Yankees Fill Pettitte's Spot Via Trade?

The fallout from Pettitte retiring is causing all kinds of rumors on the internet. Most experts seem to think the Yankees will make some kind of move before opening day, instead of banking on guys like Nova, Colon, Mitre, ect at the back end of the rotation. The question now is who would be available?

Grienke already got dealt to the Brewers, the Indians are saying that Carmona is not on the market (though I have a hard time believing that), Felix Hernandez seems to be just a dream, and Blanton just costs too much for what they would get in return. Their best option might be to turn to the A's who love to trade guys for more prospects, and a player that might fit is left hander Gio Gonzalez. Gio is coming off a really nice year (15-9 3.23 ERA) and would fit the mold of being a Red Sox killer, since the Sox have so many lefties in their lineup.

If it isn't Gio I think the Yankees are going to have to wait and see what teams fall out of the playoffs. The White Sox have arms to deal if they falter. Edwin Jackson could quickly be available, and another name to watch is John Danks. The White Sox have been trying to extend Danks for awhile now, but he seems happy to sit back and wait for free agency in 2 years. Since the White Sox minor league system is pretty terrible they could easily move one of these two guys to rebuild it quickly.

There is a lot of panic in Yankeeland recently, and it will be interesting to see if they make some kind of overreacting move before the season starts to calm the nerves of the Yankee faithful.

White Sox 5 Red Sox 9

I think Junichi Tazawa time in the majors is just about over. I was at the game last night, and let me tell you the 9 runs he let up don't tell you the whole story of how bad he pitched. The Sox didn't really help him with all the bad fielding, but every out was a laser.

After just 4 innings the Sox were down 9-0. Danks has a solid outing for the White Sox, but the Sox could have put a lot more runs on the board during the 5th inning, but poor base running by Pedroia cost them that chance. The game got so ugly that in the 8th and 9th innings the Sox put Nick Green on the mound, and he actually pitched 2 scoreless innings.

Jacoby Ellsbury left the game after suffering a high ankle sprain in the bottom of the fifth. Francona said he didn't think it was serious, but I really question if he will be able to play tonight.

With the loss the Sox are up just 1 1/2 games in the Wild Card race.

White Sox Stay Alive With 5-3 Win

John Danks is turning into the White Sox best pitcher, and he just extended their season for at least one more game. The night didn't start well as the Rays jumped out to an early lead, but the White Sox would not go quietly as they tied the game 1-1 in the 3rd inning. In the 4th, the White Sox got 3 runs on the board, 2 of which came off a two run double by no name Dewayne Wise. Wise is a guy who has been surprisingly starting over Nick Swisher, and well now Guillen looks like a genius. Dank cruised through the next couple of innings and finished going 6 2/3 allowing 3 runs on 7 hits with 7 Ks. The White Sox bullpen was able to hold the lead, and combined to throw 2 1/2 scoreless innings, capped off with a Bobby Jenks save. The next game will be tomorrow in Chicago where the White Sox Gavin Floyd will be facing Tampa Bay's Andy Sonnanstine.

-BMack