When your All-Star first baseman goes 4-6 with an RBI and a run scored you know you had a good day at the ballpark. Teixeira heaved his average back over .280 last night and pounded on the Twins as everyone in the Bombers starting line-up got a hit.

Tex was one of two offensive studs last night and Brett Gardner was the other. Gardner had himself a day going 3 for 5 with his 5^th triple of the season, 2 RBI’s, and 2 Runs scored. These are very encouraging numbers for the Yankees and their fans; especially for those (like myself) who want Gardner to be the next in line for Yankee centerfield greats.

Gardner has been hitting well the past few weeks and the only thing missing from his offensive game, besides power that he probably won’t ever have, is the art of the walk. With his legs he could turn any walk into a double, if not a triple. With Jeter and Damon getting older he is the perfect candidate for a leadoff man, but not until he develops more patience in the batter’s box and a better eye.  The Yankees also may want to think about signing on Ricky Henderson to coach him for a bit and teach him how to take better jumps. I’m not talking anything crazy for Henderson but maybe a year or less contract so that someone (i.e. the best base thief of all time) can teach this guy how to take a decent jump and really perfect the art of base stealing. It would be a valuable coach signing and something Cashman should really consider.  

Sabathina looked VERY strong shaking off the bad start from last week and going 7 innings only allowing 3 hits and 1 earned run. His pitch count was low (100) and he really helped himself out by getting first pitch strikes (18 of 25 batters started 0-1). When he is ahead in the count early he can be the most dominating pitcher in baseball and he showed that Tuesday night.  

AJ Burnett takes the mound Wednesday night hoping to pick it up where he left off. Recently he has been without question the best starter in the rotation having only allowed 3 earned runs in his past 4 combined starts. This includes a brilliant one- hitter against the Mets where he tallied 10 SO’s and followed that up with last Friday’s start going seven innings allowing only 2 runs and striking out 7. He is looking masterful on the mound as they roll into the All-Star break.   If you consider his last 4 starts then AJ Burnett is being everything a team could want in a number 2 starter. He had a rough patch in the early spring but has really turned up his game giving the fans something to look forward to when he’s on the hill.  It is only the halfway point of the season, but if July going into the dog days of August goes anything like his past 4 starts then Yankee fans should start licking their chops.

Last night once again showed the league what happens when the Yankees are able to execute in every aspect of the game. When their starters command their half of the game and the rest of the team makes good play behind them, paired with productive at-bats, they really can’t be stopped.

They’ve been playing very well as a team as of late and it’s got to make the clubhouse a great place to be as they march into the All-Star break trying to surmount the first place spot. It’s a good sign for us that the Red Sox’s best starter right now is Wakefield because everyone knows its only a matter of time before the knuckle ball flies straight. Once that happens all the Yankees will have to do is actually beat the Red Sox, something that unfortunately can’t happen for the first time this season any earlier then August.

August is going to be a big month for the Yankees; it’s the month that their fate could be decided. But it seems as if the Bombers are smart enough to not be thinking about that and are only thinking about the rest of their 6 game road trip.  So on that note I think I’ll follow their lead and stop here before I say too much or predict too far into the future. How ‘bout a W tonight boys?