The LoHud Yankees Blog

YANKEES (56-37)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Gardner CF

Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (8-4, 3.81).

ORIOLES (41-52)
Roberts 2B
Jones CF
Markakis RF
Huff 1B
Wigginton 3B
Scott DH
Zaun C
Pie LF
Andino SS

Pitching: RHP Jason Berken (1-7, 6.44).

TIME/TV: 1:05, YES.

STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees have won five straight (all since the All-Star break) and 18 of 23 overall. They have moved back into sole possession of first place in the American League East and are undefeated on a homestand that has five games left.

BURNETT VS. BALTIMORE: A.J. Burnett, who lives in Maryland, is 8-1, 4.83 against Baltimore in his career. He faced them once this season, at Camden Yards on April 9. He lasted 5.1 innings and allowed two runs, albeit on seven hits. He walked one and struck out six.

Burnett did not pitch especially well in his first outing after the break, giving up three runs in six innings against Detroit. But he is 4-1 since June 14.

IT STARTS WITH PITCHING: Here’s how the pitching staff has done since the break: 45 innings, 35 hits, 10 runs, 9 earned runs, 18 walks, 37 strikeouts. The Yankees have a 3.66 ERA since May 13.

GARDNER RETURNS: Melky Cabrera (29 of his last 130, 2 of 17 since the break) takes a seat and Brett Gardner is back. Gardner, somewhat curiously, has had only 10 plate appearances in the last eight games.

BULLYING BALTIMORE: The Yankees are 8-3 against the Orioles this season and have won none straight against them in the Bronx. Baltimore is 2-24 in its last 26 road games the division.

WHO IS THIS GUY? Jason Berken, 25, has a 1.64 WHIP in 50.1 innings and was knocked around by the White Sox in his last start. He is a former sixth-round draft choice (2006) out of Clemson.

HIT PARADE: Derek Jeter has 2,650 hits. That’s four fewer than Ted Williams. Yes, I know, Williams went off to war twice. But passing Teddy Ballgame on the all-time hits list is a pretty cool thing.

RELIEVER ROLES: Joe Girardi has his bullpen roles pretty locked down these days.

Rivera: Closer
Hughes: 8th inning with a lead
Coke: Left-handed specialist with a lead
Aceves: Anytime with a lead
Robertson: 5th or 6th inning in losing game that still maybe could be won.
Bruney: Buried. Use only when trailing
Melancon: Killing time until being sent back. They’d probably rather have Albaladejo.

FIREWORKS: The Yankees are 12-5 in July.

HAPPY IN THE BRONX: The Yankees have won 25 of their last 39 games at home.

OK, that’s it for now. Back later with plenty more.

UPDATE, 1:11 p.m.: We’re underway in the Bronx as the Yankees go for the sweep. Enjoy the game wherever you are.

UPDATE, 1:15 p.m.: In case you missed it, the Red Sox obtained 1B Adam LaRoche from the Pirates for two prospects, RHP Hunter Strickland and SS Argenis Diaz. LaRoche has roughly $2.98 million left on his contract for this season.

When did the Pirates become an AL East farm team? I’m probably forgetting somebody, but in the last year they have traded Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Damaso Marte, Eric Hinske and now LaRoche to the Red Sox or Yankees.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are already smacking around Berken. Three hits in the first inning including an RBI single by A-Rod. 1-0.

UPDATE, 1:33 p.m.: How do people actually become fans of the Orioles? They have not had a winning season since 1997. If I was a kid in Maryland I’d run away from home and find a better team. At least the Ravens are pretty good.

The Yankees are up 4-0. Swisher had a two-run single. The thumping has commenced.

UPDATE, 1:44 p.m.: The Yankees announced some more football games today. Here is the complete schedule:

Nov. 20, 2010: Notre Dame vs. Army
Nov. 12, 2011: Rutgers vs. Army
Nov. 3, 2012: Air Force vs. Army
Nov. 8, 2014: Boston College vs. Army

While it’ll be cool to see football at the Stadium, Army has been a bad team in recent years, going 3-9 last season. If they don’t become more competitive, those games will be routs.

UPDATE, 2:03 p.m.: That nutty Nick Swisher. Screws up a play and then makes a great play to save two runs. Yankees still up 4-0.

UPDATE, 2:09 p.m.: That Posada HR reminds me, how are the Yankees winning all these games and pitching so well without Johnny Bench Cervelli calling every pitch and showing so much energy?

It was comical how people thought Cervelli should be catching ahead of Posada. Maybe someday. Not in 2009.

UPDATE, 2:21 p.m.: So according to this gossip site, Kate Hudson’s friend smashed up A-Rod’s car today. Alex was not in the car at the time, apparently. Meanwhile, all of Minka Kelly’s friends are excellent drivers.

UPDATE, 2:39 p.m.: Yankees still up 5-0. This one has “let’s just get this over with” written all over it. Two more innings out of Burnett and then maybe Bruney or Melancon?

UPDATE, 2:58 p.m.: Berken has actually pitched pretty well since the first inning. But it’s 5-0 after six innings.

UPDATE, 3:12 p.m.: That’s likely it for Burnett as he allows two in the seventh. Now here is the dilemma if you’re Joe Girardi, is a three-run lead enough for Bruney or do you go Hughes and Mo and lock it down?

UPDATE, 3:30 p.m.: Can’t blame Girardi. You need to use your best guys. Hughes delivers yet another scoreless inning. The Yankees are in the business of winning games, not soothing egos. Girardi has his guys and he’s going to use them.

UPDATE, 3:40 p.m.: OK, now you can use Bruney. Posada’s double makes it 6-2.

UPDATE, 3:46 p.m.: Jeter with a chance to bust it open as GGBG loads the bases with an infield hit. Two down.

UPDATE, 3:47 p.m.: Nope. Bruney will get a 6-2 lead. He needs to show them something here.

UPDATE, 3:51 p.m.: Bruney fanned Andino and then threw one halfway up the backstop. But he’s hitting 95.

UPDATE, 3:53 p.m.: Wow, Bruney K’s two guys then gives up a bomb to Adam Jones and one to Nick Markakis.

UPDATE, 3:54 p.m.: Girardi not messing around, Bruney is out. Mariano in for the save.

UPDATE, 3:55 p.m.: This is a waste of an appearance for Mo. Ridiculous that he needs to come into this game. But Girardi can’t take a chance.

UPDATE, 3:59 p.m.: Pump your fist on that, Aubrey.

Weird stretch for the Yankees. Sweep, swept, sweep, sweep. But they’re 20 games over. Now you go for 25. What a success HOPE Week has been.

It was a long time coming for Sergio Mitre as he returned to the majors and beat the Orioles last night.

Cody Ransom had a productive game. This notebook also has updates on an angry Brett Tomko, Hideki Matsui getting a day off, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.

———–

Another shameless bit of self-promotion: I’m scheduled to be on ESPN2′s First Take just after 10 a.m.

Back in a bit with today’s lineup.

With Boston losing its fourth straight, the Yankees are now alone in first place in the AL East for the first time since June 8.

The Yanks (56-37) have won five straight and 18 of 23.

Last five games: 45 innings, 9 earned runs. It’s not rocket science.

I asked Sergio Mitre if he remembered the last time he pitched in front of 45,000+ fans. He shook his head.

“I was in Miami,” he said. “It had been a long time.”

Sergio Mitre got the belt tonight. Back with more later.

YANKEES (55-37)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez DH
Posada C
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Ransom 3B

Pitching: RHP Sergio Mitre (4-1, 2.32 in minors).

ORIOLES (41-51)
Roberts 2B
Jones CF
Markakis RF
Huff 1B
Scott DH
Mora 3B
Reimold LF
Wieters C
Izturis SS

Pitching: LHP Rich Hill (3-2, 6.92).

TIME/TV: 7:05, MY9.

STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees have won four straight and 17 of 22 and are tied for first place in the AL East with Boston. They are undefeated since the All-Star break and have won three straight games by a 2-1 score.

OH, SERGIO: Mitre, 28, will be pitching in the big leagues for the first time since Sept. 15, 2007 when he was with Florida. He is 10-23, 5.36 in parts of five seasons with the Cubs and Marlins. He has appeared in 78 games, 52 of them starts. He’s a sinker, slider pitcher who isn’t afraid of contact.

The Yankees signed Mitre to a minor-league deal on Jan. 14. He had Tommy John surgery last July 15 and then was suspended for 50 games for violating MLB’s drug policy. He reportedly took androstenedione. Mitre went with the “I got it at GNC” defense at the time and was able to prove that he took a product that was not labeled correctly. The MLBPA went to bat for Mitre, but he lost his appeal.

He started nine games in the minors, two for Tampa and the rest with Scranton. He was 4-1 with a 2.32 ERA. Mitre allowed 50 hits and struck out 43 with seven walks over 54.1 innings. Joe Girardi said he could go 100 pitches tonight. His last start in the minors was July 12.

HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE: The Yankees are 30-16 at the Stadium, 24-9 in the last 34 games.

A-ROD’S IMPACT: The Yankees are 42-22 since Alex Rodriguez came off the disabled list. That’s the best record in baseball since that time.

PITCHING IN: The Yankees have a 1.50 ERA since the All-Star break.

NEED SOME HITS: The Yankees have scored 11 runs in the four games since the break.

MELKYMAN MISSES HIS DELIVERY: Meky Cabrera is at .230/.308/.365 since June 1 and is 2 of 13 since the break.

RESTED AND READY: Mariano Rivera and Phil Hughes had last night off. They’re available this evening. Rivera is the greatest relief pitcher ever and Hughes is second. Or something like that.

ROAD WOES: The Orioles are 1-13 in division road games this season and 15-30 overall away from Camden Yards.

Back with more later.

UPDATE, 3:43 p.m.: Sergio Mitre has Angel Berroa’s old locker. They tossed out the walker and his Tommy Dorsey records.

UPDATE, 3:49 p.m.: Looks like Brent Tomko is out.

UPDATE, 4:29 p.m.: Tomko DFA’d.

UPDATE, 4:48 p.m.: Yanks taking BP. Game on.

UPDATE, 5:00 p.m.: The Orioles added RHP Cla Meredith to the active roster and optioned RHP Kam Mickolio to Triple-A Norfolk.

It’s also raining again.

UPDATE, 6:05 p.m.: Well, it’s raining in the Boogie Down. No tarp on the field but it’s raining. We’ll keep you posted.

UPDATE, 6:48 p.m.: Tarp is down and we’re not starting on time. But it’s not raining at the moment. Sort of a determined mist. We’ll let you know a start time when it’s announced.

UPDATE, 6:51 p.m.: Tarp being pulled. 7:30 start time announced.

UPDATE, 6:57 p.m.: The latest on Halladay via the AP:

Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi still hasn’t received an appropriate trade offer for Roy Halladay and has set a July 28 deadline to complete a deal for the 2003 Cy Young Award winner.

Ricciardi said the deadline is necessary to get an agreement in place for what is likely to be a complicated deal. He also wants the matter resolved before Halladay makes a scheduled start July 29 in Seattle.

UPDATE, 7:09 p.m.: Two minor-league moves today: RHP Kevin Whelan to Scranton and RHP Humberto Sanchez to Trenton.

UPDATE, 7:32 p.m.: The Sergio Mitre Era started with a fastball that Brian Roberts lined into the LF gap for a double.

Hello, J.P.?

UPDATE, 7:33 p.m.: Three pitches and it’s 1-0 Orioles as Markakis singles to center. Not an auspicious start.

UPDATE, 7:38 p.m.: That’ll be the only run the Yankees allow. They always win 2-1 after all.

UPDATE, 8:02 p.m.: Hey, the Yankees scored without a home run. A-Rod walked, stole second, went to third on a fly ball and scored on Swisher’s sacrifice fly. First run scored without a home run since Saturday.

UPDATE, 8:11 p.m.: The Yankees, alas, will not win 2-1. I’m thinking 7-6.

UPDATE, 8:26 p.m.: Look at that small ball. Fan favorite Cody Ransom walks, goes to third on a hit-and-run single by Jeter and then the Captain steals second. Yankees in business with one out.

UPDATE, 8:30 p.m.: Damon pops to center. Tex walks. Loaded up with two gone for Alex.

UPDATE, 8:32 p.m.: Two-run single. Small ball, small ball, small ball. Yankees lead 3-2. Posada can add to it.

UPDATE, 9:01 p.m.: Finally, a home run. Whew. Yankees got a little too aggressive there as Jeter tried to score on what amounted to a pop-up to Markakis. But, whatever, they lead 6-2. If Mitre can give them two more innings, they’ll be thrilled.

UPDATE, 9:09 p.m.: Sergio Mitre, ladies and gentlemen. 5 5 2 2 0 3. Nine GB outs. He has thrown only 75 pitches. Girardi said yesterday he could give them 100. Might he go seven innings?

UPDATE, 9:22 p.m.: Forget seven, can he finish the sixth? Mitre has allowed two runs and Aceves is up. 6-4 Yankees. I still like my 7-6 prediction from the 8:11 update.

UPDATE, 9:25 p.m.: 5.2 innings for Mitre, four runs. Not great, but acceptable for a No. 5 starter on a team with the best offense in the game.

UPDATE, 9:32 p.m.: Cody Ransom — 2 walks, 2 runs scored — looming on deck. Will the O’s dare pitch to him this time?

UPDATE, 9:39 p.m.: You cant stop Cody Ransom. Well, at least you can’t keep him off the bases. Back off, haters.

On a serious note, this is why you have to live with any manager changing the lineup from time to time. Over the course of the season, players needs days off and the subs play. Just how it is.

UPDATE, 9:43 p.m.: Marte’s inning: 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk. 20 pitches, 11 strikes. Scranton won as AAA Hall of Famer Kei Igawa went seven strong innings.

UPDATE, 10:10 p.m.: The Big G makes that play easy. OK, so it probably goes for a double.

I listened to WFAN for about two minutes on my way to the ballpark before putting in a CD (Trust by Elvis Costello). It was either that or look for a bridge to drive off.

According to Mike Francesa, it makes perfect sense for the Mets to trade the farm (or what’s left of it) for Roy Halladay.

Let’s see …

• Why would Halladay waive his no-trade clause to go to the Mets? He has been telling anybody who will listen for a week now that if he leaves Toronto, he wants to go someplace where he can win. That ain’t Queens. The Mets have an injury-riddled, top-heavy roster, no prospects, an inefficient GM and a manager better suited for open-mic night at The Improv. Gosh, what’s not for Roy to love? I’m sure Johan Santana would give his New York experience high marks.

• Haven’t the Mets learned that getting rid of all their prospects and building a team based around a few stars isn’t a sound plan? Their organization is so bereft of talent that they signed Angel Berroa and rushed him to the majors.

• There is no truth to the report that the Mets refused to trade Fernando Martinez, Bobby Parnell, Jon Niese and Ruben Tejada for Halladay. Minaya would have driven those four players to Toronto himself. J.P. Ricciardi should be fired if he accepts that package. The Mets don’t have the players to make this trade.

It makes sense in every way for Halladay to go to the Phillies. They have the need, the prospects and Toronto gets him out of the AL. Bet it happens by Sunday.

Run differential
Dodgers +101
Rays +79
Red Sox +79
Phillies +67
Yankees +65

Based on the Pythagorean W-L theory, the Rays should be 54-39 and the Yankees 52-40. In other words, the Rays have had some bad luck and the Yankees some good luck. Sometimes that balances out, sometimes it doesn’t. Tampa played five games better than it’s Pythagorean record last season.

But run differential is usually an accurate predictor, so expect the Rays to make a move at some point. The Yankees play three games at the Trop starting on Monday.

Here’s where the football field will be at Yankee Stadium in 2010. As you can see, the corners of the end zone will be in the dugouts. That should make for some exciting plays.

Lonn Trost said “adjustments” would be made to fit the football field within the space.

Here’s my question, didn’t they know they would want to play a football game in there when they designed the stadium? Why not plan accordingly?

They’re going to announce more games this week. Rutgers will be playing Army, etc. Trost refused to answer a question about how much revenue the team would make from renting out the Stadium. But Army and Rutgers are public institutions, so those details will be available to some degree.

So it seems that our little contest to come up with a John Sterling home run call for Eric Hinske has worked.

One of our readers, Manger, came up with “Hinske with your best shot.” I asked friend of the blog Suzyn Waldman to suggest it to John and he likes it.

So, frighteningly enough, John could well use it the next time Eric hits a homer.

Manger, whoever you are, take a bow. I’ll try and ask Eric what he thinks about it and report back.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this is the first time ever the Yankees won three straight games by a 2-1 score.

I wonder if any team has ever won four straight by a 2-1 score?

UPDATE, 9:57 p.m.: As several alert readers pointed out, the Padres won four straight by 2-1 scores last June 4-7. Elias says they’re the only team in history to have done that.

Shameless self-promotion: I’m going to be on ESPNs’s First Take at roughly 10:05 a.m.