a700hitter

The bullpen is better because of Okajima, but it's still thin. Papelbon and Jima are the only two reliable guys for Tito to turn to. The guys in the pen are the same as last year, except for Piniero (a bag of puss) and Donnelly (DL). MDC wasn't doing so bad last year until later in the season. The bullpen is pretty much the same--- Timlin, Lopez, MDC. I posted a Pedroia/Loretta statistical comparison last week. To this point in the season, they are almost identical statistically. Please don't try to make Pedroia's speed a plus. It is the one skill area where he is well below average. I am not knocking Pedroia. I think he is doing an excellent job, but he is not much of an upgrade over Loretta, if he is an upgrade at all. At the ALL Star Break last year Beckett was 11-4. This year he is 12-2. He is pitching much better this year, so I'll give you that. At the All Star break last year, Youkilis was hitting around .300 and he had 10 HRs. After the All Star break he spiraled down and ended up with only 13 HRs. He has 9 Homers thus far this year. I am sorry, but I don't see the big improvement to this point of the season. He looks like the same guy pre-All Star break as last year. The question is will he finish strong or will he limp to the finish like last year. None of us know the answer. Also, you didn't mention that Manny and Ortiz are not producing anywhere near their levels from past years. I am not saying that this team is not better than last years team, but I am saying that it needs reinforcing to guard against the possibilities of second half injuries (including problems with Schilling) and to prepare it for playoff success.

He'll be okay if he doesn't throw any more strikes to Sheff.

With one out in the first inning, the Yankees have taken a 4-0 lead over the Angels.

Wily Mo K's. What a surprise. It's time for him to play a full season. If nothing else, he would shatter the single season record for k's.

Sheffield was the one guy in the lineup that they should not let beat us. Where is the game prep that Varitek is so famous for.

I've seen nothing special from Gabbard thus far. He hasn't been awful. You don't want to build a playoff team around guys that are not awful. He's got two more starts before the trading deadline to show that he can be consistent. Let's not kid ourselves here. For all the moves the FO made in the off season and all the money it spent, this year's team has the exact same record up to this point that the 2006 team had. Most people felt pretty good at this point last year, and we all know how that ended. We feel even better this year because the rest of the division is playing under .500 ball. At this time last year we had Lester in the rotation and he wasn't awful either and we had musical chairs in the 5th slot while we were waiting for guys to come off the DL. With Schilling on the DL, a rookie and Tavarez taking up two rotation spots, a thin bullpen, and the same record as last year, this year's team is not in a very different position than it was last year. This year's team needs reinforcements. I said it last year and I believe it to be true this year. The FO will be making a mistake if they sit on their hands again this year. This year's team may survive to get into the playoffs, but in its current state, they be ousted in the first round.

Getting Buehrle for prospects and an extension on his contract is a no-brainer. Period. He'd be a major building block to a solid starting rotation in 2008 and beyond, plus we need him this year in case Schilling doesn't return to form.

Bur we know that Ivan Rodgriguez does not miss that pitch.

The Mets and Astros are in the 17th inning.

You don't want the kid to fear anyone in any situation. That's why it is the manager's job to get up off his ass and hold up four fingers. Tito did not give the kid the best chance of succeeding by sitting on his hands. He calls throws to first from the dugout but not IBB's?

You don't pitch to Ivan Rodriguez with an open base and Thames on deck. That's just Managing 101.

5 and 5 in the last 10. We should be extending our lead and putting nails in the Yankee coffin. I hope the FO is not lulled into a false sense of security by the big 10 game lead. This team needs reinforcing if it is going to be force in the playoffs.

Who was it that said: "Luck is the residue of design."

It would be great if this kid would hit a bomb right now.

Roger (Don't Mistake Me for Hansack) Clemens pitched 8 innings of 5 hit 1 run ball today. He now has lowered his ERA to 3.63. I guess he was just facing another weak hitting team today.

Nifty pick up by Lowell.

They would have been nuts to go at Manny again. Sooner or later he'll kill you. They'd rather take their chances with the singles hitters behind him.

Timlin can't get by with this 88 mph stuff. The kid Bailey almost messed up that pop up.

You are so right. That's what the Yankees have done for the past 10 years. When Torre smelled a win, he went to his horses. Yeah, he'd burn guys out, but the next year they'd get him a new crop. When you carry the first or second biggest payroll in baseball, winning now is important. If Tito burns out Jima in the process of winning a Championship, so be it. The investment in him is relatively modest. You have to keep your foot on your opponent's throat at all times. Last year they tried to coast through by using s*** like Jason Johnson and a hot of other puss bags while the Yankees were struggling. They did nothing to extend their lead. When the injuries hit, the buffer was not big enough and the Red Sox were sent packing instead of going to the playoffs.