A happy Father's Day to all

Great piece on the Molina's! I certainly hope CC is ok, that was a weird series of events.

I loved the series of events with Jeter stealing third. What made that inning word was Swisher not stealing also. Had Swisher gone to second, Teixeira's chopper would have been a simply groundout. This game is frustrating though! They should have beaten them into the ground by now. Tomko gave up some SHOTS.

Enjoy the next couple of days off Kim and we'll look for you on Wednesday!

Ohh...CHAT on Tuesday! OK...I'll be there! :-)

Good catch by Joe in the 8th tonight.

Phil Q - Who's got the best clubhouse food on the road?

pooor cc i thought that he was going to do a good job on the game today but he didnt.swisher should of steal base 2. when i saw that play i was like what is wrong with him??..if he didnt want to run he should of let Ramiro run for him as a pinch runner..nice play by jeter and nice triple for Brett garner...i think that if swisher would of move that would of been another second home run inside the place for garner...

#1 fan of Ramiro Pena=]

i'm so pumped that you're interviewing hughes. i love him!
you should ask him what kind of music he listens to, who he's closest to on the team, who he sits with on flights, and what his favorite tv show is.

you should also ask if maybe he's single...? hahaha

Great entry! I have a couple questions for Phil:

- Have you surprised yourself with your effectiveness out of the pen? For the month of June you have a 2.08 ERA... any chance you want to stay a reliever since you seem like such a natural?

- If you do go back to Scranton this season what lessons will you take with you from your time in the Majors? How do you think you'll be better prepared the next time you're called up and what do you think will be the key to your staying in the Majors?

- How has your philosophy changed pitching in relief and how do you think it has made you so effective?

Hope any of these sounds okay... love the blog and your reporting Ms. Jones... keep up the great work!

your fan,

bryan

Here's some questions for Phil...

Is your goal to get back in the rotation or are you just happy to be in the bigs and will do anything to stay?

Who is your favorite band?

Do you think the pulled hamstring in Texas has derailed your career a little or do you think it had no effect?

I'm going to miss the chat on the 30th... because I'm going to see my first ever game at Yankee Stadium (new or old)! I live in NC and this is going to be my first trip to NYC. I can't wait to see the game.

Here's a couple questions for Phil:

Who was your favorite baseball player growing up?
Did you ever play any other sports besides baseball?

Questions for Phil-
I know he's been busy and everything...but ask him when his next post on Yardbarker will be!! I have been dying for a new contest and a new playlist!!!

As a life long New York Yankee fan I have a few gripes to vent. I’ve rooted for this team since the early 80’s, the good teams and the bad teams. There are some very important factors missing.
1 – This team has lost series to the red sox, nationals, marlins, mets (lets be real) and NO ONE CARES. I , for the first time in my life, say “oh well” when they lose now. I used to say “oh sh%$”. Why? Because no one cares. There are no headlines or memos being handed down saying that things are going to change. Nobody is embarrassed. No jobs threatened. No passion. No pride. NO ONE CARES!! Its just a business now, not a team.
2- Lets face it the demise of this team started in 2004, but not when the red sox completed their comeback from 4 back. It started the day they signed A-rod. The day they let him become bigger than the team. He changed that clubhouse and sucked the life from this team. He’s embarrassed the organization over and over again and then when we finally thought we rid ourselves of him they let him play them like a fiddle and take him back. As a thank you, he really sucker punches the organization (steroids). Now all the marketable aspects they signed him for (homerun records) are gone. Michael kay can keep feeding us the next guy on the list for A-roid to pass but it doesn’t mean anything any more. Stop the charade!!!! We aren’t stupid.
3- Bringing in Joe Girardi was now suppose to bring discipline and toughness to this team. How’d that work. No one respects him, most don’t even get along with him. Getting rid of Torre was a big mistake. He knew how to get guys to play for him (except A-roid), and that’s why he is no longer here. The team respected him, they wanted to win for him, they felt like they were letting their father down when they disappointed him. I watch the dodger games every night after the Yankees lose and I see it happening over there now. His guys respect him and want to win for him. How did Girardi do with A-roid out for 20 something games? How is joe doing with manny gone for 50? No panic. Girardi’s like a scared puppy, micro-managing.
4- The Yankees choose A-roid over winning, and they aren’t going to admit they made a mistake, they never do, but it just doesn’t matter anymore because NO ONE CARES!!! The owners no longer have a passion for the team, just a passion for the money. I guess A-roid is a perfect fit for the new owners.
5- The Yankees lost last nite - OH WELL !!!! But the Dodgers won!!!

I've been a fan since 67 and I have something to say. If Stick Michael were more involved with the decisions the Yanks would have more success. Kim, please tell George's sons to call him. Another painful thought. It's time to move Jeter down in the line up, for obvious reasons. He is our future hall of famer, but he is killing too many rallies. Lastly, trade Posada for tons of talent. Everybody else in baseball thinks he's still what he used to be. We can rob another team of good youth, but now is the time. Do we want to honor our old heros or do we want to win?

You can't trade Posada. Nobody is going to take that contract for a catcher his age. It might be possible to trade Matsui. He's in the last year of his contract and a team looking for a bat to put them over the top might part with some younger talent. The Yanks could even eat a bit of his salary to make that happen.

Beyond that, there isn't much the Yanks have that anyone wants. The contracts are all too high....except maybe Swisher....and who would want him with what he's shown so far this year? Like anyone wants a .220 hitter who is prone to making unforgiveable baserunning mistakes and fielding gafs. LOL!!

I agree that Jeter needs to move down in the order...and not because he isn't hitting like he used to....it's because he is swinging at the first pitch ALL THE TIME lately. He...and the rest of the Yankees...used to work the pitchers...work the counts...now? You see rookie pitchers with a pitch count of 84 in the 8th inning. That's not what I call working the counts, and Jeter is the worst lately. I'd bat him 7th until he gets his head out of his tail and starts playing like he used to.

All in all, I think the Yankee fans (like me) should prepare ourselves for another year of either missing the playoffs completely OR a first round exit if they get lucky enough to get there. With Sabathia being damaged goods now, and Wang lost in space...Joba still searching for his niche and Pettitte learning to pitch ala Mike Mussina.....all boosted by roller coaster offense who can't hit rookie pitching...there really isn't a lot of hope.

Where does the blame lay? Well...I think it lays with the players mostly. I think they have that NY sense of entitlement. Like when they become a Yankee, management will put the pieces in place and all they have to do is settle back and get ready for the world series. I think some of these guys just lose their drive when they get here. They become more famous than they ever imagined because they wear the pinstripes, and in the process, they lose their heart to play the game. They lose the FIRE. It shows all the time in this team. There are no consequences for making bonehead plays like Swisher has...no consequences for blowing the lead....especially for Mariano. These guys are treated like royalty....by the manager, and right on down to the press.

ARod? Well...he's a story in himself. Still regarded as the 'best player in the game' for no good reason at all. A .212 hitter? The best player in the game? He hasn't been that since coming to the Yankees. And if he was doing steroids in Texas and quit before coming to NY...well maybe that's what MADE him the 'best player in the game'. These days, he only flashes small signs of what he once was OR could have been. He sure as H%$! isn't worth 30 million a year. There are players out there right now, making less than a third of what this guy makes who are twice the player ARod is. And I think he knows it.

This team is as upside down as it gets. They have habitually overpaid for talent, and have been made fools of by the Boston Red Sox when they bid 30 million dollars to 'NEGOTIATE' with Kei Igawa. They were made fools of on the Pavanno deal. They got Giambi when his numbers were inflated by steroid use..another embarrassment. They let Bobby Abreu go in favor of Nick Swisher and Nady....another bust. And over the years, they have depleted their farm system for over the hill hired guns whose best years are behind them.

So again... who is too blame? Lots of it to spread around. From Cashman, right on down to the under achieving players. The Yankees are a MESS, and I think they won't see another World Series for another 10 years....IF they somehow get a clue on how to build a team. Until then? We'll sit here as fans and ask..WHY?

Wow....I am SHOCKED at some of the comments here. Trading Posada?? Jorge is a Yankee, and he will retire a Yankee. He isn't going anywhere until he decides it's time to hang them up. Jeter is still one of the top hitters on the Yankees, and like most of the other guys right now, he will go through periods where things go wrong. Signing Abreu would have been a HUGE mistake. He would have gotten $15M for the next couple of years, which would have stalled the progress of Austin Jackson.

Arod is Arod and he causes problems by just opening his mouth. I TRULY wish he would actually dedicate himself to baseball but he won't fully do it. He just might be someone who is TOO BIG for people not to just accept him for what he is. Pavano was a mistake only because he kept getting hurt. Anybody ever hear of Mike Hampton??? Colorada might STILL be paying his contract and he hasn't pitched for them in 5 years. Igawa turned out to be a mistake too but then again, it looks like Matsuzaka might turn out to be the same way for Boston.

If the Yankees defense actually played WELL, they wouldn't have to try to score 3 runs in the 9th every other day. 22 come from behind wins is great but that means they were losing in those 22 games! It's easy to B&M about everything that is going wrong with the Yankees when they are losing. Were you guys doing that when they were winning 14 of 18?? Be a FAN of the team and enjoy watching them. I will wake up tomorrow whether they win or lose.

I'm just thankful that SOME OF YOU GUYS aren't the GM of the Yankees!

Wow....I am SHOCKED at some of the comments here. Trading Posada?? Jorge is a Yankee, and he will retire a Yankee. He isn't going anywhere until he decides it's time to hang them up. Jeter is still one of the top hitters on the Yankees, and like most of the other guys right now, he will go through periods where things go wrong. Signing Abreu would have been a HUGE mistake. He would have gotten $15M for the next couple of years, which would have stalled the progress of Austin Jackson.

Arod is Arod and he causes problems by just opening his mouth. I TRULY wish he would actually dedicate himself to baseball but he won't fully do it. He just might be someone who is TOO BIG for people not to just accept him for what he is. Pavano was a mistake only because he kept getting hurt. Anybody ever hear of Mike Hampton??? Colorada might STILL be paying his contract and he hasn't pitched for them in 5 years. Igawa turned out to be a mistake too but then again, it looks like Matsuzaka might turn out to be the same way for Boston.

If the Yankees defense actually played WELL, they wouldn't have to try to score 3 runs in the 9th every other day. 22 come from behind wins is great but that means they were losing in those 22 games! It's easy to B&M about everything that is going wrong with the Yankees when they are losing. Were you guys doing that when they were winning 14 of 18?? Be a FAN of the team and enjoy watching them. I will wake up tomorrow whether they win or lose.

I'm just thankful that SOME OF YOU GUYS aren't the GM of the Yankees!

Wow....I am SHOCKED at some of the comments here. Trading Posada?? Jorge is a Yankee, and he will retire a Yankee. He isn't going anywhere until he decides it's time to hang them up. Jeter is still one of the top hitters on the Yankees, and, like most of the other guys right now, he will go through periods where things go wrong. Signing Abreu would have been a HUGE mistake. He would have gotten $15M for the next couple of years, which would have stalled the progress of Austin Jackson.

Arod is Arod and he causes problems by just opening his mouth. I TRULY wish he would actually dedicate himself to baseball but he won't fully do it. He just might be someone who is TOO BIG for people not to just accept him for what he is. Pavano was a mistake only because he kept getting hurt. Anybody ever hear of Mike Hampton??? Colorada might STILL be paying his contract and he hasn't pitched for them in 5 years. Igawa turned out to be a mistake too but then again, it looks like Matsuzaka might turn out to be the same case for Boston.

If the Yankees defense actually played WELL, they wouldn't have to try to score 3 runs in the 9th every other day. 22 come from behind wins is great but that means they were losing in those 22 games! It's easy to B&M about everything that is going wrong with the Yankees when they are losing. Were you guys doing that when they were winning 14 of 18?? Be a FAN of the team and enjoy watching them. I will wake up tomorrow whether they win or lose.

I'm just thankful that SOME OF YOU GUYS aren't the GM of the Yankees!

OK...RANT OVER!

Question for Phil:

What are your thoughts on being in those late inning, high pressure situations? Do you think you could handle a career as a closer?

You're right about Posada's contract. The time to trade him for young pitchers was a few years ago. About venting... I guess it's easy to complain after a bunch of losses. But I think it's ok to make suggestions, even strong ones. Didn't Buck Showalter and Gene Michael have a lot to do with building the 90's team? Maybe we can get them back on board. And I say," Play Gardner everyday, let use all that speed as the lead off man." I see him fouling every other pitch to left field. But hopefully he can correct that.

Hughes loves The Office which has great practical joke comedy pieces. Maybe we can ask him if he tried any of the practical jokes on the show on anyone? Or what is the best gag he has tried on a teammate?

I would also like to know what he does away from the ballpark? Does he have favorite things to do in NY?

I would also ask if he is spending some time picking Mariano's brain out in the bullpen.

Hey bob15....WRONG!!

1. Just because Jeter is still one of the best hitters on the team doesn't mean he shouldn't be working the count on these pitchers. He's swinging at first pitches at a high rate lately, and that has NEVER been a part of his game. He owes it to this team to be a leadoff hitter...since that is currently his job. I don't care WHO he is, he's not doing that job lately. Maybe it's a slump like you say....I hope so. But NOT swinging at the first pitch all the time is step ONE in getting out of it.

2. The Yanks could have signed Abreu to a one year deal. They had the right to negotiate with him after they let him go, just like the Angels did. As for Austin Jackson? Funny....I don't see him. Apparently the braintrust doesn't feel he is ready to contribute. Now, you being a FAN, must trust their judgement since you come down on some of us for pointing out the obvious gafs made by management. So just be a FAN and hold your breath for Austin Jackson...he'll be here when management thinks he's ready.

3. Matsuzaka has been a regular and successful starter for Boston for the last 2 years. Just where has Igawa been? Yeah...Matsuzaka has had some problems this year, but at least he is in the Majors contributing. Again, the Yanks threw 30 Mill $$$ just to negotiate with this clown. What you and the rest of us SHOULD be asking is 'WHO IS THE SCOUT THAT CONVINCED THE YANKEES TO SIGN THIS LOSER??' And is he still working for the team?? There is no excuse at all that is acceptable for such a debacle. Just because you HAVE a ton of $$ doesn't mean you should throw it at Kei Igawa. Don't you WONDER why the field level seats at the new stadium are unaffordable for MOST fans?? Remember...the FANS are the ones who eventually pay for the $$$ mistakes of the team. Somehow...some way....WE pay.

4. Yeah....it;s a nice ride when the team is winning. It makes us sit back and say....'HEY...MAYBE WE WERE WRONG ABOUT JG. MAYBE THE YANKS CAN TURN THIS AROUND!!' And then reality sets in. So yeah....some of us fans start to B&M. But it isn't like we do it for no reason. Many of us point out the glaring issues with this team. And you know what?? We have the right to do it. WE buy the Yankee paraphenalia...WE pay the inflated ticket prices...WE tune in to YES to watch them play night after night. A lot of us...like me....have been fans since we were kids. It's OUR team. So yeah Bob...we DO have a right to B&M. Nobody complains when they are winning, and when they lose a LOT like they are now...to teams like the NATIONALS and the MARLINS, and make rookie pitchers look like Cy Young...well heck yes we're going to complain. Why? Because there is NO REASON that a team as expensive as the Yankees...with all of the talent that they have should lose to teams like them. None. And as lifelong...PAYING fans, we demand more. Even if guys like you...and Yankee management....don't.

GREAT GAME BY WANGER - IF A-ROID COULD FIELD HIS POSITION 1-2-3 INNING IN THE 3RD ALSO. A-ROID SHOULD HAVE OFF ON THE DAYS WANG PITCHES THAT WILL KILL 2 BIRDS WITH ONE STONE - HE CAN REST EVERY 5TH DAY AND HE DONT KILL WANG WITH HIS CEMENT FEET. HE KILLS HIM AT LEAST ONCE EVERY START. PENA OR BORROA MAKE THOSE PLAYS. GIRARDI NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION!!

DODGERS ARE ON CHANNEL 740 IF YOU WANT TO SEE ANOTHER WIN - THEY LOVE PLAYING FOR TORRE - GREAT TEAM, REMINDS ME OF WHAT WE USE TO HAVE. A BUNCH OF GUYS PLAYING HARD FOR THEIR MANAGER. OH WELL TIME MOVES ON !!!

DODGERS ARE ON CHANNEL 740 IF YOU WANT TO SEE ANOTHER WIN - THEY LOVE PLAYING FOR TORRE - GREAT TEAM, REMINDS ME OF WHAT WE USE TO HAVE. A BUNCH OF GUYS PLAYING HARD FOR THEIR MANAGER. OH WELL TIME MOVES ON !!!

Mr.DP strikes again! Is that what his number 2 stands for? Golden sombrero for Posada. Is he playing cricket? Maybe golf? Arod looks like he's sulking. Is this fatigue from not doing ROIDS??? Somebody check out the symptoms. Tell Jeter to stop looking into the TV cameras and pay attention!! He always does that. Don't worry. I'll feel better if they win. But the Yanks have to change my tune.

They looked like zombies tonight! There is no LIFE in this team. What is wrong?
I think the fans are more upset than the players or the manager! They will probably be out at the clubs in Atlanta tonight having a good time while we all go to bed upset with this team.
It's not fair to the fans and if George Steinbrenner were able he would certaintly do something!
Maybe when Yankee stadium does not fill up and it hits them in the pocketbook the Steinbrenner BOYS will do something about it.
Now I have to go and take my Zantac before bed!! Thanks Yankees!

ask him who is favorite character from the office is!

Kim,
Of late you are the only bright spot on YES (besides Kaye and the other playby guys) Keep up your good work
This team is worse than last years!!! Pitching, Joba, Wang and A.J. nuff written, defense, nuff said, offense DUH !!!
Coaching and managing, Double DUHS. How much longer is Joe gonna continue using A-Rod in cleanup? He should be batting 7th or 8th and Jeet should be following him until they get right, lately I cringe when Jeet comes to the plate with someone on 1st.
Question, why are the Yankees one of the only teams that don't have their names on their jerseys? I know their numbers but don't know the answer to the question.
Thanks for your good reporting.

Kim, could you say "Happy birthday" to him for us?
Thanks!