Number 600

Alex Rodriguez's 600th home run could not have come at a better time. Besides the fact that it is finally over with, A-Rod hit it in a game the Yankees HAD to have before taking on the Red Sox this weekend. He also contributed to one of those John Sterling "you can't explain baseball" facts. Three years ago, August 4, 2007, Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th home run at Yankee Stadium, and Phil Hughes earned the win. On August 4, 2010, A-Rod hit number 600, and Phil got himself another W. Congratulations to Alex. Regardless of what you think of his past activities, the guy has admitted he was wrong, and carried on, leading the Yankees to a championship last season. I'm happy that number 600 is over, and the Yankees can move on.

Phil Hughes was solid, but it's very painful to watch him pitch. He takes an eternity in between pitches, but it's tough to complain when someone finally shuts down the Blue Jays and ends a miserable three game losing streak. The starters have been nothing but shaky over past week or so, but the Yankees bullpen is really coming together. Boone Logan, Joba Chamberlain, and David Robertson have turned it up since the All Star Break. Mariano Rivera is Mariano Rivera. Damaso Marte hasn't been seen in quite a while, but right now, Boone Logan is filling the lefty role perfectly. You have to imagine when and if Marte comes back, Girardi will keep two lefties out in the 'pen.

While A-Rod will be the headline for today, I'd like to do something I haven't done very much since the inception of this blog: credit Derek Jeter. The offense has been scuffling, and the team is out of first place. So what does Derek do? He has a 4-4 afternoon at the Stadium, raising his average to .280. Derek goes on these tears sometimes and all of a sudden, he's up around .300. He scored three runs, setting the table for every Yankee rally of the day. With Swisher and Tex heating up behind him, maybe Alex can get on a power surge now that the flashbulbs will die down.

The Yankees have an off day Thursday before an enormous series with Boston begins on Friday night. It's not enormous because of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. It's enormous because the Yankees, Rays, and Rex Sox are probably baseball's three best teams. Even with the Red Sox decimating injuries, they have hung in there. Two of these three teams will reach the playoffs, while one will go home. In my mind, if the Yanks can take 3 out of 4, Boston becomes buried in the standings. However, despite their injuries, the Yankees will still have to take on Josh Beckett and John Lester. Whatever happens, get ready for a long, long weekend full of four hour games and see-saw battles.