The LoHud Yankees Blog

It’s a matter of time before this whole day becomes about LeBron James. Just when you thought you couldn’t possibly read or watch any more about him, James is apparently going to ring the opening bell at the stock exchange, give the State of the Union address and serve as Grand Marshal of the Macy’s parade. And he’s going to do it all during an hour long ESPN special.

At least, that’s the way I understand it. I haven’t been paying much attention. I might have missed some details.

Until then, it’s Nick Swisher’s day to land a spot in the All-Star Game, and the Yankees are calling for something called Mission 33. Here’s the announcement.

At 3:30 p.m. today, fans are asked to vote at least 33 times in honor of outfielder Nick Swisher – who wears uniform No. 33 – over the final half hour of the Final Vote. Voting is vital throughout the day, but Mission 33 will be critical in order to “Send Swish” to the All-Star Game.

Voting for the final spot wraps up at 4 p.m., so you have 90 minutes. Here’s the link to vote for the final roster spot. The results will be announced tonight.

That’s an Associated Press photo of Swisher at some sort of LEGO event in New York last week. “Stop fooling around and go vote!” Swisher said. Or maybe he didn’t.

Brian Cashman is back at work trying to Send Swish. This afternoon the Yankees GM will join the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club in the Bronx to vote for Nick Swisher in the All-Star Game’s final ballot. Cashman will be with the kids from 1 to 2, voting over and over again.

Voting for the final spot wraps up at 4 p.m., so you have a few more hours. Here’s the link to vote for the final roster spot. The results will be announced tonight.

“Our fans are doing a great job and I’d just ask that they keep doing it,” Joe Girardi said. “Get online and do it as many times as you can.”

UPDATE, 1:29 p.m.: Just got to my hotel in Seattle. Swisher still had a slim lead as of noon eastern.

Tonight
LHP Andy Pettitte (10-2, 2.82)
vs.
LHP Jason Vargas (6-4, 3.22)
10:10 p.m. ET, YES Network

Friday
RHP Phil Hughes (10-2, 3.83)
vs.
LHP Cliff Lee (8-3, 2.34)
10:10 p.m. ET, YES Network

Saturday
RHP Javier Vazquez (7-7, 4.81)
vs.
RHP Felix Hernandez (6-5, 3.01)
10:10 p.m. ET, YES Network

Sunday
LHP CC Sabathia (11-3, 3.17)
vs.
LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-8, 5.74)
4:10 p.m. ET, YES Network

Associated Press photo of Vazquez

In his final game before the last all-star roster spot is decided, Nick Swisher made a compelling case. He went 3-for-4 — his third multi-hit game since being named to the final ballot — and fell a triple short of the cycle.

“I’ve got my kids voting,” manager Joe Girardi said. “I want to see Swish there. I think he deserves to be there. He’s meant so much to this team. I want to see him there.”

Swisher has won celebrity endorsements on Twitter, and general manager Brian Cashman will be voting with another Boys and Girls Club this afternoon.

“I feel like I’m a politician or something,” Swisher said. “It’s fun to be part of. I’ve never come this close to being in an all-star game, so I’m enjoying the moment.”

Indications are that the final American League spot will come down to Swisher and Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis. Yankees vs. Red Sox, as if it could be any other way.

“I’ve never been in the conversation of an all-star game,” Swisher said. “To get to this point in my career, obviously I want to go. L.A. It’s nice weather, and I’m going to be there anyway. It would be a thrill for me, no doubt, to have my father there. He has his all-star ring, and he flashes that around sometimes to me. I got a World Series ring on him, and I’d like to get my first all-star ring.”

Here’s the link to vote for the final roster spot. Voting wraps up at 4 p.m. ET, so you have a few more hours.

Associated Press photo of Swisher

A.J. Burnett got the idea last Wednesday when he watched Felix Hernandez shutout the Yankees in the Bronx. He’d seen it before, a power pitcher with a changeup, but something about Hernandez drove home the point one more time.

“It was after we saw King Felix,” Burnett said. “He was dropping changeups on everybody. Just talked to Cervi about using it more. We used it a handful of times last game, and probably double that tonight.”

The changeup will never be Burnett’s go-to pitch, but as an alternative to the curveball, it can be effective. Tonight, Joe Girardi said Burnett had the “best changeup he’s had since he’s been with us.”

“I hardly ever use it, and (Hernandez) was punching every righty out on it once he got ahead,” Burnett said. “We started using it last game against righties a couple of times, and then we used it to both tonight. Got a couple of outs, got a double play on it. Everybody, when I get ahead, they look curveball. It just gives me another weapon.”

• Since being named to the final all-star ballot, Nick Swisher is hitting .471 with two doubles and his 14th home run of the season. Tonight, in his final game before the results are announced, he was a triple short of the cycle. “Obviously it would be an amazing honor for me,” Swisher said. “We’ll find out tomorrow.”

• Two hits for Ramiro Pena, making an oh-so-rare start at second base. That included the first two-out RBI. “Pena doesn’t get a lot of at-bats right-handed,” Girardi said. “And he gets two big hits for us tonight.”

• Speaking of two-out RBI, that five-run fourth inning started with two outs and no one on base. It came immediately after the Yankees put six men on and scored none of them in the first three innings. “It’s just playing hard, doing your job,” Girardi said. “When you put this uniform on, you have a job to do, and part of that job is just playing hard. If you don’t get it done the first time through, you work your rear end off to get it done the next time through.”

• After the longest no-RBI streak of his career, Derek Jeter has now driven in a run in two straight.

• Mariano Rivera was available tonight. “He was down there stretching,” Girardi said.

• Mark Teixeira’s three-run home run in the fourth was his second home run of the series and his 15th of the season.

Associated Press photos of Burnett and Teixeira.

A.J. Burnett seems to have put that awful month of June behind him. In his final start before the all-star break, Burnett picked up his first win since May 30. The Yankees beat the A’s 6-2 to finish off their first road sweep of the season. Nick Swisher, making a final push for the all-star game, finished a triple short of the cycle and hit his 14th home run. Mark Teixeira had his 15th home run, part of a five-run, two-out rally in the fourth.

Associated Press photo of Jeter

YANKEES (52-31)
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada DH
Marcus Thames LF
Francisco Cervelli C
Brett Gardner CF
Ramiro Pena 2B

RHP A.J. Burnett (6-7, 4.90)
Burnett vs. Athletics

ATHLETICS (41-44)
Coco Crisp CF
Daric Barton 1B
Ryan Sweeney RF
Kurt Suzuki C
Jack Cust DH
Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B
Mark Ellis 2B
Matt Watson LF
Cliff Pennington SS

LHP Gio Gonzalez (7-5, 3.50)
Gonzalez vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 10:05 p.m. ET / YES Network

UMPIRES: HP Jerry Layne, 1B Brian Runge, 2B Hunter Wendelstedt, 3B Mike Winters

WEATHER: We’ve basically had three of the exact same days here in Oakland. Kind of a cool breeze blowing, but mostly perfect.

TWO OF A KIND: Coco Crisp and Jack Cust are each 1-for-13 with a home run in their careers against Burnett. I just think that’s odd because they’re such different hitters.

SWEET SWEEP: The Yankees are looking for their fifth series sweep of the season. It would be their first road sweep.

AIN’T LIFE GRAND: This is Alex Rodriguez’s fourth season with three grand slams. According to Elias, Jimmie Foxx is the only other player to have four such seasons.

UPDATE, 10:20 p.m.: Bases loaded with one out, the Yankees blew the opportunity with back-to-back strikeouts.

UPDATE, 10:22 p.m.: Man, Gardner really covers a lot of ground out there.

UPDATE, 10:35 p.m.: Ramiro Pena flexes his offensive muscle with a single up the middle, but Derek Jeter grounds into a double play to end the inning. Five runners on base in the first two innings, none of them scored. Is that good?

UPDATE, 10:50 p.m.: Back-to-back strikeouts with a runner at third. Not a good first three innings for the Yankees.

UPDATE, 11:02 p.m.: The first Oakland hit of the game has given the A’s a 1-0 lead.

UPDATE, 11:17 p.m.: The Yankees finally get a big hit, and it’s Ramiro Pena of all people who gets it. Brett Gardner setup the run by taking a walk and stealing second, but Pena got the RBI single to tie the game at 1.

UPDATE, 11:20 p.m.: RBI in back-to-back games for Jeter. The Yankees are in front 2-1.

UPDATE, 11:22 p.m.: Three-run home run from Mark Teixeira. Everyone can step back from the ledge and celebrate a five-run, two-out rally that has the Yankees in front 5-1.

UPDATE, 12:01 a.m.: Send Swish! He’s a triple short of the cycle now that he’s hit his 14th homer of the year, making it a 6-1 Yankees lead.

UPDATE, 12:20 a.m.: Oakland gets another run, but Burnett ultimately strands runners at the corners and keeps a four-run lead.

For once Robinson Cano wasn’t smiling as he stood surrounded by reporters in the visitors clubhouse in Oakland. Everyone had questions about the Home Run Derby, and Cano didn’t have answers.

“As far as I know, I’m doing it,” he said. “I saw it on the computer that I’m not doing the derby, but nobody has talked to me… They should have let me know something and tell me about what was going on.”

Brian Cashman confirmed to me and just about every other beat writer that Cano will not be participating. Joe Girardi said the same thing, but called the apparent miscommunication with Cano an internal matter, “not something to hash over the airwaves.”

Cano acknowledged that his back has been sore. It’s bothered him since Sunday and he got extra treatment on it one day this week, but he said it doesn’t hurt him when he swings. He still wants to do the derby.

“Why not?” he said. “First time in your career. Go out there and have fun. Why not? That’s the kind of thing that might happen once in your life. We take BP every day, and it’s not going to be a big deal.”

The Yankees seem to see it differently. Kevin Long said without question he’d rather Cano not participate, and Girardi said the Yankees are worried about the impact the derby might have on Cano’s back. Girardi said Cano will be back in the lineup tomorrow, and he’ll still play in the All-Star Game, but the home run derby seems out of the question at this point.

• Jorge Posada came through last night’s game just fine. He’s DHing just because Girardi wants him at DH, not because he can’t catch.

• Similar thing with Curtis Granderson who’s getting a day off against a lefty. The Yankees will face left-handers in three of four games in Seattle, but Girardi said he expects Granderson to be a regular in the lineup those games. “We’re just giving him a day,” Girardi said. “And we might give Gardy one of those days.”

• Girardi said Alex Rodriguez will get a DH day in Seattle, but he doesn’t expect Rodriguez to get a full day off before the all-star break. He’ll DH one day, and Girardi thinks that should be enough of a break.

• Asked if he would let another Yankee take Cano’s spot in the derby, Girardi said yes, with one exception: “I’m not letting CC do it.”

• Nick Swisher is back in the lead for the final all-star roster spot. “I did hear quietly that he moved ahead,” Girardi said. “It’s good. I think Swish is deserving, and we would love to see him there. Our fans are doing a great job and I’d just ask that they keep doing it. Get online and do it as many times as you can.”

Go here to vote for the final all-star spot.

• Speaking of Swisher, he’s gotten Twitter all-star endorsements ranging from Mike Bloomberg to Jessica Alba.

• Two Yankees were among five minor leaguers suspended for PEDs. Pitchers Daury Aquino and Alexander de los Santos each tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol. They’re in the the Dominican Summer League. I’ve never heard of either of them.

• Girardi had a pretty funny line when he was asked again about the impact a home run derby has on a hitter. “I’ve never participated in one,” he said. “I’ve gotta believe I’ll never be asked to participate in one.”

UPDATE, 9:10 p.m.: Cano just met with the media. He said he has now talked to Girardi and Cashman, and he’s on board with their decision. Would he still like to participate? “After I talked to the trainer, no chance,” he said.

Associated Press photos of Cano, and of Rodriguez, Jeter and Curtis.

Robinson Cano said no one has told him that he’s pulling out of the Home Run Derby. As far as he knows he’s still going. His back has been stiff, but not bad. He was told today he’s just getting a regular day off.

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada DH
Marcus Thames LF
Francisco Cervelli C
Brett Gardner CF
Ramiro Pena 2B

UPDATE, 3:59 p.m.: Joe Girardi just said as far as he knows Cano is out of the derby. Brian Cashman said the same thing.

The Yankees passed along this picture of Brian Cashman working with kids at the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx on Wednesday to vote for outfielder Nick Swisher in the 2010 All-Star Game Final Vote. At least, that’s what he was supposed to be doing there.

Cashman: “You see, this is our scouting report on Cliff Lee. Strikes out a lot of guys. Walks no one. Beat us twice in the World Series. Should we go after him?”

Little girl: “Sounds great, but if you click this button it shows his contract status. Free agent at the end of the year. Going to cost a major prospect to get him. Do you really need another starter that badly?”