Saturday, September 20, 2008

Back in the middle again

The only travesty so far in this final home stand is the Yankees indifference to starting someone like Carl Pavano in a game at Yankee Stadium. Even though Pavano won his start and kept the good feelings going, I can't help but be infuriated that the Yankees are essentially giving him a free audition for his next job.

Pavano will assuredly not be a Yankee next season and the Yankees are almost assuredly out of the post season. The only side benefiting from the Yankees-Pavano relationship is Carl Pavano. Same as he always has. They should have let him rot in the minors rather than disgrace the Yankee Stadium mound.

Anyway, with that out of my system, Brett Gardner decided to make a final push to steal the centerfield job away from Melky Cabrera. I think the truth of the matter is that neither of them can really fill the job permanently and maybe not even through all of next year.

But maybe a little competition will help Melky mature a little faster and make both players into solid fourth options or turn them into trade fodder again.

Today Alfredo Aceves will take the mound for his third start. So far he has looked good, flashing good command and a good breaking ball. He could develop into a decent back end of the rotation pitcher.

The Yanks may need to win these final two games to avoid being eliminated from playoff contention at home, but for the first time since their ten game winning streak after the all-star break, I actually feel like the Yankees could win every day.

Oh and even though it was the Red Sox who beat them, Toronto has now fell back into fourth and the Yankees are back in third for the first time since September 6.

People may think that there is nothing for the Yankees to play for after Sunday night, but hopefully some of these guys have a little pride and make a push to stay in third.

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