The LoHud Yankees Blog

When I got to my hotel this afternoon, I took a few minutes to walk around Chicago before grabbing a sandwich and heading up to my room for an afternoon of writing off-day and Sunday stories. As I got on the elevator, a couple said goodbye to a guy who had been walking with them, then joined me and pressed the No. 10. After about 10 seconds the woman said this.

“If you decide to hire him, he’s going to have to get rid of those shoes.”

So, if you or someone you know made a questionable footwear decision before interviewing for a job in downtown Chicago this afternoon, that decision did not go unnoticed. Best of luck anyway.

On to a few links on this gorgeous off day in the middle of the country. Most of them have to do with the minor league system. Including some late news out of Scranton where potential September call-up Romulo Sanchez has been placed on the disabled list.

• In Triple-A, closer Jonathan Albaladejo is wrapping his historic season. “He’s marching it up there at 95 and he has a good breaking ball,” Toledo manager and former big leaguer Larry Parrish said. “There’s a big gap between his fastball and his off-speed stuff. But he also has the right makeup. He likes to be out there when the game is on the line.”

• In Double-A, Brandon Laird was named to the Eastern League postseason all-star team. I don’t think anyone in the system has had a bigger breakout year than Laird. It’s already earned him a spot in Triple-A.

• In High-A, Brad Suttle is finally healthy and producing in Tampa.

• In Low-A, it’s Brett Marshall who’s been producing out of the Charleston rotation. He hasn’t lost since July 26.

• Good stuff over at River Ave. Blues, which looked back and found some familiar questions that haunted the Yankees at this time last year. “I find myself doing this all the time,” Mike Axisa wrote, “saying that this year’s team doesn’t make me feel as confident as last year’s, but you know what? That’s a load of crap. The only reason we feel that way is because we know what happened at the end of last season.”

• The Japanese team from the Little League World Series met with Kei Igawa today. The same thing happened last year, and it was awesome. The Little League World Series is on quite a bit in baseball clubhouses, and those kids were like celebrities when they came through last year. Their shortstop barely came up to my knee, but the kid could play!

• If you haven’t already, check the NoMaas interview with Mark Newman. From the interview, here’s Newman’s take on Jesus Montero’s development behind the plate: “Very well. Better than I had hoped. He’s throwing in the 1.9s consistently with accuracy. He’s receiving well and growing as a game-caller.”

• The White Sox have placed reliever Matt Thornton and J.J. Putz on the disabled list. Not bad timing for the Yankees.

• Speaking of White Sox moves, Chicago is still in on Manny Ramirez, but there’s no deal just yet.

• Apparently I goofed yesterday morning when I mentioned Mark Melancon. I listed his Triple-A stats, but he’s in Houston now and has been a little bit up and down. In seven innings he’s walked four, but all of the walks came in two of his six outings. Half of them came while he threw three scoreless against the Phillies on Tuesday.

On June 6, Mark Teixeira wrapped up a three-game series in Toronto having gone 1-for-14. He’d struck out five times the day before, his batting average was down to .211 and there were plenty of calls for him to lose his No. 3 spot in the lineup. It was arguably his low point of the season.

“Stats are what’s fun about this game,” Teixeira said that day. “But as a player that plays 162 games a year, you don’t live and die with every good game and every bad game. You guys saw me play last year. You saw me be consistent all year. When I hit three home runs, I go about my business. When I strikeout, I go about my business. If you got to high when you’re going well and you get too low when you’re not going well, you’ll be done by July. You’re not even going to be able to play.”

Yesterday, Teixeira wrapped up another three-game series in Toronto. He had five hits in the series, four of them in one monstrous game. He hit his seventh home run of the month and scored his major-league-leading 94th run of the season.

“Our fans live and die on every game,” he said. “While we can put a bad game behind us, they’re going to talk about it until the next game. So-and-so didn’t pitch well. So-and-so didn’t hit well. So-and-so made an error. That’s fine. That’s what being a fan is all about is being able to talk about that game and living and dying with every pitch. But as a player, when the game is over, whether good or bad, you have to put it away because you’re playing the next day. It’s not like football where you get a whole week to enjoy a win. You’re back out there the next day.”

Given two months apart, those two quotes say more or less the same thing. They were given by the same player, in front of the same locker in the same visiting clubhouse, but they come from two very different times in Teixeira’s down-and-up season.

His stats on June 6: 57 G, 8 HR, 34 RBI, 35 R, .211/.326/.363

His stats since June 6: 68 G, 20 HR, 57 RBI, 59 R, .301/.397/.610

“We all expected that he was going to hit,” Joe Girardi said. “We weren’t surprised by the month of April, but we were a little surprised when he had it in June, too. He had a great May for us, but since then, he’s been tremendous. All the talk we had about Mark and his struggles, he’s leading the American League in runs scored and he’s up there in RBI. It’s hard to believe. These months that he’s been good, he’s been really, really good.”

The family of Bob Sheppard released a very gracious public statement today:

“Our family would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of condolences and support. We continue to be touched by the kind words and wonderful memories that so many people have shared with us.

“We are humbled that Bob holds a special place in the hearts of so many individuals – from fans of the New York Yankees and New York football Giants to former students at John Adams High School and St. John’s University. Your kindness has inspired us during this difficult time.”

Looking for an immediate impact on September 1? The Yankees best bet is Lance Berkman.

It’s amazing the change Berkman experienced when he arrived in New York. In Houston, he was the last reminder of those really good teams of just a few years ago. He was the guy who played with Bagwell and Biggio. The guy who hit .385 in the World Series. The guy who drove in 100 runs six times, finished top five in MVP voting four times and became an icon of the franchise.

With the Yankees, he’s on the phantom disabled list so that Eduardo Nunez has a roster spot.

Berkman has been healthy for a while. His ankle remains heavily taped, but he could have played this week in Toronto. What’s amazing is how easily he talks about the situation. There is no bitterness, no frustration. Berkman came to New York to play his part, and for a while that meant a platoon job at designated hitter. Last week, it meant going on the 15-day disabled list for an injury that was going to take three or four days to heal.

Think that would ever have happened in Houston?

No chance, but Berkman goes about his business with no sign of frustration. He takes batting practice, chats with the guys in the clubhouse and talks about wanting to contribute in the final month so that he can feel a part of what’s happening with this team.

His Yankees experience is all of 12 games. Through the first six, he hit .091/.167/.091. Through the last six, he hit .294/.400/.529. Without him, the Yankees have not had a regular designated hitter against right-handed starters. He could make a difference, and he could make a difference pretty soon.

Major league rosters expand in six days. In theory, the Yankees could call-up every player on the 40-man, but that would leave a bunch of guys sitting around with nothing to do. It generally makes more sense to let most of the guys stay sharp in the International League and Eastern League playoffs — Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Trenton are both in line to advance — then make a few more moves when those postseason runs are over.

That’s the way the Yankees have handled it in the past.

In 2007, the Yankees added four players on the 1st and a whopping 10 more later in the month. In 2008, two guys were added on the 1st, and the Yankees gradually added eight more. Last year, six call-ups on the 1st, seven more in the next two and a half weeks.

Considering the number of guys who are fairly close to coming off the disabled list, I’ll be surprised to see more than two or three true minor league call-ups on Wednesday. These are some of the guys to consider, some for an immediate call-up, most for an eventual promotion.

Major league disabled list
Lance Berkman, Alex Rodriguez, Alfredo Aceves, Damaso Marte, Andy Pettitte
Berkman is eligible to come off the DL on August 31st, but it makes more sense to wait a day. Rodriguez shouldn’t be far behind, and Aceves seems healthy enough to pitch as soon as the Yankees believe he’s physically ready to face big league hitters.

Pettitte and Marte will take just a little bit longer. If you’re curious, major leaguers are allowed to rehab during the minor league playoffs. The year Francisco Liriano nearly won the Rookie of the Year award in Minnesota, he came down to pitch three hitless innings the decisive game in the first round of the IL playoffs. I was covering the Phillies Triple-A team at the time. They never had a shot against him.

Catchers
Chad Moeller, Jesus Montero
It’s standard protocol to add a third catcher on September 1. The Yankees didn’t do it in 2007, but given Jorge Posada’a nagging injuries and Francisco Cervelli’s lagging offense, a third catcher would make sense. Question is, do they go with the veteran Moeller — a guy to catch after Cervelli is lifted for a late-inning pinch hitter — or do they go with the stud prospect Montero.

Two months ago, I would have said Moeller was the obvious choice, but Montero seems to have figured out Triple-A. He’s hitting .361 with nine home runs since the all-star break. I can’t speak to his abilities behind the plate — I’ve only seen him catch in spring training — but the decision might hinge on whether the Yankees trust him back there in a major league game in the middle of a pennant race. 

Non-catcher position players
Juan Miranda, Kevin Russo, Colin Curtis, Greg Golson, Chad Huffman, Brandon Laird, Jorge Vazquez
The Yankees have two utility infielders and four legitimate outfielders. They don’t necessarily need one position or another, so additional position players would be all about depth and maybe adding a lefty-or-righty pinch hitter.

Miranda might be able to play an immediate role. On days when Berkman is in the lineup, the Yankees only left-handed pinch hitter is Ramiro Pena. It would be a small role to play, but Miranda doesn’t exactly have a lot to gain from a few more Triple-A at-bats. Curtis could also give them an extra left-handed bat, while adding some outfield depth and a pinch runner. Adding Vazquez or Laird would require a 40-man move, so those don’t seem likely, despite pretty good numbers.

Pitchers
Jonathan Albaladejo, Andrew Brackman, Hector Noesi, Romulo Sanchez, Royce Ring
The best bet of this bunch is Albaladejo, who has absolutely earned a call-up. Sanchez doesn’t have the same season numbers, but he’s also been dominant since moving into the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre bullpen.  Brackman and Noesi are both on the 40-man and both have pitched well, but Brackman is still in Double-A and Noesi was just called up to Triple-A. They might be worth considering after the minor league playoffs, but probably not before.

Jason Hirsh and some younger non-40-man guys — David Phelps especially — have pitched well enough to be in the conversation, but I’m not sure there’s a spot for another long man, especially not with Aceves on his way back and the Yankees already carrying 13 pitchers. The only guy on this list not on the 40-man is Ring, who’s been terrific against left-handers and might make sense if Marte suffers another setback and moves to the 60-day.

My guess
Joe Girardi said yesterday that the Yankees have not started talking about who to bring up, so any sort of prediction is wild guesswork.

I’ll say that on September 1, four players will be added: Berkman, Miranda, Albaladejo and a catcher (I’ve gone back and forth in my head a hundred times about which one it will be). Soon after, Rodriguez and Aceves will come off the disabled list, then Marte and Pettitte. After the minor league playoffs, I’ll guess Russo, Curtis and Sanchez get the call.

Based past performance trying to guess September call-ups, I’ve probably guessed too many players for September 1 and not enough by the end of the month.

That’s an Associated Press photo of Miranda at the top. The headshots are Rodriguez, Miranda, Russo and Albaladejo.

It was only two weeks ago that the Yankees kicked off a four-game series in Kansas City. Today they’re back in Middle America, taking a day off before opening a three-game set in Chicago.

This is the Yankees first off day since August 5, a streak of 20 straight games. They won 11 of them. In that time, they dropped from a half-game lead in the American League East to a tie with the Rays. They sent Alex Rodriguez and Lance Berkman to the disabled list, and watched Andy Pettitte suffer a setback.

The Yankees also saw immediate results from Curtis Granderson’s altered mechanics. Their bullpen become the most reliable part of the roster, Ivan Nova made an encouraging first major league start and CC Sabathia won four straight.

This would be a good time for the Yankees to start winning consistently again. In the past 20 days, the White Sox have gone 6-12. They’ve fallen 3.5 games behind the Twins in the AL Central. After this, the Yankees next three series are against non-contenders.

The last three weeks of the schedule are brutal, but right now is a chance to build some momentum.

Phil Hughes said he felt good tonight. His fastball had good velocity. He threw some good offspeed pitches. He got to two-strikes on a lot of hitters.

Hughes had his shortest outing of the year because he wasn’t able to put hitters away, and Hughes said that was all because of command.

“That’s something that can’t happen, especially when we’re trying to win a series here,” he said “The pitch count was out of control and I wasn’t able to get that big strike or big ball off the plate I needed.”

Hughes got only 11 outs, but six of them were on strikes. When his pitches when where he wanted, they were plenty effective. But he also walked five, something he hadn’t done since his first start of the year.

“I didn’t think he had the great command of his fastball today, and I didn’t think it had the good downward plane,” Joe Girardi said. “When it’s more on one, flat level, it’s easier to foul those pitches off.”

Here’s Hughes talking after the game.

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• Even thought it took him 102 pitches, Girardi said this will still count as only 3.2 innings for Hughes. “We’ll just count the innings because he’s going to get an extra day (of rest),” Girardi said.

• Is there any positive from limiting Hughes’ workload tonight? “That’s not the way I wanted it to happen,” Girardi said. “There’s no real silver lining. We’ll adjust as we have to, but obviously we didn’t have too many (innings) tonight.”

• No one seemed especially upset about the call at second base when Jose Bautista beat Derek Jeter to the bag. Hughes argued a lot on the field, but said it was “one of those plays where emotions kind of take over.”

• Girardi thought going to second base was the right play, and he thought Jeter got there as quickly as possible.

• Great night for Javier Vazquez, who seemed to have more life on his fastball, despite saying he felt physically the same as when he’s been pitching out of the rotation. “It feels good (but) we lost the game, so it’s nothing big,” Vazquez said. “To go out there and throw some zeros out there, it’s good for me.”

• Vazquez went 4.1 innings, which is as long as any of his past three starts.

• Oddly enough, the one big hit that didn’t bother Hughes too much was the Vernon Wells home run. It was a pitch up and out of the zone, like he wanted it, and Wells got it out of the park. “I’ve gotten him a few times on the exact same pitch,” Hughes said. “That’s one you, I don’t want to say live with, but you make your pitch and see what happens. That’s just two runs right there. It’s the other runs I kind of had a problem with.”

• Girardi indicated that he’ll consider playing Marcus Thames against some right-handed starters coming up. Thames has homered in back-to-back games and seems pretty hot at the moment. Half of his home runs this season have come off righties.

• Just a reminder about our daily online Yankees photo galleries.

Associated Press photos of Hughes and Brett Gardner

Nick Swisher went through treatment all day today. He iced his left knee and tried to get the swelling to go down, but when he tested it on the field, it was clear he couldn’t play. Joe Girardi said Swisher wasn’t even available to pinch hit.

“It was better,” Swisher said. “Just couldn’t get it moving the way I wanted to.”

Although his right fielder was completely unavailable tonight, Girardi said he expects Swisher to be back in the lineup on Friday.

“Oh yeah,” Swisher said. “No doubt.”

Phil Hughes had his shortest start of the season tonight. Good for his workload, perhaps, but not good for the Yankees. Walking five batters for the first time since his first start of the year, Hughes lasted just 3.2 innings in a 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays. Two-run home run by Marcus Thames and two-out RBI single by Eduardo Nunez scored the only Yankees runs, and the real Yankees bright spot was Javier Vazquez, who was bumped out of the rotation yesterday and allowed one run on two hits through the final 4.1 innings.

Associated Press photo of Hughes with Jorge Posada

YANKEES (78-48)
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames DH
Jorge Posada C
Austin Kearns RF
Brett Gardner LF
Eduardo Nunez 3B

RHP Phil Hughes (15-5, 3.90)
Hughes vs. Blue Jays

BLUE JAYS (65-60)
Fred Lewis LF
Yunel Escobar SS
Jose Bautista RF
Vernon Wells CF
Adam Lind DH
John Buck C
Lyle Overbay 1B
Aaron Hill 2B
Edwin Encarnacion 3B

LHP Brett Cecil (10-6, 3.90)
Cecil vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 7:07 p.m. / YES Network

UMPIRES: HP Dan Iassogna, 1B Dale Scott, 2B Jerry Meals, 3B Mark Wegner

WEATHER: The roof was open last night. It’s closed tonight.

NOT WHAT YOU’D EXPECT: In two starts against the Yankees this season, Brett Cecil has gone 14 innings allowing two runs. Oddly enough, though, the Yankees as a group have a .303/.418/.394 line against him. Clearly they haven’t hit for power, but they’ve hit him.

ONE OF TWO: Derek Jeter has at least 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases in 15 straight seasons. The only other player to do that in baseball history is Barry Bonds, who went 16 straight seasons from 1986 to 2001. That’s according to Elias.

RELIABLE IN THE MIDDLE: Jeter and Robinson Cano have combined for 13 errors this season. That’s the fewest of any SS/2B combo in baseball with at least 100 games.

WHAT’S LEFT: The Yankees are 15-5 in their past 20 games against left-handed starters. They are batting a league-best .274 against lefties, second in the major only to the Cubs. They have hit 49 homers off lefties, which is second in the major’s behind Boston’s 50. Marcus Thames has a hit in 10 of his past 11 starts and is hitting .347 in August. For the year, he’s hitting .342 with four doubles and two home runs against left-handers.

UPDATE, 7:20 p.m.: The roof is opening as a type this. It moves just as slowly as you’d imagine.

UPDATE, 7:28 p.m.: Give Vernon Wells credit for fighting through a tough at-bat. He fouled off four pitches before tripling to right-center. That drove in a run and gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.

UPDATE, 7:30 p.m.: Passed ball scores Wells and it’s 2-0.

UPDATE, 8:04 p.m.: Hughes seemed to have settled in, but a walk to Bautista and a home run by Wells have pushed the Blue Jays lead to 3-0 in the third.

UPDATE, 8:14 p.m.: Remember in spring training when everyone hated Marcus Thames? Remember when it was the middle of the season and he had to start against a bunch of righties and everyone hated him again? The guy just went deep for the second night in a row to pull the Yankees within 4-2.

UPDATE, 8:37 p.m.: Clearly things were wrong on that play. Either Cano needed to go to first base, Cano needed to make a harder toss to second or Jeter needed to get to second base quicker. To the naked eye, in real time, I thought Bautista was safe.

UPDATE, 8:41 p.m.: Vazquez gets the final out of the inning and it’s a 5-2 game. Hughes seemed to have a big fastball tonight, but his command was lost.

UPDATE, 9:38 p.m.: One run on two hits through 4.1 innings. Great job by Vazquez.