While Hideki Matsui is hitting three run bombs in Fenway Park tonight, Nick Johnson is on the DL…as he has been for most of the year.

Now, newly aquired Lance Berkam is on the DL too. Berkam was hitting .179  with 4 RBI in 39 at bats. To be honest, his being on the DL isn’t such a bad thing since Girardi seemed to feel he HAD to play him. 

It’s a curious thing…Berkman goes on DL, offense comes to life vs. Tigers.

I’d much rather see Kearns (.333 in 27 at bats with a home run) and Thames in a platoon situation. Also, it seems that Kearns is capable of delivering off the bench as a pinch hitter – a task where very few players find success.

Taking 3 of 4 from the Tigers was very important. The schedule isn’t doing the Yanks OR Tampa any favors. Yes, they face a bad team in Seattle next – but Tampa faces Oakland. While the Yankees battle Toronto, Tampa faces the Angels. The Angels are a .500 team, but they’re not giving up and Scioscia will be sure to have them playing to win against the AL East powerhouse teams.

One would have never thought you’d need to worry about playing Baltimore down the stretch. Both the Yanks and Rays play them 6 times each – and you can bet Buck Showalter has those games circled on his calendar.

The stretch run is going to be a nail-biter…