Chien-Ming Again Shows He's A True #1, Yanks Beat M's 5-1

I am so glad the game ended when it did. I can't stay awake much longer. I started nodding off in between pitches during the bottom of the 8th and figured I needed to get up and make it to the PC in order to make it through the 9th. I did 20 miles today. Thankfully it's the weekend and i can sleep in tomorrow and pick up some needed rest. 3 days to go in this contest. Can't "weight" for it to end.

Chien-Ming Wang did exactly what he needed to do and that was to shut down the Mariners. As I mentioned in my last post, Wang needed to have his A-game because the Yanks would struggle against Erik Bedard. Wang, as usual, didn't disappoint. You couldn't have asked for more. I've said it many, many times on this blog. Wang is an ace. A true #1. The Yankees needed a shut down performance and that's what they got. #1s and aces are expected to stop losing streaks. Wang got the job done. 6 strong innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 2 BB and 5 Ks. He couldn't do much about the run the M's scored either. That was all Ichiro. Not much you could do about that. I am again impressed with Wang's ability to effectively throw pitches other than the sinker. He's evolved into quite the pitcher. He's now 6-0 with an ERA of 3 on the nose. Pretty impressive. The Yanks haven't exactly being showering Wang with run support either. Wang has now started 7 games and these are the finals from his wins: 3-2 (against Roy Halladay), 2-0 (against James Shield), 4-1 (in boston against Clay Buchholz, 9-5 (against Jose Contreras), 1-0 (against CC Sabathia), and 5-1 (against Erik Bedard). The Yankees have won all 7 of his starts and he's beaten some top tier pitchers, arguably some of the best in the league. He's putting this team on his back and carrying them through these games. And that's what aces and true #1s do. Memo to Brian Cashman: Lock Wang up now!

The offense as expected was pretty blah against Bedard. They managed 4 hits off him early and then he pretty much shut them down. The Yanks got hooked up by several defensive miscues. Color me unimpressed. But it's Erik Bedard. He's arguably the best pitcher in the game. They did get some late runs against some dude I've never heard of before so that doesn't impress me much. They should do that.

The bullpen was great tonight. Farnsworth was impressive. He finally did what everyone has wanted him to do for years. He successfully got the team across the bridge to the tandem of Joba and Mo. Farnsworth has pretty pretty well lately. I know he gave up a bomb in his last outing but he's given up runs in only 2 of his last 8 outings, both coming on the longball. I can dig that. And what can I say about the tandem of Joba and Mo that hasn't been said time and time again. Get the ball to them with a lead and the game is pretty much over. My only beef is that the Yankees picked up insurance runs taking away a save opportunity for Mo. My fantasy team could have used another save. But I'll take a perfect inning. Mo has been awesome this year. I've said this before and I'll say it again: Best. Closer. Ever.

The Yankee bats will probably have another rough go of it tomorrow when they face King Felix. Moose gets the ball and probably needs a Wang-esque performance if the team wants a shot at winning. Moose has thrown the ball well this year in my opinion. I wish he wasn't matched up against a team's better pitchers but that's the hand the Yanks have been dealt. I'm a big Moose guy and I expect good things from him every time. I hope the bats give him some support and we get back to .500.

I'll be asleep literally seconds after my head hits the pillow. I'm amazed this post was so coherent.

Peace, love and Pinstripes,

J-Boogie