Yankees GM Brian Cashman swiped the concept right out of mentor Stick Michael's playbook. One of Cashman's mantras is to fill up the end of his roster with superstars on the way down.

The theory goes that even though a star is in decline, they have further to fall than a guy who was never that good to begin with. So as the Yankees head toward the stretch run, they have an array of players who have been the center of attention in other clubhouses, but are spare parts in the Bronx.

Wherever you look in the Yankees clubhouse there are guys who fit this description. You almost can't look right or left without seeing an Ichiro Suzuki or an Eric Chavez or a Derek Lowe or a Raul Ibanez or an Andruw Jones. Guys who once were the ones who had to answer all the questions and now just fit in as regular Joes.

I think it is a relaxing atmosphere for these players. They come to the Yankees, put on the pinstripes and can watch as most of the attention falls on Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and CC Sabathia. This makes life easier. As the Yankees go into the stretch run and finish off in October, this experience could prove very important.

UP NOW: My column on Hiroki Kuroda and Nick Swisher and their playoff importance. All the blog news from Matt Ehalt.

ON DECK: A What2Watch is expected to hit the world wide web at some point today. Time is to be determined. The starters for Game 3 of this four-gamer are Scott Feldman (6-7, 4.64) and Freddy Garcia (6-5, 4.85).

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Which one of the superstar retreads do you think will have a special October moment?