The LoHud Yankees Blog

Of course an ex-Yankees pitcher is heading to Pittsburgh. Isn’t this what always happens?

The Pirates have claimed Chan Ho Park off waivers and will add him to their limited pitching staff. Pittsburgh will pick up what’s left of Park’s contract.

That was one of two pitching waiver claims for the Pirates, who also picked up Chris Resop from the Braves. To make room for Resop, the Pirates designated another former Yankees reliever, Steven Jackson, for assignment. As always, Jackson was generating a lot of ground balls in Triple-A, but he struggled in limited big league action this season. This is the second time he’s been designated by the Pirates.

Update, 1:26: The ball sounded and looked like a homer right off the bat, and now Alex Rodriguez is finally the youngest player to reach 600 homers. It was 2-0 pitch for a two-run homer to center in the first, and Toronto’s Shaun Marcum will be the answer to the trivia question of who gave it up. Ironically it comes three years to the day of his 500th homer. Maybe this will be the thing to get A-Rod going again. He had been 0 for 17 and 9 for 46 since the last one. By the way, a security guard retrieved the ball.

Update, 2:03: A-Rod was overdue and the Yankees were, too, after losing three straight and four of five. All good signs so far for them. Mark Teixeira’s double in the third makes it 3-0. And Phil Hughes has given up just one hit.

Update, 2:22: This fourth inning isn’t going so well for Hughes. He gave up that RBI double to Lyle Overbay, and that  was on his 74th pitch already. Still, he’s only allowed one run and three hits with two in scoring position and two outs. And now Edwin Encarnacion has gone down swinging, so it’s 79 pitches in four innings.

Update, 2:52: So it’s 5-1 on Teixeira’s two-run single in the fifth. Now can A-Rod hit 601?

Update, 2:59: Pop to short. Here’s some snippets from an AP story on A-Rod that’s out now:

The Yankees’ slugger turned 35 last Tuesday, putting his home run pace far ahead of the rest. Ruth had been the youngest to hit 600, reaching the mark in 1931 at 36 years, 196 days. The Sultan of Swat did it in fewer games,
though, 2,044 to 2,227 for Rodriguez.
In response to a SportsIllustrated.com report and mounting speculation, A-Rod admitted to using steroids as he hit 156 homers with Texas. He has 255 with the Yankees and 189 with the Seattle Mariners, who picked him No. 1 in
1993 amateur draft. Rodriguez is among only three players, along with Reggie Jackson and Darrell
Evans, to hit 100 home runs for three different teams.
For one of the most scrutinized players in baseball, there was little fanfare in the run-up to No. 600 perhaps it’s Steroid Era fatigue or the fact that Rodriguez became the fourth player to reach the mark in the last
10 years after none in 31 years.
The pursuit of the home run record gets lucrative now. As part of his $275 million, 10-year deal signed after opting out of his contract during the 2007 World Series, Rodriguez can earn up to $30 million more for six
milestone homers. The first would be tying Willie Mays. He’d get $6 million more each time for matching Ruth, Aaron and Bonds and breaking the record.
Rodriguez hit No. 100 in August 1998 with Seattle, No. 200 in May 2001 and No. 300 in April 2003 with Texas. His 400th home run came on June 8, 2005, against Milwaukee during his second season with the Yankees.

Update, 3:07: Hughes is done after 5 1/3 and one run and four hits allowed. Boone Logan is on to pitch.

Update, 4:00: Mariano Rivera apparently needs some work, so he’s coming in for the ninth.

Update, 4:09: Yankees win, 5-1.

Greetings, Brian Heyman here for Chad again for this series finale against the Blue Jays.  

The 600 watch, Day 13. Joe Girardi said he has no plans to move Alex Rodriguez out of the cleanup spot. He’s 0 for 17 and 3 for 33, and he’s 9 for 46 since hitting No. 599.

“He’s our cleanup hitter, and he’s going to be fine,” Girardi said. …

Lance Berkman is back in the lineup against righty Shaun Marcum after not starting yesterday against lefty Ricky Romero. Berkman is the DH and is batting seventh. He said htting coach Kevin Long has already helped spot a flaw. Berkman was hitting .245 in Houston and is off to a 2-for-11 start as a Yankee.  … 

Andy Pettitte is scheduled to throw a regular on-top-of-fhe-mound bullpen session on Friday. … 

Girardi said Nick Johnson is hitting in Tampa, Fla. “The reports I’ve gotten are pretty good,” Girardi said. “He’s doing pretty well.” …

Javier Vazquez was still going through his hard times when the Yankees skipped his rotation spin at Fenway in early May. He felt that helped him. And he will take the ball Friday night in the opener of the four-game series against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.

“I feel ready for it,” Vazquez said. “I’m looking forward to the start on Friday.”

Girardi said he will keep the pitchers on turn against Boston. So C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Dustin Moseley will follow Vazquez.

Here’s the Blue Jays’ lineup:

1. Travis Snider LF

2. Aaron Hill 2B

3. Jose Bautista RF

4. Vernon Wells CF

5. Adam Lind DH

6. John Buck C

7. Lyle Overbay 1B

8. Edwin Encarnacion 3B

9. John McDonald SS

Shaun Marcum  P

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Lance Berkman DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF

First, a huge thank you to everyone who has already registered for the blog. Our online folks called the response “tremendous,” and considering I get an email every time someone registers, I can tell you first-hand that the numbers have been well beyond my expectations. The drawing for the autographed baseballs happened yesterday, and our online department has started to verify the winners according to the rules. I’m told that process will take a few days, and we’ll announce the winners as soon as possible.

Meanwhile…

For the first time since June 13, the Yankees are waking up this morning to find themselves in second place in the American League East. Similar to when they faced James Shields on Sunday, the Yankees ran into a nearly unhittable pitcher last night, and that loss coupled with the Rays win changed the leaderboard in the toughest division in baseball.

“No one ever said this was going to be easy,” Joe Girardi said.

Further back in the division, the Red Sox lineup took another hit on Tuesday when an MRI revealed a torn muscle in Kevin Youkilis’ thumb. The injury could cost him significant time. And speaking of the Red Sox, if you haven’t seen it, check out yesterday’s brawl mildly heated discussion, with old friend Shelley Duncan right in the middle of the action.

The wait for 600 continues. After going 0 for 3, Alex Rodriguez is homerless in his last 46 at-bats, 51 plate appearances and 12 games. He’s 0 for his last 17 and 3 for his last 33. And he’s 9 for his last 46 since launching No. 599 on July 22. He didn’t stick around to talk about it after the Yankees’ 8-2 loss to the Jays.

“I’m pretty sure once he hits it, everything will be fine,” Derek Jeter said.

Wednesday, by the way, is the third anniversary of A-Rod’s 500th homer. Good karma? Who knows?

“It’s hard to tell if a guy’s pressing,” Joe Girardi said. “He’s not making faces that shows you that he’s pressing. Right now, he’s in a little funk. … The biggest thing about milestones is sometimes they get in the way a little bit. You hope that guys don’t think about it too much, but this is a pretty big milestone. We’ve got to get through it.” …

The Yankees need his production. They have a season-high-tying three-game losing streak and have dropped four of their last five. And they have fallen out of first place and are a game back of Tampa Bay. The last time the Yankees didn’t at least have a share of the top spot was June 12.

“No one ever said this was going to be easy,” Girardi said. “We’re in a tough division.” …

The Yankees gave up four homers to the Jays, who have a major-league-leading 167. …

The  Yankees had two hits, tying their season low. Ricky Romero retired the final 15 batters. Nick Swisher thought they just hit in hard luck. But Derek Jeter said: “What can you do? Sometimes guys are going to pitch well.”

The Yankees have an afternoon game Wednesday to close the series. It’s Phil Hughes vs. Shaun Marcum. That’s it for tonight.

Update, 7:21: Homer No. 23 for Mark Teixiera here in the first. He takes over the club lead. He has homered in three of his last four games. Now A-Rod.

Update, 7:24: K swinging for A-Rod. By the way, he said he didn’t see the note on the board last night when he was leaving and that’s why he missed the team photo. He expects to be fined a couple of hundred bucks by the Kangaroo Court.

Update, 7:34: Joe Girardi said before the game he thought Dustin Moseley was well suited to face the Jays because he can change speeds, but it’s 2-1 after 1 1/2 thanks to that double by Adam Lind and RBI single by John Buck.

Update, 8:02: Andy Pettitte can’t get back fast enough. It’s 4-2 Jays after that shot by Travis Snyder to the Yankees’ bullpen followed John Buck’s RBI double here in the fourth.

Update, 8:10: Sometime A-Rod is going to hit another homer. But tonight, he’s 0 for 2. At least he made contact this time, although it was a soft liner behind second. Nice diving catch by Aaron Hill.

Update, 8:45: Romero has been in complete control since the first. Now Rodriguez leads off the seventh. Father of the Bride Bill Clinton is here watching and waiting, too.

Update, 8:49: Oh well, fly ball to center. We’ll see if he gets another at-bat tonight.

Update, 8:55: It’s 5-2. Vernon Wells parked that 2-2 pitch in the left-field seats to start the eighth. Boone Logan and Kerry Wood are warming.

Update, 8:57: That’s it for Moseley, five runs allowed in 7 1/3. He got a nice hand, though. Wood is in.

Update, 9:01: Not a good debut in front of Yankees fans for Wood. Hill’s homer makes it 6-2. The Jays are rather good at hitting homers.

Update, 9:13: Romero is sharp. The Yankees have two hits through eight.

Update, 9:21: No. 33 for Jose Bautista – 8-2.

Update, 9:32: Yankees lose their third straight, 8-2.

Brian Heyman here again for Chad at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees all gathered in uniform behind home plate to pose for the annual team picture at 3:45, but Alex Rodriguez was nowhere to be found. The photographer eventually had to use a stand in, the team’s director of publications,  Al Santasiere III, and he will digitally become A-Rod in the photo. Joe Girardi indicated a fine from the teams’ Kangaroo Court would be forthcoming.

“Captain Kangaroo is probably going to get Alex for this one,” Girardi said with a smile. “Players aren’t always the best at reading memos put on their chairs.”

Girardi also said he didn’t think Rodriguez was pressing for his 600th homer. …

After another inconsistent performance by A.J. Burnett on Monday night, Girardi said he wasn’t buying that this up-and-down nature will be the norm throughout the right-hander’s time here.

“I refuse to accept that,” Girardi said. …

Curtis Granderson is out of the lineup with left-hander Ricky Romero starting, and Austin Kearns is in his place, albeit in left with Brett Gardner moving to center. But Girardi indicated that Granderson hasn’t become strictly a platoon player and will still get some at-bats vs. lefties.

Here’s Toronto’s lineup:

1. Fred Lewis DH

2. Yunel Escobar SS

3. Jose Bautista RF

4. Vernon Wells CF

5. Adam Lind 1B

6. Aaron Hill 2B

7. John Buck C

8. Travis Snider LF

9. Edwin Encarnacion 3B

Ricky Romero P

I’m off for tonight’s game, but based on tweets from several friends…

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames DH
Austin Kearns LF
Francisco Cervelli C
Brett Gardner CF

Buck Showalter is managing in the American League East again, and he’ll do it wearing the uniform number of his old Double-A manager in the Yankees system.

In tribute to Johnny Oates, Showalter has joined the Orioles wearing No. 26. Oates managed in the big leagues with Baltimore and Texas, but he ended his playing career in New York and managed in the Yankees minor league system when Showalter was a player in the organization.

“Johnny meant so much to me and impacted my life so much,” Showalter told FoxSports. “He was a special man, as ethical and moral a guy as I’ve ever been around.”

The story doesn’t have much connection to the current Yankees, but it’s a good baseball story with plenty of connections to the organization’s past. Showalter’s return to New York will be September 6, when the Orioles come to town for a three-game set.