IF THE HUNGRY YANKEES ARE LOOKING TO DOMINATE DOWN THE STRETCH...

Why not upgrade on our closer situation?  

Sports Illustrated has a very interesting article about trying to get the closing role right for the Yankees... and it starts with a guy like Giovanny Gallegos. Check this out:

"...while the Yankees are hoping Holmes will rediscover his footing down the stretch, they could take a flier on an old friend in Giovanny Gallegos.

Gallegos was designated for assignment by the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the deadline, and the team was hoping to trade him prior to 6 p.m. on July 30. That didn't happen, which means if he goes unclaimed on waivers he will be released.

Should Gallegos hit the open market, the Yankees could attempt to bring back the former Cardinals' closer, who has lost his way. Gallegos had a 6.53 ERA in 20.2 innings in St. Louis this season. That said, he posted a 2.53 ERA in his final 10.2 innings with the Cardinals."

Great question and great idea? What would it hurt? After all, the Yankees offense has been incredible once again, and all we need to do is figure out what we need to get going when it comes to our pen and closing down the opponent.  I endorse this idea and love it.

Truth be told, I am a fan of Clay Holmes these days... but some games he just can't do the job.  Maybe having 2 closers could help, or at least throw some competition into the closer role. We have no idea how it would go, but I would suggest the Holmes / Gallegos combo could turn into a pretty significant Rivera / Wetteland combination.... and we all know how well that worked out.

Something to think about... Happy Sunday everyone.

HERE COMES MASON WILLIAMS...

No, not him... but I love Classical Gas!

Seriously folks. Good news. Mason Williams and Kyle Higashioka were called up tonight.  I love the youth movement!

NJ.com writes:

"Mason Williams and catcher Kyle Higashioka are being called up from Triple-A.

Neither Hicks nor Sanchez was placed in then DL, however. Instead, the Yankees opened up two roster spots by placing reliever Adam Warren on the 10-day DL with right shoulder inflammation and optioning reliever Giovanny Gallegos to Triple-A.

Higashioka is up to give the Yankees a second catcher for the next few days."

And so, if you are living under a rock, you know that Gary Sanchez and Aaron Hicks are alittle banged up, and so, reinforcements are happening!

Look, I hate the idea of an injured Yankee club... but the bottom line is this... the Yankee minor leagues are personalities at this point, and once in a while, you want to see them in the Bigs.

Carry on...

WHAT THE HECK'S GOING ON WITH TANAKA?

What is going on with our ace, Masahiro Tanaka? Seriously.

Photo: NJ.com

That question is being asked from us, the fans and goes all the way up to Hal Steinbrenner. The Yankee ace has looked anywhere from a starter for Appalachian League Pulaski to a bonafide ace in Major League Baseball.  Tanaka is better than that, and many fans are truly frustrated by the whole thing.

Ron Sachs/CNP

The New York Post wrote about Tanaka in detail, and states that Tanaka's struggles can be traced to one simple ingredient.

"Those who believe Masahiro Tanaka, in the worst skid of his Yankees career, can be fixed by overhauling every aspect of the struggling right-hander’s game should save their thinking cells. the man with the most knowledge of the former Yankees ace says not to expect massive changes in what Tanaka does on the mound and in bullpen sessions in between starts.

Tanaka isn’t going to adjust his feet differently on the mound. He isn’t going to start throwing sidearm. Nor is he going to alter his upper body during the windup.

'This is no rebuild, it’s consistency and it’s going to be a process to get him back to being consistent,’ pitching coach Larry Rothschild..."

And in the end, it was evident last night.  Nothing happened. No adjustments, just him trying to work out of his funk. And guess what? It didn't work. Tanaka gave up 5 hits and 5 runs and 3 homers and the Yankee Universe groaned.

Whether it's the much talked about partial tear of his UCL or just some minor tweak, they need to figure out something pretty soon. With an ERA of 6.55, only Tommy Layne and Giovanny Gallegos have a higher ERA.

Tanaka insists it has nothing to do with injury and sure Larry Rothschild's insist it's merely consistency. But I insist they need to come to a conclusion and figure it out fast.

Boston's 1 game out, folks.  It's no joke now.



--Michael Carnesi
BYB Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @sevn4evr

THE YANKEES' WBC CONTINGENT IS ALIVE & WELL

Logan Bowles / USA TODAY Sports

As much as I'm down on the whole concept of the World Baseball Classic and wish the Yankees didn't participate, the fact remains six went. And while their reps in such a competition carry both greater risk and less value than the more controlled environment of spring games where they could be focusing on ironing out weaknesses and expanding their toolbox, it was very helpful to see NJ.com's Randy Miller provide a summary progress report this week on how they're all doing.

Koji Sasahara, The Associated Press

(Thankfully, no injuries appear in his report, unlike those on some other MLB contingents.)

"Dellin Betances, DR reliever

WBC stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 games, 2 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 2 K, 3 BB...

Didi Gregorius, DH, Netherlands

WBC stats: .348 average, 23 AB, 8 hits, 4 doubles, 1 HR, 8 RBIs, 0 K, 5 games...

Tyler Clippard, USA reliever

WBC stats: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 games, 3 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 5 K, 1 BB...

Tommy Layne, Italy reliever

WBC stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 games, 3.1 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 4 K, 3 BB...

Donovan Solano, Colombia 2B

WBC stats: .267 average, 14 AB, 3 hits, 2 RBIs, 4 K, 3 games...

Giovanny Gallegos, Mexico RHP

WBC stats: 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1 game, 2 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 ER, 1 HR, 1 K, 0 BB..."

All but Solano are on the Yankees 40-man roster and are either starters or have an excellent chance to see playing time in the Bronx this season.

Gallegos has been optioned to Scranton-Wilkes Barre and will start the season with the Triple A RailRiders.

Solano, who was outrighted off the 40-man roster last winter following an impressive September call-up replacing an injured Starlin Castro and was re-signed to a minor league deal, is one of 15 infielders remaining on the spring camp roster after Wednesday's roster cuts.

Good stuff. I had to share it! Enjoy!

 --Barry Millman
BYB Writer
Twitter: @nyyankeefanfore