Royally Stupid

Today was another brutally long, yet important game in the 2010 Yankees season. Phil Hughes was not great, but he improved off his last start to pick up his 12th win of the season. Curtis Granderson showed signs of last year's power by cracking two homers, and Boone Logan has put together several impressive outings in a row to become a force out of the Yankees bullpen. Although Alex Rodriguez failed to crack number 600 at home, the Yankees' offense exploded and knocked off the Royals, 12-6.

It was a great game, the Red Sox lost again, and the Yanks finished the homestand with a 6-3 record. So why am I complaining? In the bottom of the eighth inning, Alex Rodriguez had a chance to crack number 600 with the bases loaded, which also would have given him career grand slam number 22. Sadly, he was drilled with a 1-2 fastball in his left forearm and came out of the game. I thought the Yankees needed to retaliate, showing other teams that they won't put up with their best player being knocked down and hit in the same at bat. Instead, Chan Ho Park came in to pitch the ninth inning, walked a couple of guys, and showed no heart by not even coming close to drilling any of the Kansas City Royals' hitters.

This is not only Chan Ho Park's fault, but also the rules of Major League Baseball. What if Park hits a guy? Then, you are looking at a suspension. (Would it be bad to see Park suspended?) Seriously, the rules have gotten a little bit too tight for pitchers throwing inside, and umpires issuing warnings. Believe it or not, I would have liked to see Joba Chamberlain start the ninth inning and put one in somebody's ear. That's the way old time baseball was played. There's nothing wrong with it. At least Joba would have accomplished something positive after another horrendous eighth inning. Could the Yankees possibly consider sending him to Scranton to get his head straightened out?

Dan Haren was traded from Arizona today, but it was not to the New York Yankees. Instead, he went to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Joe Saunders and a cast of others. I like Haren, but he's not someone that causes you to want to give up all of your minor league talent. If all the D-Backs wanted was Joba, however, why couldn't the Yankees pull the trigger? Either way, I'm happy to see him with the Angels. Right now, the Angels are certainly not a playoff team, and we all remember what happened last year when the Angels pulled off a "steal" to pick up Scott Kazmir.

The Yankees head to Cleveland before a big series in Tampa next weekend. If Girardi puts him in the lineup, I guarantee A-Rod cracks number 600 in Ohio Monday night. No excessive flash bulbs, no standing ovations. Let's just hope the midges don't return at any point.