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After another victory tonight, the Yankees have extended their win streak to 5 (and the home streak to 9.) With a Tampa loss, we sit only 3.5gb with a 55-45 record. Tomorrow is the last game of the series against the Twins and after that the Yanks have a day off before starting a series with Boston (who are only 2.5 games ahead of us [likely to go to three later tonight as the BoSox are winning right now] at this point for the wildcard.) The Yankees are far from out of it and if we can keep the momentum going we could see ourselves in second or maybe even first place in less than a week. So, who said that the Yankees are done for this year?

After coming away with a thrilling 13 inning win on Saturday the Yankees look to sweep the Oakland A’s on Sunday. The 1:05pm start will feature Andy Pettitte and Justin Duchscherer as the starting pitchers.

Duchscherer is 10-5 this season with a 1.82 ERA. With those numbers it is no surprise that he was a member of the 2008 All Star Game. Justin has won 7 of his 9 decisions, with his last start a 7.2 inning no-decision, in which he allowed 5 hits and 2 runs against the Anaheim Angels. The A’s lost that game 4-3. In Duchscherer’s last start against the Yankees, he went 7 strong innings and allowed just 5 hits and a run. He is 1-1 in his career against the Yankees. Newcomer Richie Sexson has the most career at bats against Duchscherer, going 4-14 with 2 doubles and a homerun. Alex Rodriguez is 4-11 career against Justin with a homerun and 5 RBIs.

For the Yanks, Andy Pettitte will look to pick up his 11th win of the season. Andy is 10-7 with a 4.03 ERA on the season. Pettitte is 9-5 in his career against the A’s including a victory against them earlier this season. Pettitte is 6-2 with 2 no decisions in his last eight starts.

Let’s finish the series with a sweet sweep!

After a big win Friday night, the Yankees will battle the A’s again on Saturday afternoon at the stadium.

For the A’s, 22 year old rookie Sean Gallagher will throw. Sean is 1-0 since coming over in the Rich Harden deal before the All Star Break. In his last start, Gallagher went 7 innings, allowing just 2 hits and 2 runs in a 9-2 win over the Angels. Gallagher, a 12th round draft pick by the Cubs in the 2004 draft is 4-4 overall, with a 4.25 era. As a Cub, Gallagher had lost his last three starts before coming over to Oakland. No current Yankee player has faced Gallagher in their career.

For the Yankees, Joba Chamberlain will be on the hill. Joba is 2-3, with a 2.62 era on the season. Chamberlain has pitched in 47 games in his career, with 2008 being his first full season in the majors.  He has made five starts at home this season, going 1-1 with a 3.41 era. His last start was on July 11th against the Blue Jays and he went 6.2 innings, allowing 7 hits, and 3 runs in a 5-0 loss. His last win was June 25th at Pittsburgh, a game in which he pitched 6.2 scoreless innings. Frank Thomas is the only current A’s player to face Chamberlain, and he is 0 for 2.

This game is scheduled to begin at 1:05pm.

Buster Olney of ESPN reports that the Yankees have agreed to a tentative deal with Richie Sexson. With the offense doing not-so-well, Cashman seems to think that Sexson may be able to help us. The Yanks are going to be paying him the minimum, so if it doesn’t work out then oh well. The main reason that he is appealing is because he bats right-handed, which can certainly be useful for the lineup. We have struggled against left-handed pitchers all year and Sexson may be able to help out that cause a bit. I know Sexson isn’t nearly what he used to be, but I think we should give him a shot (atleast until he starts to play poorly) because there is a [slight] chance that he might help out the team a bit, just look at how the Ponson signing is working out so far.

After the AL won the marathon of an All Star Game, the New York Yankees, and Oakland A’s, both coming off four days off will tango Friday night for the first of three at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees are coming off a loss to Toronto, and sitting at 50-45, 6 games back from Boston, and 5.5 from Tampa Bay, while Oakland has lost their last two, and are 51-44, and 6 games out in the AL West.

For the A’s, Joe Blanton will take the mound. After the A’s lost Rich Harden, Blanton along with Dana Eveland will have to take the responsibility of carrying the load for Oakland starters. Blanton has had some troubles this season, but looks to get off to a better second half. Joe is 5-12 on the season with a 4.96 era. In his last outing against the Yankees, he went 6.2 innings, allowing 6 hits and 4 runs- all earned in a loss. Blanton is 3-6 in his last 9 decisions. For Yankee hitters, Derek Jeter is 4-12, Alex Rodriguez 4-7, and Jorge Posada is 2-5, but no one else has had great success off Blanton. Rodriguez has 2 homeruns and 5 RBI’S, in those 4 hits.

For the Yankees, the Moose, Mike Mussina will take the mound. Mussina has been solid for another season. The 39 year old right hander is 11-6 on the season, with a 3.61 era. For his career, Mike is 17-10 against Oakland. Mussina is coming off a 6 inning no decision in a 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh last week.

Time for the Yankees to show what they are made of here in the second half. Let’s get a win!

This post is part of the MLB Draft 2008 get-to-know the draftees series.

In the 48th round of the 2008 MLB draft, the Yankees selected Rob Scahill out of Bradley University, a private school in Peoria Illinois. Rob, a 6’2, 205 pound right-hander had a nice season for the Braves in 2008. It was a great comeback after missing the 2007 season with a torn labrum. In 2008, Rob threw 83.2 innings, allowing 78 hits, striking out 79, and walking 41. Opponents hit a combined .244 against Scahill.

Scahill has a nice fastball that hits the low 90’s, and a curveball plus a changeup that he seldom uses (but does have in his arsenal.) Part of Scahill’s downfall throughout his career has been his control and his weakness of using the middle of the plate way too much. Hopefully after he has recovered completely from his injury this will be something Rob fixes. Chances are Rob will return to Bradley for his senior season, as the Yankees track his progress.

In the 46th round (with the1394th overall pick) of the draft the Yankees selected right-handed pitcher Matt Veltmann out of San Diego Community College. Veltmann, 6’5, 200 has great stuff, and only pitched one collegiate season. A 2007 graduate of Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Veltmann appears to be able to throw in the lower 90’s and throws a bit from the side. His curve has great ability, and he is able to pitch a nice hard slider, along with a sweet split.

This post is part of the MLB Draft 2008 get-to-know the draftees series.

Last night’s home run derby was certainly one for the ages as it was the first and last at Yankee Stadium and Josh Hamilton continued his inspirational comeback with an amazing night. He ended up coming in second since the last round resets the home run count, but I think in the minds of most he was the true winner. Even Justin Mourneu, who officially won, admitted that Hamilton was the big show of the night.

The 27-year-old Ranger hit home run after home run in the first round, breaking Bobby Abreu’s record of 24 by 4. Not only that, but most of those blasts were far and high, going to the back of the stands on a regular basis. The crowd was going crazy and chanting “Ha-mil-ton, Ha-mil-ton, Ha-mil-ton.” The star of the night later said that the sights and sounds of the fans at Yankee Stadium chanting his name like that sent chills through his body. Who would have seen this coming just one year ago?

It was a truly spectacular event and for those who haven’t seen footage from it, you really must. It was a great derby, one that will be remembered for years and one that is certainly very fitting for the last year at Yankee.

This post is part of the MLB Draft 2008 get-to-know the draftees series.

With the 620th overall pick (20th round) of the 2008 MLB draft, the New York Yankees selected a right-handed pitcher out of Creighton University- Patrick Venditte. Patrick is an extremely unique draftee, as he is the only ambidextrous pitcher in the country. He is successful at pitching with both arms and that can certainly be a very valuable trait if he can make the bigs. The 6-1, 190lbs also bats from both sides of the plate, making him extremely desirable.

Venditte was born and raised in Omaha Nebraska, attending Omaha Central High School, and then electing to stay at home and attend Creighton University, a small Jesuit Catholic University. He was drafted in the 45th round of the 2007 draft, also by the Yankees, but elected to return to school for his senior season where he made the All-American first team going 9-3 with a 3.34 era and 7 saves. He pitched 86.1 innings, and appeared in 37 games, which led the conference and ranked second in the country. He struck out 101 batters in those 86.1 innings.

He recorded a strikeout with both his right and left arm in 17 of his 35 games this year, and 39 times in his career. Venditte was used out of the Blue Jays’ (Creighton Blue Jays, not Toronto) bullpen and pitched upwards of three innings an outing. He made his second career start against Nebraska on April 23rd.

This guy could be a very valuable asset to the Yankees bullpen in the future. He doesn’t have the most over-powering stuff, but he can throw strikes and fool hitters. How about a righty specialist and a lefty specialist, all in one? Very good decision by the Yankees to pick this guy up for a second straight year!

This post is part of the MLB Draft 2008 get-to-know the draftees series.

This post is part of the MLB Draft 2008 get-to-know the draftees series.

Addison Maruszak, a 22-year-old shortstop out of the University of South Florida, was selected in the 2008 MLB draft by the New York Yankees. Maruszak, taken in the 17th round, was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida. He is 6-2, weighs 190lbs, bats right and throws right.

During his junior season Maruszak hit .362, compiling 72 hits, 52 runs, and 6 homeruns for the Bulls. He was named to the All Big East Team. He was also a candidate for the Brooks Wallace Award. In 2008 Maruszak came in second in the Big East in batting average, hitting .416 and compiling a .496 on base percentage. On April 26, 2008, Addison hit two home runs in the same game (against Villanova) to become the first Bull to ever achieve that feat.

During Spring Training, Addison was able to play with his USF team against the Yankees, in what he claims was his greatest moment in baseball to this date. With his solid bat, along with good defensive abilities as a middle infielder, look for Addison to become a special player in the major leagues someday!

This post is part of the MLB Draft 2008 get-to-know the draftees series.

A sad day it is in the Yankee universe as one of the most memorable figures passed away today. Bobby Murcer, Yankees player and broadcaster passed away today at the age of 62. Our condolences to his family. This is a terrible lose for baseball in general. More on Murcer and his life coming soon…

Update: Here is the official statement by the Yankees, which includes more about the great personality and his life.

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