George King reports that Yankees players have been given the option to purchase memorabilia from the stadium, after it closes this season. He adds:


The flagpole? Aim for the stars, Moose.

Via Ben.

Bernie Williams spoke with the Post, confirming that he will participate in the pre-game festivities on September 21, when the Yankees play their final regular season game at the current Yankee Stadium.

"It will bring me back to my first time in 1991, when I played my first game," Williams told the paper. "It will be amazing. The fans are going to be great. I'm obviously very sad to the Stadium go - you have a lot of great memories - but you move on."

Alex Belth links to Sweeny Murti's top 25 Yankee Stadium moments. It's a great list. Check it out.

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports that Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long plans to fly to the Dominican Republic this offseason to reconstruct the swing of Robinson Cano.

"You're going to see a huge difference visually," Long told Hoch. "You'll see less movement, an explosive, compact swing and you'll probably see more home runs. I think his average will go way up and I think his walks will go way up."

Derek Jeter is up for the 2008 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award. You can vote here.

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports that Ivan Rodriguez was suspended 2 games due to Monday's fight with Torii Hunter. Hunter also received 2 games. Both teams declined to appeal and Pudge served his first game today.

With family in the house, Alfredo Aceves threw 7 strong innings, winning his debut as a starter, against the Angels. The 25 year old rookie wore number 91 and allowed just 1 earned run on 5 hits and 2 walks en route to a 7-1 victory.

The Yankees scored first, in the second inning, when Xavier Nady doubled in A-Rod. The offense was quiet until the sixth. After a Derek Jeter triple and Bobby Abreu walk, A-Rod hit a home run to deep right center, putting the score at 4-0, Yankees.

The Angels finally scored off of Aceves in the bottom half of the sixth, thanks to an RBI ground out by Vladimir Guerrero. But, the Yankees answered right back with a Johnny Damon two run home run that scored Chad Moeller. Damon would add a second home run, a solo shot, in the ninth.

Aceves was relieved by Brian Bruney to start the eighth. 4 batters and 17 pitches later, the inning was over. Damaso Marte pitched the ninth inning and, after allowing a lead off single, retired the next 3 batters to end the game.

In the top of the 1st inning, Jeter singled for hit number 2,519, allowing him to move ahead of Ruth for second on the all-time Yankees hit list. "It kind of sounds funny, I guess," Jeter told Kat O'Brien after the game. "... I know I joke around that I'm old, but I'm not that old."

The Red Sox lost, so the Yankees are now 8.5 games back in the Wild Card standings. Andy Pettittle (13-12, 4.49) will take the hill today against Dustin Moseley (1-4, 7.90). Game time is 3:35 PM ET.

The Yankees lost their third straight game Monday night by a score of 12-1, taking a beating from the Angels in more ways than one. The Yankees now trail Boston by 9.5 games and Tampa Bay by 10.

Carl Pavano struggled in his fourth start of the season, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits in 5 and 1/3 innings. The bullpen wasn't any better, as Dan Giese, Edwar Ramirez and Chris Britton allowed a combined 6 earned runs.

I guess the real story of the game was the 6th inning, when benches cleared after a skirmish began between Pudge Rodriguez and Torii Hunter after a play at the plate. Pudge apparently became infuriated after being (seemingly) accidentally shoved by Hunter in the back. Rodriguez took a swipe at Hunter and missed, and both benches emptied out. Both Rodriguez and Hunter were ejected.

A scary moment came shortly after, when Dave Eiland passed out briefly in the dugout. Eiland was reportedly up and moving around in the clubhouse afterwards, so he seems to be ok. "Unknown" sources are reporting that Eiland reportedly fainted after seeing the Yankees finally record an out.

The Yanks will go at it again in Anaheim tonight, as Alfredo Aceves will be making his first major league start. Ervin Santana will be on the mound for the Angels. Official start is 10:05 ET.

EDIT: Yikes, misinformation alert. Last night's loss by the Yankees was their second straight and third in four games, not their third in a row.

This is pretty much a non-story, I think, but Bryan Hoch reports that Joe Girardi will be back in manage the club in 2009, according to Hank Steinbrenner.

Alex linked to a nice post by YF over at YFSF about the captain. He's right. It has become fashionable to criticize Jeter. I don't understand it, but I never have.