The Return of Phil Hughes

He's back.

Well not quite. Hughes pitched two innings of no hit ball for Tampa, the Yankees A ball affiliate, walking two and allowing one unearned run. More importantly, it was his first appearance pitching against competition since he strained his hamstring against the Texas Rangers while working on a no-hitter. That, compounded by an ankle injury during rehab set back Hughes so far that some speculated that he would be shelved for the entire season and if anything would make a late season return. Now, he is on pace for a start sometime in late July, possibly the 27th against the Orioles in the game that was scheduled (not the rain shortened game that will be finished of course) or the 28th also against the Orioles.

Meanwhile, the rehab starts continue. Hughes is scheduled to start for the Thunder on Friday, July 13th and Wednesday, July 18th at Waterfront Park in Trenton. He looks to make one more rehab start, for Scranton-Wilkes Barre, and then make his return to the Yankees, barring any setbacks. This comes at a very good time for the Yankees. At this time in the season they are coming to the point where a decision needs to be made on Kei Igawa, who has struggled again since being called up after working with Yankees pitching guru Nardi Contreras in the minors. They really cannot afford to stomach anymore losses from Igawa, who hasn't won a start since his six inning bullpen outing relieving Jeff Karstens who broke his leg against the Red Sox on April 28th. He hasn't won a game as a starter since April 18th at the Stadium against the Indians. Expect Hughes to replace Igawa in the rotation when he returns, and a Igawa demotion to Scranton or a move to the bullpen.

Video of Joba Chamberlain's Future's Game Performance

Yankees vs. Angels Game 85

YANKEES
Damon DH
Cabrera CF
Jeter SS
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui LF
Posasa C
Abreu RF
Cano 2B
Cairo 1B
Clemens RHP (2-3, 4.26)

ANGELS
Willets LF
Figgins 3B
Cabrera SS
Guerrero RF
Matthews CF
Kotchman 1B
Anderson DH
Kendrick 2B
Mathis C
Lackey RHP (11-5, 3.04)

With the way Lackey has pitched, it'll be a tough one for the Yankees. This guy is always tough, especially against the Yankees. But this year it looks like he'll be making a push for the Cy Young Award. He beat the Yankees earlier this season at the Stadium when Mike Mussina was on the mound for the Yankees. As for Clemens, hopefully he can pull another Rocket-esque performance like he did last time out. Yankees will need it to win this one.

Old Timer's Day

Unbelievable...there are five players in this game who are younger then Roger Clemens, today's starting pitcher. That is amazing. The players are: Rich Monteleone (3-22-63), Jim Leyritz (12-27-63), Scott Brosius (8-15-66), Homer Bush (11-12-72) and Paul O’Neill (2-25-63). But the big question is: Homer Bush is here why? Was Andy Stankiewicz not available?

Two players making their first appearances in this game will be Paul O' Neill and Scott Brosius. O' Neill has been seen many times since his playing career in the booth as a Yankees game analyst for the YES Network. However, Brosius has seemingly fallen off the face of the Earth, it will be really nice to see him once again. I will bring you the lineups when they become available.

My Midseason Player Grades

A-Rod: A+
Jeter: A
Posada: A
Matsui: D
Melky: C+
Giambi: D-
Abreu: Z
Cano: C-
Damon: D
Cairo: C-
Minky: D-
Phelps: F
Nieves: F

Hughes: Incomplete
Wang: A-
Pettitte: A-
Clemens: C
Mussina: C-
Rasner: Incomplete
Clippard: C-
DeSalvo: D-
Wright: D
Igawa: F
Pavano: F

Rivera: B+
Bruney: B
Proctor: B-
Villone: C
Henn: C
Myers: D
Vizcaino: D+
Farnsworth: F

Your thoughts?

This Team Showed Me Something Today: Yankees 7 Twins 6

Big win today, but not only for the now in taking three of four from the Twins, who are ahead of the Yankees in the Wild Card standings at this point. This game made was one where the Yankees proved they can go toe to toe with a good team with a good bullpen and win a close game, which they've had serious problems doing thanks to the bad bullpen. Kei Igawa was awful early and late, and to be honest I personally would hope they get him off the team soon, whether it be to Scranton or release him outright. Brian Cashman signed a guy who doesn't know how to pitch, plain and simple. I don't know if he'll ever learn either. Igawa allowed two early runs to put the team behind from the get go. I thought that maybe it would demoralize the team, and suddenly the team who took the first two games from the Twins would only get a 2-2 split in the series, which isn't going to cut it considering the hole the Yankees have dug themselves. Instead, they rallied for five runs thanks to home runs from Cano and Cabrera in the second. But by the fifth inning when Igawa finished his start, the game was tied 5-5.

This is where the Yankees showed me something. They went up against a better bullpen in a battle of the bullpens and pulled it out. Luis Vizcaino, Scott Proctor, and Kyle Farnsworth all pitched scoreless innings to keep the game tied at 5. Then Hideki Matsui woke up and hit a two run home run to break the tie, making it 7-5 Yankees. The homer was off Pat Neshek, a pitcher who has unreal numbers this year, and is fighting for a spot on the All Star Team. That made his shot even more impressive. So the game is all wrapped up right? Mo in the ninth, done deal. Not so fast. Mo struggled in not being able to put away the first two hitters he faced, both hitting clean singles, not of the bloop variety. Then after a strikeout where the runner stole second, it made it runners on second and third, one out. Tying runner was on second base with less then two outs. But, Rivera was able to get Joe Mauer to ground to Derek Jeter, scoring a run but getting the second out. Runner on second, two outs, game now 7-6 Yankees. Mo finished the job getting Michael Cuddyer on a half swing strikeout. Final score Yankees 7, Twins 6.

K. Farnsworth (W, 1-1)
P. Neshek (L, 3-1)
M. Rivera (S, 11)

Yankees (40-42)
Twins (43-41)

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!

Go Joey Chestnut! In all seriousness, have a safe and happy Independence Day, I know I will. And also, say Happy Birthday to George Steinbrenner, who turns 77 this fine day.