Nine and a half games out-

Now we are facing three with the Mets and then Boston.

It is time for someone to step on up and get things swinging in the right direction.

Boston playing 700 PCT ball after 40 games. I sure wish it was us.

Thanks man. I have to work tonight but I'll see if my TiVo has any plans

Report: Giambi says baseball should apologize

CHICAGO (AP) - New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi says Major League Baseball should apologize to the public for its widespread performance-enhancing drug problem.

Claiming he's likely been tested for performance-enhancing drugs more often than anyone, Giambi told USA Today in a story on its Web site Friday that the apology is long overdue.

"I was wrong for doing that stuff," Giambi told the newspaper Wednesday before the Yankees played the Chicago White Sox. "What we should have done a long time ago was stand up players, ownership, everybody and said: 'We made a mistake.'

"We should have apologized back then and made sure we had a rule in place and gone forward. Steroids and all of that was a part of history. But it was a topic that everybody wanted to avoid. Nobody wanted to talk about it."

Giambi reportedly told a grand jury during the BALCO investigation in December 2003 that he used steroids and human growth hormone. He told USA Today this week he's thankful for MLB's testing program for steroids and amphetamines that was revised before last season. MLB does not test for HGH, but Giambi said he does not use the drug.

"Unfortunately, (the rumors) are going to be a part of it. But that's OK. I'm probably tested more than anybody else. I'm not hiding anything," he said. "That stuff didn't help me hit home runs. I don't care what people say, nothing is going to give you that gift of hitting a baseball."

Source: FOX Sports

Then why take them in the first place? If you weren't getting results from the stuff, why subject yourself to the known dangers?

I think it had an effect although I don't know how to quantify the effect precisely. I know that one desired effect was to avoid or quickly heal from injury.

This is where those pitchers come in.

I was never one to subscribe to the theory that hitting steroids helps a player hit more homeruns. Sure they give the batter more confidence as I've heard Jose Canseco say and the added power. But when it boils down to it, it does NOT improve eye-hand corrdination and the hitter still has to put the bat on the ball.

There you go.

Well that added power doesn't do you any good if you don't put the bat on the ball first

But the added power can help you hit more home runs.

There's no doubt in my mind that without the Steroids Bonds would be three years out of the game and with a couple hundred less homers.

I agree with klydon, steroids avoid or quickly heal from injury. That's why Bonds has been able to still hit bombs at his age. Yes it also adds power that helps one hit more home runs, but again, Bonds still has to put the bat on the ball. It wouldn't do him any good if he continued to strike out. In that case, the steroids would just be helping him to avoid or quickly heal from injury.

Clemens impressive in first start

TAMPA, Fla. -- Throughout this past week, several Minor League players have referred to Roger Clemens as the best pitcher in baseball history. So it was appropriate that the Rocket began his second run with the Yankees in a stadium called Legends Field.

Clemens created a buzz for Friday night's game between the Tampa Yankees and Fort Myers Miracle, a night after the two teams drew 1,108 fans. Clemens' debut attracted the largest crowd in Florida State League history, a sum of 10,257 that included Yankees owner George Steinbrenner in his suite seats and a number that far surpassed the previous record of 9,421,set in 1996.

And Clemens gave them what they wanted.

The 44-year-old right-hander allowed one run on three hits, including a solo home run, over four innings. He did not allow a walk and struck out two. He reached a peak velocity of 91 mph while tossing 58 pitches, 42 strikes. And he looked sharp.

Following the game, though, Clemens was pleased about his control, but he was the most concerned about his leg strength.

"I feel fine, but it didn't seem effortless," said Clemens, who has spent the entire week working out in the 90-degree heat at the Yankees' player development complex just down the road from Legends Field. "I had my mouth open a few times there in the first inning. My control was better than expected, but my lower half is my biggest concern."

But while fans delighted in the spectacle of it all, including a video tribute that ran prior to the game of the Rocket's accomplishments in his 23-year career, Clemens, who shied away from commenting on Kyle Farnsworth's comments on Thursday about his contract, understood the sense of urgency in his first Minor League outing.

Earlier this week, during his preparation, Clemens worked intensely on his conditioning and his mechanics, and he discussed the importance of getting in game shape as quickly as possible.

"You understand the pace the Red Sox are setting, so they're in good shape and good pitching shape," said Clemens. "If they're rolling like that, we're gonna have to get things going as quickly as possible."

Thus, after he tossed a little over 40 pitches in his warmup session and after he escorted four-year-old Field of Dreams player Nicholas Ketterer to the pitching mound for a celebration of the youth group, Clemens began his outing by working all his pitches as much as he could.

"It's different than in Spring Training where you can work your breaking ball just twice in an inning," said Clemens, who threw for an additional 15 minutes following the game. "I was going to try and make myself tired. My pregame routine was altered a bit from what it would be in a Major League game. But I wanted to overextend myself to make sure I was warmed up and ready to go."

Thus, in New York fashion, with a capacity crowd in attendance, the stage was set for a Rocket showcase.

And Clemens, who has a flair for the dramatic, put on quite a show.

He retired the first two batters he faced on a flyout to left and a groundout to second.

Looking settled in, he worked a 2-2 count to the left-hand-hitting Erik Lis, a 2005 ninth-round pick of the Minnesota Twins, and almost struck him out with two high fastballs, which Lis fouled off.

But Clemens left a fastball up over the plate which the 23-year-old Lis deposited over the right-field wall.

"His fastball was flying up in the first inning," said Tampa Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli. "But he fixed his mechanics and it was a lot better the rest of the game. His control was very good and he hit his spots."

Clemens induced the next batter following Lis into a groundout to end the inning and he allowed only two hits over the next three innings.

While he stated firmly earlier this week that his pitch count limit would hover around 45-50 pitches, the Rocket went to the mound one more time in the fourth after having already tossed 50 pitches in three innings.

"I'm trying to push myself and get ready as soon as possible," said Clemens. "But I'm trying to be smart about it as well."

Clemens finished strong, retiring the side with a groundout, flyout and groundout in eight pitches, seven of which were strikes.

Once the final out was recorded and Clemens sauntered off the field, he waved his hand to the adoring fans, who gave him a standing ovation, and tipped his cap in appreciation.

He tossed 19 pitches (11 for strikes) in the second, which included a deep flyout to center, a strikeout, a single and a groundout.

In the third inning, in which he tossed 18 pitches, he allowed a leadoff double before retiring the side with a groundout, a strikeout and a groundout to Lis to end the inning.

Clemens said he will pitch next Wednesday for Double-A Trenton and would make a determination following that start on whether an additional Minor League start is necessary.

Source: Yankees

So first our offense was on fire and the pitching was lousy. Now the pitching has been doing their part and the bats are silent. Can somebody PLEASE, knock some runners in when they're in scoring position

Sure, steroids help you heal from injury faster. No question about that.

But I think its total crap - of course it can help you put the ball over the wall, or add another 5 mph to your pitches, or so many guys wouldn't be taking it.

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As I said in the Mets thread, that umpire at home plate sucked last night, for both squads. Terrible strike zone.

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Once again, Posada and Matsui provide the only meaningful offense for the Yankees. If it wasn't for those two and Jeter, we'd have no runs.

I haven't seen this lack of willpower in a team in quite some time. Its like they are coasting, and don't care.

When Pettitte was tweaking in the dugout after coming out of the game late despite pitching extraordinarily well and still not getting a win, I wish he would've started throwing shit at guys like Abreu and Cano.

Now Rasner goes down. Another f*cking pitcher!

Report: Yanks may void Giambi's contract

After Jason Giambi admitted he "was wrong for doing that stuff" in a recent newspaper report, his current employers may reconsider whether they were wrong to give the slugger a seven-year, $120 million contract in 2001.

According to a report in the New York Daily News, Giambi's admission in Friday's USA Today could lead to the Yankees trying again to void his contract if it is ultimately determined that he used illegal drugs after signing him to the deal.

The commissioner's office is investigating Giambi's comments and is expected to summon him to a meeting to discuss them. According to the Daily News, the outcome of that meeting will determine in part how the Yankees proceed.

Giambi told USA Today "what we should have done a long time ago was stand up — players, owners, everybody — and said: 'We made a mistake.' We should have apologized back then and made sure we had a rule in place and gone forward. ... Steroids and all of that was a part of history. But it was a topic that everybody wanted to avoid. Nobody wanted to talk about it."

Giambi had not previously admitted (at least publicly) using steroids. The closest he had come was an unspecific apology during a Yankee Stadium press conference after the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Giambi had told the grand jury investigating the BALCO case that he had used steroids and human growth hormone before signing with the Yankees and while playing for them in 2002 and 2003.

The Yankees had considered ending Giambi's deal after that report surfaced in late 2004.

The first baseman/DH's salary is $21 million for this season and 2008, and the Yanks hold an $22 million option for 2009 with a $5 million buyout clause.

Source: FOX Sports

Huh?

He MIGHT get voided because he admitted he fucked up after the rest of the country already knew that he juiced up? Bullshit.

I think the Yanks are pre-planning a future cost-cutting move. Thats all.

Shit, NOW David Wright decides to come out of his slump! What a shame about Rasner, but Clippard seems to be pitching well. Granted, it's only the second inning. But he looks about 12 years old!! I told Mr. Babe with the way things have been going, I expect the Goodyear Blimp to come crashing down onto the mound next!

No doubt. This isn't the first time the Yankees visited this issue. They grossly overpaid for Giambi, who is a liability in the field, and has been putting up offensive numbers that compare to players, who earn pennies on the Giambi dollar. I doubt the Yankees will try to revoke the contract because they know the cat fight they'd get from the Players" Association.

If I were arguing for Giambi, I would assert that the Yankees are estopped from revoking the contract on the grounds of Giambi's admissions regarding performance enhancing drugs because the contract originally tendered Giambi contained express language about terminating the contract for steroids, and Giambi's people had asked the Yankees to remove the language. Accordingly, this collateral evidence serves to show that the Yankees knew, or had reason to know, that Giambi was involved with performance enhancing drugs. This also should preclude them from relying on a general contractual term to take an action, which could have been addressed by a specific clause, but was deliberately omitted, in order to sign Giambi.

Yes, the Yankees knew Giambi was taking something, but they couldn't care less...as long as he put up numbers. Hell, the Yankees never batted an eye about the persistent drug use of Dwight Gooden, Steve Howe, and Darryl Strawberry, all of whom were known junkies before they ever put on pinstripes.

A great outing by rookie Tyler Clippard:

6 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 3 BB, 6 SO, 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA. Now let's see how many starts we can get out of him

At least they got a win before facing Boston next

Has anyone seen the Derek Jeter/Harvey Keitel Gatorade commercial?

YouTube

I saw it when you posted it over at the YouTube thread.

I highly doubt this move would happen at all, but if it does, it wouldn't happen this season. Everyone and their brother knows that the Yankees will be pushing insanely hard for Texas' Mark Texiera, who idolized former Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly (idolizing him wearing his #23), and who wants to play for the Yankees. He'll be an unrestricted free agent after this season. Not only can he hit for power, but he plays Gold Glove caliber defense as well, something we haven't had for quite some time. Anybody whose swing is compared to Gehrig's can't be that bad.

Like I said, the Yankees struggles are offensive - I don't see how voiding Giambi's contract at this juncture is going to help the team, unless they have a better player waiting in the wings via a trade, which I doubt will happen. The Yankees will not likely sacrifice the youth movement in the Scranton rotation for a player rental - the only ones I could see being shipped out would be DeSalvo or Wright.

Giambi is extremely well liked in the locker room, and close friends with Jeter (and Clemens). I highly doubt that they would want to get rid of a locker room leader to save money this year.

After this season ends, however, I wouldn't be surprised if he was dumped. He has a horrible contract, and he isn't consistent enough to warrant his DH role at this point (see David Ortiz) and can't pinch hit either. But, nonetheless, I'd rather have Texiera as the starting first baseman and then at worst see Giambi as the DH once again next year.

Kei Igawa got a loss after two unearned runs in his latest Tampa A start. Ugh. Lilly has a similar contract, and is tearing it up. Grr...

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Abreu may be back...he had a nice hit last night, and two walks. Wow. If only, if only...

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Speaking of being back, at least half of Cano's game has returned. He fielded plenty of balls last night without error, after his tumbleweed impersonation - pinball glorioski that resulted in three errors the previous game. Now if he could just hit the ball. He had a near home run to left at Shea that just went foul. Poo.

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Clippard is part of the future of the Yankees, but hadn't been considered major league ready by the trainers, which is why he's been passed over earlier this year. He's also matured (if I'm not mistaken he got into DUI trouble early in his minor league career) and looked to be comfortable on the mound. After Hughes, he's one of the top 3 or so pitchers in the Yankee minor leagues. If he can keep some consistency at the Major League level, don't be surprised if he takes Mike Mussina's role as the middle of the rotation guy next year.

And what the fuck? He hit a double...wow. Total package.

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Torre had a "positive" talk with Steinbrenner, according to Torre.

What did they talk about...green tea?

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So the ESPN baseball crew again was on top of its game, keeping the Kyle Farnsworth thing going, despite its massive irrelevance. I did think it was interesting to see Proctor go for the 7th and 8th, though that may just be to keep the rest of the 'pen fresh (which now includes Matt DeSalvo and Ron Villone).

The Yankees Win!! Btw, was that Jason Giambi in the game?? It's been so long that I wasn't sure it was him!!

Yes, Bonds started getting into weight training, combined it with steroids, and then was able to GAIN about 75 pds of muscle. Now he hits more homers.

A good win tonight against the Sox and A-Rod homers again for his 3rd straight game. A great job by Wang going 6 1/3 giving up 2 runs on 7 hits, 3 BB, 5 SO, 3-3 with a 4.27 ERA (hopefully he can get that down some more)

Let's hope Cranky Moose can get out of his funk and win the matchup versus Tavarez...

I'm finding it hard to get all worked up after one win. Normally this would be a great win. Maybe if we could sweep Boston or at least take two out of three then it may lift my mood. Then LA. comes along.
We have had a hard two weeks haven't we.

It was good to see the guys come thru for a change.

Pitching looked really good. Bats came thru and Wakefield couldn't get the job done again. 9 1/2 is a whole lot better the 11 1/2 games back.

I'll take a win against Boston any day of the week! Actually, at this point, I'll take a win against anybody!!

I think the big thing to take from this win is that the offense fired on all cylinders. There wasn't a weak link anywhere in the chain. If this is the turnaround we've been looking for (and who better than against Boston with Wanger on the mound), it could signal the phoenix rising from the ashes for the Yankees this season. I haven't felt this good about a win this season and our overall team performance since A-Rod's first walkoff homer earlier against Baltimore.

Also - a strange thing to hear, but it sounds like Papa George may be in declining health. I've heard some whispers that he didn't even recognize Reggie Jackson the other day at the Tampa stadium when he was watching Clemens' start...

I've heard those stories as well, DJ. And the rumor is that it's Alzheimer's. What a shame, if that's true.

Well, win one, lose one. Geez, Moose pitched poorly, and then Vizcaino came in and sucked even more.