The good news is that reinforcements are on the way.
The bad news is that the good news didn't matter Saturday as the Yanks dropped another one to the Red Sox, 7-5, at Fenway.
The Yankees jumped on Josh Beckett early, scoring four runs in the first two innings, but the Red Sox used some small ball to draw even and then put the game away with some David Ortiz muscle. The Yanks scored a run in the seventh to cut the lead to 7-5 on a two out RBI single by A-Rod, but Giambi whiffed with runners on first and second which ended the last real threat.
The Good:
The Bullpen. Once again the pen was called upon to help keep the Yanks in the game and once again they responded. It wasn't easy, but the foursome of Brian Bruney, Sean Henn, Scott Proctor and Kyle Farnsworth worked 3 2/3 innings of shutout ball.
Scoring runs with a National League lineup. Johnny Damon was scratched with back spasms and Jorge Posada was nursing a sore thumb so the Yanks were working with the C+ lineup. The bottom three of Doug Mientkiewicz, Kevin Thompson and Wil Nieves went a combined 1-10, but did manage to score two runs which helped put Beckett in early trouble.
The Bad:
Jeff Karstens. Karstens was terrible in his first start of the regular season. The Yankees spotted Karstens a lead in the first and second innings, but he couldn't hold it. The Red Sox nickel and dimed their way to two runs in the second inning, but the biggest disappointment was the two out walk to Kevin Youkilis in the fourth inning. The Yankees were down only 5-4 at that point and the free pass allowed David Ortiz to bat. One swing later and the deficit grew to 7-4. Karstens' putrid totals: 4.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 big HR allowed.
The Ugly:
Joe Buck. I'd rather succumb to Chinese water torture than listen to Buck call a game. Nothing screams professionalism like plugging a book for David Ortiz or singing Happy Birthday to Terry Francona. I'd also rather hear Tim McCarver read the phone book than listen to Buck's weak attempts at humor. How is this guy the number one broadcaster in the country?
The Yanks will try and avoid the sweep on Sunday night against "rookie" sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Bombers will counter with Chase Wright on the mound.
Let's see if the man, the myth, the legend that is Matsuzaka can live up to his billing.
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Hate, hate, hate Joe Buck. Maybe whatever company published Ortiz's book is owned by Rupert Murdoch, so it was a job requirement to plug it. But even as a Red Sox fan, I can't imagine wanting to read that book. Just seems like a shameless way to make money by slapping together a boring, potentially poorly written book. Does Ortiz (or any other ballplayer who writes a book) not have enough money already?