He’s a lefty. He’s a veteran. The Yankees needed a starter. You can never have enough pitchers. He’ll do in a pinch. My hope is that he’ll fill in capably until the Yanks pull off a trade for Sonny Gray with Oakland. I’d hate to lose one of our favorite Baby Bombers, but if Gray does land in the Bronx, maybe we’ll only lose a prospect we haven’t grown to love yet.

Meanwhile, how about that series against Tampa?! Audrey said she wished the Yanks would win 3 of 4, and she got her wish. Yesterday’s game could have/should have been a win too, resulting in a 4-game sweep. With a last ditch chance in the bottom of the ninth, the boys couldn’t pull it off, but it was still a great series putting us right back into first place over the Red Sox. Yay.

What was great about the series was how resilient this team continues to be. Although we got some good starting pitching, others faltered, putting the hitters in a hole. And yet they always bounced back – a hallmark of the 2017 version of the Yankees. Which makes them so much fun to watch: you never count them out.

I do worry about Judge. No, not because he chipped a tooth after Gardner’s walk-off (Gardner was tremendous during the series – kudos to him). But – and I know I’m in the minority – he’s been in a slump since the Home Run Derby. Whether there’s a link or his sinking batting average is the result of the normal ebb and flow of a season, he got off to a torrid start and lately he’s been struggling (or “scuffling,” as Girardi calls it). He’s big and strong, but he’s still young and has never played at the major league level with such intensity. Perhaps he’s just genuinely tired.

The two Fraziers have been real contributors, and Headley has had a resurgence both at the plate and as a first baseman. And Chapman is Chapman again – a huge relief.

Next up is Detroit and then it’ll be off to Cleveland mid-week for a big series against a top contender. Can it really be August tomorrow?