Johnny Damon just can't keep his big mouth shut. MLB states they have evidence A-Rod has used PEDS every season since 2009. Now, in the wake of Alex Rodriguez's PED suspension, Damon says that if he used performance enhancing drugs it greatly diminishes the value of the Yankees' 2009 World Series Championship.

Damon specifically said:

"I mean, then you start saying, ‘Well was anybody on their team cheating?' There's just so many different factors that determine if a team wins, and A-Rod was such a determining factor. He was the MVP of the ALCS, so yeah, he played a huge part, and over the years, a lot of guys that have been winning awards, I mean, they're linked to something."

Saying the actions of one man renders an entire team's accomplishments to be illegitimate is unfair. Many players had a big part in that championship run and Damon is essentially disregarding their contributions. Damon himself was on that team, so is he saying that he should give back his ring? He should be quiet before people start thinking that that's something that should happen.

After claiming in the spring that he would fill in for the injured Curtis Granderson for a month, take minimum wage, and then retire, maybe it's time for Johnny Damon to just stop talking. A reunion with the Yankees of any kind is not going to happen. Trashing the organization, however unintentionally, is not going to help his case.

More from Pinstriped Bible:

• Three Yankees earn Best Tools designation from Baseball America
• Robinson Cano slump: Yankees need him to get hot again
• The 2013 Yankees and increasing appreciation for the 2002-12 teams
• MLB Standings: Can the Yankees make the playoffs?
• Alex Rodriguez: Has anything really changed?

I honestly don't know why you're reading this. Actually, maybe if you're an avid Yankee hater you might enjoy the rest of this recap, but other than that there will be no joy to be found in the words that follow. The Yankees had two opportunities to close out the White Sox, and failed in excruciating fashion. But if you're going to read about this nightmare, we might as well start back at the beginning.

It was a matchup of two lefties in CC Sabathia and Hector Santiago as the Yankees tried not to get swept by one of the worst teams in baseball. Of course, the Yankees have been no bed of roses themselves recently, so the worst was assumed.

It took the Yankees all of two batters to equal their offensive output from Tuesday, as Alfonso Soriano belted his second home run in his Yankee return with Brett Gardner on first to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. It was the 100^th of Soriano’s truncated Yankees career. And dear reader, I know you are assuming those were the only runs that the Yankees scored in this game...but you would be wrong. In the third Vernon Wells singled home Soriano to make it 3-0. And in the fourth, Eduardo Nunez went boom-ez with his first homer of the season to make it a four run margin. After THAT inning is when the Yankees remembered they're the worst Yankees offense since the Ice Age, and did not score again until extra innings. They went a putrid 1-16 with RISP, which is a really bad idea when you can't score runs.

In regards to the pitching side of the game for the Yankees, CC Sabathia had his best outing in nearly a month. That's not really saying much, but an improvement's an improvement. He worked four scoreless innings until giving up yet another home run, this time to Gordon Beckham. But the man known as Chucky Cheese (I think) Sabathia would run into more trouble in the seventh as he gave up a run-scoring double to Paul Konerko to cut the lead to two. But CC would bear down and only allow the runner at third to score, preserving the Yankees' lead. He worked 7 1/2 three-run innings but had only one strikeout and a lot of solidly-hit outs, so I remain cautiously optimistic about him moving forward.

CC gave way to David Robertson in the eighth, who bowed to Mariano Rivera in the ninth who (double-checks box score, gasps in terror) gave up a two-out double to Beckham and a single to Adam Dunn for his third blown save of the year, costing CC a win that would even his record at .500. So we trudged on bravely into extra innings anticipating the horrors that lay within.

In the bonus frames, we got a bonus inning out of Mo for the first time in what seems like eons, and Adam Warren blanked the Sox in the 11th as the Yankees...did nothing. But in the 12th Robinson Cano, he of the 0-4 to start the day, blasted a solo homer into the right-field stands to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead and eventual win over...no, scratch that. This is 2013! So, in the bottom of the twelfth Warren allowed a single to Tyler Flowers, a single to Alexei Ramirez and a two-run, game-winning, soul-crushing double to Alejandro De Aza. And that was your ballgame. Because we can't have nice things.

I don't think it needs to be said, but holy hand grenade did the Yankees need this victory. As we wind our way into the final quarter of the season, the Yankees need every single win they can get, and blowing the game with one out to go for a victory TWICE is a real stupid way to get back into the playoff hunt. This is the lowest of the low, people. 2013 has been an awful season, but the forces conspiring against the Yankees and their fans are going to have their work cut out for them to top this disaster. I suggest you go hug something fluffy.

More from Pinstriped Bible:

• Johnny Damon: Alex Rodriguez suspension diminishes 2009 World Series Championship
• Yankees lineup vs. White Sox; Alex Rodriguez officially files appeal
• Three Yankees earn Best Tools designation from Baseball America
• Robinson Cano slump: Yankees need him to get hot again
• The 2013 Yankees and increasing appreciation for the 2002-12 teams

Yesterday on Pinstriped Bible

• Yankees 5, White Sox 6: It will be hard to top this monstrosity
• Johnny Damon: Alex Rodriguez suspension diminishes 2009 World Series Championship
• Yankees lineup vs. White Sox; Alex Rodriguez officially files appeal
• Three Yankees earn Best Tools designation from Baseball America
• Robinson Cano slump: Yankees need him to get hot again
• The 2013 Yankees and increasing appreciation for the 2002-12 teams
• Baby Bomber Recap 8/6/13: RiverDogs drop seventh straight game

Around the Internet

• Wall Street Journal | Daniel Barbarisi:Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, and Joe Girardi led a team meeting in the hopes of inspiring the team and winning.
• Fangraphs | Matt Klaassen:Hiroki Kuroda might not get much of a look for Cy Young contention, but he definitely deserves consideration.
• SB Nation MLB | Marc Normandin: Chicago fans cheered when Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, but they need to boo louder because it's not discouraging him any.
• New York Post | Joel Sherman: Alex Rodriguez might not be fighting for player rights, but appealing such a suspension can bring strength to the union.
• It's About the Money | Brad Vietrogoski:Francisco Cervelli accepting his 50-game suspension ends another, and possibly his last, season of disappointment in the Yankees system
• It's About the Money | Michael Eder: Despite some people worrying about David Robertson as a closer, it looks like he'll have no problem in the role.
• LoHud | Chad Jennings: Alex Rodriguez will not fight over whether he took PEDs during his appeal, instead he'll be focusing on simply cutting down the extent of the suspension.
• USA Today | Bob Nightengale: MLB begins its investigation into the ACES agency for their alleged connection to Biogenesis and performance enhancing drugs.
• It's About the Money | Michel Eder: Michael Kay has been out of control in his criticism of Robinson Cano's lack of hustle, but he's the only Yankee that has managed to stay healthy, so maybe he's doing something right.
• MLB.com | Joey Nowak: The return of Alex Rodriguez brings a much needed update at third base, but Brian Cashman will continue to keep an eye on the trade market.

Quick Hits

• Last night was the first game the Yankees scored four runs in one game on this road trip.

Questions of the Day

• Do Dustin Pedroia's and Chase Utley's extension help or hurt Robinson Cano's free agent market?
• What has been the best Mo gift so far this season?
• What is the most terrifying animal in the world?
• If the moon was colonized would you ever want to live there?

Coming Up Today

• Baby Bomber Recap 8/6/13 @ 9 am
• MLB's Other Problem: Umpires @ 11 am
• How bad are the Yankees at developing young pitchers? Part Three @ 3 pm

Charlotte 4, Lehigh Valley 0

Tom Cochran - 4 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, K, 1 GB, 4 FB
Phillippe Aumont - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, K
Mauricio Robles - 1 IP, 0 R, 2 K
Freddy Galvis - 0 for 4, K
Steve Susdorf - 1 for 4, K
Cody Overbeck - 1 for 3, 2B, BB
Leandro Castro - 0 for 4, K
Tyler Henson - 2 for 3, BB, K
Cameron Rupp - 0 for 4, 2 K
Tyson Gillies - 0 for 4, 2 K

Pretty awful game all around for the IronPigs. Lehigh had only 5 hits all game, while striking out 11 times as a team. They also go 0 for 8 with RISP. Cochran has been bad all season and in his last 5 games he has taken the loss. He sits at 3-10 on the season with a 5.68 ERA. He gives up more hits than innings pitched and walks a ton of guys. Tyson Gillies is a complete mess.

Harrisburg 3, Reading 2

Seth Rosin - 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 6 K, 2 GB, 1 FB
Matt Tolbert - 1 for 4
Maikel Franco - 0 for 3, BB
Jim Murphy - 1 for 3, BB
Kelly Dugan - 1 for 3, BB, K
Anthony Hewitt - 1 for 4, K, CS, picked off
Justin Dalles - 1 for 4, R, 2B, K
Troy Hanzawa - 1 for 3, R, 2B, RBI, K

Franco has cooled off quite a bit (last 10 games .179/.214/.282). Seth Rosin with a decent outing, though the offense wasn't able to bail him out.

Clearwater 6, Daytona 5

Nic Hanson - 3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, HR, 5 GB, 2 FB
Jiwan James - 1 for 5, RBI, 2 K, SB
Carlos Alonso - 1 for 3, R, RBI, BB
Aaron Altherr - 0 for 3, R, BB, K
Chris Serritella - 1 for 3, HR, 2 BB
Cameron Perkins - 0 for 5
Brock Stassi - 3 for 5, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Jonathan Roof - 2 for 5, R, 2 SB
Harold Martinez - 2 for 3, R, RBI, 2 BB, K, SB

A ton of offense this game. Both teams combined for 23 hits and 37 base runners. The conversion rate for both teams with RISP wasn't very sightly (combined 4 for 26). The game went into extra innings after Clearwater tied it up in the bottom of the 8th. In the bottom of the 10th, Roof would lead off with a single and Martinez would draw a walk. Both would steal 3rd and 2nd, respectively, before a Jiwan James fielder's choice would score Roof for the winning run. This was Hanson's first start with Clearwater after being promoted from Lakewood. He wasn't nearly as sharp has he has been.

Lakewood 6, Hagerstown 1

Jeb Stefan - 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 6 GB, 5 FB
Brian Pointer - 1 for 3, RBI, 2 BB, K
Larry Greene - 1 for 5, RBI, 3 K
Willie Carmona - 1 for 5, R, 2B
Art Charles - 1 for 5, R, 3 K
Mitch Walding - 1 for 4, R, RBI
Alejandro Villalobos - 2 for 4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI
Carlos Tocci - 0 for 4, R, K

Lakewood dominated the game and would win easily behind a solid Stefan performance. Since becoming a starter, Stefan has had his ups and downs. He has shown some ability to make batters swing and miss, but still gives up a fair share of hits. Everyone on offense contributed hits aside from Tocci. I understand Tocci at this level (somewhat) holding his own is impressive, but he still has a long way to go and should repeat Lakewood again next season.

Tri-City 8, Williamsport 7

Julio Reyes - 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 GB, 4 FB
Andrew Pullin - 2 for 5, R, 3B, RBI, 2 K
Andrew Knapp - 2 for 5, 2 HR, K
Zach Green - 2 for 5, 2B, HR, 2 K
Dylan Cozens - 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K
Gabriel Lino - 2 for 4, K
Jiandido Tromp - 2 for 4, 2B, HR, 2 K (outfield assist)

A monster power surge this game couldn't help the eventual outcome for the Crosscutters. Julio Reyes left the bullpen in good shape in a tie game. The game would go back and forth and have 5 lead changes before a walkoff 2 run homer in the bottom of the 9th would settle it.

GCL Yankees2 6, GCL Phillies 4 (Game 1 of double header)

Jesen Therrien - 4 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 2 K, HR, 5 GB, 4 FB
Cord Sandberg - 0 for 4, R, 2 RBI, SB
JP Crawford - 2 for 3, 2 RBI, BB
Wilmer Oberto - 2 for 3, BB
Jose Pujols - 0 for 3, 2 K
Jan Hernandez - 0 for 3, 3 K (fielding error)

Yikes, Therrien can go from good to awful fairly frequently. In his 4 good appearances he has gone 18 innings of 2 run (0 earned) ball. In his 4 bad appearances he has gone 7.1 innings giving up 22 runs (17 earned). Kind of odd really. He walks a ton of batters and doesn't strike anyone out. Swooning over Crawford and Oberto as they continue to dominate.

GCL Phillies 2, GCL Yankees 2 0 (Game 2 of double header, make up of 7/23 pdd)

Tyler Viza - 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K, 7 GB, 1 FB
Mark Leiter - 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, K, 4 GB, 1 FB
Herlis Rodriguez - 1 for 3, 2B, BB, K
Cord Sandberg - 0 for 4, 2 K
Nick Ferdinand - 1 for 4, R, 2B, 2 K
Wilmer Oberto - 0 for 3, RBI
Robinson Torres - 0 for 2, R, BB, K, 2 SB
Jair Morelos - 3 for 3, 2B, RBI

Impressive outing from Viza and Leiter. Leiter has been lights out since joining the GCL. He is showing the ability to strike out guys (26 in 23 IP) and allowing minimal walks (7 in 23 IP). He is a guy to keep an eye on. Jair Morelos spelled Crawford at SS in the 2nd game of the DH. I guess JP's magic carried over.

More from The Good Phight:

• Phillies Minor League Roundup, August 7, 2013
• Listen up nerds: Phillies 2, Cubs 5, UTLEY FOREVER!!
• Salisbury and Rosenthal Report that Phillies, Chase Utley Close to Extension
• Phillies News: Halladay to Leave for Florida, Moving Closer to Rehab Assignment
• Phillies Minor League Roundup, August 6, 2013

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:W 7-2 vs. Syracuse Chiefs

CF Melky Mesa 2-4, 2 2B, RBI, BB, K
C JR Murphy 0-3, 2 BB - batting .200/.319/.275 over his last 10 games
LF Adonis Garcia 0-5, K
1B Dan Johnson 3-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, K - 19th and 20th homers of the season
DH Randy Ruiz 1-4, RBI, 2 K
RF Ronnier Mustelier 1-4, RBI
SS Alberto Gonzalez 1-3, BB, 2 K
2B Brendan Harris 0-3, BB, 2 K
3B Addison Maruszak 0-4, K

Caleb Cotham 7 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, K, WP - thirteen groundouts, two flyouts
Dellin Betances 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, BB, 3 K

The RailRiders got out to a comfortable 7-0 and never looked back from there, even though they were out-hit by the Chiefs 9-8. The damage done against Cotham came on two solo blasts in the seventh inning.

Double-A Trenton Thunder:L 7-9 vs. Erie SeaWolves

LF Ramon Flores 2-4, HR, 5 RBI, BB - fifth homer of the season
SS Carmen Angelini 1-4, BB
CF Slade Heathcott 1-3, 2 BB
C Gary Sanchez 1-4, BB, K - 3 for 9 (.333) since his promotion
DH Kyle Roller 0-4, BB
2B Jose Pirela 1-5, HR, RBI - eighth homer of the season
3B Reegie Corona 4-5, 2B, RBI - 10th double of the season
1B Casey Stevenson 1-4, 2B, E3 - throwing error, 13th of the season
RF Cody Grice 0-3, BB, 2 OF assists

Jeremy Bleich 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, HB - three groundouts, one flyout
Graham Stoneburner 1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, K
Aaron Dott 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R/2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HB
Zach Nuding 1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB

Despite falling behind early, the Thunder managed to rally back with a couple multi-run innings in the third and fourth before things went sour in the seventh, as the SeaWolves scored three runs to break a 5-5 tie. Trenton would nearly recover in the eighth, but ultimately fell short.

High-A Tampa Yankees:L 2-4 (12 innings) vs. Brevard County Manatees

CF Mason Williams 1-6
2B Rob Refsnyder 1-6, 2B, 4 K - 23rd double of the season
LF Ben Gamel 1-5, 2B, BB, K, 2 SB - 27th double of the season
3B Peter O'Brien 3-4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, K - batting .289/.386/.553 over his last 10 games
1B Matt Snyder 0-5, E3 - fielding error, third of the season
C Jeff Farnham 2-5, K
RF Taylor Dugas 1-4
DH Jose Toussen 2-5
SS Ali Castillo 1-5, 2 K

Branden Pinder 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HB - three groundouts, three flyouts
Pat Venditte 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, K
Dietrich Enns 4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 2 pickoffs, HB - three groundouts, one flyout
Manny Barreda 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

The Yankees out-hit the Manatees 12-8 but fell short in the run column as Brevard County matched their run in the tenth inning and score two runs in the bottom of the 12th to take the game.

Low-A Charleston RiverDogs:W 9-7 vs. Savannah Sand Gnats

CF Jake Cave 0-2, 2 BB, CS, HBP
2B Angelo Gumbs 1-5, RBI, K
DH Greg Bird 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB, HBP - 17th homer of the season
RF Ericson Leonora 1-5, 2 K
SS Cito Culver 3-5, 2 RBI, E6 - fielding error, 19th of the season
1B Reymond Nunez 0-4, 2 RBI, E3 - missed catch, third error of the season
LF Daniel Aldrich 1-4, RBI, K
3B Ty Afenir 2-4
C Nick McCoy 0-2, BB

Dan Camarena 4.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R/4 ER, 0 BB, 4 K - four groundouts, three flyouts
Tyler Webb 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
James Pazos 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Ben Paullus 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HB

In a battle between Dan Camarena and Marcos Camarena, the RiverDogs' Camarena came out on top and the RiverDogs snapped their seven-game losing streak, thanks in part to Greg Bird continuing his display of awesomeness.

Short Season-A Staten Island Yankees:L 5-6 vs. State College Spikes

2B Derek Toadvine 2-4, 2B, RBI, BB, K
LF Michael O'Neill 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K, OF assist
3B Eric Jagielo 2-5, 2B, 3 K - batting .194/.275/.250 over his last 10 games
RF Yeicok Calderon 0-4, BB, K, 2 E9 - fielding errors
CF Brandon Thomas 0-3, K
1B Mike Ford 2-4, RBI
DH Bubba Jones 1-4, RBI, 2 K - batting .289 this season
C Isaias Tejeda 0-4, K
SS John Murphy 0-3, BB, K

Giovanny Gallegos 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, BB, 3 K, HB - one groundout, seven flyouts
Cale Coshow 2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, K, WP
Stefan Lopez 2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Andrew Benak 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, BB, K

A rough four-run inning in the sixth inning for Coshow was basically enough to put the Yankees out of this one as they fell 10 games below .500 on the season.

Gulf Coast Yankees 1 Highlights:

Game One:

SS Tyler Wade 2-5, 2B
2B Gosuke Katoh 2-4, 2B, RBI, BB, K - batting .359 this season
RF Austin Aune 0-4, 2 K
3B Kevin Cornelius 3-4, 2 2B, E5 - throwing error

Brady Lail 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, K
Chaz Hebert 5 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, BB, 5 K

Game Two:

1B Renzo Martini 0-3, 2 K
SS Jerison Lopez 1-3, 2 SB
DH Chris Breen 1-3, HR, RBI, K - 4th homer of the season
LF Jimmy Falla 0-3, K

Nestor Cortes 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, BB, 5 K
Tim Flight 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

Gulf Coast Yankees 2 Highlights:

Game One:

SS Abiatal Avelino 0-1, BB, 2 HBP, E6(9), 2 SB - 19th and 20th SB of the season
C Luis Torrens 1-3, 2 RBI, 2 K, HBP
DH Miguel Andujar 1-3, HR, 3 RBI - third homer of the season
1B Dalton Smith 1-3, 2B, K

Felipe Gonzalez 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, BB, 4 K
TIm Giel 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB

Game Two:

DH Abiatal Avelino 0-2, BB
3B Miguel Andujar 1-3, 2B, E5 - fielding error
RF Jorge Alcantara 1-3

Angel Rincon 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Ethan Carnes 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, BB, 2 K

It has been reported that Michael Young has cleared waivers and can now be traded to any team as long as he approves the trade. The problem is that if he made it through waivers, it means that the Yankees, who had prime positioning on the waiver wire over the Red Sox and Rangers, did not claim him. Is Brian Cashman already calling it a season?

New York is currently only one game over .500 and is now behind five different teams in line for the second wild card spot. They have lost seven of their last ten games and now four in a row, three coming against one of the worst teams in baseball, the Chicago White Sox. It's quite possible the front office has shut down for the season in anticipation for non-contention for the rest of August and September.

At this point Young wouldn't really improve the team that much. Alex Rodriguez has returned to third base, so the only upgrade he would provide is as a backup third baseman over Jayson Nix and as the first baseman against left-handed pitching. He's actually hit lefties worse than Vernon Wells this season (230/.325/.380 vs. .300/.345/.423) so if the Yankees are happy with Wells at first then that problem is solved. Young has also been outhit by Alfonso Soriano over the last month (.222/.333/.347 vs. 278/.425/.703) so he wouldn't even be an improvement at DH either.

Given the cost of Young for basically a better Nix, the Yankees are better off staying with what they have and falling off into oblivion. Tom Kahnle wasn't enough last time, but at this point the Yankees are better off keeping Kahnle and seeing what they have than trading him away for no real gain. At least when they traded Corey Black they would have Soriano in 2014 as well.

Maybe Young could be had for only money, though the Phillies already said that wasn't an issue. He's been pulled from today's lineup, so all we can do is wait and see. In the end, it's probably just not worth it because the Yankees will likely sign him as a free agent as they prepare for a year without Alex Rodriguez.

UPDATE:

Charlie Manuel says Michael Young was scratched due to a tight hamstring. (H/T @ToddZolecki)

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) August 8, 2013

Sounds like a perfect fit!

More from Pinstriped Bible:

• MLB's Other Problem: Umpires
• Johnny Damon: Alex Rodriguez suspension diminishes 2009 World Series Championship
• Three Yankees earn Best Tools designation from Baseball America
• Robinson Cano slump: Yankees need him to get hot again
• The 2013 Yankees and increasing appreciation for the 2002-12 teams

Yankees' left-handed relief prospect Francisco Rondon has had a pretty long, up-and-down ride in his minor league career, especially in 2013. He impressed out of camp and held a valuable spot on the Yankees' 40-man roster. But, after relieving for each of the past three seasons, he was slated to start games for the Trenton Thunder. Things did not go well for him out of the Thunder rotation, but since getting DFA'd and moved back into the bullpen, the 25-year-old has turned his season, and perhaps his career, around.

It was sort of a head-scratching move that the Yankees would send a reliever who already had moved to the bullpen from the rotation four years prior back into the rotation, but perhaps it was just an experiment. However, it was an experiment that did not work out very well. In six starts for the Thunder, Rondon posted a 6.99 ERA while walking 17 batters in just 28.1 innings pitched. Opposing batters even tagged him for an even .800 OPS against. It was pretty ugly all around for Francisco.

Rondon did get a chance to straighten himself out back in the bullpen, though. After getting pulled from Trenton's starting rotation, Rondon continued to struggle as a reliever. He pitched to an 8.59 ERA in six appearances, 7.1 innings, while walking eight and allowing an .814 OPS against. The Yankees decided to pull the plug on Rondon as they DFA'd him to create a spot on the 40-man roster for David Huff. Yeah, Rondon pretty much hit rock-bottom there.

Oddly enough, no one claimed Rondon once he was DFA'd. He still had minor league options to his disposal and a team could have taken a chance on a guy who throws relatively hard with a pretty nasty slider and stashed him in their system, but I guess not. Thankfully, he cleared waivers and the Yankees were able to keep him, and it has paid off. Since being DFA'd on May 25 and reassigned, Rondon has pitched to a sparkling 1.54 in 13 games (10 with the Thunder, three with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders) while holding batters to a .534 OPS against with 38 strikeouts in 35 innings.

If Rondon continues to flourish he could at least earn his spot back on the 40-man roster. With Boone Logan potentially leaving via free agency this winter, the team will need a lefty reliever out of the bullpen. Sure, Rondon may not be ready to make the jump just yet, considering his control troubles (career 13.6% BB-rate, 14% BB-rate since being DFA'd) but he could be in the mix. After all, he has handled left-handed batters this year (.552 OPS against), last year (.612 OPS against), the year before that (.547 OPS against), and so on and so forth. Rondon fell off the map for a while, but now he is now back on it and he could get a chance to further prove himself.

More from Pinstriped Bible:

• Top 100 Yankees: #95 Lou Piniella
• Michael Young clears waivers, but is it already too late?
• MLB's Other Problem: Umpires
• Baby Bomber Recap 8/7/13: Dan Johnson homers twice in RailRiders win
• Yankees 5, White Sox 6: It will be hard to top this monstrosity

The Chicago White Sox are going to finish the season with one of the bottom five records in all of baseball this season, a feat they haven't accomplished since 1989. Barring some sort of miracle run by the Sox or epic collapse by the Mets, Phillies, Twins, Angels, Brewers, or Giants, the Sox will have a top three draft pick for the first time since the 1977 draft. They had the top overall pick that year and drafted Harold Baines, which seemed to work out pretty well for everyone involved. So for most of us non-ancient fans, this is pretty much uncharted territory we're about to explore.

One of the more frustrating things about having to explain why I'm more than okay with the Sox more or less losing out for the rest of the season is the general assumption the layperson has about the MLB draft. I don't know how many times I've heard over the past month or so "Yeah, but draft position in the baseball draft doesn't really matter". I'm sorry, but that's never been true. It wasn't true before the new budgeting guidelines and it most definitely isn't true after. The Houston Astros had the first overall pick last year and were allotted $11,698,800 to spend on their first ten picks. The Twins, who drafted fourth, were given $8, 264,400 as their budget for signing ten picks. Having $3.6MM more to work with is a pretty huge difference, and that's without even accounting for the talent disparity.

There have been 49 first overall picks in MLB draft history. Of those 48 players (Danny Goodwin holds the rare distinction of being the only player drafted first twice), only six never played a single game in the majors. Two of those six were the last two years' top picks, Mark Appel and Carlos Correa, both of whom should move out of this sextet soon enough. The other four will be covered in greater detail later in this post. 87% of those drafted first overall have played in the majors and have averaged 20.7 bWAR for their careers. Obviously outliers like Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones, and Ken Griffey Jr skew this figure, but the point remains the same: the cream usually rises to the top.

Let's compare those numbers to the second and third overall picks. 41 second round picks have made the majors, good for an 83% success rate (four that haven't have been the most recent four, so this number should change). So the rate of reaching the majors isn't too much lower than that of the first overall picks, but the average bWAR takes a pretty substantial dive down to 14.2. This is largely due to the fact that the second overall pick has only produced one Hall of Famer, Reggie Jackson. The third pick is slightly more interesting, to me at least. Almost the same amount of third picks have reached the majors as second picks thus far, with only the 2013 (Jonathan Gray) and 2009 (Donovan Tate) being the recent draft choices to not have done so yet. The 81% success rate has resulted in an average of 12.3 bWAR per draftee, so that's still pretty great and the number should go up as Manny Machado continues to evolve.

The Sox getting the first overall pick would be huge for helping accelerate the needed minor league turnaround. There's of course the chance that Rick Hahn could manage to draft the sixth first overall pick to be worth a negative WAR, but the odds are against it. More interesting to me is the four who never made the majors. Of those four, Tim Beckham still has a shot. The first choice in the 2008 draft has been in AAA since late 2011 and could get a cup of coffee this September. The two picks after him have combined to play more than 800 games combined, though to varying levels of effectiveness (Pedro Alvarez and Eric Hosmer).

The other three stories are a bit more sad. Sometimes choosing the local high school product instead of the expensive college pitcher works out pretty well (Joe Mauer instead of Mark Prior). And then sometimes you have the 2004 draft and the Padres pick Matt Bush instead of Justin Verlander. Hell, even the third pick would have been a better choice and he was Phil Humber. Bush had a minor league career OPS of .569. He never made it past AA, tried being converted into a pitcher and failed and had numerous legal issues and is currently behind bars in Florida until 2016.

Brien Taylor was supposed to be the next Doc Gooden, drafted 1st overall by the Yankees in 1991. He was doing well enough in the minors until he decided to confront a man who fought his brother. He wound up dislocating his left shoulder and tearing the labrum. His fastball was no longer fast and he couldn't control his curveball. He hung around the minors until 2000, but never made it past A ball again. He was arrested for trafficking cocaine in 2012 and is currently in jail in New Jersey. The picks immediately after Taylor didn't amount to much either, but at least Mike Kelly and Dave McCarty made the majors.

Steve Chilcott was only the second first overall pick ever. The New York Mets chose the high school catcher, allowing Reggie Jackson to fall to the Athletics with the second pick. Mr. October wound up being an established regular for the A's as soon as 1968. Sure the Mets won it all in 1969, but it's not like they couldn't have used Jackson's 5.2 bWAR in right field or his stellar production for the next ten years or so. And in all fairness, Chilcott's career ended more in line with Taylor than Bush. A baserunnning injury in 1967 all but ruined his right shoulder, which is a fairly important body part for a catcher. He was out of baseball five years later.

The first overall pick isn't without risk, but the success rate is so much higher than any other pick that it's absurd to suggest draft position is somehow unimportant in the MLB draft. The Sox landing a top three pick would be a tremendous boon, so you might want to get comfortable cheering for a little bit more 2013 failure than you'd normally be okay with. It's for the greater good.

I never want to root for my team to lose, but that doesn't seem to matter for the 2013 Yankees. They are currently one game over .500, fourth in the division, well behind several teams for a wild card spot, and have one of the worst offenses in all of baseball. I would gladly love to see the Yankees turn it around, catch fire, have Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez go on a tear, and Derek Jeter finally stay healthy. That just doesn't seem to be happening.

Instead of rooting for them to lose, I'm using the MLB Reverse Standings as a way to cope with a season of disappointment. Now I can turn loses into positives and hope for a brighter future. Would I rather have a playoff birth in 2013? Yes, of course, but this is better than nothing.

According to Baseball America's Reverse Major League Standings tracker, the Yankees rank No. 16, which means they will have a very high pick in the 2014 draft. It's highly unlikely they will have a protected pick, which go to the ten worst teams in baseball, but the Yankees have not had a pick this high since 1993, when they chose right-handed pitcher Matt Drews 13th overall. Since then they haven't had a pick in the teens since they drafted C.J. Henry 17th overall in 2005. Obviously, neither of those picked worked out, but after the draft they had this year, I have more confidence in what they can do with the 16th overall pick.

This doesn't mean much, but just to get an idea of what kind of talent the 16th overall pick can generate: Brett Lawrie in 2008, Chris Volstad in 2005, Nick Swisher in 2002, Lance Berkman in 1997. This past season, J.P. Crawford was taken 16th overall by the Phillies and Baseball America ranked him as the 15th best prospect in the draft. Lucas Giolito was picked by the Nationals the year before that and ranked No. 67 at the end of the 2012 season. The pick is not in slam dunk top prospect territory, but it gives a mediocre organization the chance at finding some top-rated talent.

There is plenty of time for the Yankees' position to change, since they are only one game "ahead" of the Arizona Diamondbacks. It doesn't look like they will go any higher than this with the Washington Nationals sitting at six games under .500 and then the Toronto Blue Jays at eight games under .500. "Beating out" the Blue Jays would mean finishing dead last in the American League East and I don't see that happening, but there would be a nifty consolation prize if they did.

More from Pinstriped Bible:

• Yankees prospects: Francisco Rondon is putting himself back on the map
• Michael Young clears waivers, but is it already too late?
• MLB's Other Problem: Umpires
• Johnny Damon: Alex Rodriguez suspension diminishes 2009 World Series Championship
• Three Yankees earn Best Tools designation from Baseball America

Welcome to waiver season, where teams put their players on waivers and see who is interested. This process is mostly procedural, but sometimes trades can take place. When a team puts a player on waivers, they have 47 hours to be claimed. Once claimed, the claiming team has 48.5 hours to make a deal or the player's team can pull him back or hand him and his salary over for nothing.

• Mark DeRosa was claimed off waivers, but the Blue Jays have no intention of trading him.
• Mike Gonzalez of the Brewers has been put on waivers.
• Aaron Harang of the Mariners has been put on waivers.
• Dan Haren has been put on waivers.
• Brandon League of the Dodgers has been put on waivers.
• Kyle Lohse has been put on waivers.
• Placido Polanco of the Marlins has been put on waivers.
• Alex Rios has been claimed by the Rangers, who previously tried to acquire him at the deadline.
• Jimmy Rollins has cleared waivers, but won't be going anywhere.
• Adam Rosales, freshly claimed by the Rangers from the Athletics has been claimed right back by Oakland.
• Casper Wells was claimed off waivers by the Phillies and will join the team soon.
• Michael Youngcleared waivers, so the Phillies can now trade him to any team as long as he waives his no trade clause.

More from Pinstriped Bible:

• Donald Trump comments on Alex Rodriguez, doesn't know what he's talking about
• How bad are the Yankees at developing young pitchers? Part Three
• MLB Reverse Standings: One way to cope with the 2013 Yankees season
• Pinstripe Alley Top 100 Yankees: #95 Lou Piniella
• Yankees prospects: Francisco Rondon is putting himself back on the map

Philadelphia Phillies infielders Michael Young and Jimmy Rollins have cleared revocable trade waivers and are now eligible to be traded to any team in the league, according to reports from Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com and Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Both players have full no-trade clauses that are still in effect, and would have to approve any deal that the Phillies agreed upon.

Young was the subject of trade rumors in advance of last month's non-waiver trade deadline, and was willing to waive his no-trade clause to accept trades to the Rangers, Yankees and Red Sox, who all had interest in acquiring him. The Reds and Orioles also showed interest in the 36-year old, but his acceptance of a deal to either of those teams is considered unlikely. Young's preference is to head back to Texas, but the Rangers only showed limited interest in him in July. New York is now set at third base due to the return of Alex Rodriguez, but Boston may make a push for the veteran before the August 31st waiver deadline. Because any player sent back to Philadelphia for Young must first clear waivers, any trade made in August is considered complicated. Young is a free agent after the season, and will likely draw interest from many teams on the open market.

Rollins, 34, has shown no willingness to waive his no-trade clause, so a deal involving him is very unlikely. The Cardinals showed interest before the deadline, but Rollins' fourteen-year stint in Philadelphia likely means that he wants to finish his career with the Phillies. He is not a free agent until after the 2014 season.

While the news that Young and Rollins have cleared waivers means that Philadelphia can theoretically trade them to any team, their no-trade clauses complicate things. Young is by far the more likely of the pair to be dealt before the 31st, but his pickiness and regressing market will make it difficult for the Phillies to swing a deal.

More from MLB Daily Dish:

• Phillies agree to extension with Chase Utley
• AL Central notes: Ryan Raburn, Jose Valverde, Omar Infante, Octavio Dotel, Danny Duffy
• Indians sign Ryan Raburn to 2-year extension
• Phillies agreement with Gonzalez may fall through
• NL West notes: Mattingly, Kershaw, Han-Ram, Lilly, Cedeno, Everth

Yesterday on Pinstriped Bible

• MLB waiver wire tracker
• Yankees off-day open thread
• Donald Trump comments on Alex Rodriguez, doesn't know what he's talking about
• How bad are the Yankees at developing young pitchers? Part Three
• MLB Reverse Standings: One way to cope with the 2013 Yankees season
• Pinstripe Alley Top 100 Yankees: #95 Lou Piniella
• Yankees prospects: Francisco Rondon is putting himself back on the map
• Michael Young clears waivers, but is it already too late?
• MLB's Other Problem: Umpires
• Baby Bomber Recap 8/7/13: Dan Johnson homers twice in RailRiders win

Around the Internet

• LoHud | Chad Jennings: The positives of the Yankees' season are all hypothetical in the hopes that CC Sabathia turns it around, Derek Jeter gets healthy, and Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez stay productive.
• It's About the Money | Brad Veitrogoski: The Yankees had a team meeting on Monday, but it may already be too late.
• Baseball Nation | Rob Neyer: A lot of people are giving Alex Rodriguez flack for appealing his suspension, but he has good reason to believe he has a case, and wouldn't you do the same thing if you were in his position?
• New York Post | Ken Davidoff: If Alex Rodriguez took steroids during the 2009 playoffs it would not impact the legitimacy of the Yankees' championship because it's already an imperfect game played by imperfect people.
• LoHud | Chad Jennings: A breakdown of who the Yankees have in their minor league system that can help the major league team.
• It's About the Money | Michael Eder: Examining Hiroki Kuroda's splitter.
• Wall Street Journal | Daniel Barbarisi:Lyle Overbay has been saving the Yankees from embarrassment all season long.

Quick Hits

• The Yankees did not claimMark DeRosa off waivers.
• Mark Reynolds was designated for assignment by the Indians and the Yankees could claim him.
• Michael Pineda was placed on the disabled list.
• Brent Lillibridge has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A.

Questions of the Day

• What prospect can help the 2014 Yankees the most?
• Can the Yankees make the playoffs at this point?
• What is the worst pizza topping you can think of?
• Where do you drive to when you're bored?

Coming Up Today

• Baby Bomber Recap 8/7/13 @ 9 am
• Yankees Prospect Interview: Nathan Mikolas @ 10 am
• Yankees prospects: Dellin Betances deserves another look @ 11 am
• Give Austin Romine a shot @ 3 pm
• New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers at 7:05 pm (6:30 pm game thread)

Detroit Tigers (68-45) at New York Yankees (57-56)

Time/Place: 7:05 p.m., Yankee Stadium

SB Nation blog:Pinstriped Bible

Media: Fox Sports Detroit, MLB Network, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Pitching Matchup: RHP Rick Porcello (8-6, 4.28 ERA) vs. RHP Ivan Nova (5-4, 3.08 ERA)

Nova got off on the wrong foot in 2013, allowing four runs on five hits against the Tigers at Comerica Park on April 5th. Things didn't get much better for the 26 year old Dominican, who was placed on the disabled list with triceps inflammation in late April. He made a couple of relief appearances for the Yankees in May before being sent down to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre for a few starts.

Since returning to the majors in late June, Nova has been lights out. In seven appearances -- six starts and a 5 2/3 innings outing in long relief -- Nova has allowed a 2.15 ERA with a 3.69 strikeout-to-walk ratio. All six of his starts have been quality starts. In his last outing, he allowed just four hits in seven scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres, striking out eight while walking one.

One interesting thing about Nova is that his strikeout rate is continuing to climb to levels well above anything he achieved in the minor leagues. He struck out just over eight batters per nine inning last season, and is fanning over a batter per inning this season. Opposing hitters are whiffing on 10.5% of his pitches this season, up from 9.0% last season and 6.6-6.8% in 2010 and 2011. Nova has also cut down dramatically on his home run rate, a big reason for his success.

Porcello's four-game win streak was halted with a no-decision in his last outing against the Chicago White Sox. He was able to scatter eight hits in 7 2/3 innings while allowing just one run, but the bullpen was unable to make a one run lead stand up (though the Tigers eventually won in 12 innings). He did not face the Yankees during their trip to Comerica Park earlier this season, but is a respectable 3-2 with a 4.58 ERA against them in his career.

The end of an era?

You have to go back to the beginning of July to find the last time the Yankees won a series. They took two of three from the Baltimore Orioles at home after sweeping the Minnesota Twins in four games at Target Field. They were 48-40, five games behind the Boston Red Sox. Since then, the Yankees are 9-16 and have split or lost every series they have played. They are 11 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East and seven games out of the final Wild Card slot. They might have had a run in them if they were getting healthy, but they aren't. Curtis Granderson is back, but that's about it.

Outlook

Nova has been the second best pitcher on the Yankees staff (behind Hiroki Kuroda) for the last six weeks. He has improved his numbers against both right and left-handed hitters and isn't allowing nearly as many home runs as he did last season. He has struggled against the Tigers in his career, allowing 17 earned runs in 17 1/3 innings with a 1.96 WHIP. Normally, I'd predict we see a pitcher's duel from two starters as hot as him and Porcello currently are, but weird stuff tends to happen whenever the Tigers kick off a series at Yankee Stadium.

Prediction

Granderson homers off Porcello tonight and the streak ends at 12.

More Roars

•Tigers GIFS | On Twitter:@TigersGIFS

•Tigers minor league scores and coverage

•Follow us on Facebook!

Nathan Mikolas was drafted out of high school by the Yankees in the third round of the 2012 MLB Draft. The left-handed hitting outfielder is currently hitting .242/.351/.379 in his second season in the Gulf Coast League. Mikolas was nice enough to answer a few questions for me about his career.

What is the thing you do best on the field?

The thing I do best on the field would probably be my understanding of the game and how hard I play. I try to be a good competitor, teammate, and always give 110%. I'm a blue collar player and my effort is all that I can control.

What was the biggest challenge in making the transition from high school to pro ball?

There were many adjustments transitioning from high school to pro ball. First, learning a new routine that worked for me, was challenging. There were also physical challenges, in that there are long hours spent in practice and playing. Other physical challenges were proper offensive and defensive skills, which I am still continuing to learn. The emotional challenges were learning how to accept failure which, in baseball, is a given.

What lessons did you learn in 2012 that you have applied in 2013?

The best lessons I've learned is that in baseball you need to do two things: have confidence and believe in yourself. If you want to be successful in this game you can't believe in yourself and not have confidence, or vise versa. They both go hand and hand.

What are you still looking to improve on?

I'm still working on improving all parts of my game. I'm here to learn and take everything in in order to improve. I'm working on becoming a better teammate, outfielder, baserunner, and having a repeatable swing to become more consistent. There's always something to work on in baseball. Whenever you feel like you start to figure this game out, the game has a way of humbling you, and bringing you back to the grind. I try my best everyday to get everything out of myself so I can become the best player I can be.

What do you focus on when you work on your defense?

I have really been focusing on getting to the ball quickly on ground balls and then getting rid of it quickly to the cut off. Professional baseball is played much faster than high school baseball and the base runners now are always trying to take that extra base. So the quicker I can get the ball in, the more it will prevent players from taking extra bases.

Do you have a specific goal in 2013 and how do you determine if you've reached that goal?

Obviously I have my own personal goals I made for myself before the season, but my main goals are to hit the ball hard and to help the team win. I want to wake up everyday and be ready to compete. I am in control of how I think and how I prepare myself for the day. Everyday is a clean slate and I'm trying to forget about the day before even if I was 4-4 or 0-4 because that pitcher doesn't care what I did the day before.

I want to thank Nathan for taking the time to answer my questions and be sure to follow him through the Yankee system and on Twitter @NathanMikolas.

With time and options running out for Dellin Betances to stick at the big league level for the Yankees, the team decided that his best chance at staying in the Bronx might be a move to the bullpen. Prior to that move, the 25-year-old had struggled mightily as a starter. He was demoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to Double-A Trenton last season to hopefully stumble upon the success he had at the level earlier in his career. That didn't happen. It seemed unlikely that a move from starter to reliever would have any real impact on the disappointing results.

Betances started six games for the RailRiders in 2013, pitching to a 6.00 ERA in 24.0 innings. There wasn't a clearly defined issue with Betances beyond questionable mechanics that would suggest a move to the bullpen would cure what ailed him. The first inning had been as much of a problem as the second or fifth, if he got there. The Yankees gambled on the idea that converting him to a reliever could work to hopefully salvage his status as a prospect without options for next season and their gamble has paid off handsomely so far.

Since his move to the RailRiders' bullpen, Betances has pitched to a 1.48 ERA in 48.2 innings. Opponents have been limited to a .169 batting average against Betances, who has managed to strike out 63 batters since his move to the bullpen. Betances had a 1.47 ERA in June and didn't give up a single earned run in 16.1 July innings. His walks issued are still a little on the high side with 21 free passes being issued since he was removed from the rotation. Betances had walked 16 batters in half as many innings before being converted to a reliever.

The Yankees' faith that Betances might be able to figure out his issues and salvage his career with a move to the bullpen has been rewarded with great success so far. The relievers at the major league level, with the exception of Joba Chamberlain, have been a true strength of an otherwise unimpressive team in 2013, but why not see if Betances' success can translate to the next level in what may very well end up being a lost season? Sure, there is little doubt that Betances would join the team when rosters expand next month and there's also the chance that he struggles and mentally falls apart to the point that it erases all the progress he's made. There's also the chance that the Yankees see what he can do to help them determine which bullpen pieces should be retained for next year.

If 2013 is going to be a season that ends up being a footnote to all the success of Yankees teams in recent memory, why not see what pieces that are ready for the next step can do when it hardly counts? The chances of this team making the playoffs seems to dwindle every day, so the inevitable growing pains might hurt a little bit less if they come with an eye toward the future. It's strange to write about the Yankees this way, but that's the reality of a team that doesn't seem to have a necessary hot streak in them as the season winds down.

You hurt us, Yankees. You hurt us.

[1:37] "So, the Yankees are terrible!"
[3:56] This team will play against one on a 12-game winning streak (the Tigers). Hurrah!
[5:10] Andy Pettitte's rough season--what if he wants to come back?
[9:56] How do the Yankees fix this?
[12:00] Will Robinson Cano even want to come back? Might the Dustin Pedroia and Chase Utley extensions help make his contract a little more reasonable?
[17:41] Derek Jeter's injuries and the Yankees' unclear future at shortstop
[28:40] 2013 prospect tryouts
[36:53] How do the Yankees replace Alex Rodriguez at third base during his likely suspension next year?
[41:00] How might the suspension affect Plan $189?
[43:12] Would other teams in the majors be out of the race if they had all the Yankees' injuries this year?
[46:40] Tweetbag: Statues, young relievers, Matt Garza, the blame game, Mark Teixeira's future, Plan $189, future catchers, Jayson Nix with one arm or Raul Ibanez with one leg, and Greg's Kickstarter to buy the Yankees
[1:02:53] Yankee/Mitre of the Week

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Sound off in the comments if you have any questions you'd like us to answer for next time, or if you have any feedback on the podcast! Send your tweets to the Tweetbag by tweeting @pinstripebible.

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria went on the Hot Clicks podcast with Jimmy Traina and discussed a number of topics with the writer, including his feelings on New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

Longoria talked about Rodriguez's suspension, telling Traina that Rodriguez playing during his appeal is not fair to AL East teams:

"I don't know what his motivation is, but I will say this: I don't think it's fair for the other teams because I'm in the American League East. Whether he is 100 percent or not, whether his mind is where it needs to be or not, he can affect the game in a positive way, he can affect the game in a tremendous way, which is being in the lineup. In a pennant race, he's a guy you don't want in the lineup. Looking at it from that perspective and that perspective only, I don't think it's fair that we can't have an arbitrator hear the case sooner."

Tampa Bay enters Friday with a 66-47 record, two games behind the Boston Red Sox in the division. The Rays will face the Yankees six more time this year.

Longoria also discussed the need for stronger PED penalties, stating:

"I definitely feel the risk needs to outweigh the reward," Longoria said. "The risk of a 50-game suspension does not outweigh the possibility of a guy playing half or three-quarters of a season and putting up career numbers and getting the contract the next year based off their play."

MLB suspended 12 players Monday for 50 games due to their involvement with Biogenesis.

More from SB Nation:

• Brisbee: What's the best team in baseball?

• Scouting report: Ryan Raburn, relief pitcher

• Man trapped under tarp in Philly dot GIF

• Waiting for an Alex Rios waiver trade, or lack thereof

• Longform: The death of a ballplayer

Alex Rodriguez's road back to the Bronx has been a long, painful, and grueling experience. It started in last year's postseason when he struggled mightily at the plate while getting benched on numerous occasions. It continued in the offseason when he had to have left hip surgery before being included in the Biogenesis scandal. Major League Baseball then announced a 211-game suspension for A-Rod on Monday. However, after appealing, Rodriguez makes his long-awaited return back to New York and it'll be interesting to hear the fan response when he steps into the batter's box once again.

Though a lot of fans will disagree, the Yankees need A-Rod. If you still have faith that this team can make the playoffs (and, personally, I lose faith just about by the hour), he is basically the team's last hope. If he can match last year's production at the plate (.272/.353/.430, 114 wRC+) he'd easily be the second or third-best hitter on the team, though, at this point, they'll probably need him to be better than that to have a shot at the second Wild Card. So, with that said, you'd think the entire fan base would support him, but that's not the case. He has gotten under the skin of so many fans over the years, they'll boo him no matter the circumstance.

Asked about what the response will be by the hometown fans once A-Rod makes his return, Joe Girardi said,

"I am curious what it is going to be like Friday. I'm not sure. I don't really know what the appropriate response is. I don't think it is my right to tell people how to respond to certain situations. I did have a little bit of an issue with last night when a guy gets hit. That is a concern of mine. That is a societal concern. People are going to react the way they are going to react."

Even the skipper has no idea what the response by the fans will be. They could cheer Alex because he is a part of the team they root for and has done a lot of good things for this organization over the years. They could boo him because of his connections to PED use among other matters. Personally, I bet there will be a mixed reaction for A-Rod, maybe more booing than cheers, but there will definitely be at least a little bit of both. Though a lot of fans don't like Alex, there are still plenty of fans, like myself, who do. Normally I don't care about how fans react to X player's return to Y venue, but this case is pretty fascinating to me. I'm very curious as to how the Yankee Stadium faithful will respond to A-Rod's return.

More from Pinstriped Bible:

• MLB waiver wire tracker
• Donald Trump comments on Alex Rodriguez, doesn't know what he's talking about
• MLB Reverse Standings: One way to cope with the 2013 Yankees season
• Michael Young clears waivers, but is it already too late?
• Johnny Damon: Alex Rodriguez suspension diminishes 2009 World Series Championship

The Yankees are on the brink after being swept by the White Sox and now have to face the Tigers, a team who has won 12 games in a row. There's very little hope for the season at this point, but there are still games to be played and lineups to announce:

Lineup: Gardner 8, Suzuki 9, cano 4, soriano Dh, Rodriguez 5, Granderson 7, overbay 3, Nunez 6, Stewart 2, nova 1 #yankees

— Meredith Marakovits (@M_Marakovits) August 9, 2013

Brett Gardner leads off, followed by Ichiro Suzuki, who hadn't been playing much over the recent road trip. Robinson Cano bats third with Alfonso Soriano DHing and batting cleanup. Alex Rodriguez makes his return to Yankee Stadium at third base and Curtis Granderson, Lyle Overbay, Eduardo Nunez, and Chris Stewart follow to fill out the rest of the offense. Glad to see Stewart made it into the lineup.

Randy Levine believes that the key to being a better team is to play better. I'm glad this guy is running the Yankees for his unparalleled expertise. He also isn't sure if the Yankees can make the playoffs, so it looks like that's that then. If he knows they're bad and his solution is that they shouldn't be bad then it's clear that the front office had no intention of trying to improve the team at any point during the season. Asked if Plan $189 had something to do with the Yankees' poor season, Levine honestly said that it didn't. By handcuffing Brian Cashman and not allowing him to make the proper improvements to the team, Plan $189 left the team completely vulnerable to injuries like this.

Obviously poor fortune can't be anticipated, but it can be prepared for, and the 2013 Yankees were not. Kevin Youkilis, Travis Hafner, and Vernon Wells were not the right pieces to bring in, but it was all that could be done on such a limited budget. Not having a real catcher didn't help much either and now the people who made this all necessary aren't really going to take the blame. We'll see what happens in 2014, but i'm not going to get too optimistic.

More from Pinstriped Bible:

• Give Austin Romine a shot
• Yankees GIFs of the Week: Nova, Nix falls, and fan irritation
• How will Yankee fans react to Alex Rodriguez's return?
• Pinstripe Alley Podcast Episode 18: Boos, booze, and GIFs
• Yankees prospects: Dellin Betances deserves another look

The Chicago Cubs will purchase the contract of outfielder Darnell McDonald from Triple-A Iowa if catcher Dioner Navarro is placed on the disabled list, a source has confirmed to MLBDailyDish. McDonald traveled to St. Louis to meet the Cubs, and will join the roster if Navarro's MRI on Saturday shows that a disabled list stint is required.

McDonald, 34, signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in January and has spent the entire season with Iowa. In 92 games, he hit .236 with 4 HR and 26 RBI.

Originally a first round pick of the Orioles in the 1997 draft, McDonald has appeared in the majors with the Orioles (2004), Twins (2007), Reds (2009), Red Sox (2010-2012) and Yankees (2012) and has posted a .246 average with 19 HR and 78 RBI in 306 career games. His best season came in 2010 with Boston, when he appeared in 117 games, hitting .270 with 9 HR and 34 RBI.

f McDonald takes Navarro's spot on the 25-man roster, the Cubs will be carrying two catchers and five outfielders, which is the norm for major league teams. A 40-man roster spot will also have to be cleared, meaning that a player could be designated for assignment or traded. Outfielders David DeJesus and Nate Schierholtz have been the subject of trade rumors for the last couple of months, but nothing in recent days has linked them to an imminent waiver-wire trade.

More from MLB Daily Dish:

• Rangers acquire Alex Rios from White Sox
• Phillies agree to extension with Utley
• NL Central notes: Carpenter, Molina, Lohse, Segura, Gallardo, Gorzelanny
• Rios 'best option' for White Sox