The Force Works In Mysterious Ways...

What Andy said:

"We’re playing well, everybody’s throwing the ball well, and we’ve got guys that are going to step up and do a great job. I’ll be back. Time flies quick. I’ll be back before you know it."

What he meant:

"You can't win, Casey. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine."

BREAKING NEWS: CC To the 15-Day DL (Update: Pettitte Out Too)

(Bummer, dude.  Courtesy of The AP)

The story has been out there for a little over an hour now, but CC Sabathia will be heading to the disabled list for the first time in his Yankee career after suffering a Grade-1 strain of the adductor muscle in his left leg.

Chad Jennings of LoHud has the backstory and the latest details on the situation, but it doesn't sound like anything serious; more precautionary than anything.  CC felt something in his start on Sunday against the Mets and it was still there during his latest bullpen, so with the All Star break coming up the decision was made to 15-day him and let him get back to 100%.  It's the smart play considering CC is the ace of the staff and the Yankees have a cushion in the division right now.

Freddy Garcia will take CC's spot in the rotation while he's out.  Shouldn't be more than 2 starts.  If any additional important details come up, I'll update as needed.

** UPDATE- 1:50PM- Not CC-related, but Andy Pettitte was knocked out of today's game in the 5th inning after taking a line drive off his left shin/ankle.  Limped off the mound, and Freddy Garcia is now in the game as part of the carousel of pitchers trying to replace him.  No news on Andy's condition yet, but this could throw an even bigger wrench into the Yankees' current rotation situation. **

** UPDATE- 2:47PM- Yankees are saying the diagnosis for Andy is a fractured left ankle.  No surgery planned, but he's expected to miss at least 6 weeks.  Suddenly the rotation is looking very thin. **

On Dewayne Wise's Non-Catch And Fan Actions On The Play

Obviously the Dewayne catch drop of the foul ball hit into the stands in the top of the 7th last night was an incredible botch by the umpires, and the latest example of why MLB needed to institute instant replay yesterday.  The video can't be embedded, but you can watch the entire play in real time and multiple replays here.  I can understand missing the call in real time to a certain degree, especially with Wise tumbling into the front row so quickly.  But 3rd base ump Mike DiMuro, shown running towards the play in the replays, was in perfect position to see the ball come out of the glove, still missed it, and then for some reason did not check to make sure Wise had the ball in his glove as he climbed back onto the field, which Wise didn't.  I mean, great effort by Wise on the play, but it wasn't like he even really sold the catch that well.

That is what it is.  What I want to talk about is the fan conduct in that area during the whole ordeal.  Too often we see overzealous fans in those front row seats around the field stupidly interfere with their home team players trying to make a catch so they can get on TV.  This was not the case last night.  Yeah, there were a few fans standing up and raising their hands to make a play, but check the people directly in the area of where Wise was reaching/falling to make the play, particularly the dude in the red shirt:

He's standing back, out of the way, and giving Wise room to make the play without interference.  He was smart enough to recognize the situation, follow the play, and make sure that he didn't get involve to screw up Wise's attempt to make the out.  Good on you, sir.  +1.

Now, on the other side of that coin are the 2 goobers who picked up the ball that Wise dropped:

Game 73 Wrap-Up: NYY 6 CLE 4

(Not a catch.  Courtesy of The AP)

After his awful start in Anaheim at the end of May, Phil Hughes rebounded in his next outing to pitch a 1-run complete game against Detroit.  Hughes got shelled in his start in Atlanta last week and much as he did in Detroit, Hughes rebounded big time against Cleveland last night at The Stadium, pitching 8 shutout innings and leading the Yankees to their 4th straight win.

Game Notes:

- Hughes walked leadoff batter Shin-Soo Choo but quickly retired the next 6 batters he faced in order to get through 2 innings.  He was throwing the curveball for strikes and there was even a changeup or 2 in there.

- The offense gave Hughes an early lead with a 3-run bottom of the 2nd against Justin Masterson.  With 2 outs and Nick Swisher on 1st, the Yanks put together 4 consecutive singles, 2 of which didn't leave the infield.  The big blow was Curtis Granderson's 2-run line drive to left.

- Stuff has never been a problem with Hughes this year.  He's shown to be fully recovered from last season's shoulder ailment, and his K rate this season reflects that.  Interestingly enough, Hughes didn't record his first K until the top of the 4th last night, an inning in which he had 2 and maintained his 3-0 lead.

- The Yanks plated another run in the 5th after a C-Grand leadoff walk, Robinson Cano single, and Mark Teixeira sac fly.  It wasn't a hit with RISP, but it was a manufactured run and didn't come on a HR, so suck it, haters.

- How about a hand for Dewayne Wise, master of the hidden ball trick?!  Replay showed that Wise' near-incredible catch into the stands in the top of the 7th wasn't even close to being caught, but Wise fooled the umpire.  Give him credit and give the ump scorn.

- Alex Rodriguez got things back to normal offensively with a solo shot in the bottom of the 7th to make it 5-0, just in case anybody was worried that the Yanks weren't going to hit enough HRs.

- Hughes was already over 100 pitches after 7, but Joe sent him back out for the 8th and Hughes had arguably his best inning of the night, retiring the side in order on 10 pitches.

- Chris Stewart plate a 6th run with a sac fly in the 8th and it turned out to be a damn good thing he did because Cory Wade almost gave the game back with a 4-run 9th.  His fastball command was not there and it was up to Rafael Soriano to get the 2-pitch save.