Dead Men Walking

The Yanks needed a least 2 out of 3 to be back in the Wild Card race. Tuesday night was the the Yankee season in a nutshell.

Andy Pettitte, a big game pitcher in the past, did not have one. A Rod who had a MVP season last year with many big late inning homers....this year no clutch hitting at all. Tuesday night, trailing by 4 in the seventh, bases loaded, A Rod up...double play... rally over.It has happened all year. We have talked about it before...not only not hitting in big spots but not hitting at all.

I am still watching the Yankee game at 10pm Wednesday night as the Yankees are getting blown out by the Red Sox. Now its official: the Yankees post season chances are over. I still had some hope before this week that they still had a shot. But now just work on what you need for next year.

For Sale

As we get ready for the last month at Yankee Stadium, baseball wise it won't be a September to remember.

After watching the Bombers lose another series--this time to Toronto--it looks like for the first time in 14 years there will not be any October Baseball in the Bronx. It is hard to believe as a Yankee fan. I am ok with that after all that has happened this year. And as a big fan I am now starting to see what my team will do in the off season.

I am sure there will be some big changes. But this Yankee fan feels that we should start the sale now. With the August 31 deadline coming up soon it is very hard to get players through waviers. But sometimes when a player is making a lot of money teams won't block the move so much.

For example: Johnny Damon (pictured making one of his two 8th inning errors against Toronto) , with one year left on his salary, is from Florida. How about sending him to the Rays? I am sure Boston would block it and maybe Damon would veto it as a 10-5 guy but it is worth a shot. The same for Pudge Abreu and Giambi and a few others who probably won't be back next year. This is coming from a Yankee fan: sell, not buy. Who would of thought it? Just an idea, Brian Cashman.

It's Now Or Never

31 years ago Elvis died and those 1977 Yanks were not in this shape.

10 1/2 back in the eastand 6 in the wild card. This team lost one to the Royals last night 4 to 3 after many chances to get big hits and it is simple. Starting today, with 39 games left, like the old Elvis song "It's now or never" for the Yankees post seasons plans.

Brian Cashman made some moves Friday, sending Melky Cabrea down to Triple A and cut Richie Sexton. It did not help last night as the team did not comeback.

It is simple: This team can't hit. We have talked how the starters have been in most games and the bullpen up until a few games ago has been solid. It has been the bats not coming though in big all small spots.

Batting Coach Kevin Long \, who was given a two year extension on his contract, may be the first one let go at the end of the season as heads could roll. Today has to be the day to get on a win streak or like another Elvis song this team could be "All Shook Up."

Maybe Hank's Right

After a Yankee win on Tuesday night Hank Steinbrenner made some comments stating that 2008 is not the Yankees year. And after watching them on Wednesday lose to the Twins in Minnesota maybe he is right.

It was a typical 2008 Yankee game. They did not get the big hits. Starting pitching was not that bad...but bad enough to give up the big hit. And the middle relief did not come through. We can go over and over it but it is more of the same story: this team that was supposed to be the next Murders Row has not come through in the clutch.

And if you look at the whole season the line up from top to bottom, except Abreu and sometimes Damon and Nady, the lineup is very inconsistent. Hank said that in the last 25 years he never saw this many injuries. And coming off a 3 and 7 road trip it showed. Injuries are one thing but when the team is close to full strength they are still very up and down.

You can;t blame it all on injuries and maybe it is time to be sellers not buyers.

Joba May Head To The 'Pen

If Joba Chamberlain does not need any surgery or has to be shut down for a long time he may wind up back in the bullpen. The team might do what they did last year and put in "The Joba rules": only a certain amount of innings.

This Weekend the team looks in trouble as the head to the Big A and lose the opener in Anaheim, 3-0. With Ian Kennedy and Dan Geise starting, it shows the Bombers are in need of starting pitching to fill Joba's void. But Phil Hughes threw in Scranton Thursday night and is about 2 weeks away.

Also...believe it or not Carl Pavano is working his way back and is up to about 60 pitches a game; he could be back by the end of the month. These are all if's so if Joba could come right back maybe the bullpen is not a bad idea. Because a lot of fans thought he never should of left.

The Halos Are Good

Like the Oakland As of the late 90's and the '98 Yankees, this Angel team looks dominant. The first game of the series they muscled the Bombers 12 -6. But last night's 1-0 was tough as K Rod beat our guy the Great Mariano.

Now the Bombers are in a real tough spot...they play this team 6 more times in the next week . And now the schedule gets easier for Boston and Tampa. This is were the Bombers have to put up or shut up as the hit the road for what could be a make or break trip.