Big League Stew - MLB

Most weekday evenings, Big League Stew looks at five approaching games worth monitoring. As they occur, feel free to discuss the night's happenings with other Stewies in the comment section below.

Phillies at Yankees, 7:05 ET It's a new Stadium, but thanks to the first round of interleague action, bleeping Phillies slugger Chase Utley(notes) (right, in the Bono costume) returns to the borough (though not necessarily the fan base) that booed him during the Home Run Derby a season ago.

As we all know, the homer derby has continued across the street, with the new park setting long-ball records seemingly every day, and that has Utley pumped to check out the new jet stream across the street. He already has 11 homers this season and could give Yankees fans a few reasons to boo him.

"It's a new, expensive ballpark," Utley said. "It's a great place to hit, so I'm excited to get started there."

Clarification: It's a bleeping expensive ballpark that also is a bleeping great place to hit.

The Yankees have won nine in a row and the Phillies are hot, too, having gone 6-1 on their current road trip. It's up to Brett Myers(notes) and A.J. Burnett(notes) — who is looking for his first home win — to keep the respective home run leaders from each league in the park. Best of luck, right-handers!

Mets at Red Sox, 7:10 ET They're very forgiving at Fenway, and Shea is gone forever, so there's no more hope of Mookie Wilson ever hitting the ceremonial first grounder through Bill Buckner's legs when these teams meet. We'll just have to settle for new drama, and there's plenty with Daisuke Matsuzaka(notes) making his first start in five weeks and the Mets liable to make very frequent and very funny mistakes. Johan Santana(notes), while he's pitching great this season as usual, has never taken to the Fens; he's 1-3 with a 6.89 ERA there.

Angels at Dodgers, 10:10 ET The Battle of Los Angeles! Hopefully they play Rage's "Guerilla Radio" during batting practice. They ought to. The revolution will be televised, by the way, and it will be called by Vin Scully. The Dodgers are 20-43 in interleague play since 2005 — worst record in MLB — but have a chance to improve that by one victory with the Koufaxish Clayton Kershaw(notes) on the bump.

D-backs at Athletics, 10:05 ET Some interleague match-ups are fun, some are "meh" and some have absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. This, probably, is one of the latter. Who cares what happens when these teams meet? Neither is very good. It's hard to care when either plays a division opponent. The only hope for interest here is a chance photo-op meeting of rookie Clay Zavada(notes), who sports a handlebar mustache, and A's legend Rollie Fingers, who rocked the mother of all handlebars back in the day. You know it won't happen. But what if it did ?

Giants at Mariners, 10:10 ET Randy Johnson(notes) heads back to Seattle, the place of his Sonic Youth, for a shot at career win No.. ... OH, 299??? So close to awesome.

Do you want to learn more? Yahoo! Sports' own Gordon Edes explores how this round of interleague play is almost, but not quite, really cool.

Remember: Hey, Stewies. 'Duk and I and the whole gang down at the office want to wish all of you a very serene Memorial Day. Celebrate reverently and sensibly, and we'll most likely meet back here Tuesday morning with the Juice — unless something epic happens, and we'll break in with a post. And you know we will, seeing as I just jinxed it.

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19 Comments

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  1. Michael
    1. Posted by Michael Fri May 22, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    "Respective home run leaders of each league"? Since when does Carlos Pena play for the Yanks?
  2. King Joseus
    2. Posted by King Joseus Fri May 22, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    The teams are the leaders in HRs...
  3. This is Dave, Hello There!
    3. Posted by This is Dave, Hello There! Fri May 22, 2009 4:27 pm EDT

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    What King Joseus said.
  4. Michael
    4. Posted by Michael Fri May 22, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    Yup King just figured that out.
  5. svtowner96
    5. Posted by svtowner96 Fri May 22, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    Go Raul!!!! 15 shots as of today. GO PHILLIES!! Beat the Spankees...
  6. rs_board_monster
    6. Posted by rs_board_monster Fri May 22, 2009 8:51 pm EDT

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    hey bud? this Interleague experiment really sucks .....
  7. eagle
    7. Posted by eagle Fri May 22, 2009 8:54 pm EDT

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    Another homerun by the roid king--------there is something going on with the yankees bats commissioner!
  8. Anrkist
    8. Posted by Anrkist Fri May 22, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    Steinbrenner: We got the best batters in the world! So here's what we going to do... build the best home run park in the world! What could fail?!?!
  9. Breeze Bruin
    9. Posted by Breeze Bruin Fri May 22, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

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    Game one to the Phillies. Myers pitched his best game of the year and our lineup continues to pummel the ball. Go Phillies!!!
  10. Brian
    10. Posted by Brian Sat May 23, 2009 12:42 pm EDT

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    Yankees will take the next two games
  11. YS
    11. Posted by YS Sat May 23, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

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    Phillies all the way.....m0r0ns!!!
  12. zubee
    12. Posted by zubee Sat May 23, 2009 4:18 pm EDT

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    It is a shame the All Star game is not at Yankee Stadium this year. The way homers are flying out of there, who knows how many could be hit in the Home Run Challenge. Would have really been a show.
  13. habs1rule
    13. Posted by habs1rule Sat May 23, 2009 6:57 pm EDT

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    Hey guys, Nathan blows a three run lead to the Yankees this week, now today, Lidge blows a two run lead in the Ninth to them..Question, How much Luxury Tax money exchanges hands when the Yankees need a win...Speaking of which, when a team like them hands out Millions of dollars to Buy a Winner, shouldnt they expect something? Integrity of the game, fellas.
  14. BrnxBmbr
    14. Posted by BrnxBmbr Sat May 23, 2009 11:59 pm EDT

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    Wow... you're really trying your hardest to come up with something post #12... next time try making a comment that doesn't make you sound like a complete moron. Oh and speaking about morons post #10... phillies all the way till the 9th. It's amazing... the yankees win and its let's find any way possible to blame their payroll. Yankees lose and its "see all that money doesn't win games." Which one is it? The yankees have earned the right, first of all, to have the type of payroll they choose. Second, it's all fair... they're not breaking any rules. So get over it already. Quit crying. The term Yankee Hater clearly is defined as... I just enjoy whining and crying because the team I like sucks, so I'm going to be jealous about the team I wish my team was like.
  15. eagle
    15. Posted by eagle Sun May 24, 2009 12:15 am EDT

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    The yankees are still takeing HGH.
    When is the commissioner going to wake up!
  16. Brian
    16. Posted by Brian Sun May 24, 2009 12:45 pm EDT

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    yeah eagle because there aren't drug tests anymore or anything
    stfu
  17. Antonio
    17. Posted by Antonio Sun May 24, 2009 8:34 pm EDT

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    I said it before and i'll say it again - yankees will not make the post season!! theres too much pressure , all that money and no playoffs!! everyone will get fired or traded and most of the front office will commit suicide!! go fightin phils!!!
  18. Brian
    18. Posted by Brian Sun May 24, 2009 11:52 pm EDT

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    hey Antonio the Yankees have actually cut payroll from last year and you didn't see anybody commit suicide after last years let down
    and if the Yanks don't win the division they will win the wild card
    who else is going to?
    plus after going 8-2 on that home stand(almost 9-1) and A-Rod only getting healthier and Posada, Nady, Bruney, and Molina coming back eventually the Yankees will be primed to make a post season run
  19. mickey m
    19. Posted by mickey m Mon May 25, 2009 6:38 pm EDT

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    isnt it a shame that our country is so screwed up that we have to praise cheaters ( a-rod, clemons etc ) and liars (obama, bush)! its no wonder we are in the shape we are in!

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Big League Stew is an MLB blog edited by Kevin Kaduk. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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