The LoHud Yankees Blog

Remember before the game when Joe Girardi said that Alfredo Aceves was being rested because he was tired? As expected, there is more to it than that.

Aceves said his shoulder has been bothering him for several days. “It’s fatigued,” he said.

Aceves will play catch tomorrow to try and gauge his readiness to return to the bullpen. He does not think he is injured, only worn down a little.

“I know what kind of pain lets you pitch and what kind of pain don’t let’s you pitch,” Aceves said. “This one will let me pitch.”

Will the news that Chien-Ming Wang is done for the season (and beyond) and that Aceves has a sore shoulder spur Brian Cashman into action on the trade market? Stay tuned.

Chien-Ming Wang needs season-ending shoulder surgery It’ll be tomorrow morning

More to come.

UPDATE, 10:49 p.m.: Wang needs a tear in his capsule repaired, apparently. The capsule is the soft-tissue membrane. Typically, the capsule is tightened in surgery.

The Yankees either don’t know or aren’t saying how long Wang will be out. But it will be for the rest of this season and quite likely some of next season as well. This will be Wang’s second shoulder surgery in eight years.

The surgery will be performed by Dr. James Andrews tomorrow morning.

YANKEES (61-38)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (10-6, 3.67).

RAYS (54-46)
Upton CF
Crawford LF
Longoria 3B
Zobrist 2B
Burrell DH
Pena 1B
Kapler RF
Navarro C
Bartlett SS

Pitching: LHP Scott Kazmir (4-6, 6.69).

TIME/TV: 7:10, MY9.

STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees have won 10 of 11 and 23 of their last 29. At 61-38, they are one game behind the Dodgers for the best record in baseball. They lead the Red Sox by 2.5 games and the Rays by 7.5.

RAZING THE RAYS: The Yankees are 16-11 against the Rays the last two seasons.

SERIES STEAK: A win tonight would give the Yankees victories in nine of their last 10 series.

CC STATS: Casten Charles is 3-1, 2.92 in his last four starts. He is 2-0 since the break, allowing three earned runs over 14 innings. The big lefty is 7-1, 2.63 in 12 career starts against the Rays. He took a no-decision (can you take a no-decision?) against them on June 6, allowing five runs in eight innings in what turned out to be a 9-7 loss at the Stadium.

THEIR CC IS PRETTY GOOD, TOO: Carl Crawford leads the majors with 48 steals. His theft last night was No. 350 for his career. Whether you’re a Yankee fan or not, that guy is fun to watch play.

GOOD TIMING: Now that he’s the center fielder for a while, Melky Cabrera is heating up. He is 7 of 12 with five walks in his last four games.

ROWDY ON THE ROAD: The Yankees have won nine of their last 12 away from the Stadium.

TAMPA’S TERROR: Robinson Cano is a career .324 hitter against the Rays.

CAPTAIN’S CORNER: Derek Jeter has hit safely in seven straight. He is 9 of 18 in his last four games with six RBI and five runs scored. Jeter is fifth in the AL at .325. He is fifth in OPB at .402.

GRAND NIGHT FOR TEX: Tonight will be the 1,000th career game for Mark Teixeira.

THEY’RE HOT: Teixeira is 8 of 22 … Jorge Posada is 8 of 22 with five extra-base hits and six RBI.

MINOR MATTERS: Low Single-A Charleston was no-hit by West Virginia’s Hunter Strickland and Diego Moreno, Strickland is one of the prospects the Pirates got back from Boston for Adam LaRoche.

ON THE iPOD RIGHT NOW: Lucky Man by The Verve.

Back later with much more.

UPDATE, 4:18 p.m.: Chien-Ming Wang is still waiting to see Dr. Andrews. No update yet.

Also no roster move today it seems.

UPDATE, 5:41 p.m.: Alfredo Aceves is down again today. It was decided to give him three days off because he was “tired” according to Girardi. The manager claimed nothing was physically wrong with Aceves. But it’s certainly something that bears watching.

Until the bullpen is up to speed, which could be tomorrow, they don’t want to make a move for an outfielder. Brian Cashman is also keeping his eyes open for a CF via trade.

Damaso Marte will throw two innings tonight for Scranton. Then he could get two days off before going back-to-back days. In other words, you won’t be seeing him back in the big leagues any time soon.

UPDATE, 6:41 p.m.: Per Chad Jennings and his must-read blog, here is the Scranton lineup tonight:

Kevin Russo, 2B
Ramiro Pena, SS
Austin Jackson, CF
Shelley Duncan, RF
Juan Miranda, 1B
Yurendell de Caster, 3B
John Rodriguez, DH
Colin Curtis, LF
Chris Stewart, C
Josh Towers, RHP

That’s two days in a row not in CF for Pena. All the usual suspects are playing, so no clues there.

UPDATE, 7:09 p.m.: We’re underway here at The Trop. CC vs. Kazmir. Good matchup.

UPDATE, 7:13 p.m.: Great pitch by Kazmir to get Jeter looking. But Jeter saw 10 pitches.

UPDATE, 7:23 p.m.: That is some very nice baseball right there. Cano tracks down a ball behind the bag, flips it to Jeter and he makes the pivot fast enough to get Crawford with Tex making a sprawling grab at first. How much better is this team in the field this season?

UPDATE, 7:36 p.m.: OK, so I take that back.

UPDATE, 7:41 p.m.: More good stuff from Chad on his blog regarding assorted injured prospects.

UPDATE, 8:07 p.m.: Like I said, an outstanding defensive team.

What a mess this is so far. Two errors, CC getting rocked, Rays lead 3-0.

Meanwhile the Rays just had their cleanup hitter bunt with a 3-0 lead.

UPDATE, 8:13 p.m.: And the Rays get what they deserve for bunting their cleanup hitter — no run. That could come back to bite them.

UPDATE, 8:17 p.m.: Tex is a heck of a base-runner. Almost always makes the right decision.

UPDATE, 8:48 p.m.: CC seemed to have his act together before that home run. As for Evan Longoria, he had his girlfriend at the All-Star Game press conference last year and she was a younger, hotter version of Jennifer Love Hewitt. So the home run is just a bonus.

UPDATE, 8:58 p.m.: Damaso Marte just allowed two homers for Scranton. Seems to be in mid-season form.

UPDATE, 9:11 p.m.: Yet another defensive misplay. They need to get an outfielder here now. It’s bad enough that the Yankees need to leave either Swisher of Damon in the outfield late in games. Leaving both of them in invites disaster.

It’s 6-1 Rays as the Yankees are experiencing a rare train-wreck game. Cue the “the season is over” commenters on the blog.

UPDATE, 9:55 p.m.: That’s it for a sloppy game. Back later with reaction and an update on Chien-Ming Wang

The Wonderful World of Nick Swisher finally hit a home run last night, his first since June 27 when he victimized Tim Redding of the Mets. Then he did it again in the ninth inning.

Swisher has 16 homers this season. Somehow, 13 have come on the road. Six are against the Rays and four have come at Tropicana Field.

So obviously, this spells doom for Scott Kazmir tonight. He, by the way, has a 6.99 ERA.

Back later with the lineups.

Maury Brown from The Business of Baseball Blog asked a bunch of people in the media along with some bloggers their impressions of how social networking has impacted what they do.

If you’re interested in that sort of thing, there are a lot of good opinions and points.

I was asked to participate along with estimable folks like Will Carroll (who just Twittered 17 times as you read this), Ken Davidoff, Tim Dierkes, Jon Heyman, Joe Pawlikowski, Dave Pinto and Joel Sherman,

To me, it really just comes down to this: The more places a baseball fan has to get information and communicate about about the sport with other people, the better it is for everybody. Baseball is by far the most social of all sports and has the greatest influence on the lives of fans because it is played every single day and we get to know the most about the players.

As a media person, you have to be foolish not to tap into that passion and find a way to make it work for you.

Oh, and please support the strip clubs who buy advertising space here. Thanks. The girls just need a few dollars so they can go back to school.

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Good news soon for those of you asking about a mobile version of this blog.

The Yankees have scored 554 runs in 99 games, a pace that will give them 907 or so for the season. They scored 789 runs last season, so it would seem signing Mark Teixeira and trading for Nick Swisher worked out pretty well.

How well-balanced is the offense? Here’s a breakdown of home runs:

Teixeira 25
Rodriguez 19
Damon 17
Swisher 16
Cano 15
Matsui 15
Posada 13
Jeter 11
Cabrera 8
Gardner 3

The OBP is pretty well-balanced, too:
Jeter .402
Rodriguez .392
Teixeira .379
Posada .367
Swisher .367
Damon .364
Matsui .358
Cabrera .356
Gardner .354
Cano .348

The Yankees lead baseball in runs, home runs, OBP, total bases, OPS and walks. They probably could use a pitcher — starter or reliever — via trade. But don’t lose sight of the fact that their offense is going to produce a ton of runs and erase a lot of mistake that will happen on the mound.

The Yankees have 10 players with OBPs above the league average and they could end with seven players with 20+ home runs. They had three players with 20 home runs last season.

If this team stays healthy, it would win 100 games without breaking too much of a sweat.

The Yankees stayed hot and slammed the Rays behind A.J. Burnett,

The Yankees need another outfielder. But who? This notebook also has updates on the trade market, an event with CC and Carl Crawford and Chien-Ming Wang.

A few notes for you:

Alfredo Aceves, Brian Bruney, Phil Coke and Phil Hughes were not available tonight, which is why they didn’t make a move and why Jon Albaladejo and Dave Robertson finished the game. Now that the bullpen is rested up, the move could come tomorrow.

A.J. Burnett left the Yankees needing to get only two innings out of the bullpen. He is 6-1, 1.67 in his last eight starts.

Johnny Damon was asked whether Burnett looks like the pitcher the Yankees faced last season when he was with Toronto.

“Absolutely,” he said. “He’s one of those guys you dream about at night, you know? Not in a good way, in a bad way.”

That drew big laughs from a crowd of reporters — and Nick Swisher a locker away.

“I don’t dream about A.J.,” he said. “Trust me.”

Burnett got nine of his last 12 outs on the ground. After throwing 60 pitches in the first three innings, he worked in a two-seam fastball to conserve pitches. It worked as he needed only 54 pitches over the last four innings. On a night when he didn’t have a good curveball, he was still dominating.

Offensively, every starter had at least one hit. There were eight extra-base hits and four home runs. The Yankees have won 10 of 11 and 23 of 29. As each day passes, they look better and better.

“If we keep playing like this, it’s going to be a really, really fun season,” Swisher said.

UPDATE, 11:54 p.m.: I’m getting a lot of e-mails about Mark Melancon’s inactivity. He hasn’t pitched since July 10. It’s circumstance, not some dark plot by Joe Girardi. There have been a lot of close games and/or a need to get other guys going. Melancon is the last guy in the bullpen and that’s how it goes sometimes.

They still think very highly of him.

Look at this way: The Yankees have won 10 of 11 and 23 of 29. If they’re biggest problem is not getting a rookie reliever enough work, that’s a good problem to have.

The Yankees are 61-38, try and enjoy it. Plenty of real problems will crop up eventually.

YANKEES (60-38)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF

Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (9-4, 3.74).

RAYS (54-45)
Upton CF
Crawford LF
Longoria 3B
Zobrist 2B
Pena 1B
Burrell DH
Gross RF
Hernandez C
Bartlett SS

Pitching: RHP James Shields (6-6, 3.70).

TIME/TV: 7:10, YES.

STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees were 9-1 on their homestand and tonight start a nine-game road trip to Tampa, Chicago and Toronto. They lead Boston by 2.5 games and Tampa by 6.5. The Yankees have won 22 of their last 28 and 45 of 66.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Yankees are 25-21 on the road. Only the Angels (28-20) are better in the AL.

LOOK OUT, JOE: The Dodgers (62-36) will have the best record in baseball but the Yankees are only two games behind them now.

RAYS REPORT: The Yankees are 4-4 against the Rays this season.

SERIES STREAK: The Yankees have won eight of their last nine series. They have won 22 series this season, two fewer than all of last season.

SWEET 16s: Here is the latest on the Sandman and the Franchise:

Mariano Rivera’s last 16 games: 16 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 15 strikeouts.

Phil Hughes’ last 16 games: 21 innings, 11 hits, 0 runs, 4 walks, 25 strikeouts.

BURNETT BLASTS OFF: A.J. Burnett has a 1.93 ERAin his last seven games. Opponents have hit .208 against him.

THEY’RE HOT: Derek Jeter is 6 of 13 with six RBI … Mark Teixeira is 6 of 16 with five RBI and four extra-base hits … Jorge Posada is 7 of 17 with five runs scored, five RBI and four extra-base hits. … Melky Cabrera is 5 of 8 with thee runs scored and four walks … Cody Ransom is 3 of 7 with three doubles and three runs scored.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN: Mark Melancon has not pitched since July 10.

WELL-RESTED: Alex Rodriguez had yesterday off. He is 1 of his last 12 with six strikeouts.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: A-Rod turns 34 today. The beat writers are all chipping in and taking him out for dinner tonight after the game. What a time that will be. We’re thinking of either Macaroni Grill or Applebees. He can get whatever he wants.

Back with more later.

UPDATE, 4:24 p.m.: Second-round draft pick J.R. Murphy is in the clubhouse and will work out with the team.

UPDATE, 5:08 p.m.: The first place Yankees will be secondary news tomorrow with the bizarre happenings in Queens. Omar Minaya accused the News beat writer of bringing down Tony Bernazard because he wanted his job. Today seems like beginning of the end for Minaya.

UPDATE, 5:45 p.m.: Joe Girardi just said they wanted to keep the extra pitcher because the bullpen is a little short (Hughes is down today, for instance). Melancon is not really available in a tight spot, either. Not fair to just toss him in there at this point.

They will need a CF at some point, or at least another OF. There is little chance Johnny Damon can play every day, especially not with five of the next nine games on turf. They don’t seem to want Eric Hinske lumbering around in left field. They seem only to trust him in right field at this point.

UPDATE, 5:58 p.m.: Here is the Girardi audio. He was in the dugout, so the quality is not terrific. Best I could do:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

UPDATE, 6:38 p.m.: You have to watch of these videos over on SNY.TV of the Mets fiasco today.

Watch Omar Minaya’s bizarre attack on Adam Rubin here along with Rubin’s response.

One of the first things you learn at journalism school is not to become the story. This has to be a bad spot for Rubin. But Minaya is teetering on the brink of full-scale nuttiness. It’s unfathomable how the Wilpons could let him run their team at this point.

I covered the Mets before I was promoted to the Yankees. They are are wildly dysfunctional organization but what happened today was an all-timer. It’s too bad because Mets fans are largely good folks who care deeply about their team. They deserve better.

UPDATE, 6:52 p.m.: There is a report on AOL Fanhouse that the Yankees are interested in Bronson (or as A-Rod calls him, Brandon) Arroyo. Considering he has roughly $16 million left on his deal, the Reds would have to include a boatload of money. Can’t see them taking on that much money for a No. 5 starter.

Arroyo is still scheduled to start tomorrow for the Reds. This rumor seems like just that, a rumor.

UPDATE, 7:08 p.m.: We’re underway in Tampa. A nice 72 degrees inside The Trop. Good pitching matchup, should be a fun game to watch.

UPDATE, 7:11 p.m.: After a little more checking, the Arroyo thing is not true.

UPDATE, 7:30 p.m.: How about Hideki? He scores from first on a double by Posada. Matsui looked like he had just finished a marathon when he scored. But it’s 1-0.

UPDATE, 7:32 p.m.: Robbie again with the RISP? So Matsui scores from first and Cano triples with a runner on second? This is real wrath of God type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies. Rivers and seas boiling. Forty years of darkness. Earthquakes, volcanoes. The dead rising from the grave. Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria.

Yanks 3-0.

UPDATE, 7:47 p.m.: Breaking news: Brian Cashman is talking trade with Adam Rubin of the Mets. Johan Santana for Alan Horn, Kei Igawa, Cody Ransom and a PTBNL.

Meanwhile, A.J. Burnett is having a classic A.J. Burnett game: No hits, four strikeouts, two walks, wild pickoff throw, 159 pitches in two innings. OK, only 37. But still.

UPDATE, 7:56 p.m.: The Reds just shot down the Arroyo rumor, too. Mike Francesa said to be furious.

UPDATE, 8:16 p.m.: OK, so Cano now has a hit with a runner in scoring position and has drawn a walk. Has that ever happened in the same game before?

UPDATE, 8:41 p.m.: A-Rod got rung up on a low pitch by Brian Knight. He barked at him a few seconds but was not tossed. Joe Girardi came in for the rescue.

A-Rod is 1 for 14 with seven strikeouts in the last four games.

UPDATE, 8:55 p.m.: A.J. Burnett is throwing an absolute gem through five innings: 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 walks, 4 Ks. He has retired eight straight. 3-0 Yankees.

UPDATE, 8:58 p.m.: And it’s an R-Bomb for Robbie. The Canoabino! Yankees lead 4-0.

UPDATE, 8:59 p.m.: Wow, Swish just hit one to right field that nearly reached the back row. 5-0 Yankees. Ninth time the Yanks have gone back-to-back this season.

UPDATE, 9:34 p.m.: Burrell can’t run but, wow, A-Rod has a cannon.

UPDATE, 9:39 p.m.: Counting tonight, Burnett has a 1.68 ERA in his last seven starts.

UPDATE, 9:48 p.m.: The Birthday Boy lines a two-run double off the wall in left. Yankees 7-1 and this game is well in hand. Kate Hudson in the crowd cheering like crazy. Tampa TV keeps showing her. Not because she is a celebrity, because she’s the youngest person ever to attend a Rays game.

UPDATE, 10:04 p.m.: Albaladejo gets ripped, forcing Mariano to get up. It’s poor innings like this that lead to Mo being used needlessly and cause problems in games later in the week.

Melancon needs to pitch at some point, no? A 7-1 lead wasn’t enough?

UPDATE, 10:06 p.m.: Big K by Dave Robertson there. Telling you, he’s going to be very, very good down the road.

UPDATE, 10:17 p.m.: Career home run 200 for Johnny. Yankees open it up, 11-3. Back later with reaction from the clubhouse.

The Yankees appear to be focusing in on relievers as the trade deadline approaches. By beefing up the bullpen, this would enable them to transition Alfredo Aceves to the rotation if the need arises.

Given that Sergio Mitre has allowed 17 hits over 10.2 innings, there’s a good chance that need will arise. Names that have come up: Scott Downs, Heath Bell and John Grabow, The Yankees are not involved in the Roy Halladay chase. But, of course, that could change.

Meanwhile, the Mets have canned controversial team exec Tony Bernazard, News conference within the hour. Bernazard is the guy who challenged a minor-league team to a fight. Or as Shelley Duncan would have called it, the greatest day ever.