You Can't Win 'Em All: Yanks Fall To Jays 5-4

I didn't have high hopes about the Yankees' chances to win tonight's game against the Jays. I don't have high hopes anytime Sergio Mitre pitches. My outlook when he takes the hill is I hope the offense shows up because they're going to need to outslug the opponents. Sergio didn't pitch poorly tonight. He was OK. He likely would have won the game had the Yanks not made an error on what should have been a double play. But that's the way the ball bounces. Sergio, like a lot of rookie pitchers, needs to work on pitching deeper into games. He's got to be better than 96 pitches in 5 innings. That's a lot of pitches for a guy who only walked one better. The short outings definitely can impact a series.

Alfredo Aceves is likely out for the rest of the series. He gave the team 4 innings of scoreless baseball, keeping the team in the game and giving the Yankees ample opportunity to jump back ahead. Tonight was just one of those night's where they couldn't muster enough. I really hope the Yankees are considering Aceves for the 5th spot in the rotation. I'd feel better with Aceves taking the ball every 5th day and having Mitre relieve than the other way around. I also think if the Yankees get the opportunity they need to put A.J. Burnett in between Mitre and Joba. Joba has a tendency to throw a short outing every now and then. If he doesn't pitch deep into the game tomorrow, it would likely negatively impact the bullpen for the rest of the series and beyond. Burnett, CC, and Andy have shown they can give the team length consistently so even if it does happen, it shouldn't be that big of an issue. I think the right play though is having Aceves take the 5th spot and sandwich Burnett in between Ace and Joba. Ideally, I'd like to see the rotation set up like this: Burnett, Sabathia, Joba, Pettitte, Aceves/Mitre. That works best for me. They have 2 off days coming up (8/20 and 8/24). They should be able to rearrange the rotation a little bit by then. I hope they do.

The offense had its opportunities tonight but fell just short. I thought they were going to pull it out in the 9th after Matsui singled. I don't know how Ramiro Pena didn't beat that throw to 2nd. As soon as I saw Scutaro commit to 2nd I thought for sure all hands would be safe. It didn't look to me like Pena ran at full speed. I don't know if he thought Scutaro wouldn't throw there or what, but you should never assume that. Pena should have beat that out. Had he, it would have been runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 down and their chances would have been exponentially greater. Get well soon Brett Gardner.

Nick Swisher kind of came up like a lame duck in his final at-bats. 3 ABs, 3 Ks, all with runners on. I have a love-hate, wait, make that a like-dislike relationship with Nick Swisher. I like his personality and his ability to get on base and hit the occasional base knock. I dislike his inability to put the bat on the ball and come up empty when the game is on the line. Tonight, like the majority of Swisher's nights, was definitely a dislike. Again, get well soon Brett Gardner. Heck, I'd even rather see Eric Hinske up there. Oh well.

The Red Sox finally won a game. The Yankee lead is now back to 5-and-a-half. Joba vs. Scott Richmond tomorrow. The Yanks hammered Richmond earlier in the year when they saw him in Toronto. I think the Jays are going to make Joba work for it tomorrow. Considering Aceves is out tomorrow, the Jays would be wise to try and run up Joba's pitch count and chase him early. The middle innings could prove to be very crucial tomorrow. Hopefully, the offense shows up and lays a hurting on Richmond.

Peace, love and Pinstripes,

J-Boogie