That's the difference in salary between the usual third-baseman and shortstop combo and yesterday's duo. In other words -
The Yankees played a ballgame Saturday without Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter on the left side of their infield, roughly $55 million a year worth of aging Hall of Fame talent. It was one day in June, no sign of the times, but perhaps a glimpse into a not-too-distant future.
Still dealing with the effects of a sore hip, Rodriguez was the designated hitter. Jeter was a late scratch after bruising his right heel while running the bases Friday night.
The sky did not fall, no errors were committed and the Yankees beat Mike Pelfrey and the Mets, 5-3, with Kevin Russo and Ramiro Pena - whose 2010 salaries add up to less than $1 million - manning third base and shortstop.
I am legitimately worried about the future of both players. A-Rod can't seem to stay healthy for a full season anymore, and Jeter is hitting .188 in his last 15 games (12-64). Will the next seven years of A-Rod's contract be burdensome? What will Jeter demand in the offseason if he has a sub-par year? Will he be worth it?
- There's a good shot Phil Hughes will pitch in the All-Star Game (in Anaheim) near his hometown of Santa Ana, California -
He is tied for the American League lead in wins and one of the prime candidates to start next month's All-Star Game at Angel Stadium, a 10-minute drive from his California home.
"I think about it," Hughes said of possibly of earning an All-Star berth for the first time in his career. "I don't bank on anything, but it would be nice."
I don't see him getting the start, but making an appearance would be expected.
- After taking a ball off his foot in Wednesday's game against Philly, A.J. Burnett is set to start Monday's game in Arizona -
"It was a good day today," Burnett said. "I'll be ready to go Monday. Nothing hurt. It felt fine. ... It's night and day better than the last two days... The next morning, I woke up, took my first step and almost fell down. So I'll never laugh at hitters again who foul a ball off their foot. It's not fun."
This is the kind of injury that would have put Carl Pavano on the 60-day DL. For all the knocks Burnett took on his injury history, he's been nothing short of a workhorse so far (knock on wood).