Nady/Marte trade reworked

The Yankees have sent Jeff Karstens and Dan McCutchen to the Pirates for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte instead of Phil Coke and George Kontos. Jose Tabata and Ross Ohlendorf are still in the trade as well.

I don't consider myself to be an expert on the minor leagues. However, I know that McCutchen has a higher upside than Coke and Kontos do. That said, the Yankees had to make this move if they were serious about contending this year.

Any way you slice it, it's a great trade for the Yankees. Not sure when Nady and Marte will be here. The lineups haven't been posted yet.

Wang injury speculation

The amateur doctors are out in full force tonight (and early this morning).

According to Tyler Kepner of the Times, Chien-Ming Wang told teammates that he felt a pop in his foot, almost certainly meaning ligament damage that could the right-hander's season in jeopardy.

The injury is to the top of Wang’s foot, the same general area that reliever Brian Bruney injured when he tripped while covering first base in April. Bruney was found to have a Lisfranc injury and is expected to miss a minimum of three months.

Wang has symptoms of the same injury, including swelling and the inability to bear weight on the foot; he left Minute Maid Park on crutches, in a soft cast. Bruney’s injury was in the middle of the foot, and Wang’s is believed to be in the webbing of his toes, between his big toe and second toe.

“I feel sore,” Wang said in a statement to the Yankees’ media relations director, Jason Zillo. “The doctor says I have to go to get an M.R.I. tomorrow. Of course I’m disappointed.”

With the off-day, we may not hear anything from the team regarding Wang's MRI until Tuesday.

Depending on how severe the injury is, it'll be interesting to see how the Yankees react. Wang will at least miss his next start. People are suggesting a trade for C.C. Sabathia (I don't see that happening). There will certainly be a call-up from the minors (Ian Kennedy, Jeff Karstens and Kei Igawa are the more Major League-ready). Dan Giese could possibly make a spot start or two.

This injury couldn't have come at a worse time. Wang was starting to rebound from a rough couple of week and the Yankees have finally gotten over their fear of getting two games over .500. All we can do now is hope the injury isn't a severe as Kepner suggests it is.

Va. Tech game available everywhere

Today's game at Virginia Tech is very special and poignant to those involved in the tragedy of last April.

Because of this, the game will be available on YES and MLB.tv for free this afternoon.

First pitch is scheduled for a little after 3:00 p.m. with Jeff Karstens starting for New York.

The Yankees are doing a great thing by making this trip, and it means a lot to the people of Blacksburg, Va.

Full lineup to travel to Va. Tech

When the Yankees travel to Blacksburg, Va. next Tuesday, they'll take their entire starting lineup.

Joe Girardi and Derek Jeter seem excited about the game, which is scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday. Jeff Karstens is the probable starter.

"I think it's a wonderful opportunity for our players to see that you don't take life for granted," Girardi said.
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"You look at what we do, and it's entertainment," Jeter said. "If we can at least raise some awareness and make people smile and enjoy themselves for a few hours, that's all that we really can do."
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"It's something that I've realized," Jeter said. "I really had a new appreciation for life after [9/11]. I think it brings attention to how precious life is. You realize it's going to be a special trip and you can't take anything for granted. This really puts things in perspective for us."

This is a great thing for the Yankees to do. With the Tampa Bay Rays questioning the "Yankee way," this is a good way to show that the Yankees still the same old Yankees in terms of helping others and being generous.

Mussina's rough day

Mike Mussina is in mid-season form, giving up the lead right after the Yankees scored for him on two different occasions.

After being given a 1-0 lead in the second inning, Mussina gave up two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Hunter Pence doubled and then scored on a Jose Cruz Jr. single. Cruz Jr. then took second when Mussina didn't cover the plate on the throw him. He was driven home by Humberto Quintero.

The Yankees scored three runs in the top of the third to retake the lead by a score of 4-2. Shelley Duncan hit an RBI single that scored Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano. Morgan Ensberg then drove home Duncan on a single.

Mussina came out for a third inning of work. Kaz Matsui and Lance Berkman singled to start the third. Carlos Lee was up after and drilled a pitch over the wall to take a 5-4 lead. Mussina was taken out right after and was replaced by Jeff Karstens. Mussina's final line was 2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR.

Mussina has been happy with his work in camp so far, so this is an obvious step in the wrong direction. He has the uncanny ability to surrender leads, so this is nothing new. Hopefully this isn't what he has been teaching Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.

In other news, the former Astros are chipping in. Ensberg is currently 2-2 with a double and an RBI and Jason Lane has also driven in a run.

Play to win tonight

Now that I've had time to digest yesterday's loss, I'll give Joe Torre a pass. He wasn't really expecting Kei Igawa to start, let alone throw five shutout innings. Yes, he allowed Edwar Ramirez and Brian Bruney to stay in the game too long. Yes, he shouldn't have allowed Jeff Karstens to pitch in the 10th innings. Yes, he shouldn't have held a bullpen tryout while the Wild Card race hasn't been decided.

But I'm over it.

It's not his fault that that's what he has left in the bullpen.

Yankee fans were too quick to think that they could win the division. There is no shame in winning the Wild Card, and that's the path the Yankees are headed down. With five games remaining, Boston has a minuscule magic number of three to clinch the East. Meanwhile, the Yankees' magic number to clinch the Wild Card is at one.

If they win tonight, they can rest some of their hurting regulars and figure out who will be valuable out of the bullpen in the playoffs during the final four games.

That being said, the Yankees must play to win tonight. Ace Chien-Ming Wang is on the hill. If he has the lead after seven innings, go straight to Joba Chamberlain. If Wang is struggling in the sixth, go to Chamberlain. If Mariano Rivera has to pitch more than one inning, don't hesitate.

There is time to rest everyone after tonight. Just win the game and look to next week.