Daily Archives: August 10, 2009

In his preview, Cliff mentioned that the Yanks are ripe for a letdown but he didn’t think it would happen. Then during the game, Yankee announcer Michael Kay, and his cohorts Al Leiter and Paul O’Neill, discussed at length why the Yankees would not have a letdown (sometimes I really think these guys get paid by the word).

So what happened? The Yanks went out and lost to the Jays 5-4, their winning streak halted at seven.

Sergio Mitre was not impressive, allowing five runs–though just three earned thanks to an error by Robinson Cano–in five innings. He did give up a long home run to Lyle Overbay and that was the difference. I wonder if he’ll get another chance to start a game for the Yankees.

The Yanks did not score after the fourth inning though they had several chances, collecting 11 hits in all but going 0-5 with runners in scoring position. In the top of the eighth, O’Neill said, “As good as the Yankees are playimg, something’s about to happen; the fans feel it, the opposing team feels it.” Jorge Posada fouled off fastballs and sliders from left-handed reliever Jesse Carlson. O’Neill said the pitcher didn’t have the stuff to get him out. Posada whiffed on the twelfth pitch of the at-bat (good slider, down and in). Carlson then got Cano and pinch-hitter Johnny Damon to ground out. The crowd was sitting on their hands and O’Neill was silent.

It’s not that one loss is a big deal, but I got the sense that, riding the weekend high, the announcers assumed the Yanks would come back and win simply because they are the better team and should win. Well, the Toronto bullpen was excellent. And winning is hard. O’Neill of all people knows this But he’s not a fan.

Hey, sometimes it’s easier to be frustrated with the dopey announcers than it is with the team.

Oh, and the Red Sox won and shaved a game off the Yankees’ lead. Bummer.

Normally, coming off a crucial, possibly season-defining series win like the Yankees’ just-completed four-game sweep of the Red Sox, I’d be worried about the team suffering a let-down. The pieces are in place for a stumble. Their current seven-game winning streak seems likely to end soon. Fifth-starter Sergio Mitre will take the hill tonight against the Blue Jays and rookie Marc Rzepczynsky, who pitched well against the Yankees last week. Jerry Hairston Jr. and Jose Molina round out tonight’s lineup with Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui (via a DHing Jorge Posada) on the bench. Wednesday’s game brings Ricky Romero, who is one of two Blue Jay starters to have beaten the Yankees this year (do I even have to tell you who the other is?). Despite all that, I don’t see this year’s Yankees falling victim to a let-down.

The Yanks current seven-game winning streak is their fourth of that length or longer this season (they had three all of last year). They enter this series 7-2 against the Blue Jays on the season, including a two-game sweep last week as part of their current winning streak in which they beat Roy Halladay. Halladay won’t pitch in this series (Scott Richmond will pitch the middle game), and there was no off-day or plane trip today to interrupt the Yankees’ momentum.

There’s also the Blue Jays, who despite still having a positive run-differential on the season, have gone 26-43 (.377) since peaking at 27-14 on May 18. Since July 1, they’re 12-19 (.375), and most of that came before they traded their cleanup hitter.

The Blue Jays arrive in the Bronx tonight with the same 25-man roster they had last week in Toronto. Chad Gaudin and a rested Alfredo Aceves lurk in the Yankee bullpen to work long relief that could turn into a start when Mitre’s turn next comes around. Mitre’s struggles thus far can be summed up by his opponents’ .423 average on balls in play.

Rzepczynsky against Mitre and the Yanks last week: 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 7 K. Nick Swisher homered off Zep in that game, tying it at 3-3 in the seventh. The Jays’ bullpen caved, and Aceves got the win. Swisher moves up to the two-hole tonight with Damon sitting. Hairston bats seventh followed by Melky and Molina.

Carl Crawford is having a terrific season but over at SI.com, Jonah Keri suggests that it would not be a shock if the Rays trade him come this off-season.

Thanks to Pete Abe.

Hey there hi there ho there . . . I’m baaaaaack!

Today’s news is powered by the one and only Roy Orbison:

• Mr. October buys some portions of the old Stadium:

Jackson has purchased the letters that spelled “YANKEE STADIUM” on the upper ring of the old ballpark and the concrete from the blacked out part of center field, where his third Game 6 World Series homer in 1977 landed.

“I might build a Stadium at home [Carmel], light it up and make it with 100-foot fences so that when I am 75 I can hit a home run at Yankee Stadium,” Jackson said.

(more…)