My optimism regarding this season is starting to fade.

The Yanks dropped the first of six meetings with the Mets this season, 3-2 at Shea, as the Yankee bats continued to misfire.  The loss drops the Bombers four games under .500 and 10 games back of Boston in the AL East.

The Good:

Andy Pettitte.  Pettitte pitched brilliantly, but made one mistake that ultimately cost him the game.  He gave up a two-run home run to the light-hitting Endy Chavez in the fifth inning.  This has to be frustrating for Pettitte as he continues to pitch well and has zero to show for it.  Pettitte's hard luck line: 7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K.  No way he should be 2-3 this season.

Hideki Matsui.  Matsui gave the Yanks an early 2-1 lead as he launched a two-run bomb in the fourth.  He also kept the Yankees slim hopes alive in the ninth with an infield single with two outs.  Matsui finished 2 for 4 with a homer (his third of the season) and 2 RBI.

The Bad:

Alex Rodriguez.  I really could have put four or five guys in this category, but A-Rod continues to slump.  It may not be fair to single A-Rod out since he carried this team in April, but he has to get back on track.  His swing has looked very long lately and he's not driving pitches like he did earlier in the year.  Rodriguez finished 0 for 4.

The Ugly:

Roger Clemens being rammed down Yankee fans' throats.  OK, I get it.  Clemens is back and he should help this team when he returns, but I don't need the constant updates from YES regarding his start tonight in Tampa.  Roger, get your work in and hopefully the Yanks won't be 15 games out by the time you return to the Bronx.

The interleague battle continues on Saturday afternoon.  Darrell Rasner will face off against Tom Glavine.  This is going to be on Fox so I'll have to endure Joe Buck's self-aggrandizing play-by-play.

As if it's not difficult enough to watch the Yanks at this point.