Here's what is happening in the top of the 2nd:

Andy Phillips continues to search for some baseball success by signing a one-year deal with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, in Japan.

Today, the best shortstop in baseball turns 35.

Ransom hit a two-run double to give the Yankees an 8-1 lead over the Braves.  It was his second hit of the game.

My favorite Yankee is turning 23 today.

Lucas Glover, despite all the rain, won the US Open today.  Congrats to him.

Oh yeah, he's a Yankees fan too.  

 Yankee Notes (from PA of course):

•  Xavier Nady will be starting a rehab assignment with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
•  Abraham also had some ideas of how the Yankees could improve their team now...

"More Brett Gardner: The Little G is 15 of his last 43 and has his batting average up to .284 with a .358 OBP. Melky Cabrera is 12 of 62 since his shoulder injury in Texas. He is down to .282 with a .340 OBP. Melky has more power and should play his share. But Gardner could add the energy the Yankees have lacked lately and is a superior defender."

My thoughts: I agree. Gardner gives the Yankees a little more 'spark' and 'spunk' with his speed and versatility.

"More Dave Robertson: He has 23 strikeouts in 14.2 innings (59 in 45 career innings) and deserves more late-inning, high-leverage opportunities. Joe Girardi is in love with Phil Coke and that is going to come back to bite him someday soon."

My thoughts: Obviously, I agree.  Yes, Robertson gave up some runs yesterday, but he does deserve to have more opportunities in close games.  The guy has earned it.  Regarding Coke, is he Girardi's version of Scott Proctor? (With the exception that Coke is a more consistent pitcher.)

"Release Angel Berroa: Is this guy actually going to play once a week when A-Rod rests? Ramiro Pena is not much of an offensive player, but he can play defense and add a little small ball from the No. 9 spot."

My thoughts: When Berroa does play (which seems like once in a blue moon), he makes Wilson Betemit look like an All-Star.  G2G, Angel.    

"Call up Selley Duncan or John Rodriguez: Shelley is at .294/.369/.628 for Scraton. J-Rod is at .292/.377/.521. Wouldn't they more more helpful than Berroa? How could they not be, especially in the National League parks over the next six games?

My thoughts: More helpful than Berroa?! Heck, with those numbers, they are (offensively) an upgrade over Pena.  However,  I'm not convinced that Duncan is a major league material.  Based on his previous ML appearances, he seems more like a AAAA-type player.  I don't know much about Rodriguez to give my opinion(s).

"Release Brett Tomko/Call up somebody else: Mark Melancon, Anthony Claggett, Zack Kroenke, there has to be somebody in Scranton who would be better. As Tomko himself said yesterday, everything he's throwing is getting his lately."

My thoughts: When a player admits that he is 'struggling' it's not a good sign.  Anybody in Scranton is better than Tomko at this point.

"Move Swisher up: Yes, Nick Swisher is an adventure in the outfield, but his 132 OPS+ is second on the team to Mark Teixeira. It's a waste to bat him seventh or eighth, which he has 20 times. Second or sixth would be better."

My thoughts: Swisher is an adventure in the outfield? Aren't they all? Regarding his moving him up in the line up: batting him sixth would make more sense than seventh, eighth, or second. 

And (of course) my favorite...

"More Phil Hughes: If they are going to use him in the bullpen, then use him in the bullpen. Let him pitch when it's 2-1 in the eighth inning, not when they're down by a few runs. If he is not going to be used in vital situations, be might as well be starting in Scranton.

My thoughts: I agree 110%. I'm guessing his lack of 'important' appearance has something to do with Girardi's love for Coke.  Hughes is too good to only pitch in games in which the Yankees are losing.

...and it's only the 2nd inning.

When Scott Proctor was a Yankee, he was one of my favorites.  Unlike most Yankee fans, I always enjoyed watching him pitch, even if he was a bit inconsistent.  The day Scott got is first career save (in 2006 against the Orioles) was a day that I, for some reason, will never ever forget.  And then you also have the games where he'll walk in the game-winning run, recording another loss, yet again.  However, no matter how terrible he did, I was always a loyal fan.  (Kind of like now, when it comes to Phil Hughes and David Robertson.)  I had mixed feelings when it came to Joe Torre's abuse to Scott.  Part of me was 'happy' that I had another opportunity to see one of my favorite Yankees pitch, but another part of me was frustrated with Torre's overuse of the reliever.  When the Yankees traded Scott for some guy named, Wilson Betemit, I was sure it was because of Proctor's inconsistency and the apparent need for an utility infielder.  I had absolutely no idea that it had to do with his off-field decisions. (It does make sense now, when I think about it.) But because I had no idea about his drinking problems and other off-field activities, I was more than devastated when I heard about the trade in July of 2007.  I slowly got over it with new(er) additions to the bullpen: Hughes, Robertson, and even Edwar Ramirez (when he was filthy).  I would cringe every time I read about Scott's reunion in LA with Torre and wondered, why is the guy not injured yet.  I would later hear that sometime in the 2008 season, Scott would go on the DL for (only) the first time because of an injured arm.  Later on, he had some sort of elbow surgery (not Tommy John) and signed with the Marlins in the 2008-2009 off-season.  As he was preparing to start a brand new season with a team close to his family, his elbow started to give him problems yet again.  This time, he went for TJ surgery and will be out for the rest of the season.  During this time, Scott has announced that he is working on his problem and hopes to be a healthy, weathly, and wise pitcher come Spring Training 2010.  What caught me off guard was the he wants to return to the Bronx.  (He loves the pressure, the organization, etc.) But what caught be more off guard was that I want him to come back.  It has nothing to do with the current Yankee bullpen, I just think that maybe Joe Girardi would approach him differently than Torre did.  Scott's rejoining the Yankees may never ever happen, but there's a small chance that it might.  The fact that Scott has spoken out about his past decisions and is getting help should tell Yankee (and baseball) fans that, maybe, we should give him a break.  Maybe he did start drinking because of Torre, or maybe it had nothing to do with baseball at all.  Whatever the reason is, he's trying to come back and rejuvenate into a brand new pitcher.  I think that we should all give him that chance.  With that, I wish Scott the best of luck to both recoveries.  I hope to see him back on the mound (whether that's with the Yankees or not) by next year's Spring Training.

Source #1

A bunch a random stuff that I thought I would share with you all...