YES Network.com

Jon Lane has the lineups and here are the items of interest on another 90-degree day at Yankee Stadium.

With 30 games remaining the Yankees enter September just one game up after snapping their eight-day standoff with Tampa Bay for the AL East.

Despite a number of issues such as spotty starting pitching and injuries, the Yankees won 16 of 29 games and clinched their 16th consecutive winning season in a non-strike year (1994, 1995 excluded).

• A.J. Burnett also pitched on Sept 1 last year in Baltimore and did not pitch well, allowing six runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.  Just like this year, Burnett did not a win game in August as he was 0-4 with a 6.03 ERA.  He finished up 3-1 and whether he does that this time remains to be seen.

• Naturally it was one of several topics addressed by manager Joe Girardi, who said that he does not necessarily panic when Burnett gets off to a slow start. That being said, Burnett has an ERA of 6.07 in the first three innings, which is similar to the 6.02 he had in the first three innings last year.

• "Let's not forget that AJ has won some big ballgames for us and we need AJ to pitch well for us and we're going to do everything we can to get him on track and on a roll," Girardi said

• Girardi's thoughts on Burnett are important but the most important thing related to pitching occurred in the Yankee bullpen when Andy Pettitte threw his bullpen as he tries to return from the groin injury that has sidelined him since July 18. 

• Pettitte reported that he felt good, but towards the end of his media session he added that "every conversation ends with let's see how you feel tomorrow" but there was no doubt Pettitte was feeling more upbeat about things.

• "I feel good.  I had a good day. I threw 30 pitches like in my warmup and then sat down for five or six minutes and then threw like a good hard simulated inning.   I felt good and I had no discomfort at all.

• "You try to focus on your release point instead of focusing on your leg.  I'm a long way from getting to where I need (to be) but it's a good start."

• The next step will likely be facing some live hitters followed by a rehab appearance in the minor leagues. Then there is a possiblity Pettite could get a start where he is limited to approximately 65 pitches.

   

• The questions about Burnett and details on Pettitte were not the only news.  Before anyone could turn on their tape recorder or put a pen to their notepad, Girardi announced that Javier Vazquez will start Saturday against Toronto. 

• Citing what he saw in terms of late life on the fastball that created a feeling that the ball was exploding as it approached the plate, Girardi felt now was a good time to see if those two bullpen appearances will appear in starting assignments.

• "We liked the way Javy’s been throwing the baseball and we made some minor adjustments to him and it seemed to really help him," Girardi said.

• Two years ago on Sept 1, the Yankees won a Labor Day contest in Detroit with a wild 13-9 decision.  That marked the major league debut of Phil Coke, who was a September callup.  So far this year's callups are right-hander Jonathan Albaladejo, catcher Chad Moeller and outfielder Greg Golson.

• Of that trio, Albaladejo has had the most noteworthy season in the minors.  This year was initial foray into full-time closing and he did quite well.  Before this year, Albaladejo saved 11 games last year and seven over his first seven professional seasons.  He is back after a 43-save season that included the following numbers: 1.42 ERA, 63 1/3 IP, 38 H, 10 ER, 3 HR, 82Ks, 18 BB.

• Albaladejo was here briefly in late July and when he returned to Scranton, he began throwing his curve a little more.

• "For some reason, I've got a feel for it," he said.  "I would start feeling a bit better with it and I would start working off of it more than I was before.  I feel good and it makes my fastball a little harder.

• Basically the difference in speeds makes the fastball appear to have more life on it.

• As for the rest of the injuries, Alex Rodriguez took some swings during batting practice and said the following: "It feels pretty good. I had a good session. I've had no setbacks."

• Brett Gardner had the day off but at around 3:30, he was working on his bunting with third base coach Rob Thomson.   Gardner has six bunt hits for his career and Cliff Corcoran of the Pinstriped Bible has some reaction about the topic.