It’s funny how things change so fast in baseball. One minute, the Yankees had the best starting rotation in the Majors. Then all of a sudden, there are issues. Issues that may loom very large. The team managed to win the series against the pesky Rays. But they have dropped the first one to the Angels. They are 2-2 so far in the second half.

I don’t want to talk about Game 2 against the Rays. A.J. was cranky and cost the game. He had to smash his hand? Really? It’s no wonder these guys are athletes – they aren’t too bright.  

Try using your brain? Please…no more violence to your pitching hand.

The only thing about that game that made me smile was seeing Francisco Cervelli steal a base. It was the first time I ever saw him steal and be SAFE! Oh, Francisco….you never fail to make me happy ♥

Old Timer’s Day was before that dreadful game 2, and that was fun. I got a kick out of seeing their 2 inning game:

– I LOL-ed when I saw David Cone playing third base. Then he threw the ball all weird. Haha, why was he playing third base? He was an amazing pitcher!

-Ron Guidry shading his eyes from the sun when he caught the popup. I don’t know why, but that was just funny.

-Rick Cerone purposely letting the ball hit him so he’d be safe at first base! I can’t say I’ve ever seen that before.

-Al Downing can actually still throw the ball! He’s 69 years old, and he looks like he can still pitch.

-Mickey Rivers. He misplayed about 7 balls in the outfield. But he got the walkoff hit for his team! Seeing him run the bases and kick it into “high gear” was pretty cool. I was waiting for A.J. Burnett to pie him, but he never did….

Speaking of A.J. and pie and his hand, Tim McCarver is a moron, which I’m sure you already know. He was “speculating” how A.J. hurt his hand. He was like:

“Maybe he hurt himself when he pied Swisher on Friday night. Maybe he cut his hand on the pie plate! That must be it!”

WHAT AN IDIOT! The pie isn’t on a plate, it’s not some decadent dessert. It’s whip cream on a towel.

The Yankees won the finale of the Rays series, but it wasn’t a very happy victory. Our most consistent starter, who to many is the MVP of the first half, got hurt and is on the DL. Poor Andy….my dandy Andy. He may be out with his groin issue for 4 or 5 weeks, but he’s hoping to return in 3.

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Andy will be replaced by Sergio Mitre, who is on the top of my list of hot Yankees. Of course, Mitre is no Pettitte. No one is a Pettitte. But honestly, I’m worried about Mitre taking over that spot in the rotation. Sergio has been on the DL since mid June with some oblique injury he got during batting practice. He hasn’t pitched in so long. Mitre, being a sinkerball pitcher, is more successful when he is a little fatigued because then his pitches sink more. I’m worried that he is too well rested and may be a little rusty. I hope I’m wrong.

Please be good, baby….we are counting on you ♥ 

Game 1 against the Angels worried me, too. Phil Hughes was just…awful. Truthfully, Phil hasn’t been his Philthy self in a long time. His record is very misleading, because the Yankees usually score for him (this was not the case in game 1). He got off to a great start, tossing to a 2.00 ERA in April. He was solid in May as well, posting a 3.03 ERA that month. June was rocky as Hughes had a 5.17 ERA. And so far in July, things have only gotten worse. His ERA this month is an ugly 6.00. He has gotten progressively worse as the season went on. How can I not be worried?  It’s time for him to step up. The team is depending on him, especially with their starting situation. He can’t keep giving up 6 runs and hoping the offense will pick him up. The offense can’t do that every night.

Where is the Phil Hughes that I know and love? It’s not this guy….

Starting pitching is what won the World Series for the Yankees last year. And starting pitching is the reason why the Yankees have the best record in baseball. I’m not too thrilled about the starting pitching situation we have here.

-CC, I hope you continue your dominance. And Happy Birthday ♥

-A.J., PLEEEASE…don’t hurt your hand again. We need you.

-Andy, recover quickly, but don’t rush back. We need you strong and healthy for the 2nd half.

-Javy, just keep on doing what you are doing. Keep making me proud 😉

-Phil, pull yourself together! I want you to be Philthy good, not Philthy bad.

-Sergio! As long as you give us a few good innings, I’ll be happy.

Jeez…I’m wishing we had Cliff Lee a little more now……..