I wish every Yankee hurler could be like Mike.
Mike Mussina was as tough as nails, Derek Jeter drove in two and Mariano Rivera notched save No. 28 as the
Yanks blanked the Rangers 3-0 in Texas. The Bombers didn't exactly rough up Scott Feldmen, but it was good enough to give them the split after dropping the first two games. The Yanks also picked up a half-game on the idle Red Sox in the wild card hunt and a game on the AL East leading Rays with the victory.
The Good:Mike Mussina. The ace of the staff did his thing once again. Mussina allowed at least one baserunner in every inning except one, but was able to induce a double play or muscle up for the strikeout to work out of jams. It's been amazing to watch The Moose pitch this season and while morale may be low for most Yankee fans, they would have been shot to hell if not for No. 35. The Moose also became just the 19th pitcher in American League history
to amass the 3,500 inning plateau. And he seems to be getting better
with age. But just like last night when Joe Girardi pulled Sidney Ponson with out in the seventh, I was surprised that Mussina got the hook after seven. Eh, it worked out. Mussina improved to 15-7 with this: 7 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K. And just to reinforce Mussina's status as the ace, here's a little Iron Maiden doing Aces High:
Derek Jeter. El Capitan! Giradi gave Jeter the start at designated hitter Thursday night and No. 2 responded. Jeter drilled a mighty wallop in the first to give the Yanks a quick 1-0 lead. It was Jeter's seventh homer of the season and his first since July 21. DJ also drove in a big insurance run with an RBI-single in the top of the ninth to stretch the Bomber lead to 3-0. It wasn't all good though, as Jeter was nailed trying to advance to second on the throw. Still, the Captain drove in two runs for the second straight night. I'll sign up for that kind of production every night. Jeter finished 3 for 4 with a walk, a run scored, a stolen base and 2 RBIs.
The Bad:Alex Rodriguez. I guess you can't go home again. A-Rod's struggles continued at his old stomping ground as he put in another 0-fer. Rodriguez hit a few balls hard, but you don't score points for almost getting hits. Rodriguez struck out four times, bounced into four twin-killings and finished 0 for 14 in the four-game series. At least No. 13's slump isn't affecting his defense -- A-Rod made a nice diving stab for a force out in the fifth. Still, the Yanks need to go on a hot streak and they'll need A-Rod's bat to get going. Rodriguez finished 0 for 4.
The Ugly:Oh, dear God, no!
Mr. Brian's Andy Pettitte news through fifth inning radio man
Mark Feinsand nearly made me scream and shake my fists at skies above this afternoon. Pettitte was rumored to miss his scheduled start Sunday against the Angels with arm fatigue, but it looks like that won't happen. “He’s starting Sunday,” manager Joe Girardi said. “Whether I start him on
five days or six times the next time, I don’t know. But he’s our starter
Sunday." The Yanks have an off day this coming Thursday. I'm relieved that Pettitte will make his start, but his comments didn't really fill me with unbridled joy. “Do I feel as good as I’d like to? No. But it’s that time of year," Pettitte said. Yep, it's the dog days all right.
The Yanks will jet to the left coast to take on the Los Angels Angels of Anaheim for a three-game set. Ian Kennedy (0-3, 7.41 ERA) will go against Jered Weaver (9-9, 4.37 ERA) in Friday night's opener. The Yanks bashed four homers against Weaver en route to an 8-2 victory Aug. 2 in the Bronx. But Dream Weaver is a better pitcher at Angels Stadium. Weaver is 4-4 with a 3.69 ERA in 10 home starts this season. Kennedy's last start in pinstripes came on May 27 in Baltimore and it wasn't a good one. I-Ken gave up four runs (three earned), including two long balls, in three innings, but picked up a no-decision in the Yanks' 10-9 loss to the Orioles. Kennedy has pitched well in
Scranton -- he's 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA in his past four starts there -- but his ability to pitch in the minors has never been a question. It's whether he can take that next step and become a reliable starter in the big leagues.
He'll get another shot against the Halos.
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Going to be very tight but I would love to see Mussina get 20 wins. You could make a good case between him and Rivera for team MVP this year. He stepped up in a pitching rotation that badly needed it.