Perhaps that is why the Thurman Munson Awards Dinner, benefiting the AHRC New York City Foundation, which assists children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is still such a hit.  The 30th Anniversary event, held on Tuesday night at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York, sold out again, as attendees had the chance to meet the 2010 Award winners, including Joba Chamberlain, Lou Piniella and Darryl Strawberry, as well as other New York sports stars such as Knicks starting point guard Chris Duhon and Yonkers Raceway’s leading driver Jason Bartlett, who also won awards.

Champions all, which was the the theme of the evening.

Piniella was presented with the Legend Award for his “long and meritorious service to baseball.”

“It’s unbelievable,” said Piniella of the event’s staying power.  “Usually when somebody has an accident like Thurman did, maybe it goes on for a while and then things sort of drift away a little bit. But 30 years later, the charities that are benefiting from this event and the people that are honored here, it speaks volumes of how this city loved and respected this guy.”

Also on hand were three of Munson’s teammates, Graig Nettles, Goose Gossage and Ron Guidry, as well as Brooklyn Dodgers legend Ralph Branca and his son in law, former Mets manager Bobby Valentine.

Ron Guidry presents the 2010 Thurman Munson Award to Joba Chamberlain (Photo: Tom Berg)

Chamberlain, entering his fourth year in the Majors, was born six years after Munson’s death, but feels his presence as a Yankee.

“If you don’t know who he is, you’re not really a fan of baseball,” said Chamberlain.  “Just to see the things that he did and the passion that he played the game of baseball with and the passion for life and his family was truly incredible.”

“This guy was a professional with the way he played and the way he carried himself,” said Piniella of his former teammate and close friend.  “He was named the captain of the team and I think Derek Jeter is right after him, they haven’t had one since, so I think that speaks volumes.  We had such a good time with the guys we played with like Nettles and Sparky [Lyle] and Catfish [Hunter], Roy White, Willie Randolph…what a group of professionals we had over there…Gossage, I know I’m leaving a few out, I’m not doing it intentionally.  Bucky Dent, Mickey Rivers…what a group. I wear my championship ring with pride. It was a lot of fun and a lot of hard work. I’d pay to do those years over again.”

Proceeds from the fundraiser, held annually since the untimely death of the Yankees captain in August 1979, go to  AHRC New York City Foundation, which helps serve children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Munson’s widow Diana has helped raise nearly $10 million for those afflicted.

Piniella, a previous Munson Award recipient, will receive the “Legend Award” for his long and meritorious service to baseball at the event, set for the Grand Hyatt in New York.

In addition to Chamberlain and Strawberry, two other sports stars will be honored with Munson Awards at the Dinner, including New York Knicks starting point guard Chris Duhon and Yonkers Raceway’s two-time champion driver Jason Bartlett (not to be confused with the Tampa Bay Rays’ shortstop of the same name).

Lynn Pike, the president of Capital One Bank, will receive the “Corporate Hero Award.”

For tickets and information, fans can call 212-249-6188 or visit http://www.ahrcnycfoundation.org/.

Among a long list of notable athletes to previously receive the Munson Award are: Alex Rodriguez, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Willie Randolph, Mariano Rivera, Muhammad Ali, Yogi Berra, Goose Gossage, Don Mattingly, Jorge Posada, Joe Torre, Joe Girardi, Patrick Ewing,  Walt Frazier,  Mark Jackson, Charles Oakley, Bernie Williams, Arthur Ashe, Willis Reed, Earl Monroe, Willie Mays, Mark Messier, Mike Richter, Adam Graves, Tom Seaver, Harry Carson and John Franco.

With players such as Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, and Brett Gardner now entrenched in the major leagues the Yankees now have the task of replacing them in the system. In addition the trades the Yankees have made this past off season sent two of their top prospects to other teams in order to strengthen the big club.

It was an up and down year for the Yankees in the minor leagues as several of their top players experienced injuries such as Dellin Betances, Jairo Heredia, and Jesus Montero. Former first round pick Andrew Brackman struggled in his first professional season but found success at the end of the season out of the bullpen. Others however emerged such as the young Jose A. Ramirez who ended the year on the NY-Penn League championship roster of the Staten Island Yankees.

1. Jesus Montero – Young, big, and powerful are three words that can best describe catching prospect Jesus Montero who comes as no surprise to be number one on our New York Yankees top prospect list. The 6 foot 4 inch 225 pound right handed slugger has impressed at every level he has competed at.
2. Austin Romine – Coming in right behind the slugging Jesus Montero is the best defensive catcher in the organization in the form of Austin Romine. The Yankees selected the 21 year old catcher in the second round of the 2007 First-Year Player draft out of high school and made his professional debut later that season appearing in just one game where he went 1 for 2 with a RBI for the Gulf Coast Yankees.
3. Manny Banuelos – Probably the best left-handed pitching prospect the New York Yankees have developed since current Yankee Andy Pettite. Manny Banuelos was neck and neck with Arodys Vizcaino for the title of best pitching prospect in the Yankees organization but a trade solved that debate.
4. Slade Heathcott – One of the two members of the 2009 First-Year Draft class who made our Top 10 prospect list is outfielder Slade Heathcott. Although he appeared in only 3 games during the season with the Gulf Coast Yankees.
5. 

   Zach McAllister pitching for the Trenton Thunder - Photo Credit: Robert M. Pimpsner

   Zach McAllister – Zach McAllister was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 3^rd round ove the 2006 First-Year Player Draft and made his professional debut later that season as a piggyback starter with fellow draft pick Dellin Betances.

6. JR Murphy – John R. Murphy is the second member of the 2009 Draft class to be named to the Top 10 Prospects. Murphy was selected in the second round of the draft out of high school. The 6foot 190 pound catcher then made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Yankees where he hit .333 in 9 games with a homerun, a double and 7 RBIs.
7. Andrew Brackman – As a former two-sport athlete in college the towering Andrew Brackman never has been through the regular off-season training routine that typical pitchers went through, in addition sitting out a season due to Tommy John surgery he did not have his best stuff in 2009, but the Yankees still liked what they saw from his development.
8. Wilkins DeLaRosa – Originally signed as a right fielder with a killer arm DeLaRosa’s bat was not able to come around and the Yankees moved him to the mound in 2007.
9. Jeremy Bleich – Selected in the supplemental round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft the left-handed pitching Jeremy Bleich made his professional debut pitching 3 innings allowing 2 hits and 2 earned runs while striking out 4 for the Staten Island Yankees in September of that season.
10. Ivan Nova – Ivan Nova is a guy that Yankees fans could see sometime soon in the Bronx. The young right hander signed on July 15, 2004 as an International Free Agent and then made his United States debut in 2006 with the Gulf Coast Yankees.

Other Names to Know

Beyond the top ten prospects are several players that could break into the list next year such as right-handers Jose A. Ramirez, DJ Mitchell, Christian Garcia and Hector Noesi. That latter was added to the 40-man roster this past off-season. Infielders Bradley Suttle and Corban Joseph are also names to follow in the minors. Newly signed catcher Gary Sanchez has yet to get into a game but could be on the list next season after making his professional debut. In addition the young Kyle Higashioka has the ability to be great defensive catcher as well as become a good hitter.

Check back throughout the week as we take a closer look at the Top 10 New York Yankees Prospects

At first glance, this signing looks like an incredible pickup for the Red Sox. In 2009, Lackey pitched well against all of the AL East teams except for the Tampa Bay Rays. In his career, he has pitched well against the AL East and interleague teams. Lackey will join Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and Daisuke Matsuzaka to top off the first four spots in the rotation.

Even Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe cannot ignore this impact signing has in the arms battle with the New York Yankees.

A rotation of Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Lackey, Daisuke Matsuzaka and either Clay Buchholz or Tim Wakefield would be better than what the Yankees have right now in CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte, TBA, TBA.

While Abraham’s assessment discounts the real possibility that Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes will continue to develope and improve, the reality is the Red Sox rotation is now stacked with pitchers who have shown the ability to succeed for full seasons and continue that success in the postseason.

The biggest concern for John Lackey’s 5 year deal with Boston is probably with his health. Lackey started each of the last two seasons on the disabled list, but avoided the DL once in the rotation. He made 24 starts in 2008 and 27 in 2009.

The question that arises now, with the Mike Lowell to Texas trade potentially hitting a snag due to Lowell’s thumb injury, will Clay Buchholz become expedible in hopes of acquiring a third baseman to fill Lowell’s shoes? How 43 year old Tim Wakefield responds to back surgery could play a role in Buchholz’s future in Boston as well.

After a relatively quiet Winter Meetings for Theo Epstein and the Boston Red Sox, it seems Christmas has come early for Red Sox fans!

The Yankees scored three runs in the 9th inning and beat the Philadelphia Philles 7-4 before a sold out, raucous Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies had gotten off the mat in the bottom of the 8th when Pedro Feliz hit a game tying solo home run off of Joba Chamberlain. But after Brad Lidge retired the first two Yankees in the 9th, Damon lined a single on the 10th hit of the at-bat.

With Mark Teixeira up, the Phillies employed their usual shift with third baseman Feliz positioned more like a shortstop. Damon took off for second, beating catcher Carlos Ruiz’s throw. After a momentary hesitation, Damon broke off for the unoccupied third base and reached it uncontested.

The play was huge. With Damon on third, Lidge would be more reluctant to throw his slider in the dirt. Lidge, who appeared to have turned his regular season struggles around during the post-season, hit Teixeira. Alex Rodriguez then drilled a fat fastball off the left field wall to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead. Jorge Posada provided some insurance with a 2-run double and Mariano Rivera nailed down the save.

Damon’s defense had come into question earlier in the game when he play Feliz’s catchable ball on a hop and made a weak throw home as Ryan Howard scored to tie the game at two apiece.

In actuality, Howard never scored as he never touched home plate. It was just part of a bad night for home plate ump Mike Everitt who had a wandering plate all night.

Jimmy Rollins led off with a base hit up the middle, and then Victorino worked a walk to put runners on at first and second with nobody out and Chase Utley stepping to the plate. Utley popped out in the infield for the first out of the inning. Howard followed with another pop up. Jayson Werth struck out swinging…Phillies had first and second and nobody out, and they don’t get anything…that’s not acceptable! Sabathia did a great job getting out of trouble though. It was at a point in the game where the Phillies could have done some real damage, and they were not able to capitalize. However, they were not out of the game yet, because they are a team of comebacks. Chase Utley homered in the seventh, and then Pedro Feliz homered in the 8th with two outs off of Joba Chamberlain to tie the ballgame up at four.

It appeared that everything was working in the Phils favor going into the ninth inning, and it seemed that the Phils were ready to come up in the bottom half of the ninth to win it, but first they had to get through the top of the ninth. Brad Lidge came on and looked impressive as he got the first two outs, but then he crumbled. Johnny Damon had a great at bat against Lidge, and it was all downhill from there, and before you knew it, the Phils were coming up in the bottom of the ninth with the score 7-4 and facing Mariano Rivera. Obviously the task was too tall to come back again, and the Phils magic was gone. The Phillies will try to find that magic once again now down 3-1 in the series, as they will have to win three in a row to become repeat champions. Cliff Lee takes the ball for the Phils tomorrow night, and he will try to send the series back to New York. I have no hero or goat in this one, because in my mind, the Yankees simply outplayed the Phillies, and it was not anything anyone on the Phils did to blow this one.

Joe Saunders, who performed so well in Game 2, blanked the Yankees through three innings, but trailing 1-0 in the 4th, the Yankees broke through.  Robinson Cano drew a lead-off walk and Nick Swisher followed with a bust-out-of-a-slump single to left.  After Melky Cabrera successfully sacrificed the runners over, Saunders walked Derek Jeter to load the bases.  Johnny Damon got the Yankees off the schneid with runners in scoring position with a base hit to left field for a 2-1 lead.  After a single by Mark Teixeira loaded the bags again, Saunders walked Alex Rodriguez to force in the third run of the inning.  After that it was all up to Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera.

Pettitte allowed an RBI single to former teammate Bobby Abreu in the third, but was spotless the rest of the night. His biggest challenge came in the 6th when Torii Hunter reached on a two-out single and Vlad Guerrero followed with a double.  But Pettitte knocked down Kendry Morales’ comebacker and threw him out at first to escape the jam.

Pettitte received a standing ovation after he allowed a one-out single to Juan Rivera in the 7th and departed in favor of Chamberlain.  The right-hander bridged the gap to Rivera by retiring pinch-hitter Maicer Izturis and Erick Aybar to keep the game at 3-1.

The Sandman actually looked human in the 8th inning when he gave up a two out RBI single to Guerrero to cut the deficit to 3-2.  But the Angels, so sound fundamentally, gave the Yankees some breathing room in the home half of the inning.

After a walk to Cano, Nick Swisher laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt.  Howie Kendrick dropped Scott Kazmir’s throw to first for an error and the Yankees were in business.  Cabrera followed with another sac bunt, which Kazmir “sky hooked” into right field for a run-scoring error.  Teixeira’s long sac fly to center gave the Yankees an insurmountable 5-2 lead.

In the 9th, Rivera retired Kendrick on a ground-out and Juan Rivera on a fly-out before striking out pinch-hitter Gary Matthews Jr. for the final  out.  Rivera strode off the mound, exchanged hugs with Jorge Posada, and the Yankees’ celebration was on.

Game Notes

Game 1 of the World Series is Wednesday night.  The Yankees will send the ALCS MVP, CC Sabathia, out against his former Indians teammate Cliff Lee.

The Yankees and Andy Pettitte trailed Carl Pavano and the Twins 1-0 after six innings.  That’s right, the former “American Idle” had blanked the Bombers on just two hits up to that point.  Pettitte was nearly Pavano’s equal, having not allowed a base runner through four innings, and just one earned run and three hits.  That’s when the Yankees newest Mr. October, at least for round one round of the playoffs, struck.

Alex Rodriguez came to the plate with out in the 7th and drilled a 3-2 fastball high atop the wall in right-center field for a game tying home run.  In seven career post season game against the Twins, Rodriguez has now driven in nine runs. Pavano bounced back to strike out Hideki Matsui for the inning’s second out, but Jorge Posada went the opposite way for a solo home run to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead.

The Yankees bullpen then took over as Pettitte exited with one out in the bottom of the 7th. Joba Chamberalin allowed a double to Delmon Young, but retired Brendan Harris and Jose Morales to preserve the lead.  Phil Hughes would need a little luck in the 8th inning to do the same.

Nick Punto doubled to lead off the inning and Denard Span followed with a bouncer back up the middle.  Derek Jeter cut the ball off, but had no play on Span at first.  But the Captain alertly spun and threw home to keep Punto at third.  He did more than just that.  Punto had gone half way down the line and was now caught in between.  He scurried back to third but Posada’s throw beat him to the bag and A-Rod applied the rally crushing tag.  Instead of runners on the corners with no one out, the Twins merely had a man on first with one out.  Ron Gardenhire, hands a top his head in frustration, looked on in exasperation, his team having run themselves out of another potential big inning.

Hughes retired Orlando Cabrera for the second out and Joe Girardi sent for Mariano Rivera to face Joe Mauer.  Rivera shattered Mauer’s bat as the soon to be AL MVP grounded out meekly to Mark Teixeira for the final out of the inning.

Posada and Robinson Cano added RBI singles in the 9th and, after allowing a lead off single to Michael Cuddyer, Rivera retired the next three batters for a four-out save and sent the Yankees back to the ALCS for the first time since 2004.

Series Notes

Alex Rodriguez was 5-11 (.455) with 2 home runs and 6 RBI in the series.

The Yankees three starting pitchers – CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte combined to allow three earned runs in 19 innings.

Johnny Damon was just 1-12 in the series and swung and missed his way to the “Golden Sombrero” in Game 3.  It comes on the heels of a 22-89 (.247) last month of the season.

Andy Pettitte tied John Smoltz for the most career post season wins with 15.

Joe Mauer was 5-12 (.417) with two walks, but his RBI in Game 3 was his only one in the series.

While he didn’t come right out and say it, it appears  Girardi’s words indicate Chamberlain will be in the bullpen during the post-season.

“He’s had a lot of success out of the bullpen,” Girardi said. “I can’t guarantee that when you put a guy in situation that he’s going to revert back to his old form if we do put him in the bullpen, but he does have a lot of confidence coming out of those gates.”

For his part, Chamberlain said the unseasonably cool weather bothered him (better get used to October baseball) and would be willing to “fold towels” if it helped the team win.

As for the game itself, the Yankees nearly another come from behind win.  Trailing 4-3 in the 9th, Francisco Cervelli reached on a 2-out single against closer Joakim Soria.  Yuniesky Betancourt had to hurry his throw to get the speedy Freddy Guzman, who had grounded to short.  The throw was wild, putting runners on the corners with one out. But Soria got Ramiro “Catwoman” Pena to fly out to shallow left for his 30th save of the season.

The Yankees came back twice in the game.  Derek Jeter’s 18th home run off of Robinson Tejada tied the game at 1-1 in the 1st and Nick Swisher’s 29th home run, a 2-run shot, tied the game at three apiece in the bottom of the 5th.

Game Notes

The Yankees finished their home schedule with a 57-24 mark, best in the majors.  They have Thursday off before starting the final three game series on the road in Tampa Bay.  Their 45-33 road record is currently second best, along with the Los Angeles Angels, in the majors.  Philly has the top road record at 48-33.

Johnny Damon played his 140th game last night making him only the 5th player in major league history to play 140 or more games for 14 straight seasons.  Hank Aaron, Brooks Robinson, Willie Mays, and Pete Rose were the others.

Damaso Marte took the loss after Nick Swisher fell down on John Buck’s routine fly ball.  The miscue, scored a hit, resulted in an RBI triple to put KC up 4-3 in the 7th.

The right-hander limited KC to 2 runs and 4 hits through 6 2-3 innings.  Over his last four appearances (23 innings), Gaudin has allowed 9 earned runs (3.13 ERA) and struck out 16.  Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman will now weigh the option of starting either Gaudin or Joba Chamberlain should the Yankees advance beyond the division series.  At the very least, Gaudin could play a significant part of the post-season bullpen.

Mr. “I don’t hit well with the bases loaded” (or for that matter with men on base), Robinson Cano, broke open a 4-2 game in the 7th with his second career grand slam.  It was Cano’s 25th home run, joining Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui, and Nick Swisher at that plateau.  According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Cano also became just the third 2nd baseman in the last 70 years (Bret Boone and Alfonso Soriano were the others) to have a 200-hit, 25-HR season.  He also became only the 4th Yankees in that same time period to record the feat.  Don Mattingly, Bernie Williams, and Soriano were the others.

Game Notes

A.J. Burnett will start tonight for the Yankees against Anthony Lerew.  Burnett was originally scheduled to start Monday’s game, but was pushed back a day so that he could be home for his father’s triple bypass surgery.

The Yankees threatened against Ian Snell (5-2 since joining Seattle) in the 1st inning, putting two runners aboard with no one out.  But Snell retired Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, and Hideki Matsui to escape the jam and the Yankees offense flopped like a fish after that.  The Yankees would manage just five hits on the day, three of them byTeixeira.

Chamberlain retired the first two hitters of the game, but then gave up back to back doubles to Jose Lopez and Ken Griffey Jr., and an RBI single to Adrian Beltre for a 2-0 M’s lead.  Things went from bad to worse an inning later with Griffey punctuating the 5-run outburst with a 3-run home run.  It was Griffey’s 16th home run of the season, the same output as his 1989 rookie season, and 627th of his career.

Game Notes

On the bright side, Sergio Mitre tossed five innings of 1-hit ball in relief.

The Yankees begin a three game series tonight with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  The AL East lead has been reduced to 5 1/2 games (ahead of Boston), but the magic number is just one to clinch a playoff spot.

The long rest between starts was an effort to abide by the “Joba Rules” so that Chamberlain wouldn’t exceed the innings limit the Yankees have set for him. It would also enable him to be used as a starter in the playoffs, should the Yankees make it there (hey, nothing is a given).  But tonight Chamberlain continued hisstruggles in front of his home crowd (3-3, 5.13 as opposed to 2-1, 3.15 on the road) and couldn’t locate his fastball, or for that matter, any of his other pitches.  The result was adisastrous 5th inning that turned a 4-2 Yankees’ lead into a 7-4 deficit.

Just as the Rangers had scored both runs with two outs in the 2nd inning, they did all their damage with two outs in the 4th.  Chamberlain retired Ian Kinsler on a pop up and struck out slugger Nelson Cruz, but then walked Ivan Rodriguez.  A barrage of singles (five) followed, as the Rangers blooped, lined, and grounded their way to lead (we can already hear Joe Girardi saying the ball wasn’t hit that hard – it won’t work Joe).  After Chris Davis‘ single put two aboard, rookies Elvus Andrus (3 RBI) and Julio Borbon brought home the tying and go ahead runs with base hits.  Michael Young and Josh Hamilton then chipped in with RBI hits before Chamberlain finally got Marlon Byrd looking on a 3-2 pitch to end the misery.  Chamberlain’s last pitch was his 96th, and 44th in the inning.

It still appeared the Yankees might win the game or at least send it to extra innings when they rallied for four runs against Jason Grilli and Frank Francisco in the 9th inning.  But with runners on 1st and 2nd and no one out, and Nick Swisher at the plate, Girardi called for the bunt.  After fouling a pitch off, Swisher, who has three sac bunts this season, bunted into the air for an easy out.  Another fundamental mistake, this time with base running, then ended the game.  Pinch-runner Jerry Hairston Jr. strayed too far off of 2nd base and was doubled off when Melky Cabrera lined out to shortstop Elvus Andrus.

Things certainly started out well on the night as the Yankees began their six game homestand.  Mark Teixeira drew a 2-out walk from starter Kevin Millwood and Alex Rodriguez blooped a single to right.  Hideki Matsui ripped a double down the right field that took a funny hop, allowing A-Rod to follow Teixeira home for a 2-0 Yankees lead.  Jorge Posada then deposited his 16th home run of the season into the right field seats and the Yankees were rolling.  Unfortunately, the Yankees pitching never got on a roll.

Game Notes

Derek Jeter had another multi-hit game (2 hits), putting him within 18 hits of tying Lou Gehrig’s franchise record of 2,721 hits.

Brett Gardner’s recovery from a fractured thumb is going well and he hopes to be activated sometime within the next week.

Joe Girardi has already announced that Joba Chamberlain will pitch next on his normal five days rest- Sunday against the Chicago White Sox.

WP – Robertson (2-1)  SV – Rivera (33)  LP – Carlson (1-5)

The Yankees were 5 outs away last night from back to back losses to the Toronto Blue Jays.  But the phrase “back to back” has a good, no, great connotation in the Bronx these days.  Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada hit back to back home runs off left-hander Jesse Carlson in the bottom of the 8th inning and the Yankees went on to beat the Blue Jays 7-5, snapping their brief 1-game losing streak.  It was the third straight game the Yankees had hit back to back home runs (the first time since May ‘83 when Dave Winfield and Don Baylor, Steve Kemp and Lou Piniella, and Roy Smalley and Winfield again accomplished the feat) and they now lead the majors with 13 occurrences.

The late rally overcame another shaky home performance by Joba Chamberlain, who turned a 3-0 lead into a 4-3 deficit.  Scott Richmond settled down after a rough start and put up zeroes after the 2nd inning.  After right-hander Jeremy Accardo tossed a scoreless 7th, manager Cito Gaston went to Carlson to face lefties Robinson Cano and Matsui, plus the switch hitting Posada.

Matsui worked the count full before depositing one of the new Stadium’s deepest shots into the right field seats.  Posada’s home run wasn’t clear cut at first.  His opposite field blast barely cleared the right field wall and immediately got Gaston out of the visiting dugout to question whether or not a fan had interfered with right fielder Joe Inglett’s ability to catch the baseball.  Replays clearly showed that the ball sailed over Inglett’s glove before coming to rest in the glove of fan, who had it perched on the top of the wall.  The Stadium erupted again when crew chief Joe West confirmed the call after watching instant replays.  (Both Matsui and Posada had taken curtain calls.)

Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon added big insurance runs later in the inning with RBI singles for a 7-4 Yankees lead.  Mariano Rivera would need it as he wasn’t at his sharpest.  A solo home run by Edwin Encarnacion in the 9th cut the Jays’ deficit to two and a single by Rod Barajas brought the tying run to the plate. But Rivera struck out Inglett and Marco Scutaro to nail down his 29th consecutive save chance.

Chamberlain started out nicely.  He breezed through the first two innings, but the “bad” Joba returned in the 3rd.  Two walks and two hits later, including a 2-run double by Lyle Overbay, the game was tied 3-3.  An inning later, Randy Ruiz, had been recalled earlier in the day, hit his first home run of the season to give the Blue Jay a 4-3 lead.

Chamberlain settled back down for his final two innings, and Brian Bruney, Phil Coke, and David Robertson kept the score as is and gave the Yankees the chance to go “back to back, and a belly to belly”.

Game Notes

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Yankees are 19-6 since the All-Star break, their best 25 game stretch since the 1994 All-Star break.

David Robertson retired one batter, Vernon Wells, to earned his 2nd win of the year.

In picking up his 515th career save, Mariano Rivera gave up his first earned run since June 12.

Chad Gaudin will make his first start as a Yankee on Sunday in Seattle.  Joba Chamberlain is being pushed back two days to get extra rest with Gaudin filling in.  Joe Girardi also said that Sergio Mitre will make his next scheduled start.

The rubber game of the series is an afternoon affair beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET.  A.J. Burnett faces his old team and left-hander Ricky Romero.

WP – Chamberlain (8-2)  LP – Smoltz (2-5)

John Smoltz was one of the premier pitches of the 1990’s and was still going strong when the 21st century began, but a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery has taken its’ toll on the 42-yr old right-hander.  He was a shell of his former self last night as the Yankees finally beat the Boston Red Sox, pounding Smoltz and company to the tune of a 13-6 win.

Joba Chamberlain was nearly as ineffective as his counterpart.  He walked 7 batters and barely made it through 5 innings to pick up the win.  Thankfully for him, the Yankees offense was on a no-holds barred mission.  Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira, and Jorge Posada paced an 18-hit attack with 3 hits apiece and the 6 thru 9 hitters combined for 10 RBI.

Home runs by Dustin Pedroia and Casey Kotchman had propelled the Red Sox to a 3-1 entering the 4th inning, but the Yankees jumped all over Smoltz and his replacement, Billy Traber, to take control of the game.

Posada led off the frame with a double and scored on Robinson Cano’s single back up the middle.  Yankees fans held their breath after watching Posada get thrown out at the plate after trying to score from 2nd on Nick Swisher’s single two innings earlier.  (Posada, inexplicably, did not slide on the play in which he would most likely have scored.  Instead he gingerly put a hand up to the mask of catcher Victor Martinez, who easily tagged him out.  75 instant replays later, everyone was still scratching their heads.  Thankfully for Posada’s ego there was no play at the plate in the 4th.)

Swisher followed Cano’s single with a walk and Melky Cabrera put the Yankees on top with a 3-run home run into the second deck in right (he must have gotten permission from Teixeira).  Smoltz finally retired Derek Jeter for the inning’s first out, but after a walk to Damon and a double by Teixeira, manager Terry Francona ordered Smoltz to intentionally walk Alex Rodriguez, before he removed his starter.

Lefty Billy Traber, recalled earlier in the day, retired Hideki Matsui on a run producing force out, but Posada put an exclamation point on the inning with a 3-run blast that traveled well over 400 ft. to dead center field.

Handed a 9-3 lead, Chamberlain still struggled.  He walked the bases loaded with one out in the 5th and allowed an RBI single to Mike Lowell.  Shots of manager Joe Girardi on the dugout steps revealed the inner turmoil going on his mind, whether to take out Chamberlain or let him finish the 5th inning.  Thankfully for Girardi, Chamberlain decided his own fate, getting back to back strike outs of Kotchman and Nick Green to retire the side.

Game Notes

The Yankees won despite pitching ugly and I mean ugly.  Yankees pitchers issued 12 walks – Chamberlain (7), David Robertson (1), Phil Coke (1), Mark Melancon (1), Anthony Claggett (2)- the most in a victory in 42 years.  With 10 strikeouts there was a lot of no-contact.  According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Chamberlain became the first Yankees pitcher in 23 years to beat the Red Sox despite issuing at least 7 walks.  Doug Drabek accomplished the feat back then.

Jorge Posada honored Thurman Munson with a number 15 on his mask.  Last night marked the 30th anniversary of the post-funeral game in which Bobby Murcer drove in all 5 runs in a 5-4 Yankees victory over Baltimore.  YES announcer Ken Singleton, who worked last night’s game, was the O’s right fielder that night and Eddie Murray, the O’s then 1st baseman, was also in attendance for last night’s game and stopped in the booth.

During the game the Yankees announced the acquisition of right-hander Chad Gaudin from the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later or cash.  Gaudin will initially pitch out of the bullpen, but could supplant Sergio Mitre in the rotation.

Muhammad Ali was on hand last night to present Hal Steinbrenner with the “Six Star Diamond Award” for Yankee Stadium and Legends Hospitality, LLC with the “Five Star Award” for the food services and hospitality excellence at the new Stadium.  The Yankees played highlights of Ali’s boxing career on the video screen, including his matches at the old Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees are 0-8 against Boston this year, including losing both games of a 2-game home series back in May.  But things have changed since then.  The Yankees have been playing well since the break and take a 2.5 game lead in the AL East into tonight’s game.

Boston is without Dice-K, will be without Jason Bay for at least the first two games, the back end of the rotation has been shaky, and the bullpen hasn’t been as effective as earlier in the year.  But GM Theo Epstein did recently add All-Star Victor Martinez to an already potent lineup and Boston is still a very dangerous team.

Joba Chamberlain (3-0, 0.83 in last 3 starts) will try to get the Yankees off on the right foot tonight when he faces John Smoltz.  A.J. Burnett goes against Josh Beckett tomorrow and CC Sabathia faces Clay Buchholz in Saturday afternoon’s nationally televised game.  The team are on national TV again in the series finale Sunday night when Andy Pettitte goes against Jon Lester.

Notes

Cody Ransom was designated for assignment prior to yesterday’s game to make room for reliever Anthony Claggett.

WP – Chamberlain (6-2)  LP – Anderson (5-8)

Pitching and defense wins champions. Right now it’s win baseball games for the New York Yankees.  Joba Chamberlain pitched into the 8th inning and the Yankees took advantage of sloppy Oakland A’s defense to win their eighth straight ball game, 8-3.

Chamberlain won consecutive starts for just the second time in his career and came out for the 8th inning after throwing 93 pitches through 7 innings.  But leading just 4-1 at the time, Joe Girardi was forced to go to the bullpen when his starter gave up a walk and hit a batter to open the inning.  Phil Coke came on and stranded the A’s runners and the Yankees broke open the game in the bottom half of the inning, enabling Mariano Rivera to enjoy a night off.

Oakland starter Brett Anderson started out well, striking out the side in the 1st inning, but ran into trouble in the 3rd.  Down 1-0, Robinson Cano stroked a lead off single and two batters later his buddy, Melky Cabrera, doubled to left.  Derek Jeter hit a patented lined single to right to tie the game and the Yankees tied it when Anderson didn’t get over to 1st base on Johnny Damon’s potential double play grounder.  Instead the ball hit Damon in the hip as Cabrera scored the go ahead run.  Anderson committed the same faux pas later in the game and will definitely be working on his pitcher’s fielding practice (PFP) next spring.

It was just Anderson’s defense though.  Alex Rodriguez hit a line drive to left field to start the 6th inning.  Until his trade earlier in the day, Matt Holliday would have been out there, but instead Scott Hairston lost the ball in the lights, allowing A-Rod to reach with a 2-base hit.  Two batters later, Hideki Matsui hit a high chopper that brought home Rodriguez for a 4-1 Yankees lead.

Chamberlain gave up a run in the 1st inning, but quickly settled in.  He retired the side in order in the 6th and 7th and eight straight over all before the first two hitters reached in the 8th.  He allowed just 2 hits, walked 3, and struck out 6.  Two of the K’s came in the 5th inning of a 2-1 game. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and just one out, Chamberlain struck out Mark Ellis and newly acquired Eric Patterson swinging, and finished with a fired up first pump.

With Rivera loosening in the bullpen, the Yankees put the game away with 4-run 8th inning, highlighted by Jorge Posada’s long home run to left field.

Game Notes

With 3 hits last night, Derek Jeter surpassed Ted Williams on the all-time career hits list with 2,655.

After all the talk of the Yankees not doing well against young pitching, they are now a MLB best 19-7 against rookie starters.

WP – Chamberlain (5-2)  SV – Rivera (26)  LP – Jackson (7-5)

Even those who were steadfast against moving Joba Chamberlain back to the bullpen were beginning to re-think their stance after watching the objection of their affection stink up the joint in his three starts prior to the All-Star break.  But yesterday, their fist-pumping, fireball throwingJoba returned in the Yankees 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers in front of a house packed for Old Timers’ Day.   Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira provided the offense with solo home runs against Tigers starter Edwin Jackson as the Yankees moved to within one game of Boston in the AL East.  After the Old-Timers’ Day festivities, it was time for Joba to turn back the clock a bit.

The game didn’t start out that smoothly though for Chamberlain, who threw 23 pitches in the first inning to escape a 2-on, 1-out jam, but Jobamania hit it’s peak in the 5th inning of a 1-1 game.  The Tigers put two men aboard with one out, but Chamberlain retired the dangerous Miguel Cabrera on a pop up and struck out Marcus Thames with 97- and 95-mph fastballs.  The swing and miss for strike three brought the patented, and controversial, Joba fist pump, accompanied by a “spin-o-rama”.  The crowd roared their approval as their hero strode towards the dugout.

Clete Thomas‘ 4th home run of the season had given the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the 4th, but A-Rod tied it up in the home half of the inning with a tremendous blast into the Tigers’ bullpen in left-center.  The home run was #571, putting him two behind the Twins‘ Harmon Killebrew for 9th place on the career list.

Then it was Teixeira’s turn to leave his calling card in the 6th inning, when he belted a solo shot into the 2nd deck in right field.  It’s quickly becoming the favorite landing spot for the 1st baseman’s blasts.

Joba would hear boos in the 7th, but they weren’t for him.  They were directed at manager Joe Girardi, who came out to remove his starter after Chamberlain struck out Gerald Laird and Ramon Santiago to start the inning.  But the bullpen was solid and Joba picked up his first win since June 24.

Game Notes

Phil Hughes pitched a scoreless 8th inning and struck out two Tigers.  Of the last 9 outs Hughes has recorded, 8 have been by strikeout.

Mariano Rivera issued just his 4th walk of the year, in the 9th inning, but picked up his 26th save.

The Yankees begin a 3-game series with the Baltimore Orioles this evening (7:05 p.m. EDT).  Andy Pettitte will try to get back on the winning side of the ledger as he faces rookie David Hernandez.

WP – Bulger (4-1)  SV – Fuentes (25)  LP – Melancon (0-1)

The Yankees are going to have make a decision soon on the immediate future of Joba Chamberlain.  The Yankees young star imploded once again last night, lasting just 4 1/3 innings in a 10-6 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.  To make matters worse, the Yankees had staked him to a 5-1 lead.  Chamberlain wasn’t completely at fault though- the Yankees are still snake bitten in Anaheim.  Errors by Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter and another poor relief outing from Brian Bruney all contributed to the “Mess out West“.

Chamberlain’s night started out in fine fashion.  He struck out Chone Figgins to start the game and retired the side in order in the 1st inning on just 9 pitches.  But a 29-pitch 2nd inning was a portend of things to come.  He worked his way out of a 2-on, no-out jam in the 4th, but he wouldn’t be so lucky in the 5th.

Yankees killer Figgins reached on a bloop single and stole 2nd base, though replays showed he was out.  One batter later, former Yankee Bobby Abreu roped a single to left to cut the Yankees lead to 5-2.  After Abreu stole 2nd, clearly safe this time, another former Yankee Juan Rivera reached on A-Rod’s throwing error.  Kendry Morales followed with a game tying 3-run blas,t and I mean blast, to dead center field.  Joe Girardi finally gave Joba the heave ho after Mike Napoli doubled.

It meant another no-decision for Chamberlain, who has the ignominious record of the least amount of decisions by a pitcher in his first 29 big league starts.  The Angels took the lead for good in the 6th on a Figgins RBI triple and another RBI single by Abreu.  Both runs were charged to Mark Melancon, who had been recalled from Scranton earlier in the day.

Melky Cabrera’s RBI single in the 7th cut the deficit to one, but Bruney ran into more trouble after replacing Melancon in the bottom of the inning with one and two out. (The inning would have been over but Jeter, who had just gone into play defense, dropped a pop up.)  Bruney walked Jeff Mathis and then gave up a 3-run home run to light hitting Erick Aybar.  The Yankees put two aboard with two outs in the 9th, but Angels closer Brian Fuentes struck out Jorge Posada to end the game.

Things had started out promising in the 1st inning.  Jeter lined the game’s first pitch past Joe Saunders head for a lead off single.  Johnny Damon followed with a walk and two batters later, A-Rod singled in the game’s first run.  Nick Swisher then lined a 2-run single to left for a 3-0 Yankees lead.

Jose Molina, making his first start since returning from the DL, Jeter, and Damon each singled in the 2nd to make it a 4-0 game and A-Rod belted his 15th home run of the season in the 5th for a 5-1 advantage.

Game Notes

Alex Rodriguez‘ home run gave him 568 in his career, one behind Rafael Palmiero for 10th place on the all-time list.  This won’t be a passing of the torch.  More like a passing of the syringe.

The Yankees still couldn’t beat the Angels despite the fact that Torii Hunter and Vlad Guerrero were each placed on the 15-day DL earlier in the day.

Jorge Posada caught a foul pop up, barehanded last night.  Chone Figgins got in his way and Posada dropped his glove in the process.  Posada caught the ball and then questioned home plate ump C.B. Buckner as to why interference wasn’t called on Figgins.  For video of the play, check out My Pinstripes.

Andy Pettitte goes for the win today against righty Jered Weaver.  It’s a nationally televised game on FOX, beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

WP – Albaladejo (3-1)  SV – Aceves (1)  LP – Ryan (1-1)

The holiday weekend saw plenty of fireworks at the new Yankee Stadium as the Yankees pulled off a pair of come from behind wins.  Derek Jeter celebrated his election to his 10th All-Star game with a 2-run home run as the Yankees overcame an 8-4 deficit and beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-8 this afternoon.  The victory came on the heels of Saturday’s 6-5 comeback win against Roy Halladay.

The Yankees jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but Joba Chamberlain was tagged for three runs, including an Adam Lind home run, in the 3rd inning and four more runs in the 4th.  Cody Ransom, filling in at third base for Alex Rodriguez, committed an error to extend the inning.  The Blue Jays took advantage of the mistake and took the lead  on RBI singles by Raul Chavez and Marco Scutaro, and a 2-run home run by Aaron Hill.

But the Yankees came right back against shaky rookie starter Brett Cecil (scheduled starter Scott Richmond was placed on the DL with shoulder tendinits) and the Blue Jays bullpen.  Hideki Matsui’s 3-run shot off Cecil cut the Yankees deficit to one in the bottom of the 4th and an inning later, Jeter took B.J. Ryan deep with a man aboard to put the Bombers back in front. Jorge Posada, who had the game winning hit on July 4th, added some insurance with an RBI double later in the inning.

The Yankees bullpen, which has been much improved of late, got stellar efforts from Jonathan Albaladejo, who earned the win, and Al Aceves.  Aceves picked up his first major league save with four scoreless innings of work.

Game Notes

As expected, Chien-Ming Wang was placed on the 15-Day DL with a shoulder strain and bursitis.  It’s not considered serious and the Yankees believe Wang could be back when he’s eligible to be activated.  Albaladejo took his spot on the active roster.

The Yankees may not like facing Roy Halladay, but Johnny Damon loves too.  The Yankees left-fielder tied Saturday’s game 5-5 with a 2-run shot off the Blue Jays ace.  It gave Damon a .349 (30-86) average against Halladay with 2 HR, 4 RBI and 11 walks.

Robinson Cano had a miserable Saturday, going 0-6 with 10 men left on base.  On top of that he missed a sign in the 9th inning.  With 2 men aboard and a 3-0 count, Cano was supposed to take a pitch. Instead, he bunted into a force out.

In addition to Jeter, Mark Teixeira beat out Kevin Youkilis in the voting as the AL’s All-Star starting 1st baseman and Mariano Rivera was added to the team’s pitching staff.

The Yankees go for a sweep of the 4-game series of Toronto on Monday (1:05 p.m. ET) when Andy Pettitte faces fellow left-hander Ricky Romero.

The only reason I can come up with for questions 1 and 3 is that Girardi is under so much pressure to win he’s going pedal to the medal the rest of the season.  That, and personally, I don’t think he’s a very good manager.  It doesn’t matter if A-Rod said he felt great every day, Girardi has an obligation to A-Rod and to the team to make sure he’s performing at or near 100%.  And make Phil Hughes the 8th inning guy already, would ya.

It’s this type of situation that convinces me that anything short of a world’s championship will cost Girardi his job.

Xavier Nady will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow next Wednesday.  Nady was told by doctors that the ligament tore completely off the bone (hope you weren’t eating when you read that).

Jose Molina will begin a minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Scranton on Friday.  Once Molina is ready to return to the majors, the Yankees have to decide whether to carry three catchers or send Francisco Cervelli to the minors to play every day.  The latter probably makes the most sense.

Alex Rodriguez Jr. may star in the bigs one day.  Okay, he’s not really A-Rod’s son, just his nephew..the son of his half-brother Joe Dunand Sr.  Lil Joe, Joe Dunand Jr., is 5′9″, 140 lbs…and only 13 years old.  But as the Daily News reported he’s a chip off the old uncle’s block.

Uncle A-Rod and his nephew have a “comfortable” relationship, according to Dunand Sr., who adds that his son shares A-Rod’s “love of the game and work ethic.”

This from the Elias Sports Bureau -  When A-Rod and Ken Griffey Jr. homered in last night’s Yankees-Mariners game it marked just the 2nd time in major league history that two players with 550 or more home runs went yard in the same game.  Willie Mays and Hank Aaron were the first duo in 1971.

Newest Yankee Eric Hinske will wear #14.  The Baltimore Orioles are the only AL East team that Hinske has not been a member of.

Joba “the nibbler” Chamberlain set a new record, but it’s not one to be pleased about.   He has the most career no-decisions for a pitcher with 26 starts.