This year is shaping out to be a good one overall. In every division except for the AL West, there is a competitive race. Most of them involve three teams. This should make for a good month of August.
I just hope the Yanks can stay red hot through this Red Sox series this weekend. If things go well, the Yanks will be close to the lead and more than 10 games over .500 for the first time this year.
Cano & Abreau both look like they are going to have their standard red hot second halves. The Posada injury is a big blow, but I think the Yanks can survive it. To be honest, Molina is a much better defensive catcher and as good at calling the games. If everyone else is hitting, the Yanks can survive losing Jorge’s bat.
I understand Josh Baird(sp?) is working his way through a rehab and would be available for trade from San Diego. If he is ready in time, I would not be surprised if the Yanks tried to pick him up.
Brian Bruney is nearly ready to return. I understand Hawkins is available cheap to any team that might have a need for him. 
Jim
The Cardinals bullpen gave up another lead and have the most blown saves in the majors. After winning four from the not so good Padres, we’re facing our division rival Brewers and dropped the first two. Now we face Sabathia tonight and Sheets tomorrow. Then we get to play the resurgent Mets in NY.
This has the makings of very bad stretch. I guess the only positive is that the Cubbies aren’t winning every game and are .500 over the last ten games, so my Cub buddies aren’t totally gleeful.
Don’t talk to this Mets fan, who was at Shea last night, about bullpens. Augh. Duaner Sanchez, a closer you are not.
Bright side? We’re only 1 out of first place!
Other bright sides, Your ace looked like one last night and he has always been a great second half pitcher. Delgado appears to be back for the dead.
I understand the Mets are talking to Oakland about Huston Street.
We are talking to anyone who has relievers or outfielders who are kinda sorta maybe available. I’d be leary of Street though, the scouting reports of him of late are very negative. It sound like he is hurting (drop in arm angle, lost of velocity)
I’ve heard the D-backs are also looking at Street. Please no!
Send him to the Mets. The D-backs don’t need to go from one bad closer to another. Check out Street’s blown save last Saturday as a reason to not pick him up.
I think the Mets were looking at him to set up Wagner, not replace him. Does that sound any better? As the Yanks have zero interest in him, I have not pulled up the details.
Could any NL West fans please give me a scouting report on Josh Bard? How is he at calling games, blocking the plate and throwing out runners? I have a decent feel for his bat when he is healthy.
Apparently he does not throw out runners.
Jim
Either way I would prefer to deal for a pitcher who wasn’t likely to be dled in the near future. Fuentes would work well but he is a “certified closer” so his price is pretty exorbitant.
I’m not an Nl West fan, but from what I recall, Bard is pretty terrible at throwing out runners, though a lot of that is having pitchers like Chris Young and Maddux who have long motions or pay little attention to runners. I wouldn’t worry as much about the other two parts, close plays at the plate are a pretty rare occurance, and there isn’t really any evidence that certain catchers are better at calling games then others. Bard would be a massive upgrade on offense, which is enough to offset any defensive lost. Laird from Texas is also expendable and would be a pretty good fit.
Well, then, we should see a lot of runs scored late, taxing the health of both team’s fans.
Cool, thanks. Fuentes has some splits that worry me. I would not deal too much for him and I think they expect a lot.
Is Laird actually on the table? I had not heard that yet.
I’m the Rangers would be willing to listen. They have a young catcher in Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
The Rangers have done better than anyone expected, but they’re going to be sellers. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Milton Bradley be moved as well.
I bet Greg Maddux holds some sort of record for giving up stolen bases as a percentage of attempts.
Bard has thrown out only 6 of 47 basestealers this year, which is brutal, but the effect of that is miniscule; the difference between Josh Bard’s arm and that of an ordinary catcher probably isn’t two runs. And that’s without counting the Maddux factor.
On the other hand, I believe he owns the record of mosts steals by a pitcher too.
Well, well, well. Looks like the Yankees are trying to get some pitching. Word is they are looking at Derek Lowe. I’d be all for a deal, but they have to take Andruw Jones as well! Then give us A-Rod (so he can be closer to Madonna) and a second-string outfielder and we’ll shake on it.
I wouldn’t hold your breath. They are looking more at Washburn from Seattle, Burnett from the Jays and some stiff* on the Reds.
Cashman actually is not too interested in a starter. He has two in AAA to pull up and Hughes and Kennedy are starting to work their way back.
From what I can tell, the Yanks are most likely going to look at a Catcher if Jorge needs to be shut down, a right handed left fielder with a good bat and/or a quality lefty reliever.
- Bronson Arroyo
Seattle is where the main action is going to be for the Yankees, for sure. But I can dream. 
He’s gotta be up there, at least among modern pitchers. And the funny thing he he’s gotten most of them in the latter part of his career.
Bob Gibson stole more (13 to Maddux’s 11) but I doubt most pitchers have more than one or two at most. John Smoltz I thought would have more - I remember him being used as a pinch runner in the World Series, but he only has three.
Knock… knock… knock… 6 in a row baby…
KNOCK knock knock…
Great game tonight. Joba outpitched Beckett and Mariano got 5 outs to save it (including an incredible gift 3rd strike against Lowell…)
On top of that, the Yanks bolstered their outfield and bullpen by trading for Nady and Marte from the Pirates.
All in all, my kind of summer evening…