Oh, if only we could start this thing over again.
Phil Hughes went eight strong, Xavier Nady drove in two and Bobby Abreu launched a grand slam in the 10th inning as the Yanks bested the
Blue Jays 6-2 in Toronto. Juan Miranda picked up his first Major League-hit in the fourth and his first extra-base hit in the 10th that started the Bomber rally. Jose Veras vultured the win to up his record to 5-2 on the season and Sidney Ponson got some work in as he finished things out.
If you haven't noticed, the Yankees are streaking. They have won seven games in a row and 10 of their last 11. What if, right?
This ballgame zipped along and I missed most of Hughes' performance by the time I walked through the front door. I did notice that No. 65 didn't walk a batter and struck out six -- all on curveballs. Positive signs.
The Yankee lineup had a Scranton/Spring Training flavor Wednesday night. Miranda, Wilson Betemit, Cody Ransom, Brett Gardner and Chad Moeller were in and Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Johnny Damon rode the pine (Damon came in to pinch-run in the ninth, but was thrown out trying to steal second base).
In case you're wondering,
Andy Pettitte's season is over. Pettitte has been battling shoulder problems for most of the second half. Ponson will take Pettitte's turn in the rotation Saturday in Boston. Pettitte is still considering whether to return next season. And I'm sure the Yanks are mulling whether they should sign him.
And finally,
Hank Steinbrenner continued to bitch and moan. Here's the latest diatribe from the Marlboro Man:
Baseball went to a multidivision setup to create more races, rivalries and
excitement. But it isn't fair. You see it this season, with plenty of people in
the media pointing out that Joe Torre and the Dodgers are going to the playoffs
while we're not. This is by no means a knock on Torre -- let me make that clear
-- but look at the division they're in. If L.A. were in the A.L. East, it
wouldn't be in the playoff discussion. The A.L. East is never weak. Ask the
teams that finished behind us all of those seasons. I'll say it right now:
Boston should have made the playoffs in 1978. We beat the Red Sox in that
one-game playoff, but they still had a better record than the Royals, who won
the A.L. West. And that's one of many examples.
I'm happy for Joe, but you have to compare the divisions and the competition.
What if the Yankees finish the season with more wins than the Dodgers but the
Dodgers make the playoffs? Does that make the Dodgers a better team? No.
That's from the Sporting News which, by the way, is a great resource for sports news (go figure). Really, I still read magazines (yes, I'm a dinosaur) and I get Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine and The Sporting News and SN is by far the best sports magazine.
Anyway, I'm not sure what Boy George is trying to say in his little piece. If anyone has an idea, please let me know.
The games go on. Carl Pavano (4-1, 4.99 ERA) will go against Roy Halladay (19-11, 2.81 ERA) as the Yankees try and sweep the series.
Leave a comment
The idiot is just playing down Torre's success. Now, I normally don't care about other teams, especially if the Yankees are out but, boy, I really want the Dodgers to go all the way. I won't be heartbroken if they lose but I'd definitely be happy for Torre and Mattingly. Plus, you know it would kill Hank even more.