Game #33 - Seattle Mariners @ New York Yankees

SEATTLE MARINERS

Ichiro Suzuki,  CF
Jose Lopez,  2B
Raul Ibanez,  LF
Adrian Beltre,  3B
Jose Vidro,  1B
Yunieksy Betancourt,  SS
Jeff Clement,  DH
Kenji Johjima,  C
Wladimir Balentien, RF

NEW YORK YANKEES

Johnny Damon,  LF
Derek Jeter,  SS
Bobby Abreu,  RF
Hideki Matsui,  DH
Jason Giambi,  1B
Melky Cabrera,  CF
Robinson Cano,  2B
Morgan Ensberg,  3B
Chad Moeller,  C

Darrell Rasner,  RHP  (0-0,  --  )

PREGAME NOTES:

• Pete Abe reports that Ian Kennedy has been sent down to Scranton to make room for Darrell Rasner on the active roster.  Kennedy will start for Scranton on Tuesday.
  
• Brian Bruney has been moved from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL to clear space on the 40-man roster.
• Sadly, it appears Kei Igawa is the leading candidate to start Friday or Saturday against the Tigers in place of Kennedy.  Mike Mussina is likely to get an extra day off this week.
• Memo to Joe Girardi:  Leave Johnny Damon in the starting lineup until he cools off.  Over his last 12 games, Damon is hitting a robust .413 (19 for 46)/.491 OBP/.783 SLG with 3 HR, 8 doubles, 7 RBI, 14 runs scored and has raised his average from .197 to .290.  I understand why Girardi likes to give players a rest on occasion but it seems to be a little counterproductive to sit your hottest hitter when the team has been struggling to score runs.  You can apply the same logic to Matsui and Cabrera since they are among the few who have hit consistently since the beginning of the season.
  
• Matt Garza is a lifetime 0-1, 6.75 ERA, 1.95 WHIP in 2 games (one start) against the Yanks.
  
• Darrell Rasner is a lifetime 1-1, 2.53 ERA, 1.41 WHIP in 2 starts against the Mariners.
  
• Yanks career numbers vs. Silva can be viewed here.  Mariners career numbers vs. Rasner can be viewed here.