Yankees Should Grab Brennan Boesch

Brian Cashman has been watching the waiver wire like some people watching the Kardashians. Cashman would like a bat as big as Kim Kardashian's behind, but none of those are available. A pretty good bat did become available Wednesday morning.

Though he is inconsistent, has difficulties with left-handers, had thumb surgery which caused him to miss the 2011 post-season, was left off the 2012 post-season roster, and hurt an oblique muscle this spring, the Yankees should pounce on 27-year old Brennan Boesch.

The outfielder became available on Wednesday after the Detroit Tigers gave him his release. With the acquisition of Torii Hunter over the winter there wasn't going to be a lot of playing time for the Tigers' incumbent right fielder. Boesch spent his entire career with the Tigers organization after he was selected in the third round of the 2006 MLB amateur draft.

He broke into the Majors in 2010 and averaged 14 home runs and 58 RBI over three seasons. Though he has a propensity to be a very streaky hitter, Boesch still managed to put together a .799 OPS over 115 games in 2011. His OPS dropped 140 points last year, which or may not have been due to the thumb surgery he had in '11.

Boesch is a player who needs to cut down on his strikeouts and draw more walks, which translates to being more selective at the plate. With that in mind, it was just two years ago that he hit 16 home runs to go along with a .283 batting average and .458 slugging pct. With the short porch in Yankee Stadium, Cashman should be bombarding Boesch's agent Scott Boras with phone calls. Boesch could fill the role Raul Ibanez played last season and though he bats from the left side, he would be an upgrade over right-handed hitting veteran outfielders in camp (Matt Diaz, Juan Rivera, and Ben Francisco).

Boesch's salary jumped from approximately $.5 MM in 2011 to $2.3MM last year, but the Yankees could probably get him much cheaper with a minor league deal (throw in some incentives too). Boesch is also not eligible for arbitration until next year. Boesch is a decent outfielder, though he would more likely see time in left field rather than in right field with Ichiro Suzuki already stationed there.

Okay, enough talking, Cash get moving.

Ibanez is Once, Twice, Three Times a Mariner

After a heroic 2012 campaign, Raul Ibanez was hoping to return the Bronx this coming season, but instead chose to play for the Seattle Mariners for the third time in his career. He'll earn $2.75MM in base salary with incentives to earn more money.

Ibanez likely took a look at the glut of left-handed hitters on the current Yankees' 40-man roster and decided he would get more playing time elsewhere. He's expected to share left field and DH duties for the Mariners, who lost 87 games last season.  Seattle had already added Kendrys Morales via a trade with the Los Angeles Angels.

Ibanez played more than expected during the regular season due to injuries and came through with 19 home runs and 62 RBI in 384 at-bats But it was.Ibanez's late inning heroics in the stretch run and post-season that will not be forgotten. None more so than Game 3 of the division series with Baltimore when Ibanez, pinch-hitting for Alex Rodriguez, tied the game with a home run and then won it with another home run in the 12th inning.

All that being said the Yankees certainly did not need another 40+ year old player on the 2013 roster.  Ibanez was a member of the Mariners from 1996-2000 and again from 2004-2008. He was a  member of the NL pennant winning Philadelphia Phillies that lost to the Yankees in the 2009 World Series.

Yankees Offer Up a Trio of Qualifying Offers

"Should I stay or should I go now?"

$13.3MM is the magic number this year in determining if Major League Baseball teams will receive compensation if they lose players to free agency.

As part of the new collective bargaining agreement agreed upon in 2011, type 'A' and 'B' free agency was eliminated. In it's stead, the onus is now on teams to make guaranteed one-year contract offers equal to the average salary of the league's top 125 players to any of their free agents in attempt to gain compensation for lost assets. The number for 2013 is the aforementioned $13.3MM.

The onus then switches over to the player to either accept or reject the offer. If an offer is rejected, the player's 2012 team will get compensation if the player signs with a new team for 2013. If the player accepts, the team has the player for one year, whether they really wanted that player or not.

The Yankees made three of the offers today and hope that just two of them are accepted. In reality, at most one will be accepted, which means the Yankees could receive two compensatory picks.

The offers were made to Nick Swisher (I'll guesstimate 10% chance at acceptance), Rafael Soriano (0%), and Hiroki Kuroda (75% - 100% chance if he wishes to play another year in the US). The Yankees do not want Swisher to accept and he will in all likelihood oblige since he is looking for a multi-year free agent deal.

The Yankees would be doing cartwheels down River Ave. if Soriano accepted the offer, but since he just opted out of his current contract with the Yankees, that's not happening either. Soriano's agent, Scott Boras, is said to be looking for a four-year deal based on the 42 saves Soriano compiled in 2012.

And then there's Kuroda, who made $10MM with the Yankees this past season and would probably jump at the increase if he doesn't retire. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports had already reported that Kuroda would be "fine" with a one year deal.

No offers were made to free agents Andy Pettitte, Russell Martin, Raul Ibanez, and Ichiro Suzuki

Players have until 5 p.m. EST on November 9, which coincides with the last day of the general managers' meetings, to make their decision. Exclusive negotiating rights with a team's own free agents ends tonight, five days after the end of the World Series.

A-Rod Highest Paid Scrub in History

I'm not playing?

Joe Girardi has taken things one step further for today's ALDS Game 5 by benching Alex Rodriguez. If he were able to, Girardi might bench all but a couple of players for the decisive contest.

Rodriguez was fine with Girardi's choice to pinch Raul Ibanez for him in Game 3, but didn't feel the same way when Girardi again called on Ibanez to hit for his third baseman in extra innings. You can imagine how A-Rod must be feeling  now as he prepares to watch Eric Chavez start at third base and Ibanez at DH.

The Yankees, as a whole, are in a bad slump, but it's Rodriguez that has had a pair of goat ears firmly planted on him. Robinson Cano, who hit over .600 for the last week of the season is just 2-18 in the division series.  Curtis Granderson is 1-16 with 9 K's (apparently he has been inhabited by the ghost of the 2002-2003 Alfonso Soriano). Nick Swisher is 2-15 and has looked like a clown on a couple of plays in the outfield.  Ichiro Suzuki, in his first playoff series in 11 years, is 4-20.  Russell Martin has just three hits in 14 at-bats, but he did hit the go ahead home run in Game 1.

The only regulars worth their salt have been Derek Jeter (8-19) and Mark Teixeira (5-15), the latter of which came into this post-season with a poor track record as a Yankee.

The Yankees .216 team batting average is actually nearly 20 points higher than Baltimore's .197 mark. So while the Yankees pitchers have done their job, the Yankees offense has fallen well short of helping the effort.

The question that remains, besides who will win Game 5, is will Yankees blame A-Rod if the team loses, even he's riding the pines?

Yankees Flail and Fail to Decisive Game

Phil Hughes did everything the Yankees asked of him, Joe Girardi moved Alex Rodriguez down in the lineup, the bullpen was solid, and the Yankees still lost. The 13 inning, 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles forced a fifth and decisive game Friday afternoon. CC Sabathia and Jason Hammel will face off just as they did in Game 1 when the Yankees used a 5-run 9th inning to win 7-2.

Thursday night, however, the Yankees lineup couldn't take of any opportunities presented to it. The O's fared no better until Manny Machado doubled off David Phelps and scored the game winner when J.J. Hardy doubled to left-center.

The Yankees best opportunity came in the 8th inning when Ichiro Suzuki and Mark Teixeira opened the inning with back to back singles. Robinson Cano could only manage a weak grounder that basically worked like a bunt. As I have said before, no matter where you are in the field the ball will find you and no matter where you are in the order you'll bat in a big situation.

Sure enough A-Rod stepped to the plate with runners on second and third with one out. Buck Showalter quickly went to submariner/side-armer/over-the-top Darren O'Day, who has baffled the Yankees all series. Joe Girardi decided not to go to a pinch-hitter, figuring that Raul Ibanez or Eric Chavez would be intentionally walked  The boo birds were flying once again when O'Day struck out A-Rod and Nick Swisher meekly flied out to right.

Hughes looked to be in trouble when he walked the game's lead off man Nick McLouth and Hardy reached first on a bunt. But in just his fourth post-season start, Hughes worked his way out of it with three fly outs. He struck out nine through 6.2 innings and allowed just four hits, with the lone run coming on a McLouth solo home run.

The Yankees struggled against lefty Joe Saunders, with their only run coming in the 6th when Derek Jeter doubled and eventually scored on a Cano ground out.

Notes

Joba Chamberlain had off-season Tommy John surgery, then wrecked his ankle in a trampoline accident. Last night, bad luck struck again when Matt Wieters broken bat nailed Chamberlain in his right elbow. He threw a few warm up pitches, but the elbow began to swell and Girardi went to the pen. His status for Game 5 is up in the air.

Ibanez did hit for Rodriguez in extra innings, but Rodriguez wasn't okay with the move this time aroundl, mainly because everyone else had struggled and not been pulled.

Girardi is a Genius; Bats A-Rod 3rd, Yankees Win

If you listen closely you can still hear John Sterling yelling Rauuuuuuuuuul

When the starting lineups were announced for Wednesday night's Yankees-Baltimore Orioles game, there was a sense of anger across much of Yankees fandom. Alex Rodriguez was indeed still in the 3rd spot in the order despite a 1-9, five strikeout start through the first two games.

But as it turned out, the non-move was a thing of genius. Down 2-1 in the 9th, Joe Girardi sent Raul Ibanez up to pinch-hit for A-Rod (0-3, 2 K's) against Orioles' closer Jim Johnson.  Just as he had done on the next to last day of the season against Boston, Ibanez delivered a game tying home run into the right field seats.

Just as he had won Game 161 in extra innings, Ibanez came through again. Still tied in the 12th, Ibanez swung at the first pitch of the inning from lefty Brian Matusz' and drilled it into the right field seats for a 3-2 win. The Yankees can close out the best of five ALDS when they send Phil Hughes to the mound Thursday night.

The Yankees kept the game close behind stellar pitching from starter Hiroki Kuroda, who allowed solo home runs to Ryan Flaherty and Manny Machado, but only three other hits in an 8.1 inning performance. Boone Logan, Rafael Soriano, and David Robertson worked the final 3.2 frames to set up Ibanez's game winner.

Miguel Gonzalez was outstanding for the Orioles; he allowed just five hits in seven innings, and struck out eight. The only real trouble he got into was when the Yankees scored their first run in the 3rd inning. Russell Martin reached on a one-out double and came home on Derek Jeter's triple over the head of centerfielder Adam Jones. The remainder of the lineup took weak hacks at the rookie, who had been discovered in the Mexican League and was called up in May to be the long man out of the pen.

Notes

Rodriguez was the DH with Eric Chavez taking over at third base.

Jeter had to leave the game in favor of Jayson Nix after he batted in the 8th. He had fouled a ball off his foot early in the game and was badly hobbled for the remainder of the game.

Wearing his Yankees uniform, Mariano Rivera  threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

E-3, Thank You Very Much

Eduardo Nunez, Pinball Wizard

The Yankees-Oakland A's series this weekend has been an exciting (agita) one. Friday night's series opener saw a great pitcher's duel between CC Sabathia and Jarrod Parker that the Yankees won in extras after Rafael Soriano blew the Yankees lead in the 9th.

Saturday went a few steps further; pitching was pretty mediocre, fielding even worse (by the A's), but when it was all over that word "improbable" was being bandied about again. Hey, I even got to use the word "bandied". In the end the Yankees pulled out an "improbable" 10-9 victory in 14 innings.

The Yankees had to go to Freddy Garcia for a 4th inning of relief due to a shortened bullpen (neither Soriano or David Robertson was available). Using Garcia for that length of time is like juggling sticks of dynamite. You know that eventually it's going to go off. Just ask Arzt - "Dude, you've got some Arzt on you".

The 13th inning is when things blew up for the Yankees. Garcia gave up a 2-run home run to Jonny Gomes (who really looks like he should be a professional wrestler) and followed that up by throwing a meatball to Yoenis Cespedes for a solo home run. Back-to-back and belly-to-belly is not so much fun when it's the other team.

Joe Girardi then went to a Red Sox castoff, you notice these guys never pitch well?, Justin Thomas who gave up a solo bomb to Chris Carter for a 9-5 A's lead. With the day game turning into a night game there weren't too many people left watching for an improbable victory. For shame, for what they missed out.

A's skipper Bob Melvin went to his 7th pitcher, Pedro Figueroa, to start the bottom half of the 13th. No relation to Ed Figueroa, as far as I know, the A's reliever surrendered singles to Ichiro Suzuki, Alex Rodriguez, and Robinson Cano to load the bases with no one out. John Sterling ran another ad for "this call to the bullpen..." and Pat Neshek came on.

The one time highly regarded Minnesota Twins product immediately threw a wild pitch to cut the lead to 9-6. Eduardo Nunez followed with a sac fly that halved the deficit and brought Raul Ibanez to the plate as the tying run. Ibanez had delivered a pinch-hit home run earlier in the game, his first long ball since August 5. It wasn't hist last of the day. The veteran of 17 seasons smashed Neshek's side winder into the right field seats to tie the game at 9 apiece. What was left of the crowd went bananas...or maybe that's because liquor had been cut out six innings earlier.

Corey Wade tossed a perfect 14th to set the stage for a walk off, well more of a stumble off, victory.  Tyson Ross replaced Neshek and gave up a lead off single to Eric Chavez. Derek Jeter sacrificed pinch-runner Melky Mesa (who ever though not one, but two Melky's would play in the Majors.), which led to an intentional walk to Ichiro.

A-Rod ripped a line drive to center that was hit too hard to score Mesa, but the bases were loaded with just one out. That quickly became two outs when Cano weak grounder to the right side was fielded by Ross, who got the force out at home. But the A's, who already had two errors, thrown three wild pitches, balked, and hit a batter, were happy to oblige once more.  Nunez hit a sharp grounder that ricocheted off first baseman Branon Moss for the A's third error of the day and enabled Mesa to score the game winner, the Yankees seventh straight victory.

Notes

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, and thank you to NJ.com's Jeff Bradley, the Yankees came back from a 4-run deficit in extra innings and won for just the second time in franchise history. The firs time was back on September 17, 1980 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Derek Jeter's 1-7 performance extended his hitting streak to 16 games, but it is now unlike the captain can catch Miguel Cabrera for the batting lead. Jeter dropped to .321 while Cabrera's 1-4 performance left him at .332. Mike Trout is in between at .325.

Steve Pearce did his best Mark Teixeira imitation yesterday, making a pair of diving stabs to save the game.

Gardner Runs Out of Time

Unfortunately, you could see it coming- Brett Gardner is lost for the season.

The Yankees announced that Gardner will undergo season ending surgery to repair inflamed tissue in his balky right elbow. Gardner injured the arm when he made a diving sliding catch against the Twins back on April 18.

The soon-to-be 29-year old outfielder tried to rehab the injury several times, but felt continued pain each time.  The latest MRI showed the inflammation and the Yankees team of doctors decided it was time for Gardner to go under the knife.

No word if Gardner could possibly be back for the playoffs. Unless Brian Cashman makes a deal or someone like Chris Dickerson is recalled from the minors, Raul Ibanez, Jayson Nix, Dewayne Wise, and Andruw Jones will continue to split time in left field.

Slam, Bam, Thank You Ma'am

Raul, you're so cool. - photo courtesy of northjersey.com

When it comes to hitting home runs, you won't find two more prodigious teams this season than the Yankees (144) and the Toronto Blue Jays (131). So it came as no surprise that a home run decided Monday night's series opener between the two AL East teams.

With the game tied 2-2 in the 8th, the Yankees loaded the bases with one out with a pair of singles off of Jays' reliever Aaron Loup and a hit batsmen when Jason Frasor plunked Mark Teixeira on the toe.

It's been difficult not to cringe when the Yankees have loaded the bases this season. Though they have had more than their share of grand slams, they've failed to get a big hit more times than not.

When Frasor froze Nick Swisher with a 3-2 breaking pitch for the second out of the inning, it was difficult not to think 'here we go again'. But after falling behind in the count (3-1) to Raul Ibanez, Frasor threw one right in the outfielder's wheelhouse and the 40-yr old deposited it in the right field seats for a 6-2 lead.

The Blue Jays scored a run off of Cody Eppley and Rafael Soriano, but Soriano had his shirt untucked after catching Colby Rasmus looking at a called third strike to end the game. The Yankees have won three of four since the All-Star break.

Russell Martin homered for the first time since he hit a pair of shots against the Mets back on June 10.

Robinson Cano had a pair of hits and an RBI and extended his hitting streak to a career high 19 games.

Phil Hughes threw another stellar start- 7 IP 4 H 2 ER 3 BB 4 K and allowed a solo home run to Adam Lind.

Alex Rodriguez was forced to DH after coming up with a stiff neck. It didn't bother him when he swung the bat, but he was in pain when making throws to 1st base.

Which Came First? The Pollo or The Juevos? Doesn't Matter, Home Runs Came Last

Frank Francisco made called the Yankees chickens prior to the weekend series between the Mets and Yankees. Of course, no one knew what the hell he was talking about, so they weren't insulted. Perhaps Francisco though he was Pedro Cerrano from Major League who wanted to sacrifice a chicken before the big game.

Francisco created a stir mainly among the Mets and the fans, and the NY Post came up with one of their ridiculous cover pages. It turned out Francisco was referring to the Yankees allegedly constantly complaining about ball and strike calls.

Of course there are certain people who should just keep his mouth shut. Especially idiots who once threw a chair in the crowd and injured two fans.

Yes, Francisco saved Friday night's 6-4 Mets win over the Yankees, but karma is a bitch, and apparently Francisco hurt his oblique. Perhaps it was from his jolly laughter about the whole chicken incident and his subsequent back track of his words.

Saturday night it looked like Francisco, before we knew he probably unavailable, might be called on again. But those things they call home runs, which Mets fans thought the Yankees couldn't hit in their spacious ball park, changed all that. Ivan Nova left in the 6th inning, trailing 3-0. He had allowed a home run to Kirk Nieuwenhuis and an Alex Rodriguez error led to an unearned run.

The Yankees were barely touching 6'10" Mets' starter Chris Young, who at times looked like he was dunking the baseball in the catcher Josh Thole's mitt. But after putting two aboard in the 7th inning, Young saw his lead slip away when Raul Ibanez hit a frozen rope over the wall in right to tie the game.

Two batters later pinch-hitter Eric Chavez did his Niewenhuis imitation by hitting an opposite field home run to left to give the Yankees their first lead of the night. Then it was up to the bullpen.

Boone Logan K'ed two to end the 8th; David Robertson did his Houdini act in the 8th when he walked two, but struck out the side, and Rafael Soriano finished it off in the 9th with two more K's and a Mets' stranded runner.

So the Yankees home runs stole one and the series is tied one apiece with a great rubber game Sunday night between CC Sabathia and R.A. Dickey. We'll see who laughs last.

Bullpen, Ibanez Save The Junk Man

Anyone that ever watched the classic TV series Sanford & Son knows that lead character, and junk man, Fred Sanford (as portrayed by Redd Foxx) would introduce himself with the middle initial G. He would then say what the 'G' stood for and it would always depend on the situation. For example, it stood for 'Grammy' when Sanford met blues legend B.B. King.

If Fred were in Baltimore last night he would have said it stood for Garcia. Freddy Antonio Garcia wild pitched his junk into a 4-0 hole for the Yankees. But the Yankees pen, led by Cory Wade and David Phelps (2.1 scoreless innings each), held Baltimore in check and the Yankees rallied for a 5-4 victory in 12 innings.

Robinson Cano led off the 12th with a double, but stood at third base with two outs after both Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira failed with runners in scoring position (the Yankees were 2-16 on the night with RISP). Newbie Raul Ibanez saved the day though,
when his gapper to right-center one hopped over the fence for a ground rule double and a game winning RBI. Mariano Rivera tossed a scoreless bottom of the 12th for his first save of the season.

Garcia was nothing short of awful...he tossed five wild and walked three in his first start of the regular season. Handed a 1-0, 1st inning lead on a Derek Jeter home run, Sanford, er Garcia, was fortunate the Orioles were as miserable with runners in scoring position as the Yankees were. J.J. Hardy tied the game with a solo home run in the home half of the 1st and the Orioles put another run on the board when a pair of Garcia wild pitches allowed Nick Markakis to come around from second base with the go ahead run.

The O's increased their lead in the 4th when another wild pitched moved Adam Jones to third and enabled him to score on Nick Johnson's ground out. Garcia's final errant toss allowed Robert Andino to score the O's final run in the 5th inning. Garcia got off the hook when the Yankees rallied in the 6th against Orioles rookie starter Wei-Yin Chen. The Taiwanese native pitched the last seven seasons in Japan and is still just 26 years old. He kept the Yankees at bay through five innings before they finally caught up to the left-hander in the 6th.

Singles by Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira, and a walk to Curtis Granderson loaded the bases with just one out. Andruw Jones' sac fly brought home one run and another scored when Mark Reynolds muffed Russell Martin's grounder to third. Brett Gardner's RBI single tied the game and ended Chen's MLB debut. It then came down to a battle of attrition with the both
bullpens stifling any rallies.

Phelps was marvelous in just his second big league appearance. Four of the seven outs he recorded were by strikeout and the right-hander retired all seven men he faced. In fact, the Yankees pen allowed just five base runners over the final 7.1 innings, capped by Wade's clutch performance. The second year Yankee continued to impress and matchEd Phelps' output of four K's in 2.1 innings. he gave way to Clay Rapada with one out in the 11, which enabled Rapada to earn his first Yankees' win.

Notes

Derek Jeter's home run in the 1st inning allowed him to reach base safely in five straight at-bats. He went 4-4 in the first game of the series and added a sacrifice bunt as well. The Captain is 13 hits behind Dave Winfield for 19th on the all-time list.

Raul Ibanez not only has 6 RBI, but stole second base Tuesday night. He's halfway to his total of two that he stole last season with the Phillies.

CC Sabathia faces Jake Arrieta in the series finale on Wednesday.

The Pena is Mightier Than The Closer

An opening game (opening day is really at home...to me anyway) match up of CC Sabathia and James Shields. You're talking a 2-1/3-2 game! And it was...by the 2nd inning. Only the Rays had already scored four.

Despite a shaky outing from Sabathia, the Yankees led 6-5 in the 9th thanks to an even shakier start from Shields and Raul Ibanez' 4 RBI. And then things got really ugly. Mariano Rivera started his 18th season by blowing the lead and then the game in the 9th inning. I'm sure I'm not the only one who was thinking, "game over" when Mo stepped on the mound.

But Rivera left a pitch up to lead off hitter Desmond Jennings that resulted in a lead off single and Ben Zobrist ripped a cutter up the alley in right-center for an RBI triple. Rivera, who intentionally walked two batters in all of 2011, issues free passes to Evan Longoria and Luke Scott to set up a force at any base.

Rivera struck out Sean Rodriguez, but threw another meatball to Carlos Pena, who drove it to the base of the wall in left-center for the game winner. It was a big day for Pena who was a member of the Rays from 2007 - 2010 and was greeted with a standing ovation his first time at-bat. The 1st baseman, who spent last season with the Cubs, got the fans even louder when he stroked a grand slam off of Sabathia to give the Rays a 1st inning, 4-0 lead.

Some questionable strategy came into play prior to Pena's at-bat when Joe Girardi intentionally walked Rodriguez with two outs and a base open. Though it set up a lefty-lefty confrontation, Pena is a much more dangerous hitter than Rodriguez.

The Yankees had cut the lead to 4-3 with the help of a rare bout of wildness from Shields and took the lead in the 4th when Ibanez blasted a 3-run home run deep into the right field seats. Ibanez had struggled for most of spring training, but had said that it was meaningless. He was right for at least one day. Rivera backed Ibanez's words up by having a great spring training and a really bad opener.

Notes

The Yankees looked like the Yankees for much of last season, going 2-11 with runners in scoring position. Though Mark Texeira walked twice, he and Nick Swisher looked off balance most of the day.

No manager love defensive shifts more than Joe Maddon and it paid off on Friday when his strategy took two hits away from Curtis Granderson.

Yankees Take Grapefruit Opener

There are some basic rules in Spring Training:

1. Stay healthy. This rule far exceeds any other.

2. Get your batting eye ready; get your swing set; get your fielding down; get your pitches in and throw strikes.

3. Don't get hurt. Yes I said it already...still can't stress it enough. Just ask Austin Romine (back) and George Kontos (oblique) about that.

4. If you weren't in shape, get in shape. NOW. Michael Pineda wants (needs) to lose 10 pounds.

5. Make people take notice of you...and be sure it's in a positive way.

Won/Lost record is not on the list of rules. George Steinbrenner would totally disagree, but it doesn't matter. You want to be sure to play well, but the won/loss record does not matter, even if you play the Red Sox or Mets or whomever.

The Yankees did win today, 8-5 over the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, but the play wasn't all positive. The Yankees made three errors, including Eduardo Nunez booting the first ball of the game at shortstop.

On the up side, Curtis Granderson picked up where he left off last season, with a home run and two hits. On a day the wind helped many a baseball elude fielders, free agent signee Cole Garner needed no help in ripping a 2-run home run to left.

Ivan Nova started for the Bronx Bombers and looked pretty good. He allowed two runs, one earned, in two innings of worked. Manny Banuelos and David Phelps threw a couple of scoreless innings apiece as they followed Nova in the pecking order.

Dellin Betances struggled with mechanics and control in an inning of work, but induced a double play to put a goose egg up on the scoreboard. A couple of lefties had mixed results in the last two innings.

Rule V pick (from Boston ) Cesar Cabrel got off to a good start in his bid to make the Yankees bullpen with a scoreless 8th inning, but Mike O'Connor was not so fortunate. The 31-yr old, who pitched in parts of three seasons with the Nationals and Mets, allowed three runs on three hits and a walk to make things interesting in the 9th.

Brett Gardner (0-3), Nick Swisher (0-3), and Russell Martin (0-2) were the only returning lineup regulars to accompany Granderson on the trip. Newbie, and former Phillies outfielder, Raul Ibanez made his Yankees' debut with a 1-3 afternoon that included an RBI.

Ibanez Makes It Official

According to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, the Yankees and Raul Ibanez have reached terms on a free agent contract. It would appear the two sides were set to agree to a pact long before A.J. Burnett was dealt, but nothing could be made official until the pie thrower was tossed out of town.

Ibanez, who will turn 40 in June, hit .245 last season with 20 HR, 84 RBI, and a career low .707 OPS (for seasons with at least 100 games played). He will be the primary DH against right-handed pitching and will occasionally give Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson a rest by playing left field, something he's not very good at. (A combined 11 errors for Seattle in 2007-8).

The majority of Ibanez's offensive numbers came against right-handed pitching (.747 OPS vs .585 against lefties) last season and that trend should continue this year with Andruw Jones seeing time at DH against southpaws. Of course plenty of DH at-bats will go to Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and the other older veterans on the team.

The deal is believed to be worth $1.1MM and is contingent on a physical. According to Ken Rosenthal, with incentives Ibanez can earn $4MM.

Phillies End Yankees Streak

Phillies Phinish Yankees Streak

Filed Under: Yankees

Tags: a.j. burnett • Alex Rodriguez • Brett Myers • Carlos Ruiz • Chase Utley • chien-ming wang • Mark Teixeira • Raul Ibanez • Ryan Howard • Yankees 5/22 recap • Yankees vs. Phillies

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Philadelphia	1	2	0	0	2	0	1	1	0		7	14	1
NY Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	0		3	8	0

WP - Myers (4-2) LP - Burnett (2-2)

Home Run Derby has begun in the Bronx. The Philadelphia Phillies slugged four home runs last night and beat the Yankees 7-3 in the first of a three game interleague series. The Yankees hit three home runs of their own, but the Phillies jumped on starter and loser A.J. Burnett early and often and then abused Chien-Ming Wang as well. The loss snapped the Yankees’ season-high nine game winning streak.

Jimmy Rollins set the tone literally from the very first pitch, hitting a solo home run to right for a 1-0 lead. Burnett had command issues all night and it manifested itself immediately when he hit Chase Utley following Rollins’ home run. Raul Ibanez followed with a single, but Burnett struck out Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth before Mark Teixeira robbed Shane Victorino of an RBI single to end the inning.

The Yankees had a chance to tie things right up against Brett Myers in their half of the first. With Johnny Damon on first base, Alex Rodriguez roped a 2-out double into the left field corner. Third base coach Rob Thomson waved Damon home, but the Phillies made a perfect relay throw, and Damon was dead at the plate on Rollins’ strike to home.

Carlos Ruiz hit his first home run of the year, with a man aboard, to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead in the 2nd inning and Werth blasted a long 2-run shot of his own in the 5th to break the game open.

A-Rod finally got the Yankees on the board in the 6th inning with his sixth home run of the year, but Ibanez greeted Wang with his 16th home run of the season in the 7th. Ibanez didn’t hit his 16th last year until August.

Derek Jeter and Teixeira added solo home runs for the Yankees in the 8th (Teixeira’s was one of the highest and deepest in the new park), but it was way too little too late.

Game Notes

Brett Myers retaliated for Chase Utley by throwing behind Derek Jeter in the bottom of the 1st. Both teams were warned and there were no further incidents.

Chien-Ming Wang wasn’t consistent with his sinker last night, according to pitching coach Dave Eiland. But Eiland was happy with the improvement Wang showed. You could tell, however, that the Yankees would have preferred it if Wang had kept pitching in Scranton until he was fully ready to return to the majors.

Derek Jeter has reached base safely in 45 consecutive interleague games, tying the major league record jointly held by Craig Biggio and Barry Bonds.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, last night’s game marked the third time this season that seven or more home runs were hit in a single game at the new Stadium. It happened only one time (2005) in the old Stadium when it occurred on four separate occasions.

World Champs Reel in Big Fish

Raul Ibanez doesn't get the press that many players do these days, but the free agent has averaged 113 RBI over the last 3 seasons. It's even more impressive considering he's been playing his home games in a pitcher friendly park and hasn't had much protection around him in the lineup.

Ibanez will bring those hitting skills to the National League and the hitter friendly Citizens Bank Ball Park after agreeing to a 3-year, $30 million deal with the reigning world champion Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies had a hole to fill in left field after deciding not to retain the services of Pat Burrell. The 36-yr old Ibanez will strengthen the Phils' left-side of the plate and will help out early on with the absence of Chase Utley.

World Champs Reel in Big Fish

Raul Ibanez doesn't get the press that many players do these days, but the free agent has averaged 113 RBI over the last 3 seasons. It's even more impressive considering he's been playing his home games in a pitcher friendly park and hasn't had much protection around him in the lineup.

Ibanez will bring those hitting skills to the National League and the hitter friendly Citizens Bank Ball Park after agreeing to a 3-year, $30 million deal with the reigning world champion Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies had a hole to fill in left field after deciding not to retain the services of Pat Burrell. The 36-yr old Ibanez will strengthen the Phils' left-side of the plate and will help out early on with the absence of Chase Utley.

Vegas Update - Day 11:45 PM EST

No shock here, the San Jose Mercury News rumor that CC Sabathia rejected the Yankees offer was just that, a rumor. Word now is that Brian Cashman has flown to California to meet with Sabathia and his wife.

As expected, the Dodgers have agreed to a 3-year deal with Casey Blake that will pay the free agent corner man/outfielder $17.5 million. The pact includes a club option for 2012.

The Orioles and Reds finalized their Ramon Hernandez-Ryan Freel swap, with the Orioles also receiving prospects Brandon Waring and Justin Turner. The O's are sending cash along with their former catcher.

ESPN's Steve Phillips believes the Brewers are looking to move Prince Fielder, possibly in a deal that would bring closer J.J. Putz from Seattle.

The Rays have met with former Yankee Jason Giambi.

The Orioles are expected to announce the signing of free agent infielder Caesar Izturis to a 2-year deal.

Having already locked up K-Rod, Ken Rosenthal reports the Mets are increasing their efforts to sign Raul Ibanez.

Vegas Update - Day 11:45 PM EST

No shock here, the San Jose Mercury News rumor that CC Sabathia rejected the Yankees offer was just that, a rumor. Word now is that Brian Cashman has flown to California to meet with Sabathia and his wife.

As expected, the Dodgers have agreed to a 3-year deal with Casey Blake that will pay the free agent corner man/outfielder $17.5 million. The pact includes a club option for 2012.

The Orioles and Reds finalized their Ramon Hernandez-Ryan Freel swap, with the Orioles also receiving prospects Brandon Waring and Justin Turner. The O's are sending cash along with their former catcher.

ESPN's Steve Phillips believes the Brewers are looking to move Prince Fielder, possibly in a deal that would bring closer J.J. Putz from Seattle.

The Rays have met with former Yankee Jason Giambi.

The Orioles are expected to announce the signing of free agent infielder Caesar Izturis to a 2-year deal.

Having already locked up K-Rod, Ken Rosenthal reports the Mets are increasing their efforts to sign Raul Ibanez.

The Pennant Chase - 8/15

NL EAST

Look out, the Mets train is steam rolling along. They're now in sole possession of first place after beating the Nationals for the third straight night. Meanwhile the Phillies were swept by the Dodgers in a four game series.

Oliver Perez struck out eight in six-plus innings and Carlos Delgado continued his torrid second half with his 26th home run as the Mets rolled to a 9-3 win. After practically being left for dead through the end of June, Delgado hit .357 with 9 home runs and 24 RBI in July. He's added 3 home runs and 9 RBI in 12 games in August.

The Phillies meanwhile managed only 2 hits off of Hiroki Kuroda in seven innings. Manny finally went hitless, but Matt Kemp stepped up with his 14th home run of the season. On the bright side, the Phils got another solid outing from Brett Myers.

NL WEST

The Dodgers couldn't break their first place tie with Arizona though, as the Diamondbacks topped the Rockies 6-2. Dan Haren won his 13th game with help from home runs by two of the Chrises, Young and Burke.

The Diamondbacks sent catcher Wilkins Castillo to the Reds as part of the Adam Dunn deal.

The Dodgers reportedly put in a claim on Ronnie Belliard to keep him from going to the Diamondbacks, who are in need of a second baseman after the season-ending injury to Orlando Hudson.

NL CENTRAL

The Cubbies extended their lead over the Brewers to 4.5 games with an 11-7 win over the Braves. Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano homered to back Ted Lilly's pitching. Lilly almost incited a brawl when he hit Yuniel Escobar on the arm. There were no ejections though the benches emptied. The pitch was thought to be retribution for Soriano being thrown out the night before. Ramirez also had to leave the game with a bruised hip.

Mark Kotsay went 5-5 for Atlanta and became the second Brave, (Albert Hall was the other), to hit for the cycle.

Jake Peavy outpitched Ben Sheets as the Padres edged the Brewers 3-2. The Cardinals kept pace with a 3-0 behind Todd Wellmeyer's seven and two-third innings of 3-hit ball.

AL EAST

Tampa lost Troy Percival to the DL again, but after blowing a ninth inning lead they beat the A's 7-6 in 12 innings. Percival's leg injuries will make the Rays look elsewhere for a closer next season.

Dice-K and the Red Sox pounded the Rangers again, 10-0, after putting 9 on the board in the second inning.

AL CENTRAL

The White Sox moved a full game ahead of the idle Twins with a 9-2 pasting of the Royals. Chicago outscored KC, 22-2, in the three game series. The Chisox tied a major league record in the sixth inning when Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexi Ramirez, and Juan Uribe connected for four consecutive home runs. Hawk Harrelson must have wet his pants.

The Twins meanwhile claimed Jarrod Washburn off waivers from the Mariners in an effort to block him from going to the White Sox. The Tigers claimed Raul Ibanez from the Tigers- for what reason we have no clue. Neither team was able to work out a deal though, and both players will stay put. A really poor job by the M's in their handling of Washburn. They could have dumped his contract on the Yankees quite easily.