The struggle goes on.

The Yankees wasted another quality effort from Andy Pettitte and dropped their fifth game in a row on Tuesday as the Blue Jays edged the Yanks 3-2 in Toronto.  

The Good:

Andy Pettitte.  Pettitte deserved a better fate as his defense and offense let him down once again.  His only mistake (and it was a major one) was falling asleep on Blue Jay second baseman Aaron Hill at third in the seventh.  Pettitte was locked in on Jason Phillips at first when Hill took off for home.  Hill's theft of home gave the Jays a 2-1 advantage.  The Yanks were able to tie the score in the eighth, but that play was symbolic of how the Yankee season has gone; they look asleep at the wheel.  Pettitte fell to 3-4 with this: 7.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R (1 earned), 1 BB, 3 K.  

Jason Giambi.  Giambi got the Yanks on the board in the seventh and tied the score at 1-1 with his seventh homer of the season.  Giambi finished 2 for 4 with the homer, RBI, run scored and a stolen base on a botched hit and run.

The Bad:

Scott Proctor.  Proctor came in with a runner on third and one out and couldn't deliver the big strikeout.  It was a difficult situation, but Proctor can't allow that runner to score if he's going to be the eighth inning guy.  I like Proctor and this may be unfair, but it may be time to strip him of the eighth inning and give it to Brian Bruney.  It couldn't hurt.  Proctor's line is a bit skewed since the run he gave up went on Pettitte's ledger, but here it is: .2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.

Bobby Abreu.  Again, I could have put four or five guys in here, but Abreu's 0 for 4 night dropped his average to .228 on the year.  That is unacceptable for a starting right fielder, especially one that plays for the Yanks.

The Ugly:

21-29.  The loss drops the Yanks 8 games under .500 and 14.5 games behind the high flying Red Sox (who won again Tuesday night).  What can be done to right this sinking ship?  I don't know.  The Yanks have shown that they can lose in a blow out as well as a close one.  When they get pitching, they get no hitting and vice versa.  They lose to bad teams and they lose to good teams.

What does that mean?  It means the Yanks just aren't very good right now and I don't think a bold move (firing Torre or Cashman, benching a star or making a trade) will spark this team.  Right now, it looks like they are taking the field wondering how they are going to lose instead of knowing how they are going to win.  This mental block is something the team must overcome if they expect to contend for a playoff position.  And right now, that possibility looks extremely remote.

It will be a battle of the rookies on Wednesday night as the Yanks will send Tyler Clippard to the mound for his third career start against Blue Jay rookie Jesse Litsch.

Maybe the rookie can help stop the bleeding.