The LoHud Yankees Blog

You may recall that Brett Gardner was visiting a hospital the morning of May 15 when a heart patient named Alyssa gave him a bracelet, letting him he would hit a home run if he held onto it.

Sure enough, Gardner had an inside-the-park homer that night. Alyssa had a heart transplant the next day.

Alyssa is doing well. Now New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital will reunite Gardner and his biggest fan tomorrow afternoon before the Yankees play the Mets. The meeting will take place at the hospital.

According to this story, Jason Giambi now eats yams as part of his diet because he was influenced by A-Rod.

“A-Rod would always eat sweet potatoes before the game because it not only fuels you, but makes you kind of feel light,” The Big G said.

Kind of light? Meanwhile, Giambi is hiting .214 with a .385 slugging percentage. Maybe he should mix in a pizza.

Those 94-mph fastballs and the nasty sliders Chien-Ming Wang used to strike out Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay in the second inning last night should tell you that he is not washed up as a starting pitcher.

The idea that Wang forgot out to pitch and needs to be traded, released or demoted is ludicrous. He’s 29, not 39.

But the Yankeed need to figure out something and that’s on pitching coach Dave Eiland.

For whatever reason, Wang and Eiland do not seem to have a good rapport. Eiland’s standard response when asked about Wang is to say that the pitcher looks great in the bullpen but doesn’t take it out to the game. “I can’t stand behind him,” Eiland said last night, making the obvious implication that Wang lacks mental toughness.

No, Eiland can’t stand behind him on the field. But he can coach him. Ron Guidry was not respected as a pitching coach within the organization. He was seen as little more than Joe Torre’s pal, a man far away from the cutting edge of game preparation and other modern techniques. But for whatever reason, Guidry connected with Wang. The right-hander had his two best seasons with Guidry patting him on the back from time to time and offering a few tips in his thick Cajun accent.

Guidry consented to be a guest instructor in spring training even after the Yankees fired him as a coach. Why not fly the Gator in and have him sit down with Wang and watch a few bullpen sessions? How could that possibly hurt? I mentioned this idea on the blog last night and it would seem to make sense.

Professional egos being what they are, don’t expect it.

Obviously, Wang bears the burden of this mess. He’s a professional athlete and its responsibility to perform. But coaches are in place for times like these.

Eiland has plenty to do. The pitching staff is second in the AL in walks and first in home runs allowed. Only two teams — hapless Baltimore and Cleveland — are allowing a higher OPS.

A.J. Burnett has been a disappointment. Andy Pettitte is walking more batters per nine innings (3.9) than he has since 1999. Edwar Ramirez has vanished to the minors. Jose Veras is an unreliable mop-up man and Joba Chamberlain has gone more than six innings twice in 11 starts.

Even Mariano Rivera has had his issues. Apparently Eiland can’t stand behind those guys, either.

If pitching is the foundation of a championship, the Yankees have cracks in the cement that go beyond Chien-Ming Wang. But fixing him would be a good place to start. Let Guidry take his shot.

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Shameless plug: I’ll be on ESPN’s SportsCenter shortly after noon to preview tonight’s game.

The Subway Series is upon us the next LoHud Yankees Blog live video chat will be Friday at noon.

Go to our Pro Talk Live page and get your questions answered. Hope to see you there on Friday.

The chat is sponsored by Friedrich Air Conditioning.

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A few other public service announcements for you:

• Joe Girardi will be joined by David Cone, Al Leiter, Michael Kay and others on Monday at the Grand Central Oyster Bar for the second annual “Remember When, Remember Now” gala to benefit Girardi’s Catch 25 foundation.

The money raised will benefit the New York City Chapter of The Alzheimer’s Association, the Central Illinois Chapter, based in Peoria, and Alzheimer’s Research at the Texas Medical Center’s Neurological Institute.

Tickets are $250 with tables for 10 priced at $5,000 and $2,500. Call (212) 972-5337 to purchase tickets or e-mail johnnycigarpr@aol.com

Girardi’s father, Jerry, is afflicted with the disease.

• Alfred Santasiere, the Yankees’ director of publications, will be discussing and signing copies of his book, The Final Season: The Official Retrospective, at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center on Saturday June 20 at 10 a.m.

The book is a photographic and literary treatment of Yankee Stadium’s sendoff with great, never-before-published photos. The introduction is by Yogi and the book is available at the Museum.

Chien-Ming Wang had another rough night as the Yankees again fell to the Red Sox.

CC Sabathia will face the Red Sox for the first time as a Yankee tonight. This notebook also has updates on the draft, Brian Bruney, Xavier Nady, A-Rod and a rescheduling.

When asked if Chien-Ming Wang would make his next start, Joe Girardi said it was something he, Brian Cashman and Dave Eiland would have to talk about.

That usually means, “Are you crazy? Of course not.”

Even Wang said he would understand if the Yankees shipped him back to the bullpen. Monday’s day off does give them some options. But the Yankees arent in a position to keep hoping the guy pitches well. This is a team built to win.

Eiland said just now that Wang’s arm slot, while fine in the bullpen, is “all over the place” in games. “He has to take what he does in the bullpen onto the field,” Eiland said. “I know I’ve said that before.”

Jorge Posada said with conviction that Wang deserves another start because he has earned that right. Those 19-win seasons, Posada said, give Wang credibility.

“But we need to see it soon,” Posada said. “It’s tough to watch him go through this.”

YANKEES (34-24)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF

Pitching: RHP Chien-Ming Wang (0-3, 14.46).

RED SOX (34-24)
Pedroia 2B
Drew RF
Youkilis 1B
Bay LF
Lowell 3B
Ortiz DH
Kotsay CF
Green SS
Kottaras C

Pitching: RHP Tim Wakefield (7-3, 4.50).

TIME/TV: 7:10 p.m., YES.

THE STREAK LIVES: The Yankees are 0-6 against Boston this season, getting outscored 45-27. They have lost seven straight against Boson dating back to last season. That is the longest such streak since the Red Sox beat the Yankees seven straight starting at the end of the 1984 season and going into 1985.

The Red Sox beat the Yankees 14 straight from April 11-July 1, 1912.

WANG MORE TIME: Chien-Ming Wang had a shaky return to the rotation on June 4, allowing five runs on seven hits over 4.2 innings. Now he’ll be working on five days of rest. Wang threw two bullpens to try and maintain his stuff. CMW is 6-5, 4.82 in 14 career games against Boston, 3-3, 5.11 at Fenway Park.

Wang has not faced the Red Sox since April 16, 2008 when he allowed eight runs in four innings. In the five days prior to that, he allowed one run over nine innings. He is 4-1, 4.53 in his last six starts against Boston.

OLD FOE: This will be the 33rd start Tim Wakefield will make against the Yankees. He is 10-17 with a 5.03 ERA in his career. He has more losses against the Yankees than any other team.

MOVE OVER GEORGE: Derek Jeter has 423 doubles. He needs one more to match Babe Ruth for fourth place in team history.

SLOPPY SEVEN: The Yankees have committed at least one error in the last seven games. Alex Rodriguez has three of those miscues.

MELKY MAN STRUGGLES: Melky Cabrera is 4 for 28 (.143) since missing nearly all of five games with a bruised shoulder.

AND HE REMAINS ON THE TEAM WHY EXACTLY? Jose Veras has thrown 23.2 innings this season. He has put 38 runners on base via hit, walk or HBP. He has allowed three homers in his last 4.1 innings.

PLUNK: The Yankees have hit at least one Boston batter with a pitch in all six games this season and in nine straight dating back to last season.

PEN MEN: Boston’s bullpen has allowed one earned run in its last 17.1 innings.

SMALL DROUGHT: A-Rod has one home run in his last 15 games. He is 4 of his last 24 (.167).

Back with much more later.

UPDATE, 5:37 p.m.: CMW’s wife is due to give birth to their first child any day now in New York. But all was fine as of this afternoon and the Wanger was in front of his locker this afternoon with a dip in as he looked as scouting reports. The Wangs are having a boy and trust me when I tell you, this is big, big news in Taiwan.

Xavier Nady will join the Yankees on Friday to workout over the weekend. Then they’ll figure out where to send him for some games. … Weather permitting, Brian Bruney will face some hitters at Fenway in a simulated game tomorrow. Then he could make a rehab appearance someplace on Saturday.

UPDATE, 6:33 p.m.: Quickie draft recap from Day Two: The Yankees took 25 players, 14 of them pitchers. Eleven of those were college pitchers with six of them lefties.

. Twelve of them were college pitchers, half of those lefties. They only took three high school players.

UPDATE, 7:10 p.m.: We’re underway here in Boston. 57 degrees at first pitch.

UPDATE, 7:13 p.m.: Interesting, Tex hits right-handed against Wakefield. He was hitting .207 against the knuckleballer before that single.

UPDATE, 7:19 p.m.: No Jacoby Ellsbury today and probably not tomorrow for Boston as he recovers from a shoulder injury. … Oh, and Happy Birthday to Boston Globe beat writer Amalie Benjamin, who has relatives in Westchester.

UPDATE, 7:25 p.m.: Contrary to what you may have read or heard elsewhere, Wang has not asked to leave during the game if his wife goes into labor. He’s pitching tonight, period. There is no plane waiting for him or anything like that. She is due this week, she is not in labor. Girardi waa more or less kidding when he said Wang could leave. It never came up.

UPDATE, 7:33 p.m.: This is ugly as Wang has allowed a run on three walks and hit and is behing Kotsay 3-1. Robertson warming up already.

UPDATE, 7:34 p.m.: Wang may have been one pitch away from losing his job but he came back from a 3-0 count to get Kotsay to ground to second. He threw 29 pitches in that innning.

UPDATE, 7:40 p.m.: Posada helps his battery mate by homering. Now the Yankees have runners on the corners thanks to a bad call at first base.

Then as I write this, Swisher is doubled off. Guess it evened out.

UPDATE, 7:42 p.m.: Meanwhile, the Yankees are bunting at Fenway Park in the second inning of a 1-0 game? What exactly is the thinking there? Let Nick Swisher swing the bat. They traded for him because of his power potential, not so he could give himself up.

UPDATE, 7:51 p.m.: How much longer can the Yankees tolerate this from Wang? He can’t throw a strike and when he does, it gets hit.

They need to get Hughes in the game and try and make something of this night. Not sure what they do with Wang at this point. It’s a disaster.

Of course, it would help if Nick Swisher could catch a fly ball.

UPDATE, 8:01 p.m.: Wang is not injured. He has hit 96 several times tonight. He has not “lost it” or anything like that. Somebody — and that would be Dave Eiland — needs to figure out what adjustment is needed for him to throw strikes consistently. The Yankees might want to have Ron Guidry come in and take a look. He had a good rapport with Wang for whatever reason.

UPDATE, 8:06 p.m.: Yankees have left three runners stranded in scoring position already.

UPDATE, 8:09 p.m.: Not sure what there is left to say. Wang is at a career crossroads at this point. He is out of options, he apparently isn’t injured and he can’t pitch remotely like he used to. I can’t imagine the Yankees DFA him and what trade value could he have? But they can’t keep running him out there if he’s going to pitch like this.

UPDATE, 8:18 p.m.: That’s it for Wang. 2.2 innings, six hits and three walks. Another disaster. Meanwhile, so much for Joe Girardi saying he would “never” bring Phil Hughes in during the middle of an inning. Why in the world are they messing with this guy’s arm?

UPDATE, 9:03 p.m.: The Yankees have managed to go 2 for 9 with RISP and leave four runners stranded in scoring position in five innings. They’re actually hitting Wakefield pretty well. But he needs only to go another inning to do his job.

Wang as a starter: 13.1 innings, 36 hits, 11 walks, 30 earned runs. That’s a 20.25 ERA.

UPDATE, 9:18 p.m.: The Red Sox are 24-10 with Nick Green at shortstop. That’s quite a trick. … Meanwhile, Hideki Matsui seems to have emerged from his funk with two hits tonight. If this score holds up, there will be big bags of pressure on CC Sabathia tomorrow to avert a sweep. It’s not the standings that are a concern as much as the burden of toting an 0-8 record into the next series.

UPDATE, 9:29 p.m.: Here come the Yankees as Damon and Tex homer off Ramirez. Now they trail 6-5. Quite a night for the first baseman. He is 4 for 4 with two doubles and a homer. He’s looking like an MVP.

UPDATE, 9:31 p.m.: A-Rod 0 for 7 in the series and 4 of his last 27 overall. He seems to have hit a dry spell after his initial surge when he came off the DL.

UPDATE, 9:35 p.m.: Boston’s bullpen was due for a letdown. Now Matsui will face his countryman, Okajima, with a runner on first and two outs. Coke getting warm for the Yankees.

UPDATE, 9:49 p.m.: Hughes allowed two runs in 3.2 innings. That’s OK. But next to Wang, he was Walter Johnson.

UPDATE, 10:01 p.m.: Why not have Gardner steal before the bunt? … Meanwhile, Jeter’s K leaves the Yankees 2 for 12 with RISP. Grim

UPDATE, 10:13 p.m.: If the Yankees can hold Boston here, the top of the ninth will be interesting. Teixeira is 4 for 4. Then A-Rod will come to the plate overdue. He is hitless in his last 12 at-bats and 4 for his last 27. He’s about ready for one of those titanic late-inning blasts that wins the game.

UPDATE, 10:18 p.m: Well, here we go. One way or another, back later with some reaction from the clubhouse.

UPDATE, 10:22 p.m.: Crowd chanting something about steroids at Alex. Apparently it’s Oblivious Hyprocrites Night here at Fenway.

This from the Yankees:

The New York Yankees today announced their game from Friday, June 5 vs. the Tampa Bay Rays – postponed due to inclement weather – has been rescheduled for Monday, September 7 at 7:05 p.m., as the second game of a day-night Labor Day doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.

In addition, the promotional item – a Yankee Stadium Figurine courtesy of Sports Authority – scheduled to be given away on June 5, will be distributed to the first 18,000 fans, age 21 and older, with tickets for the rescheduled game on Monday, September 7 at 7:05 p.m.

The Labor Day doubleheader will be the Yankees’ first on the holiday since they split two games on September 4, 1978 vs. Detroit at the original Yankee Stadium, winning the first game, 9-1, behind Ron Guidry’s 20th win of the season.

Fans holding paid tickets, purchased directly through the Yankees, www.yankees.com or Ticketmaster, for the June 5 postponed game may use them for the rescheduled game between the Yankees and Rays or exchange their paid tickets for any regular season game at Yankee Stadium within 12 months from June 5, 2009 (subject to availability).

Tickets for the postponed June 5 game will only be valid for the rescheduled 7:05 p.m. game on September 7, not the regularly scheduled 1:05 p.m. game.

Tickets can be exchanged at Yankee Stadium Advance Ticket Windows only (open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and until two (2) hours after the scheduled start time of any regularly scheduled home game).

Complimentary tickets (COMP) or equivalent tickets bear no cash value and cannot be exchanged or redeemed for any benefits that may be offered to ticket(s) with a dollar value. Fans holding complimentary tickets for June 5, 2009, must use their tickets for the rescheduled game on September 7 at 7:05 p.m.

For complete information about the Yankees’ rainout policy, please visit www.yankees.com/rainout.

It’s good to get to the ballpark early because you never know what you will see.

Such as Alex Rodriguez on the field at 2:45 p.m. working on his defense with coaches Rob Thomson and Mick Kelliher.

Alex has committed three errors in the last four games and remarked last night that he needed to work on that. Sure enough, there he was today. It’s a testament to his work ethic.

It would seem the Yankees went into the second day of the draft intent on college pitching prospects:

Fourth round: RHP Adam Warren (UNC)
Fifth round: LHP Caleb Cothram (Vanderbilt)
Sixth round: 3B Rob Lyerly (UNC Charlotte)
Seventh round: RHP Sean Black (Seton Hall)
Eighth round: LHP Sam Elam (Notre Dame)
Ninth round: LHP Gavin Brooks (UCLA)