Congrats To The Captain

In last night's loss to the Royals, which I said would happen in my last post, Yankee captain Derek Jeter collected his 2000th career hit, becoming the 8th Yankee to reach the mark.  Unfortunately, the milestone was achieved in a game the Yankees lost, a game which they should have won.  Freaking bullpen.

After a shaky start, Mike Mussina settled down and pitched extremely well.  It was his 11th straight quality start and he's yet to give up more than 3 earned runs in a game this season. He was in line to pick up his 7th win but the Yankee bullpen couldn't hold the lead.  Scott Proctor still seems to be reeling from his performance in Boston and he's looking more like the guy we saw in the first game of the season.  But Kyle Farnsworth is the game's biggest goat.  He gave up the see ya later 3-run tater to Angel Berroa to break the 4-4 tie.  Farnsworth has been the picture of inconsistency and the Yankees really need him to come through if Rivera is going to get the ball. 

I was a little PO'd last night when they brought the tarp on the field in the 9th.  While I think they should have brought the tarp out, I was wondering why they allowed the Royals to bat in the 9th in the same conditions.  Perhaps it was the weather didn't come across the same on TV as it did in person, but I thought they should have let them try to get it in.  I was most upset that the local affiliate we had carrying the game never went back to it after the delay.  Here I am watching old reruns of Magnum PI waiting for a game that was never coming back on TV.  Sorry Thomas Magnum, I like you and all, but you don't compare to Yankee baseball.  So I missed the ending on TV.  I was online during the delay and had randomly pulled up the gamecast on Yahoo and noticed the game had resumed.  I was a little irked to say the least.  In following the gamecast, I thought the Yankees were going to pull it out.  Runners on the corners, 1 out and down 1 run.  All we needed was a fly ball and we were tied.  Instead, ground ball, Giambi slips in the batter's box, double play, game over.  I'm sure Giambi wouldn't have beat it out but who knows, it could have happened.  So the Yankees lost to the hapless Royals.  You knew they would.  I didn't expect it in the game Mussina pitched, but I knew it would happen this weekend.  That's just how my life seems to work sometimes.  When something shouldn't happen, it usually does, and the results are seldom in my favor.  What can you do?

The bottom of our lineup was exposed for all its weaknesses last night.  If there was ever a game the Yankees needed Posada and Matsui, that was it.  The bottom 3, not counting Long, went 0-11.  Don't get me wrong, there are still problems at the top of the lineup, but production is needed from everybody if the Yankees are going to win. 

The Yanks have Wang going tonight.  I honestly don't know what to expect.  He's like Bucholz in Houston.  One night he's lights out, the next he's getting hit for 8 or so earned runs, though he's been more consistent than Bucholz has.  As long as the sinker is working, Chien will be okay.  The Royals are sending a lefty to the mound and the Yankees are 11-3 this season against lefties.  All signs point to a Yankee win, but then again, it did yesterday as well.  That's why the games aren't played on paper.

Go Yankees.

J