Yankees at Boston Red Sox-The Rubber Match

The New York Yankees will take on the Boston Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park.  It is the finale of the three game series.  The Yankees won the first game on Friday night 3-2  and the Red Sox won the second game yesterday evening 10-4.  The Yankees are 2-9 against the Red Sox this season including 0-6 at home.  CC Sabathia who started yesterday and tied for the most runs given up as a Yankee is 0-4 against the Sox this season.  The pitching matchup tonight is Josh Beckett who has been great against Freddy Garcia who has been good but not against the Red Sox.  Here is the Yankees lineup for tonight.

Brett Gardner, Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, Eric Chavez(DH), Russell Martin, Eduardo Nunez. 

According to Joel Sherman it looks like the Yankees will be giving Chavez regular time at DH and if that doesn't work they will call up Jesus Montero but that isn't immenent.  They would of called him up if they were going with a five man rotation but for right now they aren't taking anyone out of the rotation.  Hughes is scheduled to go Tuesday but if needed out of the bullpen tonight then Nova will take his turn. 

Grapefruit League Game 20- Astros at Mets

The New York Mets take on the Houston Astros at 1:10PM today from Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie. Here is todays lineup and scheduled pitchers. Mets Lineup: Pagan(CF) Castillo(2B) Wright(3B) Bay(LF) Murphy(1B) Francoeur(RF) Cora(SS) Barajas(C) Santana(P) Jon Niese, Francisco Rodriguez, Pat Misch, Sean Green and Elmer Dessens are scheduled to pitch behind Santana. Jose Reyes was back this morning, he was working out with the team, taking grounders etc. Doc Gooden was arrested yesterday for DUI, this is a sad thing. He just can never seem to get his life together. He was such a promising prospect so long ago with the Mets and never kept up his status because of his substance abuse problems. He later was with the Yankees and had some good moments and then after baseball continues to get himself in trouble. I will have more on Jose Reyes later on today. According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post he believes that the Mets are shopping Gary Matthews Jr., the Reds may be a possibility.

Joba Rules

The New York Yankees and Joba Chamberlain have gone back and forth between starter and reliever. He was a started last year until the playoffs and stated just the other day he intends on being a starter this season. He was at the Thurman Munson Awards dinner last night and had some things to say. He did state that he wants to be a starter but the Yankees have the final call and if the told him you are going to be a setup man and be ready to inherit MO's job when he retires he would be ready and able to do that. He stated he just wants to be told what to do and then stick with that. Joel Sherman of the NY Post had a article in todays paper about this and stated that Joba is going to be the setup man and Phil Hughes will be the 5th starter. I have been saying this for a while and I agree with it. The thing about Joba is he just seems different out of the pen. I have been in the Joba as a starter camp and I still believe he can be a very good starting pitcher. The thing though that the Yankees couldn't ignore and most of the fans was that he was sitting at 89-91 as a stater and looked tentative. Joba went back to the pen for the postseason and was back up in the high 90's and just looked dominant again. The Yankees will never admit it publicly but I do think they believe he is better suited for the bullpen now. It is very hard for them because of what they invested for him to be a starter. They went through all this Joba Rules stuff and now finally he is ready to be unleashed this season and what do you know he will most likely end up in the pen. The thing is Phil Hughes will have the rules but the Yankees have Sergio Mitre, Chad Gaudin and some others in the minors to cover the 5th starter role and if there is injury. I think the Yankees best team will be with Joba in the pen and Hughes starting. It will be a debate that will be ongoing but I am sure this is what most people want and will be happy as long as Joba executes in this role the way everyone thinks he will.

Winter Meetings Day 1

There has been no real action but a lot of talking and rumors are running rampant. The New York Yankees though did make some noise, they have traded right handed relief pitcher Brian Bruney to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later. He was a pretty good relief pitcher for the team but in the playoffs he lost his setup role and they have more guys just like him in the organization so I don't think this is that big of a deal. He was due for arbitration so maybe the Yankees save a few bucks here. The New York Mets have stepped up their efforts to aquire catcher Bengie Molina. The Mets are also said to be interested in Adam Kennedy for second base if they can get someone to take Luis Castillo off of their hands. Mark Feinsand of the Daily News is reporting that he believes the player to be named later in the Bruney trade will be the Nationals first Rule 5 pick. There was a lot of stuff coming out with the media meeting with Red Sox manager Terry Francona earlier and the media will be meeting with Yankees GM Brian Cashman shortly. I will be back later with the news and notes from those sessions.

Yankees News?

I wouldn't really say there is any news coming out of Yankees land but there are some rumors and tidbits. Joel Sherman had the article today in the NY Post about the Yankees possibly going after Curtis Granderson as the Tigers say he and Edwin Jackson are available. I know they have been hard hit but the economic recession but do they really want to trade these guys?? It would be a good move for the Yankees to get Granderson as he is a top of the order guy with speed and he is young. He would be a upgrade in CF over what they have now and if Damon goes they could move Melky to LF and the defense would be a big upgrade out there. Granderson does have a knock on him though and that is he doesn't hit lefties at all. He would help with the power lost if Matsui and Damon both go or even if one of them goes. The thing with this is what would the Tigers want in return for him and that is the big question. Joel Sherman also mentioned it looks like Bruney will be back after the Yankees tender him a contract. Brian Cashman said at the GM meetings that there would be no significant innings limits on Hughes and Joba for next year. I think this is a good thing, the Yankees will always be careful with these guys but if they are in the rotation let them pitch and if anything is wrong they will have backups with Ian Kennedy, Sergio Mitre, Chad Gaudin and Alfredo Aceves and probably some others also.