The LoHud Yankees Blog

Yankees on Deck (on YES at 11 a.m. tomorrow) has an interesting piece on Johnny Damon.

Johnny shows off his car collection in Orlando. His newest and largest vehicle — a Mercedez-Benz van — comes equipped with three televisions, a satellite dish, a microwave, a grill, a full shower, a toilet and a Playstation 3.

Johnny also has a black RS Camaro he purchased from Reggie Jackson and a Ford Bronco in Florida Gators colors.

Believe it or not, Johnny also tells YES he wants to go into home construction when he is done playing. Check it out before tomorrow’s game.

YANKEES (51-35)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Hinske RF
Gardner CF

Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (8-4, 4.53).

ANGELS (47-37)
Figgins DH
Aybar SS
Abreu RF
Napoli C
Morales 1B
Matthews CF
Kendrick 2B
Wood 3B
Quinlan LF

Pitching: RHP Jered Weaver (9-3, 3.15),

TIME/TV: 4:10 p.m. (ET), FOX.

STATE OF THE STRIPES: The Yankees were beaten 10-6 last night in an ugly game that saw them kick a 5-1 lead. That dropped the Yankees a game out of first. Still, they have won three of four on this road trip and six of eight overall.

HALO HORROR: The Yankees are 38-47 against Los Angeles since the start of the 2000 season. It is the only team this decade they have a losing record against. The Yankees are 2-8 at Angel Stadium the last three years and 5-15 over the last five.

BRUNEY’S BATTLE: Brian Bruney’s last 7 games: 6.1 innings, 9 hits, 6 earned runs, 8 walks, 4 strikeouts, Opponents are hitting .474 against him in that stretch.

ANDY NOT SO DANDY: Pettitte lost his last start, giving up six runs on five hits and five walks against Toronto. He faced the Angels on May 1 and took a no-decision, giving up five runs over 5.2 innings in a game the Yankees won 10-9.

He is 12-8, 4.52 in 26 career starts against the Angels are 6-5, 3.79 at Angel Stadium in 14 starts.

A-ROD IN ACTION: Alex Rodriguez is 20 of his last 51 (.392) with six homers, 14 runs scored and 19 RBI. His average is up to .257.

OLD FRIEND: Bobby Abreu is hitting .306 with a .406 OBP and 54 RBI for Los Angeles. He has 38 RBI in his last 37 games.

CAPTAIN ON A ROLL: Derek Jeter is 8 of his last 18.

HEATING UP: Robinson Cano is 15 of 43 in July with seven extra-base hits and four RBI/

SLOPPY: The Yankees have five errors in their last three games.

HOME RUN HEAVEN: The latest career-home run chart:

8. Mark McGwire 583
9. Harmon KIllebrew 573
10. Rafael Palmeiro 569
11. Alex Rodriguez 568

Wonder what Killebrew thinks of being in that company?

DREAM WEAVER: Weaver is 6-1, 3.86 in his last eight starts. He lost to the Yankees on May 1, allowing four runs on four hits over six innings. He is 3-1 but has a 6.11 ERA in five career starts against the Yankees.

Back with more later on.

UPDATE, 2:47 p.m.: Here is Joe Girardi’s pregame:

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If you’re really into the Joba situation, listen in. Girardi defends the right-hander and the decision to use him as a starter, etc. Girardi thinks it’s unfair that “so much attention” is paid to Joba.

But part of that he brings on himself with the many commericials and his persona. Which is fine, but at some point you need to back that up.

To me it comes down to this:

Joba as a starter in 2008: 3-1, 2.76 in 12 starts. 1.301 WHIP, 10.2 K/9

Joba as a starter 2009: 4-2, 4.25 in 17 starts. 1.562 WHIP, 7.9 K/9

Joba proved he could be a great starter last season. Same manager, same pitching coach, same team. He has not been the same pitcher this season beyond occasional glimpses. Unless that shoulder injury was worse than they said (a distinct possibility), than it falls on him to get better.

This is not about what role he should be in or how he’s being coached or any peripheral nonsense. This is about whether he can physically be the same pitcher he was last season. So far, he has not been.

Girardi keep bringing up Joba’s age and inexperience. With all due respect, that’s an excuse. He was younger and less experienced last season and he was a terrific starter. Not good, terrific.

UPDATE, 3:04 p.m.: The Mets signed Angel Berroa to a minor-league contract. He came highly recommended by Jay Hook, Roger Craig and Vinegar Bend Mizell.

Berroa on the Mets. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

UPDATE, 4:13 p.m.: We’re underway here at Angel Stadium. 87 degrees and a beautiful day here in the O.C. Enjoy the game.

UPDATE, 4:18 p.m.: And A-Rod injects himself into the top 10 of the career home run list, tying Rafael Palmeiro with 569 home runs. He now trails Harmon Killebrew by four homers for ninth place.

2-0 Yankees.

UPDATE, 4:23 p.m.: 2-0 and Pettitte walks Figgins. Hey, that’s what Chone is trying to do. Just as Joba.

UPDATE, 4:25 p.m.: Great play by Gardner. Figgins was out, too. The 1B umpire, Brian Gorman, called him out but Mike Everitt came up from the plate and called him safe.

UPDATE, 4:34 p.m.: Via assorted Twitter-peeps: A-Rod has five hits vs. Weaver, four of them jacks. See previous post for his stats at this stadium. Just crazy.

UPDATE, 4:27 p.m.: Tyler Kepner has a good blog post on Joba. Check it out on Bats.

Meanwhile, Joe Girardi’s Hinske selection is genius as he homers.

Hinske was 3 for 9 against Weaver, Swishalicious 3 for 19.

UPDATE, 4:44 p.m.: Yankees say they have signed seventh-round pick Sean Black (RHP) and 12th-round pick Brett Gerritse (RHP).

UPDATE, 5:03 p.m.: Andrew Eugene dealing. Yankees lead 3-0. Meanwhile there are literally at least two hot babes in every row of the stands behind home plate here. I don’t know how people watch the game game here.

UPDATE, 5:10 p.m.: Weaver walks A-Rod, which is better than allowing a homer.

UPDATE, 5:18 p.m.: Cano apparently didn’t see A-Rod taking a lead off second base because he knocked a single into center field. 4-0 Yankees.

Meanwhile Michael Kay is calling the Fox booth and screaming, “Say he’s throwing a no-hitter! Say it!”

UPDATE, 5:20 p.m.: See? Aybar doubles.

UPDATE, 5:21 p.m.: Abreu RBI single. What a great value he has been for the Angels. That’s 55 RBI for him.

UPDATE, 5:28 p.m.: Nice job by Pettitte limiting the damage. Take notes, Joba. This is pitching.

4-1 Yankees after four innings.

UPDATE, 5:37 p.m.: Mark Feinsand of the News has some bloggy thoughts on Joba, too. Check it out.

UPDATE, 5;51 p.m.: That didn’t take long. Single, homer and Yankees lead only 4-3. Pettitte again in damage-control mode as the top of the order comes up.

It’s never easy with the Angels, especially here. If Mike Scioscia is not the best manager in the game, he’s in the picture.

UPDATE, 5:56 p.m.: Figgins knows Hinske is a defensive liability and took third easily. Now RBI machine Abreu with runners on the corners and one out. Hard not to see the Angels at least tying it.

UPDATE, 5:59 p.m.: RBI single and Andy is cooked, Three hitless innings and then poof, seven hits over the next 1.1. David Robertson gets a shot to get out of it.

CC and AJ better be real good this summer.

UPDATE, 6:03 p.m.: What was that I said about how well Andy was pitching? Yikes. Final line: 4.1 7 6 6 2 1.

Yankees trail the Angels again, now 6-4.

UPDATE, 6:13 p.m.: Yankees haven’t had one of these disaster innings in a while. But that qualified. Seven runs on six hits, a walk and a stolen base. Angels lead 8-4 and it looks like the Yankees started the break a few days early.

UPDATE, 6:17 p.m.: Jered Weaver has recovered from his early woes. He has fanned four of the last six batters he has faced. Nine for the game.

UPDATE, 6:19 p.m.: Yankees get seven put on them and go 1-2-3 in the next inning.

UPDATE, 6:29 p.m.: If this game were an election, NBC news could have declared Los Angeles the winner by now. Yankees have allowed nine runs in the last three innings.

UPDATE, 6:37 p.m.: Hinske again homers. He’s been more helpful today than Angel Berroa was for two months. The two-run blast brings the Yankees to within 9-6.

That Hinske has already driven in four runs as a Yankee underscores how wasteful the Yankees were leaving Berroa on the roster as long as they did.

UPDATE, 6:52 p.m.: Brett Tomko, the human white flag, out to wrap this one up. This has a chance to get really bad.

Looks like it’ll be CC to try and avoid a sweep tomorrow. At least Hughes and Rivera will be rested.

UPDATE, 7:00 p.m.: A-Rod moves into the Top 10 in career home runs. At least he’ll be happy.

He has 65 homers against the Angels, more than any opponent. He has 35 homers here. The Angels probably would have signed him if the Yankees had let him walk.

UPDATE, 7:02 p.m.: And Matsui goes yard. 10-8 Angels. Hope you had the over. What a nutty game. Do the Yankees have two more runs in them? The bigger question is can they keep the Angels from scoring.

UPDATE. 7:08 p.m.: Cano walks (really, Cano walked?) and Hinske comes to the dish as the tying run. Could he hit a third?

18 runs on 21 hits in this game. Neither club has covered itself in pitching glory today.

UPDATE, 7:13 p.m.: Tomko out and Coke in.

UPDATE, 7:23 p.m.: So the Yankees have allowed two Angels to reach base after striking out on wild pitches.

If I’m Dave Eiland, I ask to get paid for each trip to the mound. Or get milage at least.

UPDATE, 7:26 p.m.: Bobby Abreu five RBI the last two days. I would guess he’s pretty pleased with that given how the Yankees dismissed him after last season.

UPDATE, 7:30 p.m.: Just when they looked in it, Phil Coke takes them out of it. That’s six runs allowed by the bullpen so far.

UPDATE, 7:31 p.m.: As the players say, nothing you can do but wear it. 14-8 Angels.

UPDATE, 7:37 p.m.: Jeter GIDPs to further enrage the bridge-jumping fan base.

UPDATE, 7:38 p.m.: Back later with some reaction. Yankees lose 14-8.

Joba Chamberlain had a rough night as the Yankees fell to the Angels.

Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera have been a formidable duo in center field.

————

This note for you:

Alex Rodriguez is a career .336 hitter in Anaheim (112 of 333). He has a .405 career OBP here and a .702 slugging percentage. He also has hit 33 homers at Angel Stadium, more than any park other than those he has called home.

A-Rod’s homer havens:

Old Yankee Stadium: 124
Rangers Ballpark: 96
Kingdome: 60
Safeco Field: 39
Angel Stadium: 33
SkyDome 31
Camden Yards 23
Metrodome 21
Tropicana Field 19
Fenway Park 19

Back later with the lineups.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Joba Chamberlain’s 10 decisions (7-3) through his first 29 career starts are the fewest in Major League history. I’m not sure how to interpret that. But there you go.

As to what counts, Joba has one victory since June 1 and a 5.05 ERA. “It’s frustrating. I’m letting my teammates down. It’s kind of embarrassing, too,” he said. “At the end of the day, we have the second half (of the season) to get better. You can’t change the past.”

But there is also some denial. If you listen to his postgame interview session:

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Joba says three times that his stuff and mechanics in the last two starts were the best he has had this season. Here is his line in those two starts:

8 innings, 18 hits, 13 runs, 7 earned runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, 3 home runs. Those unearned runs are a bad sign. Fielders get bored and lazy working behind an inefficient pitcher. When the starter is nibbling and shaking off pitches and getting knocked around, it infects everybody else.

If that’s his best stuff, that is a problem. I asked Joba what the issue was if in fact he was throwing his best stuff.

“If I had an answer for you, it would probably be a lot easier,” he said. “I felt I’ve been better in the last two but we came up against some good ball clubs. They hit mistakes and that is what they’re supposed to do.”

I’m also getting a sense that his teammates are tired of the “well, I threw the ball pretty well” stuff and the flood of Nuke LaLoosh cliches. The Yankees are about accountability and results, not trying hard. Anybody can try hard.

“You have to work your tail off,” Chamberlain said. “But the sun will come out tomorrow. I’ll be the same person I was before.”

Well, the sun will come out in Scranton, too. At some point the Yankees can’t let a starter go five innings every time.

WFAN’s Sweeny Murti asked Girardi whether Joba should be working out his issues in the majors. “I think so,” he said.

That Girardi didn’t dismiss the notion out of hand should tell you something. Joba is scheduled to pitch the third game after the break against Detroit, a team he pitched very well against in April. That start could determine how long the Yankees are going to leave him in the rotation.

————

Derek Jeter didn’t offer an excuse for dropping that pop-up in the seventh inning. He could not remember ever having done that before. “I just dropped it,” he said “I used two hands, too.”

Meanwhile, Jorge Posada caught a foul pop bare-handed when in the same inning when Chone Figgins accidentally knocked the glove off his hand.

“I wasn’t trying to show (Jeter) up,” Posada said with a little smile.

YANKEES (51-34)
Jeter DH
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Ransom SS
Molina C

Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 4.04).

ANGELS (46-37)
Figgins 3B
Izturis 2B
Abreu RF
Rivera LF
Morales 1B
Napoli DH
Matthews CF
Mathis C
Aybar SS

Pitching: LHP Joe Saunders (8-5, 4.44).

TIME/TV: 10:05 p.m., YES.

STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees have won three straight, six of seven and 13 of 15.

HIGH SCORING: The Yankees lead the majors in runs (477), OBP (.358) and slugging (.469). They are second in home runs (126) and BA (.275).

KINGS OF THE ROAD: The Yankees are 25-18 on the road including eight straight for the first time since the 1998 team won nine straight from April 20-May 8. The Yankees have gone 67 consecutive innings on the road without trailing.

JOBAMANIA: This is a somewhat important start for young Mr. Chamberlain. He’s in no danger of losing his job but he is in danger of losing the faith of his teammates if he continues the pace he is on. In his last 31.1 innings, he has allowed 38 hits (four of them homers), 14 walks and hit three batters.

HE SOAKS UP THE SUN: Robinson Cano is a career .345 hitter in July.

MO THE MAGNIFICENT: Mariano Rivera’s last 13 outings: 13.2 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 15 strikeouts.

ON THE iPOD RIGHT NOW: The Pretender by Jackson Browne. Part of the California mix on my iPod.

Back with more later on.

UPDATE, 6;53 p.m.: Based on his not getting dressed, Jon Albaladejo is being sent down.

UPDATE, 7:24 p.m.: Yep. Albaladejo optioned.

Also, I’ll be on ESPN News at 9:10.

UPDATE, 8:28 p.m.: Not much news to report. Mark Melancon arrived and said he feels more comfortable than he did his first time up. He could give them as many as 45 pitches. … The Yankees will not need a No. 5 starter until July 21. Sergio Mitre is the only AAA starter they are considering. Barring something unexpected, it will be Mitre or Aceves. They’ll watch Mitre pitch Sunday for Scranton and evaluate him from there. … Jeter is getting a DH day as he won’t get much time off next week thanks to starting in the All-Star Game.

Mike Myers, who now works for the MLBPA, visited the clubhouse before the game.

Lots of newspaper work to do. I’ll check in later.

UPDATE, 8:59 p.m.: Here is Joe Girardi’s pre-game audio:

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UPDATE, 9:57 p.m.: Barry Williams — Greg Brady — is singing the anthem. Got to love California. Where is Maureen McCormick? Loved her.

UPDATE, 9:59 p.m.: Nice work by Johnny Bravo.

Meanwhile, Phil Hughes is getting the night off. Just FYI.

UPDATE, 10:57 p.m.: We’re underway with a single from the Captain. Yes, that is Scott Boras sitting behind home plate. The Prince of Darkness is here to keep an eye on his assorted clients. He has Angels and Dodgers seasons.

UPDATE, 10:13 p.m.: Teixeira got booed but nothing like he did in Baltimore. They’re too laid back here.

UPDATE, 10:17 p.m.: The Yankees are like a machine at this point. Single, walk, double, single, 3-0. A-Rod hustles to second and then scores from there as Juan Rivera makes a bad throw.

My belief is that the presence of Barry Williams has inspired this.

UPDATE, 10:23 p.m.: Joba has a 3-0 and is facing a team that just DL’s Hunter and Guerrero. If he does that nibbling thing again, Molina should go to the mound and drop him on his head. No shaking off, just throw the pitch, Meat.

UPDATE, 10:26 p.m.: No shakes, 1-2-3 inning, 9 pitches / 7 strikes. Don’t think, just throw.

UPDATE, 10:32 p.m.: Here is how important rehab stats are for big leaguers: Molina was 1 for 11 in the minors. First at-bat after being activated: Solid two-strike base hit up the middle.

UPDATE, 10:39 p.m.: The Yankees wear lefties out. 4-0 and two on with one out.

Remember when I said 3-3 would be a good road trip? Yeah, not so much.

UPDATE, 10:44 p.m.: 4-0 for Joba. Let’s if that first inning was a fluke.

UPDATE, 10:54 p.m.: Fluke it is. His velocity disappeared this inning. No better than 92 so far. 19 pitches so far, one out.

UPDATE, 10:56 p.m.: Paging First Inning Joba. First Inning Joba, you have a call on the white courtesy phone.

UPDATE, 10:58 p.m.; 25 pitches this inning and counting.

UPDATE, 11:16 p.m.: Better third inning for Joba as he worked the strike zone. He has looked a lot better tonight. 4-1 Yankees after three innings.

Joba so far: 3 3 1 1 1 3. 52 pitches / 32 strikes.

UPDATE, 11:22 p.m.: Jeter 3 for 3. Eat it, Forbes.

UPDATE, 11:30 p.m.: We’re going to see Mark Melancon and Brian Bruney before this night is over. Joba will be 70+ before the fourth inning is over. He’s just not efficient.

UPDATE, 11:37 p.m.: Alex goes deep. That’s 15 on the season and 568 overall, one shy of fellow loosey-goosey Texas slugger Rafael Palmeiro on the all-time list.

5-1 Yankees.

UPDATE, 11:58 p.m.: Joba closing on 90 pitches. 88 pitches / 54 strikes. Not a good enough ratio when you’re handed a 3-0 lead.

This’ll be another standard 5.1 inning game for him, if that.

UPDATE, 12:01 a.m.: Nice visit to the mound by Girardi as Joba gives up a bomb. Brand new game, 5-5.

UPDATE, 12:02 a.m.: Thats it. 4.1 innings. If Joba says after the game that he pitched well, he should get sent back to Scranton. Not one teammate, save Jeter, has gone over to him in the dugout. They’re tired of his act.

Not one. Jeter patted him on the back and nobody has talked to him. He needs an intervention at this point. You can’t keep falling behind hitters and expect to pitch well.

They gave him a 3-0 lead against a depleted team and he pitched horrendously.

UPDATE, 12:11 a.m.: Joba’s last 35.2 innings: 47 hits and 15 walks. If he’s under the impression that is good enough, somebody needs to tell him it’s not.

UPDATE, 12:18 a.m.: Joba’s last seven starts: 35.2 innings 47 hits, 27 runs, 20 earned runs, 15 walks, 27 strikeouts, 5 home runs, 675 pitches, 402 strikes.

Averaging 5.1 innings a start is not acceptable. Neither is averaging about 19 pitches an inning.

UPDATE, 12:24 a.m.: And the Yankees trail on the road for the first time in 72 innings.

You knew one of these games was coming eventually. But this is really bad. Do they have another comeback in them?

UPDATE, 12:45 a.m.: Yankees will give up the DH, have Jeter play short and then pinch hit later on. Interesting game.

Based loaded for Godzilla against Oliver. Isn’t this how it usually works? Joba pitches poorly, they still win.

UPDATE, 12:54 a.m.: Wow, Jeter just pulled a Luis Castillo and dropped a pop-up. But nobody scored. What a crazy game.

UPDATE, 1:03 a.m.: And the disaster continues. Brian Bruney comes in and walks Jeff Mathis before giving up a home run to Erick Aybar, the No. 9 hitter. 10-6 Angels and the road win streak is heading for an inglorious end.

Cue the Chicken Littles who will pronounce the season over. That is always good for a laugh. Because, you know, they were supposed to win all the rest of them.

Bruney can’t be healthy. Either he is hurt or something is really wrong.

Meanwhile, Posada just caught a pop bare-handed when Figgins knocked his glove off accidentally.

UPDATE, 1:18 a.m.: And Bruney just threw a pitch up and in to Abreu for some reason. Bobby Abreu?

UPDATE, 1:31 a.m.: Yankees have forced Fuentes into the game, he’ll face Posada.

UPDATE, 1:35 a.m.: That’s the game. Messy loss for the Yankees. Back later with reaction.

There was a lot of talk this winter that the Yankees needed to upgrade in center field. But with the season now past its halfway point, Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera are proving that notion was incorrect.

Brett Cabrera (or Melky Gardner if you prefer) have given the Yankees .289/.354/.436 production in center field this season. They have combined on eight homers, 40 RBI and 15 stolen bases. That’s a .790 OPS.

These statistics take into account only when either player has been the center fielder.

How does that compare?

Torii Hunter (.305/380/.558) has been the best center fielder in the league. He has 17 homers and 65 RBI. But Brett Cabrera has been better than Jacoby Ellsbury (.299/.349/.404), for instance.

If you use OPS to measure, only Hunter, Adam Jones, Franklin Gutierrez, Marlon Byrd and Curtis Granderson have been better than the Yankees’ duo.

The credit goes to Joe Girardi, who has done a good job of deciding who plays on a particular day. Most of it is matching up with the opposing pitcher but there is also a feel to the process.

“I think Joe has been great with the two of them,” hitting coach Kevin Long said. “Both of those guys know their value to what we’re doing. They’re pushing each other and it makes us better.”

Remember when the Yankees were close to trading for Mike Cameron? He’s at .252/362/.468 for Milwaukee, an .830 OPS. Brett Cabrera is right there with him, too.

There are some red flags. Cabrera’s OBP has done a dive lately and you wonder if he’ll swoon again as he did last summer. Gardner also needs to prove he can go the distance. But the Yankees have gotten more our center field than anybody, even Girardi, could have expected.

Back later with the lineups. Who’s staying up late?

This from the Yankees:

The New York Yankees announced today that four Hall-of-Famers and at least six rookie Old-Timers will be on hand at the 63rd annual Old-Timers’ Day on Sunday, July 19 at Yankee Stadium. This season marks the inaugural Old-Timers’ Day at the current Stadium after 62 years at the original Stadium. Introductions are scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m. with the traditional Old-Timers’ game to follow. The Yankees will then host the Detroit Tigers at 2:05 p.m.

The Old-Timers are headlined by Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson and 2008 inductee Rich “Goose” Gossage. The list of newcomers includes Tony Cloninger, Mike Easler, Lindy McDaniel and Jerry Narron. Third baseman Charlie Hayes, who recorded the final out of the 1996 World Series, will also make his first Old-Timers’ Day appearance, along with Chad Curtis, who won World Series titles with the Yankees in 1998 and 1999.

Joining the Hall-of-Famers and Old-Timers’ Day rookies on the baselines will be more than 30 additional former Yankees and the widows of four legendary Yankees—Arlene Howard, widow of Elston Howard; Helen Hunter, widow of Jim “Catfish” Hunter; Kay Murcer, widow of Bobby Murcer; and Diana Munson, widow of Thurman Munson.

Partial List of those Scheduled to Attend
(*Denotes First-Time Old-Timer)
Luis Arroyo
Jesse Barfield
Yogi Berra
Ron Blomberg
Dr. Bobby Brown
Homer Bush
Rick Cerone
Horace Clarke
*Tony Cloninger
Jim Coates
David Cone
*Chad Curtis
Bucky Dent
Al Downing
*Mike Easler
Dave Eiland
Whitey Ford
Oscar Gamble
Joe Girardi
Rich “Goose” Gossage
Ken Griffey, Sr.
Ron Guidry
*Charlie Hayes
Arlene Howard
Helen Hunter
Reggie Jackson
Pat Kelly
Don Larsen
Hector Lopez
Lee Mazzilli
*Lindy McDaniel
Gene Michael
Diana Munson
Kay Murcer
Meredith Murray (B.P. Pitcher)
*Jerry Narron
Jeff Nelson
Graig Nettles
Joe Pepitone
Bobby Richardson
Mickey Rivers
Bill “Moose” Skowron
Aaron Small
Bob Turley
Roy White

————

Aaron Small is an Old Timer? He’s 38. Meanwhile, won’t the day be spoiled when Jeter punches out Chad Curtis?

Angel Berroa was going to attend but he’s attending a reunion with his old teammates from the Brooklyn Superbas. “That Zack Wheat and I used to have a god time,” he said.

The Angels have placed both Torii Hunter and Vlad Guerrero on the disabled list.

Brandon Wood and Bobby Wilson were called up:

The details via the press release:

Guerrero, 34, suffered a strained muscle behind his left knee and a lower hamstring strain during the game against the Texas Rangers, July 7, on a defensive play in right field. He is currently hitting .290 (51/176) with eight doubles, one triple, four home runs and 21 RBI in 46 games. Guerrero previously missed 38 games this season while on the DL for a torn right pectoral muscle.

Hunter, 33, has an adductor strain on his right side and will now be unable to participate in next week’s All-Star Game (he was named for the third time in his career). He is currently hitting .290 (87/285) with 19 doubles, one triple, 17 home runs and 65 RBI in 77 games. Hunter leads the Angels in home runs and RBI. This marks Hunter’s first DL stint as a member of the Angels

Wood, 24, is batting .313 (85/272) with 44 runs scored, 19 doubles, three triples, 17 home runs and 52 RBI in 70 games for the Salt Lake Bees. He ranks third in the Pacific Coast League with a .592 slugging percentage. Wood, who will wear uniform number 3, made his major league debut April 26, 2008 vs. Tampa Bay (0/4).

Wilson, 26, is batting .261 (62/238) with 10 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 27 RBI in 65 games at Salt Lake. He made his major league debut April 28, 2008 vs. Oakland (1/1). Wilson will wear uniform number 46.

Tonight: RHP Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 4.04) vs. LHP Joe Saunders (8-5, 4.44), 10:05 p.m., YES

Saturday: LHP Andy Pettitte (8-4, 4.53) vs. RHP Jered Weaver (9-3, 3.15), 4:10 p.m., FOX

Sunday: LHP CC Sabathia (8-5, 3.70) vs. RHP John Lackey (3-4, 5.18), 3:35 p.m., YES

Good morning from the Frank “Sweet Music” Viola International Airport in Minnesota. We’re here waiting on a 9:15 a.m. flight to Orange County, Calif.

I realize this is supposed to be the space where I make some kind of semi-funny remark about traveling. But today has been free of issues. Got a cab, got here quickly, got through security, got some orange juice and found the gate. It should always be like this. The problem were the thousands of people standing along the highway hoping to catch a glimpse of Brett Favre once he lands.

As for the Yankees, they have three games left before the All-Star break and are tied for first place with the Red Sox. It’s sort of hard to believe the Yankees are 0-8 against the Red Sox, right?

The Yankees are 51-26 (.662) against other teams and the Sox are 43-34 (.558). Strange. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays have a better run differential (+79) than either Boston (+72) or New York (+71) and are 4.5 games out. More strangeness.

Before this road trip, I suggested the Yankees would go well to go 3-3. Having vastly overestimated the Twins, its time to revise that obviously. 5-1? 4-2? They Yankees have won eight in a row on the road and that streak will end eventually. But it’s a nice roll.

They’re calling the flight, time to go and catch a nap. Check back later for the lineups.