AL East

Some of the Yankees executives were upset with the Mariners for backing out of the Cliff Lee trade that would have sent Jesus Montero to Seattle, but it’s starting to look like maybe they should be thanking them instead. Montero is on fire!

Here are his numbers for July:

15 G, 50 AB, 14 R, 21 H, 4 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 13 BB, 7 SO, .420 BA, .531 OBP, .740 SLG, 1.271 OPS.

The New York Yankees were elated to get the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim out of the Bronx as fast as possible, after beating them 10-6 Wednesday afternoon.

The Angels got a taste of their own medicine after dominating the Yankees the night before.

The Yankees won an exciting one today. The final score was 10-6, but the Yankees had a 6-0 lead at one point. The Angels came back to make it 6-5, then the Yanks jumped ahead to 10-5, and by that point, there wasn’t enough time for another comeback.

Here are some notes:

The Yankees have had scouts watching the Marlins lately as the two teams have discussed a couple of players, but OF Cody Ross is one name that keeps coming up in the papers.

Phil Hughes got rocked, Jonathan Albaladejo got called up and gave up an earned run, and the Yankees lost 10-2 in the first game of a two game series against the Angels last night.

Here are some notes:

Hughes has now allowed at least five ER in three of his last four starts. Every home run he’s allowed this year has been at Yankee Stadium.

Either tonight, tomorrow, or at some point in the near future, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is going to swing his familiar swing the way he has 599 times before and become the seventh player ever to hit 600 major league home runs.

When he does so, he will join an exclusive club comprised of Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., and Sammy Sosa.

Despite winning two-out-of-three from the second place Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend, the New York Yankees had their wins come at a price.

On Saturday, starting pitcher AJ Burnett was pulled after two innings because he suffered lacerations on both of his palms after he slammed a set of double doors in frustration after giving up a HR to Reid Brignac. Burnett originally said he “fell,” but the truth came out later.

The whole thing sounds like a bad Lifetime movie.

That Joba bravado has been replaced by inconsistent relief pitching.

It’s clear the New York Yankees' constant juggling of roles, responsibilities, and pitch counts have messed with Joba Chamberlain’s head.

Today’s Joba isn’t the same Joba who, at the age of 21, made his MLB debut in 2007 throwing fire out of the Yankee bullpen. Joba set the American League on its ear that year with a 2-0 record and a 0.38 ERA in 19 appearances. If not for a swarm of midges in Cleveland, he would have been a playoff hero as well.

The Yankees' starting rotation has been one of their strengths, but lately we’ve seen AJ Burnett leave a game early because of a self inflicted wound and Andy Pettitte limping off the mound. Now, there are real questions to be answered.

Here are some notes:

Change is in the air here in Toronto.  It seems that most of the city's sports teams are in the midst of an overhaul.  The Raptors are transitioning into the new era without Chris Bosh.  Brian Burke continues his push with the Maple Leafs in hopes that they can make the playoffs, acquiring Kris Versteeg and Colby Armstrong this offseason. 

Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos also continues to put his impressive stamp on the Toronto Blue Jays.