I wonder if Melky Cabrera ever heard of Wally Pipp?

OK, that comparison is nonsense, but Melky was scratched from the starting lineup on Saturday  because of an "illness" which caused Torre to juggle the batting order and he slotted Bobby Abreu in the number 3 hole.  Well, Abreu responded by knocking in five as the Yanks downed the Rays 6-4 in Tampa.  Chien-Ming Wang settled down after a rough start and Mariano Rivera picked up career save number 425, good for third on the all-time list, as the Bombers moved back to .500 on the year.

The Good:

Bobby Abreu.  Sure, Abreu uncorked a two-run bomb in the fifth to give the Yanks a 4-3 lead and then doubled in Johnny Damon in the ninth to extend the lead to 6-4, but one could argue that his biggest ribbie of the night was in the third.  The Yanks were down 3-0 and had the bases loaded with one out.  Abreu grounded a ball to short for a perfect double-play, but he hustled out of the box and beat the rap at first to drive in the Yankees first run of the game.  It doesn't take talent to run hard to first four times a game and Abreu proved that good things can happen if you run balls out.  Abreu, has been hot (he's batting .473 in his last 8 games), but I hope Torre moves him back down to 7th when Melky comes back.  It just stretches the lineup out that way.  Anyway, El Comedulce finished 2 for 5 with a run scored and 5 big runs batted in.

Chien-Ming Wang.  The Devil Rays slapped Wang around in the first and touched him up for three runs.  It looked like the Yanks were headed for another disappointing loss, but Wang changed his approach and kept the Bombers in the game.  Wang went with more sliders and changeups and proved once again why he's the unquestioned ace of the staff.  He cruised after a bumpy start and then got tough when the D-Rays loaded the bases in the sixth with a big-time strikeout to end the threat.  The Wanger moved to 10-4 on the season with this: 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 6 K.

Hideki Matsui.  One of the problems with the Yanks this season has been the lack of consistency from their left-handed hitters.  Well, Abreu has been red-hot and Matsui is starting to glow as well.  Godzilla smoked a homer in his second straight game and is working on a modest 9-game hitting streak.  If Matsui and Abreu continue hitting, the Yanks could really beat up on the pitching-deprived teams on their upcoming schedule.  Matsui finished 2 for 5 with a run scored, his 13th homer and 55th ribbie.

The Bad:

Robinson Cano.  Speaking of inconsistent left-handed hitters, Cano went 0 for 4 on Saturday night and his average has dipped to .269 on the season.  YES broadcasters Ken Singleton and John Flaherty pointed out that Cano seems to give at-bats away during ballgames (incidentally, those two guys have developed pretty good chemistry in the booth).  Cano looked especially bad in his final plate appearance when he whiffed on a pitch nowhere near the strike zone.  Robbie also fumbled a chance at a double play in the first which opened the door for Tampa's 3-run inning.  The Yanks need Cano to get back on track.

Kyle Farnsworth.  Obviously, Joe Torre doesn't read anything I write because he inserted Farnsworth into the eighth inning of a close game again.  Surprise, surprise, Farnsworth struggled and was lucky to get out of the inning without coughing up the lead.  He gave up a solo blast to Carlos Pena which cut the Yankee advantage to 5-4 and then Posada bailed him out of a two out walk by gunning out B.J. Upton at second.  Joe, please!  I implore you!  Stop using Farnsworth in the eighth!  There, I've done all that I can.  Farnsworth's useless performance: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 HR.

The Ugly:

Watch out below!  I came across this odd story where a guy (most likely drunk off his ass) stumbled out of his seat and fell onto a tourist at Yankee Stadium.  The collision broke the tourist's vertebrae and he was taken to the hospital where surgeons inserted a screw into his neck.  It was a miracle the guy wasn't paralyzed or killed.  The tourist is from Washington and was at the game with his wife and 13-year-old son.  They were in the middle of a baseball tour of the East Coast.  Great vacation, huh?

Mike Mussina gets the ball on Sunday afternoon as the Yanks go for three of four against the Devil Rays.  The Moose has been off all season, but he's 16-6 in his career against the D-Rays with a 3.25 ERA.  Tampa will send Edwin Jackson to the hill who sports a horrific 1-9 record and a 7.23 ERA on the season.  Want some more ugly numbers?  Jackson owns a 9.00 ERA at home and has an ERA of 8.23 on turf.

Batters, take your mark!