Quick Bits: Damon, Marte, Lee

Here are a few quick items on the afternoon:

• We’re still waiting to see whether or not Johnny Damon will return to Boston after being claimed off waivers.
• Damaso Marte is scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow (his second since hitting the DL).
• After a poor outing against Baltimore, Cliff Lee has been accused of mailing it in Texas, a claim he denies.

Lee is obviously just biding his time before donning the pinstripes. Sorry, Texas.

Photo by Getty Images

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Boss to be honored in Monument Park

Via the St. Petersburg Times:

TAMPA — The late Yankees owner George M. Steinbrenner III will be honored with a place in New York’s Monument Park at Yankee Stadium in September and a tribute to his life in Tampa next year, his family announced Tuesday.

“We remain profoundly grateful and touched by the many expressions of sympathy and support from so many,” the family said in statement through the New York Yankees. “We are especially appreciative that our family’s privacy was respected as we grieved the loss of George.”

The Tampa tribute will take place at the opening game of spring training in March of 2011.

The Monument Park dedication will be held Sept. 20 at Yankee Stadium, prior to an evening game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Nice to see the Yankees moving quickly on the Monument Park addition.

Photo by Getty Images

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Morning Bits: Recap, Aceves, Pettitte, Call-Ups, Teixeira

Here are a few quick items on the morning:

• Though Ivan Nova pitched well yesterday – 5.1 IP 6 H 2 ER 1 BB 3 K – the Yankees lost to Toronto, 3-2.
• The rehabbing Alfredo Aceves will make another start in the minors today, marking his 4th such outing.
• Speaking of injured hurlers, we learn that the veteran, Andy Pettitte, will toss a bullpen session on Friday.
• Expect to see Colin Curtis, Jonathan Albaladejo, Romulo Sanchez, and Juan Miranda again in September.
• This year, managers seem eager to intentionally walk Mark Teixeira to face A-Rod or Robinson Cano.

Is it a good idea, though? No, actually. It’s not, (thank you, Jack Moore of FanGraphs).

Photo by the AP

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G125: Yankees @ Blue Jays

Ah, sorry for the lateness.

Here are the lineups, via LoHud:

YANKEES (77-47)
Brett Gardner LF
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Eduardo Nunez SS
Ramiro Pena 3B
Francisco Cervelli C

RHP Ivan Nova (0-0, 0.00)

BLUE JAYS (64-59)
Fred Lewis LF
Yunel Escobar SS
Jose Bautista RF
Vernon Wells CF
Adam Lind DH
Aaron Hill 2B
Lyle Overbay 1B
Edwin Encarnacion 3B
Jose Molina C

RHP Brandon Morrow (9-6, 4.45)

Enjoy, guys.

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Johnny Damon to the Red Sox?

It’s certainly a possibility as Johnny Damon, former Yankee turned Tiger, could return to the Red Sox after having been claimed by Boston off of waivers. Damon would be a fairly cheap pickup – he’s owed just under $2M for the rest of the year – to help an outfield thinned by injuries. The one-time BoSox center fielder has seen his numbers – his power, in particular – suffer at Comerica’s cavernous ballpark, as his triple slash sits at a modest .270/.355/.409. Of course, moving back to Fenway Park could, in fact, help Damon up those figures a bit, at least marginally.

The question remains, though—does Damon want to return to Boston? According to Ed Price of FanHouse, Damon could block the deal and is not “inclined” to return. He does have 48 hours to make a decision, however. Perhaps the nostalgic storyline will persuade him…

Photo by Getty Images

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Quick Bits: Matchups, Betances, Cano

Here are a few quick items on the afternoon:

• LoHud has the pitching matchups for the Toronto series–tonight we have Nova vs Morrow.
• Frankie Piliere provides us with a great scouting report on Yankees prospect, Dellin Betances.
• Is Robinson Cano an MVP candidate this season? Well, of course–but is he the most deserving?

Ah, it’s nice to post again. I’ll have more later today…

Photo by Getty Images

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GOTD: CC’s BB/9 on the rise

Here’s today’s graph of the day–an interesting bit on CC Sabathia’s walk rate via FanGraphs:

Despite his great season, CC’s BB/9 sits at 2.93, which is the highest figure from CC since a 3.45 mark in 2004.

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Morning Bits: Recap, A-Rod, Nunez, Nova, Sabathia

Here are a few quick news items and notes to start the day:

• Led by CC Sabathia (6 IP 3 H 0 ER 0 BB 8 K) and Robbie Cano (6 RBI) the Yanks beat Seattle Sunday, 10-0.
• Missing from the beat-down was Alex Rodriguez, who has been placed on the 15-day DL with a left calf strain.
• For now, the Yanks will piece together 3B, with weekend hero, Eduardo Nunez, platooning with Ramiro Pena.
• Sending A-Rod to the DL opened up a roster spot, so Ivan Nova has been called on to start tonight in Toronto.
• With yesterday’s outing, CC has now won 15 consecutive starts at home and hasn’t lost there over his last 20.

Home/away splits aside, CC has been extremely good this season, and is poised to garner Cy Young considerations as the season winds down. In fact, after Sunday’s 6-inning gem, CC has provided the Yankees with 16 consecutive quality starts–a franchise record. Prior to Sunday, CC was tied with Ron Guidry for 15 consecutive quality starts (Guidry put together his streak back in 1978). He is now the sole owner of such a distinction.

Photo by Getty Images

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G117: Yankees @ Royals

Here are the lineups for today’s game:

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Lance Berkman DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF
Francisco Cervelli C

Gregor Blanco CF
Willie Bloomquist 3B
Billy Butler 1B
Wilson Betemit DH
Alex Gordon LF
Mike Aviles 2B
Mitch Maier RF
Bryan Pena C
Yuniesky Betancourt SS

Ah, Sunday–how I love thee. Enjoy, boys.

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G110: Yankees VS Red Sox

Here are the lineups for tonight’s game via LoHud:

YANKEES (68-41)
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Lance Berkman DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF

RHP Dustin Moseley (1-1, 4.13)
Moseley vs. Red Sox

RED SOX (63-48)
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Marco Scutaro SS
David Ortiz DH
Victor Martinez 1B
J.D. Drew RF
Adrian Beltre 3B
Ryan Kalish LF
Bill Hall 2B
Kevin Cash C

RHP Josh Beckett (3-1, 570)
Beckett vs. Yankees

Enjoy, folks. Nothing like a Yanks-Sawx matchup to cap off a lazy Sunday.

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