Wallace Matthews

  (11:57 AM)

Welcome to the weekly chat from Hotlanta. Weather looks OK for tonight;s game, a little hazy but as always, hot and humid. We'll get started in a couple of minutes

Alex (Anaheim)

The Yankees look very resilient lately. Do you consider them favorites to win the division at this point?

Wallace Matthews

  (12:01 PM)

I've thought they would win the division all along, picked them to win it in spring training, and the way they;ve been able to find guys to fill the holes left by injuries, I see no reason to change my pick

Person who will see the Yankees in person this weekend (Washingt

How would you rate Joe Giraldi's handling of the bullpen? And, how soon does Cashman make a trade for an outfielder that spell Granderson as well as the Ibanez? Thinking a Denard Span type?

Wallace Matthews

  (12:03 PM)

I think bullpen handling is one of Girardi's strengths as a manager, although sometimes the mixing and matching can get maddening. Thankfully, with all the injuries he hasn;t been able to do as much. As for the OF situation, it all depends on what the news is on Gardner tomorrow because you;re absolutely right, Granderson does need a backup and at some point he will need a day off

Chris (Chicago)

If the Yankees make a move at the trade deadline, do you see it being for a bat or a starting pitcher? It sounds like they're hoping for internal fortification for the 'pen with Aardsma and maybe Joba back to help later in the season. Thanks

Wallace Matthews

  (12:05 PM)

honestly, I don;t think they will make a major move at the deadline the way things stand now, unless they feel they need an outfielder in the event Gardner will be out longer than they expected. they don;t really need an SP at this point. Maybe a middle reliever?

Eric (Boston)

Do you get the sense the Yankees are looking for outfield help? I know Cashman has said no recently but he's pretty sneaky about these things.

Wallace Matthews

  (12:05 PM)

possibly, becuase the Gardner situation is so unsettled and they have no real backup centerfielder

Zach (Cleveland)

Why are you such a hater on CC, is it because he is balck

Wallace Matthews

  (12:07 PM)

I'm posting this for one reason: so the rest of the chat participants can see what a truly stupid question looks like. Thank you

Chuck (Bronx)

Hey, yo man yo do great job I just wanna know when is Nunez comin back, I think hee is a great player and we need his bat?

Wallace Matthews

  (12:08 PM)

Seriously? Nunie does have a good bat but his mental errors and poor glove make it unlikely you would see him before September callup time. That is, if he recovers from the thumb injury that has had him on the DL for a couple of weeks now

Marcus (Summerville, SC)

Why do 90 % of your pieces you write for ESPNNY.COM and covering the NY YANKEES have a negative SPIN. We are ROLLING right now and especially since 1996 is WIN BIG and the last two days especially NEGATIVE SPIN pieces written by you. Why do you and everybody at ESPN hate the Yankees so much because we WIN ALL THE TIME?

Wallace Matthews

  (12:08 PM)

why are you yeling at me, Marcus? That's not nice

robbie g-Ocean City ,Md [via mobile]

With the latest Gardnewr set back which could be potentially be season ending, do u see Cash making a move for a starting LFer that can field and hit? Maybe Melky was the wrong one to trade, I know hindsight is 20/20 but it would be nice to have him around

Wallace Matthews

  (12:14 PM)

I think an OF who can back up at CF would be a better move since the Yankees don;t really have one otrher than Wise, but really, we don;t know how serious Gardner's injury is. we'll know better tomorrow or friday after his exam by Kremchek in Cincinnnati. and yeah, it would be nice to have Melky back now, although I seem to recall a lot of people thought he was a bad influence on Cano a couple of years ago. Hindsight is always wonderful. I practice it myself quite often

Ryan (NY)

Vanilla Ice is chatting on ESPN at 12:45. Did you ever think that you'd be the opening act for Vanilla Ice?

Wallace Matthews

  (12:15 PM)

he's actually the walkout act for me

Mike (Long Island)

Auto Update on?

Wallace Matthews

  (12:15 PM)

not sure what that means

ngord24 (NY)

Why can't you spell?

wallace matthews

  (12:15 PM)

i can spell, i just cant tipe

Mike (NYC)

considering how the yanks have played (hold our breathe its the NL) would you consider us the Best team in baseball? I certainly would.

wallace matthews

  (12:16 PM)

i think you answered your own question but they certainly are among the top four

Billy (NY)

Do all Yankee fans have an inferiority complex? Why do you hate him, how dare you write anything negative about the Yankees, all we do is win, etc, etc. Grow up, Bomber Fans. You sound like a bunch of spoiled teenage girls

wallace matthews

  (12:18 PM)

hear, hear. a lot of sensitivity in a fan base that has had more success than any other in history. but fans of all teams never seem to understand that criticism of performance is not personal criticism. I get along well with everyone in the Yankees clubhouse, but if someone isn;t playing well, I'm going to write it. That's my obligation to my readers and my employers. Thanks

Travis (Maine)

Two days ago Joba Chamberlain tweeted that he would be throwing a bullpen session. The last I heard he was throwing off a half mound. Another fan then brought to my attention that he was running wind sprints now too (which I confirmed via some news outlets). Why isn't any of this being reported, and what do you know about it? Does this change Joba's date of return?

wallace matthews

  (12:19 PM)

believe me, there's no news embargo concerning Joba's rehab schedule. It's just that in the day-to-day coverage of the team attention naturally gets focused on th eguys who are here now. I promise you I will ask Girardi about Joba today, although the last time I did, he seemed not to know all that much

Pat (Springfield, MA)

Do you think Robertson ever gets a serious shot at closing for the Yankees? Doesn?t look like it?ll be this season, and Mo (hopefully) and Soriano (probably) will be back in 2013 so... wait til 2014? No telling how good he might be if he never gets a real chance to try and his stats should have earned him more than a 2-game tryout. OTOH, I can?t think of anybody I?d rather have as setup man and am probably not alone in that regard.

wallace matthews

  (12:21 PM)

it's a tough question because Sori has performed so well as the closer and Robertson so well in the 8th inning it seems foolish to mess with it. My gut says Robby doesn;t get to close again until 2014, after both Mo and Sori are presumably gone

TJ (Bronx)

A few idiots don't speak for our whole fan base. There are a lot of us who appreciate your reporting and enjoy your articles

wallace matthews

  (12:21 PM)

I know that and I appreciate the ones who do. Thank you

Bryan (NYC)

gut feeling: does arod break the all-time HR record?

wallace matthews

  (12:22 PM)

Gut feeling: no. He needs 118 more, IIRC correctly, which means he'll have to average about 20 a year for the next six years and I'm not sure he will be physically up to that. But he'll get close

nando (missouri)

Do you think pitchers like Mitchell and Warren or even Nuniez would be use as trade baits this year? and for who?

wallace matthews

  (12:25 PM)

I think it's possible, although the young pitchers are being counted on to provide low-cost pitching when and if Hal goes through with his pledge to cut payroll to 189M. As for who they would get? It depends on what they need around the deadline. if Gardner is going to be out all season, obv they;ll go after an outfielder

nando (missouri)

do you think Joba would ever get a chance to the starting rotation?

wallace matthews

  (12:25 PM)

nah. I think that experiment is over

Kurt (NOLA)

How glad do you think the yankees are that they picked Ibanez over Matsui (who the yanks didnt trust 3 yrs ago to play OF) or Damon.

wallace matthews

  (12:26 PM)

i think Ibanez has been an excellent pickup for them on and off the field. Good in the clubhouse. So i would say the answer is self-evident

Mike (NJ)

Wallace, I don't think you're racist nor do I think you hate the Yankees. I also understand sports blogging is a competitive enterprise and you have to come up with subjects every few hours which isn't easy, and fans DO respond (as you well know) to negativity. But your "worry" post du jour is transparent. You should reconsider so obviously prostituting yourself in the name of page views this way.

wallace matthews

  (12:27 PM)

thank you. those posts are designed to stimulate conversation, not to make you worry over anyone. When I ask, is it time to start worrying about CC, for example, it;s a yes or no question. Not an order to go stand on a ledge somewhere.

Mike (Long Island)

The next Yankees' everyday 3B is (A) in their minor league system, (B) in someone else's minor league system, (C) an imminent free agent.

wallace matthews

  (12:27 PM)

all of the above

Jon (Bronx)

With Either signing his contract and seeing the #'s.......are you afraid of what Cano asking price will be? I know they play different positions but Cano is better than Either and Either just recieved a HEFTY extension? Should the Yankees sign him before the asking price gets any higher?

wallace matthews

  (12:29 PM)

I'm not afaid because thankfully, it ain;t my money. But Cano will rightfully command a big contract and I would be shocked if the Yankees let him go. And the scenario you suggest -- sign him now before it;s too late -- is precisely the pitch Scott Boras has been using on them for two years. I think they;ll wait it out and get him for one more year at a relatively reasonable price

Sean (Baltimore)

Not that it makes any difference for this season, but have you heard anything regarding Michael Pineda's progress following arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder in May?

wallace matthews

  (12:30 PM)

Asked Girardi last week and he didn;t seem all that up-to-date on it. I don;t think he's starting throwing yet but I'll try to remember to ask today

Ryan (NY)

Soriano has to keep the closer role when Robertson comes back, right?

wallace matthews

  (12:30 PM)

right

wallace matthews

  (12:31 PM)

Thanks, guys, gotta go. we'll do it again next week. peace