OK, the AL East race is realistically over. If the Yankees go 19-14 (which would be below their current WP), then Boston needs to go 25-6 just to tie. If Boston were to sweep the Yankees next month, they'd still have to gain four games in the loss column over less than 30 games. If they win "only" 3 of 4, they need to gain six games.

This is probably the last series of the season that means anything to the Yankees, then, and not much at that. If the Yanks sweep, they'll be tied with the Tigers in the loss column for HFA. That only means something if they both go to the ALCS and it goes seven games, but it's still something.

There isn't much suspense left in the AL. It's going to be the Yankees, Tigers and A's, and the Wild Card team is going to either be the White Sox or Twins. The Yankees will play the Wild Card, the Tigers will play the A's. The only team that really scares me in the AL is the Twins, I think if the White Sox win the AL Wild Card, the Yankees would be my favorite to win the World Series.

I strongly believe that the Yanks should give Phil Hughes one or two starts at the end of September. If he's good, they can pencil him into the rotation in Spring Training next season, and if he's not ready, then they can look for him late next year or in 2008, and look for another starter this offseason. I think they'd be better off getting a good look at him now than finding out next spring that he's not ready, when there would be little they could do about it.

I am pretty sure Phil Hughes will not only start the season for the Yanks, but win the CY YOUNG/MVP for the next 13 seasons.

That's pretty pessimistic, SJ.

Phil Hughes will also cure cancer and juvenile diabetes and be the first man to walk on Mars.

With the Tigers' remaining schedule, it's a stretch to suppose that they can go .500 the rest of the way, and even that wouldn't hold off the White Sox and Twins. There's a slim chance that they can, of course, but there's where the suspense in the AL is--which of the White Sox and Twins will win the division and which will win the wildcard.

The Tigers are playing like crap. They could easily lose most of their games in September.

Like I said, I just hope they're more than 3 games in front of the Sox before they play them this month.

I think the Yanks should have called up Hughes to make the "Fat Sidney™" start for game II of the Friday doubleheader against the Sox. It wouldn't have affected his service time, a high-K guy would have been a nice matchup against that lineup (Karstens would have been lit up like New Year's Eve), and the give-a-taste-of-trial-by-fire approach seemed to work great eventually with Melquiades.

Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Jason Giambi 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Bernie Williams DH
Melky Cabrera LF

That one game in L.A. has ensured Bernie as the everyday DH and that Giambi will be on the DL for the postseason.

Bernie has more than earned a spot against lefthanded pitching:

Situation AB H HR OBP SLG AVG

vs LHP 116 38 6 .398 .552 .328

Of course, that means Giambi at first base, which is a problem if done on a regular basis. But Bernie can also play a little outfield against lefties. The real problem is that Bernie should not be in there against right handers.

The weather's not looking promising out there.

They'll get the game in. The majority of the rain is north of NY. It'll rain on and off but should clear up around 9:30

It's a pity, I was looking forward to going to the game, but I can't handle another heavy rain delay as jet-lagged as I am. I've had very bad weather luck with my Yankees games this year.

Lefty Bernie is acceptable.

I'm shocked that Melky has recovered sufficiently from his oral procedure to play tonight.

Also, has anyone noticed how lefty-dominant the team has become? Damon, Abreu, Giambi, Cano and eventually Matsui. With Bernie, Melky and Posada in the lineup as well, that's possibly seven lefty swingers on a nightly basis. Good luck all you righties out there.

I think that is part of the reason they wanted Wilson.

Is anyone else suprised that the Ortiz/HGH thread is not on hot topics.

If only Sheff could come back healthy this year. That's all the righty power this team would need.

Is anyone else suprised that the Ortiz/HGH thread is not on hot topics.

Pardon?

Sheff is dead as a Yankee.

It's like Jeter walked up to him in the dugout one day and kissed him abruptly...

I know it was you Gary. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!

Pardon?

exactly, you would think there would be more noise

Loud Noises!!!

Loud random speculation about drug use is unacceptable when it is about members of the Red Sox. Only when it is nobody pitchers, Barry Bonds and Yankees is it acceptable.

Tonight's game rained out-day night double tomorrow

I'm guessing it's only logical that Pavano pitches tomorrow?

Logical in a stupid sense I suppose.