MY BASEBALL BIAS

YANKEES (67-59)
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
A. Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
I. Rodriguez C
Ponson RHP

The Yankees will have their work cut out for them tonight in Toronto as they face Roy Halladay, a pitcher that has dominated them (5-1, 1.93) since 1995.

Sir Sidney gets the start for the Bombers and there was a nice story in the Journal News today on how he has fit in with team.

Word is Carl Pavano will start for the Yankees on Saturday in Baltimore. Really? No wait, Really? That will be a must see.

Joba threw 20 fastballs from 60 feet today, but he probably won’t be ready for game action until the second week of September.

YANKEES (66-59)
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
A. Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Molina C
Pettitte LHP

The Yankees need to get down to business starting tonight. Thirty-seven games remain (21 on the road) and they are nowhere near a playoff spot. Andy Pettitte is pitching a huge game tonight against David Purcey of the Blue Jays.

Nothing left to say.

Finally, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the flood gates opened. Fifteen runs on seventeen hits. Four team home runs. Even a GRAND SLAM by the Giambino! What’s gotten into this team?

The Yankees battered KC starter Brian Bannister, knocking him out of game in the second inning with a brutal line of 1IP, 10H, 10ER and 3HR’s allowed. Fifteen runs scored was a welcome site for a team that has struggled to plate runs all year long.

Mike Mussina, after a shaky first in which he allowed three runs, settled down to dominate the next five innings retiring the last 14 batters he faced. He also earned his 16th win of the season and 266th of his career. With an estimated seven starts left in the season, he has an excellent chance of winning 20 games for the first time in his career.

Derek Jeter and A-Rod had perfect days at the plate. Rodriguez finished 3-for-3 with five RBIs, and Derek Jeter went 4-for-4 and scored three times.

Monday is an off-day although the Yankees will be traveling north of the border to one of A-Rod’s home-away-from-homes. They’ll face A.J. Burnett on Tuesday night in Toronto.

Don’t look now, but there could be a Carl Pavano sighting in the Bronx in the near future. The $39.95 million dollar bust that has garnered nicknames like ‘American Idle’ and ‘The Rajah of Rehab’ threw well today during his rehab assignment at Double-A Trenton. He gave up six hits and one run in six innings of work, striking out six and walking only one batter. In three starts for Trenton, Pavano has posted a 3.86 ERA in 14 innings with 13 strikeouts.

So here’s the question: Would you want this guy anywhere near the mound if the Yankees find themselves in desperate need of a starter?

Hideki Matsui, out since late-June with a bad knee, could join the team on Tuesday for a three-game set in Toronto:

Matsui had 15 at-bats during a simulated game at the Yankees’ spring training complex in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, facing left- and right-handed pitching. Manager Joe Girardi said the balky left knee that has derailed the rehab process several times seems to be holding up.

“Every time he would get to bat, it would just blow up, but it hasn’t this time,” Girardi said. “So far the knee is good and we’ll make a decision tomorrow,” when the team has a day off.

“I’m very happy, definitely happy, and the only thing left is do whatever I can to help the team,” Matsui said through a translator after his simulated game on Sunday. “I’ll just have to try and see what happens, but I’m sure I’ll be able to help the team.”

I would assume that either Justin Christian or Cody Ransom will be sent back down when Matsui returns.

YANKEES (65-58)
Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Cano 2B
Molina C
Gardner CF
Mussina RHP

The Yankees will try and win their first series since taking two of three from Boston back in late July. Mike Mussina goes for win number 16, while Brett Gardner continuers to bat ninth and start in center field.

Currently the Yankees are 9.5 back of Tampa in the division and 6.0 games back of Boston in the Wild Card.

Just win baby.

Thanks to newcomer Brett Gardner, the Yankees actually won a game today beating the Kansas City Rayals 3-2 in 13 innings. And as nice as Gardner’s heroics were, the team continued to struggle offensively, leaving six more runners in scoring position with two outs. Hopefully this will be the shot in the ass arm that will get the Bombers moving as they head down the stretch.

Hope you like these boards. I started these at the beginning of the season and I’ll update the boards every Friday.

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