WTF... losing two out of three to the Gaints, really Sucks
What next? geting beat up by Baltimore?
Back to 11 1/2 games back and once again we sit below .500

They are very typical of a .500 club right now. .500 teams seem to win 6 or 7 in a row, then lose 5 out of 6, then win, then lose, and this goes on all year.

I just cant imagine them getting to the 95 or 96 wins it'll take them to sneak into the playoffs, even as a wildcard. I mean, we'll be in July in less than a week.

"There just wasn't enough time, Mr. Steinbrenner."

They'd have to play at a 59-30 clip (.663) to get to 95 wins. I don't think they have the pitching to do that.

In the interest of at least keeping the summer interesting, these are the moves the Yankees should make to remain...umm..."competitive."

1.) Acquire Milton Bradley. You could get him for a bag of potato chips (as the Royals did for all of five seconds before the injury wiped out the trade). Send the A's a briefcase with unmarked $1 bills.

Why this makes sense: The Yankees could use an offensive upgrade over Melky. Despite the problems associated with Bradley (still rather have him than Elijah Dukes, *shudder*), he has some nice stats and can get on the ball. Considering his price is ridiculously low, the Yankees can move Damon to the DL and have a competent hitter and fielder playing center.

2.) Send Damon to the DL. I realize he is proud of his record of never spending time on the DL, but all things must pass.

Why it makes sense: Damon contributes nothing right now. His legs are dragging, so he can't steal or make plays in the outfield. You could get a Little Leaguer out there with a better gun from center field. Send him to the DL. If he comes back still out of sorts, its time to consider shipping him. Damon is under contract until 2009. He'll need to be a full-time DH by then, and I don't think its worth it.

3.) Sign Sal Fasano AGAIN. They never should have let him go in the first place, but the 'stache had some panache that we lack this year.

Why it makes sense: Wil Nieves has spent 11+ years in the minors. He can't hit nor play defense (despite Mike Mussina's adopting him as his exclusive catcher). Fasano played the best defense behind the plate when the Yankees didn't have a guy named Posada there already. Toronto has cut him, so he should be an easy, cheap pickup.

4.) Revamp the bullpen. Some of us were optimistic about Brian Cashman's patchwork this offseason. We shouldn't have been. This bullpen is one of the worst in baseball, and there is no confidence in this team for holding a lead. Trade for Gagne and/or Otsuka as solid set-up men, who can anchor the back end for the first time since Tom "Flash" Gordon left. Cut Ron Villone. Trade Kyle Farnsworth for whatever you can. I'm not high on Vizcaino, but he seems to be improving a little. The Yankees have two relievers lighting up the minors - Chris Britton and Edwar Ramirez. Promote them. This offseason, deal Viz and cut Myers, and get some decent bullpen help.

Why it makes sense: When you have a team with aging starting pitching that can't make it past 5-6 innings, there is no way you can have a bullpen as shaky as this one. Yearning for the days of Rivera-Wetteland-Nelson? Yeah. So is everyone else. These kids cannot be any worse than our current bullpen.

5.) Make the deal for Mark Teixiera NOW. Yes, it will cost some serious prospects - including Ian Kennedy or Betances or Chamberlain or Joba. I doubt that the deal would get done with only Clippard/Wright/DeSalvo. Clippard would be the only viable prospect in that deal. But sooner, rather than later, would be appropriate. The Yankees have no first baseman with both hitting and defensive prowess.

Why it makes sense: The Yankees are in the Teixiera sweepstakes, but other teams will be pushing hard for his services. With a glut of prospects in our system, this is why you have trading chips. He's young, he's a Gold Glove defensive player, and he hammers the ball a ton. First time we've seen a player like that since Mattingly. It gets him acquainted with the rest of the infield throughout the end of 2007, ready to go full-time in 2008. Will it cost a lot? Yep. Will it be worth it? Yep. The last few seasons have shown that patchwork will not work with this aging team.

OTHER ALTERNATIVES: Devil Rays need to get rid of an outfielder. Go after Carl Crawford. He would be a huge addition. I'd also be satisfied with Rocco Baldelli, even though he has a bit of injury trouble. Jermaine Dye is out of the question, imho. He's too old, and he's in his walk year. I wouldn't go after Buerhle either, unless he comes cheap, which he won't. Mussina needs to go. Somehow. Somewhere. Giambi too. Both guys have albatross contracts in terms of liquidity, with full NTC's and are signed for awhile. The Angels want Giambi. Good. Make it worth it for him to be gone.

With Bradley, be careful what you wish for. Bradley has given me the greatest personal sports thrills, so I'll always have a soft spot for him. It was a AA championship deciding game in 1999. His Harrisburg Senators were trailing the Norwich (the then Yankee affiliate) by 3 in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. He drilled a 3-2 pitch over the right field fence to win the game after striking out 4 times earlier. I would have seen it live, but we left after the eighth - it was cold, misty, and the kids had school the next day (and I listened to my wife ). The next year, he signed a photo of the hit for me, which I have framed.

But, in truth, Bradley is more trouble than he's worth. there isn't a player currently in team sports who even closely approaches his level of disruptive behavior. This trend was evident when he was a minor league player as he was suspended for spitting and shoving an umpire, and engaging in altercations with teammates and coaches. He 's thrown a bottle at and atacked fans in LA. he is truly a sociopath, whose most egregious outburst is surely yet to come, given the opportunity. Torre, Jeter, Steinbrenner and the NYPD won't be able to turn him into a gentleman. Playing in the Steinbrenner pressure cooker certainly would be the perfect atmosphere for him to surpass the actions of Jimmy Piersall. Also, he is a career .270 hitter with average power for his position.

I've always liked Sal Fasano, who beat out a bunt for a hit this year. He brings a lot of spunk although he won't win many games for you with his bat.

Well, the Yankees need three starting pitchers, since they truly can only count on Pettite and Wang. They need an entire new bullpen, and must start grooming a new closer. Then, the outfield needs to be looked at. Abreu's gone after this year, Matsui never truly came back after last year's injury and Melky is good, but not great. Damon can't be counted on this season, that's for sure. Oh, and they definitely need a back-up catcher. OOPS!! And how could I forget their need for a first baseman???

That's only about 12 players. That shouldn't be a problem, should it?

Don't forget a thirdbaseman for next season. A-Rod will probably opt out of his current contract and return to playing shortstop somewhwere in California.

Then you should also throw out Torre and Cashman and start clean.
You know Boston doesn't look so dumb. They let Pedro and Damon go before they got stuck with two broken down nags and a big payroll around their necks.

Well, this being Joe's contract year, would he really want to be a part of rebuilding?

As far as Cashman, George sent him his missive two months ago.

I doubt anything will happen mid-season but I don't think he'll be back.

They also wouldn't sign or offer a deal to Schilling for next season. but they almost got stuck with Clemens.

I don't understand why they didn't try to get Soriano back when they had the chance. No matter where they put him, I think that he would've been an addition to the team.

Yeah, Soriano would help. He was playing second when Bradley hit the homer I noted in my earlier post by the way. I was always surprised they didn't make a run for Vladimir Guerrerro instead of Sheffield a few years ago.

They should have. At least we'd have a right fielder for next season

And the next season...and the one after that...and the one after that...

True, the Yanks have just made some bad moves the past couple of seasons plus players that have been brought in haven't been performing. I hear both the Mets and Yanks are in the annual Dontrelle Willis sweepstakes.

I agree with you klydon and think A-Rod will fly away unfortunately. If he does, the Yankees should turn to the Marlins and see what it would take to pry Miguel Cabrera from them.

Oh, he was washed up 3 years ago, because of his bad back. Just ask the Mets front office. They'll explain it to you.

Cabrera would be a major coup for the Yankees, and I wouldn't mind seeing him leave the Phillies' division. He's going to be great for a long time. You might have to empty the farm system to get him. That would be the deal to part ways with Hughes.

It always seems that Willis is destined to be moved. Whoever gets him will likely overpay as I see it. I always thought that his reputation exceeded his talent. While he hasn't been as consistent as an Andy Pettite, he's capable of the occasional great game. He's an outstanding hitter too for a pitcher.

No offense, but if the Yanks spend big bucks on Willis, I can tell you that as a Fish fan....

Thats silly.

As good as he can be, hes incredibly inconsistent and I can hear Irish's own frail speech saying how the Yanks need to trade him, and DoubleJ giving a logical argument of HOW he could be.

But Cabrera....he's the way of the future.

God damn you, fucking cheap-ass Marlins ownership!

Why are they losing again? And to the Orioles no less? So freaking depressing.

THE PROCTOLOGIST CAN GO F HIMSELF!!!

I take it the Yankees lost.

Yeah, on Jeter's 33rd birthday, too! Where's SB? Is she at his birthday party?

Another lost to a shit team. I've got to tell you that the Yankees aren't worth the money they are getting paid. You can almost put them in the same league as Mcmahon and his wrestlers.

The only good thing is that Boston also lost, or we would be another game down.

Time to be sellers at the trade deadline...anyone want a Damon? How about a nice Giambi? We'll give you the entire bullpen (except Mariano Rivera) for your batboy and the peanut vender in the upper tier 36.

I think it's too early to throw in the towel. But I think the Yankees should be both buyers and sellers at the trade deadline. Unload some dead weight and payroll, but pick up an innings eater, a fresh bullpen arm, and a first baseman. It's a tough road.

You didn't see the headline in todays NY Post about the strange woman who got thrown out...oh, never mind.

Well, another depressing night in Baltimore. I actually watched Mandy Patinkin save a Russian from some kidnappers rather than continue the painful experience of seeing Rocket allow a 3 run home run.

"Turn the lights out...the party's over..."

How about Abreu, the entire bullpen, and an autographed Miguel Cairo trading card for anyone under 30?

I have a lot of those.

One of the things I have noticed is that there needs to be a change from management on the field level all the way up to the GM - because we have some talent that is rotting away in Scranton-Wilkes Barre. Ex:

Chris Britton


Edwar Ramirez


Jim Brower


Versus...

Kyle Farnsworth, Vizcaino, and Villone...