Nothing doing so far with the Yanks in the trade market. The deadline is today at 4 p.m, east coast time. The morning rumors have Eric Gagne as a longshot to come to the Bronx and the Proctor-for-Betemit a possibility once again–here is coverage in the Post, News, the Times, and Newsday. According to Buster Olney over at ESPN, the Yankees:
…Seem destined to make a move today. If they cannot trade Kyle Farnsworth for what they consider to be equal value, then they’ll probably trade Scott Proctor to the Dodgers for Wilson Betemit. If they can find a deal for Farnsworth, then they’ll keep Proctor. Either way, Joba Chamberlain is crucial to their thinking — they hope the touted prospect can fill a role in middle relief.
They are sitting in the pole position, so to speak, on Gagne — they have prospects to offer, and he cannot stop them from acquiring him. But the Yankees have stood their ground against the Rangers’ trade demands, so far (which includes the team’s top prospects).
The Red Sox are still looking to add Jermaine Dye. They are also in on Gagne, reports the Boston Herald.
Joe Torre spoke to reporters yesterday about Alex Rodriguez:
“I hope he does it at home, otherwise he’s not going to start relaxing. Right now he’s tighter than a drum,” Torre said when asked about Rodriguez yesterday at a charity golf outing at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor to benefit his Safe at Home Foundation. “I’m glad (we’re) home. I didn’t want to say this earlier, because we’ve certainly needed Alex before that. But I think it will be crazy.
“I think it’s going to be pretty special, especially with Alex, with what he went through last year. It’s nice when you hear people out of the stands say ‘Get on (base) for Alex.’ Last year was so opposite, and he had a tough time dealing with it. I know it was very uncomfortable for all of us.”
…”His hitting zone’s a little too large right now; he’s not being very selective. … You could throw the resin bag up there right now and I think he’d swing at it,” Torre said.
Jose Contreras is pitching for the White Sox tonight. Mmmm, mmmm, good.
R.I.P. Bill Robinson, a good ballplayer who never made it as a Yankee.
Got any good Yankee Stadium stories? Send ’em over to our pal Steve Lombardi if ya do for a project he’s working on.
Finally, for those Hip Hop heads out there (and yes, I was listening to Black Moon this morning on the way to work), do yourselves a favor and check out Stretch Armstrong’s outstanding blog. And while you are at it, peep this and this too. Plenty of downloadable treats for those who don’t sleep.
