Wade Boggs and Paul OâNeill, both wearing Yankee caps to honor their championship past, homered in the first inning Sunday of the celebrity softball game at Yankee Stadium.
It looked strange to see a couple of lefties representing the Yankees homer and it turns out that it was. The Yankees, whose history is very much built on lefty power, had just two homers by lefty hitters in their final 15 home games â short right-field porch and all.
Those homers were by Melky Cabrera and Jason Giambi. The Yanks have indeed missed Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui recently and are hoping they will get both back early in the second half. But it is dramatic and debilitating that the Yanksâ lefty power has vanished. The Yanks have just two lefty homers in the past 10 games regardless of venue.
Overall, in July, the Yanks have just seven homers, second fewest in the AL to Torontoâs six.
Obviously, a great deal of the Yankeesâ problems come from being unable to do long-ball damage in the Bronx. In the final year of Yankee Stadium, the Yanks have lost the ability to capitalize on their home parkâs most distinctive item.
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Catching is in great demand in the majors. The Red Sox, for example, are scouring the landscape looking for a potential replacement for the struggling Jason Varitek, who is a free agent after the season.
So keep an eye on the Rangers. They actually have four high-level catchers, including Taylor Teagarden, who threw out two runners trying to steal in Sundayâs Futures Game. Teagarden must be put on the 40-man roster this winter and it is not traditional for an organization to protect four catchers on the 40-man roster. And Texas already has Max Ramirez, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Gerald Laird in the majors; Laird is on the DL with a hamstring problem, but is due back soon.
The Rangers keep insisting they want to work with Saltalamacchiaâs footwork and keep him a catcher. Laird is the most obvious trade chip and he has been in many discussions. However, he is also the player least likely to draw a significant return.
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Cardinals GM John Mozeliak insists he will not be pressured to make a move simply because his main two competitors in the NL Central the Cubs (Rich Harden) and Brewers (CC Sabathia) have made major acquisitions. He also said that manager Tony LaRussaâs public proclamations that the roster needs additions will not motivate a trade.
âIt is all about balance,â Mozeliak said. âI want to win badly, but I not only have to think about today, I have to think about tomorrow, also.â
Mozeliak added that it is possible that the Cardinals best acquisitions will be Chris Carpenter (Tommy John surgery) and Adam Wainwright (finger). Mozeliak said it is possible both will be back in August. He said Carpenter was due for a mound session today (Monday) and that if all goes well, the righty might be sent on a rehab assignment.