05/09: NYY 8, TEX 2: More, Please
Posted by: Jason
Last night's dominant performance against the Rangers gave the Yankees Universe a taste of what it has craved since the Cleveland sweep a few weeks ago.
First: Pettitte was excellent. After almost six weeks of the season we see the pitcher we envisioned when he signed. His finest moment of the game arrived in the top 2nd, with Blalock (What happened to this man? He used to be terrifying) on third and Kinsler on second with one out. Pettitte erased Cruz and Laird to escape the inning, keeping the game scoreless. Incredibly huge at that point.
Top 3rd found the Rangers up 1-0 on a single by "time machine" Sosa, who still behaves as though it's 1998. Blalock again drilled a double but Abreu and Cano bailed Pettitte out with a tight relay to (just) get Sosa at home.
Rangers P Wood saw his half of the third inning marred by the secret weapon Mientkiewicz, who singled and was driven in by a long gap double by the captain. After Alex was hit by pitch, CF Hairston dropped a Matsui line drive and Jeter and Alex scored. The home team was ahead to stay, 3-1.
In the bottom 4th, "Masher" Mientkiewicz (after his second hit) scored on a Jeter single, but Damon was gunned down at the plate, 4-1.
In the fifth, Giambi walked and some obscure guy named Rodriguez (or something like that) went opposite field in a sheer display of power, 6-1. The rout was on.
The only caveat for Yankees faithful was Abreu's fall to 7th in the batting order. He did get a hit, and we can only hope he quickly returns to his familiar get-on-base-and-hit-for-power style.
Tonight, it's Mussina vs. Tejeda. Briefly: The media is trying to make an issue of Mussina's statements re: Clemens's age. I think Mussina performs a valuable service because it's a good idea to reduce expectations in this situation. The best way to reduce expectations and pressure on Clemens is to win 75%-80% of the time between now and June 1.
First: Pettitte was excellent. After almost six weeks of the season we see the pitcher we envisioned when he signed. His finest moment of the game arrived in the top 2nd, with Blalock (What happened to this man? He used to be terrifying) on third and Kinsler on second with one out. Pettitte erased Cruz and Laird to escape the inning, keeping the game scoreless. Incredibly huge at that point.
Top 3rd found the Rangers up 1-0 on a single by "time machine" Sosa, who still behaves as though it's 1998. Blalock again drilled a double but Abreu and Cano bailed Pettitte out with a tight relay to (just) get Sosa at home.
Rangers P Wood saw his half of the third inning marred by the secret weapon Mientkiewicz, who singled and was driven in by a long gap double by the captain. After Alex was hit by pitch, CF Hairston dropped a Matsui line drive and Jeter and Alex scored. The home team was ahead to stay, 3-1.
In the bottom 4th, "Masher" Mientkiewicz (after his second hit) scored on a Jeter single, but Damon was gunned down at the plate, 4-1.
In the fifth, Giambi walked and some obscure guy named Rodriguez (or something like that) went opposite field in a sheer display of power, 6-1. The rout was on.
The only caveat for Yankees faithful was Abreu's fall to 7th in the batting order. He did get a hit, and we can only hope he quickly returns to his familiar get-on-base-and-hit-for-power style.
Tonight, it's Mussina vs. Tejeda. Briefly: The media is trying to make an issue of Mussina's statements re: Clemens's age. I think Mussina performs a valuable service because it's a good idea to reduce expectations in this situation. The best way to reduce expectations and pressure on Clemens is to win 75%-80% of the time between now and June 1.
John M. wrote: