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.