Chavezzing in the Rain

Eric Chavez has always been a special player. Gifted with great hands and a technically sound fielder he also could hit back in the dAy's when he played for Oakland. As he comes back to play 3rd tonight we see him playing well, trying to earn a spot at the pipe until our clean up hitter gets back to being an RBI lothario. AJ is taking the hill which means we should be in the game until the 5th inning. You're a #2 starter AJ maybe you could at least pitch like a #3? Cause sometimes you pitch like the other #2.

AJ The Butcher

If he sold meat, he might be the most valuable guy on the team. I say that because AJ Burnett continues to be a butcher, hacking his way through innings until he hits bone where he believes the only way out is right down the pike. Come on AJ. Throw the freaking changeup will ya? And to boot, the attitude. Come on man, you know everyone's watching you so stop the theatrics, the eyerolls, the sourpuss Mr. Macho angry face you make anytime Joe comes to get you. You should be an ace, not slapping bacon.

The Greatest

If Babe Ruth were here today what would you tell him? Well hold that thought just a minute because he is here, in the modern form of Mariano Rivera. The man is such a great pitcher it's beyond any current means of measurement and the guy's more of a class act that maybe anyone in all of sports. We ain't never seeing a guy like this again. So enjoy and thanks Mo.

C.C. For Yourself

With his record in pinstripes and his slide-stopping ability, he is a definite ACE and he just may go down as one of the greatest of all Yankee hurlers. As we await the return of Phil Hughes' stuff and Joba's presence we all need to be reminded that you can still buy W's if you spend your dollars just right. C.C. doesn't get enough credit in a league that resents the Universe's winning ways and yet he never balks at the press stand. Can we be grateful enough? I don't freaking think so.

And here's a call out to one of our favorite Yankees, our sure handed first baseman Mark Teixeira: Big guy, we need you. A-Rod is eating sushi with Cameron Diaz as his knee mends and we need that .240 average to creep towards the more respectable .280 mark before season's end. The power is there but the regularity ain't. Come on Tex!

And lastly congratulations to Robinson Cano for winning the Home Run Derby which has turned into a freak show crossed with a circus. But congrats anyway, Robbie you can slug with the best of them now.

Captain 3000

As if pre-written by the Baseball History Book, our beloved Captain not only hit his 3000th ball but did it with a shot of a homer and then he turns around and wins the game with a single in the 8th. Need we say more? Probably not but we will. This guy is so tremendous that he transcends, as they say, the sport. In this hyper-specialized world we live in where there's a type of dentist for every different tooth, here's a guy who isn't the greatest in any single category, but is one of the greats ever. While all the numbers crunchers complain of his fielding percentage averages and other assorted crapola, in the things that always seemed important to me: winning, effort and sportsmanship, he is the best.

We know where you went Joe DiMaggio...you went to shortstop.

2 More For #2 for 3,000

As the rain halts Derek's march towards 3,000 for one more night, we are sitting around finishing a case of Miller High Life and tossing Derek Facts around. Here are a few we thought most interesting (some more than others actually):

• When Derek was 12, he got Dave Winfield’s autograph in the Tiger Stadium parking lot. 
• In high school, he struck out just once his senior year.
• Derek established a post-season record for hits by a rookie in 1996, with 22.
• During Derek’s first year in the majors, he listened to Mariah Carey CDs as part of his pre-game routine. During his second year, he was dating Mariah. Derek has also been linked to Scarlett Johansson, former Miss Universe Lara Dutta, Jordana Brewster, Vanessa Minnillo, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel and Minka Kelly.

That's some lineup.

We Want More Captain

Dear Derek,

We know you are working hard to get back to work, and although Mr. Nunez hasn't played poorly, his cast iron hands are a constant reminder to us how much we need you.  Not to mention you're just a few AB's away from the 3,000 club and that's gonna sell a crap load of memorabilia and I got a buddy who owns two stands at the Stadium so ...we look forward to that milestone.  While you are reading this, and getting a back rub from a bikini wearing Ms. Kelly, ...I am left wondering why I am even writing to you as I struggle to hold that visual in my head.

Yours truly,
The Fans Maldonado

National Nova

As Nova tosses another 'who'dathunkit six inning sketch in the sand', the Yanks find themselves on a bit of a hot streak. Does this mean I've forgotten all about their complete INCOMPETENCE against the ballerinas from Beantown? No freaking way.

I wanna see some Red Legged destruction come September and that might mean we need to call on the CashMan to pull a few strings and break out the Amex card. Are you listening Brian?

ENOUGH ALREADY

Hey Hal, Hank, et al,
Are you freaking kidding me? This isn't an end-of-the-world rant because it is only June but there's something bigger going on here. The Yankees have always maintained a dominant attitude towards the lesser men from Boston and now all this, "Be patient" BS has come to translate to a lackadaisical team who gets their head's handed to them by red legged ugly people. ENOUGH.

Go get me a pitcher and I don't care if you he's from the South Pole. Get a REAL batting coach or fire all your Hall of Famer's hitting .280 or less. And someone tell Girardi to let the buzz cut grow out a little, will ya?

Western Front

Facing the best pitchers the West Coast could offer, the Yanks now head home with a 6-3 on the trip, also swiping a few Pina Coladas on the way. Tex came up big today hitting two.  Swisher did his part. And John Sterling had John Sterling moments.

Good thing too, because on this upcoming home stand we got Indians, Rangers and those awful losers from Beantown next up on the schedule.  Hopefully the staff can piece together a few decent starts and the New York sun can heat up these bats.

And as The Captain's 3000th approaches the eyes will become more and more focused on Derek. Let's see if he can get it at home and toss in a little of that Jeter flair.