THOMAS NEAL & THE GAME OF MUSICAL CHAIRS

I wanted to tell you about the Yankees shell game that took place today.... follow me:

Melky Mesa and Thomas Neal arrived today to meet our Yankee club in Boston.  Why? Because Zoilo Almonte was put on the disabled list because of that sprained ankle from last night's loss to the Red Sox.

(In Photo: Alberto Gonzalez with Zoilo Almonte)
The team then designated Alberto Gonzalez for assignment and they did that because they already had called up Brent Lillibridge from Scranton.  As Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger HERE wrote: "Gonzalez’s presence here was redundant."

McCullough also writes: "... Girardi intends to use Mesa, a toolsy switch hitter who has struggled to produce in Triple A this season, as a backup outfielder. Neal will be the team’s designated hitter against left-handed pitchers. That role shifts Vernon Wells back into the outfield on those days. Neal is a liability in the field."

So there you have it... musical chairs.

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YANKEES SWEEP TWINS & CONFIDENCE ALWAYS WINS

5 games ago, Yankee fans were distraught and worried that the Yankees just really sucked this season.  4 days ago Chad MacDonald wrote BACK YOUR YANKEES, DON'T TURN YOUR BACK! That piece became an instant classic on BYB because the reality is, at the end of the day, if the Yankees suck, it doesn't matter because as Yankee fans, we still love our team win or lose.  That resonated with all of you... and then something happened... we started winning again...and when that happens, confidence  takes over... and confidence always wins.

Today there was a 4 game sweep of the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees won again today, this time behind David Phelps who went 6.1 innings, gave up 8 hits and 4 runs.  He struck out 5.  He got his 6th win of the season.

As far as offense, well, it's back officially I'd say.  We scored 9 runs and it went like this:

Robinson Cano sacrificed Ichiro Suzuki in and then Vernon Wells singled and knocked in both Zoilo Almonte and Travis Hafner.  That happened in the 1st.

In the 3rd, Vernon Wells doubled knocking in Pronk and then alittle later Luis Cruz hit in Vernon Wells.

In the 6th, Alberto Gonzalez knocked in Lyle Overbay. Ichiro Suzuki then tripled and knocked in 2 more. Next up was Zoilo Almonte who grounded out, but with just one out at the time, Ichiro scored.

Final: Yankees 9 - Twins 5.

Next up... the Orioles.

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YANKEES ARE 2-0 IN JULY!

I know, it's the little things that make me happy.

The Yankees won 2 in a row last night thanks to Alberto Gonzalez who played short for the Yanks, had some big hits, and Robinson Cano who hit a 3 run shot.  But it was also Phil Hughes.

Last night, apparently we got the good Hughes.  That being said, I have my official thoughts on Hughes and I'll post them shortly.

Hughes went 7 innings, gave up 6 hits but only 1 run.  More importantly, he gave up no home runs.  Preston Claiborne gave up the other 2 runs for the Twins in his 1.2 innings. Mariano Rivera came in after Adam Warren to get his 27th save.

The Yankees scored like this: In the 5th inning, it was Alberto Gonzalez who doubled scoring Lyle Overbay and David Adams. Ichiro Suzuki later singled scoring Gonzalez.  Gonzalez singled again in the 7th knocking in Adams again. Then Cano hit a 3 run homer.  There are your 7.

Final: Yankees 7 - Twins 3.

In other news, Alex Rodriguez played for Charleston last night.  He only played 3 innings, which was the plan.  He was 0-2 and hit into a double play.  As the New York papers are saying this morninng... "He's in post season form." Funny... and a low blow. Just let the guy get back into games for crying out loud. I understand no one likes the guy, but we could use the help, I think he still has something...maybe.

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THE YANKEES ARE ACQUIRING GUYS LIKE NUTS TODAY!

The Yankees are making mad moves today!  Players are being signed, players are being designated for assignment and it's all to better the club.  You can criticize Brian Cashman all you want, but things are really moving lately and I appreciate what he's been doing.  I realize that when it comes to this team, it's off-seasons like this that make me realize that he's the GM and I'm just a fan.  Anyway, check this out:

Jon Heyman Tweeted HERE that the Yankees have traded $75,000 to the Colorado Rockies for Reid Brignac.  To make that move, the Yankees had to designate Alberto Gonzalez for assignment. 

That is being tweeted by Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger HERE. Gonzalez will always be remembered for pitching for the Yanks, staying a week and now possibly being claimed by another team right now.  Let's see what happens. Hopefully he'll clear waivers and go back down to AAA.

Also, I just read on CLNS Radio.com, HERE, that the Yankees have just signed Josh Bell to a minor league deal.  Bell is a third baseman who, according to them, "Bell will most likely report to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Bell, 26, was released by the White Sox on May 7th after appearing in fifteen games for AAA Charlotte to start the season. In 55 at-bats, he hit .273 with 4 RBI."

Oh, and not only that, there was other movement today...

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have claimed former Yankee Chris Nelson off waivers. The Angels Tweeted that HERE. The Tweet is below:

Holy moves... enjoy the rest of your Weekend.

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AN AVALANCHE NAMED IBANEZ

Hey.  Do you remember when Raul Ibanez told Bleeding Yankee Blue how excited he was to be back in pinstripes?  I remember it clearly. It was right before Christmas.  It was in our BYB EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Raul, when he said the following: "I can't wait to come back to the Yankees!"

It was clear then that the Yankees would get him back.  Then we heard the Yankees and Raul were talking.... then nothing.  Then we found out that Raul signed with the Mariners.  The reason? The Yankees never made Raul an offer. I quickly whipped up YANKEE FANS REVOLT: "ENOUGH'S ENOUGH!"
on Christmas eve and while many fans supported my frustrations, some fans, and let's call the one below an idiot, who told me I was stupid because Raul was not what we needed and I "couldn't be serious!"

(In Photo: A Genius)
Sure, we didn't need Raul, but why not just re-sign him because we like the guy and he can contribute just like he did in the post-season? It seemed like a no brainer to me and many people like me.  It made sense, and it makes sense to me tonight when Raul came into the Bronx and did what he does best in New York... hit home runs.

No, I'm not writing a piece titled "I told you so." I'm just still bothered by the fact that we didn't give the guy a shot.  Whatever the case, good for Raul, and like I told one of our readers on Twitter tonight:

It's true. Tonight, the Yankees lost big to Raul and the Mariners. Hey, some nights a team just can't get it together.  The Yankees have been doing great this season.  Tonight, well, they didn't. We just need to move on.

The Mariners scored 12 runs tonight. Why? Well, Ibanez hit 2 home runs and 6 RBIs. One of those homers was a Grand Slam.  Phil Hughes lasted literally 0.2 innings tonight. He allowed 6 hits, 7 runs and shit the bed.  That's the only way I can describe it. Hughes is too inconsistent.  Something just ain't right and Yankeeland will erupt if he can't figure out how to pitch.

(In Photo: Alberto Gonzalez)
Preston Claiborne pitched tonight and did just fine, Brett Marshall did too.  And someone else did... Alberto Gonzalez pitched 0.1 of an inning.  Seriously. He's an infielder.

The Yankee runs went like this: Vernon Wells homered and Chris Stewart homered.  That's it.  To be honest, I would have left the Bronx in the 2nd inning if I was there.  Yes, I love my Yanks, but some nights you just know they ain't clicking. Tonight was it. It doesn't make me less of a fan, it makes me tired... that's it.

Final tonight: Mariners 12 - Yankees 2.

We win tomorrow.

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EDUARDO NUNEZ HITS THE DL NOW... REALLY

Just wanted to tell you this and get BYB on the record for reporting it. I know you probably already know...  Eduardo Nunez is on the Disabled List. According to ESPN, HERE, "After a week of inactivity due to soreness in the left side of his ribcage, the New York Yankees placed shortstop Eduardo Nunez on the disabled list Sunday morning and promoted Alberto Gonzalez from AAA Scranton.

To clear space for Gonzalez, acquired earlier in the week in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, on the 40-man roster, the Yankees transferred Mark Teixeira, out with a partially torn wrist tendon sheath, to the 60-day DL."

Yeah yeah... I give up with this DL crap... yet, we keep winning.  You gotta love that.

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WOW! THE YANKEES MADE A TRADE TODAY

Technically it was last night... but now it's official.

Quick note.  The Yankees have traded for Alberto Gonzalez from the Cubs.  They are sending a player to be named later or cash considerations to Chicago. Read HERE. According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, "Gonzalez, a non-roster player, will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Because Gonzalez is not being placed on the 40-man roster.."

Alberto Gonzalez plays third base.  OK then... Carry on.

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