Yanks Pick Up An Undeserved Victory

The Yanks might have won today but they can't be happy with how they played. It was another typical Yankee ball game. They only won this one because the Royals had a late game meltdown. The Yanks were well on their way to getting shut out when KC's defense imploded on itself committing 3 errors in the 7th, which for all intents and purposes cost the Royals the game. But it's a victory nonetheless. Regardless of how it happens, 1 gets added in the win column. But it's not a victory to write home about.

The offense was again horrible. How can a lineup with such talent struggle so much? It's mind boggling. There's one thing they're good at and that's hitting into DPs. Another 4 today. All coming in key spots. The Yankees' half of the 4th inning is a perfect indicator of how this season has gone. Bases loaded, no outs, A-Rod whiffs looking and Giambi hits into a 4-6-3 DP. If I had hair on my head, I'd pull it out. This offense is horrible. And there's no excuse for it. It's hard to believe the pitching is this team's strong suit. They definitely won the game today.

The pitching was terrific today. Ponson surprised me. I've been predicting his downfall since day 1. I don't know how he does it. But as long as he keeps doing it, I'm cool. The bullpen today was outstanding, giving up only 1 hit in 6.2 innings. Bruney got the clutch out there in the 7th with his bases loaded, line out inning ending double play. That was big. Damaso Marte is suffering from Yankee lefty-speacialist syndrome. Every Yankee "lefty specialist" I can remember as of late, can't get out lefties. Lefties are hitting .273 against Damaso, with an OBP of .385 and a SLG of .545. I wasn't surprised at all when he came in to face the lefty Teahen and walked him. Typical. Everybody else though, greta job. Way to keep the team in the game and give the offense numerous chances to finally scratch won across. As has been the case so many times this year, the bullpen gets the game ball.

The other game ball has to go to Brett Gardner. 3 hits and the game winning single. Good for him. I'll get excited when he does this consistently. Melky has a good game every once in a while too. Joe, the blogosphere's resident Statistician Magician, left a comment in one of my previous entries that Gardner looks like he is better at drawing walks than Melky and maybe that's what the Yanks are hoping for. I'd agree with that. Gardner has a lot more plate discipline and it could translate into a much better OBP than what Melky is capable of. I'd agree with that but I still think, as does Joe, that the Yankees OF needs to be Abreu, Damon and Nady. I'm desperate to buy but I'm far from sold on Brett. Hopefully his second stint goes much, much better than his first. I won't complain if it does. And if you're not checking out Joe's blog on the regular, you should. I recommend it. It's one of the very few Red Sox blogs i read and enjoy.

Joe Girardi continues to irritate me with his decisions. You'd think he'd have learned by now that putting in a pinch runner for Jason Giambi rarely works. It's a lesson that Joe Torre had trouble learning also. It seems that more often than not the pinch runner doesn't score and Giambi's spot in the lineup comes around again in a key situation. I wish I could put together a laundry list of examples when this has happened, but it's not something I've ever tracked, but I've noticed it happens a lot and always seems to backfire, like it did today when he pinch ran Ransom for Giambi in the 7th and the very next hitter, Nady, hits into a DP. The game goes extras and Giambi's spot in the order comes up 3 times. And who do we have to rely on? Wilson Betemit. Ugh. He may have walked twice but still, who would you rather have up? Giambi or Betemit? No-brainer. Wilson had a chance to win it in the 12th and what did he do? Whiffed. Good job fellas.

So the Yanks picked up an undeserved win. It wasn't pretty but I'll take it. Too bad both the Twins and White Sox won. The Red Sox are currently getting shut out by Roy Halladay. Hopefully that score holds up and we can pick up a game and move to only 6 back in the wild card race. 6 back with 39 to play. Yeah, I'm not liking our chances, especially if they continue to play like they did today. My man Moose goes tomorrow. Hopefully he brings his A-game because it's unlikley the offense will give him much support. Score him some runs guys. Score him some runs!

Peace, love and Pinstripes,

J-Boogie