It appears the Yankees have taken a tough-love approach in regards to Ian Kennedy after he was demoted to Tampa upon being activated from the DL.

You didn't know Kennedy was activated from the DL? 

Neither did anyone else.  Girardi's comments regarding Kennedy today just about says it all:

"Right now we’re not really thinking of him," he said. "We like the way our other (starters) are throwing the ball. I mean, you have to earn your call-up. … You have to earn your spot back. You have to pitch well to earn your spot back. He has to pitch well. He was optioned out, this is him getting right. This is like the other 175 players in the minor leagues, or however many there are."

Now I'm still a believer in Kennedy because I think the kid does have the talent to get major league hitters out.  But it sounds like the plan is to leave him in Scranton for awhile until he gets his mojo back and that's probably a wise decision.

In other news, The Times and Democrat reports that speedy outfielder Brett Gardner has been promoted to the Bronx:

Just talk to Brett Gardner. Because, Sunday afternoon, Gardner’s big-league dream came true when Scranton/Wilkes-Barre manager Dave Miley called him into his office and informed him that he had been called up to the team’s parent club, the New York Yankees.

"It really hasn’t set in yet," Gardner said as his team traveled back from it’s game against Buffalo. "Absolutely, it’s a dream come true. Growing up as a little kid, you get older, and you realize how far away it is. It really hasn’t set in yet, but I think (Monday) when I get there it will definitely happen."

Due to Melky Cabrera's struggles and overall ineptness at the plate, I've been a big advocate for Gardner's promotion for the last couple of months. 

But with Hideki Matsui sidelined for at least the next couple of weeks with a bum knee, it appears Gardner is going to be playing some left field and giving Johnny Damon some time off his legs and into the DH role.

No word yet on the corresponding roster move, but there's a pretty good chance that Justin Christian will be headed back to Scranton.

Pete Abe reports that Ian Kennedy will be sent back to New York for an MRI and will be placed on the 15-day DL with the strained lat muscle he suffered in the middle of an unbelievably wet and sloppy night for the Yankees.

I would expect Chris Britton to get another call-up tonight from the "Scranton Shuttle Bus Crew" as Kennedy is officially placed on the DL and I wouldn't be at all surprised if "Dead Man Walking" Morgan Ensberg finally gets the proverbial boot in favor of Jason Lane. 

This move is certainly coming as evidenced by Ensberg's lack of plate appearances against left handers in recent days in addition to Lane's increase in reps at First Base at Scranton in recent days.

In other news, with Joba Chamberlain scheduled to throw 50-55 pitches in relief on Wednesday, speculation is that he could make his first major league start next week in Kennedy's now vacated slot in the rotation.

Now I understand that it might be difficult to stretch his pitch count past 60 pitches in a relief role, but I think this transition to the rotation is happening way too fast.  Tomorrow's outing will be just his third relief appearance in a span of 8 days and has not thrown more than 40 pitches in any outing as of this writing.

I'm aware that the Yankee hierarchy has more experience stretching out pitchers' arms than I do, but I have to question their sanity with speeding up this very delicate process with the Golden Boy of the organization after Girardi hinted on May 21 that this transition could take as long as 3-4 weeks.

As every PA regular knows, I'm 100% behind the Joba to the rotation plan.  But I also want to see this kid physically ready to make that switch because he's no use to this organization sitting on the DL with his Trinity Brothers - Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes.

Here's hoping that Joba makes a smooth transition and my present concerns prove to be an overreaction.

Tyler Kepner reports that the Yanks have confirmed that a makeup game will NOT be played this weekend or the off-day on Monday.

Sounds like the plan is to have a two stadium day-night double header when these teams clash again next month (June 27 - 29).

The best news to come out of this is that the Yankee offense will be without A-Rod for two more games instead of three.  He is slated to return on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Pete Abe notes the Yanks have now reshuffled the rotation as a result of the rainout:

Saturday:  Johan Santana vs. Andy Pettitte

Sunday:  Oliver Perez vs. Chien-Ming Wang

Monday:  OFF

Tuesday:  Mike Mussina (vs. Orioles)

Wednesday:  Darrell Rasner  (vs. Orioles)

Thursday:  Ian Kennedy  (vs. Orioles)