On the Yankees beat

Here's good news for those of you hoping for big things from Phil Hughes next season. He was named pitcher of the week in the Arizona Fall League. Hughes pitched five innings of one-hit ball in a win for the Peoria Javelinas in his first start. His control was not there, as he walked five and hit one. He was almost unhittable though, with seven strikeouts.

First baseman Juan Miranda is off to a fantastic start after two games. He is 6-for-8 with three doubles, two triples, two RBIs and three runs scored. For those of you keeping track, that's a .750 average and 2.375 OPS (in two games, so it doesn't mean a ton).
Other Yankee results:
OF Austin Jackson, 5-of-17, 5 RBIs
2B Kevin Russo, 1-for-13,
Jeffrey Marquez, two scoreless innings, one hit, two strikeouts
Kevin Whelan, 1 2/3 scoreless innings, one hit, three strikeouts

Quite an entertaining game -- if hideously long -- last night. So the Rays didn't look tight last night, that's for sure. Great bustout game for Evan Longoria, great efforts by both bullpens and now we've got a series.

Cliff Floyd had a great line after the game, saying that if they had gone to Fenway down 0-2, they might as well "start getting some wardrobe boxes ready." Instead, it's all tied up.

I don't know about you, but if I'm a Red Sox fan, I'm awfully concerned about Josh Beckett right now. I picked the Red Sox to win the series, but one significant factor in that prediction was that I expected Beckett to be himself -- as in, very good. He has been terrible in two postseason games this October, and I have to wonder how badly he might be hurt.

David Ortiz said the Rays had "different" looks on their faces in Game 1. As in tight, maybe even scared. We're moments away from seeing how they look in Game 2. I'm not convinced that Josh Beckett, bothered by an oblique muscle, is going to be vintage Josh Beckett. So tonight should be a fascinating matchup.

Here's the lineups for ALCS Game 2:

Red Sox
Ellsbury RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Youkilis 3B
Bay LF
Lowrie SS
Varitek C
Kotsay 1B
Crisp CF

Beckett RHP

Rays
Iwamura 2B
Upton CF
Pena 1B
Longoria 3B
Crawford LF
Floyd DH
Navarro C
Gross RF
Bartlett SS

Kazmir LHP

I didn't get a chance to write about this the other day, it wasn't out of a lack of interest. Joe Girardi is teaming up with YES broadcaster Michael Kay and CBS Sports's Jim Nantz in a benefit for Girardi's Catch 25 Foundation and Alzheimer's Research. The event, titled "Remember when, Remember now" will be held Wed., Nov. 19th at Grand Central Oyster Bar (in Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal). All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to Alzheimer's research and assistance.

I knew that Joe Girardi's father, Jerry is suffering from Alzheimer's, but I did not know that Michael Kay and Jim Nantz (who I don't know personally at all) also have had a parent suffer from Alzheimer's. It is really a terrible disease. My grandmother and namesake, Kathleen Enzler, died after battling Alzheimer's for a number of years. Towards the end, she didn't know any of her children and even before that would confuse them with somebody else. She would think people on the TV were intruders. These are just a couple sad stories. It's a horrible illness and one I hope we find a cure for soon.

Tickets for this event are $250 per person. For info and ticket purchase call 212-490-7109 or 1-800-622-7775, or email info@oysterbarny.com

Here's a comment from Michael Kay: "Alzheimer's is one of the more insidious diseases for both the patient and the family. It is heart wrenching to lose the one you love while they are still living and breathing. My sister and I went through it with our mom, Rose. It's devastating. There is simply not enough funding for this disease which will eventually touch everyone in this country as the population grows older. We're hoping this night brings more awareness and funding to find a cure and spare future families this heartbreak."

Your old friends Baumbach and Rieber have started a new feature on their blog. Hot Stove Debates will look at one position of need at a time for the Yanks and Mets during the offseason.

Today, it's the Yankees' centerfield situation. Brett Gardner? Melky Cabrera? Austin Jackson? Mike Cameron? Nate McLouth?

See what we think and then tell us what you think.

So the closing ceremony for Yankee Stadium, which had been slated for Nov. 9th, is off. That was reported today by the Daily News and amNY.

Yankees spokesperson Jason Zillo said on the cancellation: "The Yankees were considering having a charitable event at Yankee Stadium for BAT, however we realized the final event at Yankee Stadium should be a baseball game, which in fact took place on Sept. 21, 2008."

The speculation was that all kinds of big-name groups/musical acts would be involved. I have mixed thoughts on the cancellation. I think there was a risk that it would not go over as well as planned. That some big names wouldn't show up. That it would be terrible weather. That it would diminish the memory of the final game, which made for a wonderful night.

On the other hand, it would have been nice if the Yankees had decided to cancel before the last game so people would have known. Plus they never really did much of anything to honor the non-baseball history there.

Speaking of the last game, if any of you have cause to call the Yankees for something (tickets, schedule questions, tours, etc.) and happen to be placed on hold, you'll get to hear Derek Jeter's speech that he gave after the final game. I think that's pretty cool. Even if you don't need to talk to the Yankees, maybe you can just call and ask to hear the recorded message.

Liking the discussion going on the blogs. Plenty to ponder as the Yankees watch a nightmare grouping of teams go to the LCS in the Red Sox, Rays and Joe Torre's Dodgers. The only thing worse would be if the Mets were in as well.

Mariano Rivera underwent surgery today on his right shoulder to remove calcification over the AC joint. It was performed by Dr. David Altchek, who also did the shoulder surgery on Jorge Posada. Reportedly all went well in the surgery and Rivera should begin throwing in early January. If that's the case, he'll be on time and a go for spring training.

Jon Lester was extremely impressive last night. Until the Angels tied the score in the eighth inning, my story centered around him stepping up as a postseason ace. In five appearances, three starts, he now has a 0.77 ERA!