WHY I'M NOT UPSET WITH THIS YANKEES LOSS

(Photo: Getty)
Yankee fans, let's admit, this game for the Yankees meant absolutely nothing to us. The Yanks have already clinched the American League East and home field advantage in both rounds of the American League playoffs. So with that in mind, it was OK that the Yankees lost this game to the Tampa Bay Rays. There's very few of these games a year, if any at all, that mean absolutely nothing whether it's a win or loss. So let's recap...Hector Noesi squared off against James Shields for the Rays in this one. Noesi was on a pitch count as he was starting just his second game of the season. He went 2 innings while allowing five hits and three runs on 59 pitches. He allowed all three of his runs in the third inning, so it seemed like he ran out of gas. We very well may have seen Noesi for the final time this season as he finishes the year with a 2-2 record with a 4.47 ERA in 30 games while pitching in quite a variety of roles. It's his rookie season, and we give him kudos for pitching in a number of important games for the Yanks this season. Phil Hughes also made an appearance in relief. He went an 1.2 while allowing two walks on a hit and a strikeout. Andrew Brackman made his second career appearance as he recorded the final two outs in the 8th.

This was a huge game for the Rays. Pretty much a must win for them since they were one game back of the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card race entering play on Monday. He went 8.2 innings for them while allowing six hits on two walks and three K's. Former Yankee Kyle Farnsworth finished off his former team by recording the final out in the 9th.The offense for the Yankees pretty much came from one source, and that was Robinson Cano. Cano went 2 for 4 with a solo homer and and RBI single in the first and third innings, respectively. The rest of the team combined to go 4 for 27 (.148 AVG), which includes Jorge Posada's 0 for 4 in what may have been his last start at first base this season. Although he went 0-for he made a couple of nice plays at first.

Final Score: Rays 5 - Yankees 2
I'm not upset with this loss whatsoever. The Red Sox lost, again, so they're now 6-19 during the month of September, which means the Rays and Red Sox are tied in the Wild Card race with identical 89-71 records. Boston's collapse has been very fun to watch all month long and it'd be awesome if they can complete it. Bartolo Colon (8-9, 4.02 ERA) goes for the Yanks against Jeremy Hellickson (13-10, 2.90 ERA) for the Rays on Tuesday.




--Jesse Schindler, BYB Staff Writer




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BYB YANKEE TRADE RUMORS: PART 4

More names and more rumors and no one knows for sure what will happen, but the trade deadline is approaching, so maybe, just maybe there's something to these rumors. Take a look.Rich Harden: The Yankees scouted Harden, according to Ken Rosenthal, but the Red Sox are too. I like Harden although, is he better than AJ Burnett? Bartolo Colon? Freddy Garcia? Look, if we were to get this guy from the Athletics, to me, he's a 3rd starter. There is nothing overly outstanding about Rich Harden, he will however help the rotation without a doubt. This year Harden is 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA in 5 games. Read about Rosenthal's story HERE.Kyle Farnsworth: That's right, I said it, yes, he's available, but do we really want to go there again? While we're at it, why don't we talk about bringing Pavano back, right? This post wasn't to scare you, it was just to tell you Farnsworth is on the trading block and this nugget comes from Buster Olney. I strongly doubt the Yankees will bring Farnsworth back. The bullpen will be too small for the ego's of Soriano and Farnsworth. Don't worry, it's not happening. Read about it HERE.
Craig Breslow: Breslow is in the Athletics bullpen and the A's are willing to not only part with Breslow, but also Brian Fuentes and Grant Balfour, for the right price of course. Breslow's a lefty and that's a positive. He's 0-2 with a 3.93 ERA in 45 games. He has 31 strikeouts and 13 walks. I'd pull the trigger on this one. Boone Logan has lost it and a lefty specialist would be nice right about now. Read about it HERE.Sean Burnett: Ken Rosenthal has it again, suggesting the Yankees are talking about Sean Burnett but the Nationals have not engaged in talks as of yet. Who knows, I know this, Burnett's ERA is not nice to look at and it worries me a bit. If I need to choose at this moment between Burnett and Breslow, I'm going Breslow hands down. Burnett this season is 5.59 ERA in just 29 innings.Yes, he could improve, but we don't need adjustments in August, you know what I mean? Read about it HERE.

Keep it at Bleeding Yankee Blue all weekend for opinion and news on trade rumors and your favorite team, the New York Yankees.

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WHY IT WAS A TOUGH NEW YORK LOSS

(Photo: Getty)
Kyle Farnsworth got the save tonight and I wanted to choke on my popcorn. This guy couldn't do a thing when he was in New York and suddenly he's getting a save against the Mighty Yankees. That's baseball, you can't predict it.
(Photo: AP)
The Yankees lost tonight but in the world of pitching duels, this was one that you needed to watch. I just wish it was the Yankees on top. CC Sabathia went 8 innings tonight, gave up 5 hits and 2 runs and struck out 8. It was a great effort by "CC Monster" as my 2 year old would say, but he didn't have run support, so there you go.

James Shields was dominant, more dominant than I've ever seen him. Now I'm starting to think that the talk from Buster Olney about the Rays and their willingness to unload him for the right price may in fact be an interesting rumor. Shields allowed 6 hits and 1 run over 7.2 innings. It sucks to lose to a rival, but tip your cap, it was a battle till the end.
(Photo: Getty)
The 1 highlight tonight was Robinson Cano doubling to right and knocking in Derek Jeter. That's the run, that's the game.

I'm disturbed by Mark Teixeria right now. He's not doing a blessed thing and it's one thing to be slow in April and hot in May, but it's another thing to be cold in the second half of the season when your team really needs you. Tex needs to snap out of it.

Final Score: Rays 2 - Yankees 1

The Yankee split against the Rays in a 4 game series. While I would have wanted a 3-1 series, I'll take it, there will be more match ups and we can improve. The Oakland Athletics are next. Get ready, here comes Hideki Matsui.

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