THE YANKEES WILL STAND TALL DESPITE INJURY TO ALEX

(Arod leaving game last night after being hit by pitch)

I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I heard John Kruk on Mike and Mike this morning and he made a lot of sense. Look, the Alex Rodriguez injury is significant because, as Krukie said, Alex was starting to really swing the bat. Having a hot Alex in the lineup is a good thing and the Yankees could have used him... Until they couldn't because of his broken hand last night in Seattle. In the end, the Yankees will do what they've always done, shuffle and regroup.

(Can Eric Chavez play every day?)

As Derek Jeter has always said during dark times... " Who's going to feel sorry for us? No one... Someones gonna have to man up." I'm paraphrasing here, but it's true.  Eric Chavez is of course a logical choice. He's a Gold Glove 3rd baseman, and he knows his role. He still plays a helluva 3rd base. He also gets hurt a lot...that's the reality.  I love Eric Chavez, but he'll forever be my walking ceramic. He's fragile and that's because he plays the game harder than anyone. So I ask you... What happens if Chavez fills the role and gets hurt? Believe me, it was in the back of the Yankees' minds too,  they announced they have called up Ramiro Pena, but that's a terrible bat in the lineup, not exactly a great offensive replacement. Is it the right choice? Tough question to answer. I suspect the Yankees aren't going to go after anyone for 3rd base by the trade deadline so this is where we're at.  I'm going to be honest, I'm not too jazzed about Pena, but the Yankees can survive.

Losing Alex pretty much sucks. People can say "Well Alex hasn't done anything this season." Sure, say that if you want, I've been saying for weeks that Alex is now "just a regular player" and when you see his numbers, this is true. He ISN'T ARod, but he's got decent numbers for a regular player. That consistency, believe it or not has helped us this season. If you don't believe me, keep an eye on it now that Alex is gone. There may be a difference because you have to think about it this way, while Eric Chavez is wonderful, he's no longer an every day player anymore. Expect fatigue... Pena will help with that at 3rd but not with his bat.

(Mariners' King Felix pitching in last night's game)

And back to King Felix last night. He was hitting everybody last night. This morning Yankeeland is calling for his head. Yankeeland wants "retaliation". Why?  For the record, Felix didn't intentionally hit anyone last night. Even Jeter said that.  Maybe he had control problems, maybe he wanted to brush a few guys back, but Felix Hernandez is good enough that he doesn't have to pop anyone in the hand and bust it. There should be no retaliation, it serves no purpose...let's just get the game in and get out of Seattle, winning the series at least.

Look, we'll be alright ladies and gentlemen, this is an injury, but it just seems more amplified because we've had plenty this season. Know this, we'll juggle some things and come back swinging like we always do. Why? Because we're the Yankees... The greatest franchise this world has ever seen. That's my take.

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