Four Players Inclduing Mike Dunn Coming Up

John Heyman via his Twitter page is reporting that the Yankees will call up Francisco Cervelli, Ramiro Pena, Mark Melancon, and Mike Dunn tomorrow.

Like I said earlier today, I'm very interested in seeing Dunn pitch at this level. In 37 games with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Dunn is 3-3, with 2 saves, and a 3.34 ERA. In 72.2 innings pitched, he's allowed 27 ER and 58 hits, he's also walked 46 and struck out 98. With Scranton he had a 2.33 ERA in 11 games.

Yanks Post Season Ticket Prices Set - UPDATED

UPDATE: Here's the official press release from the Yankees:

As we have done every year since 2004 and as we expect to do in the future, the Yankees will provide their loyal season-ticket licensees the first opportunity to purchase postseason tickets," said Chief Operating Officer Lonn Trost.

Regular season ticket prices for full-season ticket licensees (non-Suites) will be replicated for the 2009 American League Division Series (i.e., a Main Level ticket that costs a full-season ticket licensee $60 in the 2009 regular season will cost the same licensee $60 for the ALDS), however, full-season ticket licensees (non-Suites) of $325 Field Level seats may purchase their seats for the ALDS at the lower price of $275 each.

For full-season ticket licensees (non-Suite), prices will range from $5-$275 per ticket for the ALDS, $10-$350 per ticket for the ALCS, and $50-$425 per ticket for the World Series.

Full-season Suite licensees in the Legends Suite, Delta Sky360° Suite and Jim Beam Suite, have all already paid their Suite license fees. Accordingly, they will only be required to purchase their Suite tickets, which will range from $65-$275 per Suite ticket for the ALDS, $115-$350 per Suite ticket for the ALCS, and $150-$425 per Suite ticket for the World Series. As with the regular season, Legends Suite licensees will also be required to pay a per-game food and beverage fee, but not a Suite license fee.

All ticket purchasers must also pay a Major League Baseball-sanctioned handling fee, which ranges in price from $1 for each ALDS ticket priced at $5 to a maximum of $6 for each ALDS ticket priced at $40 or more. The handling fee for each ticket will be set based upon ALDS ticket pricing and remain the same for all subsequent postseason rounds, regardless of the ticket price.

Please note that the quantity of postseason tickets available to those who are not 2009 season ticket licensees will be limited and vary for each postseason round. Yankee Stadium has a seating capacity of 50,235, excluding standing room. For each postseason game, the first opportunity to purchase tickets is provided to current season-ticket licensees, which represent in excess of 37,000 full-season equivalent ticket licenses. Major League Baseball directs clubs to dedicate approximately 3,000 tickets per game for players of the participating clubs and to accommodate the media. In addition, Major League Baseball requires approximately 5,500 tickets per ALDS game, 7,000 tickets per ALCS game and 9,500 tickets per World Series game.

Subject to availability, non-Suite tickets for public sale will range from $5-$375 per ticket for the ALDS, $10-$400 per ticket for the ALCS, and $50-$425 per ticket for the World Series, and in all cases the handling fee will be added. The date of any public on-sale has not been determined at this time.

A grid reflecting non-Suite postseason ticket prices for current season-ticket licensees and those participating in any public sale is attached below. For information as it becomes available, please visit www.yankees.com.

From Darren Rovell (hat-tip to WasWatching.com):

Those expecting to hear of a price gouge for Yankees postseason tickets might be surprised.It's not coming.

CNBC has seen the final face value prices that the Yankees submitted to Major League Baseball and increases will be much smaller than the jump season ticket holders saw for home games played at the old Yankee Stadium in the 2007 postseason, the last time the Yankees were in the playoffs. In fact, some 2009 postseason seats will cost LESS than this year's regular season prices.

Ticket prices in the new Yankee Stadium are especially complex to decode since premium ticket holders -- those in three suite areas -- already paid for their suite licensing fees, which makes up the bulk of the per game ticket price.

That's one of the reasons why ticket holders in most premium areas see a face value on their tickets of less than 20 percent of the price they eventually pay. The rest of the price is then made up of these fees that are paid ahead of time.

For example, those who sit in the first rows behind home plate, pay $2,500 a seat, but the face value of the tickets -- and thus the price paid on a per game basis -- is $325.

For the ALDS, the Yankees are expected to announce that the top per game price will be $275, $50 less than what those sitting in the best seats pay for each regular season game.

Those season ticket holders sitting in non-premium seats will pay the same per-game price as they are paying for the regular season for their ALDS seats, with the exception of one section of seats.

Compare that to the increases on the 2007 postseason face value of tickets, which roughly ranged from 30 percent to 130 percent above the regular season price for the ALDS, the only series the Yankees played that year after being bested by the Cleveland Indians.

Fans will see bigger jumps in price from the ALDS to the ALCS, should the Yankees advance, but the increases -- which start at 27 percent over the ALDS prices -- is nothing out of the ordinary.

As for bleacher seats -- where I plan on sitting if I'm able to go -- the article states that their face value will be $5 for the ALDS and $10 for the ALCS before the MLB "facility fee". I assume that fee will at least double the cost.

For the World Series those tickets jump to $50 face value, but the Yankees apparently didn't even want to go that high, but had to follow MLB rules that state that no ticket for a WS game can be less than $50.

...Read more

8/31 Minor League Report

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(Triple-A) Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (75-58) beat Syracuse (73-63) 6-4: Box Score - Recap

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Scranton/WB	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	2	1		6	13	1
Syracuse	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	1	0		4	12	4

W: Dunn, M (1-0, 2.25); L: Wilkie (2-2, 2.33); SV: Kroenke (3)
HR: None.

Offense:
Kevin Russo: 1-for-5
Ramiro Pena: 2-for-5, RBI - played third
Austin Jackson: 1-for-5, R, SB (23)
Shelley Duncan: 1-for-5
Juan Miranda: 3-for-5, RBI, R
Cody Ransom: 0-for-5, R
Yurendell de Caster: 1-for-3, R
Francisco Cervelli: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, R
Colin Curtis: 1-for-3, RBI, R

Pitching:
Kei Igawa: 6.1 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (4.29 ERA)
Mike Dunn (W, 1-0): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (2.25 ERA)
Zach Kroenke (S, 3): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K (1.90 ERA)

Pitches-strikes: Igawa 101-68, Dunn, M 12-7, Kroenke 23-10.

(Double-A) Trenton (66-68) beat New Britain (67-69) 4-2: Box Score - Recap

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
New Britain	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0		2	8	1
Trenton	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	X		4	9	0

W: Duff (4-2, 3.03); L: Steedley (1-1, 3.52)
HR: TRN: Nunez, E (9), Robnett (2).

Offense:
Austin Krum: 1-for-4, 2B
Matthew Cusick: 1-for-3
Eduardo Nunez: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R
Chris Malec: 1-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI
Richie Robnett: 1-for-2, HR, RBI, 2 BB, R
Edwar Gonzalez: 1-for-4
P.J. Pilittere: 1-for-3
James Cooper: 1-for-3, R

Pitching:
Jason Stephens: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (2.45 ERA)
Grant Duff (BS, 2)(W, 4-2): 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (3.03 ERA)

(High-A) Tampa (Overall: 74-54; Second Half: 44-17) had an off-day.

(Low-A) Charleston (Overall: 67-64; Second half: 28-33) lost to Rome (Overall: 64-67; Second half: 29-32) 2-0: Box Score - Recap

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Charleston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	4	1
Rome	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	X		2	7	1

W: Delgado, D (5-6, 3.65); L: Kapala (6-2, 2.82); SV: Paulino (2)
HR: None.

Offense:
Abraham Almonte: 1-for-4
Corban Joseph: 0-for-2, 2 BB
Melky Mesa: 1-for-4, SB (17)
Addison Maruszak: 1-for-3, BB
Neall French: 0-for-3, BB
Garrison Lassiter: 1-for-2, BB

Pitching:
Daniel Kapala (L, 6-2): 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (2.82 ERA)
Manuel Banuelos: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K (2.67 ERA)

(Single-A Short-Season) Staten Island (43-27) beat Vermont (31-36) 5-3: Box Score - Recap

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Staten Island	2	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0		5	8	1
Vermont	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0		3	8	1

W: Watkins, B (5-0, 1.80); L: McGeary (2-5, 3.95); SV: Brooks, G (3)
HR: None.

Offense:
Jimmy Paredes: 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R, SB (22)
Justin Milo: 0-for-3, BB, R
Deangelo Mack: 3-for-4, RBI
Luke Murton: 2-for-4, RBI, SB (4)
Kelvin Castro: 0-for-3, BB, R
Carmen Angelini: 0-for-3, BB, R

Pitching:
Benjamin Watkins (W, 5-0): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K (1.80 ERA)
Michael Solbach: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K (4.11 ERA)
Griffin Bailey: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (1.64 ERA)
Gavin Brooks (S, 3): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K (0.69 ERA)

(Rookie) GCL Yanks (33-27) lost to the GCL Braves (26-34) 5-3: Box Score - Recap

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
GCL Yankees	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0		3	5	2
GCL Braves	0	0	4	0	0	1	0	0	X		5	6	1

W: Acord (1-1, 2.92); L: Gerritse (0-1, 3.93); SV: Weber (2)
HR: YAN: Mahoney, K (6). BRA: Falcon, D (3).

Offense:
Judsan Golsan: 0-for-2, 2 BB
Jose Toussen: 1-for-4, RBI
Kevin Mahoney: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, R
Mitchell Delaney: 0-for-3, BB
Issac Harrow: 1-for-3, 3B, BB, R
Ramon Flores: 0-for-4, RBI
Jhorge Liccien: 1-for-4, R

Pitching:
Brett Gerritse (L, 0-1): 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K (3.93 ERA)
Mariel Checo: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K (8.40 ERA)
Paul Heidler: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K (2.16 ERA)
Wilton Rodriguez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (3.32 ERA)
Julian Arballo: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (2.81 ERA)

...Read more

Mitre Will Likely Miss Thursday's Start

Erik Boland is reporting that will likely miss his next scheduled start on Thursday. His right forearm is no longer wrapped up but the Yanks might want to be a little cautious. He was set to throw a bullpen yesterday but did not.

Instead, Joe Girardi said before last night's game, he played some "light catch." Girardi added, "His start is still in question. We'll have a much better idea [Tuesday], but there's definitely a question mark there."

...

Girardi said he's also being cautious with Mitre (3-1, 5.65) because of the pitcher's recent injury history. "The other thing you have to weigh with Serge is he's coming off Tommy John surgery, too, so you have to be smart about it," Girardi said. "As I said, there's a chance he's not going to make that start."

If he can't go, Chad Gaudin will start in his place.

Yanks Make A Deal

According to Peter Abraham the Yanks have acquired minor-league OF'er Freddy Guzman from Triple-A Norfolk (Baltimore)for a player to be named or cash.

In 95 combined games with Triple-A Tacoma, Pawtucket and Norfolk this season, Guzman batted .218 (72-for-329) with nine doubles, four triples, two home runs, 16 RBI and 38 stolen bases. He appeared in the Majors with the San Diego Padres in 2004 and the Texas Rangers in 2006 and 2007.

Guzman is 28-years-old and is headed to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Game 131: Yankees @ Orioles - Live Chat @ 6:55 PM

***************Live Chat at Bottom of Post***************

Regular Season Game 131

Yankees @ Orioles

Camden Yards - Baltimore, MD
Game Time: 7:05 p.m.
TV: YES | Radio: WCBS

Here are the lineups:

YANKEES (82-48)
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Hideki Matsui DH
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Jerry Hairston Jr. 3B
Melky Cabrera CF

Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (11-6, 4.18 ERA)

ORIOLES (54-77)
Brian Roberts 2B
Cesar Izturis SS
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Nolan Reimold LF
Melvin Mora 3B
Luke Scott DH
Matt Wieters C
Ty Wigginton 1B

Pitching: RHP Jeremy Guthrie (9-12, 5.26 ERA)

Yankees vs. Guthrie

	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
D. Jeter	29	8	0	0	0	1	0	4	.276	.267	.276	.543
J. Damon	25	7	1	1	1	3	3	3	.280	.345	.520	.865
R. Cano	25	4	1	0	1	3	1	7	.160	.192	.320	.512
H. Matsui	23	5	1	0	1	1	1	3	.217	.250	.391	.641
A. Rodriguez	19	4	1	0	1	4	3	3	.211	.400	.421	.821
M. Cabrera	18	8	3	1	1	3	0	2	.444	.444	.889	1.333
E. Hinske	16	3	0	0	2	2	1	2	.188	.235	.563	.798
N. Swisher	14	6	3	0	1	4	3	3	.429	.500	.857	1.357
J. Posada	10	3	0	0	1	2	1	6	.300	.417	.600	1.017
X. Nady	7	3	1	0	1	2	1	1	.429	.556	1.000	1.556
K. Cash	7	1	1	0	0	1	1	2	.143	.250	.286	.536
M. Teixeira	6	1	1	0	0	1	3	2	.167	.500	.333	.833
J. Molina	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250	.250	.250	.500
B. Gardner	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.333	.333	.333	.667
J. Hairston Jr.	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
F. Cervelli	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000
Totals	209	56	13	2	10	27	18	39	.268	.339	.493	.832

Orioles vs. Pettitte

	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
B. Roberts	54	14	3	0	1	3	3	5	.259	.298	.370	.669
M. Mora	35	11	2	0	1	7	10	3	.314	.457	.457	.914
N. Markakis	27	9	2	0	2	4	0	5	.333	.333	.630	.963
T. Wigginton	18	2	2	0	0	1	1	5	.111	.150	.222	.372
A. Jones	12	5	0	1	0	0	0	1	.417	.417	.583	1.000
C. Izturis	8	4	1	0	0	2	0	2	.500	.500	.625	1.125
L. Scott	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	.000	.000	.000	.000
C. Moeller	2	2	1	0	0	1	1	0	1.000	1.000	1.500	2.500
N. Reimold	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000	.333	.000	.333
M. Wieters	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.500	.667	.500	1.167
Totals	166	48	11	1	4	18	17	25	.289	.351	.440	.791

News & Notes

- The Yanks are 31-11 since the All-Star break, 20-7 in August, they've won 44 of their last 60, and at 82-48 they have the best record in all of baseball. They currently lead Boston by 6 games in the AL East.

-In 38 games against the Orioles, Andy Pettitte is 25-6 with a 3.65 ERA. In 22 games at Camden Yards he's 15-4, with a 4.41 ERA. Andy has faced the Orioles once this year, back on 7/20, and in 7.1 innings he allowed a run on six hits, walked two and struck out eight.

In eight starts since the All-Star break, he's 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA.

- In 10 games (9 starts) against the Yankees, Jeremy Guthrie is 3-4 with a 4.66 ERA. In three start this season against them he's 1-2, with a 5.21 ERA.

- At 37-28 the Yankees have the second best road record in the AL, behind only the Angels, who are 38-26.

- Mariano Rivera has converted 36-of-37 save opportunities this season. He's converted 32 straight saves which is the longest such streak in the Majors, and the longest of Mo's hall of fame career.

- Derek Jeter 11 hits shy of Lou Gehrig's all-time Yankee mark. In August Jeter is hitting .381/.403/.576, with 6 HR, and 17 RBI. MVP MVP MVP!

- The Yanks and White Sox have split the first six games against each other this season.

- The Yanks have won 9 of the 12 games against the Orioles this season.

- Brad Penny signed with San Francisco today.

- According to Peter Abraham, "Brett Gardner took 30 swings off a tee and took some soft toss yesterday. He will take BP on the field tomorrow and hopes to join up with Triple-A Scranton by Thursday. 'I feel really good, it’s getting better every day,' he said."

Jennings Takes a Look at Potential Sept. Call-Ups

As you know the rosters expand to 40 tomorrow, and today, Chad Jennings wrote this(hat-tip to River Ave. Blues) about potential September call-ups over on his excellent SWB Yanks blog. He sums up each position and then makes predicitions.

Guys like Shelley Duncan, Mark Melancon, Ramiro Pena, Jonathan Albaladejo, Francisco Cervelli, and Juan Miranda are likely on their way. Many of them will head to the Bronx once the Triple-A playoffs end. But there are many others who could be coming up that are very intriguing.

Jennings predicts that Austin Jackson could get called up after the Triple-A playoffs, and I think I speak for everyone when I say I'm excited to see him play in the majors. Another name he mentioned was Mike Dunn, who he believes could come up at the same time, and I'm very interested to see him pitch at this level. Kevin Russo, who has had a great season, could also be added "only if they find a way to immediately open a 40-man spot for him." He also thinks Anthony Claggett, Josh Towers, and Edwar Ramirez have a chance.

What about you? Who do you think gets added to the roster?

Series Preview: Yankees @ Orioles

Yankees - Orioles
@ Camden Yards
(three games)

After a nice weekend in the Bronx that saw the Yankees sweep three from the White Sox, the Yankees head out on a seven-game road trip starting with three games in Baltimore against the Orioles.

At 54-77 the O's are on their way to another last place finish. While they do have some good young talent - Makakis, Jones, Wieters, Reimold - as a team they really don't do anything well. They're 8th in the AL in runs scored, 11th in home runs, and 9th in team OPS. On the pitching side they rank 13th in the AL in ERA, last in strikeouts, and they've allowed the most runs in the league as a staff.

Now, they will play harder than the White Sox did, but the Yanks should still take at least two of three - I'm hoping for a sweep, especially with the Yankees big three going.

Besides that little bump in the road agaisnt the Rangers the Yankees keep on rolling. They're a season-high 34 games over .500, and at 82-48 have the best record in baseball by 4.5 games. Their lead in the AL East remains at six games because Boston has started to get their act together, and now lead the wild card by 3.5 games. Playing the last seven games against the White Sox and Blue Jays certainly helped Boston's cause.

With the way Boston is playing the Yankees need to continue to play their best baseball. There is no need to make this division race any more interesting that it already is. Boston has an off day today, and will begin a big stretch starting with three games in Tampa. The Rays trail Boston in the WC by 5.5 games.

And if you were wondering the Yankees magic number to clinch the east is at 27.

Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Tonight @ 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
LHP Andy Pettitte (11-6, 4.18) vs. RHP Jeremy Guthrie (9-12, 5.26)

Game 2: Tomorrow @ 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (10-8, 4.10) vs. RHP David Hernandez (4-6, 4.24)

Game 3: Wednesday @ 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
LHP CC Sabathia (15-7, 3.56) vs. RHP Jason Berken (4-11, 6.33)

Players to Watch

YANKEES: Robinson Cano - It's been a very good year for Robbie after last year's struggles, and he seems to be getting better as the season goes on. In August he's hitting .342/.353/.570 with 5 HR and 14 RBI. The big month has raised his season numbers to .315/.345/.513 with 21 HR and 70 RBI.

The Yankees second baseman has owned Orioles pitching this season, beating them up to the tune of .455/.510/.886 with 5 HR, 4 doubles and 13 RBI in 12 games this season. The numbers are just as impressive in Baltimore, where he's hitting .435/.500/.826 with 2 HR, 3 doubles, and 4 RBI. In his career against the O's he's hitting .313/.342/.531 with 13 HR and 48 RBI.

Cano vs. Guthrie: .160/.192/.320 (4-for-25) HR, 3 RBI, 7 K's
Cano vs. Hernandez: 0-for-3
Cano vs. Berken: 2-for-3, RBI

ORIOLES: Adam Jones - Though he has struggled lately, the O's centerfielder is having solid season, hitting .280/.339/.462 with 19 HR and 70 RBI.

In the 12 games against the Yankees this year he's done very well, hitting .396/.423/.708 with 3 HR and 8 RBI. He's always done well against the Yanks, hitting .319/.354/.513 in 32 career games against the Bombers.

Jones vs. Pettitte: .417/.417/.583 (5-for-12)
Jones vs. Burnett: .278/.278/.556 (5-for-18) HR, 4 RBI, 7 K's
Jones vs. Sabathia: 2-for-9, 3 K's

Injury Report

YANKEES:
- Chien-Ming Wang, SP: 15-day DL is done for the year after arthriscopic surgery on his shoulder. He will likely be out for 12 months.
- Xavier Nady, RF: Done for year, season-ending Tommy John surgery. 10-12 months to recover.
- Brett Gardner, CF: 15-day DL with a broken bone in his hand. He's starting swinging the bat last week, but continues to take his rehab slow. He should be back sometime in early September.

ORIOLES:
- Brad Bergesen, SP: 15-day DL with a left leg contusion.
- Rich Hill, SP: 15-day DL with left shoulder inflammation.
- Koji Uehara, SP: 15-day DL with right elbow tendinitis.
- Lou Montanez, LF: 15-day DL after having surgery on his right thumb - out 6-8 weeks.
- Dennis Sarfate, RP: 15-day DL with numbness in his right hand.
- Alfredo Simon, RP: 60-day DL after having right elbow surgery - out for season.