Afternoon Baseball

I don't like the Scott Proctor trade unless they think his arm is about to fall off. Which is possible considering that he's pitched 135 games and 156 2/3 innings in the Yankees' last 267 games. He's been solid, if not incredible, and certainly a better #3 arm than most teams could depend upon.

Wilson Betemit has some pop but has only really walked much this year (when he's hit only .231), and he hasn't been able to break through in a Dodgers lineup that probably could look for another bat. I hope he can give the Yankees a good month or two, but I'm not optimistic.

As for the home runs tonight, how does Alex Rodriguez not hit one of the eight? On the other hand, Hideki Matsui just finished his first month as a Yankee where he actually looked like the player he was in Japan. Thirteen home runs after just eight on the season coming into July.

Back to A-Rod for a second. His play and fan acceptance this year is just another reason ESPN should fire Steve Phillips, the bitter, unsuccessful and frozen-out ex-Mets general manager. Phillips, who abandoned even the opinionated stance a pundit can take for full-fledged advocacy for the Yankees to trade A-Rod. He spent months trying to trash A-Rod's ability, personality and humanity.
So keep that in mind when he says Melky isn't a major league starter and should have been dumped for Eric Gagne.