Recapping the Yankees' minor league affiliates' results from August 13th.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:L 2-3 vs. Louisville Bats

2B Jose Pirela 2-7
DH Rob Refsnyder 1-6, 2B, BI, K
CF Zoilo Almonte 2-6, 2B, RBI, 2 K
RF Zelous Wheeler 1-6, K, error (8)
1B Kyle Roller 1-5, BB, 4 K
3B Rob Segedin 1-6
C Jose Gil 2-6, 3 K
SS Carmen Angelini 1-3
LF Taylor Dugas 4-6, K - hitting .367 in August

Pat Venditte 3.0 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K - 42 of 67 pitches for strikes, 1 GO/2 FO
Jeremy Bleich 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 BB - 29 of 59 pitches for strikes, 7 GO/1 FO
Nick Rumbelow 2.0 IP, 2 H, BB, K - 18 of 29 pitches for strikes, 3 GO/0 FO
Edgmer Escalona 3.0 IP, BB, 3 K - 20 of 37 pitches for strikes, 4 GO/2 FO
Jim Miller 2.0 IP, H, BB, K, WP - 23 of 37 pitches for strikes, 3 GO/2 FO
Taylor Dugas (!) 1.0 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, K - 12 of 30 pitches for strikes, 1 GO/0 FO

Double-A Trenton Thunder:L 2-4 vs. Altoona Curve

LF Jake Cave 1-4, 2 K
DH Ben Gamel 1-4, RBI, BB, K
C Gary Sanchez 1-3, BB, K, throwing error (16), picked off runner at third base
RF Tyler Austin 1-4, RBI, outfield assist
1B Greg Bird 0-3, 2 K, HBP
2B Dan Fiorito 0-3, BB, K, error (10)
3B Dante Bichette 0-4 - hitting .238 over last 30 days
CF Mason Williams 1-4, K
SS Ali Castillo 2-4, K, throwing error (14)

Jairo Heredia 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K - 48 of 75 pitches for strikes, 3 GO/1 FO
James Pazos 2.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K, pickoff - 23 of 39 pitches for strikes, 2 GO/1 FO
Cesar Cabral 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K
Danny Burawa 1.2 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K - 15 of 30 pitches for strikes, 1 GO/0 FO

High-A Tampa Yankees: W 7-2 vs. Lakeland Tigers

CF Mark Payton 1-4, 2B, BB
SS Cito Culver 0-4, RBI, BB, 2 K
3B Eric Jagielo 1-4, HR, RBI, BB, 3 K
RF Aaron Judge 0-4, BB, 3 K
1B Matt Snyder 2-2, 2B, BB
2B Angelo Gumbs 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, K, fielding error (7)
LF Ericson Leonora 2-4, 3B, RBI, 2 K
C Trent Garrison 1-4, RBI, K - hitting .306 over last 10 games
DH Danny Oh 0-3, BB, K

Miguel Sulbaran 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K  - 6 GO/2 FO
Chris Smith 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 K, error on pickoff - 2 GO/2 FO
Kyle Haynes 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K, WP - 0 GO/3 FO

Low-A Charleston RiverDogs:W 13-9 vs. Hickory Crawdads

LF Michael O`Neill 1-5, 2B, RBI
SS Tyler Wade 2-4, 3B, BB
3B Miguel Andujar 2-4, 2 RBI
1B Mike Ford 0-3, 2 BB
DH Jackson Valera 1-4, RBI
RF Yeicok Calderon 3-5, HR, 3 RBI
C Kale Sumner 0-2, 2 BB, K
2B Gosuke Katoh 1-3, 2B, RBI, 2 BB
CF Brandon Thomas 2-3, HR, 5 RBI, BB, SB - hitting .333 over last 30 days

Rookie Davis 3.1 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, BB, 4 K, 2 HR - 40 of 67 pitches for strikes, 4 GO/1 FO
Chad Taylor 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, WP - 18 of 32 pitches for strikes, 1 GO/0 FO
Evan Rutckyj 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, BB, 4 K - 24 of 35 pitches, 4 GO/0 FO
Stefan Lopez 1.0 IP, K - 1 GO/1 FO

Short Season-A Staten Island Yankees: vs. Connecticut Tigers

Game 1: W 5-2

CF Collin Slaybaugh 1-3, RBI, BB, SB
C Luis Torrens 0-2, BB, K, PB (11)
3B Ty McFarland 0-3, K
DH Isaias Tejeda 0-2, BB
RF Austin Aune 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, CS
1B Chris Breen1-3, 3B, 2 K
SS Vince Conde 1-3, RBI, K - hitting .303 in August
LF Daniel Lopez 1-3, K
2B Javier Lopez 1-3, 2B, RBI, SB

Dillon McNamara 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 K - 3 GO/2 FO
Matt Borens 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K, HR - 3 GO/1 FO

Game 2: W 3-2

CF Devyn Bolasky 1-3
SS Vince Conde 0-3, K
2B Ty McFarland 0-3, K
C Isaias Tejeda 1-3, K
DH Luis Torrens 0-3, K
LF Connor Spencer 0-3, 2 K
1B Chris Breen 2-3, 2 2B, K - hitting .382 over last 10 games
RF Nathan Mikolas 1-2, K
3B Renzo Martini 1-2, RBI, K, fielding error (8)

Jordan Cote 4.0 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 2 K, WP
Sean Carley 2.0 IP, 4 K - 1 GO/1 FO
Andrew Chin 1.0 IP, H, ER, K, HR - 2 GO/1 FO

Gulf Coast Yankees 1: postponed

Gulf Coast Yankees 2:W 6-5 vs. GCL Astros

CF Jose Augusto Figueroa 0-5, BB, 3 K, SB, HBP
SS Yancarlos Baez 1-6, 2 K
DH Jake Hernandez 1-6, 2B, K
3B Allen Valerio 1-2, HR, 2 RBI
1B Chris Gittens 1-3, 2B, K
RF Frank Frias 3-4, RBI, 2 BB, CS, outfield assist - hitting .304 over last 30 days
C Kevin Alexander 2-2, BB - hitting .308 in August
LF Griffin Gordon 2-5, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
2B Jake Anderson 1-5, RBI, BB, SB

Melvin Morla 5.0 IP, H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, WP - 1 GO/4 FO
Lee Casas 1.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R/1 ER, 2 BB, K, fielding error - 3 GO/0 FO
David Rodriguez 0.0 IP, BB
Jose Pena 2.2 IP, H, 2 K - 4 GO/1 FO
Felix Santiago 3.0 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 3 K - 1 GO/4 FO

When most news regarding the starting the starting rotation has involved crippling injuries, it's nice to watch something that makes you optimistic.

Right off the bat, let me admit that I wasn't expecting to see Michael Pineda again this season. I think a combination of both his 2+ injury plagued seasons as a Yankee and this season making it seem like "starting pitcher" is one of the most hazardous professions on Earth just set my expectations to zero. The setback during his rehab certainly didn't help. But showing that baseball is not just one crushing disappointment after another, Pineda worked his way back and took the mound Wednesday night against the Orioles. The short and sweet of it is that you couldn't have hoped for any better than what he gave you.

It was only five innings of work, but while Pineda was out there you would have a hard time telling that it had been months since he appeared The numbers were obviously sparkling: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K. Against one of the best hitting teams in one of the best hitters' parks, that's quite a performance. Even beyond the numbers, the most pleasing aspect of Pineda's start was that from a scouting perspective he looked just as good as he did earlier on in the season. His fastball sat comfortably in the mid to low 90's with plenty of late life that helped keep the opposing hitters from squaring up. Of course Pineda's calling card is his nasty slider, and boy was it nice to see that lovely offering again. It made the O's hitters look downright silly at times. There were no signs of fatigue, either, which is another good sign. He could have easily worked another inning if asked, but Joe Girardi smartly played his safe with Pineda and didn't push him any further. There was obviously more to consider than just the final result of the game.

Another less important but still positive effect of the brief but brilliant performance from Pineda is that the pine tar issue is now dead and buried. He didn't use it, didn't need it and was outstanding. End of story. Now it won't stop outlets like ESPN from excavating the topic's corpse and parading it out around for 30 minutes so they can blather about it. But as far as you or I are should be concerned, i.e. logical people, it's just something you no longer need to be worried about moving forward. The start grants peace of mind in the matter.

Pineda's obviously going to be a factor this year as the Yankees attempt to keep their playoff hopes from going off of life support. Most importantly, though, this was a big start for the Yankees future. A still young, cost-controlled pitcher with the caliber of stuff Pineda has is the type of asset that teams love to have. Even the Yankees don't want to spend 20 million dollars at every position, so surplus production from a guy like Pineda can be critical. His injury history prevents you from writing his name into the Yankees' plans in anything other than pencil, but at least now we can be optimistic about him moving forward.

It was exciting to watch Mo's final days tick down, but the Captain just isn't the same.

I can't imagine there ever being another Yankees season quite like 2013. Despite injuries ravaging the roster, retreads abound, the controversy with Alex Rodriguez, and far too much Chris Stewart for anyone's well-being, the team somehow defied a poor run differential to stay somewhat in contention through early September before fading down the stretch. It was mostly a frustrating season to watch.

But at least we had Mariano Rivera. The incomparable Yankees closer announced before the season that he would retire. What followed was a touching farewell tour wherein not only did Mo receive amusing gifts from teams around the majors, but he also gave back to the baseball community, visiting groups of opposing team employees, fans, and more everywhere he went. Some baseball fans got a little sick of it, but they could at least appreciate that what Mariano was doing was incredibly kind and gracious.

Bolstering his farewell season was the fact that at 43, the seemingly-ageless Rivera was as reliable as he was in his prime. He finished his career with a 2.11 ERA (51 ERA-), 44 saves, 54 strikeouts, a 1.047 WHIP, 2.5 rWAR, and most remarkably, just six unintentional walks. The man was a master of control, and he was a big reason why the Yankees were able to stay in contention since he helped close the door in so many tight games that might have been blown by inferior closers. Indeed, the Yankees were a remarkable 30-16 in one-run games, a .652 winning percentage far better than their overall 85-77 record suggested they should have been.

This year, the story has been Derek Jeter's farewell tour, as he also announced prior to the season that he would bid adieu to baseball at the end of the season. The majority of baseball fans do still seem to enjoy his farewell tour, as he has received huge ovations everywhere he's visited this year, and while Rivera is also a popular future Hall of Famer, Jeter was arguably the face of baseball for damn near 20 years. Michael Jordan even made a memorable commercial for Nike wishing him well that still gives me the chills. More people knew Jeter than Rivera, and more were willing to visit their local teams when the Yankees visited to say goodbye to him. However, that has also meant more people would grow weary of the whole farewell tour, so there has been considerably more eye-rolling during Jeter's farewell tour than Mo's. That felt inevitable with Jeter considering how many people have said he's overrated over the years, though Joe Posnanski made an interesting argument that he's been called overrated so often that he's now underrated.

On a more relevant note however, Jeter's performance this year has not been close to what Rivera offered last year. It's true that being called upon to play in the starting lineup on an everyday basis is almost certainly more taxing on an athlete than coming out of the bullpen to pitch an inning or so every couple days, but the difference in production can't be ignored. Rivera thrived in his final year; Jeter has just been a little bit better than replacement level.

He's not a shortstop anymore (and really hasn't been in years other than 2009), and while he was never a big home run hitter, his power is just gone. His career-worst year in terms of slugging percentage was his 2010 campaign, a bit of a sluggish follow-up to his near-MVP season in '09. In 2010, he slugged .370 with 30 doubles and 10 homers in 157 games. This year, he's slugging a paltry .326 with just 13 doubles and three homers, none at Yankee Stadium. Traditionalists would deem his .270 batting average and 116 hits as fine, but they are almost entirely made up of singles. While he's walking about as much as he did in his superb 2012, his overall offensive performance is a .270/.321/.326 triple slash with an 81 wRC+ that ranks 17th out of 23 qualifying shortstops in baseball. It simply hasn't been a good year for the Captain.

At this point, it's looking like a long shot for the Yankees to make the playoffs, just as it did last year. The most glaring difference is that this year, their retiring icon is a big part of the problem (along with most of the offense), whereas last year, the icon was one of the few bright spots keeping them in contention. So while I enjoy watching this team more than the 2013 squad since there are far more causes for hope for the future with Masahiro Tanaka, Dellin Betances, Brett Gardner, and more, it is also more disappointing watching Jeter leave baseball in such a shaky state.

We can only hope that through some form of Yankee magic, the old Jeter can emerge for the final six weeks of his career. Even if he can't spark this Yankees squad to one last ditch run at the playoffs, it would be refreshing to at least see him recapture a semblance of his old glory. Hell, even one homer at Yankee Stadium would do. I'm just really missing the old Jeter. If we could just get him back for a little bit, I would feel a lot better about his final season.

Despite being diagnosed with a torn UCL, Masahiro Tanaka is hoping to return to the New York Yankees rotation towards the end of September. Though the injury, in most cases, leads to Tommy John surgery, Tanaka is attempting to pitch through it, and is working a rehab program before opting for surgery on his elbow.

According to Bryan Hoch, the New York Yankees beat writer for MLB.com:

The 10 fastballs that Masahiro Tanaka fired across the flat ground of Camden Yards’ outfield grass on Wednesday afternoon may not seem like much, but they represented another important step as the right-hander works to return to the mound this season.

~snip~

Tanaka still needs to advance to throwing bullpens and batting practice, then facing hitters in games, but said that [he] feels no pain in his elbow. Tanaka believes that it is possible he will make it back to the big leagues in September.

Tanaka had been outstanding for the Yankees prior to his injury, making eighteen starts with a 2.51 ERA and a near-unheard-of 7.11 K/BB ratio. He won his first six decisions as a starter, and the team went 13-5 when he started a game. The Yankees have Tanaka under contract for six more seasons after 2014, and regardless of whether or not Tanaka pitches again this year, he is still likely to undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the balance of the 2015 season.

The Yankees currently sit at 61-58, eight games back of the Baltimore Orioles for the American League East, but only 3.5 games back of the Detroit Tigers for the second Wild Card spot. Though Tanaka's impact would be limited considering his time table for a return, there is a possibility, at least at this point, that he could take the mound for a meaningful game in September with playoff implications for the Yankees.

Tyler and Anthony talk Rockies with someone who is deeply entrenched with the Yankees. So, obviously, you don't want to miss it!

We're number one! We're number one! We're number one! With Tuesday's loss and a Texas Rangers win, YOUR Colorado Rockies are officially the worst team in Major League Baseball. So hey, progress! Tyler and Anthony talk about that because it's so uplifting.

Plus, a discussion with James Smyth, sports researcher and in-booth statistician for the YES Network about what it's like to actually be that guy for a major league broadcast.

Then, for the second consecutive week, we're taking listener questions. This week, we cover Raimel Tapia, things we actually enjoy about being Rockies fans (not many), and more (but not sandwiches).

Not-so-throwback Thursday.

There's no Yankees game tonight, so why not remember some better Yankee days with a good ol' Sporcle quiz? The content is very recent--who are all the Yankees to appear in a playoff game during Joe Girardi's tenure? There are some happy names, some upsetting names, and some people who I am positive you completely forgot. Feel free to discuss in the comments (you don't need the spoiler tag) and share how you did!

It's About the Money | Brad Vietrogoski: Manny Banuelos is finally making his long-awaited comeback after it seemed like he was very far off just a few months ago.

Rotographs | Nicholas Minnix: Did the Yankees find something in Chris Capuano to improve upon, like they did with Brandon McCarthy?

ESPN New York | Wallace Matthews:Shawn Kelley was very honest about the the team's playoff chances.

Pinstripe Pundits | Chris Mitchell: Dellin Betances, David Robertson, Adam Warren, and Shawn Kelley are all struggling, but they should be able to turn it around.

LoHud | Chad Jennings: The Yankees still have many questions surrounding Carlos Beltran, Masahiro Tanaka, and Mark Teixeira as they prepare for the stretch run.

The Wall Street Journal | Jonathan Zalman: As the Yankees approach their 10,000th franchise victory, questions about their beginnings make milestone confusing.

It's About the Money | William Tasker: Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner are the only clutch hitters on the team this year.

Sports Illustrated | Cliff Corcoran: Masahiro Tanaka and Dellin Betances could be Rookie of the Year award candidates.

LoHud | Chad Jennings: The Yankees' power shortage is going to cost them dearly in the playoff race.

Recapping the Yankees' minor league affiliates' results from August 14th.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:L 5-8 vs. Louisville Bats

2B Jose Pirela 1-3, double, RBI, BB, 2 K - batting .301 this season
LF Taylor Dugas 1-3, RBI, 2 BB, K - batting .308 since promotion
CF Zoilo Almonte 1-5, RBI, K, OF assist
DH Kyle Roller 1-3, BB, HBP
RF Zelous Wheeler 1-4, K
C Francisco Arcia 1-4, double
3B Rob Segedin 0-3, BB, K
1B Corban Joseph 2-4 - batting .260 this season
SS Carmen Angelini 0-4, RBI, K

Zach Nuding 5 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, K - 64 of 94 pitches for strikes
Branden Pinder 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Tyler Webb 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, K
Jose Gil 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB

Double-A Trenton Thunder:W 4-3 vs. Altoona Curve

DH Jake Cave 2-5, 2 doubles, 2 K - batting .292 w/ Trenton
LF 1-3, double, RBI
1B Greg Bird 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K - 4th homer since promotion
RF Tyler Austin 1-3, RBI, BB
3B Dante Bichette Jr. 0-4, 2 K
CF Mason Williams 1-3, BB, K
C Tyson Blaser 0-3, BB
2B Casey Stevenson 1-4, double, K
SS Ali Castillo 0-4, K

Daniel Camarena 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K - 59 of 92 pitches for strikes
Phil Wetherell 2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, K
Mark Montgomery 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

High-A Tampa Yankees:L 0-1, W 4-3 vs. Lakeland Flying Tigers

Game 1:

CF Mark Payton 0-2, BB
SS Jose Rosario 0-3
3B Eric Jagielo 0-2, BB, K
DH Aaron Judge 0-3, 2 K
RF Ericson Leonora 2-3
2B Angelo Gumbs 0-3, K
C Trent Garrison 1-2, BB
1B Danny Oh 2-3
LF Anderson Feliz 0-2, K

Brady Lail 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K - 3 GO/6 AO
Philip Walby 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Game 2:

CF Danny Oh 1-4, K
SS Cito Culver 1-4, 2 RBI - batting .211 this season
DH Eric Jagielo 0-2, BB, K
RF Aaron Judge 0-3, RBI
3B Jose Rosario 0-3, K, E5 - fielding error, seventh of the season
2B Angelo Gumbs 0-3, 2 K
LF Ericson Leonora 0-3, K
1B Reymond Nunez 1-3, K
C Kyle Higashioka 2-2, double, HR, RBI, BB - first homer of the season

Caleb Smith 5 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, WP
Alex Smith 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Cesar Vargas 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Low-A Charleston RiverDogs:L 2-3 vs. Rome Braves

LF Michael O'Neill 0-4, 2 K, HBP
SS Tyler Wade 1-3, RBI, BB, K, CS
3B Miguel Andujar 0-4, K
1B Mike Ford 1-4, K - batting .286 this season
RF Yeicok Calderon 0-2, 2 K
C Eduardo de Oleo 1-4, 2 K
2B Gosuke Katoh 1-2, 2 BB
DH Jackson Valera 1-3
CF Brandon Thomas 2-3, triple, RBI, BB

Andy Beresford 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, hit batsman
Conor Mullee 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, K
Eric Ruth 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB

Short Season-A Staten Island Yankees:W 5-2 vs. Connecticut Tigers

C Collin Slaybaugh 1-4, RBI, K, CS, passed ball
SS Vince Conde 0-3, BB, E6 - missed catch, fifth error of the season
1B Connor Spencer 3-4 - batting .366 this season
DH Isaias Tejeda 0-4, K, SB
CF Austin Aune 1-4, 3 K
LF Chris Breen 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 K - fifth and sixth homers of the season
3B Renzo Martini 0-4, K
RF Nathan Mikolas 0-3, K
2B Jose Javier 2-3, triple, CS

Jonathan Holder 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Andury Acevedo 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Ethan Carnes 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Gulf Coast Yankees 1 highlights:

GCL Yankees 1 scored two runs in the top of the 9th to beat the GCL Blue Jays 8-6 in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Billy Fleming had two hits and drew two walks. Dominic Jose went 3-4 with a triple and four runs driven in. Matt Marsh picked up his first save of the season.

In the second game of the doubleheader, a three-run first inning put the Yankees ahead for good, as they went on to win 4-2 in a sweep of the Blue Jays on the day. Fleming had two more hits to bring his season average to .403, as well as stole a base. Derek Callahan pitched five innings, giving up two runs and striking out two. Travis Hissong picked up his first save of the year and lowered his ERA to 0.75.

Gulf Coast Yankees 2 highlights:

GCL Yankees 2 prevailed in ten innings over the GCL Astros by a score of 7-6 despite out-hitting the opposition 14-8. Jake Hernandez singled twice and walked once. DH RJ Johnson and left fielder Jose Augusto Figueroa each homered in the game. Preston Claiborne started the game, pitching in a rehab assignment. He gave up one run in 1.2 innings. Caleb Cotham, also on a rehab assignment, struck out three batters in 1.1 innings. Hector Martinez and Mike Noteware each blew a save at the end of the game, but Noteware was awarded with the win after his team picked him up on the walk-off.

It's was a nice ride, but it should be over for him in 2014

Chase Whitley was a nice surprise in 2014, but like most surprises in baseball, it wasn't meant to last. The shine has worn off and now we're left with a pitcher who is far beyond any threshold he's hit before, and with a 5.51 ERA and 4.20 FIP, it's time to end the Chase Whitley experience. At least for 2014.

At one point Whitley seemed like a revelation. Through his first six starts he had a 2.41 ERA in 33.2 innings, and though that was not likely to last, it was exactly what the Yankees needed from someone who wasn't even on the radar last year. His success culminated in a pair of back-to-back starts in mid-June where he pitched at least seven innings and allowed only two runs on five hits. Unfortunately, it all came to an end after that as he went on to put up a 9.43 ERA through the All-Star break. It was clear that fatigue was starting to set in as he went from throwing around 14 pitches per inning during his successful six appearances to about 20 pitches per inning when he began to struggle. He started hitting his pitch limit in the third inning and only once did he make it through five between June 18 and July 13.

After returning from the All-Star break and an eight-day reprieve, Whitley came back with a seven-hit shutout of the Rangers over six innings. He showed that he could still be effective if given the proper rest, but by then the Yankees knew they had to find a better solution, so they acquired Chris Capuano and Whitley was placed in the bullpen. It seemed like he could at least perform the duties of a long reliever, able to eat up multiple innings and possibly keep the team in the game, but instead he's been used sparingly and when he has been used he hasn't been very good. He now has a 14.21 ERA in just 6.1 innings since his last start.

It's pretty clear that at this point Whitley just doesn't belong in the majors anymore. He's well past his high water mark in terms of innings and pitches thrown, which makes it fairly obvious that he's just too worn out to contribute at the major league level. He's already matched his innings total from 2013, but if you add his 26.1 innings from the minors, he's currently at 93.1 innings. Last year he threw a total of 1037 pitches, while this year, taking his time in Triple-A into account, he's thrown 1,534, which is a vast increase in workload for someone who hasn't been a starter for very long.

It would be one thing if Whitley was maintaining some level of success and was some integral part of the pitching staff, whether in the bullpen or rotation, but that's just not happening. He's become not just a liability at this point, but also a waste of a roster space. It's time to demote him and give him a breather. The Yankees have the prospects that should make this choice a no-brainer. Bring up someone like Nick Rumbelow, who has been actually successful for most of the year and let Whitley recover for next year, where he might be able to help in any number of roles. Let's avoid an injury as well as a situation that's just going to make this team's uphill battle even more difficult.

The Yankees are back at the cesspool that is Tropicana Field, because of A-Rod probably. Also, Brandon McCarthy is pitching.

Comment of the Game

Nothing to see here. Move along, folks.

Best GIF of the Recap

We'll just pretend that there was a game yesterday and that the Yankees won. This was the GIF of the Recap of make believe.

Honorable Mod Mention

Tanya apparently kicked major ass in yesterday's Sporcle quiz. Waffles definitely gets the HMM.

Best Comments of the Day

I think it's sad when someone has to actually remember Jayson Nix for a quiz. Right? Nix: Nix

Since Waffles won the HMM, I'm just gonna go ahead and give myself one of the best comments for yesterday. Good job, me!

Fun Questions

• If you could move the Rays anywhere, where would you move them?
• Name some of your favorite rap songs, if you have any.

The Yankees have badly struggled in the past week after a promising series victory over the Tigers, so that's fun! Brian Cashman's future is also discussed, as is Skeeter Shelton because reasons.

Remember how we asked for "more of these Yankees, please" last week? Yeah, that didn't happen.

[0:44] "Who needs to actually try to win a division, amirite?!"
[3:10] Was the offense ever actually that good entering the season? Are they just performing to expectations?
[7:04] Should the Yankees consider themselves lucky to even be in the Wild Card hunt?
[8:13] woo .500 team
[9:45] Michael Pineda is back though! Huzzah. Otherwise, how watchable is this team?
[15:50] Will Brian Cashman be retained as GM? How does one even begin to evaluate him?
[25:00] Should the Yankees try to bring back David Robertson?
[27:47] Tweetbag: Why can't we have nice things?, farewell gifts to Bud Selig, and what we would each do as commissioner
[37:39] Matt F.'s B-Ref segment: This guy.
[40:23] How many 2013 Yankees can the Matts name off the top of their heads? (Too mean of a trivia segment?)
[54:00] Yankee/Mitre of the Week

Podca st link (Length: 1:00:48)

iTunes link

RSS feed

It sounds like Hal Steinbrenner's putting the Yankees' lineup woes squarely on Brian Cashman's shoulders. Is the GM really to blame?

Hal Steinbrenner isn't happy with the Yankees' offense. Me neither, Hal. After scoring just six runs in a rain-shortened two game series in Baltimore this week, the team's currently twelfth in the American League in runs-per-game at 3.98 and eleventh in OPS at .695. That kind of production isn't exactly what the Yankees' principal owner was counting on when he agreed to chuck plan 189 last winter and commit over $300 million in new money for position players. Piecing together Steinbrenner's comments, it seems like was holding Brian Cashman at least partially accountable for the club's scoring woes when he declined to give the general manager, whose contract expires after the season, a vote of confidence for the future.

It's sometimes hard to judge Yankee execs because it's never very clear who's making which decisions. The final call on whether or not to meet Robinson Cano's sky-high demands probably didn't fall on Cashman's desk, and it's hard to say which of the team's ensuing moves were pushed by ownership in an effort to salvage ticket sales and TV ratings in the wake of his departure and of a rare missed postseason. In the past, Cashman hasn't been shy about distancing himself from moves he disagreed with. He pouted all the way through Rafael Soriano's introductory press conference in 2011 and last July, he spoke openly about his opposition to the deal that swapped pitching prospect Corey Black for Alfonso Soriano. This year, Cashman has seemed on board with all the Yankees' moves, from their aggressive pursuit of Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann to their choice to go three years for Carlos Beltran and down to the more minor deals made to tack together the rest of the lineup.

Assuming that Cashman was the force behind the latest round of Yankee acquisitions, is it fair for him to take the heat for the team's sluggish attack? In some ways, no. No one could have anticipated as severe a drop-off as McCann has seen, with the 30-year-old coming off a 121 wRC+ season that placed him as one of the best hitting catchers in the game. Soriano hit 34 home runs in 2013...it was unrealistic to expect that again, but being awful enough to get cut by early July is another thing entirely. Beltran, given his age was a risky signing for sure, but his second half return to form points to his early struggles being strictly related to his elbow injury, which seems to now be healing nicely.

On the other hand, no one else in the Yankee order is really "underachieving" and they've gotten better-than-expected performances on some counts. Ellsbury is essentially having an Ellsbury season at the plate (108 wRC+ vs. 109 career) and Brett Gardner is in the midst of the best year of his life. Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira aren't quite setting the league on fire, but the fact that they've stayed on the field more often than not has to be considered a win. Their health was no given heading in and the Yankees lacked viable backups for either. Meanwhile, glaring holes at second and third were patched with Kelly Johnson, Brian Roberts and a slew of career minor leaguers. Even if McCann and Beltran were at their best all season, this was never going to be a classic Yankee offense...they entered the year without a player coming off a 140 wRC+ or better season for the first time since 1997. That team turned out alright - it finished second in the AL in offense - but it also boasted incredible depth. There was no Roberts or Ichiro or Solarte in that lineup.

Bereft of the goods to deal for a bona fide slugger - and without one available anyway - the Yankees spent their deadline bringing in struggling hitters with solid pasts who could be had on the cheap. Those moves, though, haven't done much so far to buoy a sinking offense. After a quick start to his Yankee career, Chase Headley's fallen back to a non-savior-like .724 OPS/105 wRC+ in 83 plate appearances. Martin Prado and Stephen Drew have somehow managed to look worse than the 2005 All-Stars they were replacing in Roberts and Ichiro. Prado, who's still owed $22 million is hitting .175/.233/.275 through his first twelve games in pinstripes, and Stephen Drew has picked up right where he left off in Boston with a line of .172/.242/.310. If the rest of this year was truly an audition to replace Jeter as the next Yankee shortstop, it's not looking like there'll be a call-back.

One of Cashman's stronger points over the years has been his willingness to go out and correct his mistakes. It's clear the Yankees need some sort of offensive overhaul this winter, but that'll be a difficult thing to achieve without a lot of maneuverability on the roster. After adding Prado, and counting Alex Rodriguez, the team has seven position players signed to contracts worth at least $11 million per season that are guaranteed at least through 2016. Whoever's brought in to play short - and it'll have to be someone, since there's no imaginable in-house solution - will likely bring that number up to eight. In the 2012-13 off-season, when the Yankees were spending most of their time working on short-term deals for older players, roster flexibility was a major Cashman talking point. But in less than two years, that flexibility has pretty much vanished. As much fun as it would be to see a totally revamped Yankee lineup in 2015, what you see now is for the most part, what you're going to get.

As is the case with anyone who's been at their job for seventeen years, opinions on Cashman are pretty much set. Some love him, some loathe him and others fall somewhere in the middle. For all the recent failures there have been plenty of smart moves too...the Gardner extension is looking like a steal, as is the Brandon McCarthy trade, and Cashman has done a lot right to keep afloat a pitching staff that's lost the greatest closer of all time and four-fifths of its starters over the past calendar year. But if the Yankees are home watching in October for the second straight year - something they haven't done since 1992-1993 - someone's head may very well roll. Joe Girardi is owed three years and $12 million. Cashman's owed zero and $0. Anyone care to guess whose it will be?

Heading to the House of Horrors.

The Yankees will try to dig themselves out of a four-game deficit for the second Wild Card tonight as they open a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at The Trop. New York will be sending Brandon McCarthy to the mound to oppose Alex Cobb for the Rays. Here is the lineup McCarthy will have behind him.

#Yankees lineup vs Rays: Gardner LF, Jeter SS, Ellsbury CF, Teixeira 1B, Beltran DH, Headley 3B, Drew 2B, Prado RF, Cervelli C, McCarthy P

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 15, 2014

This lineup is really no different than the ones we've been accustomed to of late. Hopefully Stephen Drew and Martin Prado can get themselves going at the dish, which has been a bit of a struggle for them since joining the Yankees at the trade deadline.

In happy news:

Girardi said Tanaka will throw a 25-pitch bullpen tomorrow

— Erik Boland (@eboland11) August 15, 2014

This is just another step in hopefully a return to complete health for the Yankees' ace. Avoiding Tommy John surgery (at least for now) would be a huge gift for a team that really can't afford to lose Tanaka for all of next season. Here's hoping that he continues to feel no pain when throwing and can, at the very least, position himself to be 100% for next season if not sooner.

Editor's Note: SB Nation's partner FanDuel is hosting a one-day $18,000 Fantasy Baseball league for tonight's MLB games. It's $2 to join and first prize is $2,000. Jump in now. Here's the FanDuel link.

Brandon McCarthy pitched fine, but the offense failed to do anything, per usual.

Like so many games recently, the starting pitcher kept the Yankees in the game, but the offense blew it. Despite yesterday's off day, they couldn't even get a run on the board. Tonight's loss moved the Rays to just one game behind the Yankees. They're really going to need to pull it together immediately if they have any hopes of making the playoffs.

The game didn't get off to the best start, as Brandon McCarthy gave up back-to-back singles, and a walk to load the bases. Evan Longoria and James Loney both grounded into force outs to score the first two runs of the game. McCarthy was able to settle down after that, and didn't allow another earned run. He left the game in the seventh inning, having given up 7 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 7. He definitely didn't deserve the loss.

Two unearned runs also scored in the seventh inning, after Logan Forsythe reached on a ground ball to Chase Headley. Headley stopped it, but it rolled away and he was charged with an error. Yunel Escobar bunted to move Forsythe over to second, and the Rays third run came on an RBI single hit by Curt Casali. With one out, Kevin Kiermaier and Desmond Jennings both singled to load the bases. Esmil Rogers came in to relieve McCarthy at this point, and Ben Zobrist grounded into a force out to score the fourth run. The Rays tacked on another run in the 8th inning, a solo shot by James Loney, because why not?

In five of tonight's innings, the Yankees' leadoff hitter singled. Two times for Mark Teixeira, and once for Derek Jeter, Chase Headley and Stephen Drew. None of them made it home. Things looked promising in the eighth inning, when the Yankees loaded the bases with just one out. Then Jacoby Ellsbury and Tex both struck out to end the inning. Doesn't feel good to be shutout by a team that was 18 games below .500.

The Yankees really need to win the series to avoid falling behind the Rays. They'll get another chance tomorrow afternoon at 4:10 pm EST. Shane Greene and Drew Smyly are the probable starters.

Box score.

The latest prospect from Cuba is drawing interest from a few heavy-hitting franchises, both in and out of the playoff race.

27-year-old Cuban prospect Rusney Castillo is coming to a major market team or playoff contender near you, according to reports from MLB Network's Peter Gammons and the New York Post's Joel Sherman.

Fellow Post writer George A. King is reporting that a source "familiar with the situation" says that Castillo and his team will work their way through offers this weekend and come up with a decision some time next week, after accepting proposals on Friday. He reportedly has interest from the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers.

There are questions -- raised in particular bySherman -- regarding Castillo's ability to acquire a work visa. Sherman believes that there will be added pressure on teams attempting to sign him for the stretch run with enough time for the government to process his application and for the team to process him through their minor league system.

For organizations like the Red Sox -- who Sherman cites along with the Tigers and Yankees as possible suitors -- there is obviously less concern or sense of urgency to get him either signed or promoted before the Aug. 31 40-man roster deadline.

Further complicating things is the hefty price tag that will come with Castillo. In his tweets, Gammons made specific mention of the Yankees and the tax issues they would have if they added what will likely be a massive bonus bill to their already punitive payroll. If the bonus market is, as Gammons speculates, in the $50 million dollar range for Castillo, he could cost the Bombers as much as $25 million extra just for signing his name.

But, if they play him at second -- instead of the outfield where most other teams have him projected -- he'd still be a bargain compared to Seattle's $240 million dollar man and former Yankees second baseman, Robinson Cano.

Good news and bad news as the pennant races heat up.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were shut out by the Las Vegas 51s, 2-0.

Erick Jokisch was the victim of non-support as he pitched six innings and allowed two runs on nine hits. He struck out six and walked only one.

Iowa had four hits in this game. Catcher Rafael Lopez was 2 for 3.

Omaha won, so Iowa is once again tied for first place in their division.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies dimmed the Huntsville Stars (Brewers), 2-0.

Pierce Johnson pitched the first four innings and allowed just three hits, two of which were infield singles. He walked three and struck out seven.

Matt Loosen got the win because Johnson didn't pitch five innings. Loosen gave up one hit and one walk. He also struck out one.

Frank Batista pitched a perfect ninth inning for his tenth save. He did not have a strikeout.

Second baseman Stephen Bruno went 2 for 3 with a triple and an RBI single in the second inning.

The win gives Tennessee a one-game lead in their division.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs fell to the Tampa Yankees, 7-2.

Tyler Skulina started and got the loss. Skulina pitched 3.2 innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits. He struck out three and walked two.

First baseman Dan Vogelbach was 2 for 4 with two doubles. He scored one run and had one RBI.

DH Billy McKinney was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

The loss cuts Daytona's lead over Tampa for first place in their division to two games.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars skinned the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 7-2.

Starter Jonathan Martinez picked up his ninth win and second with the Cougars. He allowed two runs on six hits over five innings. Martinez struck out two and walked no one.

Tyler Ihrig pitched the final four innings for the rare four-inning save. Ihirg allowed only one hit and no runs. He fanned three and walked one.

First baseman Jacob Rogers and catcher Cael Brockmeyer hit back-to-back solo home runs in the second inning. It was Rogers' 15th home run and Brockmeyer's 6th. Rogers was 2 for 5 with two RBI and Brockmeyer was 1 for 4 with a walk.

Center fielder Trey Martin hit an inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning, his third home run this season. Martin went 2 for 3 with a walk and the one RBI. He scored three times.

Second baseman Danny Lockhart was 3 for 4 with a walk. He had one run batted in.

The Cougars are in first place, but it doesn't matter because they won the first half.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks comeback fell short against the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks), 5-4.

Starting pitcher Dillon Maples allowed three runs on three hits over 3.1 innings. Mainly, the problem was that he walked five batters. He struck out four.

Third baseman Jesse Hodges had a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth to get the Hawks to within a run, but then shortstop Bryant Flete grounded out to end the game. Hodges was 1 for 4.

AZL Cubs

Off day.

It's About the Money | Katie Sharp: It would be truly historic if the Yankees were to make the playoffs at this point.

New York Post | George A. King III: Masahiro Tanaka could soon graduate to throwing off a mound in his rehab.

Rotographs | Marc Hulet: Aaron Judge is one of the better corner outfield prospects in baseball.

CBS Sports | Matt Snyder: Joe Girardi has an outside shot of being named Manager of the Year.

New York Daily News | Mark Feinsand: Is Kevin Long to blame for the team's dismal offensive season?

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty:Brian McCann expects to return from the 7-day concussion DL on Sunday.

LoHud | Nancy Haggerty: It's not going to be that easy for scouts to find the next Derek Jeter.

Newsday David Lennon: Brian Cashman understands that Hal Steinbrenner's comments about the general manager are all part of the process.

Baseball America | J.J. Cooper:Tyler Austin is finally getting some attention in the hot sheet as he continues to rebound from his wrist injury.

Recapping the Yankees' minor league affiliates' results from August 15th.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:W 4-1 vs. Pawtucket Red Sox

1B Jose Pirela 2-4, triple, CS
2B Rob Refsnyder 0-4, 2 K, E4 - throwing error, 2nd w/ SWB
CF Zoilo Almonte 0-4, 2 K
DH Kyle Roller 1-4, triple, 2 K - batting .284 w/ SWB
RF Zelous Wheeler 3-4, double, HR, 2 RBI, K - ninth homer of the season
C Francisco Arcia 0-4
3B Rob Segedin 0-3, HBP
LF Taylor Dugas 0-2, K, HBP
SS Carmen Angelini 1-3, HR, 2 RBI - second homer of the season

Bryan Mitchell 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, WP - 57 of 86 pitches for strikes
Diego Moreno 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Nick Rumbelow 1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K - 1.17 ERA w/ SWB
Edgmer Escalona 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB

Double-A Trenton Thunder:L 4-7 vs. Bowie Baysox

CF Jake Cave 2-5, K
LF Ben Gamel 0-5, 2 K
C Gary Sanchez 2-4, 2 RBI - batting .274 this season
RF Tyler Austin 3-4, 2 doubles - batting .285 this season
1B Greg Bird 0-3, BB, 2 K
3B Dante Bichette Jr. 1-3, BB - batting .214 since promotion
DH Mason Williams 0-4, RBI, K
2B Jose Toussen 0-4
SS Ali Castillo 1-3, BB, SB

Jaron Long 6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K - 2.96 ERA w/ Trenton
Jacob Lindgren 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, WP - 39 strikeouts in 18.2 IP this season
Nick Goody 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, WP

High-A Tampa Yankees:W 7-2 vs. Daytona Cubs

CF Mark Payton 1-2, double, 2 BB, SB, HBP - batting .257 w/ Tampa
SS Cito Culver 2-4, 3 RBI, K, E6 - throwing error, 17th of the season
3B Eric Jagielo 1-3, RBI, BB, 2 K
RF Aaron Judge 1-4, BB, K - batting .271 w/ Tampa
LF Jose Rosario 1-4
C Trent Garrison 1-3, RBI, 2 K, passed ball
2B Angelo Gumbs 1-4, double, K
DH Ericson Leonora 2-4, RBI
1B Reymond Nunez 0-2, 2 BB, 2 K

Brett Gerritse 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K - 9 GO/4 AO
Ramon Benjamin 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Low-A Charleston RiverDogs:L 4-7 vs. Rome Braves

LF Brandon Thomas 1-5, 2 K
SS Tyler Wade 0-4, BB, CS, E6 - throwing error, 20th of the season
3B Miguel Andujar 0-4, BB, K
DH Mike Ford 1-3, double, BB - batting .286 this season
RF Michael O'Neill 2-2, 2 BB, SB, CS
1B Jackson Valera 1-4, 2 RBI
2B Gosuke Katoh 1-3, BB, K - batting .234 this season
C Eduardo de Oleo 1-4, K
CF Claudio Custodio 1-4, K

Justin Kamplain 4 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, E1 - 50 of 75 pitches for strikes
Giovanny Gallegos 3.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R/3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Chad Taylor 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, K

Short Season-A Staten Island Yankees:L 2-5 vs. Tri-City ValleyCats

CF Devyn Bolasky 0-4, K
SS Jose Javier 0-4
2B Ty McFarland 1-4, K - batting .284 this season
LF Chris Breen 1-3, BB, K
RF Austin Aune 1-4, double, 2 K
C Luis Torrens 1-4, double, RBI, K, 2 passed balls - batting .288 w/ SI
1B Connor Spencer 1-3, K
3B Renzo Martini 1-3, RBI, E5 - throwing error, 9th of the season
DH Brady Steiger 1-3, 2 K

Jordan Montgomery 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R/1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, WP - 4 GO/0 AO
Jordan Foley 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Matt Wotherspoon 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, WP
Sam Agnew-Wieland 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R/0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

GCL Yankees 1 vs. GCL Yankees 2: Postponed for rain

The two new Yankees are doing their best to fit in with their new teammates by not hitting a lick.

I tend to think of the Trading Deadline in baseball like Christmas morning from when you were a kid. Or your birthday if you prefer to get non-denominational. The excitement of something shiny and new entering your life, often times replacing an old toy that just wasn't very fun anymore. And even if a gift wasn't EXACTLY what you wanted (socks,bed sheets) you were still getting something you would presume to be useful. In this scenario Stephen Drew would totally be the socks. But there is always risk involved. When I got the Ninja Turtles blimp for Christmas one year when I was a lad, my initial sheer joy was only surpassed by my ultimate grave disappointment because the damn thing kept falling apart. The novelty of the newness of the acquisition fades and all you are left with is sadness. That's what we have with the aforementioned Drew and Martin Prado. Two unwrapped presents that have done nothing but disappoint since they were taken out of the box.

The most amazing part is that the bar had been set so incredibly low for the both of them. Drew was replacing Brian Roberts and his 81 wRC+ and 0.1 fWAR and Prado was replacing Ichiro Suzuki and his .224 batting average in July. An E-Z Bake Oven that broke down and caught fire and a remote control car that leaked battery acid everywhere. You would still take that over what Drew and Prado have been doing in their 2+ weeks with the team. Drew is sporting a 21 wRC+ and Prado is at 29. They're both striking out over 20% of the time while walking less than 5%. Aside from the occasional nice play in the field, they've been totally useless. The Yankees playoff chances were already less than healthy with two bad players being slotted into their lineup every night, but two purportedly decent ones hitting like pitchers has helped put the team in their coffin. The Yankees picked up a pair of socks with holes and a set of sheets covered in mites for the trade holiday. Thanks in no small part to those "gifts", the 2014 season is at the stage where Dr. Frankenstein may be required to revive it.

Since it's such a small sample size, neither of these performances would be particularly indicative of anything, even looking towards their future potential performances as Yankees. But if Drew's performance did scare the Yankees decision makers off they can just let him sign elsewhere next year. But Prado's here for the long haul, being owed $20+ million dollars over the next two years. So everybody cross your fingers and hope that this rough stretch is just that, and not a further indication of a downward spiral in Prado's hitting production. He's obviously not a sub-.200 hitter, but it would be nice to see some glimpse of the player he was as recently as 2012 before the season closes out. Or else his position in 2015 (be it RF, 2B or other) isn't going to feel any more resolved or sturdy than it was when 2014 opened.

It's not easy coming over to a new team in a playoff race in the most crushing media market on Earth. You get virtually no opportunity to struggle before the fans are calling for your head. Hell, when Chase Headley started 0-for-4 in his first game as a Yankee I'm sure there would people at the ready with torches and pitchforks. But time was not a luxury that Drew and Prado were going to have with the Yankees this year because the team desperately needed them to give the sagging offense a shot in the arm. By going the extra mile and making the offense even worse than before, they may go down in the lengthy annals of regrettable Yankees acquisitions. Even if they turn it around at this juncture.

Shane Greene will take the mound this afternoon. Whether the offense shows up to support him is still up for debate.

Comment of the Game

LTL wins the COTG with his hilarious response to MinigunMadness' long Tank comment. Also, damn that odd white space.

Best GIF of the Recap

Blanky pretty much hit the nail on the head here.

Honorable Mod Mention

Andrew with a great, honorable response. Especially when you consider we got rid of Nuno and got Brandon McCarthy and cash for him.

Best Comments of the Day

A simple, but classic response by LTL to Jason's article about Chase Whitley.

A great response by BG90027 to the idea of blaming Cashman for the offensive struggles.

Especially when Kevin L knows who is really to blame.

Finally, ShaunRunDMC describes the Game Thread in a nutshell.

Fun Questions

• Besides Pineda, who just returned, who is your favorite pitcher in the rotation to watch pitch?
• What time do you normally go to bed?