Congratulations to Lucas Glover!!!

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.