Mike Mussina over his last 5 starts:

29.1 IP, 27 H, 17 K, 3 BB, 2.76 ERA
 

05.14.2008 Jeter's defense has been surprisingly good this season

Instead of his occupying his usual dead last position, Derek Jeter currently ranks in the top half of fielding among AL SS -- according to the Hardball Times.

Jeter ranks 6th out of 13 qualified AL SS, with a revised zone rating of .836.  He's also made 12 plays outside of his designated zone.

We hope it lasts.
 

05.13.2008 Rays kill Yankee comeback

05.13.2008 Notable promotions

Five games in the Thunder bullpen was enough to convince the Yankees that reliever J.B. Cox was ready to move on to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Highly-regarded Class-A right-hander Mark Melancon has been added to a Trenton relief corps... (Source)

Since these former college closers were drafted, both Cox and Melancon have been flagged as key future bullpen arms.  Big things are especially expected from Melancon.  They are now flying through the system and should be Bronx-bound in the very near future.  Here are their 2008 numbers so far.

Cox:
Tampa (A+): 6 G, 6 IP, 8 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 0 HR, 3.00 ERA, 3.25 G/F
Trenton (AA): 5 G, 6.2 IP, 3 H, 6 K, 2 BB, 0 HR, 1.35 ERA, 1.00 G/F

Melancon:
Tampa (A+): 13 G, 25.1 IP, 26 H, 20 K, 6 BB, 2 HR, 2.84 ERA, 1.00 G/F

Another recent promotion to watch is RP David Robertson.  The 5'11", 180 pound pitcher with the low 90s fastball (odd profile, right?) has put up video game numbers since kicking off his minor league career in 2007.  The 23-year old split time between A, A+, and AA last season and registered 113 strikeouts in 84.1 IP.  That's insane.

His dominance continued in 2008 by K'ing 26 in 18.2 IP at Trenton, before being promoted to AAA.

If you recall, we listed Robertson as one of our Most Interesting Prospects of 2008.
 

05.12.2008 The comeback kids

The Yankees record when trailing after specific innings:

When trailing after the 1st inning, the Yankees are 2-8. 
When trailing after the 2nd inning….2-8
3rd inning….1-12
4th inning….1-16 
5th inning….4-17
6th inning….1-18
7th inning….0-17
8th inning….0-18

(courtesy of Baseball-Reference)

What this teaches you is that when the Yankees are behind at the end of inning, you should go do something else.

Did this team decide to retire without telling anyone?
 

05.10.2008 Praise the Lord

15 IP, 12 K, 0 BB, 6 H, 0.00 ERA
 

05.10.2008 Early injuries hurting Yankees for 2nd year in a row

2007:

April 1, 2007 Placed RHP Chien-Ming Wang on the 15-day disabled list 
April 8, 2007 Placed outfielder Hideki Matsui on the 15-day disabled list 
April 15, 2007 Placed pitchers Carl Pavano and Mike Mussina on the 15-day disabled list 
April 29, 2007 Placed pitcher Jeff Karstens on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured fibula in his right leg 
May 20, 2007 Placed RHP Darrell Rasner on the 60-day disabled list with a fractured right index finger 
June 1, 2007 Placed 1B/DH Jason Giambi on the 15-day disabled list 
June 5, 2007 Placed first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz on the 15-day disabled list

2008:

3/28/08 Placed LHP Andy Pettitte on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 21, with back spasms; Placed RHP Jeff Karstens on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right groin 
4/14/08 Placed INF Wilson Betemit on 15-day disabled list (conjunctivitis) 
4/25/08 Placed RHP Brian Bruney on the 15-day disabled list (now 60-day)
4/28/08 Placed C Jorge Posada on the 15-day disabled list 
4/30/08 Placed INF Alex Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade 2 strain of his right quadriceps, retroactive to April 29; Placed RHP Phil Hughes on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique 

And now add Albaladejo and Betemit (again).
 

05.09.2008 Keep in mind the Yankees paid $26 million just to talk to this guy

3 IP, 11 hits, 6 ER

A better career path for Igawa?
 

05.07.2008 Emotionally detached

This team is extremely boring.  Wake us up when something exciting happens.
 

05.07.2008 Ian Kennedy: Not nearly as good as he thinks he is

Ian Kennedy speaks about his start at AAA:

“I’m trying to say it humbly, but it doesn’t matter what I say, it’s going to come out cocky,” he said. “You just know. I woke up today and told my wife, I just have a feeling I’m going to make these guys look stupid.”

“I just felt like I could do no wrong,” Kennedy said. “Whether it was 2-0, I didn’t care, I could place a fastball away. I’ve been working on it every start, getting my mind set in the big leagues. I felt like I was getting better and better every time. It just led up to this. It was inevitable for me to do well. It was just a matter of time.”

 “It’s not so much here, it’s that I know what I can do," he said. "That was the main thing I was battling with (in New York). It goes back to trying to be too perfect. You’re giving them too much credit in the big leagues. These guys in Triple-A aren’t much different. They could be big leaguers tomorrow, and some of them have played in the big leagues. It’s not so much the hitters, it’s myself.” (Source)

For someone who has been putrid in the big leagues, Kennedy sure speaks highly of himself. 

05.06.2008 He's not a machine, he's a man

Joba lets up game-winning HR vs. Cleveland
 

05.06.2008 Kennedy starts in Scranton

7.1 IP, 1 H, 8K, 0 BB, 90 pitches (58 strikes) vs. Charlotte
 

Which will happen first? Phil Hughes gets a win. Joba Chamberlain gets a start. view results

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