Final Thoughts for the Week

I'm headed out for the weekend tomorrow and won't have internet access, so I thought I'd share a few final thoughts on the Yankees this week since there's a lot to talk about since last night.

• First my last word on A-Rod, and it does look like he said "mine". A lots been said about it today and I blogged on it as it happened last night. Players and analysts seem split on their reaction to it. Right now Baseball Tonight the analysts are discussing if it was unsportsmanlike and Dusty Baker, Fernando Vina, and the other guy have basically confirmed that it happens a lot and isn't unsportsmanlike. So if it's part of the game and A-Rod even says it happens to him every week it must be okay to do. My opinion on it is that someone of A-Rod's caliber doesn't need to play that way. I'll throw a prediction in here, look for A-Rod to be beaned or brushed back next time the Yankees play Toronto.

• This didn't make big news, but Phil Hughes had a set back in his rehabbing. He tweaked his ankle and is expected to miss another 4-6 weeks. Starting Monday the Yankee rotation is Clemens, Mussina, Wang, Pettitte, and a swing man. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise that'll save Hughes' arm down the stretch. Perhaps it's a chance for Kei Igawa (yeah, remember him?) to come back. Anyone know how he's doing in the minors? I do. He needs more work. But however you look at it, the Yankees rotation just can't find any consistency this year other than Pavano being out.

• The last bit of news was another injury--Jason Giambi's foot is in bad shape. Reports vary saying at least three weeks to the rest of the season. Whatever the case, torn tissue in your foot sounds pretty significant. Significant enough to get another slugger through a trade (Richie Sexson). Giambi's April was great and his May the opposite, so it's hard to say where his season was going. But the Yankees lose a guy who still has some power and is one of their top OBP guys, so this puts a dent in the offenses armor.

I'll end this post by saying the Yankees need to put another player on the DL--Johnny Damon. Maybe Damon can DH now, but his calf and legs need a rest. Being a student of economics, a situation like Damon's is about tradeoffs. If you keep him in while he's hurt, he may produce but he's more likely to worsen the injury. If you take him out, there goes your leadoff man and some productivity. But if I played a drinking game this season where I did a shot of hard alcohol for every time Damon has winced in pain because his legs aren't good, I'd of been dead before this blog was even started.