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Carl Pavano is fragile

reports now have it that Carl Pavano is hurting again this time a stiff neck as he was forced to skip his bullpen session today. This will make the Saturday spot start between Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano more intresting. You can read the full story on http://www.nypost.com/seven/08192008/sports/yankees/pavano_skips_bullpen_session_125164.htm

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Johnny Damon’s comments on his misplays in tonights game vs the Jays. Damon called it unacceptable.

Damons thoughts: “Plain and simple, I missed two balls and that’s unacceptable,” Damon said. “I know that stuff happens sometimes but catching routine fly balls should be that much of a problem. I’m baffled.” Yankees have now lost another tough game its getting unbelievable

Close to the end, Yanks lose again

Yankees spoiled a rare master piece by starter Darrell Rasner who pitched 6.2 innings of 1 run 4 hit baseball as the Yanks would go on and waist the gem as they lose to the Jays in the opener 2-1. Johnny Damon made 2 horrible plays one in eighth that cost the Yankees the ball game. Meanwhile yet again A.J Burnett continued to own the Yankees he scuffled 13 batters including Alex Rodriguez ,Giambi 3 times each.

Yanks scored their only run of the night in the opening inning. Johnny Damon worked his way on with a walk to begin the game. Derek Jeter caught looking for the first strikeout of 13. With Bobby Abreu up Yanks hit and run as Abreu served it to left field corner that scored Damon with the first run of the game. Burnett would fan Derek Jeter,Alex Rodriguez and the Giambino in the inning. Yanks would get shutdown rest of the way by Burnett and B.J Ryan.

Darrell Rasner had a surperb outting tonight his one of couple jams came i nthe bottom of the first when his team took a early 1-0 lead. Jays tried to provide a one out rally. Marco Scutaro walked then Alex Rios who came in to the game with a 26 game hitting streak vs the bombers crushed a 3-2 offering to center when Johnny Damon dropped the ball as the call is ruled a error. Perhaps Damon heard Nady’s footsteps. The error didnt proove costly when he struckout Wells and got Adam Lind to groundout as he secured a 1-0 bomber lead.

Pitching duel was the key in tonights game as Burnett was shining with the K’S and Rasner was razzing the Jays with his great stuff tonight. With Yanks leading the Jays by the score of 1-0 in the 7th. Adam Lind hit a 3-2 Rasner slider over the wall in right for a game tying solo home run he has now hit 3 hoemrs in 3 straight games. Rasner got overbay to groundball but then got tooken out by Giradi as he brought in Veras and got the final out on a Staris groundout to end the 7th in a tie game 1-1.

A.J Burnett was throwing a gem fanning 13 bombers thru 7. He pitched the eighth quickly and quietly. Without a strikeout Burnett retired Damon,Jeter and Abreu on consective groundouts to complete his game. He went 8 innings of 4 hit ball only giving up 1 run, walked 1 and fanned 13. He would get the win.

The Jays tried to get the go ahead run to credit Burnett a win and they did just that. Jose Veras started out the eighth making Rod Barajas and John Mcdonald silly by fanning them but then he was not so perfect. Veras gaved up a hard hit single to Joe Inglett but the big blow was on the first pitch to Marco Scutaro when he drove  it to the wall when Johnny Damon dropped the ball again as the Jays took the lead 2-1. Damon sucks in center field!

Yanks were down to their last licks against the closer B.J Ryan. Alex Rodriguez looped a 1-1 fastball over Overbay’s leaping try then was thrown out trying to strecht it to a double. Alex Rodriguez was at home plate looking if it be fair or foul and the result thrown out at 2nd. Jason Giambi had a hat trick going and BJ Ryan upgraded it to a golden sambrano on a high heater. Xavier Nady put the Yanks in disgust when he flied uot to cenetr on the first pitch to end the game. Ryan picks up his 24th save on the season on 10 pitches as the Jays give Yanks another lost 2-1 win. for the Jays.

WP: A.J Burnett 16-9   LP: Veras 3-2   Save:  Ryan 24

Notes:
Alex Rios 26 game hit streak against the bombers end  after a 0-4 night at the plate

Darrell Rasner pitched a rare gem but picked up a ND

Burnett struckout 13 bombers to improve to 6-2 in 9 career starts against the Yanks

David Purcey will go tomorrow at 7:07 against Andy Pettitte this will be the Yanks first look the lefty Purcey

Yanks at Jays- August 19

Tonight the Yankees begin another roadtrip but not for 10 this time 6 games that includes trips to Toronto and Baltimore. Yankees will try and extend on to their 2 game win streak as they send Darrell Rasner to square with A.J Burnett who is a Yankees stopper he is 5-2 with a 2.85 ERA VS the Bronx Bombers. Yanks start the day and series 5.5 games out of the wild card.

Pitching Matchup:

RHP Darell Rasner ( 5-9, 5.18 ) VS. RHP A.J Burnett ( 15-9 , 4.67)

Starting Lineups:

1.	J. Damon, CF	J. Inglett, 2B
2.	D. Jeter, SS	M. Scutaro, 3B
3.	B. Abreu, RF	A. Rios, RF
4.	A. Rodriguez, 3B	V. Wells, CF
5.	J. Giambi, 1B	A. Lind, LF
6.	X. Nady, LF	L. Overbay, 1B
7.	H. Matsui, DH	M. Stairs, DH
8.	R. Cano, 2B	R. Barajas, C
9.	I. Rodriguez, C	J. McDonald, SS

Notes:

RED HOT: Derek Jeter is now batting with a 295 average as he is 12 for his last 19

HES BACK: Godzilla is back in the MLB and will DH for the remainder of the season as Justin Christian was optioned down

Minor Leagues: Alfredo Acheves will pitch tonight as Chase Wright will get the nod Saturday and Phil Hughes scheduled to start on Sunday pending Saturdays Yankee game Carl Pavano or Hughes will pitch against the O’S on Saturday at Camden Yards

*** ENJOY THE GAME***

Pittsburgh native John Challis dies of cancer

John Challis who found out he was dying of liver cancer in 2006 died today in his sleep at the age of 18. He visited Pnc Park in Pittsburgh and he accomplished his other goal when he was treated to a game at Yankee Stadium as he was mannered with Alex Rodriguez. John Challis was a model to all 18 year olds as he outlasted the 6 months to live that was given by the doctors,He showed courage and belieft.

Challis was able to be apart of his goals as he met the teams of Pittsburgh Pirates the Yankees and his home town hockey team of Pittsburgh Penguins. Our thoughts are with him and his family ggoing thru these tough times.

Yanks-Jays series preview

Both teams scored 15 runs on Sunday Yankees defeatd the KC Royals 15-6 and the Blue Jays cruised past the Red Sox in Fenway by the score of 15-4. Yankees finished off there breif 3 game home streak against the Royals by winning 2 out of 3. The Jays swept Boston in a rain-shortend 2 game set. Coming into this 3 game set at the Roger Centre the Yanks hold a 5-4 season series lead with 9 games remaining between the two. Toronto will be serving up their 2 aces AJ Burnett and the amazing Roy Halladay due to the Friday rainout

Pitching Matchups:

Tuesday: Darrell Rasner ( 5-9, 5.18 ) VS. RHP A.J Burnett ( 15-9, 4.67) 7:07/YES/WCBS 880

Wednesday: LHP Andy Pettitte ( 12-9, 4.30) VS. LHP David Purcey ( 2-3, 5.93) 7:07/YES/WCBS 880

Thursday:  RHP Sidney Ponson ( 7-3, 4.20) VS. RHP Roy Halladay ( 14-9, 2.64) 7:07/YES/WCBS 880

Notes:
Hideki Matsui will make his long waited return back in the MLB Tuesday night in Toronto as a DH

David Purcey will make his first ever start against the Yankees on Wednesday night against Pettitte

Yankees have 5-4 lead with 9 game remaining against AL East foe Toronto Blue Jays

BREAKING: Future HOF Greg Maddux traded to Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers made another splash tonight when they acquired future hall of famer pitcher Greg Maddux from the San Diego Padres. Greg Maddux has 353 wins in his career,Maddux pitched for the L.A Dodgers in 2006 when he started 12 games going 6-3 with a 4.49 ERA. The back end of the deal is not yet confirmed. greg Maddux would only accept a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

full story now at: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3541723

Sunday Headlines

Today I was in Baltimore,MD and was not able to watch the Yanks-Royals game but go updates as the Yankees crushed the Royals by a score of 15-6 including a 3 run homer by A-rod a grand salami by Jason Giambi a X MAN homer and the first ever MLB homer for Cody Ransom and Mussina picked up win number 16 he has roughly 7-8 starts remaining in the 08 season. I went to the Baltimore Aquarium  and to Espnzone in the Inner Harbor where the Yanks will be next weekend

I was hoping to get a tour of Camden Yards but tix were sold out but i was able to take some pic as that will be posted below

Scranton beat former MLB pitcher Kris Benson and the Lehigh Valley Pigs today 9-6 despite a horrible pitched game by Phil Hughes,Melky Cabrera made his first start for Scranton since being demoted from the Yankees. Melk-man went 1 for 1 with 4 walks.

Red Sox suffered their second straight lost as ace Josh Beckett got lit up as the Jays won the rain-shortend series combined with a Yankee victory now the lead is cut down to 5 games over the Yankees and lead CWS/MIN by a half game. Tampa bounced back by yesterdays lost as they topped a Texas rally in the 9th to beat Texas 7-4

Pics of Camden Yards where Sox fans were invading:      PICS OF Baltimore Aquarium to come Monday so stay tuned!

Gardner delivers in the 13th

Yankees who losted in fridays game after an hour and half rain delay bounced back  on Saturday to even the series up with a 3-2 victory on the rookies Brett Gardner second career walk off single as Yankees took game 2 of the series.

Royals got on top early again this time off Sir Sidney Ponsonh who has been very solid in his last 3-4 outtings had another quaility start today. In the second the Royals drew first blood when Alex Gordon slugged his 14th homer of the season to left field to give the KC Royals a 1-0 lead.

With both pitchers dueling each other thur 5 innings the Royals tacted on their 1-0 lead to give them a 2 run lead in the 6th. mark Teahen doubled to begin the frame then  was out a tthird on a error that allowed to Jose Guillen to reach with 1 out. Sidney walked Ross Gload and Alex Gordon back to back then Guillen scored on a  sac fly by German to give Royals the 2-0 lead

Yanks roared back down 2-0 hole by scoring 2 to tie things up. Alex Rodriguez opened the Yankees half of 7th off the inning with an 2 base error to put the Yanks in rally mode. jason Giambi who has rly been strugglnig walked to put runners at first and second. Xavier Nady grounded into big rally killing double play but Robinson Cano slashed a 3-1 pitch into the gap to score Rodriguez on a RBI  triple. Robinson Cano scored the tying run on a wild pitch to tie game up

Rivera was awesome today he pitched 2 scoreless innings in a 2-2 tie that allowed Yankees \a big chance of winning a much needed game. Jeff Fulchino struck out Xaiver Nady robinson Cano then pounded a single to start the game ending rally. Pudge grounded out but moved Cano the winning run into scoring posistion and scored on a 3-2 RBI single b yGardner to give the Yannks a much needed victory 3-2 Yanks in 13.

Notes:
After a horrible game for Gardner in his 2nd stint he had an career game pouding 3 hits including the game winning single that won a much needed game for the Yanks.

Finale will be at 1:05 on Yes and ECBS 880 and there will be no recap or preview as I will be gone for the day going to Baltimore. I will be back with some pics of Camden Yards and pics from the day in Baltimore

Mussina goes for his 16th win agaIn and he will be matched up with Brian Bannister who is 7-11 this season.

Byrd makes his debute tonight for Boston as he will go for  win against the third place Blue Jays. Tampa will play there 2nd game of the series against the Texas Rangers beggining around 8:05 EST. yanks are now 10 games out of first depending on Rays score and 6.5 games out of wild card depending on Sox score

Royals win opener 4-3

Kansas City took the opener Friday night to begin the Yankees 3 game home stand. Royals beat the Yankees and Rivera by the score of 4-3 as they survived a 9th inning jam against the bombers. Yankees bounced back today with an RBI  single by rookie Brett Gardner in the 13th inning to beat the Royals as they split the first 2 games with the rubber game tomorrow afternoon

Friday: Yanks looked to score first against Gil Meche and the Royals but the ywere stuffed out. Johnny Damon led off the Yankee night by reaching on an fielding error by German. Gil Meche got Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu out on strikeouts then walked Alex Rodriguez to put 2 men aboard but Jason Giambi who has the stache again grounded out to end the threat and the inning.

Andy Pettitte breezed thru the first inning but found some trouble by walking Jose Guillen to open the second. He retired Billy Butler on a fly out but then surrendered a double to power-hitting Alex Gordon with 1 away. Ross Gload drove in the Royals first run of the night on a sac fly to gardner to open the scoring.

John Buck who came into the game 0 for  for his last 30 led off the 5th against the big left hander with a ground-rule double. Andy Pettitte issued Esteban German a fre pass (1 of 4) to give the Royals a chance to score. Royals center fiedler Mitch Maier sac bunted that moved the runners up. Andy walked Mike Aviles intentionally then the move back fired when Mark Teahen ripped an ground rule double to left to give the Royals a 3-0 lead. Pettitte limited the damage when he igot Billy Butler to fly out and then fanned Alex Gordonswinging.

Yankees got on the board finally in the 5th inning. Jose Molina who is Pettitte’s personal catcher  got things started with an ground-rule double. Derek jeetr who had 3 hits on the night delievered a clutch hit to drive in Molina to cut the lead to 3-1. Yankees were further sniffed as Abreu and Alex Rodriguez both flied out.

Yankees tied the game after Royals took out starter Gil Meche who went 6 solid innings of 6 hit 1 run baseball while walking 2 and fanning 8 bombers. Royals elected to bring in their lefty specialist Ron Mahay who ahsnt pitched in a week and that moved came back and bit them. Johnny Damon worked his way on with a free pass with 1 out then Derek Jeter walked as well to put runners at 1st and 2nd and  1 away. Bobby Abreu greeted Royals right handed relief pitcher Leo Nunez with an run scoring single to right to cut lead 3-2. Alex Rodriguez who was looking for a huge clutch hit did not happen but he did hit a tying run on  a sacrifice fly 3-3 after 7.

Mariano Rivera came in on an 3-3 tied game in the 9th and he was again less then perfect as he gave up the go ahead and the winning run for the Royals. In his first apperance since his blown save in Tuesday game against the Twins he struckout John Buck to lead off the frame but then he allowed a double to German then advance on a groundball single by Mitch Maier. With rookie Mike Aviles up Rivera threw a wildpitch off Molinas glove that prooved to be the winning run to give the Royals a 4-3 lead. Rivera would go no further trouble when he got Aviles and Teahen.

Yankees tried to rally against super clsoer Joakim Soria but couldnt swell the victory out. Wilson Betemit who pinched hit singled on a swinging bunt as Justin Christian pinched ran. Johnny Damon awaited a 3-2 pitch when Soria quickly threw to first to pick off the young speedy Christian for the first out that would proove costly. johnny bounced away to defensive replacement Tony Pean JR ofr the second out. But the Yankees who are one of the best teams that are good hitting team with 2 outs didnt go away quietly. Derek Jeter singled then advanced to second on  Abreu’s walk then Aleex rodriguez loaded the mfull when he hit a single to the pitcher. Giambi drilled a 2-1 pitch but was lined right into Mitch Maier who was shallow to cose the game as Royals took game 1 4-3.