So what ever happen to...it's not over to it is over?....
It is only the sixth of August...from what I see.

6 1/2 games in the beginning of August is not a lot, especially when you factor in the wild card race, which is just beginning. Many teams have made the playoffs from greater deficits in less time, and they didn't have the resources of the Yankees.

Tampa Bay is young and unproven, and struggles on the road. Boston has lost its best player, and several of the 14 AL teams have been out of the race two months ago.

If Chamberlain comes back soon, I think they'll have to watch him closely. He hasn't thrown a lot of innings this year and whenever big, young hard throwers develop shoulder pain, it's something to monitor.

I again gotta agree with klydon1. The Yankees can come back from 6 1/2 out on August 6th (how many games were they back at this point last year?). And if they can't win the division, then they have a shot at the wild card. All I'm saying is with Pettitte's last two starts, Rasner now moved to the bullpen, Ponson blowing up in Boston last week (followed by a great performance against Anaheim), without a dominant ace who can stop the bleeding like Joba, the Yankees just won't be able to turn this thing around. I mean, they've just lost 2 straight games to the Rangers for crying out loud!

Well Joba's on the 15-day DL and Ponson had another good outing

Where is A-Roid on the stat sheet for BAvg. with men in scoring position. I know there was a time last year when he was 2nd to last.

2008 Situation Stats:

.315 AVG

.354 Bases Empty
.276 Runners On
.238 RISP
.222 RISP w/2 Outs
.143 Bases Loaded

Mr Clutch.

And Jeter with bases loaded?? .333 this season and in 2007, his average with the bases loaded was .500, so he must be slipping. Yet some people think he's not clutch and overrated. Yeah, sure.

I dunno, I'd go ahead and take Alex on my team if you guys hate him that much. I get that he hasn't delivered in the post season...but no one on that team has in almost a decade.

He's definitely one of the best bases-loaded and full-count hitters in the history of the game - many scouts consider these two statistics perhaps the most important for hitting.

While situational batting statistics can be used to gleam important data on whether a hitter can perform when the pressure is on, on base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS are much better indicators of a hitter's productivity and importance to the team. The number one job of a hitter is to get on base and thus prevent an out from being made. Although Jeter looks to be having a bit of an off year by his standards, his career OBP is .386, his career slugging percentage is .459 and his career OPS is .845 which are quite solid numbers.

You're right, of course, DJ. But I assure you that many, many scouts value what a guy does in the clutch (bases load and full count) more than any other statistic.

Performing in the clutch is what sports is all about. It's what separates a guy like Michael Jordan from Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter types - those guys might be able to show M.J-like greatness in spurts, but it's what they do in the playoffs and clutch situations that is the truest gauge of greatness, IMO.

If you need ONE crucial hit, in ONE crucial game,.. Derek Jeter is about as good as it gets.

Manny wants to be a Yankee

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Having successfully orchestrated his divorce from Boston and his landing in with the Dodgers, Manny Ramirez would like to make life miserable for the Red Sox during the next few seasons. According to people who have spoken to the eccentric outfielder since he was dealt to L.A. on July 31, Ramirez wants to sign a free-agent deal with the Yankees this offseason and get 19 chances a year to punish Boston. "He wants to play for the Yankees so he can get at the Red Sox," a close friend of Ramirez's told The Post.

Source: SI

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I'd probably take him over Abreu next year. What do you guys think?

then he will become just another guy who went to the Yankees and became a piece of shit. A-Rod was the greatest thing that had ever happened in baseball, and then he goes to the Yankees and becomes a chokejob-son of a bitch. plus, Manny is not that great of a guy either and that is not the Yankees' problem. their lineup should be enough already. Abreu is a HOF caliber hitter. but alright, in theory, that 3-4 punch with A-Rod and Manny could be this century version of Ruth/Gehrig.

also from SI.com - MLB investigating Manny exit

I've seen people saying that what he did in his final days in Boston is just as bad or even worse than using steroids, and that teams should give him the Bonds treatment next year. anyway, what would be of this guy if he couldn't hit?

Manny cut those dreds?? Never happen. The man is a nightmare. He's a poor team player, to make an understatement. In this season alone, he took HIMSELF out of the lineup and attacked a member of his own team in the dugout. Unless Torre can work a miracle with him this summer, I wouldn't want him.

Abreu's been an important contributor this season. I wouldn't want to see him replaced with that sloppy pain in the ass. They don't need to shell out big money for another bat. Let them invest in some pitching instead.

Cosnidering that Cashman picked up Richie Sexson this year.....you just know that's not gonna happen unless Cashman is canned.

4 days and no posts. Why? Because they suck. 9 games out. They are closer to last place than first place.

They still have a shot at the wild card but if they continue to struggle as they have recently, they won't. I'm not worried about Boston this year. I think it'll be the Angels and the Cubs in the World Series and I'm pulling for Chicago!

No, they don't. Seriously, pack it in this year. This team not only doesn't want it, it would be ridiculous to think we could even compete right now with Boston, Tampa, or the White Sox.

Although I still find it hilarious that on most blogs and sports news, the biggest concern/complaint is that our #9 hitter is terrible. Seriously? I mean, Melky Cabrera is the entire reason this team fails? Really? Are you guys watching the same games I am?

Look at it this way. Hank's going to open up the warchest and go for Sabathia and another FA pitcher. Teixiera has already said he's going to opt for FA (he's a Boras client after all). Manny wants to come to the Yanks, as per his own lips. Hopefully Jeter rebounds a bit, Posada will be pseudo-healthy (who's an idiot now for being against the 4-year-deal? I took so much heat for wanting to let Posada go). Matsui or Damon can be moved to free up space. Abreu will be gone, hopefully declining arbitration, netting us two draft picks. Similarly, we'll offer Pudge arbitration, which he won't accept since Posada will take back the starting role. Hopefully Nady has matured into the player people hoped he'd be when he was a Mets farmhand.

Unfortunately, we still have A-Rod...I heard the best idea the other day, in regards to replacing Bobby Meachem @ third base:

"Why not replace Meachem with Madonna? She waves everybody home."

Not a bad idea.

Manny is far from a nightmare. He's one of the top 5 hitters in the league, and future Hall of Famer. He'd be a great addition to the Bronx Zoo. I'd take him in a heartbeat, and hope Cashman does.

Give me Manny over A-Rod in a big spot at the plate any day of the week.

Incidentally, Abreu is absolute shit in the outfield, so I don't think you'd lose much. Nady is his replacement anyways. Abreu should be gone, he wants too much money and years for his age. While I wouldn't be adverse to seeing him come back, we desperately need to dump one of our DH's, and I suspect Giambi is the odd man out.

We absolutely need to shell out money for another big bat. This lineup is so vastly overrated it's not even funny. This is the worst Yankee lineup I've seen with RiSP since I can remember watching as a kid in the early 90's.

Things the Yankees need to address in the offseason:

• A true leadoff hitter with a high OBP
• A true #3 hitter (Nady?)
• A decent-hitting first baseman who can play defense (Teixiera?)
• A player to protect A-Rod in the order (Manny?)
• Two *starting* pitchers (Sabathia and perhaps Sheets/Garland/Burnett/Wolf)
• Retain Molina
• Lose two from this list, preferably by trade or arbitration decline: Damon, Matsui, Giambi, Abreu
• Retain the core of the bullpen

Example of how much better the 2009 Yankees could be simply through FA acquisitions:

Damon
Jeter
Teixiera
Manny
A-Rod
Nady
Posada
Matsui/Giambi
Cabrera

Sabathia
Wang
Chamberlain
1 of: Sheets/Garland/Burnett/Wolf
1 of: Pettitte/Mussina
Hughes

I thought you'd be rooting for the Mets if the Yanks were out of it? Keep your story straight.

Shit, you're going to end up making me root for the Red Sox, just to see you go bald from stress even faster.

And for the record, Manny is the most feared hitter in baseball. Yes, he's a jerk. And yes, A-Rod has the numbers. But in the clutch? It's not even worth arguing about.

^ This.

Hopefully you're right. This is what I keep thinking of. If the Yankees lose enough, Steinbrenner will do something BIG in the offseason to prevent this from happening again in 2009. I hope they go after Yu Darvish from the Japanese league who they're claiming will be the next Dice-K. But yes, just pick him or CC up along with Teixeria and K-Rod and I'll be happy for 2009

I am going for the Mets if the Yankees don't make it but the Mets have to make it first too And if there bullpen keeps costing them games, it'll be just as cold in Queens as it is in the Bronx. But I'd be happy to see this Chicago team lift the curse. So much was made about Boston that the White Sox were barely even noticed as 2005 World Series Champs. It's the Cubs turn now.

First place this morning, son.

Still a lot of baseball left and I'm sure the Philies aren't going anywhere fast. Need I bring up the Mets at this point last season? I didn't think so, and yes they're a different team but until the regular season is over and the Mets have secured a spot, then I'll breathe a sign of relief.

I honest to God hope they stay away from Darvish because right now he's a pipe dream, and he has said he doesn't even want to come over here. We should learn from Igawa and Irabu - Japanese pitchers that can succeed in the West are rare. Dice-K looks like the obvious exception, and he may go the way of Nomo within another 2 seasons...the league figured out Nomo fairly quickly. Japanese league pitchers just don't seem the be able to adapt to MLB hitters.

And K-Rod will not come to the Yankees, he wants to close, so he wouldn't sign with us. Meh, his delivery is a recipe for arm problems anyways, and he's building up some mileage on that frame of his. I'd be hesitant to sign him for a long-term deal beyond 3-4 years.

On the plus side, Melancon in the ML is predicted to be the next "Joba" and is the anticipated closer. He dominates the ML just like Joba, and sacrifices a little less speed (still in the mid-90's) for more control. They're babying him like it's nobodies business. Otherwise, I'm pretty happy with the bullpen as constructed. Ramirez and Veras are developing nicely into two above-average relievers, Bruney when healthy should be fine, Giese has been terrific, Robertson looks like a stud, and anything they can get from Marte is a bonus. Mo is pitching like he's 26 years old.

But yes, I agree, I think it is vital that the Yankees make a huge, perhaps unprecedented FA splash this offseason, with priorities in this order:

1.) Sabathia
2.) Manny
3.) Teixiera
4.) Sheets/Garland/Burnett/Wolf

You really think they should go after Manny harder than Teixiera? Mark's not as feared a hitter (yet) but he does have the youth over Manny. Also, the guy who they should have picked up 5 years ago instead of Gary Sheffield will be a free agent (and yes, I'm talking about Vladimir Guerrero). But if the Angels win the World Series this year (which more than likely they will) I think he'll stay put

If you watch A-Rod this year, you see why we need Manny more than Teixiera in the short-term. Yes, it's basically another albatross, but A-Rod has nobody in the lineup to protect him. You can't pass up a talent of Manny's caliber. He would give us a deadly 3-4-5 threat if Nady has finally matured; even more if Teixiera arrives.

Teixiera is a *nice* player but I don't overrate him, I think he's a very-good-but-not-upper-echelon first baseman (i.e. a step or two behind Pujols). I'd still love to have him though. Give me Teixiera over someone like an Abreu any day as my #3 hitter.

I agree with this entire statement. What do you think of Vlad? I know he's had his share of injuries, but really who hasn't on the Yankee roster this year?

I don't think Vlad would leave LA, but I'd take him in a heartbeat. The guy hits everything. Reminds me of the scene in Mr. Baseball when Jack reaches across the plate to hit a ball when they're intentionally walking him. Vlad is sick.

I just doubt he'll leave LA, especially if the Angels go deep in the playoffs this year (which I think they will, they're hot at the right time).