Odds n' Ends

Just a quick update on other games scheduled for tonight...

RHP Steve Trachsel (5-7, 5.26 ERA) and the Orioles are out to make it two in a row against Julian Tavarez and the Red Sox in Fenway. No offense to them, but I'm struggling to think of a match-up between two pitchers I like to watch less than these two. I suppose that's what we get after Bedard vs. Beckett.

LHP John Lannan (0-0, 8.31 ERA) is fresh off his ejection in his major league debut against the Phillies. He'll take on the overwhelmingly so-so Bronson Arroyo and the Reds tonight at RFK. To Lannan's credit, at least it took him until the 5th inning to get tossed in his last start. Ozzie Guillen couldn't even make it through one inning in the Yankees-White Sox game yesterday.

LHP Oliver Perez (9-7, 2.84 ERA) is coming off a loss to the Pirates which included a homerun from former Yankee great Josh Phelps. Perez and the Mets will take on Claudio Vargas and the Brewers.

And yet another lefty, as LHP David Wells (5-7, 5.02 ERA) attempts to bounce back from a terrible, three inning outing against Houston. He'll face Micah Owings and the Diamondbacks in Petco tonight.

Down on the Farm: My, how things have changed. Kei Igawa will make the start for Scranton tonight in Ottawa against the Lynx, AAA-affiliate of the Philadelphia Philies. Matt Childers is set to make the start for the Lynx. Some more news out of S/WB: the team has announced that Jason Giambi will continue his minor league rehab on August 3rd with a start at Scranton. S/WB will be at home against Buffalo ths Friday for a doubleheader. I'm not sure at this point whether Giambi will play both games, but how he fares on Friday will be a big indication of how long it will be until he's ready to rejoin the Yankees. Then, let the roster reshuffling begin. That DH/1st base/outfield/bench situation is going to get ugly in a hurry. Better to have too many options instead of too few, I suppose.

Wait, isn't that what they said before the postseason last year? I'm still trying to scrub the memories of Gary Sheffield at first base from my brain...