ALL STAR GAME 2007

With the voting deadline coming up quickly, the question comes to mind just who on the Yankees deserves an ALl Star election?

Alex A-Rod Rodriguez deserviongly leads all vote getters in the fan vote. He is having a super year which may just land him in Anaheim in 2008. Robbie Cano was elected last year but couldn't play due to injury but this year he had a hard time getting out of the box, maybe from taking too many lessons from Bobby Abreu.

The perinial Yankee All Star, Mariano Rivera is having a mediocre year at best. There are several stoppers that deserve it more than he does. The only starter that derserves the nod is Chien Ming Wang, depite not having his best stuff he has done his best to keep us alive this season. This kid really can win with his brains when the talent isn't working.

So get out there and vote, good or bad or indifferent it would be nice to see those road grays in San Francisco this July.

YESNetwork.com: Weekend Outlook

YESNetwork.com: Team: New York Yankees Game Center

Clippard Clipped

Tyler Clippard was returned to Scranton today to make room for Kevin Thompson. With the Yankees traveling to the NL parks they needed to ad a position player. When the fifth man's rotation spot comes up again, it may be Kei Igawa.

Last night showed you just how Oliver Perez works. You either torch him for seven runs in five innings, or he shuts you down. We got the latter last night. He sure made our bats look lothargic. Roger Clemens pitched OK himself.

Rubber game is Sunday Night on ESPN. Happy Fathers Day to all you dads out there. A special Happy Father's Day goes out to my own Dad. Miss You!!

CLETE BOYER RIP

Special guest Blogger Johnny Yankee

Probably my favorite Yankee ever has passed away. I say this because when Mantle and Maris were going at it, it was always Clete Boyer that I watched most. Never have I seen anyone fielding thirdbase as elegant as Clete, even if Brooks may have gone down as the greatest fielding thirdsacker in history. Clete was just awsome, throwing from his knees, sometimes almost from his belly, accurately, to get his man. I saw Clete make plays that I swear I don't think Brooks would have made. No, he didn't have the "hitting" his brother Ken had but still, enough to be the yankees regular thirdbaseman during those magical years of the 60's. I never liked it when he was traded to the Braves, and until Nettles came along, never did we once again have anyone as great a fielder as Clete Boyer. So sorry to hear this news and my condolences to the Boyer family and a prayer that he is in a better place with the Mick and Roger, Elston and Billy, and all those great Yankees that made the 1961 Yankees my all-time favorites. Rest in peace Clete!

And The Winner of the Ugliest Inning of 2007 Is . . .

The bottom of the 7th inning on June 2nd. Misplays by Bobby Areau and an error by the captain Derek Jeter led the Red Sox to score five runs and retake the lead on Saturday.

Roger Clemens will not pitch in Chicago on Monday as advertised as he is suffering from a fatigued groin he experienced in Scranton last week. What the heck is a fatigued groin? After the setback to Phil Hughes you would have to believe this team in suffering from Pavanoitis! This is the same groin (you can't grow a new one) that has been troubling Roger for the last five years or so. The good news is Rocket doesn't get paid unil he pitches for the Yankees. The bad news is that the scuttlebutt is that Kei Igawa will be taking Rogers turn in the rotation. I might have recall Matt Desalvo being you can bring him back up without penalty due to the Rocket malfunction.

Don Mattingly on Alex Rodriguez distracting the infielders in Toronto: " I mean it's no big deal, we tried it dozens of times when I played, that was the first time I saw it work." Check what the Yankee Chick says about This Week in A-Rod.

IT'S YOUR MOVE BOSS

OK, enough is enough. Time to make a move Boss. You have a bunch of high priced athletes who are acting like they are untouchable. We resemble a team that doesn't look like it wants to win, or worse yet, believe that it can win.

It is time to take the first shot and ship some of the high price blabber mouths to Kansas City or the like of. Then let the kids get their lumps at the major league level. You can't start a kid while he is thinking it is do or die. We have to make this team younger. We have already proven an All Star at every position just doesn't work. The hockey Rangers did that and missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons. Get a couple hungry kids out there ASAP!

Hello NY Post!!!! There is a baseball season going on. Why are you putting Alex Rodriguez on the front page with a strange but gorgeous woman? If A-Rod saved a child from a burning building you would get on him for breaking the window to get in. Give the guy a break and let him produce. Then if he opts out of his contract after this season, let him have it.

Here's the plan Sam. Gator, Donnie and Kevin Long have to get tough with the team. If they aren't the right men for the job shake em up. The best players don't always make the best coaches. Team , you have to show these guys respect and break your butt for them. There is only one topic you can speak to the press about, and that is baseball. Forget the Rocket, anything he gives us is gravy. He won't put up better numbers than the Clippards and Desalvos but his presence will make all the Baby Bombers better.

Next you got to eat, sleep and think Baseball. You have to get hungry to win or you can all be shipped to KC for a bag of balls. Let's get back to Yankee Baseball, the game that lasts over 3 hours. Stop going after the first pitch, make ever at bat count. NOW PLAY BALL!!!!

WHERE HAVE YOU GONE JOE DIMAGGIO?

Or for that matter, any resemblance of offense. In all my years following the Yankees I have never seen such a lethargic team. It seems everyday we just find another way to lose and it looks like the players are believing that as well. Just when it looks as if we are coming out of it, it is bing, bang, boom, back to the loss column.

When the hitting hits the pitchers don't pitch and visa-versa. That is not a sign of a winning ballclub. If there is someone out there that could take over and lead us to the division lead then by all means fire Joe Torre. If not then let Mr Torre finish out the season and make him host of Yankees On Deck in 2008. His replacement should be Joe Girardi.

Hey maybe they should declare the "roadtripper" that attends the least amount of games the season winner?!?!?!?!?!

But we are all Yankee fans, the fans that were here in 1982, right up to 1994. We can name the entire roster without a scorecard. Our first games aren't in the post season. We don't even own a wagon or play in a band. We will be holding on till the bitter end. Hey, let's do it fast, it gets late early out here. LET'S GO YANKEES!!!!!

BOMBERS BROADSIDE ... A BOOK REVIEW

Bombers Broadside 2007: An Annual Guide to New York Yankees Baseball

Edited by Cecilia Tan
PRICE: $14.95
ISBN: 978-1-934186-05-3
TRIM SIZE: 8.5 x 11
PUB DATE: February 2007
PAGES: 112


Maple Street Press, distributed by Potomac Books, Inc. brings a book which brings out the best of all Yankee Worlds. The best thing about it is that it is written by the fans themselves as well as many well known writers. It draws on the same scouting reports that the scouts themselves use to help evaluate talent. It it edited and written in part by Cecilia Tan, a writer and a fan in her own right. She penned The 50 Greatest Yankees Games and has written features for Yankees Magazine, Mudville, Baseball Ink, Baseball Today, and Picto. She produces her own online baseball magazine, Why I Like Baseball, and is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). She is often found posting at BehindtheBombers.com as well.

It brings a multitude of Yankee history, including a thirtieth-anniversary remembrance of Reggie Jackson's arrival in the Bronx and the 1977 World Series championship. The book also evaluates the dynasties of 1947-64 as well as whether the 1955-64 Yankees were really in the same class as the dominating teams of 1947-53.

This fine book, released in the early pre-season Spring, projected what we 'should' be doing in 2007. From the Gulf Coast Yankees to the Bronx Bombers it cover every aspect of the entire organization. It brings to light the prospects of the Yankees throughout the farm system and when and if you may be seeing these future stars. If Brian Cashman had this book he would know exactly what's going wrong.

After reading this book you may find out if there are any more prospects like Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera waiting in the wings. From Reggie Jackson to Phil Hughes, they are all in this compact volume.

It's all packed into more than a hundred pages of full-color, Yankees information that is unlike anything else available. Dan McCort of Take Him Downtown and Behind the Bombers is featured in the book as well. After reading this book I only wished I found it sooner. I can't wait until the 2008 version is released in February.

Where Are All The Hits?

Maybe we need to track down Bruce (Cousin Brucie) Morrow and Dan Ingram of Music Radio WABC Fame, at least they know where to find all the hits. Hits are what the Yanks have been lacking since the calendar turned into May. The Yankees lost a big one today 3-2 in Flushing behind another great start, this time by Andy Pettitte.

In April the bats were alive and the starters weren't getting into the 5th inning. We have to meet somewhere half way. Alex Rodriguez who was named April Player of the Month has all of a sudden began to slump while his bat snoozes away. His bat isn't alone however as the only ones hitting are Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada.

Can a eruption of Mount Steinbrenner be far behind? In the past Joe Torre may not have made it through the weekend with the Mets, especially if we loose 2 of 3 ... or worse. To top off the interleague weekend we come home Monday to play the division leading Bosox. So the next week can have a very big impact on this yet young season. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to tell us that we have to start hitting and keep pitching and please get Mo some work.

Villone Is Back

Ron Villone was recalled and Sean Henn was sent down in a move that wa smade to keep Villone was becoming a free agent.
Henn has not pitched bad and if Villone was signed by the Red Sox that would surely help us. So it is just one of those numbers moves.

ROCKET BACK IN PINSTRIPES

Roger Clemens is back in the Yankee Family. Will I root for him? Sure he is on my team, I would root for Charles Manson if he could pitch. Will I forgive him for unretiring? Not that easy.

After letting the Yankees pass up on his option, and giving up any compensation, only then does he announce his unretirement and signing with Houston. I can't prove he wanted to screw the Yankees for letting Andy Pettitte go but if it smells like a skunk it usually is a skunk.

Anyway Roger is back and if he never wins a game again for us it could benefit Phil Hughes immensely. Any pointers he could give this kid could give us an ace on our staff barring injury for the next ten years or more.

He had three choices, the Yankees, The Houston Astros (which had the comforts of home), The Boston Red Sox had far and away the best record of the three teams but who would they remove from the rotation to pitch the potential Hall of Famer? In the end Roger chose to be with his old buddy Andy Pettitte.

But if you're Roger Clemens and you've won 348 games and you're headed toward the Hall of Fame, you are not bound by the usual considerations. You can even set it up so you only pitch on even number days. Roger is looking forward to joining the Yanks and helping the kids on the farm. All we have to do now is hope he does better than the Big Unit did.

TORRE LOSES JOB

Sister Marguerite Torre that is, the Yankee manager's sister that is actually a sister will soon be out of work after 26 years as the beloved principal of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Ozone Park, Queens. The Yankees-friendly principal earned notoriety by giving her students the day off so they could watch the Bombers' ticker-tape parades down the Canyon of Heroes on more than on occasion.

BYE BYE PAVANO

ESPN is reporting that Yankees RHP Carl Pavano will undergo Tommy John surgery disabling him for the remainder of his contract.

YANKS FIRE CONDITIONING COACH

As the results of Phil Hughes being out at least a month with a left hamstring injury, while he was well on his way to a no hitter, it took an injury to their top prospect to have the Yankees fire their conditioning coach.

Why it took this long I will never know. The BTB forum member have been asking for his head all year. When the smoke clears I would not be surprised to learn that the hiring of this firm and Mr. Marty Miller was a marketing ploy. Several Yankees have complained about the non standard routine that Miller uses and several other have opted out all together. It was something that had to be done. Just give us a good old fashion baseball workout. If there is something you want to know about hammys check it out at the BTB Forum. Charlie Dibiase and Dean Balsamini who write for the Star Ledger fantasize how Marty Miller was let go.

From LoHuds Yankee Blog: Carl Pavano felt something in his right arm during his bullpen and shut it down after a few minutes. You have to hand it to the Rajah of Rehab, he’s consistent.

BOMBER BRIEFS Like he never missed a day, Bobby Murcer returned to the YES booth yesterday for the complete Texas series. The players were glad to see him as well. . . . Chien-Ming Wang, who suffered a split middle fingernail during his last start, will throw his bullpen session today to see if he can make his next start. Joe Torre announced that Kei Igawa would start Friday's game, leaving Saturday's start for Wang if he passes the test. . . . Mike Mussina returns to the mound tomorrow night after spending almost three weeks on the disabled list with a often copied strained left hamstring. Mussina pitch count will be limited to about 80 pitches. . . . Frank Torre underwent kidney transplant surgery yesterday, receiving the new organ from his daughter, Lizzie. Joe Torre reported the surgery on his older brother was successful, saying that the new kidney began functioning right away.

BOMBER BRIEFS

As of this writing the Yankees won just one game in their last nine. That victory came courtesy of Kei Igawa. Igawa was just demoted to the bullpen because of some lack luster pitching and was summoned into action do to a potential season ending injury to Jeff Karstens. The real story is when Igawa was interviewed and asked about his demotion.

Igawa answered through an interpreter was that he was demoted many times in Japan for much the same reason. He added he never realized that Americans hit that well and in Japan they don’t nibble at the corners they challenge the hitters.

Well, where were our scouts when this was going on? And correct me if I am wrong but wasn’t Kei teammates with Hideki Matsui? Go back a few blogs for my number theory and that may just answer all my questions.

Did anyone really expect this season to be a cakewalk? If they do fire Joe Torre, Joe Girardi sound like he would be the best choice.

After an off day today Yankee phenom Phil Hughes takes on the Rangers in Texas. I am really pulling for this kid. A victory in Texas will give us our first road victory since Oakland. Here’s hoping all you hits go for extra bases.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT INJURIES

By Special Guest Blogger : Barry Spencer

And I don't care what anybody says. This team, on it's worst day, is far from a last place team. You know I will always find something positive to pull from the deepest darkest recesses this team.

But I have reached the end of my rope and now I'm tying a knot and hanging on.I have had some problems with Joe in the past starting with last October. To that point I have done nothing but support him though he had me scratching my head from time to time.

Now I'm just about ready to freaking lose it. He's pulling Damon and Phelps for defensive replacements in the 7th!!??!!??

Now regarding other matters, I might not be the brightest star in the sky, but I KNOW THE GAME OF BASEBALL!!! Been breathing it for as long as I have been breathing. Been studying the finer points of this great game for years. Some guys know trivia, some know players and events long since forgotten, some can rattle off stats all day long.

Strategy is my forte, and based on that I can say the following with all confidence: YOU DO NOT PULL YOUR OFFENSE FOR DEFENSIVE REPLACEMENTS IN THE 7TH INNING, AND PUT IN YOUR TWO WORST HITTERS ON THE TEAM, WITH THE WAY OUR BULLPEN HAS BEEN PERFORMING!!! Result? Two automatic outs in the 9th.That's just flat out stupid! Beyond freaking stupid! We were a bloop and a blast from tying the game, and Joe hands it to them on a SILVER FREAKING PLATTER!!! A baserunner is called safe at first when he was clearly out on the throw from Cairo. Joe never even gets off his fat ass to argue the call. At least get up and argue the stinking call and support your defense you freaking moron!

Our captain gets hit and leaves the game. Is anything done about that? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! You know why he got hit, and keeps getting hit? Because the league knows they can pitch inside on us and we won't do anything about it! Pitching inside to Abreu in the first totally took the bat right out of his hands. Wang was hitting the gun at 97 last night. I'm screaming for him to put one under Crawfords chin! Screaming! Nope. According to Joe, thats not the Yankee way. Let me clue you in on something Joe. It might not be the Yankee way, but it's the FREAKING BASEBALL WAY!!!! I don't know what's happened to Joe. Too fat and happy maybe. Too comfortable now that he's got his buddy Cashman pulling the strings maybe. Don't ask me. No answer here.

What I do know is this isn't the same manager I've grown to love over the years. Frankly, they could fire his ass today and I wouldn't bat an eyelash.

Last place. Un-freaking-believable! This division is still ours. I firmly believe that with all confidence and every fibre of my being. I'm afraid though, it will have to be done inspite of my once beloved manager.

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN

As far back as the sinking of the Titanic when Fenway Park first opened, long before the wall boxes, long before they were known as the idiots, even before they traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees. There have always been games like this in this historic ballpark and it won't be the last one.

You doubters that second guessed Joe Torre for bring Mariano Rivera to pitch two innings got your wish, he only had to pitch one. Mo needs work and he needs lot of it or he'll be proving Brian Cashman right by not giving him a contract extension.

You can talk all day about what should have and what could have. Despite only being game 15 of the season the Friday night game can set the pace for the whole weekend. If Mariano came in mowed down the next five outs Joe would have looked like a genius.

On a high note Alex Rodriguez continued his 2007 tour with another 2 home runs and figured in all 6 of the Yankee runs. It up to the Baby Bombers now.

MARIANO PRESSES THE PRESS

Mariano Rivera hadn't been get much action prior to Saturday's game so he had much too much time hanging out in the bullpen.

So Mo got the Yankee media agent to gather all the press available around his locker after Friday's game. The press were baffled and could not guess why Rivera called them together. When the media arrived Mariano was stone faced and solemn. Then he began to speak.

He went on to announce "I just call you all to let you know that I too will be wearing #42 on Sunday." Mo went on and laughed hysterically, seeming to enjoy his joke more than anyone present. So uncharacteristic of him, way to go Mo!

For those of you who don't know, Mariano Rivera is the last player allowed to wear #42 since MLB retired the number in all of baseball. April 15th to celebrate Jackie Robinson's anniversary of breaking the color line in MLB players from all teams will be allowed to wear the number. In addition to Mariano, the keystone combo of the Yankees, Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano (who was named after Jackie) will be wearing #42. A making of a great trivia question down the road.

AN ARM, AN ARM, MY KINGDOM FOR AN ARM

The plane just about landed in Oakland and Carl Pavano came up with tighness in his arm. This will push his next start back to Tuesday against the Indians. Meanwhile Moose Mussina is hoping to avoid the DL after tweking his hammy in last night finally in the homer-dome. Mussina remains day-to-day, but Brian Cashman said Mussina will start doing some "functional work" today. Never a dull moment in the Bronx.

Kei Igawa get a chance to redeem himself in Oakland tonight as he starts for the Yankees.

THERE IS NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS

What a strange season so far. Alex Rodriguez is leading the leagues in home runs, Carl Pavano is leading Yankee starters in victories with 1 and the Cleveland Indians are hosting the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Miller field in Milwaukee.

Rather than move the series to Anaheim being the Angels head to Boston after this series the Indians (or should we say baseball) have moved their series against the Angels to Milwaukee's Miller Park after a spring snowstorm wiped out Cleveland's entire series against Seattle for the fourth straight day Monday. With inter-league play this was suppose to be Seattle's only visit to Cleveland this year.

With all the nippy weather across the country Injuries have been on the rise. The cold weather has been indirectly responsible for DLing our own Hideki Matsui.

Promoted Mascot? Scooter the Holy Cow who resided on Staten Island since the Baby Bomber were created in 1999 has been spotted, well he had the spots already, in the new home of the AAA Yankee affiliate in Scranton Wilkes Barre. Hmmmm, first there were multiple Lassies, could there now be two Scooters? Or have Red and Huck going to work without the elder Mascot on Staten Island this season? Stay tuned Scooter fans.