Granderson to DL

Curtis Granderson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring.

This puts a hamper on a good start of the season by Granderson, who was batting .225 with 2 homers, and 7 RBI's. The Yankees called up righty reliever Mark Melancon to help a bullpen that had to pitch 5 innings today after another poor start by Javy Vazquez.

Brett Gardner, who has put up some very impressive numbers so far, will slide over to center, and Randy Winn and Marcus Thames will split time in left.

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Yanks Lose; Joba Embarassed, Doesn't Know What 'Best Stuff" Means

We had no postgame last night because either Jim fell asleep or flew across country to kick Joba's a**. I'm glad I didn't stay up to see this one because Joba Chamberlain got shelled for the second consecutive start.

To sum up the game real quick. the Yankees scored 5 runs in the first 5 innings to give Joba the lead early, just like his last start. With a 5-1 lead, Joba only recorded one out in the fifth, giving up 4 runs, 3 earned. The big blow was a 3-run HR by Kendry Morales. He left after 4.1 innings, and the bullpen could not hold the lead. Hideki Matsui almost hit a grand-slam, but they aren't playing in Yankee Stadium so it was an out. Mark Melancon pitched more innings than he's capable of, Derek Jeter dropped a pop up and then Brian Bruney gave up a bomb to Erick Aybar. The Yankees lost 10-6.

The big issue here is the state of Joba Chamberlain. His last two starts: 8 innings, 18 hits, 13 runs, 7 earned runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, 3 home runs. What worries me most is the combination of not going deep into games, and the unearned runs. The 6 unearned runs tells me he can't pick up his teammates and handle mistakes well. After A-Rod made an error, the next pitch he threw was a get-me-over curve right over the middle of the plate to Kendry Morales, who crushed it into centerfield.

"It's frustrating. I'm letting my teammates down. It's kind of embarassing, too," Joba said after the game. But Joba still believed he made good pitches, including the bomb Morales hit.

He said it was "a little up" but made a good pitch. He also said that his stuff and mechanics have been his best the last two starts. Did you see his numbers from his last two starts? It's absurd to suggest that he has had his "best stuff." Maybe for a batter or two, but not the whole game. When you give up 9 hits, 5 runs, and can't get out of the fifth inning with your "best stuff" you should not be in the major leagues.

With Wang injured and Joba consistently not going more than 5 innings, the Yankees are in the market for a starting pitcher (and no not Halladay you fools). Someone like a Jarrod Washburn or Jason Marquis would fit well.

If Joba cannot turn things around his next start, it's either back to the bullpen, or Scranton. The Yankees cannot afford to have him pitch like this the second half of the season.

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Yanks Tied in First, Boston Dropping in the Standings

Yay!

The Red Sox lost to the Kansas City Royals 8-6, and have fallen in a first place tie with the Yankees at 51-34. The Yankees are 0-8 against the Red Sox but are still tied in first place. That is both great and extremely infuriating at the same time. As Yankees fans, we can't help but think that if we just went 4-4, our record would be 55-30 and the Red Sox would be 47-38. Yes, I know that is 8 games in the loss column, but hey, we Yankee fans will all sleep easier tonight knowing we share a piece of first with the Sox. Now, they play the Royals for 3 more games, the Yankees play the Angels. If the Yankees could find their way to remain tied or a game up by the end of the weekend, they will be heading into the All Star Break on a high note and with some momentum.

It seems like the Yankees will call up Mark Melancon for some bullpen help after today's game. Jonathan Albaladejo or David Robertson are expected to be the possible players to be sent down.

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