Jacka**

The Yanks picked up a big victory yesterday and gained a game on the Red Sox.  Tonight, they'll pick up another.  The Big Unit will have a good outing.  Count on it.  If he falters again, I wouldn't be surprised if a move is made for the D-Train sooner than later.  The Yanks will need a lefty they can rely on and all signs are pointing to Dontrelle.  I just fear what kind of price the Yankees will have to pay.  I won't see the game though.  There's a lot going on tonight.  Most importantly, it's softball night.  Game time is 7:10pm so I'm going to miss most of the game.  I'll have my XM so I can listen while we're batting, but I'd much rather watch it on TV, but what can you do.  There's also the Buffalo Sabres hockey game and the season finale of "Lost."  Big night for TV.

As for last night's game, how can you be disappointed?  As soon as Damon hit a leadoff HR I knew it'd be a good night.  Wright again looked good.  The rest of the bullpen, minus Mo, had me scratching my head.  How can we walk Alex Cora on 4 straight pitches?  Myers walked the one guy he was supposed to get out.  Kyle Farnsworth needs to stick to throwing gas and stay away from the slider.  And why Proctor gives Ortiz an 0-2 pitch over the middle of the plate I'll never know?  All in all, a good game though.  Rivera again looked sharp.  Maybe he's finally heated up?  Let's hope.

What's up with A-Rod thinking he popped it up but the ball sailed over the Monster?  Part of me thinks he was "acting,"  the rest of me thinks he just thought he popped out.  It's understandable as he does it a lot.  It's about time A-Rod did something big when it counted.  Maybe now he'll get some fans off his back.  Granted he is underperforming, but he's A-Rod, it'll all balance out.

If you read my last entry about Manny then you know I think he needs to get plunked.  You hit an HR, big deal.  Your team was losing by 6.  If you're going to look at it, watch it while you run.  The Yankees however, won't hit him.  I don't think that Torre or Guidry will call for it and I don't think any of the Yankee pitchers have the testicular fortitude to do it on their own.  If it's going to happen, it definitely won't happen in a close game.  The Boston lineup is too good to issue free passes.  But it should happen, everybody knows it should.  If you're a Sox fan, take off the "Red" colored glasses and tell me he shouldn't get plunked.  He stood there for a good 3 seconds before he started his jog.  Ridiculous.  And to compare it to a curtain call in April or a fist pump, that's even more absurd.  The two are nothing alike.  One is asked for by the fans, usually done on a clutch HR that puts the team ahead or puts the game out of reach, or perhaps when a player reaches a milestone a la Bernie Williams.  The last time I checked a win is a win, regardless of when it happens.  Every game matters.  The Yankees and Red Sox tied last year.  A different outcome in April would have made a big difference.  And again, most curtain calls are done to appease the fans.  It's not done out of player arrogance.  Why the fans asking for the curtain call sometimes is beyond me?  Sometimes it's silly.  But to say it's because the Yankee players are arrogant, that's nucking futs.  A curtain call is an acknowledgment to the fans, a thank you.  A 3-second staredown of an HR is an acknowledgment to yourself, not to anyone else.  If someone pimped after an HR and Pedro or Roger Clemens was on the mound, the next pitch would be high and inside, you can bet on it.  It's baseball, if a guy pimp-strolls around the bases somebody usually gets hit.  You never see brushbacks because a guy took a curtain call.  There is obviously a difference.  Ask Josh Beckett, I'm sure he'll agree.  To quote Mr. Beckett: "You look like a jacka** whenever you hit a ball like that and you're pimping it and you're out. I'm kind of about respecting the game. Even if it is a home run, I don't think it's the right thing to do. I'm not the type of guy to not say anything ."  I wonder if he said anything to Manny?  It's all about respect.  Manny apparently lacks it.  I guess that's just Manny being Manny.  In this case, Manny being a jacka**.

J