Monday: RHP Joba Chamberlain (4-3, 2.24) vs. RHP Vicente Padilla (12-5, 4.52), 8:05, YES

Tuesday: LHP Andy Pettitte (12-8, 4.18) vs. LHP Matt Harrison (2-2, 7.40), 8:05, YES

Wednesday: RHP Sidney Ponson (6-2, 4.23) vs. RHP Tommy Hunter (0-0, 10.80), 8:05, YES

Thursday: RHP Mike Mussina (14-7, 3.44) vs. RHP Scott Feldman (4-4, 4.97), 8:05, YES

My friends, I have some sad news.

The ’stache is no more.

Sources have told the LoHud Yankees Blog that Jason Giambi has shaved his mustache. The Big G clearly needed to do something given that he has four extra-base hits and a .205 batting average since July 1.

Meanwhile, it’s supposed to be 106 in Texas tomorrow.

That’s not a typo.

Just drove home and listened to John and Suzyn the entire way. Quite a game. A few thoughts:

* Not to be too dramatic, but today was one of those games that defines a season. A loss today then a 10-game road trip? Yikes. Now they have some good mojo going to Texas and that Joba Chamberlain cat on the mound.

* Ian Kennedy pitched well against today for Scranton (7 6 2 2 1 6). He has allowed four earned runs in his last 27 innings and only five walks. If Darrell Rasner starts against the Angels on Friday night, it will be shocking. It’s time to give IPK another shot.

* Where was Damaso Marte in the 8th inning? Edwar Ramirez has pitched very well this season. But his fastball is a home run waiting to happen. Once he put two runners on base, that should have been it. As Mark Teixeira came to the plate, Sterling said, “How many home runs has Edwar allowed this season?” A few seconds later, there it went. If the guy in the radio booth knows it’s coming, so should the coaches.

Yes, Teixeira has great numbers against Marte. But Marte should have been in there to prevent Teixiera from coming to the plate. Or anybody else. Ramirez is a huge risk once he puts men on base.

* The Yankees really have to cut down on the stupid baserunning mistakes. Abreu could have cost them that game. It’s one thing to be aggressive, it’s quite another to run into outs that cost you runs and opportunities.

* Why haven’t they had a pinch runner like Justin Christian all season?

* Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte for those four guys? Really? It’s the good thing the Yankees have already played in Pittsburgh. Brian Cashman would be arrested if he stepped foot in the city limits now.

Finally …

Kyle Farnsworth went back to being Kyle Farnsworth today, costing the Yankees a game in the standings as he allowed three runs to the Rays. Good luck with all that, Detroit.

YANKEES (60-50)
Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
A. Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Betemit 2B
I. Rodriguez C
Cabrera CF
Rasner RHP

Darrell Rasner (5-8, 4.92) vs. the Los Angeles hitters.

John Lackey (9-2, 2.93) vs. the New York hitters.

Notes: Thanks to Brian Heyman for calling in the lineup. … The Yankees are 2-4 on a homestand that ends today. They leave tonight for Texas and a four-game set with the Rangers. … Cano (left hand) remains out. … Rasner had pitched to Chad Moeller in his last few starts and shown some improvement. He’ll have to adjust to Pudge as Moeller was DFA’d when the trade went down.

The Angels will be without Torii Hunter, who is attending the funeral of his grandmother.

Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano each pitched for Class A Charleston tonight.

Hughes went 3.2 scoreless innings, giving up one hit and one walk while striking out five. Pavano went three innnings, allowing five hits, one run and two walks with two strikeouts.

Hughes, according to a report that was e-mailed to me, was hitting 95.

“Tonight I was able settle in and spot my fastball, and throw my breaking balls and changeups,” Hughes said. “I was able to go 50-plus pitches tonight, and then go up to 65 or 70 pitches next outing.”

Hughes tossed 54 pitches. He is a start or two away from being MLB-ready, at least from a point-count standpoint.

Mike Mussina pitched the Yankees to a victory they really needed to have. Brian Heyman has the story.

Willie Randolph as back in pinstripes for Old Timers’ Day. Jake Thomases has the story.

Diana Munson enjoyed the day as well. This notebook also has updates on Robinson Cano and David Wells.

The Sunday Baseball beat focuses on the trade deadline and whether the Yankees and Mets did what they should.

Sorry for the lack of the posts this weekend. I’m taking some time off before the 10-game road trip that starts on Monday.

Caught Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Gillette Stadium tonight. We dodged a few thunderstorms and had a huge tailgate for 30 people. We had a bunch of cars, three tents and several sorts of flavored vodka, which was nice.

The crew included assorted family and friends including Bullet and Deano, two guys I have seen about 50 Bruce shows with in something like 10 states. Our plan is to go to Europe next time he tours there.

The setlist:

Summertime Blues
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Radio Nowhere
Lonesome Day
The Promised Land
Spirit In The Night
Tunnel Of Love
Little Latin Lupe Lu
Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?
Hungry Heart
Who’ll Stop The Rain?
Youngstown
Murder Incorporated
She’s The One
Livin’ In The Future
Mary’s Place
The Rising
Last To Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands

Encore
I’m Going Down
Jungleland
Born To Run
Glory Days
Dancing In The Dark
American Land
Rosalita

It was a very strong show. Little Latin Lupe Lu was written by Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers back in 1963 and was a hit for Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels in 1966. I’m not entirely sure of this, but I believe the last time Bruce did it with the band was 1977. You don’t often see Bruce do three covers in the same show. But he did that, Summertime Blues and Who’ll Stop the Rain?

I’m Going Down was a request. As Bruce said, “Rarely played and rarely requested.” It’s one of the of the tunes on the Born in the USA album.

This version of Youngstown featured a terrific guitar solo by the great Nils Lofgren.

I know we had some readers going. Hope you stayed dry and had a great time.

Finally, you Giants fans will get a kick out of this. The stage features two large high-def screens that show shots of the band and often the fans. At one point, Bruce waded into the crowd and they kept showing this one woman who had a Giants hat on. The Patriots fans on hand playfully booed.

I suspect the people running the video operation were Giants fans having a little fun at the home of the Patriots.

Bruce also dedicated a song to “the coach.” I assume that’s Bill Belichick as the Pats had a practice in their bubble this afternoon.

YANKEES (59-50)
Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RH
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Betemit 2B
Cabrera CF
Molina C
Mussina RHP

Mike Mussina (13-7, 3.56) vs. the Los Angeles hitters.

Jered Weaver (9-8, 4.11) vs. the New York hitters.

Notes: Thanks to Brian Heyman for calling in the lineup. … Cano is out with a sore left hand that he has had since last Sunday. He is 3 for 26 with one scored and no RBI over the last six games. His batting average has gone from .270 to .260…. The Yankees have lost two straight and five of their last six. They are now 5.5 games out of first and in third place in the wild card, 2.5 games out. … The Angels have won 25 of the last 40 games between the teams.

It’s Old Timers’ Day, so get there early if you have tickets. Yogi, Whitey, Reggie and all the rest will be on the hand for the last reunion at the Stadium. Willie Randolph has made an appearance as well.

CHECKING IN ON SOME OF THE NEW GUYS: Richie Sexson is 5 for 15 with the Yankees but hasn’t had an extra-base hit since July 8, his last game with Seattle. Did you know his name is Richmond Lockwood Sexson? … Pudge Rodriguez is 1 for 6 with two strikeouts and two GIDPs. … Damaso Marte’s line is 3.1 4 2 2 1 6 over four games. … Xavier Nady is 6 of 18 with four extra-base hits and four RBI.

OUT IN THE STREET: As for me, I’ll be at Gillette Stadium for tonight’s Bruce Spingsteen and the E Street Band concert. Big 30-person tailagate planned before the show. So this will be the extent of the blogging for the day.

Enjoy the game.

The Yankees got more than expected from Sidney Ponson but Mariano Rivera gave up a run in a 1-0 loss to the Angels. Jeff Gold has the story.

Brian Bruney is back. This notebook also has updates on Chien-Ming Wang, Xavier Nady and Pudge Rodriguez.

Angels-Yankees today at 3:55 p.m. on Fox. It’ll be Moose against Jered Weaver.

Here’s how the season has gone for Chris Britton …

March 23: Optioned to Scranton
April 25: Recalled from Scranton
April 28: Optioned to Scranton
April 30: Recalled from Scranton
May 9: Optioned to Scranton
May 10: Recalled from Scranton
May 20: Optioned to Scranton
May 27: Recalled from Scranton
June 5: Placed on disabled list
July 4: Activated from disabled list, optioned to Scranton
July 31: Recalled from Scranton
Aug. 1: Optioned to Scranton