Don't look now, but the Yanks' have the best record in the majors since the All-Star Break; new faces are contributing; A-Rod STILL can't get that elusive #500, while teammates like Robbie Cano and Andy Phillips can't miss lately; analyzing the Yankee bullpen; and other Yankees have milestones, too.
GUESS WHAT?
Since the All-Star break, the Yankees have gone 16-7, the best record in the major leagues. They current lead MLB in team batting average, as well; it seems that the lineup predicted in the spring to score 1000 runs has finally hit its stride. Over their last 30 games the Yankees are 21-9 and have not lost a series in that span (though they did split a four-game set with Baltimore).
NEW KIDS IN TOWN
The trading deadline brought utility infielder Wilson Betemit from the Dodgers in exchange for Scott Proctor. Betemit didn't wait long to make a splash, hitting a home run in his first at bat in pinstripes. Meanwhile Shelly Duncan continues with his Shane Spencer impression, having hit five bombs in Yankee Stadium since being added to the roster. New backup catcher Jose Molina filled in for Jorge Posada on Friday night, handling Chien-Ming Wang perfectly through seven innings. (Wang, meanwhile, has won 10 of his last 11 decisions and leads the starters with 13 wins on the season.) Look for Phil Hughes to back back on the mound at Yankee Stadium this weekend after tallying an 0.00 ERA in two starts for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, replacing Kei Igawa in the rotation.
PRESSING NOTES
The media got hyped last week when three major milestones: A-rod's 500th homer, Bonds' 755th, and Tom Glavine's 300th win could have all happened on the same night. None of them did. A-rod is clearly in his worst (and only) slump of the season, suffering one stretch of 0-for-16 since hitting #499, and all of the hoo-hah with the pitcher needing to use a special commemorative baseball every time he comes to the plate only increases the pressure of the moment. Fate, though, is clearly toying with poor Alex. Over a two-game span last week, the Yankees hit thirteen home runs by eight different players... none of them A-rod.
ON FIRE
Robinson Cano has found his stroke. The young second-baseman struggled in the first half of the season after finishing in the thick of the batting race last year. The difference? He seems to have regained his ability to stay back on changeups. Cano's best friend Melky Cabrera seems to have turned it on too, thanks to plenty of center field playing time while Damon fills the DH slot. Pitchers are having a tough time figuring out how to handle this unpredictable hitter who uses the whole field and the whole strike zone. Right up there with them, though, is Yankee farmhand Andy Phillips who has been back with the big club since the release of Josh Phelps. After Friday night's game, Joe Torre called Phillips the "best story of the season." Phillips' mother suffered a terrible car accident early in 2007, forcing him to miss much of spring training and resulting in his demotion to Triple-A. His return to the team has seen him seize the opportunity fully, hitting right around .300, slugging around .400, and playing phenomenally well at first base.
PENNED IN
The Yankees were unable to deal Kyle Farnsworth at the trading deadline, but are hoping that help will come in the form of some hot young arms from the farm. The return of Edwar Ramirez, whose previous cup of coffee was very brief but impressive, is imminent, and Joba (pronounced Jabba) Chamberlain ought to follow soon after. Given the success of rookie relievers like the Angels' Francisco Rodriguez (and numerous arms for the Tigers last year), not to mention the young Mariano Rivera, the Yankees feel it's worth a shot. After all, they would have to be an improvement on Farnsworth who gave up two homers in his last appearance and over his last 9 innings pitched has a 6.00 ERA with 6 walks and eleven hits. Brian Bruney has been even worse, with an ERA since July 4th over 9.00. The first to go will probably be youngster Sean Henn, though, who needs more seasoning.
YARDSTICKS
None is the milestone that A-rod is on the cusp of, but while you're waiting for homer #500, how about these? Hideki Matsui is sitting on 99 homers for his US baseball career. Derek Jeter is about to reach 2300 hits. Bobby Abreu is two away from 400 doubles. Oh, and the Yankees are only 2.5 games out of the Wild Card lead.
Cecilia Tan is the editor of Bombers Broadside (Maple Street Press), the author of The 50 Greatest Yankee Games (Wiley), and writes regularly on baseball topics for the online site Why I Like Baseball.
