Maybe it's time for the unorthodox.  Maybe the Yanks should use the bullpen to start the game and then bring in a starter to close it out.  It couldn't be any stranger than watching Andy Pettitte take the hill in the sixth inning to help out an overworked pen.

The Yankees dropped the rubber match to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, 6-4, on another perfect day for football.  Starting pitching continued to falter, this time with Darrell Rasner, as the Bombers finished their first homestand with a disappointing mark of 2-3.  

The Good:

Alex Rodriguez.  A-Rod continued to swing a hot bat as he cracked his third homer in two days (4th overall) to help give Rasner and the Yanks a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning.  Unfortunately, it wouldn't hold up.

The bullpen.  The pen has proved strong early in the season, but they shouldn't have to prove it every game.  Once again they kept the Yanks in the ballgame: 4.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R (unearned).  Even Pettitte was used to help ease the burden.  True, it was his "throw day", but it still looked weird seeing him out there in a game which he didn't start.

Johnny Damon.  Damon didn't answer the opening bell, but came into the ballgame late and went 2-2 including a triple.  His strained calf must be feeling better so he should be in the starting lineup soon.

The Bad:

Darrell Rasner.  Rasner was the latest Yankee starter that failed to provide the team with a quality start.  He wasted away a 3-0 lead and gave up a three-run homer to Paul Bako -- a man who hasn't homered since 2004.  He also did his best Al Leiter impersonation circa 1989 as he battled through blister problems during his start.  His final tally: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 2 HR given up.  Rasner's quote after the ballgame stated the obvious: "I was garbage today . . . ."  That's right, Darrell.

Poor defense.  The Yanks committed their eighth error in five games as Robinson Cano dropped a popup that led to a run in the seventh.  Starting pitching has been the biggest disappointment so far, but team defense is starting to make a claim as well.

The Ugly:

Hideki Matsui was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained hamstring.  A hammy injury can be tricky, but hopefully Matsui won't need more than the 15 days.  The bad luck continues for Matsui.  Here's a guy who never missed a game in 10 years and now he has gone on the DL the last two seasons.  Kevin Thompson will take his place on the roster.

The Yanks will take to the road for the first time this season and first stop is the Minnesota Twins.  Carl Pavano will make his second start of the season and will try and provide the Yanks with their first quality start of the year (again).  Sidney Ponson takes the hill for the Twins.  Luckily, the Yanks will miss Twins ace Johan Santana in the series.  Santana beat the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

When is he a free agent again?