game suspension if anyone wants him. Who would? Don’t go away mad, Manny….just go away.

An error brings in two runs in the 8th. 15-8.

Kontos 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 1 K. 2.45.

15-8 final. Tampa gets a 1/2 game closer to Boston.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Game 151. A lot of regulars get a day off. Offense takes a day off as a result. Yanks lose 3-0.

Yanks 91-59, 4 1/2 up on Boston in the AL East. First Place.
Magic Numbers: 8 for division and best record in the A.L., 5 to make the playoffs as the wild card. OPS+ 108, ERA+ 119
Four games worse than the Pythagorean record.

A lot of regulars get today off.

Gardner CF .262-7-36  45/58  OPS+ 93   leads AL in SB
Nunez 2B .254-4-29  19/25  76  Slumping
Cano DH .305-26-112  8/9  129    one behind Granderson for AL RBI lead
A-Rod 3B .287-16-59  4/5  124    629 HR, one behind Griffey
Swisher RF .261-23-83  2/4  119
Chavez 1B .271-2-25  0/0  87
Martin C .234-17-61  8/9  91
Dickerson LF .333-1-6  3/3  125    11 for 33
Pena SS .074-1-2  0/0  (-17)  Yes, that’s MINUS 17. HR in 1st AB this year, ONE FOR 26 since.  

Garcia P  11-7, 3.71  ERA+ 119

A lot of sub-100 OPS numbers (100 = average) as a lot of regulars get a rest.

The Yanks, with two on and one out in the first, try a double steal, but the back end (Cano) is thrown out.

Lind HR’s off Garcia in the 2nd. Freddy walks the next batter, but a CS helps him…then another walk. K, SB. Popup. 1-0 Toronto after two.

Lind hits another HR off Garcia in the 4th. 2-0.

Walk, error by Garcia, SF make it 3-0 Jays in the 5th. Garcia exits, Laffey in.

Walk. I see nothing in Laffey.

Ayala in. Bases loaded, two out. He gets a flyout. 3-0 Jays after five.

Garcia 4 2/3, 3 R, 5 H, 3 walks, 4 K, ERA to 3.77.

Laffey 1 batter, a walk.

Proctor in the 7th. He gets into a jam. Valdes comes in, bases loaded, one out. He gets out of it.

Ayala 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K. ERA to 1.74.

Proctor 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 walk, 0 K. …  and I have no idea why Girardi is imitating Torre in his (over)use of Proctor.

End of 7 1/2, still 3-0 Jays. Yanks have just 4 hits. Ramiro Pena? After a HR in his first MLB at bat this season, he has now gone 1 for his next 29.

Next time you or anyone knocks Nunez, consider that. (Btw, Nunez has two of the four hits).

Um, make that three of the five the Yanks had today. Yanks shutout 3-0. Garcia falls to 11-8.

Valdes 1 1/3, 0 R, 1H, 0 walks, 2 K. Kontos came in, 1/3 IP (out on a CS).

I’ll update the magic Numbers when the Boston/Tampa Bay game becomes final.

Game 150. Yanks comeback to win 7-6 behind A-Rod, Granderson HRs. Mo ties the record. Save #601.

Yanks 90-59, 3 1/2 up in AL East. Magic #10 division, 6 playoffs.
OPS+108, ERA+119. Four games worse than Pythagorean record.

Hold that Tiger: The Tigers are just three games behind the Yanks for the best record in the A.L.

Jeter SS  .292-5-57  15sb/21att OPS+ 93   chances for .300 gone? 3076 hits
Granderson CF .264-39-111  24/34  140  MVP chances diminishing b/c of low average? No SB in a while… tied for AL RBI lead, leads MLB in R
Teixeira 1B .244-37-104  4/5  115   Ouch, that average, why not drop him?
Cano 2B .306-26-111  8/9  130   .300, tied for AL lead in RBI, middle infielder, Gold Glove, why not HIM for MVP?
Rodriguez 3B .284-15-56  4/5  121   has missed about two months
Swisher RF .263-23-83  2/4  120
Montero DH   10 for 35 (.286), 3 HR, 6 RBI in MLB career 
Gardner LF .259-7-36  45/58  92  leads AL in SB; .144 over the last month.
Romine C    1 for 4 in MLB career

Colon P 8-9, 3.55  ERA+123

No A-Rod for almost two months. Pettitte retired, Burnett and Hughes are a combined 15-16, ERA 5.43. Joba went down early. No Feliciano (after shoulder surgery, probably never at all). If I told you Ayala, Wade, Colon and Garcia would do well, you wouldn’t have believed me in March. Or that Nova would be 15-4. But the Yanks are 90-59. Go figure.

GIDPs kill the Yanks in the 1st (Teix) and 2nd (Swisher). A-Rod had singled, with a new grip. Tape is separating his hands and providing protection to that thumb.

Meanwhile, the Yanks need to hit. Teix under .245? Granderson slumping. Gardner .144 from 8/17 to 9/16?

It looks as if Cervelli will miss the rest of the year and possibly the postseason with the concussion symptoms. That’s not good. Rookies as your backups in the postseason. Raw rookies, at that.

Big trouble. Colon gives up 4 in the 2nd. Jose Molina another big hit.

It seems like Colon has run out of gas, but the numbers really aren’t bad. Heading into this game, Colon is 2-6 since the 4th of July, but his ERA has been 4.39. Not great, but really not that bad. He probably should be 4-4 with that kind of ERA, not 2-6.

Gardner grounds into a force after Montero’s single. Gardner, as I wrote above, has been terrible over the last month. Speaking of, when has Teix become an under .250 hitter? The HR and RBI are nice, but the BA dipping to .240 or below? This must change or come the postseason, the Yanks are sunk. Why Teix is still hitting 3rd, with that BA, astounds me. I’d drop him.

After 2 1/2, 4-0 Jays.

You gotta be kidding me. Granderson walks, Teix finally doubles. 2nd and 3rd, no one out. Cano SF, Error. Run scores. 2nd and 3rd, still no one out…

and the Yanks don’t score another run. Alex grounds to 3rd, runners have to hold.

Swisher flies out. Nice catch saves a two-run hit. Teix goes back to tag, and is passed on the basepaths by Cano. Third out. You gotta be kidding me. After that, maybe Cano should not be considered for MVP. Boneheaded play. Sheesh. Inexcusable.

4-1 Jays after 3 1/2. Colon doesn’t start the 4th well. Two singles, then two outs. It looks like he’ll get out of it.

Nope. 2-run double. 6-1 after four. May as well save the bullpen, I’d bring in Betances next inning. Why not?

Team meeting? Or just an aging, tired team what with no offdays? Whatever, the Yanks are playing badly. Gardner finally gets a one-out triple in the fifth. He is left stranded.

Proctor comes in. Screw that. Right now, I’d rather see Betances. Let me see the future, not the past. Why the hell are they going to a washed up Proctor so much lately (I’m STILL pissed at signing Proctor and DFA-ing Pendleton!).

6th. Finally, something. Granderson doubles, Teix singles. Signs of them coming out of it? 6-2. E sends Teix to 2nd, WP to 3rd, Cano hbp. No out.

A-ROD HITS ONE! 6-5! THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO SEE! The Old Alex being a force. #16 is #629 of his career and puts him one behind Junior Griffey on the All-time list.

After 5 1/2, 6-5 Jays. Yanks back in ballgame. Hopefully A-Rod’s HR is a wakeup call.

Laffey in. (got the win).

Colon 4 IP, 6 R, 7 H, 1 walk, 3 K. ERA to 3.81.
Proctor 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk, 1 K.

Laffey has a 1-2-3. 6-5 Jays after six.

Yanks come all the way back. Jeter singles and Granderson’s 40th gives the Yanks a 7-6 lead.

Noesi the 7th. A 1-2-3 inning. 1 K. ERA 4.01.

Proctor 6.31 and Laffey 4.15 includes their stints elsewhere.

7-6 after seven. To the 8th. Soriano.

He strikes out the side. ERA to 3.82.

Mo—for a chance to tie the record.

A 1-2-3 with a K!

Mo ties the record with save #601. #42 of the year. ERA to 2.02 (get that under 2.00, Mo!) 

The Magic numbers for now go to 9 for the divison, 5 for the playoffs, with Boston and Tampa playing later.

CONGRATS MO! 

Game 146. Yanks beat King Felix 9-3. 4 up, 16 to go.

A late night, and after a 10-hr. work day I have 10-hr. tomorrow. Recap tomorrow.

Yanks 88-57, + 3 1/2 in AL East over Boston. Magic #’s 14 for div. 11 for WC.
4 games worse than Pythagorean. OPS+ 109, ERA+ 118.

Tonight’s lineup; Dickerson in RF, Swish back but at 1B (elbow) Teix gets a 1/2 day; Dh-ing. Romine’s 1st MLB start.

Jeter 6 .297-5-56  15sb/21att  OPS+ 97  3073 hits.
Granderson 8 .265-39-111  24/34  143   leads MLB in R, AL in RBI
Teixeira DH  .247-36-103  4/5  118
Cano DH .301-25-106  8/9  126
Swisher 3  .262-22-80  2/4  120
Chavez 5  .282-1-22  0/0  90    had two 30 HR seasons, where has the pop gone?   131 AB
Gardner 7 .261-7-35  43/56  93     leads AL in SB
Dickerson 9           9 for 29, 0 HR, 4 RBI 
Romine 2          1st MLB start, no plate appearances yet.

Hughes 1   4-5, 6.41  ERA+ 69

Cervelli has been diagnosed with a concussion.

No score after two.

Gardner leads off the third with a hit, Dickerson singles him to 3rd. Romine (where’s the squeeze here in his first MLB plate appearance?) flies out but it doesn’t advance the runners. Dickerson SB. Jeter a groundout to get the run in.   1-0 Yanks after 2 1/2.

Sterling rightfully rips Hughes. With a man on second, 2 out in the 3rd, Hughes gives up a run as Ichiro singles in a run on an 0-2 pitch. Tie game.

Teix gives the lead back to the Yanks in the 4th with #37. 2-1 Yanks.  Cano doubles, Swish singles him to third, and Chavez (who, despite just 1 HR, has come up huge lately) gets a SF. 3-1 Yanks. Swish to second, and  Gardner gets an RBI single. 4-1? On King Felix? Hey, you take it.

….and what did I say in yesterday’s post about playing some players who are FRESH to give some tired players a day off? Dickerson hits a 2-run HR and the Yanks are now up 6-1!

End of four, 6-1 Yanks. Recap tomorrow. Bedtime. …

Recap: The Yanks go 4 up on Boston with 16 to go. The 9-3 win lowers the magic numbers to 13 for the division, 10 for the wild card.

The Yanks got three in the seventh to extend their lead to 9-1. Romine got his first MLB hit, a single. Singles by Jeter and Granderson loaded the bases. After Teix whiffed, Cano cleared the bases with a double.

Hughes went six, 1 R, 5 H, 3 walks, 3 K. 5-5, ERA 6.00.

Proctor (why the Yanks love of him lately?) went two (and if you are going to use him, now is the time, with a 9-1 lead: save the rest of the bullpen) went two, 2 R, 3 H, 1 walk, 3 K. He gave up a two-run HR in the 8th for the final score of 9-3. ERA 6.49 combined, Atlanta/NY. Like I said, why the Yanks recent love of him? I’m still ticked the Yanks signed him and DFA’d Pendleton. It makes no sense.

Ayala a scoreless 9th. 1-2-3, ERA 1.80.

Game 142. O’s top Yanks in extras again, 5-4 in 10.

I’ll get to hear some of it before I head to work. There is (of course) a good chance of thundershowers today in Baltimore. Hopefully, if there is a delay, it won’t be a long one, because the Yanks have to fly to Anaheim after the game.

Yankees 87-54, 2 1/2 up on Boston in the AL East. Magic #19 for division, 12 for playoffs. 3 games worse than Pythagorean record. OPS+ 112, ERA+ 118.

Jeter SS .297-5-54, 15/20, 99  3068 hits. Can he reach .300 after slow start?
Granderson CF .271-38-109   24/34  148   leads MLB in R, RBI
Teixeira 1B .250-36-102  3/4  123
Rodriguez DH .290-15-56  4/5  124   628 HR
Cano 2B .303-24-105  8/9  129
Swisher RF .263-22-80  2/4  121
Chavez 3B .267-1-19  0/0  85  slumping
Cervelli C .275-4-22  4/5  96   hot lately 
Gardner LF .265-7-35  43/55  96  leads AL in SB

Nova P (15-4, 3.89) ERA+  112

One Note: Ramiro Pena’s 1st MLB AB this year was a HR. Since then? 1 for 26.

The game starts on time at 1:05.

The Yanks load the bases with no one out in the second as Alex walks, Cano singles and Swisher walks. A Chavez single brings in one.  Cervelli lines into a DP.  Gardner walks, and Jeter gets hit #3069, a 2-run single. At the end of 1 1/2, 3-0 Yanks.

Vlad HR’s for the O’s in the second. 3-1. The Yanks get the run back in the third on a single by Teix, a SB (!) by him and after a two-out walk to Swisher, an RBI single by Chavez. Good to see him get it going again. 2 hits, 2 rbi for him. 4-1 Yanks.

After three, 4-1 Yanks. Recap later.

Recap: Nova went 5 1/3, giving up a run in the fourth. Vlad had a HR and 2 doubles in the game. The Yanks bats went completely dead after the 2nd inning.

In the sixth, Nova left with a man on 2nd, one out. Logan came in and didn’t do the job. He faced one batter, a lefty, and gave up a run-scoring double to make it 4-3. Ayala replaced Logan and got out of the inning.

In the seventh, a 8-4-2 relay nailed an Oriole at the plate to keep it 4-3.  Laffey had come in, and faced one batter. Walk. Poor job. Wade got out of the inning, but needed that relay.

In  the eighth, Soriano in. After pitching in each of the last two games, Girardi wanted to stay away from Robertson. It was supposed to be Soriano to Mo, the way the front office types who overruled Cashman this spring wanted it.

Sometimes, it pays to listen to Ca$h. Soriano gave up the tying run. There would be no Mo today.

In fact, Soriano was saved once as Granderson got ANOTHER assist, on an 8-2. Given a reprieve, Soriano still gave up the tying run.

Proctor got through the 9th but lost the game in the 10th.

The Yanks bullpen, outside of Ayala, didn’t do the job today. The bats went dead after the second inning.

…and Proctor? In a close game? During a stretch drive? Proctor?

Nova 5 1/3, 3 R, 5 H, 3 walks 2 K. ERA 3.94.
Logan 1 batter, gave up a run-scoring double. Boo. 2.92.
Ayala 2/3 IP 0 r, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K. 1.85
Laffey 1 batter, gave up a walk. Boo. Combined ERA (Sea/NYY) 4.05.
Wade 1 Ip, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 1 K. Got bailed out… 1.99
Soriano 1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 walks, 0 K. 4.45. Gave up tying run in 8th. Boo.
Proctor 1 1/3, 1 R, 3 H, 2 walks, 1 K. Ugh. Proctor’s overall record (ATL/NYY) is 2-4, 6.34.

Proctor? In that spot?

Called up to the Yanks: Betances, Banuelos, Phelps and Warren. Not to pitch (Betances maybe but doubtful) but more likely to observe. It’s a common practice with the Yanks: Bring up but don’t play top prospects in September so they get a feel of what a stretch drive is like in NY. The Yanks did it with Jeter way back in 1995.

Game 139. Swish off today. Garcia has bad outing but Cano Grand Slam & 2 HRs by Montero give Yanks 11-10 win.

In keeping with the last couple of days (Jeter off Saturday, Granderson yesterday), Girardi gives Swisher today off.

Yanks 85-53, 1 1/2 up on Boston for the AL East lead. Three games worse than the Pythagorean record (record you think they’d have based on runs scored vs. runs allowed). OPS+ 111, ERA+ 119

Jeter SS .298-5-54  15sb/20 att  OPS+ 98   3066 hits
Granderson CF .271-38-107  24/34  148  leads MLB in R, RBI
Teixeira 1B .247-35-100  3/4  121
Rodriguez 3B .289-15-54  4/5  122    628 HR
Cano 2B .306-23-101  8/9  130
Jones RF .245-11-28  0/0  121
Martin C .237-17-61  8/9  95
Montero DH  3 for 10 in 3 MLB games, all singles
Gardner LF .268-6-34  42/54  96  leads AL in SBGarcia P  11-7, 3.09   ERA+ 141

With 24 games left in the season, Jorge Posada’s Yankee career is dwindling down, and I wouldn’t expect to see him much anymore, save for the PH appearance he had on Saturday.

Garcia gives up a gopher ball to Markakis in the first. 1-0 Orioles. Teixeira ties it in the bottom of the 1st with #36. A-Rod walks, Cano and Jones single, and it’s 2-1 Yankees after one.

It looks like Garcia doesn’t have it today. Single, popup, double. Single ties the game. PB puts the O’s up 3-2. Single. 1st and 3rd, one out. Fielder’s choice by Teix, who comes home but the runner scores. 4-2. Single 5-2. Finally Garcia gets two more outs.

The Yanks come roaring back in the bottom of the second with six runs. Montero walks, but after Gardner strikes out, Jeter doubles. Granderson doubles in two to cut it to 5-4. Teix walks, A-Rod HBP and Cano then gets #24, and it’s a GRAND SLAM. Jones walks and Martin doubles, but the Yanks leave them on 2nd and 3rd when Montero strikes out and Gardner grounds out. A long two innings so far, but the Yanks lead 8-5 after two.

Make that 8-7. I’m surprised Garcia was left in there, and he gives up a 2-run HR. This looks like a doozy today. He leaves after 2 2/3 with a man on.

…and it’s the Yankees return of Scott Proctor, who gives up a hit but gets out of the inning. Proctor, 34, went 11-10, 4.29 for the Yanks from 2004-2007, and led the AL in appearances with 83 in 2006.  He was 2-3, 6.44 for the Braves this year.

Garcia 2 2/3, 7 R, 9 H, 0 walks, 1 K. Ugh. ERA to 3.50.

End of three, 8-7 Yankees.

Proctor gives up a HR in the fifth. Tie game. Aaron Laffey in to replace Proctor. It’s expanded roster time. End of 4 1/2, tied at 8.

Proctor: 2 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 walk and 2 K. ERA 6.32, Yankees ERA 4.50.

Montero hits his 1st MLB HR to give the Yanks the lead in the fifth, 9-8.

Walk, flyout. In comes Ayala. HBP. Can’t anyone pitch today? Big K for the 2nd out. Groundout and he’s out of it.

Laffey 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk, 0 K. Overall ERA (Sea/NY) 4.08. He gets the win (2-1, Sea/NY)

After six, 9-8 Yankees.

He’s done it again! 2-run HR for Montero gives the Yanks an 11-8 lead in the seventh.

Logan for the 8th.

Ayala 1 2/3, 0 R, 0H, 1 walk, 1 K, ERA to 1.90.

Logan gives up a run, but Markakis runs into an out. 11-9 and Wade comes in. He gives up a hit, but gets out of it. 11-9 after 7 1/2. I wonder if Mo comes in to stop this madness and try for a save?

Logan 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 walks, 0 K, ERA to 2.92. No Yankees pitcher is distinguishing themself today. If I’m the official scorer and the Yanks hold on, I would give the W to Ayala. They don’t. Laffey gets it.

It’s Mo for the 9th, Yanks up 11-9.

Mo gives up 2 hits, a HBP and a run. Trouble.

I hate this defensive indifference crap. They are running like mad on Mo.

But Mo gets the K to end it! Save #38 and it’s career #597 for Mo.

1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 HBP, 1 K.  ERA to 2.17.

Besides Montero, other callups today.

Besides Jesus Montero, other callups today will be Scott Proctor (yes, THAT Scott Proctor, just recently picked up after the Braves let him go), Chris Dickerson and Brandon Laird.

UPDATE: No lineup yet, but reports are that Montero WILL make his major league debut tonight as the DH vs. Lester.