07/20: Yankees 2, Mariners 3
Posted by: Jason
Do I have to post when the Yankees lose, or can we just ignore yesterday afternoon?
Just joking: Like many things in life, we have to "swallow the medicine." In yesterday's case, "the medicine" was a one run loss to a team that was ripe for a sweep. Factors contributing to this loss:
Factor #1) Randy Johnson must now forget the first half and behave like an ace. 2 hits in the first inning and the mistake to Sexson in the 4th seemed more like lapses in concentration than a serious pitching problem. The hit batter in the 8th turned out to be the difference.
Make no mistake: RJ was good. However, he can (and must) be great. On the other hand, it's very easy to say that the Yankees offense should have won this game for Johnson, if it wasn't for:
Factor #2) Seattle's starting pitching and bullpen: Gil Meche was quite good, allowing one hit through 5 innings. He also got out of a high-leverage (defined as the probability to change the game's outcome) jam in the sixth by inducing the dangerous Giambi to ground out.
In the 7th, "non-clutch" Alex Rodriguez got a key single and scored the tying run when Andy Phillips (who, incidentally, still hopes that Neil Young will remember that southern man don't need him around, anyhow) doubled.
Unfortunately, the tough Seattle bullpen shut the door from that point. (Rafael Soriano is worth a mention, BTW)
Enough of Seattle...because here comes Toronto! The Yankees had better crank up the diesel, we all know that Toronto has been lurking for the last few weeks.
However, Torre's extensive use of Cairo, Guiel, Crosby and Green (sounds like a jazz quartet) lately is worrisome for the offense. Is the boss's recent chatter about the free-swinging "guy I prefer" to be believed? Is it a ruse?
UPDATE/CORRECTION: I need to cut down on the cough medicine, because I mistakenly typed that the Red Sox will face the Twins this weekend. In fact, they face Seattle after a rainout makeup with Texas.
Just joking: Like many things in life, we have to "swallow the medicine." In yesterday's case, "the medicine" was a one run loss to a team that was ripe for a sweep. Factors contributing to this loss:
Factor #1) Randy Johnson must now forget the first half and behave like an ace. 2 hits in the first inning and the mistake to Sexson in the 4th seemed more like lapses in concentration than a serious pitching problem. The hit batter in the 8th turned out to be the difference.
Make no mistake: RJ was good. However, he can (and must) be great. On the other hand, it's very easy to say that the Yankees offense should have won this game for Johnson, if it wasn't for:
Factor #2) Seattle's starting pitching and bullpen: Gil Meche was quite good, allowing one hit through 5 innings. He also got out of a high-leverage (defined as the probability to change the game's outcome) jam in the sixth by inducing the dangerous Giambi to ground out.
In the 7th, "non-clutch" Alex Rodriguez got a key single and scored the tying run when Andy Phillips (who, incidentally, still hopes that Neil Young will remember that southern man don't need him around, anyhow) doubled.
Unfortunately, the tough Seattle bullpen shut the door from that point. (Rafael Soriano is worth a mention, BTW)
Enough of Seattle...because here comes Toronto! The Yankees had better crank up the diesel, we all know that Toronto has been lurking for the last few weeks.
However, Torre's extensive use of Cairo, Guiel, Crosby and Green (sounds like a jazz quartet) lately is worrisome for the offense. Is the boss's recent chatter about the free-swinging "guy I prefer" to be believed? Is it a ruse?
UPDATE/CORRECTION: I need to cut down on the cough medicine, because I mistakenly typed that the Red Sox will face the Twins this weekend. In fact, they face Seattle after a rainout makeup with Texas.
Seamus wrote: