Which Jays club will show up for the Yankee series this weekend? The reeling Jays that got bombed by the Bombers in April here, or the doubles-happy lineup that swept New York away in May?
It's just a two-game whistle-stop for the Jays this time before the Jays return home. It's somewhat melancholy to consider, but even a two-game sweep will render our not-quite-ready-for-prime-time club just 5-7 in the pivotal 12-game stretch against Boston and New York.
The Yankees are playing excellent ball, particularly offensively. Mark Hendrickson shakes off the rust and tries to take advantage of Death Valley in left-centre tonight; I'll be there. Doc goes for his Fantastic Fifteenth against Andy Pettitte tomorrow night.
On to the Advance Scout!
* For the seventh straight all-star break, the Yankees found themselves in first place ... At the break, Joe Torre remarked, "In spite of the disabled list and all the things that went on, I'm very satisfied with 21 over .500" ... It's now 25, as the Yankees are 4-0 since the break ... New York is on a six-game home winning streak ...
* New York had to come from behind to win on Thursday, Friday and Saturday ... Bad news for a bullpen with fragile confidence ...
* Tonight's opponent, Jeff Weaver, will try and duplicate his performance from last Sunday at SkyDome ... Weaver called it his best start as a Yankee ... Weaver said he was "surprised" to chalk up seven strikeouts against the Jays, who strike out more often than he likely realizes ... Torre says that Weaver's been seeking advice from the Yankee coaching staff more regularly lately ... Weaver: "You can only run your head into the wall so many times before you try something different...If somebody else has the right formula for me to be successful, I'm all ears" ... Jorge Posada said that Weaver's four-seam and two-seam fastballs were both working effectively last Sunday ...
* Jason Giambi's production, after a ridiculously cold April and ridiculously hot June, has been relatively level in July with his season numbers of 264/415/550 ...
* Tomorrow's opponent, Andy Pettitte, continues to be hittable this season ... He's surrendered at least as many hits as innings pitched in eleven different starts this year, including four of his last five ...
* Raul Mondesi, calmed somewhat after his tirade a week and a half ago, has reclaimed the starting job in right ... Mondesi notched a home run -- his first since June 26 -- and two steals over the weekend ... Torre: "I like the way he's using the whole field...I hope he's on his way back because he's really important to us" ... Karim Garcia hasn't played since the break ... Reggie Jackson, in town for Old-Timers' Day, has been advising Mondesi over the weekend ... Mondesi flourished in spring training this year under Jackson's tutelage ...
* Hideki Matsui is on a seven-game hitting streak ... He endeared himself further to the Bronx faithful with a walk-off bomb on Thursday night ... Derek Jeter said that it took Godzilla a while to adjust to North American pitching, "but now I think he's doing it" ...
* For his part, Jeter couldn't be any hotter, hitting .434 over his last month ... He hit a dramatic game-tying two-run shot off of David Riske in the eighth inning on Thursday, setting the stage for Matsui's game-winner ... And in a remarkable play, he scored from first on Jason Giambi's bases-loaded single on Saturday afternoon ... Jeter: "I take a lot of pride in running the bases...My mindset is always to take the extra base" ... In fairness to Cleveland, Jeter had a running start with a 3-2 count, two outs -- and C.C. Sabathia was pitching out of a lugubrious full windup ... Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said he's going to insist on the stretch in these situations in the future ... Jeter jammed an ankle on the SkyDome turf in the last Toronto series, but will remain in the lineup ...
* Armando Benitez blew six saves as a Met ... He made a fine debut on Friday, turning loud catcalls into cheers ... But he yielded two walks and a hit on Saturday ... "Everyone believes I can do it," said Benitez, erroneously, about pitching in the Bronx ...
* Interesting: Alfonso Soriano hasn't attempted a steal since July 1 ... But his ninth leadoff home run on Saturday tied Rickey Henderson's club record, set in 1986 ...
* Bernie Williams went just 1-for-14 in the Cleveland series, and has featured diminished range in centre since coming back from injury ...
* After a lengthy cold spell, Robin Ventura has hits in his last four starts, none of which were against lefthanded pitching ... He made a ridiculously great play in the field on Thursday. After a Jhonny Peralta triple, Coco Crisp lashed a hard grounder down the third-base line. Ventura made a diving stab of the ball, tagged a stunned Peralta, and fired a throw across the diamond to double up Crisp ... Torre: "I've never seen a play like the one he turned the double play on...Even though he's not hitting, I still trust him in situations. He's a guy that can rise to the occasion" ...
* Ruben Sierra is 6 for his last 15 (.400) ...
* Jorge Posada, who never seems to have a bad at-bat, has eleven walks in his last eight games ... He's getting on base at a .407 clip on the season ... On his home run on Sunday: "I was looking for a fastball...I got a fastball in and it was too good to take" ... His only flaw as a hitter, and the one thing holding him back from statistical greatness: A tendency to lapse into a long swing ... Torre: "If he stays short and compact with his swing, he's going to hit some home runs, but more importantly he's going to hit line drives" ... Coco Crisp was in awe of Posada's throw that nailed him in a steal attempt yesterday ...
* Nick Johnson, recovering from a stress fracture in his right hand, has finally started his rehab assignment in Columbus ... He had a double, single and two walks on Friday night ... Then he hit a three-run bomb on Sunday ...
* Joel Sherman of the New York Post today listed Benitez, Mondesi, Sierra, Weaver, Dan Miceli and David Wells as clubhouse problems, or potential clubhouse problems, in what Sherman termed "George Steinbrenner's wallet-be-damned title quest" ... He highlighted Jeter and Mariano Rivera as the leaders needed to counteract the recently-acquired "bad actors" in pinstripes ...
* Sterling Hitchcock's ineffective outing in yesterday's matinee apparently did not impress the Cardinals, who were considering an offer of Hitchcock plus cash for Steve Kline ... With the Cardinals' apparent decision to look elsewhere for starting help, it's advantage: Blue Jays ... According to the Daily News, "George Steinbrenner was angry that Hitchcock pitched poorly with the Cardinals watching" ... For LOOGY help, which Torre described yesterday as a "luxury, not a necessity," the Yankees are also looking into Mike Myers, Scott Sauerbeck, Jesse Orosco and Gabe White ... The Yankees (and Red Sox) are considering Pedro Borbon (!), who's working out of the independent Atlantic League ...
* The amazing Rivera has walked four batters all season, and one since June 5 ... He's been going to his sinker more against righties, as his vicious cutter is much more effective against lefties ...
Probable Batting Orders
vs. LH
4 Soriano
6 Jeter
3 Giambi
8 Williams
7 Matsui
2 Posada
9 Mondesi
DH Sierra
5 Zeile
vs. RH
4 Soriano
6 Jeter
3 Giambi
8 Williams
7 Matsui
2 Posada
DH Sierra
5 Ventura
9 Mondesi/Garcia
Pitching Probables
Monday: RH Weaver vs. Hendrickson
Tuesday: LH Pettitte vs. Halladay
Bullpen Usage
Long: Hitchcock L
Short: Osuna R, Miceli R
Setup: Hammond L, Benitez R
Closer: Rivera R
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