Kuzul

The Yankees game was threatened because of Hurricane Earl, but they managed to get the game in as the Yankees won 7-3 over the Toronto Blue Jays for their seventh consecutive victory.

Here are some highlights:

• Ivan Nova started and didn’t have the same stuff he had in his first two starts. His line: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HR.
• The bullpen continues to be impressive, Boone Logan, David Robertson, Kerry Wood, and Mariano Rivera combined for 4.1 scoreless innings.
• The offense was big today without the benefit of the home run.
• Curtis Granderson lead the way, going 2-for-3 with 3 RBI.
• Brett Gardner‘s legs were also big contributors as he scored three runs, he also had an RBI.
• Lance Berkman, Ramiro Pena, and Eduardo Nunez also had multi-hit games.

Related Stories

• September 2, 2010 — Fast Forward: 2011 Outfield
• August 25, 2010 — Yankees Notes: Recap, Swisher, Hughes, and Aceves
• June 21, 2010 — Updated AL All-Star Ballot: Jeter and Cano Still Ahead
• April 30, 2010 — Stats: Thames, Granderson, and Gardner Against Lefties

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

We’ve seen it throughout the years, as teams encounter difficult decisions, when long-serving veterans and fan-favorites enter the inevitable, athletic decline phase of their careers.

No one can escape the clutches of the dreaded father time, when a player’s body simply cannot do the same things that it could during the prime of his youth. Maybe it’s the eyesight, maybe the legs feel heavier and the footwork slower, the hands a tick behind Major League fastballs.

For all their apparent super-human qualities, athletes face a rather dramatic fall from grace as they enter the winter of their playing days. The physical gifts that set them apart from mere mortals begin to fade, rendering them human once again as they prepare for life after professional sports.

This is the critical juncture at which teams must decide between loyal sentimentality, and doing what is collectively beneficial for the future of their organization. Does it best serve the team to reward a player for his past contributions and commitment to the cause; or is it worth it to risk the wrath of the fans by severing ties with a long-standing member of the squad?

In recent seasons, the Yankees have struggled with this scenario, as various older members of the team have come up for contract renewal. Being the Yankees, the financial restrictions that face most other teams don’t necessarily come into play. The team has had the ability to retain veterans, even at inflated prices, when many other teams would have been forced into saying their goodbyes.

From the other side of the AL East divide, we have fairly recently witnessed the Boston Red Sox cut ties with several critical players whom they either felt no longer fit into the long-term vision, or simply didn’t warrant the commitment in dollars and years that the players were seeking. Pedro Martinez and Johnny Damon were allowed to walk in free agency, when management reached the decision that neither were critical to the team’s future at the free agent costs that they were likely to command. Manny and Nomar were both traded away mid-season in an effort to reduce existing tensions and potentially bolster the team’s likelihood of advancing deep into the post-season.

Of course, as great as some of those Red Sox players were, none of them were Derek Jeter.

Following the bright lights and crisp nights of October baseball, and the potential defense of their World Series title, the Yankees will find themselves embroiled in contract negotiations to determine the future of their homegrown captain and most popular player.

No one in their right mind truly believes that Derek Jeter is going to play for another baseball team in 2011. The prospect is nearly inconceivable. Try imagining the Yankee captain and short-stop of 16 seasons in a different uniform than the familiar pinstripes or road grays. It’s tough to even trick your mind into entertaining the notion without it reverting to images of Jeter in Yankee pinstripes. Even during the World Baseball Classic, seeing the face of the New York Yankees in the Team USA jersey didn’t seem quite right.

That’s what makes this scenario so difficult to handle for the team. Derek Jeter is the captain, the face of the Yankee’s most recent run of success, bridging the gap between the Joe Torre era and the 2009 Championship squad. Jeter is arguably the most recognizable and marketable player in all of Major League Baseball. His value extends far beyond the diamond.

However, regardless of a player’s leadership, marketability and various intangible qualities, a team must seriously consider how much to factor in those issues while evaluating a player’s future value as his playing skills inevitably deteriorate.

After watching Jeter produce one of his finest seasons in 2009, en route to the Yankees’ fifth World Series ring during his tenure, it seemed as if this immortal would continue on his established path toward Cooperstown forever.

Many fans figured the team would bypass the team’s consistent practice of waiting until a contract is over, before negotiating an extension in the off-season, thereby alleviating the pressure on Jeter to perform in a “contract year”, and rewarding him for his faithful allegiance to the Yankee cause. The team however, steadfastly refused to deviate from their plan, preferring to wait until Jeter’s contract expired after the 2010 season, before even considering renewing his deal.

Then the 2010 season happened.

Undoubtedly, the Yankees would have preferred another Hall of Fame caliber season from Derek Jeter this year, but his significant decline in performance during 2010, has given the decision to wait on any contract decisions an appearance of a masterstroke by management. By declining to sign him immediately following an MVP-caliber season in 2009, the team likely saved themselves many millions of dollars of future financial commitment to Derek Jeter beyond 2010.

Aside from perhaps saving the team a significant amount of money, Derek Jeter’s sudden descent into normalcy is prompting several questions in regards to Jeter’s future with the Yankees.

Standing at 2,893 career hits, with just over 30 games remaining this season, Jeter is in prime position to join the 3,000 hit club sometime during the first half of 2011. Considering that he is already the Yankee’s all-time hits leader, and the fact that not one player has ever accomplished the feat as a Yankee, fans can rest assured that he will continue his pursuit of history in the Bronx.

The outside chance that he could someday challenge Pete Rose’s all-time record of 4,296 looms as a potential goal, however unlikely it may be. If Jeter were so inclined to chase down that lofty ambition, that would likely throw significant doubt upon his ability to remain a Yankee, as they would have trouble committing to such a long-term pursuit, even for Derek Jeter.

1,403 hits is a rather long way away for a 36-year-old ball-player though, so we’ll save that dream for another day.

In the likely scenario that the Yankees do retain the services of Derek Sanderson Jeter, the question then becomes, “what is his position?”

Since claiming the Yankee short-stop duties from Tony Fernandez before the 1996 season, Jeter has made the spot his own, rarely missing much time aside from a freak injury on Opening Day 2003. The 11-time All-Star even withstood the arrival of former MVP Alex Rodriguez, who, while many thought he was the superior short-stop, moved to third in deference to Derek Jeter.

The image of Derek Jeter manning short-stop for the Yankees is as familiar as any in modern baseball. Realistically though, how much longer can we expect to see him jog out to his position on a daily basis?

Jeter has long been criticized for his defensive shortcomings, despite the fact that he has thus far been awarded four Rawlings Gold Glove awards. Critics have gone so far as to call him “the least effective defensive player at any position in baseball.” As we all have likely witnessed, Gold Gloves are often awarded to solid fielders who also happen to hit well, so they are not necessarily a precise indicator of a player’s fielding ability. However, the assessment that he may be “the least effective defensive player at any position,” would lead me to wonder if Bill James and his statistical gurus hadn’t somehow missed out on a bunch of other terrible fielders over the course of their analysis.

I feel that the truth lies somewhere between Gold Glove caliber and the absolutely atrocious level that Jeter’s detractors would have you believe.

However you rate his defensive prowess, it is a well-documented fact that championship teams rarely include aging starting short-stops. In fact, including the 2009 Yankees, there have only been four teams to win the World Series with a starting short-stop over the age of 35, and last year, Jeter became the first since a 37-year-old Pee Wee Reese won with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955.

Obviously, the 2010 Yankees have no choice but to attempt to defend their World Series title with Jeter at short. Given his impending free agency however, the 2011 and beyond Yankees may find it necessary to explore their available options, rather than keep trying to turn back the hands of time.

If the Yankees make the decision to look elsewhere for a short-stop solution in the near future, then the question becomes, “where else does Jeter fit in with the Yankees?”

Please continue reading the full article HERE and for more quality New York Yankee coverage by Scott Gyurina, please visit Pinstripewest.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

After losing the first game 3-2, the New York Yankees need to win Tuesday night against the Blue Jays at Rogers Center.

The Tampa Bay Rays have caught up to tie in the standings, and the Boston Red Sox are still very much alive.

Translation…inter-division games can kill a team’s chances for playoff berth, so the Yankees cannot lose this series for starters.

The Blue Jays are making things difficult against all AL East teams. Toronto is not making the playoffs this season, but in any other division, my bet is circumstances would be different.

In all honesty, handing the ball to RHP Dustin Moseley is risky because he brings no stability on the mound.

Moseley has fared better because Yankees bats have backed him by scoring runs. This will be essential once again, as Moseley is no match for the home-run hitting Blue Jays.

Toronto’s Jose Bautista has demolished the Yankees in 2010, hitting six homers and 12 RBI with a .511 on-base percentage. Against Moseley, the slugger is 0 and 4, striking-out once and walking one time as well.

Still, Moseley in his last start against Toronto gave up nine hits, five earned runs, two home-runs, walked one, managed two strikeouts and a game ERA of 6.14.

Moseley has made five starts since Andy Pettitte hit the DL, pitched 29 innings, allowing 16 earned runs, seven home runs, with 14 strikeouts and 10 walks.

Problem is Moseley has only had three strikeouts, while allowing four home runs and eight hits in his latest two outings.

The Blue Jays are countering with LHP Mark Rzepczynski, who is even more inexperienced than Moseley, making his fifth start for Toronto.

Rzepczynski is 1-1 over four starts in 2010. He mirrors Moseley with a ERA of 4.76.

On the season, in 22.2 innings pitched he’s allowed 12 earned runs, two home runs, but has struck out 19 batters.

His last start was awful as Rzepczynski has zero strike-outs, giving up 5 hits, with three runs scoring before getting pulled in the fourth inning.

Yankees need to watch for Rzepczynski’s change-up, as that is his strongest pitch but only if he can execute it.

PREDICTION

Yankees need to run on base-pads against Blue Jays catcher Jose Molina. This is not easy, but the Yankees know Molina and the Blue Jays don’t focus on runners as much as they should.

Hint: Brett Gardner can cause chaos.

With Derek Jeter back in the line-up, the Yankees will win 6-1.

Moseley will get the win over Rzepczynski, but this is a close call.

Yankees know how to win when they need to, and this is against any team.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

What a rare opportunity for rookie pitcher Ivan Nova to make his mark in New York Yankees pinstripes, by making his Major League debut tonight vs. the heavy-hitting Toronto Blue Jays.

Getting called up from Scranton-Wilkes-Barre is every rookie’s goal, but to start against another AL East ball-club, in middle of a tight pennant race is a lot of pressure. Can Ivan Nova do his job?

The Yankees obviously have a lot of trust in Nova’s abilities. He has been an ace in Triple-A with a 12-3 record and 2.66 ERA.

Look for Nova to throw a newly acquired slider. The Yankees hope is the 23-year-old righty can throw a lot of strikes to keep the team in first place within the division.

The Toronto Blue Jays will counter with another youngster, 26-year-old Brandon Morrow.

On August 9th, Morrow threw 137 pitches, posting 17-strikeouts against the Tampa Bay Rays, just missing a no-hitter, which would have been the second in Blue Jays history. Morrow did record his first complete game and shutout, which is a huge accomplishment for the young righty.

Morrow has made three starts vs. New York in 2010, in which he is 1-0, allowing 11 earned runs, three home runs, four walks and striking out 24.

On the season, Morrow has a 9-8 record, posting a 4.45 ERA, allowing only 10 home runs, with 153 strikeouts over 131.1 innings pitched. He has to get his walks rate down which is currently at 60 in total.

Morrow will be extra careful with Jorge Posada and Brett Gardner who have hit him well this season. Also, any pitcher facing Robinson Cano is aware that he has been a monster with the bat.

MY PREDICTION:

Nova vs. Morrow will be a no-decision, and the Yankees will win 5-2.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The state of the New York Yankees has caused legitimate worry.

Latest news:

·Alex Rodriguez—out.

·Andy Pettitte—return pushed back to mid-September.

·Nick Swisher, AJ Burnett—playing hurt.

Now, the Bombers are tied atop the AL East, as the Tampa Bay Rays have played catch-up.

The Boston Red Sox are lurking not far behind and just activated 2B Dustin Pedroia from the DL. Pedroia is a powerhouse.

No one count out the Toronto Blue Jays either, this team is unbeatable when hot as Tampa, New York and Boston have recently experienced.

Even squeaking out a win on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers, the Yankees looked tired, and dare I say old.

Sans-A-rod has never fared well for the line-up. The Yankee bats tend to center themselves around A-rod’s talent, which is just human nature. The team can win games without A-rod and that is what must happen till he gets healthy.

Cano, Gardner, Graderson, Cervelli, Joba, Robertson, and Hughes were great at the start of 2010.

These young Yankees, as a group are as talented as the Rays or Braves. The difference is budding bombers have an arsenal of veteran all-stars to fall on when the going gets tough. It’s a nice luxury.

Those same veterans, like A-rod, Jeter, Posada, Rivera, Pettitte, Burnett, and Sabathia lead the youngsters, minus Granderson, to a championship in 2009 and now it’s time to pay them back.

It’s time for fans to start facing reality about the state of our elders, but also embrace the future because it is bright.

For now, the remaining regular seasons games will test the reigning champs who have no cushion wins to lean on. That is why losing to teams like the Royals is just making the quest harder.

Just getting to October is the focus because no point in thinking about it yet. Even as a member of the elite AL East guarantees nothing because the NL teams are better than ever.

The truth is it’s time for the fans to encourage the team, who are in the midst of transitioning. No more booing one mistake, just be quiet out of respect if it is all you can do.

Personally, the 2009 and current 2010 Yankee teams are different. They win as a team, lose as a team, fight as a team, support one another as a team and that is rarefied air in sports these days.

It’s about time the fans followed because there is no ‘I’ in team.

Only teams win games, which lead to post-season berths but genuine champions repeat, so LET’S GO YANKEES!

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

As the fantasy baseball trade deadline approaches, its getting closer and closer to the time when you need to lock-in your rosters. As always, benching the bad and starting the good can keep your team atop the standings for your stretch-run into the playoffs. Let’s take a look at some players you can acquire through trades or just through free agency.

Start ‘Em

David Murphy |Texas Rangers| 12.8% :  Over the last three years Murphy has hit .417 with 3 HRs 10 RBI in only 36 at-bats at Camden Yards, one of the parks he’ll see this week.  Against the other team he faces this week, Tampa Bay, Murphy has hit .345 with eight of his 19 hits for extra-bases.  His current hot streak should help propel him into a strong upcoming week.

Pedro Alvarez |Pittsburgh Pirates| 25% :  The ever increasingly hot rookie is poised for a big week. All week long he will have the benefit of home field where he’s hitting .287 with a .352 OBP. At home, nine of his ten home runs have been hit there, his average is 100 points higher and his OPS is a whopping 422 points higher!

Mike Stanton |Florida Marlins| 39.2% :  The upcoming away series at Houston should be great for Stanton owners. He has hit 140 points higher on the road (.327 avg. /.398 OBP / 1.081OPS away!!!). Those stats and his current hot streak in addition to the seemingly regular poor performances of the Pittsburgh pitching staff, should equate to a great week.

Sit ‘Em

Ike Davis |New York Mets| 28.1% :  Davis has been cold of late and this upcoming week shouldn’t warrant you taking any chances on this Met.  Both of his games this week come away from Citi Field.  On the road Davis is hitting .223 with a .288 OBP.  Further dowsing the fire is his .227 avg. since the All-Star break.  Leave him on the waiver wire where he belongs.

Brett Gardner |New York Yankees| 99.7% :  Gardner has been horrid since the All-Star break.  He’s hitting .174 with a .296 OBP in the 69 at-bats since.  Adding to his problems is his combined stats against the Tigers and Mariners, next week’s opponents.  He’s hitting a combined .219 and going two for three in steals in 32 at-bats against those teams.  Hitting 15 points higher at home might help him out, but don’t count on it.

Two-Start Pitchers To Use

Jonathon Niese |New York Mets| 15.5% :  The two teams he faces in the upcoming week have very limited at-bats against him and are batting .067 against him in this limited sample.  The main reason for Niese’s strong upcoming week is both Houston and Pittsburgh’s stats against left-handed pitching.  Houston is the fourth-worst team in the NL against lefties (.250 avg., .306 OBP) and Pittsburgh is the second-worst hitting team against lefties in all of baseball (.244 avg., .312 OBP).  Look for Niese to keep his WHIP low and hopefully score some wins for the reeling Mets.

Brett Anderson |Oakland A’s| 81% :  Next week Anderson faces a few teams that have some pop in there lineup.  Don’t be timid though, every major power threat on both the Blue Jays and Rays is a right-handed batter.  His career mark against righties is .239, and this year he has continued to lower it by keeping them to a .208 avg.  Two more facts will help keep the balls in the park against Anderson.  He has one of the best ground to fly-ball ratios in the majors this year (1.34) and both games will be at home in the Coliseum, the third-worst park for homeruns in the majors.

Two-Start Pitchers To Avoid

Jon Garland |San Diego Padres| 55.1% :  Garland’s career numbers at Wrigley exhibit a 5.50 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP.  Mix that with his numbers this year away from spacious PETCO Park (4.52 ERA and a .267 BAA) and you have a recipe for a benching.

Rich Harden |Texas Rangers| 39.4% :  Those of you hoping for a turnaround in the oft-injured Harden should keep hoping for a new week.  His career numbers against the Rays are bleak: 32 innings of 5.01 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.  Considering both of his starts are away this upcoming week it’s also advised to take note of his ERA outside of the Ballpark in Arlington this year (6.40 ERA and 11 HRs in only 45 innings), ironic for being such a hitter-friendly park.

Hind Sight

Here we take a look at last week’s decisions and whether they might have paid off or not.  All hind sight stats are through the end of games on Friday, August 13^th.

Start ‘Em:

Bill Hall |Boston Red Sox| : .235 avg. .250 OBP 2 Runs 2 HRs 4 RBI.  The batting average isn’t stellar but if you picked him up for the power and RBI production then you have reaped the benefits so far.

Chris Johnson |Houston Astros| : .429 avg. .467 OBP 2 Runs 4 RBI.  Chris Johnson continues to stay hot.  With trade deadlines approaching, now is a great time to get him if he’s still available in your league.

Jon Jay |St. Louis Cardinals| : .333 avg. .368 OBP 3 Runs 1 RBI.  So far it has been a great decision if you did pickup/start Jay.  The guy can rake and even though he can’t help in every category, he’s an asset to the one’s he can help.

Sit ‘Em:

Jack Cust |Oakland A’s| : .333 avg. 5Ks in 12 ABs.  This is a small sample size through the week so far, yet the four strikeouts is a lot in only seven at-bats.  Overall, this was a so-so sit, better if your league has a strikeout category for hitters.

Jay Bruce |Cincinnati Reds| :  .333 avg. in 9 ABs with 1 HR 3 RBI .  Of course he hits one out right before I submit this article.  Thanks for making me look bad.

Pitchers To Use:

Max Scherzer |Detroit Tigers|:  7IP 4H 1ER 4BB 2K

Ervin Santana |Los Angeles Angels|:  6.1P 6H 3ER 1BB 3K

Pitchers To Avoid:

Jair Jurrjens |Atlanta Braves|:  7.1IP 6H 1ER 1BB 3K

Edwin Jackson |Chicago White Sox|:  6IP 6H 1ER 1BB 7K

All Statistical Information was obtained through ESPN.com

Written exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com by James Bryce.  James is a Grad student at UCSD and is currently in his 13th year of fantasy sports.

Got a two-start pitching candidate for week 20?  
Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix

Here are some more articles that will bring you to the fantasy promised land…

Fantasy Football

2010 Fantasy Football’s Top Ten RB’s Not Named CJ, AP or MJD

2010 Fantasy Football’s Most Under & Overrated Runningbacks

2010 Fantasy Football’s Most Under & Overrated Quarterbacks

Fantasy Football’s Late Round Fliers

MAURICE JONES-DREW & THE SIRIUS XM 2010 CELEBRITY FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT

2010 Sirius XM Fantasy Football Draft Recap

Fantasy Baseball 

Well Hello Morrow! 17Ks & Why He Should Be On Your Fantasy Team

Chris Carter To Get Called Up Today For Oakland AlthleticsThe Fantasy

Fix’s AAA Farm Report

The NL Wire: A Look Into Some Worthy Roster Additions For Week 19

Toronto Blue Jays Call Up J.P. Arencibia To Replace John Buck

The Numbers Game: Forecasting Week 19 In Fantasy Baseball

Sabermetric Series: BABIP For Dummies

Martin Prado to the DL: Fantasy Pickup Options  

Fantasy Baseball Underachievers: Time to Cut Ties with Pablo Sandoval?  

MLB Trade Impact: The Big Winners & Even Bigger Losers

2010 Fantasy Baseball’s Second Half Ranks: Closers

Fantasy Baseball’s Top 50 Pitchers Post All-Star Break   
MLB Fantasy Baseball Second Half Ranks: Third Base

MLB Fantasy Baseball Post ASB Ranks: Second Base    
MLB Fantasy Baseball Post ASB Ranks: First Base

MLB Fantasy Baseball Post ASB Positional Ranks: Catcher

More Good Reads from the Fix Fellas!    

MLB Records Are Meant To Be Broken! A Fantasy Fix Roundtable Adventure    
What a Bunch of Dicks: Baseball’s Funniest Names    
Will Matt Kemp & Ryan Braun Go 30/30 in 2010?

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

After a one-day plunge into second place in the American League East, the Yankees (67-40) are back atop baseball with the best record in the game as they get set to open up a big four-game series at home against the third-place Red Sox (62-47), who trail New York by six games.

Boston, which has been hampered by injuries to Jason Varitek, Dustin Pedroia, and Kevin Youkilis (who was lost for the season on Thursday), has a chance to jump back in the race for first place if it can pull off a sweep this weekend.

New York, on the other hand, can bury its rival if the Bombers were to win the next four games. But that seems unlikely, as the Red Sox appear to hold the advantage in at least two of the pitching matchups.

This series could come down to Sunday’s game between A.J. Burnett and Josh Beckett, and the Yankees would be very happy to just get a split and keep their distance from the Sox.

Friday, Aug. 6 – Javier Vazquez (9-7, 4.61) vs. Clay Buchholz (11-5, 2.59)

Vazquez continued his predictable season of dominating National League teams and weak American League clubs, while struggling against the better half of the AL when he surrendered four runs over 6 1/3 innings for a no-decision vs. the Rays in his last outing.

The right-hander now has a 5.09 ERA against the AL and a 4.89 mark vs. winning teams. Once again, the Red Sox fit into both of those categories.

Vazquez’s only appearance against Boston this season came on May 17, when he struck out the only batter he faced in relief to earn an 11-9 victory. In 12 career games (10 starts) versus the Sox, the 34-year-old is 3-7 with a 4.21 ERA.

Adrian Beltre (15-for-44, .441, 2 HR), J.D. Drew (10-for-28, .357, 4 HR) and David Ortiz (8-for-25, .320, 2 HR) have all had success facing Vazquez. But the same cannot be said for Victor Martinez (5-for-26, .192).

Buchholz has been brilliant over his past two starts, allowing a total of two earned runs through 15 innings to drop his ERA to second best in the league.

But the righty didn’t look so good against the Yankees on May 8, when he yielded six runs (five earned) on nine hits and five walks over five innings to take a 14-3 loss.

The opener of this series could turn out to be a high-scoring affair because Buchholz is 0-2 with a 6.53 ERA in four career starts vs. New York, including an 8.38 mark in the Bronx.

Robinson Cano is 4-for-11 (.364) off the 25-year-old, while Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter are each 3-for-9 (.333) with two RBI. Mark Teixeira is 3-for-5 (.600) with a homer.

However, Curtis Granderson, Jorge Posada, Nick Swisher and Austin Kearns are a combined 0-for-16 off him, so this may be a good day to give Francisco Cervelli (2-for-3, 3 RBI) the start.

Saturday, Aug. 7 – CC Sabathia (13-5, 3.19) vs. John Lackey (10-6, 4.48)

Sabathia has recorded 12 straight quality starts, but he’s lost his last two outings after winning nine consecutive decisions.

Three of the big lefty’s five no-decisions this season have come against the Red Sox. He has a 4.76 ERA over the 17 innings in those contests. In 14 career starts against Boston, Sabathia is 5-5 with a 3.56, and the current roster hits just .207 off him.

Some of the victims include Beltre (1-for-19, .053, 7 K), Martinez (4-for-19, .211), Drew (4-for-17, .235, 7 K), Jacoby Ellsbury (1-for-13, .077, 6 K) and Bill Hall (1-for-11, .091, 4 K).

The only Red Sox hitter with a lifetime average above .290 against Sabathia is Marco Scutaro (8-for-24, .333).

Lackey once again allowed way too many baserunners in his last start against the Indians. The right-hander yielded six runs on nine hits and five walks in 5 1/3 innings to increase his WHIP to a bloated 1.53.

He didn’t have that problem on April 7, however, when he held the Yankees scoreless over six frames on just three hits and two walks.

Lackey is 5-7 with a 4.40 ERA in 17 career starts against New York, including a 3-3 record and 3.76 mark at the old Yankee Stadium. This will be his first regular-season appearance at the new ballpark.

While pitching for the Angels, he surrendered four runs (two earned) on nine hits and three walks in a 4-1 loss in the Bronx during Game 1 of the AL Championship Series last year.

Teixeira is 19-for-50 (.380) with 11 RBIs and eight walks off Lackey. Jeter is 16-for-46 (.348) with six doubles and Posada is 12-for-31 (.387).

However, A-Rod is just 9-for-54 (.167) with an astounding 23 strikeouts and Swisher is 5-for-45 (.111) with 18 K’s, so this may be a good day to give him a rest.

Sunday, Aug. 8 – A.J. Burnett (9-9, 4.93) vs. Josh Beckett (3-1, 5.70)

The Red Sox have the pitching advantage in the first and last game of this series, while the Yanks should win Friday’s contest with Sabathia on the mound.

That means this game could be the difference between a split vs. Boston picking up two games in the standings.

The Pinstripes need a solid outing from Burnett, who gave up more runs in the fifth inning against the Blue Jays on Monday (7) than he did in all of July (6). The right-hander has a tendency to blow up once in a while, but I don’t think it’s reason to panic.

If you remove Burnett’s horrible June, during which pitching coach Dave Eiland was away from the team, his season numbers are pretty impressive at 9-4 with a 3.50 ERA.

The 33-year-old had one of his blow-up starts at Fenway Park on May 9, surrendering nine runs (eight earned) in 4 1/3 innings to take a 9-3 loss.

He pitched a little better in Boston on April 6, when he allowed three earned and struck out five in five innings to earn a no-decision as the Yankees won, 6-4. Burnett is 5-3 with a 4.92 ERA in 14 starts against the Red Sox.

Beltre is 10-for-31 (.323) with six doubles and seven RBI off the righty, but Mike Lowell, who was recently activated off the 15-day disabled list is just 4-for-20 (.200).

Beckett has pitched well since coming off the 60-day DL on July 23. He is 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA in his past three starts.

The right-hander’s last two outings before going on the DL were against the Yankees and he did not pitch well in either of them. In fact, in three outings this season vs. New York, Beckett is 0-1 with a 10.43 ERA.

In his career, he is 9-6 with a 5.95 against the Bombers, but has pitched well at the new Stadium (1-0, 3.06 in three starts).

Robinson Cano is 18-for-52 (.346) with seven doubles, three homers and 12 RBIs off Beckett. Posada is 11-for-33 (.333), but has struck out 10 times.

Teixeira is 4-for-28 (.143) with 10 K’s and Lance Berkman is 3-for-18 (.167) with seven strikeouts, so he better not start. A good replacement would be Marcus Thames (3-for-9, .333, HR).

Monday, Aug. 9 – Dustin Moseley (1-1, 4.13) vs. Jon Lester (11-7, 3.07)

Moseley makes his third start of the season in Monday’s matinee. He has been a serviceable fill-in for Andy Pettitte while the left-hander spends time on the DL.

The 28-year-old right-hander allowed five runs and two homers to the Blue Jays on Tuesday, but he was efficient, lasting into the eighth inning while throwing just 85 pitches.

Moseley was 1-0 with a 5.84 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against the Red Sox during his time with the Angels. He’s held Beltre hitless in six at-bats, but Lowell is 3-for-6 (.500) with two doubles.

Lester is in a rare funk, dropping his last four starts, including a five-inning effort against the Indians on Wednesday during which he suffered cramps in his left hamstring due to the humid weather.

The left-hander, who is second in the league with 154 strikeouts, fanned seven in a 9-3 win over the Yankees on May 9. He allowed four runs over five frames against New York on April 6, however.

Lester is 4-1 with a 4.01 ERA in 10 career starts vs. the Bombers, but is 1-1 with a 4.96 at the new Yankee Stadium.

Jeter (10-for-30, .333) is the only Yankee with more than three at-bats against Lester to have an average above .273. Teixeira and Swisher are each 4-for-19 (.211), while Posada is 3-for-18 (.167). Expect to see Kearns (1-for-2, RBI, walk) start this one.

Follow me on Twitter at JordanHarrison .

Jordan Schwartz is one of Bleacher Report’s New York Yankees and College Basketball Featured Columnists. His book Memoirs of the Unaccomplished Man is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and authorhouse.com.

Jordan can be reached at jordanschwartz2003@yahoo.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Three to four years ago this, would be considered a blockbuster deal. In 2010, this is just another trade for a middle reliever with 20 career innings, and a minor league prospect with 10 career minor league homeruns.

Now this could be Berkman’s swan song, his final shot at glory.

Berkman, it appears, is on the path that many elite players take at one time or another; the road to retirement.

There has been a serious decline in Berkman’s production since 2006, specifically in his power numbers.

Statistically speaking, his home runs have seen a 45% drop since a career high of 45, while his on-base percentage and slugging percentage have seen better days.

A career-high OBP of .450 in 2004 has sunk to .367.  His slugging percentage, on the other hand, has taken a hit of nearly 200 points.

This information does indicate that his best years are far behind him, unfortunately, another statistic describes a different story.

A patient and selective hitter is Berkman. His career .409 OBP proves that, however his pitch selection could be off target.  His BABIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play) peaked at .341, now sits at .279.

With all of this data at the Yankees fingertips, I do not see what role Berkman plays in this equation.

Obviously, he could play first base, his primary position, but Mark Teixeira, quite possibly the best defensive first baseman in the game, has that all but cornered.

Berkman could play in the outfield; then again, the Yanks have three highly capable options already there;

• Curtis Granderson, who is having undoubtedly a disastrous year compared to previous one’s, cannot be benched: he is owed $5.5 million next year, $8.25 million in 2011 and $10 million in 2012, and his contract includes a $13 million club option for 2013 with a $2 million buyout , (this courtesy of ESPN.com ).
• Nick Swisher is on pace to exceed previous bests in OBP and slugging
• Brett Gardner is way better than advertise

Frankly, what role does Berkman play?  I am not quite sure

What was the Yankees primary reason in acquiring Berkman? Because they can

Do the Yankees have the best DH trifecta heading into the postseason, with Austin Kearns and Marcus Thames?  You had better believe it!

This article can also be found on The GM’s Perspective

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com